Z0nker

35 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

The marketing team had to cover those as they are still on the website.  Nothing says they won't come back and no one really knows why they have not.  Could have been staffing before.  Stay tuned I suppose.

I’ve heard the signage is still there. I’ll be on Emerald this fall, so who knows? 

On 7/27/2023 at 7:24 AM, LACruiser88 said:

 

 

July 27, 2023 9:48 AM EDT Princess Adds Casual Dining, Exclusive Service Delivery and More to Plus and Premier Packages with No Price Increases

New Enhancements in Value-Packed Inclusive Packages Offer More Than 70% in Savings FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced several valuable new updates to its popular Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, providing guests with even more inclusive options at no additional cost, including casual dining, OceanNow delivery service, room service delivery, and express Green Lane embarkation.       Indulge in more Casual Dining at no cost For voyages embarking August 12 and beyond, guests on Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages will enjoy savory prix fixe dining options in the ship's casual restaurants, including Vines, Salty Dog Pub, O'Malleys, Ocean Terrace, Planks, Steamers, Alfredo's, and GiGi's. The addition of new three-course, pre-fixed menus gives Plus and Premier guests more food options than ever before without any extra charges. For those who prefer sailing on Princess Standard, the casual prix fixe dining will be $14.99 and individual selections will continue with a la carte pricing. "Great food is fundamental to the Princess Cruises experience," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "By incorporating our casual dining experiences into the Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages, guests can now indulge in more memorable meals tailored to their dining style preferences without hesitation, all while enjoying unparalleled value."   All guests can continue to enjoy top-quality culinary options at no additional charge. Complimentary dining options for all guests include exquisite multi-course meals in all main dining rooms, buffet-style delights at World Fresh Market and Horizons Court, scrumptious treats at the International Café, poolside offerings at Slice, Coffee & Cones, and more, as well as traditional stateroom breakfast available using the classic door hanger menus.   Access the Princess Exclusive OceanNow Service Princess sets the bar in service with its revolutionary OceanNow on-demand, location-based delivery service. To activate this industry exclusive service, there will be a nominal one-time activation fee of $14.99 per guest, per voyage. However, the access fee is waived for all guests sailing on Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages.      Complimentary Room Service Delivery Princess staterooms are a sanctuary for guests and views from industry leading large balconies are epic. To maximize the stateroom experience, Princess Plus and Princess Premier participants will have the standard $5 per delivery room service charge waived. That means no extra charges for the ease and luxury of on-demand service anywhere, anyplace or anytime on a Princess ship for Plus and Premier Guests. "We take great pride in pampering our guests with friendly service and exceeding their expectations. By offering the OceanNow Service and Room Service without any additional fees to Princess Plus and Princess Premier guests, we aim to elevate their journey to an unparalleled level of comfort, indulgence and value," said Sami Kohen, Princess vice president of food and beverage.   Seamless and Speedy Boarding with OceanReady "Green Lane" As part of our commitment to delivering the smoothest and fastest embarkation process in the industry, the Princess App now boasts an enhanced OceanReady process. Guests achieve express "Green Lane Status" by ensuring all travel information and documents are complete and by having the exclusive Princess Medallion delivered to home before embarkation day when they'll proceed directly to the ship with no lines or hassles. For the ultimate convenience, both Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages include complimentary Medallion at home delivery. For guests on Princess Standard fares, a nominal shipping fee of $10 per stateroom will be added on Medallion/Accessory orders shipped to home.   Unbeatable Savings in Value-Packed Inclusive Packages These expanded enhancements demonstrate the cruise line's focus on providing unmatched service and value for guests. Princess Plus and Princess Premier packages offer an astounding 70% or more in savings compared to purchasing items a la carte.   Princess Plus For just $60 per person per day, Princess Plus now includes the following at more than 70% off retail value if components are purchased separately, saving guests up to $668 on a 7-Day cruise:   Plus Beverage Package (covering drinks up to $15, specialty coffees, smoothies and bottled water, as well as 25 percent off bottles of wine) NEW! Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for single device Daily crew appreciation (e.g., gratuities) NEW! Two prix fixe meals at any casual dining location per voyage NEW! Free OceanNow Delivery Service Activation NEW! Complimentary Room Service NEW! "Green Lane" Express Boarding (Free Medallion device delivery included) Two boutique fitness classes per voyage (e.g., Pure Barre, YogaSix, StretchLab) Two premium crafted desserts per day Unlimited premium fresh juices   Princess Premier For just $80 per person per day, Princess Premier maximize inclusions and enjoy a more than 75% savings on the following inclusions:   Premier Beverage Package (covering drinks up to $20, champagne by the glass, specialty coffees, smoothies and bottled water, as well as 25 percent off bottles of wine) NEW! Unlimited MedallionNet 2.0 with Fleetwide Starlink and 5G for up to 4 devices Daily crew appreciation (e.g., gratuities) Two nights of specialty dining NEW! Unlimited prix fixe meals at any casual dining location NEW! Free OceanNow Delivery Service Activation NEW! Complimentary Room Service NEW! "Green Lane" Express Boarding (Free Medallion device delivery included) Reserved seating in the Princess Theater Unlimited boutique fitness classes per voyage (e.g., Pure Barre, YogaSix, StretchLab) Unlimited premium crafted desserts Unlimited premium fresh juices Unlimited Digital Photo package / Princess Prizes Complimentary Medallion accessory

