Interesting article regarding Princess design philosophy

[RickEk]

Here's an interesting article that I came across whilst surfing the web...

 

http://www.worldcruise-network.com/features/feature78415/

[Pam in CA]

Excellent article, and one I agree with, with a couple of exceptions. How does MUTS fit in with "comfortable elegance"? And, if they remove Skywalkers, as mentioned in another thread, how does that fit into their design concept?

[kendon]

Thank you, I really enjoyed the article. I'm glad they have not followed the trend of creating a floating shore side retreat like Royal Caribbean and NCL have. Sounds as if they don't plan to either, at least not in the near future (I hope).

[Coral]

While I understand the article - I wish that ships are not identical to each other. I wish they would find a way so that the Crown, Ruby and Emerald don't look identical to each other.

 

Same as - I wouldn't mind if Princess decides to upgrade their room designs. I know this will never happen as it is easiest for their room stewards but making the minisuites a tad wider or adding couches/love seats to insides, outsides and balconys would be nice as opposed to using the same design they have for 10 years....

 

Thanks for sharing. I agree, I don't know where MUTS falls into this and this explains certain things. It makes the Coral and Island seem like radical changes. It also confirms that they won't create a strange one like the Epic.

[paul929207]

Interesting. Thanks for posting

[flamomo]

I, for one, am glad Princess has no plans to leave the quiet elegance of the design of their ships, and turn them into floating playgrounds and shopping malls.

The consistency of the decor makes me feel like I am "coming home" when I board a cruise.

[Coolmama_1]

Interesting article. Thanks for sharing.

[terrierjohn]

Same as - I wouldn't mind if Princess decides to upgrade their room designs. I know this will never happen as it is easiest for their room stewards but making the minisuites a tad wider or adding couches/love seats to insides, outsides and balconys would be nice as opposed to using the same design they have for 10 years....

I absolutely agree with this comment, I hope that the new builds do add a sitting area to their basic cabins, especially the standard balconies, if not then we will be changing our preferred cruise line.

[WeBeGone]

Having just returned from the Allure of the Seas, I'm sticking with Princess from now on. Being on the Allure was like experiencing a 5 star resort, but I never felt like I was on a cruise ship. The "neighborhoods" were fascinating and the Central Park was absolutely marvelous, but it lacked the "being at sea" feel. In fact, having an "inside balcony" that overlooked the Boardwalk, we had to make an effort to even see the ocean. While the Allure was a unique experience, I can't wait to get back on the Emerald in 9 days.

[georoc01]

I think there is room for adding technology to the rooms to make them more comfortable and user friendly.

 

Having stayed at Aria in Las Vegas, your entire room in controlled through your TV. Putting a flat screen with such tech seems like it would be ideally set for place like a cruise ship.

 

The room would know who you are the minute you put your key card in the slot and set all of your room preferences as you walk in the door.

 

Simple things like checking your account balances in your room and ordering room service could be much easier.

 

You could even automate the changeover of the rooms from day to night, simplifying the job for the room steward who seems to get more rooms to take care of every year.

[sashas_mom]

Thank you for sharing this article. I love the familiarity of the Princess fleet. Doesn't matter which ship we're on, I like the similar layout so if you've cruised Princess before, it makes it easier to find your way around.

 

My favorite addition to the ships is the International Cafe/Vines/Piazza....I now choose the ship if it has these features and doubt I will sail on one that doesn't because I enjoy them so much. If I wanted to be in an amusement park or in a city environment I would do a land trip. I love the elegance of the Princess ships and am in total agreement with their philosophy. I hope they don't change, but keep on improving.

 

I do agree it would be nice to have a couch in the balcony cabin like other cruiselines offer, but we're happy with Princess and look forward to our next cruise on the beautiful Ruby.

[Pam in CA]

Having been on other cruiselines and ships with the sitting area in the cabin, I've found that they have a lot less storage space and the closets are cupboards along the wall. To me, it's six of one, half a dozen of another. I prefer the big, open closet area over the cupboards, but everyone's different.

[sashas_mom]

i"m with you Pam. I didn't realize you have to sacrifice closet space to get the sitting area since we've only cruised with Princess. I would much rather have the closet space. However, I must say, the upholstered chair they have in the cabin leaves much to be desired. I don't find it comfortable to sit in and wish it was more comfortable.

[terrierjohn]

Having been on other cruiselines and ships with the sitting area in the cabin, I've found that they have a lot less storage space and the closets are cupboards along the wall. To me, it's six of one, half a dozen of another. I prefer the big, open closet area over the cupboards, but everyone's different.

Pam I agree that the Princess walk in closet is the best there is for storage, but I would still prefer a comfortable sitting area even if it meant a reduced closet area.

I accept it's a compromise but if Princess thinks their designers are so much better than the rest, then I'm sure they could find me an acceptable configuration that gives me the best of both.

[floridarob]

I think there is room for adding technology to the rooms to make them more comfortable and user friendly.

 

Having stayed at Aria in Las Vegas, your entire room in controlled through your TV. Putting a flat screen with such tech seems like it would be ideally set for place like a cruise ship.

