Small Cutbacks Noticed

[Kmkub]

22 minutes ago, 1965 said:

I'll still cruise Princess, but I will ask Steward to PLEASE not make towel animals for us. I hate those things. They are in the way. The eyes fall off. And I feel guilty when I take them apart & use the actual towel. 

Lol. We thought we would love the towel animals. After getting an elephant once, like you, we were left wondering what to do with it. It seemed rude to just break it down. We learned years ago to tell our steward not to bother.

[brisalta]

8 minutes ago, Kmkub said:

Comparing towel animals to being charged for toilet paper?

 

I was responding to the person that brought up charging for T.P.. You responded in a fashion that indicated you thought that was a good idea.

 

[WAvoyager]

33 minutes ago, brisalta said:

 

I was responding to the person that brought up charging for T.P.. You responded in a fashion that indicated you thought that was a good idea.

 

Uh…. I would’ve thought that it was obvious I was just joking?!?   Sorry if somehow that was unclear.

 

(“given all of the headwinds, I’m almost surprised they’re not sailing with 1/2 staff, and charging for extra rolls of t.p.!  🤣”)

Edited March 17, 2022 by WAvoyager

[trvlwrld]

13 hours ago, cheezenip said:

One glimmer of hope is the decision of bringing Rudi Sodamin from Holland America to oversea Princess food operations. From out recent experiences (pre-COVID), HAL's food quality is much better. We'll give him 1 year to see if any improvements have been made (he came over this year).

On our HAL cruise 2 yrs ago the food was so bad I sent it back 2 nights in a row...I have never ever sent food back in over 60 years anywhere!   The third night I was too embarrassed to send it back so went to the buffet and got a handful of crackers...spent the rest of the cruise eating off ship as much as possible...actually lost weight on that cruise...lol

[brisalta]

13 hours ago, cheezenip said:

We had started cutting back on Princess pre-COVID because of this. Although we don't expect the food quality to be on par with the upscale lines,  the deterioration of the food  through the years have been frustrating. One glimmer of hope is the decision of bringing Rudi Sodamin from Holland America to oversea Princess food operations. From out recent experiences (pre-COVID), HAL's food quality is much better. We'll give him 1 year to see if any improvements have been made (he came over this year).

 

After watching some videos of Rudi Sodamin preparing food and using bad technique and actually burning food I do not hold out much hope for the future quality of the food.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

3 hours ago, billco said:

At least when you go to another cruise line you won't notice the small cutbacks as much, as long as you don't talk to the old timers who are thinking of going to another cruise line, because of the small cutbacks.

Maybe I’ll just stay where I’m at, lol.

[2 cruises a year]

4 hours ago, billco said:

At least when you go to another cruise line you won't notice the small cutbacks as much, as long as you don't talk to the old timers who are thinking of going to another cruise line, because of the small cutbacks.

True, the grass isn't always greener.

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, 2 cruises a year said:

True, the grass isn't always greener.

sometimes the grass ( passengers ) get immune to the various pesticides and fertilizers ( perks ) and a change is needed ... the grass looks good from a far away angle, but as you get closer, you can look down and see the brown spots ... 

[PescadoAmarillo]

20 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

But more specifically as it relates to cruise lines, if what you say is true and they know what they're doing with these revenue programs, why is it that they are regularly changed, retooled and scrapped altogether?  Or just focusing on Princess Plus, if they know what they are doing so well and it's such a great program, where was it 5 years ago or 10 years ago or 30 years ago?  It's all an experiment, don't kid yourself.  If the richest company in the world today, just less than 25 years ago, was selling for pennies (literally) and on the very verge of bankruptcy, I wouldn't sit there and think too highly of cruise line management teams.

