What are the "little things" the accountants think we'll never miss when they're gone

[mr green]

Just a thought. In the past on one sea day, Princess used to have a HUGE 'Desert Lunch' on one sea day. Has this gone too? I don't recall seeing any of late.

 

john

[Shogun]

Hi NCL have done same and taken away the fish from hall carpets.

 

Yours Shogun

[Bemidji Ty]

We used to shoot skeet off the back of the ship with shot guns. One time there was a young man about 12 who wanted to try it and discovered he was exceptionally good. He said he had never shot a gun before but had played a lot of shooting video games.

[MJSailors]

Midnight Mass for Christmas pretty much fills the Princess Theater. The Christmas morning Mass was a little over half filled in the same venue.

 

My wife and I once led the music for the Midnight and Christmas morning Masses while on a cruise, and being on stage by the altar, we could see the theater population which contained both crew and passengers.

The priest also conducted Protestant services on Sundays and had a separate Christmas early morning Mass in the crew area. The Cruise Director onboard had been seminary trained in the Church of England, and conducted a midnight service for other Christians while Mass was in progress, using the Fusion Lounge.

 

And maybe that's the answer to those wondering why Princess would supply a Catholic priest for the major feasts of the church year: Christmas and Easter.

There is a significant population aboard for which the Mass or the Christian service at these times makes the cruise more meaningful, as these are the feasts of life - birth and resurrection.

 

Christmas, especially, is a family event, and brings in additional revenue due to families cruising. Church services are part of the tradition (and meaning), without which fewer families would sail, or pay extra for a holiday cruise. Having clergy aboard is simply good business for the cruise lines.

 

Working with the priest for Christmas we found he celebrated Mass twice daily (one for crew, once for passengers), three Masses on Christmas, and extra non-denominational services on Sundays. That was at least 23 services for a 10 day cruise.

 

Personally, we found cruising at Christmas to be fun, when we could get away from our choir obligations at home. Having cruised the week before Easter, we found the season to have a more somber mood (with liturgies containing the stories of the Crucifixion), and conflicted with the fun of cruising for us. We've decided this didn't work. Since then I've noticed a great many low cost sailings around Easter, possibly reflective of the lower attendance during this season. So here, with us at least, is a case where our religious convictions conflict with cruising - so we don't cruise at that time.

 

I hope that answers some questions without being preachy.

 

Well said.

Thank you for your valuable input.

[reedprincess]

Hi NCL have done same and taken away the fish from hall carpets.

 

Yours Shogun

Not true, at least on their newest ship, Escape. It has the fish swimming carpet....

[Shogun]

Hi There

 

Pick up comment from another thread, which had photos, can not recall ship.

 

yours Shogun

[cr8tiv1]

Hi Mr Green

 

Princess no longer does different coloured carpets,

 

yours Shogun

 

The Crown had different colored carpets in October. I still rely on them when at sea. But I have noticed that "refurbished" ships do not. When I point his out to new travelers, they are often surprised and very thankful. Come on Princess. You don't have to change everything.

[cr8tiv1]

When I started this thread I was simply wondering what had been eliminated aboard ship without placing a value judgement on them. Many of the posters have done just that, while others (understandably) strayed into whether this or that was good, useful, etc. I thought the posters who commented about the lack of a priest made their points with little prejudice showing one way or the other. However, you madam have gone over the top with your self centered, age discriminating babble about how the presence of "old" people ruined your "vibe" and what not. Are they any less because they stay aboard the ship while its in port and don't head out to Jimmy Buffet's or Senior Frogs to get hammered or whatever, or climb hills and go mountain biking? Are you serious? Did you really mean to denigrate those folks who have worked hard all their life and are looking to enjoy their golden years with travel? Should we simply consign them to the back pasture, tell them to get out of my way, to get off the ship and stay home because their presence is offensive to the 30-ish crowd? Remember madam, if you are so fortunate as to enjoy long life there, but for the grace of God, could go you.

 

 

You did a service by starting this thread. "She" isn't the only entitled 30 something that feels that the world revolves around her. I am not apologizing for her lack of manners and respect for those that laid the path for her. I congratulate all that got your message and posted without judgement.

[Mom33]

The Crown had different colored carpets in October. I still rely on them when at sea. But I have noticed that "refurbished" ships do not. When I point his out to new travelers, they are often surprised and very thankful. Come on Princess. You don't have to change everything.

 

Never use the carpet color for direction. Simply know that odd numbered cabins are starboard and even numbers are port. Plaques are posted on both sides of the elevator lobbies to show the direction to go.:)

[reedprincess]

Hi There

 

Pick up comment from another thread, which had photos, can not recall ship.

 

yours Shogun

 

And I had a friend onboard Escape this past week, who sent and posted pictures of the fish carpet, swimming up the hallways...so at least the newest build has the fish carpet.

[suzyed]

Hi All

 

What about doing away with the different coloured carpets port or starboard side,

 

 

yours Shogun

 

Did they? Not on the Crown...but newer ships?

