commodoredave

18 hours ago, Sunprince said:

Ok, so for our upcoming Antartica expedition on the Venture, we received an email yesterday titled “We are excited to welcome you onboard for your Antarctic Expedition”. This email provided Antartica guidelines,  what to wear, and other info for Antartica. Noticeably absent was any reference to our Ushuaia charter flight (nor is there any info when logging into our booking), but that is a different issue.  Today, we received a “Correction” email stating that the Antartica email was sent in error and it should have been a welcome kit for the Amazon Expedition.  We DID NOT book an Amazon cruise, we booked an Antartica cruise!  Wondering what is wrong with Seabourn communications. They don’t even know what cruise I booked. Confusing!

Sounds like Seabourn just gave you a free back to back cruise from Manaus to Antartica!🤣🤣

13 hours ago, antsp said:

How close is this to being completely removed 

One poster said they were told that plans were to have it completed by the time the ship reaches FLL. My TA said Princess advised her that the worst would be over by September 23. But who knows for sure.

5 minutes ago, Pink-belle said:

Thank fully Princess 🤣 apparently they should have been there all the time.

 

Our Laundry also made it back took from Sunday until this evening.  Captain circle event, 4500 onboard with 1100 elite! 

Any idea how many will be on for the next cruise?

Just be grateful you are not on the current Sun Princess cruise from Barcelona to Southampton. Guests have been treated to the sounds of jack hammers and grinding saws as Park 19 is dismantled. 
 

1 hour ago, MacMadame said:

That's where we are staying because at the time I booked it, so many on CC were raving about it. Hope we won't be disappointed. I used CC points so price wasn't an issue.

It’s not near a beach, but if you like a newer hotel that is on the river next to lots of shops, bars and restaurants, then you will not be disappointed.

14 minutes ago, Geoffa30 said:

Have taken a screenshot of this particularly for point two to support any complaints we might have if there is noise issue or construction on the TA.

Let’s touch base on the ship. I will send you our suite number this weekend.

- Dave 

Heard back from my TA. Here is the gist of what Princess told her:

- the information about cancelling the cruise because of Park 19 is incorrect and there is no option to cancel our booking with a full refund. 
- there will be no noise issues or construction during our cruise departing September 23.
- Customer Support has advised that they have noted our concerns.  
So, it may be that the unfortunate folks on the current leg are bearing the brunt of the construction noise in Park 19. If so, you have my sympathy and thanks.😊 

4 minutes ago, dog said:

 

Same letter I saw yesterday. Several have gotten it.

Thanks. I have copied and sent to my TA.

- David 

50 minutes ago, memoak said:

I think your chance of a full refund are between zero and nothing. I have been on many cruises where construction going on   Hammering and other noises are not unusual 

I agree. The only reason I raised it with my TA is that other posters have said that Princess has been offering full refunds for pax affected by the removal of Park 19. This is apparently referenced in the Princess FB page, which I do not subscribe to. So, if true or false, I have nothing to lose by investigating and asking for a refund.

38 minutes ago, Sthrngary said:

@commodoredave Allow me to do a different take on this.  Initially, Cruises have created a class system.  Whether a special dinning room or a walled off area, decks for those that could afford it.  Then most of that was transitioned out. This brought first the notion everyone was treated the same when they left their state rooms.  

 

Ships got bigger which is an understatement and with that comes very strict policy and procedures that did not lead to any personalized service.  More like a cookie cutter approach.  The cruise line was looking for a way to increase profit and in doing so attract a different demographic that has more spendable funds.  The Notion of a Ship-within-a-Ship was created.  If my source, a retired captain of NCL is correct, it was originally created by NCL in the form of the Haven. This VIP section with butlers, private upscale dinning, sundecks, pools and hot tubs was created. It cost upwards of 3X the normal fare. It provided all the amenities the huge ship had plus a much more luxurious private area.

 

Other brands came on board. WHY, Profits were huge for this area so why not.  This area was the first to sell out indicating it was a wise business decision.  Reality, we went back to the old days. 

 

Now many brands do some or all of the strategy.  You named one in Cunard. Any time you have something that is something that you pay extra for like all your dining on a cruise, this concept has a part of. Some other lines now offer early boarding for a price.  Early exit for a price.  Specialty Restaurants for a price. Thermal Spas for a price.  The list goes on.  All say, you can have this stuff if you have the cash.  Cash and budget equals class in the context of this description. 

 

When you see someone move past you and get on the ship early, only for an example, it creates a resentment. Add all the other items where someone paid more, and got more to this list. Now, I don't feel this way, but many do. 

 

When you consider some brands, once you leave your stateroom, everyone is treated the same. So drink packages, internet packages, specialty restaurants included, thermal spa included and the list goes on.  Now brands like Oceana are hybrids.  Want the thermal spa, you have to be in the Concierge category or higher or it cost you.  If you are in one of the three upper end suites, you can get 8 guaranteed specialty restaurant reservations instead of 4 (just an example). So, the more you pay, the more you get.  

 

However, the percentage of amenities are far less then on the Mainstream Cruise brand.  The entire ship is like a Haven On Steroid when you get to this point.  Don't worry, it is not free, there is a premium.  Especially for Luxury and Ultra-Luxury.  The difference is it is closer to everyone being treated the same.  Key word closer. That is the point, always there but closer to everyone in the same so called class. The motivation in all cases for the cruise brand, Increased Profits. 

 

Cruise well and enjoy every moment.

Thank you for this great description and analysis. Like you, it doesn’t bother me that some have more or less on the ship, anymore than it does on an airplane. One funny story about resentment: when we boarded our Silversea cruise in Manhattan in June, we were whisked to our ship while the people in the line next to us waiting to board Carnival were in a line that stretched to NJ. We got very resentful looks from them!

