My wish list for Princess

[MacMadame]

5 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

 

This one I have mixed feelings about. I do think that people serving themselves is unhygienic and honestly just try not to think about it too much, because when I do, it really grosses me out. However, having sailed on several sailings post-restart when staff were serving the food in the buffets on all the cruise lines, I found that I wasted MUCH more food. I had gastric sleeve years ago and can't eat more than 5-7 oz. in a sitting, so I take one or two bites worth of the foods I want to try when serving myself on a buffet. When the staff were serving, even when I would ask for "just a tiny bit" of something, I would end up with half a plate-full or even a whole plate-full.

Yes to all of this. Including the sleeve! LOL

I love buffets because I can have a bite of everything and don't have to pick one thing. This almost always requires serving myself as servers just don't understand what "a tiny bit" or "just a bite" means.

[Potstech]

Another thread going downhill to the discussion of alcohol.  Anyone see a pattern yet.

[Thrak]

19 hours ago, Bemidji Ty said:

2. Teach the staff to read their audience.  A while back, probably pre-covid, we were on a ship and went to Skywalkers after dinner for libation and dance.  A look at the crowd would have revealed that 80% or more were Medicare eligible.  Noone was on the dance floor.  The DJ was playing loud electronic tunes.  I asked if he had any Motown, Stones or Doobie Bros.  He played "I Heard it through the Grapevine" and "Mustang Sally".  The dance floor quickly filled up.  He was unable to detect the reason and went back to evangelizing his electronic sounds.  The dance floor emptied and many left. 

 

This is a huge peeve with me. I mention it on every survey. The DJs don't ever seem to realize that most older folks don't like the crap they play.

[damiross]

2 hours ago, MacMadame said:

Yes to all of this. Including the sleeve! LOL

I love buffets because I can have a bite of everything and don't have to pick one thing. This almost always requires serving myself as servers just don't understand what "a tiny bit" or "just a bite" means.

I agree with this.  There have been times when I saw something I'd never had before.  I want a small bit so I don't waste it if I don't like it.

 

[doghog]

3 hours ago, memoak said:

Dine a contractor is paying to be on ship they really get the space they contracted for

Still up to Princess to where they set up shop. 

[OzKiwiJJ]

18 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I am thinking that when PCL re-did their wine list back pre-pandemic, they had a wine consultant advise them and help select labels.  It was a vast improvement over the previous situation.  When they came with the Plus and basically dumbed down the basic wines available BTG on the plan, it seems they abandoned most pretense to a "fine" wine list.  I am thinking they no longer have an expert in the matter, nor are paying the same consultant source to help them again (not anyone else).  So the "interesting" labels have been getting drunk up and are being replaced with what consensus seems is rather uninspiring - or a shade above plonk.  

 

It appears they have decided to build out the wine list with lower cost selections that they then slap a large markup on.  Sure, they still have some eye-watering price tags, but is that only because stick is still kicking around from circa-2019?

 

I do bring my own if at all feasible, so can ignore what they offer.  But it is sad to see - if they are reverting back to a "blah" list.

 

There's a restaurant we are going to with family tomorrow evening for dinner.  They purport to be one of the nicer places to dine out in this not-large city.  That said, they have been around for a couple generations, so quite traditional.  I looked at the wine list earlier today.  I couldn't believe it and had not seen anything this bad for ages.  Unfortunately, they do not allow BYOW, so perhaps I will just have a beer.  It's like it was assembled without a care and of course as soon as you see a list with no vintage and incomplete label names, you know to run the other direction.  But I don't have a choice.  On the ships, you also have to live with what's on offer or BYO.

 

The wines they use for Plus and Premier on Australian-based cruises are mostly local wines. Some are wines that are just bottled versions of cask (box) wines that retail for around AU$20 for a four litre cask. On the odd occasion that those wines show up for sale in bottles they retail for under AU$6 a bottle. I think Princess then sets the prices in US$ then converts it to AU$ so by the glass they are AU$15 (2.5 times the cost of a whole bottle or 12.5 times the retail cost of a 150ml glass) and by the bottle they charge AU$64 (more than 10 times the retail value). Those are outrageous markups, price gouging at it's worst.

[daydreamer16]

On 3/29/2024 at 6:54 AM, JimmyVWine said:

Connecticut is home to two of the largest casino resorts in the world, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods.  Both converted to be completely non-smoking on the casino floors with designated outdoor and fully enclosed smoking areas available for guests who wish to smoke. Neither resort is suffering because of it.  

