Back from Enchanted TA crossing...some thoughts

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Even HAL is trying to attract a younger group (although that group is still 60+)

HAL has had a slightly younger crown than Princess for many years now. 

[Itchy&Scratchy]

3 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

HAL has had a slightly younger crown than Princess for many years now. 

not sure I believe that.

[MissP22]

13 minutes ago, Itchy&Scratchy said:

not sure I believe that.

It was documented a while back. I'm not sure what the current status is but I'm sure their neck in neck for the lead to the oldest.

[Ombud]

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

2 hours ago, Ombud said:

Even HAL is trying to attract a younger group (although that group is still 60+)

HAL has had a slightly younger crown than Princess for many years now

Princess had better get on the ball then. Hopefully 50s+ on average (accounting for minors & grandparents). But it does look like this is what it is going towards according to current commercials,  medallion,  following your created avatar around the ship, new music venues (Take 5 = jazz), and updated shows 

 

Wish they'd bring back the televised sports in Vista Lounge  ..... loved when they did that in 2021

 

 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by Ombud

[Ombud]

Tried to go back and delete my reply as this thread is a review thread of current cruising on Enchanted Princess not whether we like the current offerings. 

 

New from last summer:

> Take 5 Jazz. Some techno. There's a table by the door to the casino where you can create a Playlist when no one is performing 

> Crooners is still a piano bar

> 2 rotating violinists. Sometimes house band plays in piazza

> 3 new shows in theater (Rock Opera, Spotlight Bar, 5 Skies)

> Vista Lounge no longer shows all sporting events. Channels 9, 10, & 11 are sports channels

> Separate vegan menu (must ask for it)

> Salty Dog Gastropub rarely busy 

> Gigis is just Alfredos renamed. Same menu

> Can order from specialty restaurants on the TV for an individual (per item) charge

> Long LONG line for pub lunch in Crown Grill but everyone got in (I sat in Crown Grill bar)

> They put out folding chairs for all over flow events. So strange

 

New / modified CD events:

> dance lessons now in piazza 

> Tiago teaches Portuguese in Take 5. If interested get there early as it is very popular 

> challenge to read song lyrics as poetry (i failed)

> Cruise long trivia 

 

 

Edited September 23, 2022 by Ombud

[MissP22]

29 minutes ago, Ombud said:

> Tiago teaches Portuguese in Take 5. If interested get there early as it is very popular

That's interesting and something new.

[Protseq]

3 hours ago, emairs said:

We had no follow up either, other than to cancel and rebook our flight.

Did you go to the Hampton Inn?

Yes.  I was at the Hampton Inn Manhattan.  I was in the first car that showed up.  I think that all thought a bus would move us,  so people were reluctant to step forward.  The lady with the car replied to all questions with sound answers, so I figured that it was not a scam.  We got to the hotel around 1 pm.

[Expo67]

On 9/18/2022 at 1:22 PM, Ombud said:

Ok. Since no one else pointed out a glaring *****? This is the 1st time I have ever seen folding chairs :: Princess Live / Singles & Solos in Take 5 / available for show nights in Piazza (in sundrei store). Seriously?!?!

 

I'm not new to Princess, just new to being offered a folding chair. Nope. I don't do that 

 

Another 1st time: their request. Boarded with 1150 OBC, left with under 35. Almost gone 🤑

now to book one of those fall ones w/o solo supplement (if my repaired or replaced air conditioner doesn't blow my budget)

 

 

Thanks for saving me the time of waiting on the phone regarding the refundable OBC as I was about to call them next week. 👍

[richsea]

9 hours ago, MissP22 said:

It was documented a while back. I'm not sure what the current status is but I'm sure their neck in neck for the lead to the oldest.

I Googled average age of Princess & HA passengers & found 57 for Princess & 64 for HA. 50 for Celebrity.
although we haven’t cruised Celebrity in 5 years, when we first switched to Princess, I thought Princess passengers were a bit younger than Celebrity, so who knows. Never cruised HA. 

Edited September 24, 2022 by richsea

[MissP22]

On 9/23/2022 at 11:28 PM, richsea said:

I Googled average age of Princess & HA passengers & found 57 for Princess & 64 for HA. 50 for Celebrity.
although we haven’t cruised Celebrity in 5 years, when we first switched to Princess, I thought Princess passengers were a bit younger than Celebrity, so who knows. Never cruised HA. 

All these figures can vary greatly depending on the time of year you choose to sail. We've sailed Princess when it looked like a nursing home at times, while choosing a cruise in the peak summer time will give you a completely difference experience. 

[richsea]

9 hours ago, MissP22 said:

All these figures can vary greatly depending on the time of year you choose to sail. We've sailed Princess when it looked like a nursing home at times, while choosing a cruise in the peak summer time will give you a completely difference experience. 

