"Hard Sell" on Princess Cruise - is that normal?

[Shogun]

Hi Caribill

 

Thanks for photo

 

Not sure how many champagne events I have been too but never seen these

 

will have to check out Emerald next week:D

 

yours Shogun

[caribill]

Every day the Princess Patter seemed to have a huge list of activities - but on closer inspection, more than half were just promotional events for the shops, the spa or the art gallery.

 

 

From the Patter on a Sea day on a Trans-Atlantic (omitting the sales pitches)--all of this is before 5 PM

 

Bible study

Knitters and Knackers Get-Together (unhosted)

Zumba fitness exercise

Bocce Ball Open Play (unhosted)

Bean Bag Toss Challenge

Ping Pong Open Play (unhosted)

Morning Trivia

Nintendo Wii@sea

Pickleball Open Play (unhosted)

Ring Toss Challenge

Pictionary with Cruise Director's staff

Basketball players get-together (unhosted)

Ballroom dance class - foxtrot

Belly Dancing Class

Speed Sudoku

Movie in the Princess Theater (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)

Golf putting challenge with Cruise Director's staff

Zumba fitness exercise (more exercise in disguise)

Afternoon Tea

The Quest Gameshow

Speed Scavenger Hunt

Basketball Shootout Challenge with Cruise Director's staff

Afternoon trivia

 

Now some or many or even all of these may not be of interest to you, but it is a number of non-sales oriented activities.

 

Of course, there was also Bingo, but that was not free.

[newcruzer2]

Yes' date=' our experience was largely as OP reported. Serious sales attempt at the spa. Of course, had they skipped their "product recommendations," they also would have reduced their time with me by 10 minutes.[/quote']

 

After having a message on another cruise line, I swore I'd Never have one on a cruise ship again. The 50 minute massage was, 10 minutes of me sitting in chair discussing any issues I need worked on by her , 10 minutes for me to change/undress,30 minutes of ACTUAL massage and THEN the hard sales pitch. I have had the opportunity to visit many spas in Vegas and although there price tends to be double or triple. at least I feel like i get what I paid for.

I am usually (other than in spa's) a pay for only the things you want ,not everything all lumped into one....but in a spa, I find that to be the point. relax in a robe or hot tub beforehand and get a RELAXING massage.

Not called in the back like a doctor's visit and then the rest of the shenanigans.

I believe if the spa's on cruise ships were NOT independently run, they would be Much better.

[Marisawrite]

From the Patter on a Sea day on a Trans-Atlantic (omitting the sales pitches)--all of this is before 5 PM

 

Bible study

Knitters and Knackers Get-Together (unhosted)

Zumba fitness exercise

Bocce Ball Open Play (unhosted)

Bean Bag Toss Challenge

Ping Pong Open Play (unhosted)

Morning Trivia

Nintendo Wii@sea

Pickleball Open Play (unhosted)

Ring Toss Challenge

Pictionary with Cruise Director's staff

Basketball players get-together (unhosted)

Ballroom dance class - foxtrot

Belly Dancing Class

Speed Sudoku

Movie in the Princess Theater (The Man from U.N.C.L.E.)

Golf putting challenge with Cruise Director's staff

Zumba fitness exercise (more exercise in disguise)

Afternoon Tea

The Quest Gameshow

Speed Scavenger Hunt

Basketball Shootout Challenge with Cruise Director's staff

Afternoon trivia

.

 

Wow, that's impressive. On our Baltic cruise there was Zumba on two days, ballroom dancing on two other days (both hampered by the lack of space in the Piazza), one quiz of some kind each day, and a couple of movies daily. Quite a difference! We did love our afternoon tea, but it took us a while to realise it existed because it wasn't listed in the Patter at first.

 

As someone else posted, it sounds like there are big differences between different ships and different itineraries.

[Marisawrite]

The 2nd cruise you take is always compared to the 1st cruise you went on. the 1st one is always special.

 

Princess generally has an older demographics. Many times the ship dies down early. On our last Regal Princess cruise we met a few others on board and kept the staff in Crooners entertained as it was practically dead.

 

It has been a very long time since I've seen the days when it was like Hollywood or the Ritz when it came to formal night on RCCL. In the early years of my cruising it was the norm. I haven't seen it in at least 10-15 years.

 

We're in our 60's and most of the passengers on the Regal Princess didn't seem much older than us - but yes, I agree things got quiet early, so maybe the lack of activities was just in response to lack of demand.

 

My cruise on RCCL was in 2011 and it still felt like the Ritz to me. Not everyone was in full evening dress but everyone was in their best party frock and that was good enough for me!

[mamkmm2]

Wow, that's impressive. On our Baltic cruise there was Zumba on two days, ballroom dancing on two other days (both hampered by the lack of space in the Piazza), one quiz of some kind each day, and a couple of movies daily. Quite a difference! We did love our afternoon tea, but it took us a while to realise it existed because it wasn't listed in the Patter at first.