 

 

You have to consider the per diem pricing pressures mass market cruise line have been under for at least 10 years.  It was definitely a race to the bottom in terms of how low pricing would go, a situation that didn’t exist 30 years ago and a race no one could be successful at. Princess Plus has effectively offered an alternative to that while still allowing last minute specials for value-based cruisers (the reason you can’t book a last minute deal and add Princess Plus for $40pp per day).  Princess is not being innovative in offering all inclusive or package pricing; on the contrary, they’re a bit late to the game.

[Kmkub]

29 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

You have to consider the per diem pricing pressures mass market cruise line have been under for at least 10 years.  It was definitely a race to the bottom in terms of how low pricing would go, a situation that didn’t exist 30 years ago and a race no one could be successful at. Princess Plus has effectively offered an alternative to that while still allowing last minute specials for value-based cruisers (the reason you can’t book a last minute deal and add Princess Plus for $40pp per day).  Princess is not being innovative in offering all inclusive or package pricing; on the contrary, they’re a bit late to the game.

I couldn't disagree more.

 

My husband and his boys are cruising RCCL in a few days. The drink package was $80/day, internet was $20/day and I don't know how much they'll pay for the daily tip.

 

The Princess + for $40 is a bargain, and we love it.

 

 

[dreaminofcruisin]

28 minutes ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

You have to consider the per diem pricing pressures mass market cruise line have been under for at least 10 years.  It was definitely a race to the bottom in terms of how low pricing would go, a situation that didn’t exist 30 years ago and a race no one could be successful at. Princess Plus has effectively offered an alternative to that while still allowing last minute specials for value-based cruisers (the reason you can’t book a last minute deal and add Princess Plus for $40pp per day).  Princess is not being innovative in offering all inclusive or package pricing; on the contrary, they’re a bit late to the game.

 

I agree with this.

Also, I am pretty sure Princess wouldn't be offering Princess Plus if it wasn't somehow helping the bottom line in some manner. It might also be that they will get everyone buying it and liking it....and then they will raise the price if they aren't making enough money on it or they think they can make more and still have people buying it.

Long before Princess Plus, some of the Big Box companies had sales including drink packages and gratuities. We never bought the package by itself, but did wait for those special times of the year when the drink package was included to book. (I am obsessive enough that I tracked pricing to be sure the prices didn't increase for the sales.) We LOVE Princess Plus, but nope, wouldn't have paid for the drink package.

 

 

[voljeep]

51 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

 

"Glass half empty" kinda of guy?

 

 

not even close to that, sorry...

 

my glass is ALWAYS half full or more... never sweat the small stuff... I don't even notice most of the things "missing" that most complain about on these type of boards...

 

oh, there was a rip in the carpet in our cabin - about ruined the whole cruise experience for us !!!

and we always , always use a clean towel after every shower.  

[Kmkub]

I understand wanting a new towel everyday on a cruise. There isn’t great ventilation, so it doesn’t dry quickly enough.

 

At home though, it is a lot of work for little gain. It’s just a clean water transfer from body to towel and it dries quickly enough that it doesn’t get moldy or anything. Ours  usually last a week before they need washing. He has his and I have mine.

[caribill]

26 minutes ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

 

 

Long before Princess Plus, some of the Big Box companies had sales including drink packages and gratuities. We never bought the package by itself, but did wait for those special times of the year when the drink package was included to book.

 

Princess also offered those special sales.

 

One profit making aspect of Princess Plus is that they never have to offer free beverage packages and/or free gratuities as free perks anymore.

 

Book Princess Plus and you pay for them. Book Princess Savers and you may not want the beverage package, but you should want to pay the gratuities.

[caribill]

5 hours ago, billco said:

At least when you go to another cruise line you won't notice the small cutbacks as much, as long as you don't talk to the old timers who are thinking of going to another cruise line, because of the small cutbacks.

 

The point is that Princess is eliminating all the nice "extra" touches and becomes more like the other cruise lines.

 

If there is not much differentiation in what the cruise lines offer, then price beats loyalty when selecting a cruise.

