Rude people at International Cafe. Help us Princess!

[amanda384]

I have to confess, I am surprised this is even a discussion. I have been on Princess twice, and both times I perceived the Piazza/IC/Vines etc. area to be a place where people could sit and relax and do whatever they want. It would NEVER have occurred to me that I needed to purchase something in order to occupy those seats for as long as I wanted, whether it was watching the entertainment, reading, playing cards, just chatting, etc.

 

Frankly, I don't really think that I would notice what people were doing at their table. I do a quick scan, sit down if there's a seat and move on if there isn't.

[PghCruiseGrrrl]

Maybe two lines. One for grab and go and one with a hostess? Anyway, I don't think Starbucks would allow people to play cards in their shops for hours at a time without eating or drinking anything except what they have brought into Starbucks in a thermos.

 

Worked in a Starbucks. Yes they will. You should see one if there is a power outage in the area. Tons of people come in with their laptops and cellphones to charge them and use the free wifi. Most of them don't order anything but they don't get kicked out. It is part of the Starbucks culture to be open, welcoming, and a gathering place. We were even encouraged to offer them free water while they were in the store.

 

The people you say are "hogging" tables have paid just as much as you to be on vacation. If they are physically in the chair, they have paid for that chair, and it isn't any of your business what they do while they are in that chair. You want to be guaranteed a seat in the place you want it, any time you want it? Pay for the sanctuary.

[san diego sue]

We like going down to IC area every morning at about 9:00am. Order a fancy coffee and people watch. If we have extra seats at our table, we invite someone to sit with us when we see them searching for a table(and a way to meet new friends).

Never sit more than half hour. This is my morning ritual. Also if we see people looking for a table and we know we are leaving, I call them over and tell them we are leaving.On our last transatlantic on the Caribbean Princess, more tables and chairs were set up in the area by vines on those many sea days.

There are also the book readers that like to sit at the window areas in the coffee area (and drink their coffee). I personally couldn't do that, too distracting.

Now the sitters (and lots of times sleeping) in the middle of atrium on the couches are ones I seem to notice as the same ones. Sometimes I feel like asking if they have a cabin.Does it bother me, not at all.

[shredie]

If we have extra seats at our table, we invite someone to sit with us when we see them searching for a table(and a way to meet new friends).

 

That is a good solution, and one I have been on both sides of more than once. I have often shared a table with people in the IC.

[Duffysmom]

I love to cruise. It gives me the opportunity to step out of my life (which is one I'm thankful for) into another environment and to see the world. The price I pay for the privilege of cruising is finding myself in situations that I don't like or find uncomfortable. Since I'm in charge of my attitude I just go with the flow. If I let situations like the IC seating prey on my mind and look down my nose at people who have different lifestyles than me I could just as well stay at home and rant at the TV. I refuse to allow others to rent space in my head and cause me to lose my peace of mind. It takes work to have an attitude of gratitude.:eek:

[OCruisers]

I have to confess, I am surprised this is even a discussion. I have been on Princess twice, and both times I perceived the Piazza/IC/Vines etc. area to be a place where people could sit and relax and do whatever they want. It would NEVER have occurred to me that I needed to purchase something in order to occupy those seats for as long as I wanted, whether it was watching the entertainment, reading, playing cards, just chatting, etc.

Frankly, I don't really think that I would notice what people were doing at their table. I do a quick scan, sit down if there's a seat and move on if there isn't.

 

You are correct! You do NOT have to buy anything to sit there! :)

[Loreni]

It's a sad world where the lack of consideration for others is considered an acceptable norm. :rolleyes:

 

Yes, it is.

[waltd]

I'm just wondering what the OP reaction would be if every table in the atrium area had someone drinking coffee and eating food from the IC when she was looking for a seat? Would it be Princess fault for not having enough tables or was everyone else eating/drinking too slow and not leaving any space for her?

 

Everyone has a right to sit where they want for however long they want.

 

Well that is part of the problem. On the older Princess cruise ships there is not a lot of inside space with tables for passengers to sit. We were just off a transatlantic and they did bring down a number of two top tables and added them to the Atrium and everyone of them was used. Then you add a longer cruise with an older cliental who probably prefer sitting inside vs outside enjoying the entertainment. Not sure where the OP expects everyone to sit on those long sea days. I guess in their stateroom. Don't think much will change until they start building new ships with better use of interior space. Maybe they need to bring back the card rooms like we see on the Island and Coral Princess.