2 minutes ago, dog said:

Lorraine Nyberg Smith posted on fb SUN thread the email I mentioned re: cancel for park 19 disappointment. Posted 1 day ago

 

i can’t copy it- maybe some else can so you can show your TA.

Thank you. I’m confident that our TA, who works for a very large agency that specializes in cruises, will get to the bottom of what was offered and who qualifies. Plus, the fact my wife is Elite might mean something to Princess, although those days may be long gone.

22 minutes ago, Geoffa30 said:

Happy to join you at Customer Relations once we’re on board.

Will gladly do so. In the meantime, I have asked my TA if I can get a full refund. 

23 minutes ago, dog said:

On Facebook Sun thread a passenger posted her email offer to cancel without penalty due to Park 19 disappointment.  Many others for different dates received the offer too. Did you?  Next, the restaurant locations will be moved.

Not on the FB feed, but if the offer is still available we may well cancel. Going to speak with our TA today to see what can be done. Unfortunately we are already in England, so would need to find a reasonably priced flight back home to Canada.

Thank you for letting me know. 

11 minutes ago, Geoffa30 said:

Not very happy about the continuing Park 19 dismantling. We’re in a penthouse suite on the TA. Will be our first and more than likely last Princess experience given the cost. If we’re presented with the incessant sound of axle grinders whilst ‘relaxing’ in the Sanctuary for 16 days, we will be requesting significant compensation.

We’re in agreement. Princess has to be aware of the negative experience the construction is causing, and should be willing to provide compensation if they want repeat business.

50 minutes ago, Pink-belle said:

I totally agree, more than 30 cruises with this line.  It wasn’t a cheap getaway, totally wasted money and work leave.  I tried so hard to remain positive but this is my worst cruise experience ever! 

So sorry for this terrible situation. We will be joining the ship for the TA crossing, and after splurging for a Signature Penthouse Suite, feel we may have wasted our money. If our experience is as bad as yours, this will be our final cruise with Princess (not that they would care).

What about cruise lines like Cunard that offer a premium experience in the Grills, but do not have an exclusive area of the ship like The Haven or Yacht Club that is separate. I’ve done the former but not the latter. Is there a significant difference?

I’m not sure RCL/Silversea are any worse than the entire cruise industry when it comes to booking air. In my experience, most are sorely lacking . 
Consequently, we have not opted for cruise air on any line in more than 10 years. 
We book our own, well in advance, pick the routing and airline we prefer, and use points whenever possible. Most recent example was our SS cruise in Japan where we flew JAL to Tokyo from Chicago in business class for a super good fare. 

I hate it when a cruise I booked and was keen to take gets cancelled. Perhaps another line has a similar itinerary…Regent perhaps?

The next leg of the Sun Princess boards on September 23 in Southampton. Are you boarding near the end of the previous cruise from Barcelona, or did you just miss type the date?

6 minutes ago, Khareef said:

Depending on the position of the sun there is a side of the ship in the shade, walking to any pool when you want to refresh yourself shouldn’t be too much of an issue (for most people at least)??

 

And the pool on deck 11 has plenty of space under the lateral roof.

 

 

 

 

Moving around the ship to fight for the few seats in the shade is not my idea of fun. Explora 1 has a paucity of pool seats in the shade and we know from experience that it is worse than other luxury lines we have sailed with.

On 9/12/2024 at 3:08 AM, cruisr said:

The no shade is a little concerning.  Actually, quite concerning.  We love sitting outside, but in the shade of an overhang or an umbrella.  We also love to dine outside, but in the shade.  Is there any outdoor dining which has shade?  

We did our first Explora cruise this past winter in the Caribbean. We loved everything except for the lack of shade in the pool areas which for us is a dealbreaker in hot-weather destinations. We were told that more shade might be added on future ships, but have no idea whether that has been done. 

5 hours ago, memoak said:

Yes you get one elite and one for full suite.  Enjoy 

Does that also apply to Signature Penthouse suites?

On 10/20/2023 at 9:39 PM, scamper said:

This is something they need to take up with their government.  But I would be willing to bet if they did take it up with their government, it will tell them to go pound sand.  Were anyone in a place I visited to say something disparaging to me, I'd tell them they need to dismantle their port.

Resentment to mass tourism, including cruise ships and their passengers, is growing. This is particularly so in highly visited cities and regions such as Barcelona, Venice, Amsterdam and Norway. In fact, Norway has already announced some restrictions on large ships in the fjords.

In this changing environment, smaller ships may become more popular with both passengers and ports. 
In this regard, I recommend the smaller Seabourn and Silversea ships in addition to SeaDream. I am also giving Emerald Yacht cruises a try in the Caribbean this winter.

On 9/11/2024 at 3:48 PM, complawyer said:

please, everybody!  the horse is quite DEAD, lets stop beating it.

 

commodore dave, got the issue resolved to his satisfaction, although he and i had much differing stances, i am truly glad it worked out somehow to his complete satisfaction,

now, lets ALL hope he has a terrific cruise, and wherever he chooses to eat on board, he and his family have nothing but wonderful meals

just remember, he is a disappointed traveler, not the enemy.

 

in much earlier posts, there was a lady who was just as disappointed (maybe more so) that Donna was no longer being featured in the showroom.

i happened to comment that we cruise for the enjoyment of being on a cruise ,and neither the food nor the shows available enter  into our equation.

 

and commodore, once again, BON VOYAGE, and i hope when you get back, you'll let us know how it all went (including any restaurant you may have been in)

I will certainly report back in due course and thank you for your fair and considered comments. 

Hello Ho-Hum. Have not spoken with you since my days on the SeaDream board. Hope you and Blondie are well and continue to enjoy the high seas together.