Just got an email outlining the "NEW" offerings

[Steelers36]

10 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

Pizza is always on offer at the buffet on the Majestic.  Despite what others say, Pretty sure that the buffet pizzas come from Alfredo's.  Not sure where else they would bake them.

In the boiler room?

[Guest ldtr]

18 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

Pizza is always on offer at the buffet on the Majestic.  Despite what others say, Pretty sure that the buffet pizzas come from Alfredo's.  Not sure where else they would bake them.

They do have ovens that work for pizzas in other kitchens in the ship, including in the buffet area.   

 

Next time on board the Majestic ask one of the chefs in the buffet.  They will be very happy to explain.

Edited August 22, 2023 by ldtr

[helovestrains]

On 8/21/2023 at 10:43 AM, villauk said:

Still no email until we boarded when we received the condescending upgrade letter.

 

As expected, many people are complaining at GS and sending official notifications via the front staff to the powers that be, as they were unaware of the changes until they boarded. Feel really sorry for the staff who were unable to say exactly how they felt about the awful predicament they have been left in. They knew it was coming but were obviously having to deal with the fallout - Princess could have made things so much easier for those frontline staff if they’d have even notified pax what would be happening - shameful!

Hi, we are on  this cruise with you.  We have not received anything from Princess regarding the changes.  We had purchased the plus package prior to December  2022 and have not/are not upgrading.

[SCX22]

1 hour ago, startedwithamouse said:

We were told by chef de cuisine they don't have the capacity to make the buffet pizza at Alfredo's.

 

Majestic doesn't have a Slice.

 

Who did you speak with?

 

We were on the Majestic this past June.  It was a port day in Juneau so we were finishing up a late lunch at Alfredo's around 15:30.  The open kitchen was furiously firing away pizzas and putting them into a food service hot box on trays, not boxes.  (If they were in boxes, obliviously, the pizzas would be for room service.)   On our way out, we stopped by the kitchen to complement the cooks and inquired about what we were seeing.  We were told the pizzas were for the buffet.  Didn't follow the hot box to the buffet so I hesitate to say with 100% confidence.  

 

Too add, on the Sky this past April, we got into talking about what differentiated Alfredo's pizza from Slice aside from the toppings with the maitre d' at Alfredo's.  We were told that dough and sauce are the same, but cheese used is different.  Don't know how accurate that is either.

Edited August 22, 2023 by SCX22

[Mike07]

15 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

After factoring out the 16.00 for gratuities, the remaining 44.00 a day for the drinks package is the cheapest amongst the main stream cruise lines.  And that includes Celebrity, HAL, Carnival, NCL, MSC and RCI.  Virgin and Disney do not have drink packages.  That covers all 9 US based main stream lines.  And I'm not even including wifi, if that is factored in, then the drinks package is even cheaper.

 

And if you're referring to the quality of the alcohol, Vodkas are Grey Goose and Absolute Elyx, Gins are Aviation and Tangueray 10, Rum is Pyrat XO, Scotch is Glenmorangie, Tequila is Patron Anejo, Bourbon is Blantons and Gentleman Jack.  Not a cheap one in the bunch and all covered under the Plus package.

 

Do you work for PCL?

 

Yes, I did find Blanton's on one Princess ship, but that was a single bottle. But, if you look up the cost of a handle versus what PCL is asking.... it's high. You're not allowed to bring your own liquor. Also, one Princess ship I was on had no bottles of Crown Royal. I brought that up here, and somebody said, "Don't you know? Supply chain issues." On freakin' Crown? I don't even drink Crown, but there has never been a run on Crown and it's more than plentiful.

 

In heavy sea day itineraries, the WiFi may be worth it, but international sim cards do exist.

 

If you accept that PCL's prices for all of the "included" stuff is at face value, then the PP package is worth it.

 

One thing HAL and Celebrity have that PCL does not have --- free brewed coffee (unless of course you include the single location in the IC that's charge).

Edited August 22, 2023 by Mike07

[SCX22]

3 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

One thing HAL and Celebrity have that PCL does not have --- free brewed coffee (unless of course you include the single location in the IC that's charge).

 

Brewed coffee is always free in the though the dispensers in the buffet on Princess.  The problem is that it doesn't really taste that great.  Can't speak for the Lavazza coffee in the buffet some cruisers are now reporting.