[suzyed]

This is an interesting observation. Princess is our preferred line (still Platinum on the way to Elite) and we have tried all the mass market ones except for Holland. I prefer Princess for small things that are offered/done that are not included elsewhere - for me they are cold washcloth on the way back from hot excursion, real ice cream, popcorn, tasteful entertainment, qualified kids club personnel, etc. I could care less about all the items listed by previous posters (I do agree it is a demographics thing, I am late thirties, DH forty something). However, we have been thinking about switching lines too, but for different reason - lack of cruises catering to still working crowd. We cant take off 2+ weeks at a time! I miss the days when they had a ship in San Juan and NY almost full time. The Southern itinerary was awesome... To me it feels like Princess caters to retiree crowd and according to posts here they are not doing so well...

 

First off, we have been sailing Princess more recently because we love the itineraries and feel like they are priced well. But we sail several of the other cruise lines as well...we don't just stick with one. Different cultures and experiences.

I agree with most of what you said and YES, those cold washcloths coming back to the ship in the S. Pacific, were heavenly!!

I also agree that they seem to catering to the older demographic and retirees with the longer sailings. We were on the Crown last year, 29 days, and the average age was 78! (Yes, they did tell us that...to answer another poster's question).

The only part of what you said that I don't agree with you on, is that they are not doing a good job on the sailings for the "retiree crowd"....I have no complaints...we have loved all of our Princess sailings!

[suzyed]

Excellent points. I'm platinum with princess and in my 30's. I have never been to a captain's circle function, I have no interest in little finger foods, canapes int he stateroom, etc. Most of the things mentioned on this thread, I'm happy to see go.

 

I don't see much value to live music all day by the pool. A few hours a day of that is nice, and then time to relax in the sun with my own music is very welcome.

 

People are actually complaining about printed TV guides? Who goes on a cruise to watch TV? They could remove the TVs entirely from the staterooms and I wouldn't care. Other than showering and sleeping, I'm not even in the stateroom. I really don't get all the people who say they spend hours in their little 300 square foot room. I'd rather stay at home where everything is nicer than spend more time in the stateroom. Being cooped up in the little room for the minimum time possible is one of the prices I have to pay to do all the other stuff on the ship outside the room. I guess that ties into the smaller balconies, smaller mini-suites complaints. I don't care because I'm just not spending time in the room.

 

I don't think I've ever used the in-room shampoo, soap, etc. I prefer to bring my own. Doesn't matter how good or bad what they provide is, I want to stick with what I'm used to. Slippers, photoframe name tags on your dining table, luggage tags? Waste of money for no purpose.

 

I've never been to the wine tasting, and I can't imagine I would go even when I get to the point where it's free. If they did away with that, I wouldn't miss it.

 

And laundry service? On a 7-day the concept just seems silly. On a 15-day Hawaii cruise, I still managed to bring enough clothes to get through it. I suppose on the superlong ones it might be an issue, but I'd still prefer to do it myself in the coin-op machines.

 

It's funny in a sad way that two big complaints are not enough sugary snacks and not enough accommodation for people with diabetes. They don't need to provide sweets every 2 minutes, I think they need to cut back a lot more not for cost savings, but for the health of their guests. I mean I pig out on soufflés, cake, etc at dinner. Tiramisu and those chocolate peanut butter cups at the IC and so many other things. I really have to laugh at the people complaining they're cutting back on the amount of chocolates and snacks. I do love my first hours on each cruise though, it's like having the ship to myself while everybody rushes to the buffet like they haven't seen food in a week.

 

I really think all these "cutbacks" are princess trying to appeal to a younger demographic. I am very much expecting to continue cruising for the next 60 years, and a loss of canapes and wine tastings, and non-stop live music, just makes my cruising experience better. And cruises are cheaper across the board now than when I started cruising just 10 years ago. It's absolutely win-win for me. Now if only they would start catering more of the entertainment to people who were born after the Beatles split up they'd be perfect.

 

Ha ha! The funniest thing is, with the exception of the Beatles comment, I agree with every single point you made and I'm twice your age!!! We go to the "disco" and dance to "today's music"...well I do, DH not so much! Our kids are in your age group and we hang with them and their friends (yes, their friends want to hang with us too...LOL) most of the time. They would agree with your points as well.

So...many of us oldies feel the same as you do and look for a similar cruising experience.

