Ride-The-Waves

The horror of it all! Abandon ship!

Chair Hogs, a breed, are a menace to humanity. But I don't care... I'm sun sensitive and don't use pool deck chairs.

Nope. It's all "marketing." The activity of taking something from you with slight of hand costing more than you understand. Its the new Princess way of vacationing.

So it's "stiff" the working staff if the policies are "wrong?"

We all need to remember that MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company) operates at a different level than CCL and RCCL since it is privately, owned, and has the underpinnings of global commercial shipping as backbone. To place a hit on HAL for how it operates is unbecoming. HAL does a great job providing excellent cruise ships for its market. My first experience with HAL was as a youngster crossing the Atlantic in 1949. Today's mass market ships, and I include Princess in that category, cannot provide the same high level of experience we had in the 1950s on the Atlantic. I have sailed on many ships and many lines, to include Oceania and Azamara. Oceania was not up to their marketing. They do not have the "finest cuisine at sea" by any stretch of the imagination. Neither do any of the mega-ships and I include Princess' Royal class in that category. Have plans to return to "yesteryear" and cross the Pond this year on Zuiderdam, Adventure of the Seas, and Caribbean Princess. While not classic ships (with the exception of Zuiderdam) they are not part of the stomach-turning new breed of mega-ships. Oh, and I also have 30 years experience in the USN...

Last time we parked at Park N Go we returned to a flooded car. It finally started and we limped home, but the vehicle was delayed a total loss by insurance. They were helpful in getting the car started, but after that we were on our own. Rain water reached over the door sills on the SUV. No follow up from Park N Go. We only used them since Park N Fly sold their lot.

We should remember that crew gratuities make up a significant aspect of their compensation. If the rate is increased it really helps those who need the funds. To cruisers an increase of a dollar/day is trivial.

This is the standard RCCL tactic: extremely high prices for cabin and food until the newness wears off. Edge was almost unaffordable, 2 to 3 times other Celebrity ships, first couple of years until same class follow-ons started sailing. Icon prices will come down similarly. Agree with poster regarding size. The new behemoths are not for us: too big, too crowded and too impersonal.

Recently back to CONUS from a TA on Odyssey. Lost 10 pounds! Not trying to, but that was the result, Never ate in the MDR - have avoided MDRs for years. Too noisy with bad service. Ate two meals/day: a late breakfast in the buffet and early evening meal in a specialty restaurant Italian was great, Chops horrible with a very poor quality filet. Late in the cruise we discovered the Solarium Bistro and the ability to order a filet: excellent, as were the deserts. 😀

My wallet is RFID protected. The Medallion is NOT!

And we all need to remember that the "Medallion" system is a copy of what Disney uses at its theme parks and works well for land-based operations. Princess has tens of millions of dollars invested in its Medallion system fostered by Padgett and has yet shown any kind of positive return on investment. In addition to most passengers hating it, it has failed to sell more drinks or merchandise on board. Adding the ability to use it ashore for the horrendous premium of 18 percent only exacerbates its uselessness to passengers. Its past time to send the Medallion system into the dustbin of history of solutions seeking a problem and bring back the key card which so easy to use and carry, and also send Padgett to that dustbin.

Dressing up in a tux was required for dinner on ocean liners in the 30s, late 40s and early 50s. First class only. Second class and 3rd classes had no dress requirements. I crossed the Atlantic several times, first on 1949 and again 5 times in the early 1950s. Didn't start flying until 1962

It always amazes me that cruise lines (and others) believe the public to be just a bunch of dumb and stupid olafs. If you are raising prices, make it clear and explain the reasons. Don't try to obfuscate why. Cruisers are already frustrated over price increases and more frustrated over cruise line company incompetence. Be forthright. We, the cruising public, are not idiots!

Once on a flight between TPA and JFK to connect with a trans-Atlantic for a European cruise... Flight attendant announced the need for four people to disembark due to aircraft (DC-9) being overweight. Four people eventually accept ed the compensation (flight plus $$). Flight attendant thanked them and then said the aircraft could fly with the tail wind down the runway!!! I immediately wanted to disembark... But we made it to JFK in time to board the trans-Atlantic flight.

"Earned?" Hardly. It's just paying the monies out to get the points. Why denigrate this poster? Its RCI's fault they don't have the space for "pins" and those in suites.