 

Some people might book a cruise line other than Princess just because there are two chairs in the cabin for two people to sit in at the same time.

[billco]

33 minutes ago, caribill said:

.Some people might book a cruise line other than Princess just because there are two chairs in the cabin for two people to sit in at the same time.

And some people might spend a little more and book deluxe balconies on the newer class Princess ships or even upgrade to mini suites. That’s what we have been doing until the FCCs expire, then we plan to move on to NCL. Price, itinerary, ship - loyalty is pretty far down the list.

Edited March 17, 2022 by billco

[vjmatty]

4 hours ago, Baystate said:

Personally, I wash our bath towels every single day and our hand towels either every other day or daily so I definitely want new towels daily.  As to the turn down service, I definitely like it and would like it to continue, but as to the pen and paper, my husband and I always have a pen a small notebook so it doesn't matter to us. 

 

It is the little things that add to the experience.

I have to ask, when you come out of the shower you’re drying a clean body, assuming you washed properly….same for washing your hands, you’re drying clean hands. So why can’t towels be used more than once?

[Billish]

1 minute ago, vjmatty said:

I have to ask, when you come out of the shower you’re drying a clean body, assuming you washed properly….same for washing your hands, you’re drying clean hands. So why can’t towels be used more than once?

Also, think of the amount of water and electricity used !

[muffin]

On 3/16/2022 at 3:10 PM, marden1970 said:

And a dime for the phone!

Called “ mad money” in case you had to phone home for a ride! 

[vjmatty]

4 minutes ago, Billish said:

Also, think of the amount of water and electricity used !

I was going to add that this practice doesn’t seem very environmentally friendly, but I’m more curious about why and didn’t want to distract from that question by sounding too critical….thank you for bringing up that valid point in a non judgy way. 

[Kmkub]

32 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

I have to ask, when you come out of the shower you’re drying a clean body, assuming you washed properly….same for washing your hands, you’re drying clean hands. So why can’t towels be used more than once?

 

30 minutes ago, Billish said:

Also, think of the amount of water and electricity used !

Im so glad I’m not alone. 

[kywildcatfanone]

On 3/16/2022 at 4:49 PM, CineGraphic said:

The plus package is saving their a$$.

They've never sold so many packages before.

There is profit to be made even if someone drinks 15 drinks per day, because most won't or can't drink that much.

The cost for an ounce and a half of booze, or a small wine pour is minimal.

Every night the bottles are inventoried and measured in tenths.

They've got this down to a science.

Yep. Why do you think they have non stop package deals now,  because it's a cash cow. 

[LasVegasSolo]

Hi I want to say that things do change all the time. I am one of those cruisers who have tried Carnival, Celebrity, RCCL, HAL, and Princess.  It depends what I am looking for both in atmosphere and itinerary as to what line I start leaning towards.  Each line has it’s plus and minus just go with what works for you at the time.  I absolutely love cruising and have totally enjoyed every cruise in the long run.  I agree that sometimes it is the little things that can make a difference between a nice cruise or a great cruise but it is not going to stop me from cruising.  Enjoy what you got when you got it makes me happy 😃😃😃

[mpk]

3 hours ago, brisalta said:

 preparing food and using bad technique and actually burning food I do not hold out much hope for the future quality of the food.

 

Unfortunately, burning food is popular these days.  Getting a some "char" is somehow  supposed to make it taste better.  Personally, I don't enjoy the taste of carbon.  Anyone can burn food...  it takes skill and technique not to.

 

The trend even affects croissants, which are now way browner than before.  I can't wait for this fad to "burn it self out"  🤔

Edited March 18, 2022 by mpk

[Coral]

I find it interesting on this thread - some of the individuals who are saying nothing is wrong, pricing is low or things haven't changed that much haven't been cruising with Princess long. A few I recognize as bragging about their casino rates. So they are not paying normal rates. Also some limit their cruises to Caribbean, Mexico or West Coast cruises which generally have lower fares.