ddled

I know that-it was just a challenge to see if their system was what they claim. I have never had it sent, will never again, but get tired of all the promotion of the app as a time saving strategy. I arrange cruises for other people on a volunteer basis, and it helps to have some personal experience. Having said that, the irritation for their incompetence is real, and they failed the test. I sent an email to the head of their customer relations-want to bet about me getting a reply? They constantly advocate doing this through the app, says it saves time. Always like to have concrete proof about a company that I deal with.

And if it sounds like I am irritated, I am. I actually have a TA for this cruise-the only line I use one, there has been a change at the agency and I thought I would just do this little thing myself. The advice to just get this medallion at the pier is always my usual practice, but I just got stubborn and decided to challenge their publicity about how great the app is. We have used it on board, and it was great. But. what I really objected to was the attitude of the call center agent. Really get tired of people assuming that because I am 73 I am stupid and have to be talked down to. Or that I don't recognize a sales pitch, or excuses etc. I tested Princess publicity and they failed. Big surprise!

And if it sounds like I am irritated, I am.

We are on Princess in June on an Alaska cruise/land package, on Royal. The app would not, for 2 weeks at least, allow me to get my medallion sent to me. Couldn't load it said. Everything else worked. So I called Princess to get it sent before we sail so as to cut some of the embarkation time. Got some rep, and if that is indicative of their customer service, shame on them. I had to literally yell at him to stop his sale pitch to me-excursions, dinners, premium package, wifi, special occasions, and on and on. We are Platinum on Princess, and any moron can see what there is to buy on the website. The call took 40 minutes! I asked for a supervisor and he refused to connect me. We have cruised 32 times, and I have never had this kind of treatment. All I wanted was for them to send me the 2 medallions so I could have them before we sailed. When he finally got it done the delivery date is 6 weeks! He told me there must be something wrong with my phone. He said their computers were running bad. Said they were having problems with the app. I don't have any cruises booked with Princess right now-I may not do them again. Have liked their product, but when I spend thousands of dollars with them I expect a rep on the phone to do what I ask for.I realize that he probably gets a cut for any thing he sells, and their ships are full and they can do anything they want to do to us, but it does not mean I have to like it!!!

booked on board for a 100 pp deposit. When I cancelled they tried to tell me that they would have a 900 penalty because after 2 months it reverts back to regular policy. I asked them how they were going to collect that? I had only paid the 200 and final date is 2 months away Had to talk to a suprervisor to get it fixed .

When we were on Allure in January the cruise director said all Oasis Jazz on 4 were scheduled to be converted to a smokeless casino by April. I guess they have. No way can they duplicate that club atmosphere outside when the weather is bad. Acoustics and atmosphere will not come close. And I bet that within a year the jazz groups will be gone too. Anyone want to take me up on that one? The CD said there is still a jazz club on Icon. For now. I'm sure that casino will make them more money-no question about that. Another move to standardize all the customers and decrease offerings.

INTERESTING. We were on the Allure last week and there were a lot of kids on board for January. I just assumed parents taking their kids out of school. Maybe there was more to it. Didn't know about Yeshiva. Thanks

Tickets. Cruise director said April this year

Cruise Director on Allure says that no way because someone up in Royal developed the app and will not change it.

Just a further update from this cruise. Out of 39 people in this group 11 have tested positive since we got back. All drove to and from the ship. Symptoms range from very mild to the worst they have felt in their life.Most of us did not wear masks, neither did 95% of people on board-workers or guests. All of us were vaccinated, some have had Covid previously. I guess you can either say we are careless for going, or this is the new normal and it's how life will be from now on. Take your pick.

