Princess fails FOD

I was on the Sea Princess Caribbean 2-week cruise last month (3/17-21/09) and was very disappointed with the hospitality offered to gay passengers. Although 'Friends of Bill' meetings were held every day in a lounge where the bar was closed at the time, only 2 FOD meetings were scheduled, in both cases at 4:30pm in a bar (on an open deck adjacent to whirlpools and deck chairs) which was open and in which there were about 30-40 straight couples at the time. In both cases the announcement in the ship's newsheet indicated that cruise director staff would be present to 'effect introductions'. I went to both 'meetings' and what transpired was the same at both. A smattering of gay men (thank you gaydar!) wandered about among the 30 or so het couples. Cruise director staff showed up, stood at the bar chatting with the bartender and then left (once after 15 mi, and once after 5 min). Pathetic. No attempt to create a meeting. Having the 'meeting' in an otherwise occupied space is stupid and, not surprisingly, ended up with no one meeting anyone. Very unlike other lines I have cruised on where the meeting was held in a bar at a time when bar service was unavailable, and where, if staff were promised, they showed up and did what they were supposed to do. If there were no crew it was still clear enough that everyone there was there for the meeting. I would rather have no FOD meetings than have a half-hearted, go-through-the-motions approach. So much for Princess, back to the other lines where they have actively facilitated gay pax meeting each other! I have written both to Princess and to Carnival Corp to complain.

It was just one CD and staff try another time it will be different

I have to say I'm stunned at this news. Princess usually does remarkably well for FODs. I have to admit the Crown Princess in January was a bit lacking but I was the only one who showed up. One time there was a lesbian who showed up as well so it did fizzle. The cruise before mine I was told there were a ton of GLB onboard. I would give Princess another try. :)

I have written both to Princess and to Carnival Corp to complain.

ILUVMTL,

While I understand your frustration, at any time did you express it to the Cruise Staff? Did YOU personally ask for the FOD get-together or did you notice it published in the Princess Patter and decide to attend?

As gay men, sometimes we need to assert ourselves a little more and "make it happen." On my last Princess Cruise, my partner and I also noticed that the FOD get-together was scheduled at the bar nearest the aft swimming pool. Like you, we noticed "A smattering of gay men ... among the 30 or so het couples." The cruise staff was ALSO talking with the bartender. Was it effective? No, not really. To be honest, it sucked - and it was VERY unlike Princess I might add. So I let the Cruise Director know it.

On the same paper provided to us in our stateroom, I wrote to the Cruise Director to express my disatisfaction with the piss porr job they had done. But, see, my concern was brought to Princess's attention DURING my cruise rather than letting it simmer and bringing it home to let it boil over in a letter. Part of the reason I was annoyed was that my partner and I were the ones that had asked for the get-together in the first place - first thing on our "to do" list. So I had some investment in it's turn out. What later happened is this:

1. The next FOD get-together was held at the Wheelhouse bar (privately)

2. More people "magically" appeared

3. The Cruise Staff member was changed to a woman :)

4. She brought with her 2 bottles of champagne and many apologies

The Cruise Staff member stayed for about 15 minutes and said, "Well, looks like you boys can handle it from here ... enjoy the extra bottle of champagne," and offered her apologies once more. THAT is what I am used to and THAT made my cruise that much more special. Does it only happen to gay men? No - I'm sure there are oversights with other groups onboard. But if we don't speak up when it's happening or take action to make it better for ourselves, we can't expect others to read our minds or have it get better on it's own. Just my 2 cents.

-David

PS - Should you ever have any type of serious problem onboard, make sure the Purser's Desk is made aware of the situation. They literally record it in the ship's log which gets forwarded to Princess headquarters in Santa Clarita, CA. If you find yourself writing a letter (complaint or otherwise) to Passenger Relations, the first thing they do is pull up the ship's log to see if it matches your complaint. If it doesn't, be prepared for a luke warm (but sympathetic) response. If it does match, it corroborates your claim and your response may be much different. Of course, they also appreciate positive letters as well. ;)

We were on Crown Princess last week and had a similar experience. The first Patter we recieved had no FOD listed. I called the Purser's desk and within a few minutes was assured that we would have one for the rest of the cruise. Sure enough, the next Patter had a hosted "LGBT get together". This meeting was well attended and had a nice mix of men and women. Our "Host" was a lovely young woman who brought champagne for all of us and stayed for a good amount of time. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

Next day, however, there was no meeting again so we called back. After that, there was an unhosted meeting each day. I didn't mind them being unhosted too much since most of us had met on the first day, but the last meeting was at 7:30 in Crooner's and it was so crowded (with other people) that we had to move somewhere else.

The bottom line is don't hesitate to ask for a meeting if you don't see one the first day!

The time of year has more to do with your problems than anything else.

