ddled

Thank you. I also believe that we must all let companies know when we are dissatisfied . The good ones will act.

OK-I am the OP and I have the end of the story-ala Paul Harvey. I sent an email to the head of Customer Relations - the address is earlier in this thread. I included this original post and a few comments about how I thought they needed to pay attention to this kind of matter. I got back an email, a text and just today a phone call from Princess. They wanted to make sure that the matter had been resolved, and that I was satisfied. As a bonus from them they are including a nice amount of on board credit. So the lesson. I guess, is that the squeaky wheel does get greased, and that it pays to bring things to their attention. I am impressed and think the situation was handled very well. Mistakes happen, but the significant part is how they are rectified. I am very pleased. Just to get ahead of any questions- Yes, we are really booked on Royal in June, no I am not some kind of bot or stand in for Princess, we are just 2 retired teachers that are cruising. I just felt I had not received the kind of service I was used to and said so.

Donald-you missed my first post? We are actually booked on a Princess Alaska cruise in June. My bank account shows it! This was not some sort of make believe event.

I know that-it was just a challenge to see if their system was what they claim. I have never had it sent, will never again, but get tired of all the promotion of the app as a time saving strategy. I arrange cruises for other people on a volunteer basis, and it helps to have some personal experience. Having said that, the irritation for their incompetence is real, and they failed the test. I sent an email to the head of their customer relations-want to bet about me getting a reply? They constantly advocate doing this through the app, says it saves time. Always like to have concrete proof about a company that I deal with.

And if it sounds like I am irritated, I am. I actually have a TA for this cruise-the only line I use one, there has been a change at the agency and I thought I would just do this little thing myself. The advice to just get this medallion at the pier is always my usual practice, but I just got stubborn and decided to challenge their publicity about how great the app is. We have used it on board, and it was great. But. what I really objected to was the attitude of the call center agent. Really get tired of people assuming that because I am 73 I am stupid and have to be talked down to. Or that I don't recognize a sales pitch, or excuses etc. I tested Princess publicity and they failed. Big surprise!

And if it sounds like I am irritated, I am.

We are on Princess in June on an Alaska cruise/land package, on Royal. The app would not, for 2 weeks at least, allow me to get my medallion sent to me. Couldn't load it said. Everything else worked. So I called Princess to get it sent before we sail so as to cut some of the embarkation time. Got some rep, and if that is indicative of their customer service, shame on them. I had to literally yell at him to stop his sale pitch to me-excursions, dinners, premium package, wifi, special occasions, and on and on. We are Platinum on Princess, and any moron can see what there is to buy on the website. The call took 40 minutes! I asked for a supervisor and he refused to connect me. We have cruised 32 times, and I have never had this kind of treatment. All I wanted was for them to send me the 2 medallions so I could have them before we sailed. When he finally got it done the delivery date is 6 weeks! He told me there must be something wrong with my phone. He said their computers were running bad. Said they were having problems with the app. I don't have any cruises booked with Princess right now-I may not do them again. Have liked their product, but when I spend thousands of dollars with them I expect a rep on the phone to do what I ask for.I realize that he probably gets a cut for any thing he sells, and their ships are full and they can do anything they want to do to us, but it does not mean I have to like it!!!

booked on board for a 100 pp deposit. When I cancelled they tried to tell me that they would have a 900 penalty because after 2 months it reverts back to regular policy. I asked them how they were going to collect that? I had only paid the 200 and final date is 2 months away Had to talk to a suprervisor to get it fixed .

When we were on Allure in January the cruise director said all Oasis Jazz on 4 were scheduled to be converted to a smokeless casino by April. I guess they have. No way can they duplicate that club atmosphere outside when the weather is bad. Acoustics and atmosphere will not come close. And I bet that within a year the jazz groups will be gone too. Anyone want to take me up on that one? The CD said there is still a jazz club on Icon. For now. I'm sure that casino will make them more money-no question about that. Another move to standardize all the customers and decrease offerings.

INTERESTING. We were on the Allure last week and there were a lot of kids on board for January. I just assumed parents taking their kids out of school. Maybe there was more to it. Didn't know about Yeshiva. Thanks

Tickets. Cruise director said April this year

Cruise Director on Allure says that no way because someone up in Royal developed the app and will not change it.

Just a further update from this cruise. Out of 39 people in this group 11 have tested positive since we got back. All drove to and from the ship. Symptoms range from very mild to the worst they have felt in their life.Most of us did not wear masks, neither did 95% of people on board-workers or guests. All of us were vaccinated, some have had Covid previously. I guess you can either say we are careless for going, or this is the new normal and it's how life will be from now on. Take your pick.