Sailed the Allure last week from Galveston. My wife and I are D+ but this was our first on an Oasis ship-wow what a difference. Was it perfect? no. but it was a lot of fun in so many ways. We are retired teachers living in a resort in south Texas. I am a travel coordinator volunteer and had 40 people on board.Some had been on Oasis class, some had not cruise at all. Generally the ship made a good impression and they had a good time. The inevitable size question came up but was in the minority. The elevators are like a microcosm of the experience. There is no way that any elevator system can take the full load at dinner, shows letting out, embarkation, or just when everyone is there. Waits to get on sometimes were 10 minutes or so. They were frequently full. But-you cannot have the attractions you have on Allure without a crowd to pay for it. Mama Mia cannot be done with its 30 or so cast, without a big ship to support it. You will know there are people on with you. If that bothers you do not pick this class. When we sailed last week a ships officer said that we were at 5700-double occupancy capacity. In January. No holiday. Not spring break. Just normal. Embarkation, Debarkation-went like a dream.The new terminal in Galveston worked like a dream. No. lines no delays, no problems. We did something different this time. We ate lunch before boarding at a new seafood restaurant in Galveston called Katies. If you want fresh seafood, this is the place. They have their own fleet, and know what to do with it. I kind of liked not having to hunt up lunch on board-I know I paid for it, but seafood that good is worth it. Luggage was in room by 3, Ship left on time, no problems at all Service and training. We were a group of grouchy old people sometimes hard to please. I did not hear any complaints about any service-many compliments. Hats off to the training- it shows. Food- we ate in Chops, Park 150, and Giovannis. Had most dinners in MDR. 3 Breakfasts in MDR. Some in Windjammer. Food was consistently good, fresh and well served. Of course the speciality restaurants are better-its what we paid for. The menu in the dining room is smaller than I remember. They do repeat some of the items each night-shrimp cocktail most nights for example. I always found a couple of things to order, and was pleased with the entire food service. I am, admittedly a little like Mikey and eat most everything, but most nights most people liked the choices. I would not want to see it go down any more though. Taste of Royal was superb. Did not try all the food venues-too many for that. Sorrentos pizza was nice at midnight. Breakfast in Solarium was packed. Had the only omelet station onboard. Only eggs Benedict was in dining room. Windjammers was small, always found a table though. Park Cafe had a nice assortment of Breakfast and lunch items and was much less crowded. Hot dogs at the Doghouse were very good. Wine list was adequate, cocktails were well done. The diamond system loaded on your Sailpass card works like a charm-we are not big drinkers and the best we did in a day was 7/8 available to us.Didnt need the drink package. Entertainment- this is what we went for and were not disappointed . Mama Mia, the Aqua Show, and The Ice show were fantastic. Thats why you wait for elevators-great. The talents at all the shows was over the top-best I have seen on a ship. One hint-reserve the shows at the pool and the ice rink early in the cruise. They had to cancel some of both due to seas that while they were not that high, featured unpredictable waves that stopped the show. They rescheduled -thats why you want to get them early. The 2 comedians were about average- they do a g rated show in theater first night then adult the rest of the week in Comedy club. Luke warm reviews. The headliner was very good. Singer named Clint ..... The Jazz club featured a fantastic quartet and visits by several members of the orchestra and the headliner for a jam session usually in their last set Royal in their infinite wisdom is closing the jazz clubs and replacing them with smokeless casino. The band for now will play at other venues on board including the Promenade which is totally unfit for serious music. Noisy, traffic, bad acoustics. No dance floor. I have a separate thread on here about this if you want to discuss it. Too bad. The house band was Wanderlust-very good at what they did-mostly top hits. Dazzles is a strange place. The way it is set up half the chairs face away from the band. A band is too loud to talk over, but it is a. pretty place for sure. The floor is glass, not suitable for any serious dancing. Flame me if you want, but the only glaring mistake in entertainment is that there is no country band on board. They had one the first month and it was taken away according to the cruise director. He says he asks for it back in his weekly report but no result. Wonder has one! There were probably 3000 Texans on board-someone in Miami needs to talk to the guests and the cruse director. Royal is way too top down on this one. There are 31 musicians on board. They were all great . No classical music either . Rosario Strings gone. The Schooner Bar was packed-he was very good. Bow and Stern guitarist was good, Boleros had a very good latin band. All in all, what is on the ship is first rate. If they leave it its ok. If they start cutting it will sail without me-not that they care. I am 71 and not the market Royal is aiming at. Ports- Roatan was fine-good beaches, small pier area, Costa Maya-did the bird Aviary this time. Only 14.00 Maybe best value on the trip. Lots of colorful birds and it is over the dolphin tanks so you can see everything there too. Cozumel-rained all day, not fun for anyone. Never planned to get off, been there done that. Snorkeling is good, Mayan ruins not big-go in Costa Maya or something. Shopping is good I hear. Misc. All in all it was a very good cruise. So good that we booked a 14 day on Symphony TA in October. You cannot do everything on an Oasis class in 7 days. If you really like small ships-this is probably not your pick. But there was a lot to do and it was really fun. Covid was on board-We have had 8 positives in the first 24 hours back. Not many masks being worn, so be aware. Never mentioned of course on board. We did have to turn around the first night to get within helo range from Galveston for an air evacuation. 3 ambulances met us in ports. Not all that unusual. Price for a balcony was good, no complaints there. All in all I was not ready to leave.

