CruiseCrabs

6 minutes ago, dog said:

I filled form in and my booking still shows for October 20/25- give it a few more days. The new cruises for replacement should show up online April 30 th.

I appreciate what you are saying but the transatlantic is a one-shot itinerary and Princes shas informed all booked passengers that it will be shortened by two days and depart our of Barcelona with a different itinerary rather than departing our of Southampton. This also does not address the duplicate booking.

So, to be even further transparent about this exasperating mess. The Star transatlantic was booked months after its planned launch for a reason and the price point for a suite was decent for a new build. Now that the ship’s (potential) transatlantic will be its third sailing and a very different itinerary than what we booked save for the actual crossing of the Atlantic. Given the slow rollout of elements on the Sun, a transatlantic with the possibility that some venues may not be operational and it may sail with limited or no entertainment just doesn’t seem like a great vacation. 

I was excited for the promise of the new builds and opportunity for Princess to reclaim a little of its luster and fix its wonky tech on its site and app. I really don’t think leadership—yes, Padgett—cares about the brand.

We booked a familiar ship and route in the transatlantic’s stead since we were after a UK departing transatlantic on the sphere class. Its was a frustrating experience. Friends couldn’t see the cruise online—they had to call. My account is not showing the booking but it is showing both the transatlantic and a duplicate transatlantic booking, which calls into question how booked these ships really are. My confirmation number also cannot be found by the app.

Few businesses survive operating like this, folks. 

1 hour ago, daydreamer16 said:

Currently on the Grand Princess with the plus pkg & very disappointed with wines in the mdr. Yesterday I saw a waiter carrying a tray with 14 glasses of wine to 2 tables. Reds & white of different hues, but no tag or receipt as to what each was. All I could think of was, no way that waiter knows which of those areCabernet Sauvignon , Pinot or Malbec etc☹️ We’ve been going to Vines each night before dinner to pick up a glass!

Plus is awful. We did it once and ordering wine was akin to wine roulette… and much of the experience wa awful. Thankfully, you get to choose wines and vintages with a limited list with Premiere but I would argue that other lines treat their customer with more respect. With the Star issues, we have been looking and may defect to a new cruise line. This is not the Princess that convinced me that cruising was a good idea.

Mr. Padgett, as a process shareholder and a Princess loyalist, I regret to inform you that your rein has only devalued the brand by consistently disappointing your loyal customers and new bookings in equal measures. Your inability to project plan in an effective way to not disappoint booked guests and turn Princess into a weird money grab that often doesn’t make sense embarrassing and I can no longer steer people to the brand. I’m not sure which bookings will hold or if your cancellations mark an opportunity to mark up booking fees. 
 

You made the launch of the Sun a nighmare that is having a sequel with the Star. What is next? Before you tank shares to pandemic levels, consider the fact that the Sun has not delivered on most of its promises, something that has never been seen before. 
 

if you are thinking of adjusting price points on premiere and plus again. Don’t. You don’t get pricing because your cruises are comped and you aren’t asking the right people questions. You may not care about your aging Eleites but your Gen X customers who are at or near Elite are not amused… and can book other cruises who deliver more for less.please step down and let a mindful person explore the brand in its totality and return the brand to its unique niche without sky coasters that overlook the Sanctuary and agility courses that are I’ll conceived. Princess is not a family brand. It is an escape from the day-to-day.

The Sun delay combined with where the price points are for alternative bookings (versus the competition) really took a toll today and I’m finally fed up.

On 4/1/2024 at 3:02 PM, Thrak said:

 

I take it this is in response to the use of the term "Duck Tape". The original item actually was named Duck Tape for the fact that it was made of "canvas duck" cloth. The more modern term Duct Tape is a weird misnomer as the tape is not rated as something to actually use for duct work.

🌈⭐

The Grand had spin classes last time I was onboard. I’m not going to say they were frequent or convenient, but they had them.

On 3/20/2024 at 2:18 PM, steilkurve said:

Hey all. 

 

We’ve booked cabin 17629 for a Novembre sailing. All that’s the left for the sailing we want. Wondering about potential noise from above.

 

It is located right under the Sanctuary, more specifically under the cabanas you can rent.

 

Does anyone who has sailed on Sun Princess so far got any experience with these suites on deck 17? Noisy?

 

Thanks in advance for the thoughts.

After being awakened by scraping sounds while loungers were dragged around at dawn by guests and crew, we prefer rooms above us. 

On 3/25/2024 at 3:10 PM, kbconthemove said:

Any thoughts on this cruise situation would be appreciated.

My first Princess cruise was a 16-day Hawaii cruise in an inside cabin. We popped on the bridge cam when we wanted to check the weather, time, etc. but had no complaints. If the weather is good, you will likely find a deck chair somewhere between naps and activities so a window or balcony isn’t that important. Enjoy your cruise!

On 3/29/2024 at 10:24 AM, Cruise Raider said:

I actually meant so I could turn it up so I don’t have to stick my head in the hallway to hear the announcement.  The emergencies would come through as normal. 

I wish they would drop a transcript into the app.