Does this mean they're bringing back Plank's and Steamers? I was told those no longer exist.

1 hour ago, SCX22 said:

 

Kind of sorta.  My problem with the Medallions is that there is no trail.  When you go to Guest Services, it's your word versus the electronic record.  With the tickets there's a way to reconcile all the transactions.  I do appreciate that Guest Services is usually on the guest's side when removing unauthorized charges.  The Shops at Princess has switched to a new POS where it actually produces a printed transaction receipt instead of the hand written tickets.  I guess Princess was/is having problems with disputed charges at the Shops.

I see what you mean now. No paper receipt   

On 7/12/2023 at 2:24 PM, c25andeb said:

A word of caution about those medallions.  We were on the Regal from June 25 - July 7, apparently, all someone has to do to get free drinks is to tell the waiter a cabin number and it gets charged to whoever is in that cabin!  When we got home I saw our credit card statement and knew it was too high.  Someone had charged drinks and bar charges and our cabin got the bill for them.  Princess says it will take 21 days to be resolved, but be advised, it could happen to you too.  A relative of ours ordered a ginger ale and the waiter simply asked "what cabin number?"  Hopefully this keeps someone else from getting charged for drinks they never ordered.

What does this have to do with medallions? Medallions actually make it harder to lie because your photo and cabin number show up on the POS screen. 

I’ve been on CC for years and have noticed a change in the reviews. I think the pandemic turned a lot of people into “Karen’s” by leaving them with too much idle times on their hands. Any perceived slight and someone must be blamed. Cruise lines are an irresistibly big target.  Before COVID, there were some bad reviews, some for good reason and others out of sanctimonious self righteousness. Now, I agree that reviews overall, and especially the Top Ten forum, have gotten savage. 
 

We’ve cruised five times since cruising resumed and other than a few misfires on our first sailing, things have been fine for us. 

Cribbage board

On 5/8/2023 at 6:21 AM, ldtr said:

We have all seen areas lacking compared to pre covid during the restart.

 

On my last 3 cruises things seem to be pretty much back to pre covid days. The ships have been fully staffed.  Cabin stewards doing twice a day serice efficiently. All dining rooms and all areas of the buffets open. Food in the mdr back with the strange substitutions gone. Good variety in buffet.  Entertainment plentiful with visiting acts being of good quality. Far fewer issues with ship board charges error.The medallion  App having far fewer problems.

 

 These cruises have been on Royal class ships.

 

My cruises on Grand class ships were earlier in the restart when both staffing and occupancy were limited, so I cannot comment on how they are doing.

 

Certainly there are some permanent changes and there have been a few hiccups on some ships such as the recent electrical problem on the Grand.

 

But in general from what I have seen Princess is getting very close to what we expected pre covid. Certainly the number of complaint posts here on CC seem to have dropped considerably over the past few months.