Yes, we travel to Mohegan because of that reason. We also visit our grandchildren since they live in Connecticut 🤣

[Steelers36]

10 minutes ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

..........

Those are outrageous markups, price gouging at it's worst.

You got it.

[daydreamer16]

Currently on the Grand Princess with the plus pkg & very disappointed with wines in the mdr. Yesterday I saw a waiter carrying a tray with 14 glasses of wine to 2 tables. Reds & white of different hues, but no tag or receipt as to what each was. All I could think of was, no way that waiter knows which of those areCabernet Sauvignon , Pinot or Malbec etc☹️ We’ve been going to Vines each night before dinner to pick up a glass!

[LACruiser88]

2 hours ago, daydreamer16 said:

Currently on the Grand Princess with the plus pkg & very disappointed with wines in the mdr. Yesterday I saw a waiter carrying a tray with 14 glasses of wine to 2 tables. Reds & white of different hues, but no tag or receipt as to what each was. All I could think of was, no way that waiter knows which of those areCabernet Sauvignon , Pinot or Malbec etc☹️ We’ve been going to Vines each night before dinner to pick up a glass!

Have you seen a Sommelier in your dining room?  We are on the Majestic and the Sommelier in our dining room has been bringing us glasses of wines that have been available in Vines (Silverado Cab, Paraduxx Blend, Grigich Hills Merlot).

[daydreamer16]

Just now, LACruiser88 said:

Have you seen a Sommelier in your dining room?  We are on the Majestic and the Sommelier in our dining room has been bringing us glasses of wines that have been available in Vines (Silverado Cab, Paraduxx Blend, Grigich Hills Merlot).

I have not seen any sommelier on this ship & I did mention to our waiter that we’re going to Vines every night because the wines by the glass are terrible. I am not a wine snob & like a variety of wines. Also, wine service in the MDR is like going to a cheap restaurant. We are just off Celebrity on 3/24 and even if you order a cheap glass of wine, the sommelier takes your order & pours from the bottle at your table. At least you are sure of what your getting!

[LACruiser88]

The Majestic currently has 6 Sommeliers onboard.  I would ask to speak with your restaurant manager.

 

Hope your situation improves!

[CruiseCrabs]

1 hour ago, daydreamer16 said:

Currently on the Grand Princess with the plus pkg & very disappointed with wines in the mdr. Yesterday I saw a waiter carrying a tray with 14 glasses of wine to 2 tables. Reds & white of different hues, but no tag or receipt as to what each was. All I could think of was, no way that waiter knows which of those areCabernet Sauvignon , Pinot or Malbec etc☹️ We’ve been going to Vines each night before dinner to pick up a glass!

Plus is awful. We did it once and ordering wine was akin to wine roulette… and much of the experience wa awful. Thankfully, you get to choose wines and vintages with a limited list with Premiere but I would argue that other lines treat their customer with more respect. With the Star issues, we have been looking and may defect to a new cruise line. This is not the Princess that convinced me that cruising was a good idea.

[daydreamer16]

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

The Majestic currently has 6 Sommeliers onboard.  I would ask to speak with your restaurant manager.

 

Hope your situation improves!

I’ll ask tonight, thanks! Will report back!

[daydreamer16]

3 minutes ago, CruiseCrabs said:

Plus is awful. We did it once and ordering wine was akin to wine roulette… and much of the experience wa awful. Thankfully, you get to choose wines and vintages with a limited list with Premiere but I would argue that other lines treat their customer with more respect. With the Star issues, we have been looking and may defect to a new cruise line. This is not the Princess that convinced me that cruising was a good idea.

Agreed, we didn’t upgrade to premiere since we only have one or two glasses of wine with dinner. Also, on the Grand, Alfredo’s is the only casual option. We love the service on Celebrity but we chose our cruises based on itinerary so we’ll continue with Princess but maybe not as often as in the past.

[ldubs]

9 hours ago, Potstech said:

Another thread going downhill to the discussion of alcohol.  Anyone see a pattern yet.

 

Seems to have turned into a complaint session for a few wine enthusiasts.  I think there might have been at least one suggestion for Vines on all ships.   Maybe better wine at lower prices? More sommeliers?  IDK.   