Absolutely the time of year you cruise has a big effect on passenger age. We only cruise with the family in summer, & then only on family lines like Royal or NCL, but mostly fall & winter. As I said, in my experience, Princess passenger are a few years younger, not older, than those on X, & have always heard that HAL draws the oldest. I’m sure the actual numbers are out there somewhere, but really not worth the bother.

 

I’m hoping our upcoming Enchanted sailing is better than what’s being reported. We’ve enjoyed all of our Princess cruises. We’re going with an open mind & decide for ourselves.

 

Happy cruising!!

Edited September 25, 2022 by richsea

[emairs]

On 9/23/2022 at 5:25 PM, Protseq said:

Yes.  I was at the Hampton Inn Manhattan.  I was in the first car that showed up.  I think that all thought a bus would move us,  so people were reluctant to step forward.  The lady with the car replied to all questions with sound answers, so I figured that it was not a scam.  We got to the hotel around 1 pm.

We were in the last car, quite some time later. Princess only authorized a two day stay, even though they changed our flight to September 24 due to the ten day quarantine requirement. The front desk couldn’t or wouldn’t give us the Princess rate, but a seven day stay showed up on the screen at almost $5,000. We chose the two day stay, and on Monday moved to Courtyard by Marriott on points. There was never anyone from Princess there, as promised, to give support or information. We are going to try to get Princess rate compensation for that stay from Princess insurance, but are not optimistic.

[EllieinNJ]

We will be on the 11/5 repositioning Enchanted cruise from NY to Ft. Lauderdale.  I have two complimentary dinners from my TA for Crown Grill but if I try to reserve on line, it wants to charge me.  But if I wait to book on board there may be no spaces left?  So if I pay in advance will they reimburse my credit card when I get the voucher on board?

[lx200gps]

5 minutes ago, EllieinNJ said:

We will be on the 11/5 repositioning Enchanted cruise from NY to Ft. Lauderdale.  I have two complimentary dinners from my TA for Crown Grill but if I try to reserve on line, it wants to charge me.  But if I wait to book on board there may be no spaces left?  So if I pay in advance will they reimburse my credit card when I get the voucher on board?

I'll ask others to confirm, but it's my recollection that the Princess "system" knows you have the two dinners, so when you book online, it should work through the booking but the end charge will come up zero. I can't remember whether it's immediately zero or whether the system charges you then instantly credits it back, but the one time we did it, last year on the Sky, everything was OK and our CC was not charged for two dinners.

 

A general heads up on "free" Specialty Dining dinners. We also had two, from the Premier Beverage  plan so not not comped by our TA, and had a nasty surprise on the Enchanted this past week. Our two free dinners (Sabatini's and CG) were in the system, but had been pre-assigned specific dates, times and locations, none of which agreed with what we wanted. IOW the reservation had been made without asking us, and when we went to each restaurant at embarkation, changing them was VERY difficult, as the Enchanted had serious issues with Specialty dining availability. So to your comment "But if I wait to book on board there may be no spaces left?" On EVERY other Princess trip we've ever taken, we have never had any issue walking up to each restaurant on embarkation and getting every single time and date we wanted. On the Enchanted last week, this was not possible. In fact, at the CG, we were told, on embarkation, that it was completely sold out for the week.  I've seen it said here on CC a number of times that Princess always holds half of all SD slots open for bookings DURING the sailing, but on the Enchanted last week, that was absolutely not the case.

[PacnGoNow]

1 hour ago, lx200gps said:

I'll ask others to confirm, but it's my recollection that the Princess "system" knows you have the two dinners, so when you book online, it should work through the booking but the end charge will come up zero. I can't remember whether it's immediately zero or whether the system charges you then instantly credits it back, but the one time we did it, last year on the Sky, everything was OK and our CC was not charged for two dinners.

 

A general heads up on "free" Specialty Dining dinners. We also had two, from the Premier Beverage  plan so not not comped by our TA, and had a nasty surprise on the Enchanted this past week. Our two free dinners (Sabatini's and CG) were in the system, but had been pre-assigned specific dates, times and locations, none of which agreed with what we wanted. IOW the reservation had been made without asking us, and when we went to each restaurant at embarkation, changing them was VERY difficult, as the Enchanted had serious issues with Specialty dining availability. So to your comment "But if I wait to book on board there may be no spaces left?" On EVERY other Princess trip we've ever taken, we have never had any issue walking up to each restaurant on embarkation and getting every single time and date we wanted. On the Enchanted last week, this was not possible. In fact, at the CG, we were told, on embarkation, that it was completely sold out for the week.  I've seen it said here on CC a number of times that Princess always holds half of all SD slots open for bookings DURING the sailing, but on the Enchanted last week, that was absolutely not the case.

