Is Princess having a Brand/Identity crisis - your thoughts?

[Treasure Hunter]

I’d love to hear from someone who cruised the new sanctuary suites and the quality of the restaurant. Also they way the sanctuary lounge situation is handled. Many times we ran like crazy people up to the sanctuary on boarding when suites were were given a head start. I won’t do than anymore.

[BlerkOne]

My thoughts? Not very original, but...

 

The only constant is change. Everything adapts or dies, including cruise lines. You can't live in the past. You can run (to another cruise line) but not hide. You lost me at "woke".

[Thunderbird19]

For Haven prices, seriously consider trying a Viking cruise. I have friends that love the amenities, staff, food, included excursions, and rooms on Viking as well as the fact that their prices pretty much include all the things and more that other cruise lines charge you for as add ons. 

[richsea]

“A little woke”? What is that?

[YVRteacher]

They let me on board so they must be slipping!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

1 hour ago, Globaler said:

Also on our transfer to Mykonos (Sun  cruise) on the bus (third party) very raunchy rap music blasted from the speakers. Had I had my grand kids on board I would have demanded a change.

so, you are blaming Princess for the music played on a third party bus in Europe?

[dog]

I haven’t been on the Sun yet, but am okay with the variety of Princess ships that are still available to book and the standard fare balconies.  
There are more options on Sun for upgraded food choices $$$. Your choice.  I am ok with that.

So ,the raunchy, late night men shows will not bother me- to bed by 11 pm.

Have no idea about “woke”?

[Wishing on a star]

The meaning of new words evolves...  Language evolves.

WOKE has a much broader meaning today.  That is the the way I would use it.  I am very aware of how this word is defined and used today.   People are free to their thoughts and opinions on these kinds of topics.  Some good, some not so good.

Note:  I have never thought to apply that word to Princess....  WOKE?Hhhhmmm??????

 

On this same note...  Yes, the only constant is change.

I have NO problem with that!!!!   (don't lump me in with the 'old folks' who long for the days when cruising was a very different thing.)

It is some of the particular changes and the HOW and the WHY that concern me.   As mentioned in my earlier post.

And, please do NOT portray and sell me something and then deliver something that it definitely is not.

Edited July 15 by Wishing on a star

[Kay S]

3 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I think I'm jumping ship. Trying Viking in November.

Yep.  We have jumped ship for the past year.  HAL (which is only slightly less nickel and dimey) and Oceania.  (Pay those nickels and dimes up front.)  Princess is leaving me with their mega ships and desperate appeals to the masses.

[Wishing on a star]

Do you like one of these cruise lines better than the other.

I would like to try Viking.  I think we would love Viking.

But the fares, and some of the itineraries, are the thing for me.

[Treasure Hunter]

No Viking for me. Ugg. I like a casino and good entertainment. And a lively ship with at least some younger people. The one Viking ship we went on was the worst experience . It was two weeks on the Mississippi with terrible service and entertainment. Boring. And you had to stand and make your own toast at breakfast . This cost us $25,000. 

[Kay S]

1 minute ago, Treasure Hunter said:

 And you had to stand and make your own toast at breakfast . 

Well, that would be the deal breaker for me. 😄  River cruises and ocean cruises are vastly different.

[Wishing on a star]

WHOA!!!!!    I think maybe the Ocean cruises and Ships are now a big step-up.

I do agree that a cruise, for me, should not be 'sleepy'.

[startedwithamouse]

3 hours ago, Globaler said:

The Carnival Corporation owns Carnival (family/kids), Holland America (older cruisers), Seabourn (luxury), Costa (budget), Aida and P&O (not sure) and then Princess (middle age, semi upscale, value). Given this line up; why is the Carnival Corporation messing with Princess by trying to appeal to everyone? 
 These are my thoughts what do you think?

Zero families or kids we know would even think of setting foot on a Carnival ship.  

[startedwithamouse]

3 hours ago, Globaler said:

In my opinion, they are trying to go big, going a little woke and some of the entertainment was raunchy (in the Piazza) on our last cruise on the Sun. Some of the crew acted like they wanted to be hip.

Huh?

[startedwithamouse]

2 hours ago, Globaler said:

Also on our transfer to Mykonos (Sun  cruise) on the bus (third party) very raunchy rap music blasted from the speakers. Had I had my grand kids on board I would have demanded a change.

Entitled much? It's vacation, their playground, their rules. Mykonos is a party. 

[SomewhereGirl]

I would think more raunchy would equal less "woke".  But then the way the term "woke" is thrown around these days, it's less about actual meaning and more about broadcasting political preference.

[JGmf]

I'm not clear if they're having a brand or identity crisis, but I definitely had a perception correction when I took my first Princess cruise last June 2023 after a loyal decade-plus at NCL. 

