The Cruise: Featuring Royal Princess - 2nd TV Series

[Thejuggler]

Only done one cruise Princess cruise and due to P&O nights we went to the Captains meet. There was definately competition in the room to be most travelled. IIRC winner had 700+ nights.

[terrierjohn]

Pete, thank you that sums up my views on the programme very succinctly, and as a cruise lover, like you, it whets my appetite for my next cruise.

 

Unfortunately the shots around the ship, especially the atrium area do make me wish that Carnival would send some of their Princess design team over to P&O to help with the new ship, but I doubt it will happen.

 

Therefore unless Celebrity suddenly change their UK itineraries away from Baltic cruises, we will have to make do with P&O and their extremely understated decor for most of our cruises.

[P&O SUE]

I quite enjoy it although I agree it doesn't give a good impression.

 

My favourites are the British engineer and the chef.

 

I am confused Timothy on the front desk got "promoted" to the Excursions team last time but was back on the desk again?!

 

Agree the most travelled thing came across as quite cheesy but as I have never experienced this event myself it doesn't bother me.

 

Interestingly a friend of mine saw one of the last series before she went on her first ever cruise and was horrified and hoped her cruise wouldn't be like that - She was going on RCI's Independence of the Seas (and I thought oh dear if she thinks Princess is over the top what will she think of RCI) - and guess what, she loved her cruise!

[daiB]

Pete, thank you that sums up my views on the programme very succinctly, and as a cruise lover, like you, it whets my appetite for my next cruise.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the shots around the ship, especially the atrium area do make me wish that Carnival would send some of their Princess design team over to P&O to help with the new ship, but I doubt it will happen.

 

 

 

Therefore unless Celebrity suddenly change their UK itineraries away from Baltic cruises, we will have to make do with P&O and their extremely understated decor for most of our cruises.

 

 

Well in that case I will have to wear my sunglasses indoors on our next cruise. :) :)

 

 

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[daiB]

BTW John you could have been on that one as we are going to the Med. Very cheap as well.

 

 

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[terrierjohn]

Well in that case I will have to wear my sunglasses indoors on our next cruise. :) :)

 

BTW John you could have been on that one as we are going to the Med. Very cheap as well.

Princess is definitely an option for us Dai, but their launch prices are always very high, and I don't like to gamble that they will always offer to price match later on. Furthermore their itineraries tend to be samey and normally include Rome and Florence, which for a wheelchair user are a bit of a pain.

I am looking forward to your review of Caribbean Princess, and you must post a selfie of you indoors in your sunglasses!;):D

[P&O SUE]

Princess is definitely an option for us Dai, but their launch prices are always very high, and I don't like to gamble that they will always offer to price match later on. Furthermore their itineraries tend to be samey and normally include Rome and Florence, which for a wheelchair user are a bit of a pain.

I am looking forward to your review of Caribbean Princess, and you must post a selfie of you indoors in your sunglasses!;):D

 

I agree with all of this John. I've been watching Princess cruises the last couple of years, but as you say their launch prices are very high. There are fewer of them and a bit samey but there is one I like the look off that P&O doesn't do. However I keep getting offers from P&O that I can't turn down! :D

 

I will do it soonish I hope but next year I've promised I'll go with my friend and she really wants to go on P&O.

[sammybonny]

We were fortunate to be able to try our first Princess cruise on Royal Princess in 2015. It was a 12 night British Isles cruise for £699 in a balcony cabin and they also threw in $75 obs! And also because of our previous P&O cruises we got free internet and priority embarkation.

 

We were on Britannia later that year and couldnt believe the difference in the design of the atrium it was very bland and like chalk and cheese.

 

We still enjoy P&O but found the food to be better on Princess and would definitely choose them again if the price was right.

[bee-ess]

How awful is this series, it's just a rehash of the first one:

1. Lost luggage in first episode

2. Staff member trying to get another job (this one failing however - although the one who was promoted last time appears to back in his original job!

3. Award for the most travelled cruiser! How many days?!

 

The only thing new in this series is the somewhat more interesting work of the new second officer.

 

Agree totally, I can't see what Princess gain out of this, it is not really representative of cruising to my mind, would put me off if I was contemplating it !!