 

As someone else posted, it sounds like there are big differences between different ships and different itineraries.

 

There can be a huge difference based on itinerary regardless of which line you are sailing on. The Caribbean itineraries and the UK/British Isles itineraries are significantly different. Some of the Asian itineraries seem to even have their own onboard rules. So on and so forth.

[caber]

 

I have never seen these. We are Elite so have done many Princess cruises but haven't been on Princess for two years. I will look for them next month.

[land lover]

I have never seen these. We are Elite so have done many Princess cruises but haven't been on Princess for two years. I will look for them next month.

 

It has nothing to do with Elite, they are cake pops.....special for 50th anniversary, if I am not mistaken...

 

We had them on Golden, Emerald and Sapphire....in late 2014 and 2015 during the Waterfall reception.

Edited June 9, 2016 by land lover

[land lover]

I m not reading totally thru the thread, so I might have missed it?

 

 

OP have you cruised Royal lately, they r doing away with the welcome back party...only top tier party was on our Explorer cruise last month. I think it is going to go fleet wide very soon.

 

My first cruise on Royal 1992, first on princess 1998, so I have done a few on both lines;):) and others..

 

As other posters have stated, intinerary, ship, weather, CD, Captain, Guests all play a roll into our experiences. Some cruises r better than others.

 

Princess gives you paperwork, RCI does to much in MHO by email before your cruise maybe you do not get inundated in Australia, like I was in the states but talk about "hard sell" before I went on my last cruise....also once I was in my Cabin T.V. pitching and I got plenty of paper too...I was on Explorer and it was only 4 days....LOL

 

I go for itinerary,.......................and if i want to have fun an inexpensive cruise.......................

 

Just sayin'

Edited June 9, 2016 by land lover

[land lover]

I politely disagree!

 

If Princess makes any money off the Independent Contractors then Princess is responsible.

"Come to Escape Completely but we are not responsible for anything onboard our ships that we don't run"? :D

 

Aren't we "Coming back new", now.....:):D

 

starting to read more posts on the thread, I need a life.........

[land lover]

If you look back at my original post, you'll note I said I enjoyed my cruise, it was just that I felt the formal night and the activities had been spoiled by an excessive focus on commercialisation.

 

The fact that waiters couldn't get around was the direct result of that commercialisation, because so much of the public area had been roped off for photo opportunities (which could just as easily have been carried out on the upper floor away from the crowds, but they obviously wanted them to be "in your face" so they sacrificed passenger comfort and enjoyment in favour of sales).

 

I have no problem with cruises making money, but I felt the balance was better on RCC. Of course it could all have changed since my last cruise. The reason I posted here was to get a feeling for whether this behaviour is normal across all Princess ships.

 

And of course I put all of that information in my survey responses to Princess.

 

Again, I am picking and choosing what i am reading.....and again I might have missed it but how many cruises have you gone on with Royal and how many with Princess? or was this your first.....

 

 

and I certainly can respect your assessment of Princess......but think about it this way the guests on your Royal sailing(s) enjoyed dressing on formal night on Princess they did not.......

Edited June 9, 2016 by land lover

[land lover]

OP now I am :D cuz I quickly read your cruise on Royal was back in 2011..

 

did i get that right......I took a hiatus from Royal in 2011 returned this last Nov. did a B2B out of Venice on a vision class ship then a the 4 day i mentioned on Explorer in May...

 

You might as well accept your experience on Royal was the best you will ever have.....so, so much has changed......RCI did not even let us know our 4 day sailing would not have a formal night, this was decided by the CD once we were on the ship, but no one was informed, it just spread by word of mouth..... guess that extra suitcase wasn't needed.....

 

Enjoy.....L:)ri

 

BTW have taken 3 cruises on Princess since January and one on another line.. and have one booked with Royal for Sept. and Princess in Oct, Dec......

Edited June 9, 2016 by land lover

[moki'smommy]

I have never seen these. We are Elite so have done many Princess cruises but haven't been on Princess for two years. I will look for them next month.

 

These are very different from what we had on the Caribbean princess December 2015. Our treat was a piece of chocolate candy on a stick.

[land lover]

These are very different from what we had on the Caribbean princess December 2015. Our treat was a piece of chocolate candy on a stick.

 

 

Interesting.. never saw those, but i think it all had to do with the introduction of.... what was it called Chocolate indulgences and the 50th anniversary, the logo was in gold...i might have to look back at my photos but I know we had them out of San Pedro and Houston 2014,2015, i have not seen them in 2016, but now that i am thinking about it didn't attend the waterfall reception on those sailings, but still walked thru and watched for a bit and did not see any pops.

