As premium cruise lines increasingly bundle amenities to build more inclusive onboard experiences, Princess Cruises is offering a new one that also enrolls guests in a chance to win prizes every time they enter their cabin.
The guests who select the Princess Premier package will be eligible for Princess Prizes, the line said. And it seeks to permanently transform the experience of entering a cabin into a game.
Using their Ocean Medallion wearable to enter their room, guests will have the chance to win prizes every time they cross the threshold, including annual cruises for two for a decade, a cruise for two in a balcony cabin, onboard credits from $25 to $250, wine tastings and chefs-table dinners. Guests can also win entry into an end-of-cruise drawing for $5,000. Winners will be alerted if they won via a screen adjacent to their cabin.
"Any time you're heading back to your stateroom, now there's going to be a bit of excitement and adrenaline that you just may win a prize," Princess president John Padgett said. "We've taken something as basic as a door lock, we've improved it to a personalized interaction, we've made it hassle-free and now we're taking it to an emotional experience."
Padgett said only adults have a chance to win. The system is also programmed to guard against people who may try to game the system by, for example, repeatedly trying to open their door to trigger chances to win prizes.
Part of the new inclusive package
The chances to play are included only in the line's Princess Premier bundle, which was also unveiled this week. Priced at $75 per person per day, it includes a higher-tier beverage package with top-shelf drinks valued at up to $18 each and 25% off bottles of wine. The package also includes two specialty-dining meals per passenger, daily gratuities, unlimited WiFi on up to four devices per passenger and unlimited pictures taken on the ship by a professional photographer and three 8x10 prints.
Princess was one of the first lines to embrace the trend of additional inclusivity: its Princess Plus bundle is $50 per person, per day, and includes WiFi for one device per guest, drinks up to $12 in value and daily gratuities.
Premier packages go on sale May 25 for voyages beginning June 25. Guests who previously purchased the Plus package for sailings on or after June 25 can upgrade to the Premier package.