Q & A for those cruising Princess June 16, 19, 23 & 26 out of Brisbane

[MMDown Under]

41 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Good idea but I think I'll go back to having eggs for breakfast. Sweet breakfasts don't work well for me, I get hungry again too quickly.

 

We're just about to head off to the MDR for lunch then we might try to see if we can have a chat to the food and beverage director about the wines.

Yesterday, my local cafe, which makes the most delicious Spring Rolls, couldn't make them because they couldn't buy sprouts.  So we had pancakes with bananas instead.  My daughter ordered a side of bacon as she couldn't face just a sweet breakfast.  

[NSWP]

1 hour ago, MMDown Under said:

Yesterday, my local cafe, which makes the most delicious Spring Rolls, couldn't make them because they couldn't buy sprouts.  So we had pancakes with bananas instead.  My daughter ordered a side of bacon as she couldn't face just a sweet breakfast.  

I don't know how cruisers can handle those trays of doughnuts and other gooey things etc they bring round at breakfast time in Princess MDR.  It is an American thing, they love their sugary stuff.

[MMDown Under]

6 minutes ago, NSWP said:

I don't know how cruisers can handle those trays of doughnuts and other gooey things etc they bring round at breakfast time in Princess MDR.  It is an American thing, they love their sugary stuff.

The inaugural Rhapsody of the Seas charter from the US had all sweet breakfasts, sweet teas etc.  Aussies have very different tastes and like spicier savoury food. .  

[maponus]

Are there any changes to the wine/cocktail prices now that the premier beverage package is "live"?

[Porky55]

3 minutes ago, maponus said:

Are there any changes to the wine/cocktail prices now that the premier beverage package is "live"?

Nope, not particularly ……… sad really 🥺

 

Both are as advertised 🙄
 

 

 

Edited June 28, 2022 by Porky55

[OzKiwiJJ]

1 hour ago, maponus said:

Are there any changes to the wine/cocktail prices now that the premier beverage package is "live"?

No changes to cocktail prices that I've noticed. Wine by the bottle prices seem about the same too. However there is a very small selection of wines by the glass split into two categories:

 - Plus wines which is a small selection of very poor quality wines that I've never seen on Princess before.

- Another small selection including some reasonable quality wines under the Premium list.

 

 

[cruiser3775]

Those "Premier Package" wines are a shocker. The DeBortoli Willowglen range is  the absolute bottom range of bargain wines from a big producer. The Chardonnay costs about $A7 a bottle here, compared to $12 a glass on board. If you get six glasses to the bottle, you can see it's a nice earner for the ship @ $72 a bottle. And they wouldn't be paying $7 a bottle either - that's the Australian retail price.

If you see "South Eastern Australia" as the place of origin on an Aussie wine, it means that it comes from hot climate irrigation areas and they don't want to tell you that. That Chardonnay comes from the NSW Riverina area, not renowned for high quality wine production.

I think I'll definitely be bringing my own and paying the corkage charge.

Edited June 28, 2022 by cruiser3775

[ToeKnees]

Iknow when we have previously sailed it was possible to use non refundable obc in the casino, then turn it into cash when cashing in those chips after playing, turning non refundable obc into cash, is that still possible thru the casino ?

[OzKiwiJJ]

5 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Those "Premier Package" wines are a shocker. The DeBortoli Willowglen range is  the absolute bottom range of bargain wines from a big producer. The Chardonnay costs about $A7 a bottle here, compared to $12 a glass on board. If you get six glasses to the bottle, you can see it's a nice earner for the ship @ $72 a bottle. And they wouldn't be paying $7 a bottle either - that's the Australian retail price.

If you see "South Eastern Australia" as the place of origin on an Aussie wine, it means that it comes from hot climate irrigation areas and they don't want to tell you that. That Chardonnay comes from the NSW Riverina area, not renowned for high quality wine production.

I think I'll definitely be bringing my own and paying the corkage charge.

What is annoying me is that there are none of the Italian varietals which are being produced in several wine regions in Australia, and which are favourites of ours.

 

There are some decent wines on the bottle only list. Once we get home I'll crunch the numbers to decide whether to try to change bookings to Saver fares and just buy as we go by the bottle. We can't be bothered lugging wine on board with us, plus we enjoy trying wines we usually can't get in Australia. 

 

If the numbers crunch too high we may have to rethink our world cruise booking. Can you imagine doing a 110 night cruise with only those crappy wines on offer?

[maponus]

1 hour ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

No changes to cocktail prices that I've noticed. Wine by the bottle prices seem about the same too. However there is a very small selection of wines by the glass split into two categories:

 - Plus wines which is a small selection of very poor quality wines that I've never seen on Princess before.

- Another small selection including some reasonable quality wines under the Premium list.

 

 

Thanks heaps, i wonder (hope) it is just a case of trying to restart their supply chains and get some quality wines back on board.

Have booked HAL for Christmas/New Year around NZ so hopefully they have it all sorted by then.

 

[NSWP]

On 6/27/2022 at 12:48 PM, MMDown Under said:

Yesterday, my local cafe, which makes the most delicious Spring Rolls, couldn't make them because they couldn't buy sprouts.  So we had pancakes with bananas instead.  My daughter ordered a side of bacon as she couldn't face just a sweet breakfast.  

They could probably buy sprouts but did not want to pay the big bucks. Sprouts available down here $6 a plastic box.

[NSWP]

14 minutes ago, maponus said:

Thanks heaps, i wonder (hope) it is just a case of trying to restart their supply chains and get some quality wines back on board.

