ronaldfelder

Years ago Princess was more of a 4 star line(out of 6) - today its more like a 3 star.

 

The shame of it is that Princess took over Sitmar & ruined it!

 

The cruise line industry has changed completely. Our host Doug, tho somewhat knowedgeable doesn't have the experience to really appreciate what it was to sail at the end of what I call the best of the cruise ship eras.

 

Again do you think this decline amongst all lines was having to compete with Carnival. They having a cheap price for a cabin caused the others to slash prices to compete. Once they slashed their prices of their cabins they no longer could afford the luxuries that they were giving the customers.

 

I've always felt this and that Carnival did more harm then good.

 

When I wanted to make reervations for my 2003 cruise Princess had decided not to sail in the Carribean so I went with Royal Carribean. Latter Princess changed their mind. I decided to leave my reservations with Royal Carribean. I was somewhat dissapointed, but being it made my daugther happy i'll stick with them for atleast one more cruise.

 

Ron

Besides decor, how else is Princess different today thani t was 30 years ago. How did it change itself to be like Royal Carribean which is what was said.

Ron

I found this on a website, I don't agree with it. After all we've said here it's saying just the opposite. your thoughts.

Hope it's ok to copy from another website.

Cruising: Less Than Half the Price Versus 25 Years Ago

MIAMI, March 14

Despite reports that cruise prices are at their highest level in several years due to increased demand, a cruise vacation is a much better bargain than it was 25 years ago.

The current minimum price of a seven-day Carnival Caribbean cruise from Miami is $599 -- just as it was 25 years ago. But when adjusted for inflation, a seven-day Carnival cruise that sold for $599 in 1980 would cost $1,373 today.

"Price is not the story -- it's value," said Bob Dickinson, Carnival president and CEO. "And when comparing today's ultra-modern 'floating resorts' to cruise ships of 25 years ago, your $599 buys so much more."

Indeed, where older ships were mostly converted transatlantic ocean liners with smallish cabins and little in the way of on-board amenities, today's cruise ships are stocked with features such as an array of formal and casual dining options, expansive spa and children's facilities, soaring atriums, and double-width promenades lined with myriad entertainment venues -- all available at roughly half what vacationers paid in 1980.

"There's really no comparison between the seagoing vacations of today and yesterday. Everything -- from dining options and health and fitness centers to children's facilities and in-cabin amenities -- has been upgraded dramatically. Factor in today's affordable pricing, and cruising is the best vacation value, hands down," Dickinson said.

In addition to a greater variety of culinary choices -- from expansive casual poolside eateries with 24-hour pizzerias and New York-style delis to intimate upscale supper clubs -- today's mega-liners feature a seemingly endless array of bars, lounges and nightspots, everything from sports bars and wine bars to multi-level theaters showcasing lavish Vegas-style revues.

Staterooms are not only roomier but ships feature more ocean view and balcony accommodations than ever before. For instance, 80 percent of the 1,062 staterooms on Carnival's 88,500-ton Spirit-class ships offer either an ocean view or private verandah.

Even younger cruisers have spaces to call their own, with expansive children's facilities -- as large as 4,200 square feet on Carnival's 110,000-ton Conquest-class vessels -- stocked with computer labs, indoor climbing mazes, arts and crafts centers and more.

Internet cafes -- unheard of 25 years ago -- have also been introduced, enabling guests to access e-mail, surf the Web, and send video postcards.

And today's health-conscious consumers have access to spacious health and fitness centers with equipment and pampering treatments rivaling the best facilities ashore.

Carnival, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL; LSE) (NYSE: CUK), is the largest and most popular cruise line in the world, with 20 "Fun Ships" operating voyages of three to 16 days in length to the Bahamas, Caribbean, Mexican Riviera, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, New England and Europe.

The line currently has two 110,000-ton SuperLiners -- Carnival Liberty and Carnival Freedom -- scheduled to enter service between now and February 2007.

Ron

Princess is a different story. They are really completely different from what they were even a few years ago. They made a conscious decision to essentially abandon the market segment they'd played in for over 20 years, and to go downmarket to compete with Royal Carribbean. Judging by their successes since GRAND PRINCESS was launched, I would say that this was a sound business decision - but it is sad to see it happen from the point of view of someone who knows what Princess used to be.

As you knowi've never sailed on Princess. Kindly tell me the differences between Princess of old and present day Princess.

Like to hear peoples opinoin on this one. do you think the quality of cruise lines and their serive has gone down do to competition created by competing with Carnival? Carnival has always been a cheaper priced cruise and for the others to compete they had to slash prices for the cruise and this caused a cut in serivce and quality. Just my opinion. Any thoughts or comments on this one?

