We're planning on comparing John Padgett's way of thinking with Richard Branson's.

[CineGraphic]

19 hours ago, scottca075 said:

 

Compare what? I've looked at Virgin to see if there is a reason I'd want to try them, based either on itinerary or ship and neither appealed to me and I am pretty sure Princess and Virgin are targeting very different audiences.

 

The prices for Virgin were no bargain compared to Princess, NCL, RCL or Celebrity. They aren't as high as Oceania or Seabourn, but the itineraries aren't as good or as long.

 

I don't get it.

 

First off, you don't have to get it.

If it's not for you, it's not for you. That's what makes life so wonderful.

This is merely a thread that will compare Princess to Virgin, much like the countless threads over the years comparing Princess with other lines.

 

As for itinerary, it's the Caribbean.......we've been many times, so like for many others, the ship is our destination. We're there to experience the ship, crew, food and entertainment.

This is just their first year sailing. A third ship is on it's way. As the fleet grows, the itineraries will get better, and the sailings longer. We're already eyeing a transatlantic on Virgin, just for the extra days.

 

Price-wise per day, our balcony on Virgin is only $65 more per day than our inside with Princess Plus. That's including the 35% discount Princess normally gives me.

Cocktails are not included with Virgin, but so much more is.

I believe the extra $65 per day will be well worth it seeing how meals are cooked to order instead of the pre-cooked banquet fodder served in Princess MDRs.

 

With just 45 days until we sail, dining reservations opened up for the first half of our B2B, and it was easy-peasy for Pam and I to sit down this morning and book our dining reservations. It's nice for a change to use an app that isn't wonky. It will also be nice to have an "rockstar agent" (concierge) to help us once on board.

 

Our status match was just completed in a matter of days, which earns us among other things, a bottle of Moet White Star for each of our sailings, which is a huge step-up from from the prosecco Princess normally serves.

 

Mr. Padgett,

If you're reading this, we invite you to join us.

We promise we won't say a word about our last few disappointing Princess sailings.

In fact, here's a code for both of our sailings, so you can get $50 of sailor's loot (OBC)

October 19-23  https://virg.in/oQ7Q

October 23-28  https://virg.in/oPFA

 

Hope to see you on board, but I won't hold my breath!

 

[voljeep]

4 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

That's including the 35% discount Princess normally gives me.

so, you pay $650 for a cruise listed on the website at $1,000 that I pay?

[CineGraphic]

1 minute ago, voljeep said:

so, you pay $650 for a cruise listed on the website at $1,000 that I pay?

 

We are usually offered the standard casino discount, and every now & then, a free inside.

 Up to 35% off applies to Princess Standard Interior stateroom fares for Caribbean and Mexico cruises (for other stateroom categories and fare types, discounts range from 12%-35%). For Panama Canal cruises: up to 25% off applies to Princess Standard Interior stateroom fares (for other stateroom categories and fare types, discounts range from 5%-25%). Savings apply to cruise fare only [Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses (“TFPE”) up to $350 extra], are based on destination and stateroom category, are on a space-available basis at time of booking with a limited number of discounted rooms, regardless of stateroom availability. Discount applies to first two guests in a stateroom only. Invited Member must be first guest booked in the stateroom to qualify for the offer. 

[voljeep]

4 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

We are usually offered the standard casino discount, and every now & then, a free inside.

 Up to 35% off applies to Princess Standard Interior stateroom fares for Caribbean and Mexico cruises (for other stateroom categories and fare types, discounts range from 12%-35%). For Panama Canal cruises: up to 25% off applies to Princess Standard Interior stateroom fares (for other stateroom categories and fare types, discounts range from 5%-25%). Savings apply to cruise fare only [Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses (“TFPE”) up to $350 extra], are based on destination and stateroom category, are on a space-available basis at time of booking with a limited number of discounted rooms, regardless of stateroom availability. Discount applies to first two guests in a stateroom only. Invited Member must be first guest booked in the stateroom to qualify for the offer. 

thanks - just curious - will you get those same 'casino discounts' on Virgin?

[CineGraphic]

Just now, voljeep said:

thanks - just curious - will you get those same 'casino discounts' on Virgin?

 

I haven't researched their casino very much yet, but I did read elsewhere that they recently started or are soon starting a casino program much like the other lines. I should do a bit more homework, thanks for reminding me.

[Colorado Coasty]

5 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 

 

Our status match was just completed in a matter of days, which earns us among other things, a bottle of Moet White Star for each of our sailings, 

 

 

Is status match just for the 2022 itineraries?