Edited June 9, 2016 by land lover

[idahospud]

RCI did not even let us know our 4 day sailing would not have a formal night, this was decided by the CD once we were on the ship, but no one was informed, it just spread by word of mouth.

...

For future reference, if you take a 4 night on Princess there isn't a formal night either. One night is called "dressed to impress" on the shorter Princess cruises and is usually somewhat casual. (Depends on what a passenger's idea of "impress" means.)

[land lover]

For future reference, if you take a 4 night on Princess there isn't a formal night either. One night is called "dressed to impress" on the shorter Princess cruises and is usually somewhat casual. (Depends on what a passenger's idea of "impress" means.)

 

 

Deb, Yes, thanks for mentioning that.... when princess introduced the 3 and 4 nights out of San Pedro, in Fall 2013 I was one of the first to book and the first few shorties I went on several people did dress to impress...last 4 day I went on last Feb became a 3 day due to Crown staying an extra night in Esenada, no dress to impress that cruise.

 

 

Were you the poster who mentioned they were cruises to nowhere, I don't think u were, but mine went somewhere but I am not telling.....

 

 

Royal Caribbean still has 1 formal night on short cruises. The Cruise that I went on May 16 was the Best of British Columbia out of Washington, I flew up from Orange County, CA....it was a comedy of errors and disappointments for some, the Roll Call is still going strong, ...but I am returning to Royal in Sept. I seldom base my opinion on one cruise or one excursion or one anything for that matter......and I often fly in the day of the cruise.................

 

enjoy....

Edited June 10, 2016 by land lover

[idahospud]

Were you the poster who mentioned they were cruises to nowhere, I don't think u were, but mine went somewhere but I am not telling.....

Not me. I've done those short ones out of San Pedro a few times over the last couple years and they definitely go somewhere!

[caribill]

Hi Caribill

 

Thanks for photo

 

Not sure how many champagne events I have been too but never seen these

 

will have to check out Emerald next week:D

 

yours Shogun

 

When a water brings them out, they are taken very quickly.

 

Just keep your eye out for the waiters that have them.

[Robinsoncruiseso]

I think every ship does the champagne tower slightly differently. Some almost fill all the glasses before the guests pour, while on others there's barely a drop in the glasses. I've been on ships where the seas were so rough they lowered the tower to just a few tiers but it still went ahead and the crowds cam to watch. The champagne is cheap (be sure not to drink too much) but the canapes are wonderful if they're offered. Again, it's different on every ship. I believe some have something delicious called chocolate pops?

 

Maybe I'm a closet voyeur but I love watching all the happy people having their chance to pour the champagne. While doing this doesn't interest me one bit, those standing in line beautifully groomed are making a memory that will last forever.

 

As for the advertising, it's much easier to recycle all that paper if you gather it all into a pile near the waste bin. After a few days either I toss it in the bin or the room steward removes it.

 

Regarding the champagne pour...Get there a couple hours early and watch the set up of the glasses. That was very interesting. Makes me want to try it at home.

[Papa Yoda]

I blame Steiner for this. I am elite on princess and have had the hard sell from the spa. However I work on another cruise line and Steiner also runs the spa. I became very good friends with some of the spa girls and I feel so sorry for them. They signed up for a job they thought they would enjoy and ended up having to be hard line sales reps. They have to meet a certain target in sales every week, if they don't they can lose their days off and on one ship I worked on they were brought in for 0600 "breakfast meetings" that didn't involve breakfasts. Then they work all day till 9pm. They are pushed all the time by Steiner. Some of them don't mind it but a few on my longest contract last year never went back. One hair stylist told me she was working for about 2$ an hour and thanked God for her tips. Just a peek at the other side of things

Terry

 

So true! We enjoy meeting the spa folks. And while services are somewhat higher than shoreside, they aren't way out of line in our view. We do know about the sales pitches and that sales are tied to days off etc and think that is whack. If we get good service we do tip extra, but we are particular. In full disclosure, our cabinet is full of Elemis.

Edited June 10, 2016 by Ferd Berfle

[SoCal Cruiser78]

...I would've been quite happy with an elegant pre-dinner event, mingling with other guests over a glass of champagne and some canapes, with a band playing some nice music...

 

This sounds more like HAL, or at least HAL of the past. I haven't sailed with them in a few years, so things may have changed with them.

 

I have found that the level of "hard sell" on Princess varies, like many things on Princess, from ship to ship. What I find most annoying is when someone walks around interrupting diners in the MDR to push wine packages :(. Sorry that this sort of behavior put a damper on your trip.

[floridalover5623]

I have never seen these. We are Elite so have done many Princess cruises but haven't been on Princess for two years. I will look for them next month.

 

They were still there in Feb so I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the 50th anniversary or not.