On 3/26/2024 at 3:58 PM, partybarbie said:

I really want to attend. We bring formal clothes, so no worries there. I think it’s pricey, but I will go at least once. Since we’ll be in England, might even wear my fascinator. 

But… but… fascinators are day wear. Rock a tiara!

On 3/27/2024 at 5:11 PM, Astro Flyer said:

The article I shared in post #58 has info from a travel writer who went to Spellbound. Although the dinner was not included in his experience he did describe more about it including writing:

 

“Guests will start the evening with dinner in the Horizons Dining Room, choosing from a menu not found elsewhere on board”.

Also in the screenshot posted by ‘azbirdmom’ dress pants and blazer with a collared shirt & tie are allowed in addition to a suit & tie.

 

For us, this is not that formal…

1 hour ago, Snaxmuppet said:

We are thinking of doing the Pilates classes but we have never don't it before. Has anyone done them on the ship (Sky)? Do they cater for beginners? I know that being a beginner at these kinds of classes can sometimes be very intimidating.

Most group fitness classes onboard are very watered down and, if they are following the brand they claim to, modifications are available to accommodate most. The classes should be floor-based as well, which doesn’t have the learning curve of the various equipment.

On 3/4/2024 at 10:56 AM, Wishing on a star said:

I am usually a 'girl who wants to have fun'...

But...  ducks????

On this I am a 'curmudgeon'...    Sorry....  

I see this like any other thing when there are those who think they can make their own use of a general public space.

I guess I don't really care about your duck, what it looks like, where you are from, etc...

I guess people just think they have to 'leave their mark'.

My motto is Leave No Trace.

If a cruise line wanted to organize hide-and-seek events on certain days...  go for it!!!  

But, I see this differently.

Between this and the Sanctuary rants, you need a cruise stat! Hang in there.
 

The hide-always are all in good fun. If you hate ducks or whatever wee item is stashed, just keep walking when you see them. The plastics give us pause but we don’t duck shame since the intent is positive and they are few and far between.
 

The best thing about cruising is that your cruise experience is yours alone and the less you worry about what others are getting or doing, the more fun you will have. Everyone has their “thing” on a cruise and some just want to bring joy to those who like to spy and capture or re-stash tiny, hidden creatures. 

On 3/15/2024 at 6:56 AM, Easyrider949 said:

Cruise insurance will not cover this situation, for the fact that this was a new Airline ticket and not a canceled ticket, Princess did refund the original EZair ticket amount, but they did not honor our original airline ticket pricing amount. Had they done that, this would not be an issue. This situation just falls outside of any insurance coverage.

Airline pricing is dynamic. There is absolutely no way one can assume that pricing will remain the same on different flights booked some time apart and Princess doesn’t control the pricing. Your belief that they should comp the difference on different business class flights is unreasonable. I get how you feel but this is one of those travel risks that cannot be covered by insurance as they will not cover cost increases. The potential for cancellation and possible venue shake outs are why we don’t book new ships for the first six months they are scheduled to sail.

40 minutes ago, Globaler said:

That’s great but if you are playing then you have to leave your machine if you can’t find a waiter.

The Medallion enables you to summon a drink when you need one, virtually wherever you are.

1 hour ago, chamima said:

 

 

I don't know which "planner" at Princess came up with the new configuration for the Sanctuary but,  like @RMorningglory, who said EVERYTHING I've been thinking, we also have come to see the Sanctuary as an important part of our vacation.

While the Sanctuary changes seem to be concerning for many, this is a new ship that is introducing new concepts. Some will work, some won’t, and adjustments will be made. The shade situation may be something that gets adjusted, especially given that the ship will head to the Caribbean but, again, padded loungers exist in seemingly quiet spaces outside of the Sanctuary space.

The positive side of this is that padded loungers are in multiple locations—not just the Sanctuary—and Princess staff is great about getting to know their regulars everywhere. The Medallion should ensure food, drink, and more will be delivered anywhere. Yes, kids may be present but they usually are close to pools and play so the Sun is great for ensuring they have many spaces to go to, ensuring the spaces without those features may be quiet.

The sculpted loungers by the Sanctuary pool are an odd choice, especially for sun lovers.

It may be an unpopular opinion but I am glad to see that Princess is making the suite experience somewhat elevated. They have room to grow with the new approach but suite breakfast in Sabatini’s and dry cleaning wasn’t enough to make us consider booking suites routinely, especially on routes that we knew we wouldn’t spend much time in our stateroom. The small, interior lounges also seemed tight on Royal class. The exclusive spaces are a nice way to elevate the suite experience. Now, if only they made those Sanctuary cabanas sensible for those with the packages and a suite, which make some of the features redundant.

You can order from anywhere you are, including your table. 

If you have toiletries you must have, either use silicone travel bottles and jars (they do not leak and some can be hung in the shower, which is super convenient), buy at your destination city, buy travel sizes, or buy onboard. If you are using global brand products, they will be available in most major cities.
 

We also take a small in case of kit with bandages, blister plasters, wound gel, cold/flu meds, meclizine, and Pepto. This covers most of the minor issues that can pop up.