 

 

 

5 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 

 

 

 

5 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 

 

[CineGraphic]

24 minutes ago, Colorado Coasty said:

Is status match just for the 2022 itineraries?

 

The current benefits listed state that they are only for 2022 sailings, but I believe that they'll always have a status match program. I could be wrong, but I believe that like MSC, you will have to maintain your matched status over a period of 2 years.

Virgin issues points on $ spent, not days at sea.

Luckily, at our matched level we get 4X points for 2022 and 3X points for 2023 & 2024.

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

On 8/31/2022 at 5:04 PM, CineGraphic said:

 

 

We felt that Princess was "home" for us as well, but after a bad experience on the Regal in February, .

Sorry if I haven't followed previous threads.  But, we are looking to cruise on the Regal, and I am wondering what the basic bad experiences were.   Was it mostly due to the under-staffing? 

[CineGraphic]

51 minutes ago, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

Sorry if I haven't followed previous threads.  But, we are looking to cruise on the Regal, and I am wondering what the basic bad experiences were.   Was it mostly due to the under-staffing? 

 

Our sailing on the Regal was in February, and it was clearly understaffed compared to our sailing on the Caribbean just a month earlier. The MDRs always seemed to be overwhelmed, so we'd eat our meals late. I'd rather eat late, than have to deal with poor service. Don't let my bad time on the Regal keep you from enjoying your cruise. I just went back and read my review from a 2016 sailing on the Regal. I wish we could have experienced a repeat of that experience. (Linked below)

 

The problems on the Regal weren't half as bad as bad as our experience on the Ruby. (smelling weed daily, understaffed, closed venues, etc)

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=523702

[suzyed]

On 9/1/2022 at 4:38 PM, Steelers36 said:

We were on that ship too in the early 80's and the little I can recall seems like the dark ages compared to ships today.

I remember that they had the most beautiful Midnight Buffet with huge lobsters and anything else you could imagine!
But also had a contest to see who gained the most weight...weigh the first and last day!
We had a wonderful Italian waiter name Enzo!  Lots of fond memories from our first cruise!

Edited September 5, 2022 by suzyed

[JimmyVWine]

9 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

Mr. Padgett,

If you're reading this, we invite you to join us.

I don't think you, Pam and Mr. Padgett will all fit on your balcony hammock! 🤣                       

[CineGraphic]

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

I don't think you, Pam and Mr. Padgett will all fit on your balcony hammock! 🤣                       

 

He's welcome to join us for dinner, but when it comes to dessert, he's on his own.

 

[Wildcatllamas]

17 hours ago, scottca075 said:

 

I wasn't talking to you.

Good morning. I assume you were talking to me. 

 

I guess compare is a broad term. I don't get a chance to take really long cruises due to my work schedule, so I have been to several of the ports offered numerous times both on a cruise and land based. So for me I compare the ship board experience.

 

Having just cruised on Virgin back in December I am very familiar with the food, cabin, and the onboard experiences. But it has been over 3 years since I have been on a Princess cruise. Back at that time the food didn't even come close to the quality of the food on Virgin. The cabin on Princess was a little more comfortable then Virgin but I have to say that hammock on Virgin was really nice. Plus Virgin has been listening to those who have sailed with them and have been making changes as they go along to bring the ships inline with the customer feed back.

 

Pricewise it's a toss up. When I look at all the things that Virgin includes in the fare then they can be competitive. Remember when you are pricing on their website that you need to be aware of is the price per cabin or per sailor. So folks will see the per cabin price and think that is the per person price.

 

Now my biggest hold back with Virgin is the airfare to get from Colorado to Miami. I can sail out of Galveston or the West Coast on Princess with an airfare that isn't higher then my cruise - that is unless I want to fly first class - and that only happens when I fly to Hawaii. So if Virgin begins to sail out of ports on the West Coast I will be all over that. I particularly love to sail out of San Diego.

 

I can definitely understand your feelings about Virgin. I hear that a lot. I was very skeptical prior to sailing with them. But once onboard I was sold. 

 

Scottca075 - I read a lot of your posts. Especially your ones for the West Coast and you are a wealth of information. Thank you for sharing what you do and happy sailing.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

1 hour ago, Wildcatllamas said:

Good morning. I assume you were talking to me.

 

I was, thanks for the detailed reply.

 

I may give Virgin a try, but I remain skeptical. Virgin reminds me of the hip hotels that are trying to attract millennials, and having tried a few of those brands, I am sticking with the more traditional brands.