 

How have your experiences on recent cruises been?

We were on the Royal in April and Ruby the previous September. Everything seemed to be back to pre-covid normality. Food, drinks, entertainment and cabin service were first rate. The Royal cruise was spring break and they were (allegedly) letting kids sail free if they bunked on their parents cabin. The Royal strains a bit with 4000 pax. 

On 5/11/2023 at 6:09 AM, graphicguy said:

Must be some sort of reg or agreement with the local port authorities.  We don’t have those sorts of restrictions in U.S., Mexico or Caribbean ports.

I have been in ports on the West Coast that limit the number of bars the ship can open while docked, but never a complete prohibition.

On 2/22/2023 at 7:59 AM, Cruisin Camper said:

Thanks, I established with others because it is still the inaugural year, the medallions are white.  Wrong color for the sea witch.  Not a big deal, we booked this cruise while on another, so maybe they screwed it up. 

We’re sailing on the Royal Princess in April. Medallions arrived today. Blue seawitch on white background. We are platinum level. 

On 3/22/2023 at 2:13 PM, land64shark said:

I am new to Celebrity. We are on Infinity in the Mediterranean and have a balcony cabin booked. I will admit that I didn't do much research beforehand as I was primarily interested in itinerary (I am getting married in Santorini on this cruise) and I was a bit surprised at the amount of amenities/areas that I cannot partake in. I can't help but notice that the vast majority of posters on here do not book the general population cabins. Will it feel like half of the ship is off limits to me?

 

We sailed on Solstice just before the pandemic in a veranda room. Best cruise ever. Nothing felt second class. Celebrity included a generous amount of OBC and drinks/gratuities/Wi-Fi so it was a first class experience all around. 

On 3/6/2023 at 2:37 PM, wowzz said:

So, when a member of staff asks you your cabin number, and you are in, say, cabin 123 on Aloha, how many  say A123 and how many say Aloha 123 ?

I must admit I have never considered using the name of my deck, I have always just used the initial letter. Perhaps I am in a minority.    

I usually say the name because in a noisy room, B, C, D, E and G sound too much alike. 

3 hours ago, caribill said:

 

I forget where the Star went, but whoever took it probably did not want the CB.

Pretty sure Star Princess is now Pacific Encounter at P&O Australia.

On 3/8/2023 at 11:28 AM, PescadoAmarillo said:

We had an excellent experience with (I think it’s called) My Time Dining on Royal Caribbean nearly 10 years ago. Regardless of when we showed up in the dining room, we would show them our ship card, and were then accompanied to a table for two in the same area with the same servers and headwaiter that we had every night, and addressed by name and asked about our day on the way there. Never a wait. I tried to figure out why it was so seamless and never could, and this was on the Allure running full.

We had the same experience on Royal Caribbean in 2017. 

On 3/3/2023 at 11:35 AM, Cruise Raider said:

Oh yes .. I forgot to mention, I love the On Demand capabilities of the TV now.  Remember how you may have missed one little section of the wake show and watch the whole thing over again to get that part you missed?  
Or when you wanted to watch a certain movie but it was showing at an in opportune time.  Now, you can watch half of it at any time you wish, go out and pick back up where you left off.  
And all the Love Boat seasons are available.  Sometimes, they are just fun to

watch!  

 

Autotips .. so much better for both sides now

Photos .. you can get as a digital download or have them printed right from you app 

 

ok .. I’m sure there are more things that I can rave about

I really think everything is much more to our liking now than ever before 

 

On demand Love Boat episodes are a treat! We always watch a few. 

On 3/3/2023 at 8:15 AM, pmallen said:

We just got off a 15-day Panama Canal cruise (you can read my Live From elsewhere) and we had a wonderful trip.

 

This was our 5th cruise, going back to our first, exactly 30 years ago, all on Princess. I started following Cruise Critic not long after it started in the late 90s.

 

And people here have been complaining that cruising is going to Hell for the entire three decades! We complain about the ships, the ports, the food, the sales,  the CEO, the volume on the movies and more.