Ron

I suppose the people who sail now a days will never know what it is really like to go cruising iwht excellent service and food. All without nickeling and diming you for every little thing.

They think things are absolutley first class when they sail on Royal Carribean or Carnival.

I have every lunch and dinner menu served to me when I was on Sitmar. The meals were out of this world. They don't let you have the menus and they aren't close to being fancy looking, or have meals to die for.

I thought i'd sail on Princess thinking that since they absorbed Sitmar that they'd have their touches. Well it sounds from the posts that they are no better than any of the other mass marketed ships.

Fairsky was great, but prefer the size of Fairwind or Fairsea. They looked and acted like ships since they were ocean liners.

Ron

how did the royal carribean cruises of the 70's and 80's compare to home and sitmar?

also where do you think sitmar would be today had boris vlasov not died?

Ron

why can't the lines of today, even the mass market lines give serivce on the level of Home and Sitmar? It's just as easy to cook good food as it does bad food. Same for the rest of the service.

Must be a reason, but I don't know what it is.

Ron

How come Princess didn't allow Sitmar to run as an independent cruise line like Carnival is doing with Princess?

Ron

There a few things that Sitmar did with a touch of class that you odn't see now. I liked the passenger book. It showed your trip and where you went along with the name and town of origin for every passenger on board. I also recall that whenever they presented your plate at a meal the Sitmar twisted rope logo was always placed at the 12 0' clock position. I also liked how they served the vegetables. Your dinner came with the entree on it but they served French style the vegetables. Not like today where everything is already on the plate. A rather small thing, but it gave a touch of elegance and class to the meal.

I've never sailed on the Home line that is why I can't compare.

Ron

what gives? i found this web site http://www.cruiseserver.net/travelp...r/ship_cams.asp. It supposedly has a bridge cam from the TSS Albatross. It's in German so I don't know what it says. I do know that it's supposedly at the ship breakers. Anybody know the truth about this web site.

Also do you think you got more for your money back when Sitmar was around than you do today? They seem to nickel and dime you now even though the cruise ticket might be less than what you paid on Sitmar. I remember paying in 1977 $1500 that's with a single supplement of 150% an outside cabin on Europa deck. That came with an upper and a lower. This price included my air fare to Los Angeles to catch the Fairsea. Soda was included with the meals and photos were only $4. I know inflation has jacked up prices but I still feel you got a better deal back then.

Any opinions, comments.

Ron

is there a reason that no cruise lines except msc (beleive those are the initals) and Costa use an Itailan dining staff and Italian Officers. Never sailed on Princess, but I bleive when they first took over Sitmar they used their Italian Officer staff. Do they still do this?

I know Princess took the name of Circolo del Commandte' for previous sailers and translated it to English. The Captain's Circle. Can't beleive that they couldn't keep the Italian name.

Ron

how did home line which i never sailed compare to Sitmar? I know that they were Italian too.

Ron

is cost the reason why ships don't have an Italian crew and dining staff? Shame if it is.

Ron

reason i heard that the Fairsky was equipeed with steam turbines was that the ships crew was already trained in operating steam equipment do to them bein on the Fairsea and Fairwind.

i too have fon memories of Sitmar. I'd still sail them if they were around today.

Sailed on the Fairsea the first time at Christmas of '77 for a 11 day Mexican Riviera cruise. Followed by a 10 day summer of '78 Carribean cruise on the Fairwind. Being that long you took in the eastern and souther route. Summer of '79 another Carribean cruise. This time a 7 day cruise. New Years '82-'83 another 10 day Fairsea Mexican Riviera. Finally New Years '86-'87 a 10 Carribean cruise.

I wish the ships of today were Italian. Both in the officers and especially the dining room staff. Does Costa come close to this?

For three straight cruises I had Alan Kent as cruise director. Anyone know what happened to him? I'm saddened to hear that the Fairwind is being broken up for scrap and that the Rairsea is heading that way too.

Back then perhaps I cruise cost more, but they included everything. They didn't nickel and dime you to death to make up for the low fare as they do now.

I still have my glasses that they gave out at the Circolo del Commandante receptions. That has become the Captain's Circle on Princess. They couldn't even keep the Italian name. I wish that Princess had allowed Sitmar to run independently as Carival allows Princess.

I remember sailing with Capt Rudolpho Potenzoni and Capt Lagomarceni. Not sure of that spelling. The other captains I don't remember.

Tell me if you remember these captains and other memories you have of Sitmar.