 

The only thing that would attract me to Virgin might be the food, so I will relook at how dining works of Virgin and what they offer.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

3 minutes ago, scottca075 said:

I will relook at how dining works of Virgin and what they offer.

 

So I did just do another look at a Virgin voyage, 7 nights in the Med. Ok, looks good, I like the Med. But when I look at the itinerary, of the 8 days (7 nights), 2 days are in Cannes and 2 days in Ibiza. What the heck am I going to do in Ibiza? My days of clubbing til I dropped ended 30 years ago, maybe more.Cannes isn't much better. The destinations are designed to attract a much younger demographic.

 

I'll keep watching the progress of Virgin, but not even great food and wine might be enough to get me to choose them anytime soon.

[Wishing on a star]

From what I am seeing and hearing, I have the same thoughts as Scott above.

While the food and other aspects might be 'better' than some other lines, there are aspects that are lacking when it comes to what we like in a cruise, on Princess.   The Piazza...  The open deck areas..  the multiple pools... The Sanctuary...  And, yes, even the Buffett.    Those are all lacking on Scarlet Lady.

 

Yes, princess could up their game...  The 'drab' cabins.  The lack of more exciting food and entertainment options.  (the 80's are calling, they want their cabins, entertainment, and some MDR food back!!!{. But, when it comes to what we enjoy, I think Princess wins out overall.

[Tedferg]

2 hours ago, Wildcatllamas said:

 

Pricewise it's a toss up. When I look at all the things that Virgin includes in the fare then they can be competitive. Remember when you are pricing on their website that you need to be aware of is the price per cabin or per sailor. So folks will see the per cabin price and think that is the per person price.

 

I just did a very quick check and both times the Viking price was per person. And price seemed to be at least double what Princess charges. I am not saying Viking is not worth it, I get several Viking and Oceania brochures each week and whenever I price them, they are way higher than Princess. So, I am intrigued by comments that say the prices are close.

[KeepCalmBearOn]

9 minutes ago, Tedferg said:

I just did a very quick check and both times the Viking price was per person. And price seemed to be at least double what Princess charges. I am not saying Viking is not worth it, I get several Viking and Oceania brochures each week and whenever I price them, they are way higher than Princess. So, I am intrigued by comments that say the prices are close.

 

Not sure if you meant "Viking" as opposed to Virgin. Viking is a lot more than Princess, but it is also a different level from Princess.

 

As to Virgin vs Princess pricing, the Virgin voyage I mentioned above is about $1,700 per person for a "premium" balcony room. For the same room on Princess, it is $1, 033 per person and for a full suite, $1,399 per person.

 

I understand Virgin has some permanent extras, but under the current promos from Princess I can get almost all the same perks for considerably less. Maybe there are booking tricks to Virgin, but 7 nights at $3,400 on Virgin vs $2,066 on Princess doesn't sound "about the same" to me.

 

Plus I like the Princess itinerary of Barcelona, Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa, Florence, Rome plus two sea days better. I like sea days.

 

 

[Tedferg]

5 minutes ago, scottca075 said:

 

Not sure if you meant "Viking" as opposed to Virgin. Viking is a lot more than Princess, but it is also a different level from Princess.

 

As to Virgin vs Princess pricing, the Virgin voyage I mentioned above is about $1,700 per person for a "premium" balcony room. For the same room on Princess, it is $1, 033 per person and for a full suite, $1,399 per person.

 

I understand Virgin has some permanent extras, but under the current promos from Princess I can get almost all the same perks for considerably less. Maybe there are booking tricks to Virgin, but 7 nights at $3,400 on Virgin vs $2,066 on Princess doesn't sound "about the same" to me.

 

Plus I like the Princess itinerary of Barcelona, Gibraltar, Marseille, Genoa, Florence, Rome plus two sea days better. I like sea days.

 

 

OMG exactly, I confused Virgin and Viking! I get Viking brochures and my neighbor is leaving on Viking on the same date we sail on Princess., So, we have been discussing Viking and Princess. Sorry for confusion.

[dickinson]

18 hours ago, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

Sorry if I haven't followed previous threads.  But, we are looking to cruise on the Regal, and I am wondering what the basic bad experiences were.   Was it mostly due to the under-staffing? 

We too cruised the Regal in February, possibly the same cruise.  We did a b2b so were on for 14 days.  We had no issues other than an issue with our second cabin that was handled right away.  When you sail there will be a lot of different staff than what we had in February.

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

Thanks!   I am hoping that Princess is able to make some improvements in the staffing shortage situation.  We are so looking forward to the cruise!