 

That's human nature, of course. We're more inclined to share when we're unhappy, than when we're satisfied. But if all I knew about cruising is what I read here, why would I ever go on one??!!??

 

So I thought I'd try something different: what's better? That's right, what about cruising has improved over time? Because there's lots. There really is.

 

I'll go first: coffee!  On our first couple cruises, the coffee was simply dreadful. It came from some sort of concentrate made by people who, I think, didn't really like coffee. Then they added coffee bars for an upcharge, so you had to pay extra for decent coffee. This was a regular topic here 25 years ago. Trust me! Today, the coffee is fine. Not spectacular, but decent, whether room service, dining room, or buffet. 

 

Now its your turn. What do you think has gotten better about Princess specifically,  or cruising in general?

The Princess Plus package is a big improvement. If you can score some OBC in addition, you’ve got an all inclusive experience. 
 

Also, the flexibility of the MDR scheduling is much improved. In the old days, they assigned you a table with strangers at one of two available times. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. 

On 3/7/2023 at 10:35 AM, dandonna said:

We are Elite status so obviously love Princess but this was by far our worst cruise experience. We sailed 2/20 for a 10 day Panama Canal cruise on the Caribbean Princess.

Onboard we met a first time Princess couple who are Celebrity cruise regulars and after our experience on this cruise we committed to May cruise on Celebrity. I will post that review once we return.

So why was this bad cruise bad?

1) This ship looks and feels old. Our balcony & cabin furniture were all beaten up in L256. The room smelled very musty and just needed to be refreshed.

2) Dinner waiting times were a joke. If you had a 6pm in the main dining room you stood in a line of 30 people for a minimum of 20 minutes. Here is the kicker if you didnt have reservations you could go to the 

line on the right and be seated immediately? Why make reservations??? 
3) The medallion app is a joke. It says you can order a drink and have it delivered anywhere in the ship. No not true! We tried it at the spa outdoor pool, we tried it on deck 7 walking area, we tried it on the putting green we tried it in club fusion. It doesnt work and not only that but it self cancels???

4) Do not get a massage on a Princess cruise. Not only are they overpriced but the masseuse spent the entire 75 minutes trying to upsell my wife on every salon service? She paid for a relaxing massage not a sales pitch. Sorry Princess but I am sharing this scheme with everyone all the time!

5) Absolutely terrible steak quality in the Crown Grill not only did I hate my steak but the couple next to me said it was bad then the table across from me also hated their steaks? What is with the quality? I loved going to the Crown Grill in the past no more.

6) Our toliet water twice kept running? Nothing stuck in the toliet but some kind of water pressure problem. No apology no acknowledgment nothing just fixed cleaned and left. Not the Princess I am used too.

7) No deck party anymore? It would have been perfect considering the weather and the fact a crowd outdoors is safer when it comes to Covid or Noro than indoors. Instead they called it a Love Boat gold white  piazza party which consisted of live music but nothing else that ran for 40 minutes but nothing happened other than some ballroom cruise group who just danced. Didnt see anyone in gold or white?? Yawn.

So you may be reading this and saying no

problem for me and that is fine but for a 17 time Princess cruiser this was a disappointment. Yes we will go on another Princess cruise in the future but definitely a different ship. For now Celebrity and MSC will get our business for our next 2 cruises. If Princess wants us back they need to step it up if not we just move on. I filled out the survey and would welcome a conversation but that doesnt seem to happen.

I wish all of you fantastic cruises  this year and beyond.

 

Have you considered taking a break from cruising? 

On 3/7/2023 at 2:11 PM, Vacationdreamer<>< said:

Just got off Carnival Elation yesterday.  
Alchemy Bar was delightful.
Guy's Burgers and Blue Iguana Cantina for the win.
The shows were missable.  The staff was mature and dedicated.

 

We have our first RCCL cruise booked for May and I am a little nervous after reading around this board today.

 

I haven't had a bad cruise yet on DCL, NCL, CCL, or Princess.

We’ll, with an attitude like yours you’re never going to have a bad cruise. 😃

We sailed the Celebrity Solstice to Alaska in 2019. Everything was top notch. I highly recommend giving them a try. Best of the four cruise lines we’ve sailed by far. 
 

