Has there been a change on stateroom access on boarding?

[elliair]

For our Hawaiian cruise, we boarded the Ruby Princess around 11:30. We were told we could drop our carry ons off at our room and then go to lunch which is what we did. Our room was ready. We met our cabin steward and off to Lido for lunch. No doors were shut, it was standard procedure as usual.

[arb18]

If those who are listed in the later times waited to board they would never have a chance to book things that get booked up quickly.

[USNUZULOOSE]

It's a shame that they want to let more staff go and heap more work on the stewards and expect them to keep up. You will drive workers into the ground and it is not fair. I don't mind the wait, but I would wish they would let more people work than think about more profit.

[cazzi]

we were on the Regal earlier this month and rooms not available till 1pm. No biggie went to Alfredos had lunch and then went to our room. Nice and easy

[ar1950]

For our Hawaiian cruise, we boarded the Ruby Princess around 11:30. We were told we could drop our carry ons off at our room and then go to lunch which is what we did. Our room was ready. We met our cabin steward and off to Lido for lunch. No doors were shut, it was standard procedure as usual.

 

We were on that same cruise and received the "cabin available at 1 PM" card when we checked in. Got it at the same time that we got our cabin key card. We had priority boarding and, like you, boarded around 11:30am. We went to the cabin and it was essentially ready. Saw the cabin steward and he said just leave our carry on stuff, no problem. I didn't save the card otherwise I could post a picture.

[hpeabody]

The only time I encountered cabins not being ready until after 1PM was on the Regal last January. I have done 3 cruises since and it was as usual, able to go right to the cabin. My last one was Coral the end of October.

[floridalover5623]

I have read recent comments that staterooms are not always available on boarding. Our stateroom has always been available when we boarded on all of our prior cruises. Is one reason for the suggested staggered boarding times to ensure that your room is ready when you board? Or is Princess trying to encourage the use of staggered boarding by opening decks by the suggested boarding time. I understand that the staggered boarding has been only a suggestion and that we can choose to board earlier than our time, eat lunch, and then get access to our room later. Has access recently been consistent by boarding time or inconsistent cruise to cruise?

 

I do understand that delayed boarding due to the need for a "deep clean" changes everything.

 

Something has definitely changed as we received a notice for staggered boarding for the Emerald which hasn't had any Noro problems. We'll just drop off our luggage in the unfinished room if not ready & head out to lunch.

[Steelers36]

The new thing about 1pm is on REGAL (and don't recall if ROYAL too) but I assumed it had something to do with ship size and number of cabins and them looking for more time to prepare.

 

Not sure from the postings so far if indeed ratio of cabins per steward has changed. I did have an impression our steward had a lot on Regal, but not sure of the number.

 

The other ships are obviously unaffected - except special situations - but one poster suggested this will change. Perhaps Regal is a testing/proving ground before they go whole-hog fleetwide?

 

If it becomes a permanent thing, I don't imagine it will bother us terribly because have some lunch and then it's ready. It was a surprise on our turnaround day, but I didn't need to go back. Nice to know an in-transit can just head to room with no issue.

 

IDK what time the doors were closed because they had been open all morning. Perhaps they close them just before general boarding commences.

 

I also think the 1pm time buys them time and various sections or decks could be ready ahead of time.

[baronessk]

This new development is interesting. It's not something to get overtly upset about, but I wish that Princess would be upfront with these changes in advance instead of surprising long-time Princess customers with it at check-in. I'm boarding the Royal in three days, and I'm seriously considering waiting until 1:00 p.m. to even head to the pier.

We encountered this on the Regal Christmas cruise which I mentioned in my post cruise review. The shocking part was when you mentioned to the crew that you are always able to access your cabin upon boarding, they all looked at you as if you were speaking Martian. They then proceeded to act as if this was how it has ALWAYS been. We received no card, no warning, just directed to the Horizon Court as soon as we boarded. As I had 6 bottles of wine, plus carry on plus DM (84) and her friend (70), and all with carry ons, this was NOT a good option. I have read SEVERAL threads about this now, but had read NONE prior to the December cruise. I had also convinced a friend to book this cruise with her two kids. They are loyal RC cruisers and she carried on NINE bottles of wine, as I told her the cabin would be available upon boarding. I would have never arrived at the port that early, had I known the cabin would not be ready. It was also my first time as Platinum. So I heartily agree that Princess needs to make a formal announcement about this new policy change, if their intentions are to go the same route as other lines, so pax can plan accordingly. And I do NOT like the new change. At least let me drop my bags and then shuffle me out of the cabin. btw, I did access our cabin and it WAS ready. NOT a good start to the cruise, but...1st world problem!

[floridalover5623]

Only once or twice in past years hasn't out cabin been ready & both times the steward let us drop off the bags & we headed off to eat. I doubt if anything has changed that much that you can't dump your luggage first.