[startedwithamouse]

37 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

We were on the Majestic this past June.  It was a port day in Juneau so we were finishing up a late lunch at Alfredo's around 15:30.  The open kitchen was furiously firing away pizzas and putting them into a food service hot box on trays, not boxes.  (If they were in boxes, obliviously, the pizzas would be for room service.)   On our way out, we stopped by the kitchen to complement the cooks and inquired about what we were seeing.  We were told the pizzas were for the buffet.  Didn't follow the hot box to the buffet so I hesitate to say with 100% confidence.  

 

Too add, on the Sky this past April, we got into talking about what differentiated Alfredo's pizza from Slice aside from the toppings with the maitre d' at Alfredo's.  We were told that dough and sauce are the same, but cheese used is different.  Don't know how accurate that is either.

Well, maybe we both are correct then. 

[startedwithamouse]

1 minute ago, SCX22 said:

 

Brewed coffee is always free in the though the dispensers in the buffet on Princess.  The problem is that it doesn't really taste that great.  Can't speak for the Lavazza coffee in the buffet some cruisers are now reporting.

I thought Lavazza was supposed to be at the international cafe?

[Mike07]

16 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Things that make you go hmmm.   Do you possibly think that the powers that be want to cut out some of the base fare only cruisers that don't spend a dime on board to make room for the families that will enjoy the new amenities on the top deck of the Sphere Class ships?

 

 

 

If PCL had the power, they would 100% rack and stack cruise fares based upon your predicted revenue stream.

 

People, like me, that spend little outside of the base fare would be subjected to the highest fares. People that routinely spend $$$ in the casino, specialty restaurants, shorex, etc. they would see lower fares.

 

The best of both worlds are the people that go balls out on cruises for the "once in a lifetime experience" or something like that. For a while, on Celebrity's hold line and when a CSR answered the phone, they said something like, "Your unforgettable vacation" and I chuckled at how utterly forgettable it would be. (granted, Celebrity was baller on the food).

 

[Mike07]

Just now, startedwithamouse said:

I thought Lavazza was supposed to be at the international cafe?

 

 

IDK what they brew, but brewed coffee in the IC is a charge. Lavazza is on Celebrity 24x7x365 for free up in the Lido.

[Mike07]

5 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

Brewed coffee is always free in the though the dispensers in the buffet on Princess.  The problem is that it doesn't really taste that great.  Can't speak for the Lavazza coffee in the buffet some cruisers are now reporting.

 

 

That is 100% a coffee syrup from Nestle. I humbly ask you to ask a helper the next time you go on a Princess cruise. Like a soda fountain, but the water is hot.

For me, it's not terrible. Not great, but not horrible. But, other people really don't like it.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Mike07

[CruizinSusan70]

3 hours ago, ldtr said:

Biggest issue is if one is feeling ill they cannot just stay in their room and order room service without one charge or the other. 

This should only come into play if the person is traveling solo.  Otherwise their cabinmate can procure food for them.

[Steelers36]

50 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

We were on the Majestic this past June.  It was a port day in Juneau so we were finishing up a late lunch at Alfredo's around 15:30.  The open kitchen was furiously firing away pizzas and putting them into a food service hot box on trays, not boxes.  (If they were in boxes, obliviously, the pizzas would be for room service.)   On our way out, we stopped by the kitchen to complement the cooks and inquired about what we were seeing.  We were told the pizzas were for the buffet.  Didn't follow the hot box to the buffet so I hesitate to say with 100% confidence.  

 

Too add, on the Sky this past April, we got into talking about what differentiated Alfredo's pizza from Slice aside from the toppings with the maitre d' at Alfredo's.  We were told that dough and sauce are the same, but cheese used is different.  Don't know how accurate that is either.

However it's done, I would expect any pizzas sitting out in the buffet counter to have been cooked quite some time earlier than a pizza at Slices and obviously at Alfredo's.

[SCX22]

10 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

I thought Lavazza was supposed to be at the international cafe?

 

There are some on this board who have reported Lavazza in the buffet on grand class ships.  Not sure if syrup or installed coffee machines.

[SCX22]

10 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

That is 100% a coffee syrup from Nestle. I humbly ask you to ask a helper the next time you go on a Princess cruise. Like a soda fountain, but the water is hot.