If Celebrity did more on the West Coast, we’d be on it. 

We sailed the Carnival Miracle out of SF last May. The demographics were similar to Royal Caribbean. Younger, more diverse crowd than most other lines. Lots of activities especially on the pool deck.  Good bar scene for mixed drinks and craft beer. Hit or miss on wine quality but you can bring on one bottle per adult. Food was solid in the MDR and buffet. Excellent service. Sea day brunch was a treat, don’t miss it. Guy’s burgers and fries were good and the taco joint was decent. Casino was hopping. Pizza Pirate made to order pizza was good, too. The seafood corner that you pay extra for in the buffet is best avoided. The balcony room was spacious. 

We sailed the Celebrity Solstice to Alaska the summer before the pandemic. Everything was top notch. If Celebrity did more on the West Coast we would eagerly sail with them again. 
 

Most of our post-COVID cruises have been Princess because they homeport in SF so we can just drive to the Embarcadero, park, and be out to sea.  Princess is nice enough and a good value. Also took one cruise out of SF on the carnival Miracle after giving carnival a ten year timeout. They’ve improved and we had a fine time, but we definitely prefer Princess overall. 

On 3/1/2023 at 4:22 PM, vswan said:

My husband passed away last week after bypass surgery. He was home one week and gone. I had booked a cruise for 8 weeks after the surgery and was wise enough to by the cancel for any reason insurance. I know the kind hearted people on CC will offer sympathy and prayers, so thank you in advance.

 

We had traveled together on more than 30 cruises and this is my favorite type of vacation and know that I will want to continue. I have a number of questions for those who have needed to make the switch from sailing as a couple to sailing as a solo.

 

I understand that most of the time you will be charged for two people in the cabin, even if there is only one. There are occasionally sales which only charge solo, but sounds like those are far and few...

 

How long did you wait to take your first solo cruise. Did you go alone or take a family member or friend with you? Would you go sooner or wait longer?

 

If you want to purchase the HIA, do you pay once since there is only one passenger or do you pay double. Same with Club Orange.

 

We have not been loyal to one cruise line, but have cruised the most on HAL. I'm only 65, but no party animal. Would you stay with HAL or try something else?

 

Are there things you would recommend for a solo to do? Book more shore excursions versus doing your own thing, etc.

 

Do know that I would probably go to the meet and greets. Husband wasn't a joiner, so we didn't participate.

 

For a little context. Have been sailing primarily in balcony cabins. Enjoy just sitting on my own balcony with a book and cocktail. Don't feel the need to be entertained at all times. Primarily looking to get out of the frigid north to someplace warm. Love to travel and can not see myself at a resort someplace by myself. On a ship there is lots to do and people around.

Sorry for your loss. I know it’s hard (I was a widower in my 40s and even then it was tough.) My dad passed in the fall of 2020. Mom resumed cruising in fall 2022, taking a 7 day out of our local home port with my wife and I. Mom got her own balcony room. Single supplement was around 20-25% on Princess at that time, but I think it’s gone up since then. She had a blast and will be cruising with us two more times. Best of luck to you. 

When we booked an April, 2023 cruise last fall, Princess Plus was still $50. When the price went to $60 they told us they’d honor the old price but “no desserts for you!!”  

As I’m sure others have stated, I’d much prefer the $50 with grats, drinks & Wi-Fi to the $60 one with the fancier desserts. I’d like to think I’ll try the fitness classes but we’ll see. 

On 2/27/2023 at 12:16 PM, a.madruga said:

Anybody seen a juice Bar??

I still haven’t figured that out. And fresh juice appeals to me more than the special desserts. 

4 hours ago, RNRcruisers said:

 

Grossness? I'm curious about what that means. I wasn't thrilled with the menus on our cruise this month, but never went hungry. I have never been on Carnival.

 

We were on the Carnival Miracle in May, 2022, out of SF. Our first time back on Carnival in 10 years. MDR food was surprisingly good. Can confirm that there were no tablecloths and there was singing and dancing. MDR sea day brunch was excellent.