Caribbean P Jan 9 to Mar 13 live review/updates

[Waynetor]

Capriccio – my numbers were based on high 1,400 passenger count for this week.  The blue, platinum and elite numbers have been given by crew so if there are more passengers, then the gold/ruby count I estimated is low. 

I would have expected passengers that have a history of regular cruising to be back in higher numbers after being deprived of something they love for a good period.  I also would have expected cruise lines to have more of an issue getting new guest as there is not as much marketing happening combined with some bad publicity and CDC warnings.  If the current numbers are close to historical averages that would be good for Princess but if elites are not jumping at the chance to cruise again that says something else – Could be some elite are still nervous due to age, some may be turned off due number of cancelations and other issues that have come up over the last 2 years.  The average age on the first 8 weeks we have been on the ship if defiantly lower than other years we have spent in the Caribbean.

[coopco]

18 hours ago, Waynetor said:

Capriccio – my numbers were based on high 1,400 passenger count for this week.  The blue, platinum and elite numbers have been given by crew so if there are more passengers, then the gold/ruby count I estimated is low. 

I would have expected passengers that have a history of regular cruising to be back in higher numbers after being deprived of something they love for a good period.  I also would have expected cruise lines to have more of an issue getting new guest as there is not as much marketing happening combined with some bad publicity and CDC warnings.  If the current numbers are close to historical averages that would be good for Princess but if elites are not jumping at the chance to cruise again that says something else – Could be some elite are still nervous due to age, some may be turned off due number of cancelations and other issues that have come up over the last 2 years.  The average age on the first 8 weeks we have been on the ship if defiantly lower than other years we have spent in the Caribbean.

Waynetor - do you mind me asking what time are the theater shows? I saw an early post that said 9 pm. Then a later post said they were expanding to two shows per night but I didn’t catch the times. We’ll be on the Caribbean Princess in a few weeks and I’m trying to figure out dinner reservations since we like to have the same wait staff each evening. Thanks.

[Waynetor]

If there is a single show it is at 9pm.  If there are 2 shows, they are 7:15 and 9pm.  Today week there was 1 show tonight and there will be 2 each night the rest of the week.  For planning, eating as a couple in the dining rooms takes about an hour - can be a lot quicker if only have 2 courses.  Larger numbers at a table can add up to 50% extra time.

 

The passenger count is not as high as we were led to believe it would be.  At the show tonight the Cruise Director said there are 2,359 passengers now on board.  That is around 70%.  He noted there are 107 from the UK, 208 Canadian and 1,787 US.  There are 26 children and over 800 first time Princess passengers.

 

We got a notice today for Elite Cap. Circle members to expect laundry to be up to 72 hours.  Up to now, we have put our laundry out in the morning and sometimes got it back next evening but more common the second evening. 

[Mary Ann 2]

On 3/5/2022 at 7:23 PM, Waynetor said:

but if elites are not jumping at the chance to cruise again that says something else – Could be some elite are still nervous due to age, some may be turned off due number of cancelations and other issues that have come up over the last 2 years.  The average age on the first 8 weeks we have been on the ship if defiantly lower than other years we have spent in the Caribbean.

I have a different spin on this.  Maybe all the elites sailed last year, like we did.  As soon as cruises started back up, we were back onboard by early August.  We typically only do one cruise a year (we are still working and only have a certain # of days off that has to be shared with visiting daughter trips too), but we saved all our time off (taking only a few days off at Christmas) and took another cruise in November.  After two 7 day cruises (at first that's all there was), we are now eagerly looking forward to our scheduled 18 day cruise in late spring.  So you may be right about some nervous due to age and co-morbidities that make one hesitant to risk much travel/exposure, but there have been LOTS of Elite passengers cruising. For us, we will choose anywhere else rather than another Caribbean cruise - only so many times one wants to visit the same places.

[Sweet Dreams]

On 3/4/2022 at 9:15 PM, Waynetor said:

The correct elite number is 236. So there are 560 platinum+, 450+ blue, leaving around 450 ruby/gold.  I'm not sure what the historical breakdown would be, but to me those numbers show poor customer loyalty.  

 

The upcoming masking changes for Mar 6 was noted at the party.

 

There is no smoking anywhere indoors.

 

Nice day in Cozumel.  Mostly cloudy so not too hot and no rain. No other ship in the port we were at but there was a NCL ship about 2 miles down the coast at another dock.

 

Sometime between 7 last night and mid morning one of the 2 wheelier bars on my wife's wheelchair came off and disappeared.  (They stop the wheelchair for tipping over backwards.)  It is a very distinctive piece of equipment, but no one has turned it in to the front desk.

 

One of the cruise director staff left last Sunday and his replacement did his first trivia of this voyage today - We have likely done a 1,000 or so on Princess and this was the worst.  Each person doing them tends to have their own style, but this guy had no personality and for most questions he mis-read them and once he got the questions read correctly, he only gave a very short time before going to the next question.   

