Its the journey

Princess often has very good rates, but they are still a premium line.

My first cruise was in 1973. I was five years old. I'm old but there are many older cruisers around.

Horse *****. Forty years ago, ships were a bit smaller, but they fed 1500 a night, all in the mdr with first class cuisine. Ships are larger, but with many competing onboard restaurants today, I think they serve a comparable amount of people in the mdr. They could provide excellent food, they did in the past. It is the severe budget limitations that have lowered the food quality. It isn't because it is impossible to give that amount of people a great dining experience. They used to be able to provide it. The thing that changed it is cutting back and saving money.

Princess is not a budget line. It is a premium line and is expected to have food that is a cut above. Carnival is the budget line and Princess is the premium line of the same company carnival corporation. Just as royal Caribbean is the budget line and celebrity is the premium line of royal Caribbean international. It is important to compare only to lines in the budget category to carnival. Carnivals food is very good compared to what is offered by other budget cruise lines.

Exactly. Carnival's food is way better than any other budget cruise line. It doesn't compare to the ultra premium lines, but it beats the competition in its category. Royal is almost unbearable for me after the Jan 2023 cuts.

Green elites went to the elite lounge Non green elites also went to the elite lounge, but check in took them about two minutes longer than for green elites. Non elites waited in the regular waiting area, greens got to that area a couple minutes faster than non greens. Take away: if you arrive before 11, you still board as an elite. You still go to your special lounge and board first.

The way it worked in San Pedro a couple weeks ago is that everyone was together in the line to get through security. Post security, check in was quickest for those with green. After check in, elites and suites waited in their waiting room, (as usual) and the rest waited in the terminal. At 11, the elites and suites were ushered into the ship. After they boarded, platinums in the terminal were called forward and after they were taken care of, the rest went called by the numbers assigned at check in.

People were going crazy over them on my last cruise (Nov 2023, discovery princess). People with sundaes all over!

Exactly. I want, value and use what is offered by the packages. And since my favorite martini is 19 dollars plus tip without the package, I feel it is money well spent. Yes, I could go without amenities. But I like to spoil myself on vacation. And I love Princess, so I am happy to see them make a profit off me. I'm also happy to give a bit extra to those who make my vacation more comfortable. To each their own.

Not even close. I come out way ahead. But I value nearly everything the package offers, not just alcohol. I take two exercise classes per day, for one 🙂

Mine showed me. There is a spreadsheet and beside each name it shows things like the dining time and packages purchased etc. also there was a code by each name, mine was a "Q". If I were guessing, that code is probably an indicator of the fare paid, just as it is for airlines...but I didn't ask my Stew

It's true. They do know who has packages and who has prepaid grats. They also get a daily printout if any of their rooms has cancelled. My Stew in Dec 2022 on Discovery showed me the printout.

I strongly prefer picking it up at port, because I lose things. But they really push to mail it to people with packages. There was a line, 10 to 15 min max at San Pedro. Worth ten dollars to wait that long.

Well my favorite mdr meal was the loin lamb chops. Of course all the high prices items were dumped, that meal probably cost ten dollars a head to prepare. I used to dream about those loin lamb chops. They were replaced with a lamb curry that costs about ten cents per head to make and is so disgusting that I wouldn't serve it to my dog. But to the people who can't see any difference, bless your hearts. I have one Royal in Feb that was booked a long time ago. No plans to cruise with them again unless they bring back quality mdr food and twice a day room steward. I'm a princess person now.

For some of us, those things are useful The exercise courses they are offering on board are the same ones I do at home. Stretchlab, pure barre, yogasix. And for me knowing I can go to exercise class and keep my daily routine is worth an extra 20 per day (to get premier over plus). I also love gelato and usually spent at least ten dollars a day on gelato creations before it was included So I think I'm the one they had in mind with the new packages. Sorry everyone I hate the mailing medallion thing though. My mail often gets misdelivered and I prefer to pick my medallion up at the port. They do not encourage that though

This has also been my experience on Discovery Princess. My orders were timely and perfect in every way. I had zero problems using the app on the ship. I have had issues with the app prior to my trip, but never onboard. And the food delivery is awesome! Having had it, I can never go back to not having it, so I am a princess only person now

That's the plan As told to me by someone who works for RCI She's not a board member, but she is one of the people who oversees the loyalty program. Of course, who knows if it will happen or when. But this is being discussed.

Just my opinion but Royal is more fun, I am an adult who loves flowriders and slides, whereas Princess is more relaxing, I love the sanctuary where I can have a reserved lounger, on the other lines people are vicious in trying to grab your chair if you so much as shift in your seat. And I can have whatever I want delivered wherever I am. The app has always worked seamlessly for me and I have trouble sailing without it now. Princess has far better food. Royal has deleted the premium choices from their dining room. No more lamb chops, no more veal, the entrees that cost $$ have been replaced by casseroles and the like that cost as much as dog food to prepare. And are just about as appealing. Princess still offers twice a day room service. I openly admit this is very important to me. Royal has a better rewards program, however the executives are thinking of making changes that will eventually make their rewards much less rewarding. I was loyal to Royal, but am mostly moved to princess. Will itch royal completely if their rewards lose value.

I've heard the perks will be watered down. Yes, many will have them, but they will be less valuable. Following in the mode of Princess.

It will save quite a bit of money. They buy liquor wholesale. Their most expensive drink costs around 3 dollars. They make a huge markup profit on the drinks. The average drink on board costs half that for them to provide, compared to that most expensive drink. And they can choose what drinks they offer at a happy hour. The problem with the way it is now, is that a lot of people who are moderate drinkers are happy with the vouchers. They don't need to buy the drink package. If those people are forced back into a limited hours, limited drinks happy hour, to get their drink perk, they will be motivated to buy packages that increase RCI profits. RCI will say, "getting the drinks of your choice, at any time of day, was only a temporary covid related change. We are going back to how it was originally and to be more in line with our premium lines. " This is a piece of what is being discussed.

People are going to scream loudly if that perk is walked back. However, it is being discussed. Seriously discussed.

Lol. No doubt

This would help. They don't intend to take status away from any who have earned it, but the changes would make it a much harder road to earn status in the future without spending buckets of money. It will likely happen eventually.

It's insane and controlling. Must be 100 percent positive or you are banned. I refuse to comment, but subversively like the comments of all who question the policy.