scluvsrain Posted February 23, 2022 #101 Share Posted February 23, 2022 This is my first Princess cruise, but I’m a seasoned sailor on another cruise line with over 800 days at sea. I’ve found the food in the buffet to be less than mediocre. The dining room food is very good. The Crown Grill is outstanding. Sabatini’s was awful. As was Salty Dog Grill (not at pool, it is good especially the hot dogs). Everything else has been fairly comparable to my other cruise line with one more exception- the bar wait staff. They are not very responsive at all and it’s pretty consistent across the various lounges. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat and waited for a server to stop at my table and ask if I’d like anything, only to see them look my way and just walk by, turning their head. There are a few small exceptions. But in general it’s lousy. On my other cruise line, they never leave you unattended. Just sayin. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chelly Posted February 23, 2022 #102 Share Posted February 23, 2022 (edited) sorry, wrong thread. Edited February 23, 2022 by Chelly posted in error Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 23, 2022 Author #103 Share Posted February 23, 2022 @scluvsrainDH has said almost exactly the same thing. He says he orders two drinks at a time because otherwise he’d never get a chance to order a second one. I told him he’d better check his bill (he has the beverage package). 😉 He also thought the Crown Grill was fantastic, and seldom dines in the buffet. Today’s lunch menu: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SusieKIslandGirl Posted February 23, 2022 #104 Share Posted February 23, 2022 @scluvsrainHi Sherita, I agree with you-we enjoy both Princess and HAL. There are a couple of things we like better on Princess, mainly the International Cafe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #105 Share Posted February 24, 2022 @scluvsrainAnd now I know why DH agrees with everything you said! 😆 Hi Sherita! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted February 24, 2022 #106 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Hi J!! I don’t know who’s going to keep him in line when I leave. Hahahaha. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TracieABD Posted February 24, 2022 #107 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Hi J- sorry to hear that you are not on board, but I totally get the reason. There will be other cruises to HI, but there is only 1 senior year! Glad G is having a great time. Thank you for all of the info!!! TL 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #108 Share Posted February 24, 2022 46 minutes ago, scluvsrain said: Hi J!! I don’t know who’s going to keep him in line when I leave. Hahahaha. Yes, thanks for the the reprieve. 😉 Seriously, he has really enjoyed having a partner in crime on this cruise! 23 minutes ago, TracieABD said: Hi J- sorry to hear that you are not on board, but I totally get the reason. There will be other cruises to HI, but there is only 1 senior year! Hi Tracie! You’re welcome, and you’re oh so right. First track meet is Saturday morning, second round of state basketball championship is Saturday afternoon. I’m in my happy place and will still get to Hawaii in a month. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #109 Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) As DH said, he’s in Sonata (that’s Ensenada for the rest of us).😀 Edited February 24, 2022 by PescadoAmarillo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #110 Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) *Part* of tonight’s dinner menu: Edited February 24, 2022 by PescadoAmarillo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coopco Posted February 24, 2022 #111 Share Posted February 24, 2022 8 hours ago, scluvsrain said: This is my first Princess cruise, but I’m a seasoned sailor on another cruise line with over 800 days at sea. I’ve found the food in the buffet to be less than mediocre. The dining room food is very good. The Crown Grill is outstanding. Sabatini’s was awful. As was Salty Dog Grill (not at pool, it is good especially the hot dogs). Everything else has been fairly comparable to my other cruise line with one more exception- the bar wait staff. They are not very responsive at all and it’s pretty consistent across the various lounges. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat and waited for a server to stop at my table and ask if I’d like anything, only to see them look my way and just walk by, turning their head. There are a few small exceptions. But in general it’s lousy. On my other cruise line, they never leave you unattended. Just sayin. We only eat at the buffet when we must - usually for breakfast, which is actually mostly good. We'd much rather eat in the dining room when we can. I'm so with you on Sabatini's although I wouldn't consider it awful. I don't know what the hype is. My favorite specialty restaurant was Share and I know folks were saying Sabatini's is so much better, which I didn't understand. That being said, it has a lot to do with what you order. On our last cruise, I tasted some of what others in our group ordered and it was great. I was not so impressed with everything I ordered. So maybe give it another try on your next Princess cruise and order something different. Regarding the bar staff, this is a medallion thing. Service used to be much better. But now that everyone orders through the app, they no longer look for people who don't. My husband orders his drinks a certain way so we can't order from the app. We ended up going to the bar on our last cruise because the wait staff was so busy delivering one drink at a time from the app, they didn't have time to take orders from customers not ordering from the app. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted February 24, 2022 #112 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Coopco - there has been a lot discussion onboard amongst passengers about the medallion thing and ordering drinks. And there may be an impact from some of that. However, when I’m sitting in the crooners lounge with a whopping 5 other guests scattered throughout the lounge, and there’s one server who is standing up at the bar talking to the bartender who also isn’t busy - well, that’s just bad service. Or, the server walks by with an empty tray and ignores you. I blame it on hotel management. That manager is responsible for making sure their employees are providing the service at a level promised to them by Princess. