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Author

Topic: Princess Breaks Tradition

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-24-2001 04:01 PM

At Princess Cruises, a longtime tradition bites the dust. The usual captain’s welcome aboard cocktail reception, typically held on a voyage’s first formal night, is no longer a staple on ships that have embraced the line’s Personal Choice Dining concept. Because passengers are dining “when and where they
want” the reception, typically held just prior to main and late seatings, wasn’t
feasible, according to a Princess spokeswoman.

The substitute? Passengers on affected ships -- Grand, Golden, Sun, Dawn, Sea and Ocean Princesses -- are instead "invited" to "happy hour," usually held on the first formal night. The event spans a two hour period and is held at a lounge near the ship's atrium.
Princess says "the ship's captain is often on hand," -- read, no guarantee -- and attendees can buy themselves a glass of champagne at the bar. While not free, champagne, at $2 a glass, does come with unlimited free refills during the "happy hour" gathering.

Comments please?

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Jekyll
First Class Passenger
Member # 1878

posted 06-24-2001 04:24 PM

Malcolm:

I can apreciate Princess' rationale for this but I can say that I don't agree with it. Even at 34, I am a huge traditionalist and after my recent crossing on QE2 - I have to say, somethings (such as formal nights and receptions) should not be tampered with. That's just me though.

Change is inevitable but not always necessary. With that said, I am glad that the cruise lines are now offering their guests the type of cruise experience the guest requires - formal for those that enjoy it...casual for those who don't.

At the end of the day, like minded passengers end up together and everyone is happy.

[ 06-24-2001: Message edited by: Jekyll ]

Posts: 1524 | From: Nowhere | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

Jkm7
First Class Passenger
Member # 1352

posted 06-24-2001 10:25 PM

It sounds to me like a "cover story" for more cost cutting. Princess seems to be on a path of including nothing more than a bed in the cruise fare.

There has been a great deal of grumbling among recent Princess pax that they next expect to be charged for use of a pool towel. Want a chaise lounge at the pool? That will be $5 for the day, please. Bet they're considering putting a cashier at the buffet who will ring up each item you selected for breakfast. Cereal $1.50; milk (for the cereal) $l.00; sugar for your coffee $ .10 .....

Captain's Welcome Aboard is such a basic tradition of cruising; many will miss it...and resent its elimination.

[ 06-24-2001: Message edited by: Jkm7 ]

Posts: 37 | From: USA | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-24-2001 11:34 PM

Good for Princess. Since the advent of the Mega-ships this party has become irrelevent anyway. A thousand people in one place for an hour of free booze and half of them don't even stop talking long enough to listen to him anyway.
...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-25-2001 04:17 AM

I think for a 'first timer' the Captain's party is a thrill - but I agrree that it does not really work very well on a mega-ship!

I can see a time where cruise fares are rock bottom, but you wil pay for everything else including your food!

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Jerry
Just Boarded
Member # 211

posted 06-25-2001 06:44 AM

I cannot agree with what Princess has done, I am a traditionalist also. Just returned from an Orient Lines Med cruise on the Crown Odyssey and they had a captain's reception that everyone enjoyed. I guess the smaller lines will continue this tradition, so you can look for me on the smaller lines. I enjoyed the 4 Princess cruises I took, but will look closely before doing another.

Posts: 5 | From: Rome, GA, USA | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-25-2001 08:19 AM

Another option which is very popular with passengers is the 'Navigational Bridge' visit.

It's funny how it is not a problem on some ships, yet others claim that it is against maritime regulations???

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-25-2001 08:31 AM

Hate to say it - but after cruising with HAL for so many years, we now just go through the receiving line and out the other door - then head for the Ocean Bar to have a drink, some conversation and listen to the music. These parties are boring for old timers, but I think new cruisers really do like them & anything you get free from the cruise line is a plus.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 06-25-2001 11:26 AM

I think Princess's happy hour is a great idea
- sure beats waiting in line to shake the captain's hand & have a terribly stilted picture taken before claiming a free drink.

Bet the captains prefer this - imagine the painful hands they must get from all the compulsory shaking!

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

fondaenergy
First Class Passenger
Member # 1641

posted 06-25-2001 11:46 AM

I think the era of the Captain's cocktail party is gone. It does not work at all on larger ships like the Grand Princess and Carnival Destiny. It didn't even work well on Vision of the Seas. I have encountered long lines and watered-down drinks.

A happy hour is a wonderful idea. I can enjoy my "free" drinks at my leisure.

Traditionalists can book on more traditional ships; give us less-traditional people some good options.

Posts: 177 | From: Jacksonville, FL | Registered: Oct 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 06-25-2001 12:06 PM

Dropping the lineup to meet the captain seems a good idea.
We always have difficulty avoiding the lineup and getting to the lounge without meeting the captain.
It must certainly be a trial for those captains of the megaships to have to shake 3000 hands in an evening
Having said this, the practice on Sunbird is a much more casual setup. There were no presentation lines when we were on board. The captain took time to have a brief conversation with us and we talked for a minute or so. No pictures taken unless you asked. Very civilized and casual.

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Green
First Class Passenger
Member # 171

posted 06-25-2001 05:04 PM

I'm with sympatico on this one -
lately we've skipped the whole 'party' - getting dressed up for the evening up is fine but standing in that long line is not for us.

As first timers and for a few cruises later, we stood in line, bought the picture, looked at it a few times and then forgot about it.

Don't forget though, it's a money maker for the Cruise Line - that old bottom line!

