Kay S

1 hour ago, molly1995 said:

I keep reading reviews on how terrible the food is on the Ruby Princess and now I'm getting cold feet and buyers remorse.   The pictures of food don't look good either. Any have anything good to report. Also heard the pickle ball court was too small to play on.

The food is pretty much same on all the ships.  If you look at pictures of the food on any Princess ship, it will be the same thing.  I'm not certain about pickle ball, but any court on any ship will be constrained by the size of the ship.  Why don't you wait until after your cruise to make these judgments?

2 hours ago, memoak said:

Why are there so many comments about non Princess ships on a Princess thread ?

Welcome to Cruise Critic. 😝

Question:  I used to fill out a form while on board to buy a FCD (deposit).  The card on file was charged and that was the end of it.  Is it now the case that you MUST go to these ONE people to buy a FCD in person (and be subjected to the hard sell)?  I've been gone from Princess for a good while.

51 minutes ago, memoak said:

Except that fast food workers always have name tags with the name of the food company but hardly any of them work for the parent company since most fast food places are franchises with different owners

That still doesn't negate the fact that a person will see a company name tag and associate the worker with the company.  

What is the cost for non-free laundry?

I guess you have a choice:  pay more or make do with what the current situation is in a Premium (Delux, etc.) balcony cabin.

3 hours ago, lstone19 said:

 

But they all wear Princess name tags. By doing so, Princess gives the impression that they are Princess employees and represent Princess.

 

Bingo.

5 hours ago, Harters said:

I'd never be dismissive of someone else's opinion on the food they've eaten. 

The famous (?) Latin quote "De gustibus non est disputandum" applies here.  If arguing about which food is "good" or "bad" was around in ancient times, we can be sure it will continue now on this board and forever in infinity.  "Best Cuisine at Sea" is a marketing tool.  If it gets people to book, then it's working.   What I personally think about any given dish is a different discussion.

(Roughly translated:  "About taste there can be no dispute.")  Can we get back to people's favorites now?  I'm making a list for my next cruise.

7 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Looks to me that they're going back to the way it used to be...before they messed with it.

More or less... I think they heard the complaints.

What does the O and the N and the E stand for?

15 minutes ago, memoak said:

Then we should be screaming about the high pressure tactics in the spa. That and their insistence on waiver forms

 That's another thread, but makes sense.

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I’m waiting for a class action suit against O.N.E. For their “not 100% transparency”.  Above the line.  Probably….honest and scrupulously….maybe not so.  
 

Buyer Beware

I guess this nonsense started after I took my long break from Princess.  Doesn't surprise me.  It's a bigger form of nickel-and-dime, and I hope there will be a suit.  Taking advantage of people is wrong--profitable to Princess, maybe, but wrong.

19 minutes ago, jeh10641 said:

 Mother Nature may have a say in viewing glaciers since most are shrinking alarmingly fast.

 

I wonder if this idea factors into this marketing plan.  They think people are frightened by global warming talk and convinced glaciers are disappearing more rapidly than they are.  I dunno.

Have fun.  The Panama transit is just magical!

1 hour ago, memoak said:

Is there a reason you booked a reserve mini suite or a full suite that doesn’t involve the reserve dining. If you are in a reserve mini the dining is really the only thing extra you are paying for

I "accidentally" booked a Reserve mini once.  I usually do the minis anyway, and I chose one based on location not knowing it was a Reserve.  When I figured out what I had done, I chose to go with it and didn't regret it.  It's true that the dining is the only real perk (not the cheap wine in the cabin--do they still do that?)  

1 hour ago, memoak said:

You can dine together but it will be in regular dining not reserve. I would not give up dinner in reserve even for friends and family. 

Reserve is worth the extra $ (IMO).  The menu is not really different, but the service is outstanding.  On some ships, the Reserve section is adjacent to the main dining area so conceivably you could book a table on the other side of the "divide" for the big family and ask the Reserve host to seat you near them.  They would have a different waiter, of course.  I know, that sound like too much trouble.  😄

Makes me wonder if there are significant numbers of people who worry they won't see glaciers in Alaska?  That seems an odd thing to worry about.  Oh well, I guess the marketing people know more about it than I do. 

Okay, Lamb Lollipops going on my to-eat list.  This thread is so helpful for us newbies!

2 hours ago, help32250 said:

Kay ---

With all due respect, there is no such thing as a "John Padgett" eclipse. 

I guess humor is dead on this board.

4 hours ago, suekel said:

I've done that and received what I ordered on every ship but the Sky.  They were pretty rude about it too.  

I've encountered some rude people on the dining lines before.  Not often.  I have been asking for an egg on the door hanger menu for years and always got it.

When is the John Pagett eclipse?

34 minutes ago, Lmsundaze said:

what are Nono's?

No salt, no spice, no garlic, etc.  pinolover can fill you in.

I love Dover Sole, so I'm looking forward to that.

8 hours ago, bigbeergut said:

I never eat dead fish.  I wish they would focus on better beef dishes.  There is already a wide variety of fish dishes, no need to spend more in this area

Well, no one ever offered me a live fish to eat...  I don't see why focusing on one kind of food would prevent them from improving all the food.

With kids, I would suggest Princess as a better fit.

1 hour ago, memoak said:

Sorry but I find the food at the buffet not of good quality. In fact I can’t even look at it

I don't think the majority of passengers agree with you judging from the crowds!  So, if not the buffet, our friend can go get his breakfast at the International Cafe and take it back to his balcony.