 

The room would know who you are the minute you put your key card in the slot and set all of your room preferences as you walk in the door.

 

Simple things like checking your account balances in your room and ordering room service could be much easier.

 

You could even automate the changeover of the rooms from day to night, simplifying the job for the room steward who seems to get more rooms to take care of every year.

 

 

 

 

So true, I use to be in the Hotel business and I don't get why Princess doesn't put the folio on TV available to view. Like all the other things you mentioned, technology is incredible yet not really used on ships, or many hotels for that matter.

 

I laugh every time I see the flat screen TV's on princess using up the same amount of space as the old ones, what a waste of space,lol

[DanJ]

Well, we'll find out out much storage space the RCI Voyager class has with a sitting area in 6 weeks. However, we had 2 adults and 2 kids in a regular Carnival room with sitting area, and had no problem putting our stuff away. I don't know how much stuff you need to bring to fill those closets, but we had 3 suitcases and 4 carry-ons and had no issue.

 

The layout of the Princess cabins is the single reason we aren't actively looking at their cruises for the 4 of us. Mini-suites are stretching the budget and I can't imagine the 4 of us cramming into a regular balcony cabin. I can't even picture how we would put 4 in the cabins we have had, and if one of the options is my wife and I are apart for the week, forget it.

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks Rick.

[rdsqrl]

Thanks for sharing that article. The part that most pleased me was his comment about wanting to retain the at-sea experience by continuing to feature lots of windows on public decks. That's my favourite thing about the interior design on Princess: you can see the ocean from just about anywhere.

 

I'm guessing that when you're in the public spaces on those big RC ships with their enclosed Grand Shopping Malls - er, I mean, Grand Promenades, it must feel like being in an inside cabin, albeit a large one shared with all your fellow passengers. I'm getting claustrophobic just thinking about it. Thank you, Princess, for not going there.

[Woobstr112G]

Great article. Thanks for posting the link.....:):):)

 

Bob

[shepp]

Interesting article. Though I have mixed feelings about the overall beigeness of Princess decor, turns out "it's not a bug, it's a feature." I do wish the Princess rep had explained how cramming the corridors with art for sale fits in with their "comfortable elegance" design philosophy, though.

[BruceMuzz]

So true, I use to be in the Hotel business and I don't get why Princess doesn't put the folio on TV available to view. Like all the other things you mentioned, technology is incredible yet not really used on ships, or many hotels for that matter.

 

I laugh every time I see the flat screen TV's on princess using up the same amount of space as the old ones, what a waste of space,lol

 

floridarob,

 

Having been in the Hotel Business, you must be familiar with the term "ROI".

But you are probably not very familiar with the idea of selling a room at cost and depending on additional Guest spending as your only form of profit.

 

Retrofitting a cruise ship for interactive television costs just over US$1 Million.

The cruise lines won't do it unless the expenditure can be justified for increasing revenues or cutting costs.

 

The cruise lines who have installed the interactive tv systems have justified the expenditure by offering video on demand - specifically porn video on demand. One of RCCL's biggest revenue streams comes from renting porn movies through the interactive television system.

Princess, HAL, and a few others refuse to rent porn to their passengers.

So the interactive television system will not pay for itself on their ships.

 

The other issue is Additional Guest spending as your only source of profit. In many land based hotels, this is not such an important topic. On a ship it is "survive or go bankrupt".

 

We know that as soon as a passenger has an opportunity to view his onboard account, he usually suffers from sticker shock and immediately stops spending money.

 

Ships that make you jump through a few hoops before letting you see your statement make far more revenue - and far more profit - than those who have spent the extra Million Dollars to make it easy for you.

[WeBeGone]

Interesting article. Though I have mixed feelings about the overall beigeness of Princess decor, turns out "it's not a bug, it's a feature." I do wish the Princess rep had explained how cramming the corridors with art for sale fits in with their "comfortable elegance" design philosophy, though.

 

I have found that the only corridors with art for sale is next to the art sales space adjacent to the piazza, and the space next to the Explorers Lounge. Doesn't bother me one bit.

[WeBeGone]

floridarob,

Retrofitting a cruise ship for interactive television costs just over US$1 Million.

The cruise lines won't do it unless the expenditure can be justified for increasing revenues or cutting costs.

 

Ships that make you jump through a few hoops before letting you see your statement make far more revenue - and far more profit - than those who have spent the extra Million Dollars to make it easy for you.

 

But you'd think with all the emphasis on customer service, Princess could spring for on screen folios. Waiting in line to get a print out is a huge pain, not to mention very old school and a waste of paper. Just got off the Allure and they sure have the TV technology spot on. You can even surf the web and get your email from your in cabin flat screen

[bdjam]

One of RCCL's biggest revenue streams comes from renting porn movies through the interactive television system.

 

:D

 

Thanks for posting the link to the article...I found it interesting and reassuring.

[DanJ]

f

We know that as soon as a passenger has an opportunity to view his onboard account, he usually suffers from sticker shock and immediately stops spending money.

 

 

I usually checked my account every morning on Carnival on the TV, and they somehow managed to take most of my money LOL.