Iamcruzin

I'm not surprised. The last time we at in traditional was 2006. It was about the time they had introduced anytime dining and the main dining room in traditional was 1/2 empty every night. On some nights our table mates went to anytime dining. It was a new concept and I guess passenger didn't understand that you didn't have a choice between both dining types just because you booked traditional.

Does Princess still offer the $1 deposit promotion? If so what time of the year do they offer it?

Honestly I find the same experience on land as well. I have had steak at Morton's and at Longhorn steakhouse and for the price I didn't notice a great deal of difference. Morton's is more presentation and atmosphere. The same applies to cruise ships. I would rather go 3 times to Longhorn than 1 time to Morton's. When they forced you to dress on formal night we would go to the specialty restaurants. It was less expensive than buying 2 new cocktail dresses and more shoes that required us to pay for an extra bag on the airlines.

Some would book an inside and hope to get a seat in the Sanctuary. It was a big saving for anyone sailing solo.

Too me the Sanctuary was a waste of space on the ships and the retreat was just another money grab. It was impossible to book even arriving early and all week long it sat empty. Sanctuary class system or not, I will never be able to get a lounge there because I would never book that class. Celebrity and Royal Caribbean offer a better Adult Sanctuary experiences for free and without needing a reservation.

This is a very logical and well thought out statement. The smaller ships won't be around forever and they are needed to service particular markets.

I'm from NY. If I wanted to go to Central Park it was there. Now that I live in Florida I'm 2 hours from the big theme parks. I won't go on anything bigger than a Quantum Class ship. The bigger the ship the longer it takes to get from one end to the other and it's just more pay for venues and shops. We don't even shop at the malls on land anymore. A perfect day a Coco Cay is great if you are traveling with a family but as empty nesters we need more adventure than a pool day in an over priced Cabana

I hate those monstrosity of the sea ships. Would be very excited for a smaller class ship that can fit into smaller ports.

No. Tuperware makes a microwave rice cooker. Many hotels have microwaves.

I agree. None of these mass market cruise line benefits entice me. I'll get there when I get there and if I never do that's ok too. I just enjoy the journey and don't stress over laundry.

I don't understand paying extra money by booking solo in a suite just for some well brand liquor and free laundry. If that's how you travel and you want to actually go on the cruise than it's no big deal but if you do it just for elite status it would be less expensive to pay for better booze and paying for laundry that will come back faster if you pay for it than by sending it out elite. There really isn't any value being elite. It's a marketing game to make you feel special and bring you back to spend more money.

Just about every mainstream cruise line offers a love seat and cocktail table in every category room including interiors without having to book guarantee. I never sailed Princess for the accommodations as they are the worst of all of the lines. I wonder if you can book with a fictional third person and then just cancel the 3rd person?

I am aware of how the tip pool works for the people behind the scenes as well as those who you see. They started that back when they started anytime dining around 2006. The 18% at the restaurant is new. Those people were originally part of the tip pool and if you gave them any extra in cash they got to keep that. The bartenders were never part of the tip pool and an 18% gratuity was always added to the drink order. If you tipped additional in cash they got to keep that and it didn't go into the tip pool. If now everyone is in the tip pool including the restaurant staff and the bar tenders than it doesn't seem fair that bar tenders and the restaurant staff are taking money from the tip pool as well as getting additional. That would leave less money for the dining room staff and the room stewards as well as the behind the scene staff.

I was under the impression that the bar staff were not part of the same pool as the room stewards and the wait staff at the meal venues. Maybe that has changed but they were always separate from the other group.

So this is in addition to the daily gratuity fee that you pay when you book and they all share this as well? Sounds like double dipping from Princess.