 

On Royal Class ships there is a food service WMF coffee machine that dispenses brewed coffee and hot water.  More often than not coffee is too weak and is faintly colored brown water.

[Mike07]

1 minute ago, SCX22 said:

 

On Royal Class ships there is a food service WMF coffee machine that dispenses brewed coffee and hot water.  More often than not coffee is too weak and is faintly colored brown water.

 

 

That's good to hear. I have not been on, nor did I consider that class ship.

[CruizinSusan70]

2 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Unless you're on the Majestic.

Then you just need to go to the buffet to get your pizza.🍕

[Mike07]

3 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

There are some on this board who have reported Lavazza in the buffet on grand class ships.  Not sure if syrup or installed coffee machines.

 

 

I hope that it's changing, because brewed coffee is not that much more. It spoils faster than a syrup would, but it's not terribly expensive either for the volume PCL would buy.

[CruizinSusan70]

29 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

 

Do you work for PCL?

 

Yes, I did find Blanton's on one Princess ship, but that was a single bottle. But, if you look up the cost of a handle versus what PCL is asking.... it's high. You're not allowed to bring your own liquor. Also, one Princess ship I was on had no bottles of Crown Royal. I brought that up here, and somebody said, "Don't you know? Supply chain issues." On freakin' Crown? I don't even drink Crown, but there has never been a run on Crown and it's more than plentiful.

 

In heavy sea day itineraries, the WiFi may be worth it, but international sim cards do exist.

 

If you accept that PCL's prices for all of the "included" stuff is at face value, then the PP package is worth it.

 

One thing HAL and Celebrity have that PCL does not have --- free brewed coffee (unless of course you include the single location in the IC that's charge).

Don't really care about free brewed coffee.  My DH drinks iced espresso from the IC and the buffet location.  I already gave you reasons why WE think the Plus package is a great value.  In general, those that imbibe usually get the package and those that don't, don't get it.  There are exceptions, but the line in the sand is usually whether you're a teetotaler or not.  The name brands available on Princess are satisfactory to us especially since all of the nighttime menu items are included with the Plus package at Good Spirits at Sea.

[Veinless]

12 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Then you just need to go to the buffet to get your pizza.🍕

A week ago you said it would only be available at Alfredo’s. Are sure this time?

 

 

[CruizinSusan70]

14 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

That's good to hear. I have not been on, nor did I consider that class ship.

The Sphere Class is supposed to have Nitro Cold Brew available, but of course that would be extra, but included in the Plus package.  I know my DH will consume his share.

[Guest ldtr]

19 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

This should only come into play if the person is traveling solo.  Otherwise their cabinmate can procure food for them.

Not easily.  Lets see go up to the buffet, then have to ask the person what they want, then have to try and carry it down without trays.  Ask for tray and get told by someone working in the buffet that they really should not be carrying food back, should order from room service instead (saw that happen on my last cruise when many were coughing)

[Guest ldtr]

2 minutes ago, Veinless said:

A week ago you said it would only be available at Alfredo’s. Are sure this time?

 

 

On Majestic there is pizza in the buffet.  Certainly was during the last 14 days on spent on that ship in July.

[Guest ldtr]

33 minutes ago, Mike07 said:

 

 

IDK what they brew, but brewed coffee in the IC is a charge. Lavazza is on Celebrity 24x7x365 for free up in the Lido.

https://www.princess.com/news/news_releases/2023/03/princess-cruises-announces-lavazza-as-official-coffee-partner.html

 

They announced the change in March. Do not know exactly where they stand is using up the old product and converting fully over to the new supplier.

[CruizinSusan70]

2 minutes ago, Veinless said:

A week ago you said it would only be available at Alfredo’s. Are sure this time?

 

 

We were on the Majestic for two weeks and only went to the inferior buffet two days for lunch.  Embarkation and sea days we went to the MDR, and most port days we went to Alfredo's for lunch.  Didn't see the pizza at the buffet during the two days we were there.  But have read on another thread that it is indeed available.  

Will never need to go to slice for their inferior pizza since our future cruises include 28 days on Enchanted, 28 on Sun and 7 on Discovery.  We can then go to Gigi's and whatever the venue will be called on the Sun.