[Loreni]

Or build ships like they used to with adequately sized public spaces and decent card rooms. Specialist restaurants can't be used after about 4pm for playing cards or games.

Instead of adapting existing ships by taking out public space and turning it into more cabins.

Greedy cruise lines are the culprits here.

 

This is the current trend with all cruise lines. They are, after all, operating as businesses.

 

I don't think cruise lines are that eager to attract the card-playing camper crowd. This could be why card rooms are shrinking or vanishing. My understanding is that Celebrity is trying to deal with this problem by blasting house music throughout the public areas of its ship in an attempt to drive away these cruisers. DH and I are several decades younger that the average age of the passengers we encounter on the long cruises that we take (we are lucky to be able to work anywhere that we can carry our laptops), but I don't think we would enjoy this loud music either. So, I hope Princess does not copy this strategy from Celebrity.

 

On our last cruise, I believe that the Crown Grill was offered up as a sort of concession...Princess probably hoped that it would draw card-playing campers away from the IC so that the IC could operate as a profit center. Nothing wrong with that, especially when so many passengers are willing to pay for quality coffee or tea.

 

If I were to find the IC and Piazza totally packed with people buying coffee and tea, I'd think Princess had a winning strategy to generate onboard revenue and, while I might be frustrated that I can't find a table, I'd at least be glad that the base price of my future cruises would have a good chance of remaining low.

 

For those who say they or their family members are essentially Piazza campers and this is their right, keep in mind that this only works for you if the vast majority of people onboard don't think the way you do. Maybe the Piazza can function as intended with 10% campers. If the number of campers grows too high, people will need to start getting up very early to reserve their spots...and there still won't be enough room for all the would-be campers. As some have reported, this is happening, with camping beginning at 4 am.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Loreni

[Loreni]

Things are constantly changing in the cruise industry, even on Princess.

[geoherb]

Princess hasn't stepped up to deal with chair hogs by the pool who aren't even occupying the seats they're hogging. I doubt they'll do anything to offend guests who are guilty of playing cards a little too long in the IC area.

[elliair]

 

For those who say they or their family members are essentially Piazza campers and this is their right, keep in mind that this only works for you if the vast majority of people onboard don't think the way you do. Maybe the Piazza can function as intended with 10% campers. If the number of campers grows too high, people will need to start getting up very early to reserve their spots...and there still won't be enough room for all the would-be campers. As some have reported, this is happening, with camping beginning at 4 am.

 

Who will decide who those 10% are? Maybe have it a paying venue like the Serenity deck? I think not.:rolleyes:

[Baystate]

Just out of curiosity I checked back through the patters from my Golden cruise.

 

We had 12 sea days. Musical entertainment in the Piazza on those days never started until noon at the earliest.

 

However on seven of those days there were events in the Piazza in the morning such as: Giant Jenga Challenge, 60 Second Frenzy, Giant Four in a Row, Fruit and Vegetable Carving Demonstration, Norman Love Chocolate Demonstration, and Martini Demonstration.

 

I would happily lay a bet that none of those people playing cards, or reading or knitting over by the windows close to the IC (marked Lobby Bar on the current deck plan), would take any interest in any of these events, especially as the demonstrations would not have been visible from where they were sitting.

 

I think that this proves that this area is used as a general gathering point for people to enjoy as they see fit, and although, I wouldn't sit in the exact IC area while someone was searching for a place with a beverage or food in their hands, I would never ask nor would I stare someone down to move.

 

by OzKiwiJJ

Would it be too hard to put espresso machines in a couple of other places around the ship, say the Wheelhouse Bar and maybe Crooners? That way people who just want coffee/tea/hot chocolate could go there rather than the IC and that would spread people out around the ship more.

I think this is a really great idea.