 

With a sense of hesitation, I booked the Princess cruise due to the itinerary and the lack of competition for that location and time of year.  I was expecting a WAY, way older crowd and significantly more staid vibe than what I experienced on 15 or so NCL cruises. 

 

Well, while I do wish there was more of an upbeat, younger crowd on Princess and wish there was a  "Waterfront" bar, I'm nonetheless really loving the more adult-oriented Princess ship experience, better food and drink options, more engaged cruise director staff, way better technology (yes, the medallion is great), and improved casino experience.

 

Maybe the Princess advertising is appropriately trying to erode their stuffy old image and  draw younger families to their Sphere class ships. 

 

Regardless, I'm already sold without their marketing efforts.  I've sailed on Princess twice more since and have four more booked after that.

[Kay S]

7 minutes ago, JGmf said:

 

 

Maybe the Princess advertising is appropriately trying to erode their stuffy old image and  draw younger families to their Sphere class ships. 

 

 

Being myself old and stuffy, that's precisely why I'm moving on. 😁 (Did you think we would miss your point without the Bold/Italics font?)

[MyriamS]

4 hours ago, Globaler said:

The Carnival Corporation owns Carnival (family/kids), Holland America (older cruisers), Seabourn (luxury), Costa (budget), Aida and P&O (not sure) and then Princess (middle age, semi upscale, value). Given this line up; why is the Carnival Corporation messing with Princess by trying to appeal to everyone? 
 These are my thoughts what do you think?

The target markets for Aida and P&O couldn't be more obvious. P&O describes itself as "Britain's favourite cruise line". Aida's website is in German only. 

 

Costa and P&O's prices are comparable so one is not more budget than the other. I've never checked Aida.

 

The explicit music on the bus is due to cultural differences between the USA and Europe. In Europe lyrics are not censored and music with explicit lyrics are sometimes used in theme park rides aimed at families. Nobody local notices or cares. If this upsets you, remember not to bring your children/grandchildren to the amazing Arthur ride in Europapark. 

Edited July 15 by MyriamS

[Globaler]

2 hours ago, memoak said:

That is why there are different cruise lines. Those who want climbing walls, go car tracks, water parks etc go with lines like RCL. Those who love Disney World go on Disney cruises. Those of us who like a more sedate and relaxed atmosphere go wit Princess. Each to their own

That was my point exactly - it seems the Sun would like to break out of that image!

[JF - retired RRT]

44 minutes ago, Wishing on a star said:

Do you like one of these cruise lines better than the other.

I would like to try Viking.  I think we would love Viking.

But the fares, and some of the itineraries, are the thing for me.

We compared the numbers: all balconies, everything included except for grats, booze (wine & beer included with lunch & dinner - don't care, don't drink), a couple of upcharge restaurant "experiences" (not interested).

Included: coffee/tea in the cabin, Every port has at least one included excursion (nothing fancy), snack/soda/water in cabin (except for the 2 cheapest categories). WiFi is included.

Large bathrooms with real showers and heated floors. A balcony that's big enough to sit on without squeezing.

Benefits: No casino, no kids, 900 passengers.

When we finished comparing, the cruise we booked was only a couple of hundred dollars more than a comparable mini-suite. If you only want to book inside or OV, you won't save $$. Balconies and above are in the ballpark.

[Globaler]

Well, that got some discussion. You will all have to decide for yourself when you sail the Sun. I felt a different vibe when I sailed the Sun vs other Princess ships. Others reviews and time will tell.

[Thunderbird19]

1 hour ago, Treasure Hunter said:

No Viking for me. Ugg. I like a casino and good entertainment. And a lively ship with at least some younger people. The one Viking ship we went on was the worst experience . It was two weeks on the Mississippi with terrible service and entertainment. Boring. And you had to stand and make your own toast at breakfast . This cost us $25,000. 

From friends that have done both, there is a big difference between Viking River cruises and Viking Ocean cruises.  I don’t frequent casinos but would like to try a Viking Ocean cruise when we feel like splurging a bit. We typically don’t book Haven level or even Suite level on Princess so our cruises stay affordable. But recently I checked for longer cruises, and a  lovely basic Viking room was comparable to paying Haven plus package on Princess so will be trying that in 2025-26.

[Thunderbird19]

1 hour ago, SomewhereGirl said:

I would think more raunchy would equal less "woke".  But then the way the term "woke" is thrown around these days, it's less about actual meaning and more about broadcasting political preference.

Yep. Being “woke” is not a bad thing , more about an awareness level when the word was used years ago. Sadly, the word has been twisted and used by extremists in recent years to be pejorative and a negative thing… far from the original intent.  Word meaning typically shouldn’t  dramatically change, that’s why we have dictionaries 😂