Have booked HAL for Christmas/New Year around NZ so hopefully they have it all sorted by then.

 

I have checked HAL wine lists, pretty good, wines from US$9 a glass, so compares with Princess Aussie prices on conversion. Who cares.

Edited June 28, 2022 by NSWP

[NSWP]

44 minutes ago, cruiser3775 said:

Those "Premier Package" wines are a shocker. The DeBortoli Willowglen range is  the absolute bottom range of bargain wines from a big producer. The Chardonnay costs about $A7 a bottle here, compared to $12 a glass on board. If you get six glasses to the bottle, you can see it's a nice earner for the ship @ $72 a bottle. And they wouldn't be paying $7 a bottle either - that's the Australian retail price.

If you see "South Eastern Australia" as the place of origin on an Aussie wine, it means that it comes from hot climate irrigation areas and they don't want to tell you that. That Chardonnay comes from the NSW Riverina area, not renowned for high quality wine production.

I think I'll definitely be bringing my own and paying the corkage charge.

Spot on, I was at De Bortoli in Griffith last month, saw the bottling  and packaging.

[LC1950]

All I can suggest is to complain LOUDLY ON BOARD about the crappy wine offerings.  I won't be boarding until October but I really hope those offerings have been replaced by then ... well, I "bought" the plus package before they decided to serve crap. 

 

So complain ... complain and even more ... COMPLAIN!!!  Things just might get back to normal if you do. 

 

Good luck current cruisers.

[OzKiwiJJ]

12 minutes ago, LC1950 said:

All I can suggest is to complain LOUDLY ON BOARD about the crappy wine offerings.  I won't be boarding until October but I really hope those offerings have been replaced by then ... well, I "bought" the plus package before they decided to serve crap. 

 

So complain ... complain and even more ... COMPLAIN!!!  Things just might get back to normal if you do. 

 

Good luck current cruisers.

We've already complained LOUDLY a few times but it's not fair on the restaurant staff to keep on doing that. We are hoping to meet with someone from the Food and Beverage team, maybe on Thursday since it sounds like it's going to be too soggy and windy to go ashore in PD.

 

I will be making it very clear that I think Princess have scammed wine drinkers who bought the packages. If I get nowhere I will make sure I order several cocktails a day, preferably ones at the Plus limit, take one sip then leave them. With a bit of luck that would screw their drinks figures. 🤣

Edited June 28, 2022 by OzKiwiJJ

[LC1950]

Good thoughts OzKiwiJJ ... you go girl!!!!

 

Yep, ooodles of cocktails and we drink what we like and leave what we don't.  LOL that should put a bit of a deficit into their booze balance sheet.  Hee hee!

[Ozwoody]

6 minutes ago, LC1950 said:

Good thoughts OzKiwiJJ ... you go girl!!!!

 

Yep, ooodles of cocktails and we drink what we like and leave what we don't.  LOL that should put a bit of a deficit into their booze balance sheet.  Hee hee!

Sounds like a good idea.

If I'm on the same cruise, can you let me know, and I will follow you guys around😁

Edited June 28, 2022 by Ozwoody

[NSWP]

9 hours ago, Ozwoody said:

Sounds like a good idea.

If I'm on the same cruise, can you let me know, and I will follow you guys around😁

And slurp up the left overs, lol.

[Russell21]

I'm not sure that we could even drink some of the wines on offer, let alone enjoy them. We have already packed our selection of wines to take, even with $15.00 corkage they laugh at the wine list on board. Think Pirramimma Heritage Limited Edition Shiraz 2017 for starters.

[Ozwoody]

1 hour ago, NSWP said:

And slurp up the left overs, lol.

Now don't be crude.

I'll have you know, I will sip & savour every dam drop.😇

[NSWP]

24 minutes ago, Russell21 said:

I'm not sure that we could even drink some of the wines on offer, let alone enjoy them. We have already packed our selection of wines to take, even with $15.00 corkage they laugh at the wine list on board. Think Pirramimma Heritage Limited Edition Shiraz 2017 for starters.

Oh bring back the days when we could take a couple of these on, fit nicely in the cabin fridge.

[OzKiwiJJ]

2 hours ago, Russell21 said:

I'm not sure that we could even drink some of the wines on offer, let alone enjoy them. We have already packed our selection of wines to take, even with $15.00 corkage they laugh at the wine list on board. Think Pirramimma Heritage Limited Edition Shiraz 2017 for starters.

In 2019 we had some wonderful wines onboard. We revelled in the chance to try very nice European wines that aren't easily available in Australia. Some of those wines are still on the bottle only wine list but not available by the glass at all.

[MMDown Under]

12 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

In 2019 we had some wonderful wines onboard. We revelled in the chance to try very nice European wines that aren't easily available in Australia. Some of those wines are still on the bottle only wine list but not available by the glass at all.

I can imagine the poor wines on offer must be disappointing to wine drinkers.  Would it be better to not pay extra for a wine package and buy a bottle of your favourite wine, which they keep for you to serve each night?

[Russell21]

17 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

I can imagine the poor wines on offer must be disappointing to wine drinkers.  Would it be better to not pay extra for a wine package and buy a bottle of your favourite wine, which they keep for you to serve each night?

This is what we did on our last cruise pre-Covid, and what we will be doing on future cruises. BTW a bottle lasts one meal for us.

[MMDown Under]

6 minutes ago, Russell21 said:

This is what we did on our last cruise pre-Covid, and what we will be doing on future cruises. BTW a bottle lasts one meal for us.

How many glasses would that be?