[terrierjohn]

Agree totally, I can't see what Princess gain out of this, it is not really representative of cruising to my mind, would put me off if I was contemplating it !!

Obviously you did not read the press comments from last year where Princess indicated the TV show had led to increased bookings.

Remember the saying, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

[kevinyork]

I've watched the first 4 episodes in this series. I find it irritating that it chops and changes constantly with repeated recaps and intros such that the actual content is minimal. I don't think it knows what it wants to be, a documentary on working on a cruise ship or a documentary on cruising from the passenger's perspective. Still I agree with P&OSUE that the British chief engineer is VERY interesting.

 

 

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[The Wilkies]

Does anyone know why Timothy went back? He is now far more professional.

 

As a loyal P & O from 1981 to 2002, we got "fed up" of Europe so moved to Princess. They may be more expensive but we have been lucky enough to cruise all round the world, seeing places we only dreamed about. Went back to P & O last year - 2 cruises on Azura. What a disappointment, really dumbed down. Back to Princess for us.

[daiB]

I've watched the first 4 episodes in this series. I find it irritating that it chops and changes constantly with repeated recaps and intros such that the actual content is minimal. I don't think it knows what it wants to be, a documentary on working on a cruise ship or a documentary on cruising from the passenger's perspective. Still I agree with P&OSUE that the British chief engineer is VERY interesting.

 

 

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For once we agree Kevin apart of course from the engineer. The new second mate looks much better. :)

 

 

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[Presto2]

We love watching the programme because it reminds us of our holidays :)

Have to admit, having been on Britannia we have now started to look at Princess after this as this ship looks stunning (to us). Princess did the atrium on Oceana (which we love) so to see that on a larger scale appeals to us.

Having said that - Princess prices are really high so another year perhaps :)

[terrierjohn]

Does anyone know why Timothy went back? He is now far more professional.

My understanding is that guest relations and shore excursion depts. are similarly graded and all under the control of the guest services manager, and in episode 1 Timothy was now said to be a senior customer services manager, so I guess he got a promotion.

[peteukmcr]

Still I agree with P&OSUE that the British chief engineer is VERY interesting.

:D I suppose there's something about him.

[Jennizor]

We have done two Princess cruises, Hawaii and Canada and New England. We loved the ships, nationalities on board, and would go with Princess again if the itinerary suited. We have cruised with P & O several times and have never had a bad cruise or ship - so we love both. I just love the Cruise programme as it takes me back to lovely holidays, there are some annoying people and issues like lost luggage etc. If they showed everything as perfect it would not be believable. Roll on May for our next cruise on Azura going to the Med.

[terrierjohn]

We have done two Princess cruises, Hawaii and Canada and New England. We loved the ships, nationalities on board, and would go with Princess again if the itinerary suited. We have cruised with P & O several times and have never had a bad cruise or ship - so we love both. I just love the Cruise programme as it takes me back to lovely holidays, there are some annoying people and issues like lost luggage etc. If they showed everything as perfect it would not be believable. Roll on May for our next cruise on Azura going to the Med.

Don't forget to look out for us Brenda, my wife will be in a red wheelchair.

[reemab1]

I read the Princess had no editorial control over the programme ....not sure if this is true or not, but might explain some of the 'focus' on bad experiences which are probably seen as more interesting viewing!!

[AL ZYMER]

Before this series there was one on the Balmoral (Fred Olsen).Same formula,to show to the general public the excesses of many cruise passengers.The special meals, drinking,late night buffet,Spa treatments, pampering, Black tie nights. and so on. Its for the eyes and entertainment of those outside the cruise community.Those within that bubble do not see themselves as such.There are plenty among the 3,000 odd passengers aboard that do it differently and do recognise much of the content and behaviour shown. A lot of these "shows"I agree are not researched at all well. The suggestion that a 25 year blond junior officer would navigate a huge cruise ship to dock at a major port was a good example.Even the captain and senior staff are happy to use the port pilot!......My next cruise in about 6 weeks. Will be navigating my way around carefully.

[john watson]

Agree totally, I can't see what Princess gain out of this, it is not really representative of cruising to my mind, would put me off if I was contemplating it !!