To answer the occupancy question we were in Theater waiting for Mama Mia to start and there was a ships officer-hotel side I think-4 stripe it looked like and I asked her. Not enough families using triple occupancy to boost it to technical full. level. Sometimes Guest Services will tell you. Sometimes CD will tell. I really feel that Royal is trying to force or attract only people that all do the same few things-no room for different desires. Even if you do not like Country you have to admit that there is at least a few people in Texas that do. Jazz lovers are a lot smaller group, dancing is gone-no floors. We had a group of 250 polka dancers on board. No floor so they floored over the ice rink for them. Condensation makes it impossible to slide your feet, and it does not work. Floor in Dazzles is glass-pretty, but no slide. Boleros has some type of tile stuff. Dance floors are made of wood. Period. That is for real dancing-not just standing and twitching. Hasn't been part of Royal for a long time. Why we do Princess when we want to dance-ballroom, country, Latin, etc. But I digress.

I think live entertainment is in danger period. on Allure there are 31 live musicians. Some bean counter is trying to figure out a way to reduce that I bet. They were all tremendous last week-great talent. The informal jam sessions in the jazz club were mind blowing. The idea of a ship that big is that you put up with things like the long lines at the elevators as a trade off for more variety over smaller ships. The last night was a country dance. Canned music because they had no group for it. Future? Hope not but the new normal is upon us. Allure sailed 100% cap last week in January with fewer families than most out of Galveston .. I know the companies are trying to make up for last 2 years but I would think filling the ships would be an indication that things were on the right track and to leave it alone?

They are gone-just a matter of time in the next few months. Every thing is numbers and I am sure that is the business way, but I also doubt that there is an amenity on board that has a majority of passengers doing it during the cruise. Some people never see any shows, some never get in a pool, or ride the zip line. Lots of things on board are done by a minority but what do I know?

Just off the Allure and was told by Cory the cruise director that Royal is taking out all the jazz clubs on Oasis class and replacing them with smoke free casinos. Time frame is April to be done. It is not on the website deck plans as a change but there you go anyway. It is I am sure based on numbers from Wonder, and the business of Royal is to make money, and the 80-100 of us that were in the jazz club cannot compete with all the gamblers this will be attracting..All that being said-I still don't like it. It was the only semi decent dance floor, the atmosphere was great, and there is no way to count if anyone goes on a cruise for a jazz club. I am sure the gamblers will love it, but there was only 1 jazz club and there is already a casino there with 1/2 non smoking..They say that at least for now, the jazz band will stay and play in the Promenade-a totally inappropriate venue for jazz, Dazzles, Schooner and outside in Central Park. I hope that the jazz band does not go the way of the country trio that was on Allure the 1st month and then taken away. Whoever in Miami does assign the bands must have a different mind. Why put a country band on a ship with several thousand Texans on it? I know-don't bother flaming me-not all Texans like country, but some of us do. The only country band on Oasis class right now supposedly is on Wonder. Icon will start with a jazz club-at least for the beginning. I will write what other wise was an incredibly good week on Allure later, but wanted to put this out on its own. Cruise directors apparently do not have. any power getting bands they want-or so Cory told us. He says he asks for one each week in his report. No response from onshore. Top down for sure.

just an update on my original post. I managed to get 200.00 from AA by filing a complaint. Said they gave it to me as a good will gesture. Better than nothing!

kikkib-if that is the case then probably all the offers on there are the same? If so that is really underhanded. Its their cruise line but I don't have to sail it. Still can't get past the age limits on shore excursions especially in Cozumel. Just came off 14 days on Princess-more and more it is what cruising on Royal used to be. I couldn't hold the page long enough to read the fine print-kept going away.

just tried website and then called-technical difficulties-call back in 2 hours. Been that way all day. The only fair thing to do would be to extend the Black Friday sale another day-any bets?

Just got off. Island was closed at first, but lines got longer at Coral and they opened up Island. Dine my way worked well-we had 5:20 and did not wait at all. Palm is fine if you are aft. I thought Coral or Island very much easier to get to .