Posts: 2913 | From: Markham, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 06-27-2001 08:57 AM

Yet another thing that Princess has taken AWAY from their passenger's cruise experience! The first was the always popular GRAND midnight buffet. Then they switched over to the controversial "Free-style" dining. Now they have done away with the long tradition of getting the chance to meet, although breifly, with the Captain and shake his hand, have your picture taken with him etc. Princess is becoming a cut rate line, but with high prices.There are so many choices out there for us,we can choose a line that puts customers first and not the bottom line.

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

M.S.Grumple
First Class Passenger
Member # 1340

posted 06-27-2001 09:39 AM

As we prefer late seating dining, we were only able to admire the midnight buffets - such a shame!

Last fall on 'Pacific Princess' we were delighted to find they had a Gala buffet lunch - beautiful displays of ice sculptures and fantastic food.
Timing was excellent - we'd just left Bermuda and were really able to enjoy the feast.

Posts: 280 | From: Burlington, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 06-27-2001 12:50 PM

quote:
Originally poste:d by Mercy
" Princess is becoming a cut rate line, but with high prices.There are so many choices out there for us,we can choose a line that puts customers first and not the bottom line.[/QB]

This does appear to be a fatuous statement.How many businesses would survive if they did not put the bottom line first?
Am I missing some point?

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Mercy
First Class Passenger
Member # 322

posted 06-27-2001 02:26 PM

The point I am trying to make Topgun.. is that some lines like Celebrity for example still offer a premium product for usually less money than I can find on Princess. Even Carnival has midnight buffets and a Captain's Cocktail party! If they stop serving lobster and steak, for example, the lines would make a higher profit, but the passengers would not be happy. More profit=less customer service.I thought it was a pretty simple concept. I just read a review from someone who recently cruised on the Ocean Princess. She said they are making cuts everywhere. No lobster or crab offered. They had a Capatin's Cocktail party, but NO complimentery drinks. They offered Champagne for $2. a glass instead.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: Mercy ]

Posts: 697 | From: Stanwood, Wa. USA | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

CB
First Class Passenger
Member # 58

posted 06-27-2001 04:01 PM

Well, something has got to give. With most people expecting low rates and primetime Alaska is selling from $499 and $549, how are they going to make a buck?

Posts: 109 | From: Arlington, TX, USA | Registered: Mar 99 | IP: Logged

topgun
First Class Passenger
Member # 928

posted 06-27-2001 05:16 PM

Well CB you've got a point. Prices and service have to bottom out somewhere.

In my case,I have apparently just achieved the age of seniority and qualify in many cases for a seniors discount of 5% or more. (how ones age has any bearing, I dont know, younger and less affluent people should be in on this before the likes of me.)

I have a gold credit card that extends 5% or more in discounts.

The automobile Association also extends another 5%.

My travel agent extends 5%.

The cruise line offers a last minute booking rate.

I could go on. Point is, if I go on a Princess cruise, they will probably end up paying me to sail with them. The lack of the buffet and the lobster will not bother me. I would however sing at Kareoke so that the cruise line will not go bust.

[ 06-27-2001: Message edited by: topgun ]

Posts: 759 | From: Burlington ont,canada Cruise center of North America | Registered: Nov 1999 | IP: Logged

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 06-30-2001 08:50 PM

Just finished the Western Europe/Iberia cruise on the Royal Princess last Thursday. The Royal Princes offered one side of the Lido cafe as some type of personal choice dining. We didn't check it out so can't add much there.

we did enjoy the Captain's welcome aboard cocktail, still free, a landfall reception also offered free drinks.

No more terry cloth robes but most other "freebies" were avaliable. Deck plankets and pool towels were in our cabin.

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

gizmo
First Class Passenger
Member # 972

posted 07-01-2001 09:25 AM

I am with both Sympatico and Green. We skip it all together. We did go our first 2 cruises, but it is too crowded and I rather get a drink in one of the lounges.

Posts: 686 | From: Kennesaw Ga. (origianlly from Philly) | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

MagnmPI
First Class Passenger
Member # 299

posted 07-20-2001 07:33 PM

Okay so the welcome aboard cocktail party is gone, but what about the captain's reception for previous passengers, is that gone too? Or are we talking about the same thing.

Posts: 545 | From: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 07-20-2001 09:38 PM

Welcome back,MagnmPI..!!!Where have you been all this time?Great to know you are still around.

As to your question regarding the Captain's reception for previous passengers.....I can't really answer that one 'cos I know nothing about Princess,only HAL.

BTW,did you have much trouble getting onto this site etc? It takes me forever and a day and sometimes I just give up and move on to another website.Is there anyone else out there who is having problems? I hope I will be able to post this OK without having to wait an eternity(Are you listening,Joe?)

Once again,MagnmPI,good to "see" you!!

Terri

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 07-20-2001 09:44 PM

Wonders will never cease,folks! It only took a couple of minutes...usually I would be still waiting after more than 5 minutes(which is a helluva long time looking at a blank screen!!)

Have you been working on the website,Joe? Or is it just improvong itself?

Terri

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 07-21-2001 04:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Terri Lee:
...It takes me forever and a day and sometimes I just give up and move on to another website.Is there anyone else out there who is having problems?

Hi Terri, I had similar problems - it seems to only effect Netscape Navigator users? Are you?

Joe suggested that I dowloaded an excellent browser called 'Opera' www.opera.com its excellent ans make useing CruiseTalk so much quicker. I have still retained Netscape which I sometimes use for other web site.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Terri Lee
First Class Passenger
Member # 942

posted 07-21-2001 03:27 PM

Hi Malcolm.......

Yes,I am on Netscape Navigator.So I will see what I can do with the "Opera" browser.
Thanks for the tip.

Terri

Posts: 292 | From: Burlington Ontario Canada | Registered: Dec 1999 | IP: Logged

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