 

Nothing like the original series to boost Princess sales figures. As I recall in the original documentary series everybody on the boat fell in love irrespective of how improbable this was. They had some fantastic things going on then, I particularly liked when the Harlem Globetrotters put on an exhibition game on board.

 

It has never gone 100% well for Princess since the beginning, anyone remember when Princess Patricia did not actually have laundry facilities on board so they sent everyone's laundry ashore at one of the ports. When it was delivered by the onshore laundry company they had simply mixed all the laundry into a single giant load which people had to rummage through to find theirs!

 

Regards John

[lake5298]

A couple of observations - and FWIW we were on board for at least some of the filming. We saw the wrecked boat from our balcony - and Captain Bob was completely right in not launching the FRC to investigate a derelict - there was an immense swell - but he kept position for several hours and we only left the scene after the Coastguard released us from the duty.

 

The idea that anyone would be on tenterhooks to see if they the most traveled passengers is just plain silly.

 

As well as plain silly, it's inaccurate. The three Most Travelled Passengers are informed, by letter, a day or two before the event. 2nd & 3rd are requested to make themselves known on arrival, to be shown to their reserved tables. The 1st MTP is escorted from their cabin - usually by the Captain's Circle hostess or one of the Entertainment staff - to the party.

 

We were about 80 days short of being 3rd MTP - but have been 3rd & 2nd previously. It truly depends on the other passengers - one cruise after being 3rd MTP we didn't even get into the top 20 for the Captain's Lunch!

 

My understanding is that guest relations and shore excursion depts. are similarly graded and all under the control of the guest services manager, and in episode 1 Timothy was now said to be a senior customer services manager, so I guess he got a promotion.

 

The two services are indeed part of the same department, so moving from one to the other is not unknown. Congratulations to Timothy - he has the extrovert personality to cheer up unhappy passengers and the caring nature to do a good job.

[davenew]

:D I suppose there's something about him.

 

And what might that be :eek:

[davenew]

Maybe because this is the P&O board it is to be expected that there won't be many positive comments regarding a TV program featuring a competitor cruise line with many defending their favourite line in P&O.

 

For those of us who enjoy cruising, I would have thought it would be interesting to see another cruise line and its ship.

 

Some of the comments on here have made me laugh

 

"The Royal and Regal are Flash Trash, whilst Britannia is Modern Class" - that's some expensive 'trash'

"Subdued holistic" - P&O is mass market so I can't see it's specialist offering

"not really selling the concept of cruising..." - I disagree

"it's just a rehash of the first one" - winning formula

"dreadful looking food being served at The Captain's Table (or whatever it was called)" - food is a very subjective topic and I thought it looked good - Chef's Table btw

 

As a cruise line fanatic and not frightened to try other cruise lines (RCI, Celebrity, MSC, very possibly Cunard and yes, 2 more P&O booked) this program has piqued my interest in Princess.

 

It's 30 minutes of light entertainment, I doubt it's meant to lead to cerebral stimulation.:D

 

No doubt this will enrage the P&O loyalist, but some of the comments appear to be just petty jealousy to me because it's featuring Princess and not P&O.

 

I wouldn't pick holes in the program just because it's not about my favourite line Celebrity and strong contender for that award in my book MSC, I take it as feeding my cruise addiction which will be satisfied for real in just 4 weeks time. :D

 

Mind you at least there are more educated comments on here, good and bad, than on the Princess board! Seems to me that as it isn't featuring US passengers and isn't sailing the Caribbean the majority of US commentators hate it, but most of them can't watch it as it's on ITV!

 

Pete,

Can I just say that my comment, which you refer to, was a stupid reply to the even more stupid original comment "far more glamorous and glitzy than Britannia, Royal and Regal can be considered Broadway whilst Britannia is more Rochdale Hippodrome".

The guy has clearly not been on Britannia, or fell asleep through most of the cruise if he did.

Sorry if you didn't think it was educated enough for you

[insanemagnet]

food is a very subjective topic and I thought it looked good - Chef's Table btw

 

You did? You really thought what was being served was worth the hype it was being given.