Cruise Talk: a few cut backs onboard Princess

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Topic: a few cut backs onboard Princess

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 01-30-2009 07:16 PM

I'm just back from the annual winter cruise, and this year saw me back with Princess on a 10 day circuit, again aboard Emerald Princess. Since last January a few things have changed, cut backs in reality. There is no longer the variety of juices in the morning, either in the dining room or in the lido buffet area. No cranberry at all without an extra charge, no mixed citrus, just plain prepackaged orange juice. At other meals, just ice tea and lemonade, the juice options are gone there too. The "always available" choices in the dining room at dinner no longer include strip loin steak-now replaced with a cheaper cut of beef. The broiled chicken is also gone. There is a real push for purchased bottled water at dinner, but tap water is available if asked for. I also heard that there is one less guest entertainer per 10 day cruise than last year.
On the plus side, they now have a "pub" lunch on sea days in the Wheelhouse bar, which is a huge success and also very good. The behind the scenes tour also is a sell out, with many people out of luck as it fills up fast; I boarded about 3pm, and the list was already over 200. Only 36 spots existed!!
Still a very good trip, got way more than my monies worth. Odd mix of passengers-985 Canadians, 820 Brits, about 200 others nationalities plus 1050 Americans. Total passenger count was 3097. There was a huge interest from almost everyone over the Presidential swearing in which was very nice to see-it made the Americans very proud the hear the applause from the non Americans. Even the Italian Captain made significant mention of the event. And, a very chatty Captain as well. He always walked the decks and spoke to passengers at length, gave excellent PAs regarding departures and upcoming navigation, and gave extended whistle saulutes to both Princess and competing company vessels.
I'll be back, just when is the question!!
Grant

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

sunviking82
First Class Passenger
Member # 4930

posted 02-02-2009 09:30 AM

Welcome back ! While it is a shame the juices have been scaled back, lemonade is now available free of charge all the time in the HC. This was something Princess offered prior to the Grand Class and I am happy it is back. Also, the complementry appitizers before dinner in all lounges is new as well. Not sure the Emerald is offering them yet.

We are sailing the Med for the first time in May so looking forward to the Pub Lunch and the Lemonade!

Posts: 383 | From: Minneapolis Minnesota , USA | Registered: Aug 2004 | IP: Logged

jff1
First Class Passenger
Member # 5530

posted 02-20-2009 10:17 AM

Thanks for the info .... we will be returning to Princess for a Panama Canal cruise next month and I have been trying to get info on what has changed since I last cruised on a Princess ship (about 4 years now). At least the change with the juices will not be a major thing for us -- just hope it is not indication of more changes coming.

Posts: 30 | From: DFW - Texas | Registered: Mar 2005 | IP: Logged

Atlantic
First Class Passenger
Member # 20971

posted 02-20-2009 05:32 PM

Certain cutbacks could also be seen aboard the Carnival Splendor last December. At dinner, I never saw the usual Chateaubrian (?) cut, or the Beef Wellington - although they still have the lobster on formal night.

I was told by one of the officers that they had eliminated the classic Midnight Gala Buffet since last November. What a shame!

Fountain drink card prices went up since the previous time.

[ 02-20-2009: Message edited by: Atlantic ]

Posts: 65 | From: Pinecrest, Fl | Registered: Feb 2009 | IP: Logged

deck chair
First Class Passenger
Member # 3249

posted 02-21-2009 10:12 AM

I've been sailing on ships since I was six years old. since the bean counters have taken control, the shipboard experience has been diluted and diminished to save money and fill up the huge ugly ships. Yes, i understand that fares are low as well but to what effect? It is getting to the point that a cut here and a cut there very soon you will be sailing on a motel six. Too bad.

Posts: 20 | From: Baltimore | Registered: Aug 2002 | IP: Logged

Ernst
First Class Passenger
Member # 5369

posted 02-21-2009 10:23 AM

quote:
Originally posted by deck chair:
I've been sailing on ships since I was six years old. since the bean counters have taken control, the shipboard experience has been diluted and diminished to save money and fill up the huge ugly ships. Yes, i understand that fares are low as well but to what effect? It is getting to the point that a cut here and a cut there very soon you will be sailing on a motel six. Too bad.

There is nothing wrong with that since there are still some very nice ships around - they are usually more expensive like more sophisticated hotels are more expensive than 'Motel 6'. The mainstream segment of the cruise industry today has not existed some decades ago but this does not mean that there aren't any decent ships around anymore - one just must not compare the 'typical' cruise of today to the 'typical cruise' of some decades.

Posts: 9746 | From: Eindhoven | Registered: Jan 2005 | IP: Logged

Frosty 4
First Class Passenger
Member # 5826

posted 02-22-2009 10:29 AM

I can remember when you could get a fountain type Coke/Pepsi free at dinner. Not a can. They would refill it as well.I don't drink coffee or tea,so water fits the bill now. We are not wine drinkers,but our TA would always provide a gift bottle on every cruise. However when they started charging a corking fee$15.00 even though the wine was from their stock we had them send it to our cabin where we would drink it at our leisure. On our last cruise the couple adjacent to our table had wine every night and they commented their tab was $550. I wonder how inflated the price was??(7 day cruise)
I'm not sure how much the unlimited soft drink card is now but one would literally have to drink a lot to be worth while. I heard it's $40 now/wk.
I see some of the upper class type cruise lines include everything even shore excursions. Prices are not stated in their brochures . I would imagine they are pricey but with every thing included it might be worth a look see.
Frosty 4

Posts: 2531 | From: Illinois | Registered: Jul 2005 | IP: Logged

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