Sailed the Allure last week from Galveston. My wife and I are D+ but this was our first on an Oasis ship-wow what a difference. Was it perfect? no. but it was a lot of fun in so many ways. We are retired teachers living in a resort in south Texas. I am a travel coordinator volunteer and had 40 people on board.Some had been on Oasis class, some had not cruise at all. Generally the ship made a good impression and they had a good time. The inevitable size question came up but was in the minority. The elevators are like a microcosm of the experience. There is no way that any elevator system can take the full load at dinner, shows letting out, embarkation, or just when everyone is there. Waits to get on sometimes were 10 minutes or so. They were frequently full. But-you cannot have the attractions you have on Allure without a crowd to pay for it. Mama Mia cannot be done with its 30 or so cast, without a big ship to support it. You will know there are people on with you. If that bothers you do not pick this class. When we sailed last week a ships officer said that we were at 5700-double occupancy capacity. In January. No holiday. Not spring break. Just normal. Embarkation, Debarkation-went like a dream.The new terminal in Galveston worked like a dream. No. lines no delays, no problems. We did something different this time. We ate lunch before boarding at a new seafood restaurant in Galveston called Katies. If you want fresh seafood, this is the place. They have their own fleet, and know what to do with it. I kind of liked not having to hunt up lunch on board-I know I paid for it, but seafood that good is worth it. Luggage was in room by 3, Ship left on time, no problems at all Service and training. We were a group of grouchy old people sometimes hard to please. I did not hear any complaints about any service-many compliments. Hats off to the training- it shows. Food- we ate in Chops, Park 150, and Giovannis. Had most dinners in MDR. 3 Breakfasts in MDR. Some in Windjammer. Food was consistently good, fresh and well served. Of course the speciality restaurants are better-its what we paid for. The menu in the dining room is smaller than I remember. They do repeat some of the items each night-shrimp cocktail most nights for example. I always found a couple of things to order, and was pleased with the entire food service. I am, admittedly a little like Mikey and eat most everything, but most nights most people liked the choices. I would not want to see it go down any more though. Taste of Royal was superb. Did not try all the food venues-too many for that. Sorrentos pizza was nice at midnight. Breakfast in Solarium was packed. Had the only omelet station onboard. Only eggs Benedict was in dining room. Windjammers was small, always found a table though. Park Cafe had a nice assortment of Breakfast and lunch items and was much less crowded. Hot dogs at the Doghouse were very good. Wine list was adequate, cocktails were well done. The diamond system loaded on your Sailpass card works like a charm-we are not big drinkers and the best we did in a day was 7/8 available to us.Didnt need the drink package. Entertainment- this is what we went for and were not disappointed . Mama Mia, the Aqua Show, and The Ice show were fantastic. Thats why you wait for elevators-great. The talents at all the shows was over the top-best I have seen on a ship. One hint-reserve the shows at the pool and the ice rink early in the cruise. They had to cancel some of both due to seas that while they were not that high, featured unpredictable waves that stopped the show. They rescheduled -thats why you want to get them early. The 2 comedians were about average- they do a g rated show in theater first night then adult the rest of the week in Comedy club. Luke warm reviews. The headliner was very good. Singer named Clint ..... The Jazz club featured a fantastic quartet and visits by several members of the orchestra and the headliner for a jam session usually in their last set Royal in their infinite wisdom is closing the jazz clubs and replacing them with smokeless casino. The band for now will play at other venues on board including the Promenade which is totally unfit for serious music. Noisy, traffic, bad acoustics. No dance floor. I have a separate thread on here about this if you want to discuss it. Too bad. The house band was Wanderlust-very good at what they did-mostly top hits. Dazzles is a strange place. The way it is set up half the chairs face away from the band. A band is too loud to talk over, but it is a. pretty place for sure. The floor is glass, not suitable for any serious dancing. Flame me if you want, but the only glaring mistake in entertainment is that there is no country band on board. They had one the first month and it was taken away according to the cruise director. He says he asks for it back in his weekly report but no result. Wonder has one! There were probably 3000 Texans on board-someone in Miami needs to talk to the guests and the cruse director. Royal is way too top down on this one. There are 31 musicians on board. They were all great . No classical music either . Rosario Strings gone. The Schooner Bar was packed-he was very good. Bow and Stern guitarist was good, Boleros had a very good latin band. All in all, what is on the ship is first rate. If they leave it its ok. If they start cutting it will sail without me-not that they care. I am 71 and not the market Royal is aiming at. Ports- Roatan was fine-good beaches, small pier area, Costa Maya-did the bird Aviary this time. Only 14.00 Maybe best value on the trip. Lots of colorful birds and it is over the dolphin tanks so you can see everything there too. Cozumel-rained all day, not fun for anyone. Never planned to get off, been there done that. Snorkeling is good, Mayan ruins not big-go in Costa Maya or something. Shopping is good I hear. Misc. All in all it was a very good cruise. So good that we booked a 14 day on Symphony TA in October. You cannot do everything on an Oasis class in 7 days. If you really like small ships-this is probably not your pick. But there was a lot to do and it was really fun. Covid was on board-We have had 8 positives in the first 24 hours back. Not many masks being worn, so be aware. Never mentioned of course on board. We did have to turn around the first night to get within helo range from Galveston for an air evacuation. 3 ambulances met us in ports. Not all that unusual. Price for a balcony was good, no complaints there. All in all I was not ready to leave.

To answer the occupancy question we were in Theater waiting for Mama Mia to start and there was a ships officer-hotel side I think-4 stripe it looked like and I asked her. Not enough families using triple occupancy to boost it to technical full. level. Sometimes Guest Services will tell you. Sometimes CD will tell. I really feel that Royal is trying to force or attract only people that all do the same few things-no room for different desires. Even if you do not like Country you have to admit that there is at least a few people in Texas that do. Jazz lovers are a lot smaller group, dancing is gone-no floors. We had a group of 250 polka dancers on board. No floor so they floored over the ice rink for them. Condensation makes it impossible to slide your feet, and it does not work. Floor in Dazzles is glass-pretty, but no slide. Boleros has some type of tile stuff. Dance floors are made of wood. Period. That is for real dancing-not just standing and twitching. Hasn't been part of Royal for a long time. Why we do Princess when we want to dance-ballroom, country, Latin, etc. But I digress.