We usually leave Rome around 10ish and roll to the port to board with few, if any, challenges or delays. We generally stay in Southampton a day prior to boarding to not worry about traffic issues on boarding day.
 

We hit the International Cafe upon boarding for a light lunch (ham and cheese croissants, salad, and champagne) and boarding drink while watching the safety video so I’m not sure about the MDR. 

5 hours ago, cruisepest said:

We are looking at 2 cruise ducks we found last year on the Ruby Princess. We just bought some to hide on our cruise on the Regal Princess in March. Is anyone else hiding ducks on Princess or is this just a Carnival and RCCL thing?

We make and hide wee felted wool crabs (profile image). They have a great message on their passports about not being crabby on a cruise and staff and passengers seem to love them. Three crabs per day tends to be the average but you need to figure out the magic number for whatever you are doing. 

11 hours ago, memoak said:

So why are people screaming about cancelled cruise. I would expect this and never book a new ship that far out. If you book a brand new cruise ship you should expect issues

 

With a completely new fuel system, larger capacity, complex entertainment venues, etc. that have not been seen on Princess before, we passed on the 1.0 version, the Sun, and booked fall on the Star so all glitches could (hopefully) be dealt with on the new LNG ships could be worked out and Princess corporate’s odd, seemingly protracted and delayed partner negotiations (Love by Britto, Spellbound) should not be an challenge like I think those also were. I also think the Sun was conceived under one leadership team and revised under Padgett’s “carnivalization” of the brand, which would certainly result in delays. 
 

By now, I would expect more ship tour videos from Princess of this is a truly revolutionary experience that was ready to sail, even if that may create confusion as it is so different from the other ships in the fleet. Let’s hope we have seen the last of the cancellations for the passengers’ sake and that Princess can share some good news soon.

21 hours ago, fpsphil said:

Is it just me or is Princess just not drumming up that much excitement over this launch? I feel like I saw the Icon of the Seas splattered on every social media blogger for weeks even before it got to Miami

I don’t think Princess has a bead on how to market any of their products right now, let alone the new ships and experiences. The amount of potential change injected with the new ships will make the experiences across ship classes radically different, which also complicates the strategy. With the lack of communication about the new features, I’m curious what may disappear and not be present on the Star or what may change on the Sun over time due to the investment in radically new concepts and the amount of staff required to make those successful.

3 hours ago, StevenW said:

 

Looking at those stairs, I still don't understand why anyone would want to use those open-air staircases to travel between multiple floors (particularly when the majority of those floors are stateroom floors). Why would passengers use those stairs when passenger lifts & traditional internal staircases would seem preferable to use.

 

Using traditional open-air stairs up on the Lido deck to travel up/down just one floor is one thing, but multiple floors??

 

Perhaps this might be the architect's way of maximising the fire escape capacity (ie. speed to evacuate the ship)...?

 

I'm sure we'll all be checking out those stairs to find the hidden benefit.

I see a few advantages to those stairs. They present a great stair climb workout location without significant course deviation. They offer an opportunity to get from the rear sun deck to a stateroom floor directly and without waiting for a crowded elevator. The landings will like be a popular selfie spot for those who want the wake in the background.
 

As someone who tries to avoid elevators/lifts, the more stairs, the merrier… but I would not want a room or suite adjacent to them!

On 2/8/2024 at 5:24 PM, Wishing on a star said:

Not saying that I think this is good, at all...   But, trying to figure out why such silence...

Apparently,  cruise bookings are at all time highs...  

Financially, cruise lines are trying to bring up their bottom line and stay afloat.

Given these two things..  maybe the cost of creating all of these adds and PR, and putting them out there, is something that they do not feel is necessary.

All I know is, I don't care about slick corporate PR..  in a few weeks, I am hoping that we have plenty of good cruiser feedback and videos!!!

One ship does not make a cruise line and mitigating expectations for the fleet while allowing the new ship to generate its own buzz while working out its issues is beyond wise.

1 minute ago, beg3yrs said:

Could you be more specific here? If the changes weren't airline itinerary changes, whose were they? AFAIK, EzAir doesn't make itinerary changes unless the airline makes a change that causes you to miss your cruise. Otherwise they're pretty much hands off. Even then, if the airline makes an unacceptable change, most of us have to call to get things fixed.

EZ Air was the problem as the original flight continued to exist in the “real world” of the airline. Our reservations were moved to a different itinerary and we could not restore them with EZ Air and the airline couldn’t move the booking because of the fare type. I am abundantly aware of airlines function. I also know how contract flight bookers work. I simply will not gamble on EZ Air for connecting flights or international flights and, honestly, they haven’t been competitive for short nonstops.

We have had two awful experiences with EZ Air (both international) and vowed to never go through it again. Nonstop flights are less of a challenge but flights with connections have been a saga of having to track multiple itinerary changes that were not airline itinerary changes, seat assignments that made no sense, and changes in connecting cities that severely increased the potential for travel delays due to weather. EZ Air was great many years ago but we simply won’t chance it anymore.