[Eaglecw]

We see these people all the time at the IC or the Horizon count and they just don’t get it. On our last cruise on the Crown I encountered this woman reading her book at the IC at a table for 3. No coffee, no food just reading her book. The place was packed with people looking for a place to sit. I had my morning snack a donut and my wife was getting her tea so being the person I am I sat down with here and she said pardon me I’m sitting here. As I sat down, I said “Hi how are you today” she looked at me and said “this table is taken, I’m sitting here”. I said “I see that but there is no were else to sit and you’re at this table all alone, I’ll only be here a few minute while I eat my snack and then we’ll move along”. My wife comes over with her tea and this lady goes sideways and tells us that we are the rudest people she’s ever encountered on a cruise and with that she slams her book closed and leaves. The people next to us about died laughing, they said that she had run off some other people right before I sat down. I’ve done the same thing a couple of times up at the Horizon Court buffet. What’s wrong with people why can’t they share? We always share a table if there is room for someone else, we’ve met some really nice people that way. It’s not like the end of the world.

[Loreni]

We see these people all the time at the IC or the Horizon count and they just don’t get it. On our last cruise on the Crown I encountered this woman reading her book at the IC at a table for 3. No coffee, no food just reading her book. The place was packed with people looking for a place to sit. I had my morning snack a donut and my wife was getting her tea so being the person I am I sat down with here and she said pardon me I’m sitting here. As I sat down, I said “Hi how are you today” she looked at me and said “this table is taken, I’m sitting here”. I said “I see that but there is no were else to sit and you’re at this table all alone, I’ll only be here a few minute while I eat my snack and then we’ll move along”. My wife comes over with her tea and this lady goes sideways and tells us that we are the rudest people she’s ever encountered on a cruise and with that she slams her book closed and leaves. The people next to us about died laughing, they said that she had run off some other people right before I sat down. I’ve done the same thing a couple of times up at the Horizon Court buffet. What’s wrong with people why can’t they share? We always share a table if there is room for someone else, we’ve met some really nice people that way. It’s not like the end of the world.

 

I think what you did was very reasonable.

 

I wonder how many people will be buying coffee/tea AND Norman Love treats when there is no place to sit at the IC. I know I won't. Well, maybe I would under one condition: Princess returns the comfortable furniture to the balconies so I can take my treats there. Even better, return to good balcony furniture AND offer room service for Norman Love treats and espresso based drinks.

 

As it stands, I won't continue to pay for a balcony I can't use. I'm not sure what the Princess thought process is. It seems the nasty new furniture was calculated to drive people to revenue producing venues. So, OK, I capitulate, then I find it is not so easy to spend my money unless I wish to stand. Um, no.

 

Maybe we do need more than one cafe. I couldn't care less about the Piazza entertainment, so if Crown Grill, for example, became a cafe and pastry and light bite place, for a fee, during the day, I'd probably go there.

[namowal]

“Hi how are you today” she looked at me and said “this table is taken, I’m sitting here”. I said “I see that but there is no were else to sit and you’re at this table all alone, I’ll only be here a few minute while I eat my snack and then we’ll move along”. My wife comes over with her tea and this lady goes sideways and tells us that we are the rudest people she’s ever encountered on a cruise and with that she slams her book closed and leaves. The people next to us about died laughing, they said that she had run off some other people right before I sat down.

 

I could understand if she was holding the seats for friends (who'd be there soon,) but otherwise she's out of line IMHO. And I suspect you're not the first (or the last) cruiser to get her critique about your manners.

[greenie082756]

:DSo when I saw how many posts on this subject, I thought this must be an old thread. Well oh my!

 

I have now read through all the comments. Basically what I get is that some passengers enjoy the Piazza area so much that they socialize and play games.

 

I've seen this in all areas of a ship. I'm glad they are enjoying themselves.

 

Also, I get from the OP is that she feels this is all about Princess making money. I'm good with that as I am a stockholder and if they make money, I make money :D. Supply and Demand.

 

Not everyday, but most days, my DH will go down to the IC area, get a coffee and donut around 5 am. Grabs a 2 top next to the window. Not a lot of people there then. He's reading, looking out the window @ the sea and drinking coffee. I usually follow behind him around 6 am. We both are sitting there drinking, eating, reading and occasionally looking out the window. We last anywhere from 1/2 hour to 1 hour before we get up and head for HC.

 

My 2 cents worth: I believe in a public area, first come first served. I have not yet seen a great monopolization of people playing games in the Piazza area.

 

I will try to be more observant on our next 15 day cruise :D:D

[PescadoAmarillo]

Sigh. This is why we love the Pacific Princess. As one of the headwaters once said, that ship lacks the 'tension' of the larger ships. No conflict. No drama. Just cruising.