Do you remember the new cruise directors name? 

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Can anyone post the wine list from MDR & Vines?

[Britter16]

Just got off yesterday. Thanks to all the crew for making it feel like visiting family.

Reality is a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, we were so spoiled. It was a great time to cruise with a less than half full ship.

Is it true that smoking is allowed in the casino again?

Enjoy your last week Wayne.

[RNRcruisers]

16 hours ago, Mary Ann 2 said:

I have a different spin on this.  Maybe all the elites sailed last year, like we did.  As soon as cruises started back up, we were back onboard by early August.  We typically only do one cruise a year (we are still working and only have a certain # of days off that has to be shared with visiting daughter trips too), but we saved all our time off (taking only a few days off at Christmas) and took another cruise in November.  After two 7 day cruises (at first that's all there was), we are now eagerly looking forward to our scheduled 18 day cruise in late spring.  So you may be right about some nervous due to age and co-morbidities that make one hesitant to risk much travel/exposure, but there have been LOTS of Elite passengers cruising. For us, we will choose anywhere else rather than another Caribbean cruise - only so many times one wants to visit the same places.

 

I felt like the average age on our cruise in January was pretty high, although we have only cruised a few times on Princess in the Caribbean so I don't have much previous experience to go by. I was surprised because I thought that age group might have been nervous about cruising.

 

I wonder how many are holding off on cruising because of the vaccine requirement. I still know plenty of people unwilling to get vaccinated. I personally would not have cruised if it were NOT a requirement but there might be others who feel the opposite.

 

[tompeter]

5 hours ago, Britter16 said:

Just got off yesterday. Thanks to all the crew for making it feel like visiting family.

Reality is a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, we were so spoiled. It was a great time to cruise with a less than half full ship.

Is it true that smoking is allowed in the casino again?

Enjoy your last week Wayne.

Yes, smoking has resumed in the casino.

[Waynetor]

I played in the casino this afternoon and walked through both sides tonight and did not see any sign of smoking.   I'll check tomorrow to see where it is allowed.

 

I have often seen post here on CC about people using there OBC to set up an account and then playing a bit and then casing out in good, old US cash.  My wife and I have done this for the first time.  She played for 15 minute and won over $3 - near minimum wage.  I played 5 minutes and was up over $25.  We still have a large OBC so will have to do it again this week. 

 

The next Cruise Director is Gary Golding.  He was in the lounge tonight watching the game show.  I don't believe we have had him before.

 

It has been a bit rocky all day - I did not hear any official comments, but I would guess the waves are in the 3 - 4 height range.  The production show was cancelled and replaced by a female rock and roll singer.  The production show will be rescheduled. 

 

[PacnGoNow]

I didn’t see any smoking in the casino either.  Won’t be going again, if there is.

 

2 rocky days now, I have to stay on 5 in order not to feel queasy! Yuck.  We ordered room service for dinner, along with hundreds of other guests.  It helped to open up tables in the DR.  Lol

 

Sun night, computers were down in the DR’s and they scrambled to seat people, we had about 30 in line outside the Coral DR  about 630pm, not happy people.
 

Can’t wait till we get to St Kitts tmrw.  

[tompeter]

Trust me, there is smoking in the casino. I have a friend working on the ship, in the casino, and they have verified that smoking has resumed.

Edited March 8, 2022 by tompeter
clarify

[cltnccruisers]

5 hours ago, tompeter said:

Trust me, there is smoking in the casino. I have a friend working on the ship, in the casino, and they have verified that smoking has resumed.

Absolutely and it got pretty heavy in one section this afternoon.

[phabric]

When you get your post cruise survey, mention your opinion on smoking in the casino.  If enough people complain, maybe something can be done.

[cltnccruisers]

5 minutes ago, phabric said:

When you get your post cruise survey, mention your opinion on smoking in the casino.  If enough people complain, maybe something can be done.

The FAQ still states that smoking will not be allowed in the casinos.  So something has been done but Princess cannot be trusted to follow through.

[phabric]

3 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

The FAQ still states that smoking will not be allowed in the casinos.  So something has been done but Princess cannot be trusted to follow through.

Smoking is back since they lifted the mask requirement.  They might not have changed the FAQ yet.

[cltnccruisers]

42 minutes ago, phabric said:

Smoking is back since they lifted the mask requirement.  They might not have changed the FAQ yet.

Please show in the new mask requirements where smoking in the casino is allowed.

[azbirdmom]

1 hour ago, phabric said:

Smoking is back since they lifted the mask requirement.  They might not have changed the FAQ yet.

 

Except the rules also still state that masks are required in the casino in addition to stating that smoking isn't allowed.  As I said on another thread, Princess continues to be reliably inconsistent.