This month, right after the Easter Break is over, a great many groups and weddings are appearing on the mass market ships. These groups and wedding parties are charged quite a bit of money to hold their requested/required meetings in many of the ship's public spaces. This puts the ship in a tight spot as there are very few slots available for the "regular" activities like Bingo, trivia games, Friends of Bill W., Service Club Meetings, Religious Services. FOD, etc.

This week my ship has 13 weddings, receptions, and Wedding Dinners; 15 Groups, each numbering between 35 and 250 - all demanding meeting spaces (and willing to pay for them), and one high school band that was promised that they can take over our theatre for most of the cruise to practice and perform. Unfortunately, all too often our corporate office doesn't consult the ship before they promise these things.

The result is a serious shortage of space for activities generally, and your meetings specifically. The best indicator of that problem on your cruise is the fact that they held the Bill W meeting in a bar. That would never happen unless there was absolutely no other place to have it. I'm sure they received plenty of complaints over that one as well.

The bottom line is don't hesitate to ask for a meeting if you don't see one the first day!

Absolutely.

We have been on 9 Princess cruises and have always been accomodated.

When we were on The Grand Princess last there were 5 hosted FOD meetings on a 7 day cruise with crew and champagne present at all without asking.

Mike:)

We were on Crown Princess last week and had a similar experience. The first Patter we recieved had no FOD listed. I called the Purser's desk and within a few minutes was assured that we would have one for the rest of the cruise. Sure enough, the next Patter had a hosted "LGBT get together". This meeting was well attended and had a nice mix of men and women. Our "Host" was a lovely young woman who brought champagne for all of us and stayed for a good amount of time. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.

 

Next day, however, there was no meeting again so we called back. After that, there was an unhosted meeting each day. I didn't mind them being unhosted too much since most of us had met on the first day, but the last meeting was at 7:30 in Crooner's and it was so crowded (with other people) that we had to move somewhere else.

 

The bottom line is don't hesitate to ask for a meeting if you don't see one the first day!

I am getting ready to go on the CROWN 4/26/09 FLL - Lisbon, did you get the name of the Cruise Director? I intend on asking for a GLBT meeting place, and not the pool area. If anyone from Princess is reading this board, please get the word out to the ship. razguiy, if you remember, please respond this this request.

Thank You.

As I posted in the FOD thread, on our last cruise on the Sapphire Princess, we had a hosted "meeting" everyday complete with Champagne. It probably helped that one of the ACD's was gay and the other one was his, pardon the expression, hag. They were both very fun and it was enjoyable seeing them at other activities throughout the week. We'd always get a warm welcome and a handshake and a "see you this evening". It probably helped that we always met in the Wake View Bar, which is out of the way, but there would be a bartender in attendance and we'd spend about 45 minutes shooting the breeze about what we did that day and then we'd be on our way to the evening's dinner and activities. 'Twas much fun...

To the OP, you were on the Sea Princess which is marketed mostly to the British, but I don't know if that had anything to do with your lukewarm experience.

It was interesting to hear how FOD experiences are so different on the various Princess ships.

I just wanted to clarify that I did not request that an FOD meeting be held. I simply went along to see who might be there. I could have complained after the first non meeting. I didn't as I was really on the cruise simply to have some respite from the Montreal winter, not to meet people. I am hardly shy and retiring. If I had met other family that would have been a bonus. I posted here and wrote, after the fact, to Princess because my perception was that Princess' approach was inadequate and patronizing. If you want to be known as gay-friendly then you do things properly, not in a half-assed fashion.

As an aside, although I knew that the Sea Princess attracted a heavily British clientele, I was still surprised to learn that 1900 of the 1950 pax were Brits, virtually all middle-aged and late middle-aged het couples. Nothing against Brits but the homogeneity of the pax made this the most boring group of pax I have ever sailed with! The weather was excellent, the ports were fine, my cabin was great, and the crew were wondeful. You can't have everything! LOL

I am getting ready to go on the CROWN 4/26/09 FLL - Lisbon, did you get the name of the Cruise Director? I intend on asking for a GLBT meeting place, and not the pool area. If anyone from Princess is reading this board, please get the word out to the ship. razguiy, if you remember, please respond this this request.

 

Thank You.

Hi,

Our cruise director was Ron Goodman.

Thank you for the name.

I will post something to this board when I return. Hopefully it will have been taken care of by a reader from Princess. I am told that all the cruise lines have personnel whose job it is to read these posts and submit suggestions on how to correct them. I agree with the one writer, it is better to complain while on board, and have it documented. My aim is not to have a heated discussion on a meeting time and suitable place, but, I feel my money is just as green as Bill W.'s money, if not more so, and goes for the paying customers in the casino, bingo players, spa users, drinkers, shoppers, etc.