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caribill Posted February 24, 2022 #113 Share Posted February 24, 2022 2 hours ago, scluvsrain said: I blame it on hotel management. That manager is responsible for making sure their employees are providing the service at a level promised to them by Princess. Be sure to give appropriate feedback on the after-cruise survey you will receive by E-mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JF - retired RRT Posted February 24, 2022 #114 Share Posted February 24, 2022 7 hours ago, scluvsrain said: Coopco - there has been a lot discussion onboard amongst passengers about the medallion thing and ordering drinks. And there may be an impact from some of that. However, when I’m sitting in the crooners lounge with a whopping 5 other guests scattered throughout the lounge, and there’s one server who is standing up at the bar talking to the bartender who also isn’t busy - well, that’s just bad service. Or, the server walks by with an empty tray and ignores you. I blame it on hotel management. That manager is responsible for making sure their employees are providing the service at a level promised to them by Princess. Gotta say...if that happened to me, I'd stand up and say in a loud voice, "I'd like to place an order!!!". If he ignored that, I'd report him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare iamaqt2 Posted February 24, 2022 #115 Share Posted February 24, 2022 11 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said: Gotta say...if that happened to me, I'd stand up and say in a loud voice, "I'd like to place an order!!!". If he ignored that, I'd report him. If that happened to me I'd just get up, walk the 20 feet to the bar, and place a drink order. Then I'd walk that drink the 20 feet back to my seat and sit there happily sipping away. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted February 24, 2022 #116 Share Posted February 24, 2022 That’s what I usually do. Walk to the bar and order the drink myself. I will make good use of the survey. The good, the bad and the ugly. I’m not shy. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare LACruiser88 Posted February 24, 2022 #117 Share Posted February 24, 2022 19 hours ago, scluvsrain said: This is my first Princess cruise, but I’m a seasoned sailor on another cruise line with over 800 days at sea. I’ve found the food in the buffet to be less than mediocre. The dining room food is very good. The Crown Grill is outstanding. Sabatini’s was awful. As was Salty Dog Grill (not at pool, it is good especially the hot dogs). Everything else has been fairly comparable to my other cruise line with one more exception- the bar wait staff. They are not very responsive at all and it’s pretty consistent across the various lounges. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat and waited for a server to stop at my table and ask if I’d like anything, only to see them look my way and just walk by, turning their head. There are a few small exceptions. But in general it’s lousy. On my other cruise line, they never leave you unattended. Just sayin. So sorry to hear about the bad service onboard. We are currently on the Emerald and are having the complete opposite experience. No matter what venue we are in, the service has been outstanding. It has to come down to the HGM's management team onboard. There should not be that big of a difference in service from one Princess ship to another. I hope you give Princess another try, because what you are experiencing has not been the norm for us. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scluvsrain Posted February 24, 2022 #118 Share Posted February 24, 2022 I will. I’m open to trying again. Right price, right itinerary. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare HaveDogWillTravel Posted February 24, 2022 #119 Share Posted February 24, 2022 19 hours ago, scluvsrain said: This is my first Princess cruise, but I’m a seasoned sailor on another cruise line with over 800 days at sea. I’ve found the food in the buffet to be less than mediocre. The dining room food is very good. The Crown Grill is outstanding. Sabatini’s was awful. As was Salty Dog Grill (not at pool, it is good especially the hot dogs). Everything else has been fairly comparable to my other cruise line with one more exception- the bar wait staff. They are not very responsive at all and it’s pretty consistent across the various lounges. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat and waited for a server to stop at my table and ask if I’d like anything, only to see them look my way and just walk by, turning their head. There are a few small exceptions. But in general it’s lousy. On my other cruise line, they never leave you unattended. Just sayin. Just goes to show how different people can have such different experiences on the same ship with the same crew. I disembarked on the day you embarked so the only thing that really changed is the passengers. I thought the service in crown grill was horrible (food was good but 3 hours? ughhh), I absolutely loved Sabatini’s and went back twice. Just over an hour and the food & service were amazing. Crooners was completely packed most of the time but they did a great job putting out drinks. The Vines guys were amazing as well, fast and efficient (and super fun). Good Spirits at sea crew were also fun and served up amazing craft cocktails quickly. One late night Coroners was so busy I just stopped at Wheelhouse for my nightcap to take upstairs. They were absolutely empty. I never order off the ap. I talk to the servers and bartenders. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #120 Share Posted February 24, 2022 (edited) It’s “Eggs Benedict at a table with a view of the sea” day on the Ruby Princess. And “a third day of snow shoveling in single digit temps” day at home. Hmmmmmm….I might be a tad jealous! Edited February 24, 2022 by PescadoAmarillo 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VibeGuy Posted February 24, 2022 #121 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Artem at Good Spirits is probably my favourite Princess employee all-up. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VibeGuy Posted February 24, 2022 #122 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Well, that’s certainly new. With three sequential turnaround days in December/January, we never got invited for a glass of Mimosa and casual chit-chat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare jwattle Posted February 24, 2022 #123 Share Posted February 24, 2022 They did that when we were on Celebrity; it was a very nice lunch; kudos Princess 🥂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #124 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Ship officers: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare PescadoAmarillo Posted February 24, 2022 Author #125 Share Posted February 24, 2022 Letter for in transit passengers 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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