[ginabab]

Delphi38,

 

Great comments

I too agree with most of them, but on vacation I want to have some awesome luxurious options

 

I won't eat all the candy, but I like that it's there

 

An orchid here and there makes me happy

 

That I am getting luxurious shampoo and conditioner is way cool (even if I bring my own)

 

Really nice towels and a bathrobe with slippers make me feel the love, even if I never use the latter

 

Two really comfortable lounge chair on my balcony for sunsets makes me happy

 

Sheets, pillows and mattresses that are lots better than what I have at home make me want to come back again and again

[suzyed]

Delphi38,

 

Great comments

I too agree with most of them, but on vacation I want to have some awesome luxurious options

 

I won't eat all the candy, but I like that it's there

 

An orchid here and there makes me happy

 

That I am getting luxurious shampoo and conditioner is way cool (even if I bring my own)

 

Really nice towels and a bathrobe with slippers make me feel the love, even if I never use the latter

 

Two really comfortable lounge chair on my balcony for sunsets makes me happy

 

Sheets, pillows and mattresses that are lots better than what I have at home make me want to come back again and again

 

I'm with ya on the lounge chairs and the bedding! AHHH!;)

[D'Shadow]

Thank you for your reply. I couldn't help but think how shocked this 'young person' will be when she finds life will make changes for her whether she is ready or not. Hopefully she is more caring than she sounds. Not trying to judge but so disappointed to read this view.

[Nezmo]

Hi Mr Green

 

Princess no longer does different coloured carpets,

 

yours Shogun

How would this be something that is a cutback? I'm sure the carpet is the same price whether they use the same colour on port and starboard or a different colour.

 

And as someone else stated, there are other, very simple ways to know what side of the boat you're on.

[Nezmo]

IMO the 'Port/Starboard carpeting is a great asset!

I might add one other type carpet that I have only seen once, but it saved us some walking. The old Norway,[ in her day was the longest ship afloat] had 'Bow/ Stern' carpeting.

 

john

I've sailed the Norway. What a beautiful liner. Classic.

[paluni]

On the Grand recently, they still had the different colored carpet for port and starboard! Boy does that make a difference for me on finding the room. It is instant orientation. The very ideal would be, different colored fish-motif carpeting, with the fish swimming toward the bow. Then I would know which side to go and whether to go right or left! Heavenly. To me, they never have very good signage in the elevator lobbies to even know what floor (deck) you are on. Like, the signs are small, and I might not have my glasses on. I am left-handed, and apparently there is something called left-hand dyslexia, so I am not as good as knowing left and right automatically as right-handed people. This has been a problem all my life. So that colored carpet is fab for me. And I don't remember the numbers being right or left side, I've never been mathematical. Kind of the antithesis of an engineer :).

[cvpends]

On the Grand recently, they still had the different colored carpet for port and starboard! Boy does that make a difference for me on finding the room. It is instant orientation. The very ideal would be, different colored fish-motif carpeting, with the fish swimming toward the bow. Then I would know which side to go and whether to go right or left! Heavenly. To me, they never have very good signage in the elevator lobbies to even know what floor (deck) you are on. Like, the signs are small, and I might not have my glasses on. I am left-handed, and apparently there is something called left-hand dyslexia, so I am not as good as knowing left and right automatically as right-handed people. This has been a problem all my life. So that colored carpet is fab for me. And I don't remember the numbers being right or left side, I've never been mathematical. Kind of the antithesis of an engineer :).

 

 

I wonder if offspring of left handed fathers can also have left-handed dyslexia? I can't tell right from left at all, and therefore greatly appreciate those different colored carpets, My brother is also dyslexic, but our left-handed father is not.

[avcruz]

Hi There

 

 

 

Pick up comment from another thread, which had photos, can not recall ship.

 

 

 

yours Shogun

 

 

It's the Epic, which they just refurbished. They are planning on doing the same thing to all their other ships as they refurbish them too.

[caribill]

How would this be something that is a cutback? I'm sure the carpet is the same price whether they use the same colour on port and starboard or a different colour.

 

 

It costs more to keep two different types of carpet in inventory than to keep just one type in inventory.

[SteveH2508]

And I had a friend onboard Escape this past week, who sent and posted pictures of the fish carpet, swimming up the hallways...so at least the newest build has the fish carpet.

 

They also mention the fish on the Escape's deckplan that they give out.

[Josy1953]

Norris, I'm sorry to tell you on my first Celebrity cruise in Nov. 2014 the only pillow chocolate we received was on the first formal night. According to our steward that is the policy now. Pillow chocolates were sorely missed!

 

We don't plan on taking any more Celebrity cruises in the future - not because of chocolate. We just didn't care for that line.

 

We were on Celebrity Eclipse in June this year and had chocolates every night, they were not on the pillow, they were on the coffee tray.

[Mom33]

On the Grand recently, they still had the different colored carpet for port and starboard! Boy does that make a difference for me on finding the room. It is instant orientation. The very ideal would be, different colored fish-motif carpeting, with the fish swimming toward the bow. Then I would know which side to go and whether to go right or left! Heavenly. To me, they never have very good signage in the elevator lobbies to even know what floor (deck) you are on. Like, the signs are small, and I might not have my glasses on. I am left-handed, and apparently there is something called left-hand dyslexia, so I am not as good as knowing left and right automatically as right-handed people. This has been a problem all my life. So that colored carpet is fab for me. And I don't remember the numbers being right or left side, I've never been mathematical. Kind of the antithesis of an engineer :).

 

Princess has good signage. It's a good thing that you aren't color blind too.:D