[baronessk]

Only once or twice in past years hasn't out cabin been ready & both times the steward let us drop off the bags & we headed off to eat. I doubt if anything has changed that much that you can't dump your luggage first.

When the doors are locked to the cabin hallways and crew are stationed at every staircase and elevator, escorting you to the buffet, I can ASSURE you that you could not drop your bags. Unless you experienced it, possibly you should refrain from commenting!

[Colo Cruiser]

When the doors are locked to the cabin hallways and crew are stationed at every staircase and elevator, escorting you to the buffet, I can ASSURE you that you could not drop your bags. Unless you experienced it, possibly you should refrain from commenting!

 

 

Well you know there are those that will thwart all attempts.

Remember its "MY" cruise. :rolleyes:

[Redwing55]

Not sure if this matters, but I noticed that our Royal cruise returns at 6:00 vs what I thought used to be 7:00. Does this help with the cabin refreshes? It might not matter if people don't disembark sooner.:confused: And of course, it may not be for all itineraries.

[seafish]

IMO - cabin available upon boarding has been a real Princess Plus. Love Princess but with the coming of the big ships Royal, Regal and now Majestic on the way - it appears Princess management may solve their business issue of added cabins maintenance & no added hotel staff - via a fleet wide customer service take-away. Soon on Royal & Emerald - hopefully cabins will be ready at embarkation.

[Astro Flyer]

Not really happy about this change because Princess seems to be headed in the direction of all the other cruise lines (which I don't like!).

I'm not happy either & there are several things on my check list that I like which has kept Princess as our preferred cruise line.

 

One is having cabins ready upon boarding...check mark removed.

 

One is not requiring prepayment for shore excursions however prepayment for all shore excursions is being "tested" on the Grand this summer in Alaska with the reasoning that we can now prepay them which isn't new. With so many 1st time Princess cruisers to Alaska they have no way to know that prepayment isn't a new option. Some of us believe this "test" has a predetermined outcome & to require prepayment fleetwide...future check mark removed.

 

Princess says that bookings are up & prices are higher plus they're saving a lot of money with lower fuel costs. Yet apparently they're cutting back on staff which is resulting in cabins being unavailable when boarding to be like other cruise lines. :rolleyes:

 

I am also reading posts that other passengers are experiencing more dining room service delays which has also been our experience and most likely are due to more staff cuts. It's very disappointing for me to see such changes in a Princess cruise and I am unhappy that staff has to try to provide the same level of service with fewer crewmembers. :(

Edited January 27, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[SCHappilyRetired]

For those that have experienced the closed hall doors, is a dining room open for lunch or just HC and IC? Thank you!

[Astro Flyer]

For those that have experienced the closed hall doors, is a dining room open for lunch or just HC and IC? Thank you!

 

Whether the doors are closed (or not) the dining room lunch was available although sometimes they try to say it's for in-transit passengers only which is not what Princess tells us.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Astro Flyer

[floridalover5623]

The back page of the Patters always advertises that one of the dining rooms will be open on embarkation day from noon to 1:30 PM.

[antsp]

The back page of the Patters always advertises that one of the dining rooms will be open on embarkation day from noon to 1:30 PM.

 

Not much help when the patter is in your stateroom

[Colo Cruiser]

Not much help when the patter is in your stateroom

 

 

What wrong with getting one from the passenger services desk?

[antsp]

What wrong with getting one from the passenger services desk?

 

Nothing at all, every time I log on to cruise critic the news about Princess just gets worse and worse. Dragging your hand luggage to the dining room or buffet is an ideal way to start a cruise.

[floridalover5623]

Not much help when the patter is in your stateroom

 

There's always a dining room open at that time on embarkation day no matter which ship you're boarding- you don't need a Patter to find the DR, do you?

[floridalover5623]

Nothing at all, every time I log on to cruise critic the news about Princess just gets worse and worse. Dragging your hand luggage to the dining room or buffet is an ideal way to start a cruise.

 

Why don't you leave it in your room. The cabin steward won't say no even if the rooms isn't ready....and by the way you can pick up your Patter at the same time. :D

[hllwdcruiser]

Why don't you leave it in your room. The cabin steward won't say no even if the rooms isn't ready....and by the way you can pick up your Patter at the same time. :D

 

From what I've read, on the Regal they are not allowing you to go to your cabin and have the access doors closed. You can open the doors but an alarm will sound. Yes, you can still get to your cabin if you want to disregard their instructions but they are not making it very easy.

[floridalover5623]

From what I've read, on the Regal they are not allowing you to go to your cabin and have the access doors closed. You can open the doors but an alarm will sound. Yes, you can still get to your cabin if you want to disregard their instructions but they are not making it very easy.

 

You're mistaking a fire door alarm with an alarm on your cabin door which does not exist. Fire doors can always be opened when closed. If your cabin is not ready you're always welcomed to leave your luggage until it is.