[coopco]

On 3/6/2022 at 7:29 PM, Waynetor said:

If there is a single show it is at 9pm.  If there are 2 shows, they are 7:15 and 9pm.  Today week there was 1 show tonight and there will be 2 each night the rest of the week.  For planning, eating as a couple in the dining rooms takes about an hour - can be a lot quicker if only have 2 courses.  Larger numbers at a table can add up to 50% extra time.

Thanks so much for the info. Our reservations should work out perfectly for either scenario. I really appreciate it. Enjoy the rest of your cruise.

[Waynetor]

Coming into the casino from the atrium, on the left is the cashier area, and the smoking area is on the right side.  I did not see any sign but did see one person smoking when I went through.  There is definitely a smell that was not there before, but it is not through the whole casino.

 

We again had choppy seas today resulting in our arrival in St Kitts being pushed back an hour to an hour and a half.  We will stay an hour later.

 

Mask wearing has dropped off very significantly in all areas while crowds have built up.  Social distancing has become very difficult. Even with only around 70% capacity, the pool areas were full most of the day, we went to the second show tonight (comedian) and the theatre was full, and we were one of the first out of the theatre but by the time we got to Explores Lounge it was near full for the Yes/No game.  

 

[MissP22]

5 hours ago, Waynetor said:

Mask wearing has dropped off very significantly in all areas while crowds have built up.  Social distancing has become very difficult. Even with only around 70% capacity, the pool areas were full most of the day, we went to the second show tonight (comedian) and the theatre was full, and we were one of the first out of the theatre but by the time we got to Explores Lounge it was near full for the Yes/No game.  

Much the same is true for the current trip on the Enchanted with little or no enforcement. (from what I've been reading) 

 

I always get an end seat in the theater so that we can leave around 5 minutes before the end of the show in order to get a seat for anything else. 

You don't miss much but at least you'll get a decent seat for the game shows.

[cltnccruisers]

8 hours ago, Waynetor said:

Coming into the casino from the atrium, on the left is the cashier area, and the smoking area is on the right side.  I did not see any sign but did see one person smoking when I went through.  There is definitely a smell that was not there before, but it is not through the whole casino.

 

We again had choppy seas today resulting in our arrival in St Kitts being pushed back an hour to an hour and a half.  We will stay an hour later.

 

Mask wearing has dropped off very significantly in all areas while crowds have built up.  Social distancing has become very difficult. Even with only around 70% capacity, the pool areas were full most of the day, we went to the second show tonight (comedian) and the theatre was full, and we were one of the first out of the theatre but by the time we got to Explores Lounge it was near full for the Yes/No game.  

 

I was told by one of the officers there were 2,360.  That makes it 75% which I didn't think they'd get to this quickly.  Choppiest cruise we've had in a long time.

[PacnGoNow]

27 minutes ago, cltnccruisers said:

I was told by one of the officers there were 2,360.  That makes it 75% which I didn't think they'd get to this quickly.  Choppiest cruise we've had in a long time.

They had a big sale on this week and next week’s cruises.  Very cheap inside cabins to attract new cruisers and spring break.  It worked, over 800 new cruisers this week.  Seems very early to me too to book this heavily and drop protocols. 

Number is 2356 this week and almost 2800 next week.  
 

I’m happy we will see land the next 3 days, very choppy out on the seas and rain all around this area the last few days.

 

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

Greetings from the Caribbean Princess 🌞 We are first timers on Princess Cruises , previously we have had over 20 cruises with MSC (both Yacht Club and non Yacht Club ), Royal, Celebrity and Costa.

 

We really enjoy our cruise onboard the Caribbean Princess . The ambiance is lovely and the atmosphere is relaxing. The crew is in my opinion fantastic. They are working hard. Choppy seas as mentioned by Waynetor and we are now a bit delayed into St.Kitts. Last night we had our dinner in Sabatini's. Excellent food and service . The two previous evenings in the MDR ( Palm Dining Room ) was not that impressive.  The service is slow and inconsistent. I'm not that impressed by the food in the MDR either. I was expecting better food in the Princess MDR. Portions on the small side. We will give it a try again later on the cruise. The buffet for lunch is excellent though. Tonight we're going to try the Crown Grill and I'm very excited about that. The ship itself shows it's age but I love it. The outer decks are lovely.  Some great classic decor and interior too. Fellow guests seems to enjoy their cruise and we are all happy to be on a cruise again. Very few guests wear a face mask 😷 After a cruise on the MSC Grandiosa with mandatory face mask back in October it's really great to cruise without the face mask again 🤩 

 

St. Kitts is now visible on our portside. We have just passed some rainshowers , let's hope the weather improves during the day.  The weather on the two previous seadays was lovely 😎

Edited March 9, 2022 by Norwegian Cruiser 73

[Norwegian Cruiser 73]

For those of you that are interested in this week's cruise on the Caribbean Princess, tune in to @norwegiancruiser on Instagram and check out my stories and photos 👍