This was our first post covid cruise on Princess. We have been on 31 total, Royal, Carnival and Holland post covid shutdown. It was interesting, well run and well worth the money. Princess is doing a good job. This cruise started in Quebec City and ended 14 days later in Ft. Lauderdale. The only real problem we had was not with Princess but American Airlines. They cancelled our flights from Brownsville, Texas and by their own admission failed to contact me. I know I should have monitored the flight but never dreamed that they had. lost my phone number and did not send me an email-their story, not mine. Any way we ended up flying Macallen,tx to DFW to Philly to Quebec. Started at 6 am.They left our bags in Philly and had them for 36 hours when they magically appeared on ship even though they said they were not coming. On the way home we had a 3 hour wait in FLL that was 1 hour late because they had to have their logbook signed. Then a 6 hour lay over in DFW. You can't make this up. They actually took 6 people off the plane in Philly because it was overweight. Last time we flew AA in March they spent 6 hours on the tarmac in FLL because of various reasons. I had points and they are all gone and I am glad. Anyway to the cruise. Overall the food was good. Sabatinis and Crown Grill were great-ate too much. Main dining rooms were about as usual-seems fewer menu items than used to be by a couple but I always found several choices. My wife is pickier and she had something to choose from all the time. The buffet was very good for breakfast, just average at noon and dinner. The Salty Dog grill was fantastic and the International cafe was just down the hall and very good all the time. The wine list has gone away-they have one , but it is much reduced. Vines was not anything special, and the selection on the plus list was skimpy. Usually not even by winery, but only a pinot or riesling. Rather disappointing . Where the plus package is a deal is with mixed drinks. There must be hundreds to choose from, and about all are under 12.00 All seemed rather well mixed too. Tea was Twining and Bigelow, but you had to watch they didn't put in Lipton, as they considered it to be tea. The Chai Latte on 5 was very good, don't drink coffee but heard no complaints. All in all the food was very good. Service all over was excellent and a real pleasure. The guest services were actually going to send a person to the airport to get my bags but we found out it had to be me due to customs..Every employee from officers down went out of their way to be helpful. After spending hours chatting with AA this was a great thing and well worth it. Kudos to Princes for their training program-way better than other lines. Condition of the ship-this is our 3rd time on this ship and I really did not notice anything amiss. Previous cruises had a smell in front of the pictures-Explorers area. Not this time. No complaints. Entertainment was very good which was good because they used each main theater act twice. Comedians, singers and everyone. The production crew were good, the first night was a lot of opera, but it was well received.The CD was Kristoffer-leaving in 2 weeks at the end of his contract. Very energetic, and funny. Young but very good. The music was good. The show band had 2 female singers and did a wide variety of music. The Crooners was as good or better than we have seen.A great duo doing classical, and a guitar player or 2 kept music going all night. Entertainment very good with several couples dancing. Well. done. The ports were fascinating-especially the Canadian stops. We cancelled Bar Harbor due to high swell for the lifeboats.Took 3 hop on busses and that is really the way to go. We had room p 329 and it was noisy. Cabins above us, but sounds were not that. All in all an excellent cruise.The ship was well run and in good shape. Princess still puts forth a fine product. and they will do well in this era. The ship was only 2/3 full-1940/3100. Therefor lines even at elevator were very short. Embarkation/deembarkation went well with that ratio.If you have any questions ask them on this format. Had a very good time-14 days not enough.

Kay S-you are right-you should see what Royal is doing with age restrictions in Cozumel, Roatan Costa Maya. At 70 you are too old to ride the trolley into Cozumel and shop around the square, at Roatan a 3 hour fishing trip is a no no if you are 71. At least Princess hasn't started that -yet-.

Oh- I forgot this comment-obviously my old age- This is from the complaint resolution desk which I was told is as high as I can go. The age restrictions-she said are put into place for "the safety of all our guests". I am sorry that at age 71 I have put your safety at risk by wanting to ride the trolley into Cozumel, or fish offshore for 3 hours in Roatan. Did not know that I was endangering the rest of the 6000 guests on Allure by my reckless behavior and will stay in my rocking chair or wherever they put me on ship so as not to put my fellow passengers at risk! I do not make this stuff up-This was a true comment.

Last experience with Royal to report. Tried calling-waste of time. Shore excursion only communicates via email. Was given to a resolutions desk. She told me that there is no one higher than her I could talk to and there was nothing that could be done anyway. On top of it all, some of my people say the app has different shore excursions on it than the website and different age restrictions-so what do you believe? Unbelievable chaos! I'm done with Royal and advising all my friends to do the same

I wonder if the insurance is the explanation why just these ports and why just on Royal cruises?

We started on Royal for the dancing-partner. It is mostly gone-with the exception of Latin. Freedom class does have a Boleros for latin-you will not be the only ones there. The rest of the ship is pretty hard to find danceable music. The live bands tend to be more modern rock and will not fit your needs. A better alternative is Princess-way better venues and music for dancing. We have gone on several of their ships and make a serious effort to have wood dance floors and music. Royal? Good luck.