Edited April 20 by ldubs

[MsSoCalCruiser]

12 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I have one more addition to my wish list that could be easily accomplished.  
I really need a couple more places on the post cruise survey for commendations for specific crew members.  5 areas of service are just not enough and I always feel someone that has made our cruise special is being left out.  
I also learned that if you don’t fill out your post cruise survey within 3 days of disembarkation, the crew never sees your comments.  While I understand it, it’s not always easy to get to it within 3 days while also unpacking, doing laundry, cooking meals, sorting mails and paying bills, etc.  If we fly to get home from our cruise, I always work on it at the airport.  It takes me at least 2 hours to fill it out completely.  

Anyway, 5 areas for the commendations are not enough.  I wish Princess would add a few more options to this.  
 

 

I now try to write at night while on my cruise so I can just cut and paste. One time I got busy at home and it was too late to submit. 

[daydreamer16]

4 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

The Majestic currently has 6 Sommeliers onboard.  I would ask to speak with your restaurant manager.

 

Hope your situation improves!

So just asked about sommelier & they called him from another dining room. I asked him about getting a glass of wine from vines & he basically said no. If we want wine from there we have to get it ourselves. He said they serve different wines in different venues for a reason. He said in the MDR, “ the wines here are not to challenge your palate”. 😱 Our wonderful asst waiter said he would get it for us but it’s not a problem, we’re happy to go to Vines. The waiter there is friendly& helpful!

[daydreamer16]

2 hours ago, ldubs said:

 

Seems to have turned into a complaint session for a few wine enthusiasts.  I think there might have been at least one suggestion for Vines on all ships.   Maybe better wine at lower prices? More sommeliers?  IDK.   

😞 

[phabric]

I would like to see a garbage can near the elevators.

[Cruise Raider]

8 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

I now try to write at night while on my cruise so I can just cut and paste. One time I got busy at home and it was too late to submit. 

I am going to try this.  A friend of mine has made mention this is what she does.  
at least I write out a list of everyone that made our cruise special and put them in their proper areas on that list.  I take photos of name tags so I don’t misspell their names on the survey, although autocorrect tries to trip me up every time.  

[Cruise Raider]

6 hours ago, daydreamer16 said:

So just asked about sommelier & they called him from another dining room. I asked him about getting a glass of wine from vines & he basically said no. If we want wine from there we have to get it ourselves. He said they serve different wines in different venues for a reason. He said in the MDR, “ the wines here are not to challenge your palate”. 😱 Our wonderful asst waiter said he would get it for us but it’s not a problem, we’re happy to go to Vines. The waiter there is friendly& helpful!

We usually only go to the MDR for lunch, which is usually our big meal for the day.  I oftentimes ask the assistant waiter for a nice glass with my wine and bingo, it’s always been done.  Sometimes I will only get the plus package (on the non Royal class ships) and order a glass of wine from the premier package and just pay the difference.  

[karatemom2]

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I am going to try this.  A friend of mine has made mention this is what she does.  
at least I write out a list of everyone that made our cruise special and put them in their proper areas on that list.  I take photos of name tags so I don’t misspell their names on the survey, although autocorrect tries to trip me up every time.  

 
What a great idea! I love this!!

[terrierjohn]

12 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

The Majestic currently has 6 Sommeliers onboard.  I would ask to speak with your restaurant manager.

 

Hope your situation improves!

I will check on Sky in 2 weeks, but last year drinks orders were taken and served by the table waiters.

[dreams_of_travel]

4 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I am going to try this.  A friend of mine has made mention this is what she does.  
at least I write out a list of everyone that made our cruise special and put them in their proper areas on that list.  I take photos of name tags so I don’t misspell their names on the survey, although autocorrect tries to trip me up every time.  

I use the note function on my iPhone to list crew, and their job, or what they helped me with on my cruise.  I agree that there needs to be more space options to mention specific crew commendations.  On my recent cruise survey I ended up listing all the dining room staff and their titles on my last option.  So annoying as I wanted to thank one of the chefs specifically for preparing a special pasta dish for us one night in the MDR.  He had simply wanted to do something different for us.  It was a nice and unexpected experience.  I agree with a lot of yours and other's points made throughout this thread.  I am glad to see that I'm not the only one who wishes Princess would consider a few of these rather simple things that could may the cruise experience better for little cost.