Thanks for the heads up.  I think with the 7 day cruises it would be more difficult to wait till OB to book them.  Also, the Premier Plus, Suites and CC Mini’s have priority bookings in SD.

We don’t stop by on embarking day any more.  We call the dine line from the room.  Because on day 1, the SD mgr has no idea how many suite guests are requesting reservations that did not book ahead.

 

We always booked OB, but unless we have a CC mini or Suite, then think I’ll book ahead.  

 

To the OP:  Did you go through the complete process to see if the charge was 0?  Maybe others will post their experience.

[dreaminofcruisin]

1 hour ago, EllieinNJ said:

We will be on the 11/5 repositioning Enchanted cruise from NY to Ft. Lauderdale.  I have two complimentary dinners from my TA for Crown Grill but if I try to reserve on line, it wants to charge me.  But if I wait to book on board there may be no spaces left?  So if I pay in advance will they reimburse my credit card when I get the voucher on board?

 

When you go into Dine My Way on the app, does a line show up at the top that indicates you have a dining credit? If so, I "think" you should be good to book it. If you don't see that it might be that it doesn't show up until you are onboard. Then....I don't know...

 

In my case, it came with the booking so it showed on the app that I had a credit....not sure if the TA is 'giving ' it to you, or really sometimes they say that, but it's really just part of the booking.

[Protseq]

On 9/25/2022 at 1:15 PM, emairs said:

We were in the last car, quite some time later. Princess only authorized a two day stay, even though they changed our flight to September 24 due to the ten day quarantine requirement. The front desk couldn’t or wouldn’t give us the Princess rate, but a seven day stay showed up on the screen at almost $5,000. We chose the two day stay, and on Monday moved to Courtyard by Marriott on points. There was never anyone from Princess there, as promised, to give support or information. We are going to try to get Princess rate compensation for that stay from Princess insurance, but are not optimistic.

I was charged for a three night stay, but left on Monday for home with my 5 day isolation finished.

I have not applied for reimbursement yet but I can imagine the underwriter asking why I only stayed 2 nights but charged for 3 nights.  I got a convoluted explanation from the front desk.  This was our 8th cruise with Princess over 12 years and I was not amused how it ended. 

[EllieinNJ]

On 9/26/2022 at 11:53 AM, dreaminofcruisin said:

 

When you go into Dine My Way on the app, does a line show up at the top that indicates you have a dining credit? If so, I "think" you should be good to book it. If you don't see that it might be that it doesn't show up until you are onboard. Then....I don't know...

 

In my case, it came with the booking so it showed on the app that I had a credit....not sure if the TA is 'giving ' it to you, or really sometimes they say that, but it's really just part of the booking.

I thought it charged my credit card because it showed the last four digits of the card but when I checked my bank there was no charge.  Went back on the app and the reservation is still there.

[buckeye7]

Ahhh, thank you all for the reassurance about room service! We don't use it all that much, but do enjoy it occasionally!

[emairs]

22 hours ago, Protseq said:

I was charged for a three night stay, but left on Monday for home with my 5 day isolation finished.

I have not applied for reimbursement yet but I can imagine the underwriter asking why I only stayed 2 nights but charged for 3 nights.  I got a convoluted explanation from the front desk.  This was our 8th cruise with Princess over 12 years and I was not amused how it ended. 

We were also charged for a three night stay, beginning with the night of the 16th, when we were still on the ship 😳

I have tried to get confirmation that we will receive  a FCC for the last three days of the cruise, when we were in isolation, and the $100 pp/day, for the week we were in quarantine. No one is able to give us this confirmation.

The person I spoke to earlier today was trying to help me, but the call eventually dropped, as is usually the case. He said that the customer resolution department no longer exists😳.

I’m very frustrated and unhappy with Princess due to all of this.

[DJluv2cruise]

We were on the 24th of Sept cruise, and we did not see a lot of signs of covid.  Although I was very cautious and wore a N95 mask in areas that were crowded or if it was impossible to social distance and didn't use the elevators if they were crowded.  Alot of people wore masks as well.  I also made sure to carry sanitizer with me as a personal reminder.   I did not want to spoil my trip with getting covid.  Wearing a mask and spending the time washing frequently did not put a damper on our trip at all.  It was worth the effort.  I'm sure there were people quarantined or walking around with covid, but we were some of the lucky ones. People don't realize how many times they grab railings etc... between sanitizing.   We had a great cruise on the Enchanted and we were not on a full ship either, we were told 2900.  Also, when we were in Canada they had a surprise inspection, and they were very pleased that they received a 100% on it.  First time I guess with any of the ships receiving that. 👏