yuccaman

 

When planning, don't forget the porters on the dock at your start/end ports. You can't get luggage onboard without tipping these guys.

 

YES, good catch! The "standard" I'm still seeing published is $1 per bag, but I start around $1.50 and round up- so for 3 bags I leave $5. If we are high-maintenance due to any circumstances, I go $2 per bag. Peace of mind.

Like shredie, I am confused. We still have not been told what venues were playing "elevator music" and at what hour. When the Beatles were big, Mitch Miller's Orchestra was elevator music. When Nirvana was big, the Beatles were elevator music. When Maroon 5 is big, Nirvana is elevator music. I have never been to Skywalker's after 10:30 when dance music wasn't played. Sure, it might be Kool and the Gang or the Weather Girls. But it is upbeat and the dance floor is well used. My advice to the OP would be to book a cruise on a Grand Class ship and check out Skywalker's. I find that venue to be integral to my overall enjoyment and one of the reasons why I don't favor the ships that lack that venue. I will always lean toward the ship's that have an IC, Skywalker's, Explorer's Lounge and Club Fusion. Those venues supply the perfect mix of entertainment and music that I enjoy.

Thanks for the recommendation to us young age 50-55 whippersnappers! I'm looking forward to trying one of those ships, soon. Meanwhile, I'm hanging on to the idea that more experienced Princess cruisers have given me that our 10-day Coral partial transit will be more diverse in crowd and entertainment due to it being a New Year cruise... likely to be one of the more lively trips on this known-to-be-extremely-quiet ship/itinerary.

Okay, I'm catching on, I think. OP does not mean literally that "elevator music" was playing in all the venues but is using that for a metaphor.

And it only took you until post #50. Yes, it was metaphorical not literal. That's how the term "elevator music" is used, at least in the USA. In case you are from somewhere else.

OP means that any music he/she doesn't like is automatically "elevator music." I think.

No, OP means sleep-inducing music. Again, see meaning of "elevator music" in it's colloquial sense.

So true!!! Post of the Day!!!!

 

Music from the 60's 70's and 80's is my music. I will be 55 later this month. Don't want to listen to old time music. I am in the middle of the demographics that Princess seeks. Cater to us every night in some venues please!

YES! I'm 54 :)

Bimmer09- Just caught up to, and devoured, this review! Astounding! Many thanks!

I don't think he would like Carnival. We did our first two cruises on them years ago. Not his or our style. Believe it or not, although he loves to dance, he's not a drinker/partier style guy.

Yes, please, totally agree! Not everyone who wants a little night pulse is a drunkard party boy. I like how many assume, "then go to CCL"! (And even the CCL stereotype is exaggerated- yes, there are those textbook exceptions aboard- they do exist, but my age 70's parents love CCL best for the active schedules, and they hardly drink, by the way.)

And now I'm discouraged again. *sigh*

 

Carnival - Too much of a party, not enough quality service

 

NCL - Used to be our favorite line. Quality down, nickel and dime factor up. Del Rio stinks!!!!

 

RCL - Haven't tried yet, but they seem awfully expensive for the same types of cruises. I'm toying with the idea, but not really excited with the idea.

 

Princess- Loved them if it weren't so old feeling......I was hoping it was just the Panama.....

 

Holland America - I won't even consider trying, I already know that it is the really old crowd.

 

It doesn't help that we would all like a 10 day cruise either. Ds has enough vacation time now that he can do them, and he REALLY liked the longer cruise. Between decompressing from work and gearing up to go back, 7 days just doesn't quite cut it anymore.

 

I feel lost. Surely there are cruise lines that have quality and still want a younger demographic. I had hoped Princess was that line.

Yeah, huh? You're not the only one! But this time I'm buoyed by the fact that we are going on the New Year's 10-day partial, which should be more diverse, yet not out of hand, according to all reports.

I'm likewise looking forward to the longer trip, and the relaxing ambiance, but there's nothing wrong with a little pulse at night, ideally minus the booze cruise morons... Which I think we're both on the same boat about that. (No pun intended!)

Hoping the next trip would be Alaska, and will have to assume the same Princess demographic on that trip, of course, but it comes with the territory. Even CCL runs older, quieter on those trips.

If you are looking for hip hop and rap, I'm afraid Princess is not your line.

OMG, you assume because someone requested music less than 50-60 years old, in a dance club, that they wanted hip-hop and rap? Really?

I think it was clear to the rest of us that they just wanted something more recent than Chattanooga Choo-Choo.

I agree. This personal hiring is the discretion of the steward and usually done during turnaround days. The passenger will thus be unable to see, much more give a tip, to the assistant hired by the steward.

 

 

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Yes, I was not implying that we needed to tip that guy, but implying that that's even more reason for a great steward to need a little bit extra $ at the end!

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Oh my goodness so true on your last paragraph!! I've never encountered such a vicious group of posters! Obviously there are many kind ones, but the nasty ones come out in full force.

 

 

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Good. Let them stay on that cruise line which is the subject of their feverish fetish. Then they won't be on our cruises! :p

Certain holidays being the exception.. I've heard that for New Year's (formal night) there are hats, noisemakers, etc, and probably "theme nights" for other holidays as well.

But no regularly scheduled "Western Night" or "50's Night" kind of events that I know of. These seem to be more frequent on 5 star all-inclusive lines during around the world or other long trips, to break up the "monotony" of months at sea. (Give ME some of that monotony!)

That said, the menu itself can theme a bit around the countries visited through featured appetizers and entrees, etc.

Given that there are so many hotels within literally a few blocks of the port, the $10 minimum is very reasonable, given the driver's taxi stand queue and onload/offload effort is the same for this incredibly short trip.

In the dining rooms there are assistant waiters & it's been my experience that they're primarily responsible for getting our food from the galley.

 

I haven't seen any room steward assistants except on turnaround day.

Thanks, if this is the case for stewards, it could even be extra help the steward hires that day. (Yes, this subcontracting of off-duty personnel happens all the time, although there are exceptions)

1. That is one of the reasons for the "daily service charge" . Those assisting get a portion.

2. You can always tip extra to those you see giving great service. Some may earn it and some may not. You do not have to add to all.

 

 

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Thanks but this is is very well known to me. That wasn't the question. I don't want this to become one of those inexhaustible tipping threads.

My post was simple and direct. I just wanted to know who to potentially plan for.

Does anyone have a recent photo of the Princess MDR Kid's Menu?

Do room stewards still have assistants? Do MDR waiters still have assistant waiters? Trying to figure out who we're going to have to tip a few bucks extra, if given great service.

The "always available" dining room dinner menu lately has featured a burger instead of beef medallions

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Pockets work great- never lost mine yet.

Yes, my wife and I hate lanyards (not others using them- us using them). I find them uncomfortable. But my wife does have a challenge when pocket-less. So easy to be a guy!

My point of the thread was a comparison of Princess and RCCL, I'm sorry to inconvenience you with my posts

Well, the rest of us are loving it! :cool:

DO they not have an RCCL board on Cruise Critic. Why not use that?

The board police.... :rolleyes: Everyone else seems to get it, and we are enjoying the discourse here, by the way, thank you. NO ONE is forcing you to read this thread.

DO they not have an RCCL board on Cruise Critic. Why not use that?

Did you not read the post? A Princess loyalist is trying RCL because of a large family get together, and will presumably report back. Definitely relevant to this board.

Will the Christmas/Holiday decorations still be up? Our sailing is 12/28-1/7

All mention of milkshakes was removed from the Soda & More Package description--and even the online listing of items available at the Ice Cream stands--around a year ago. But every report from the field indicates that milk shakes are still available and included in the package on all ships that originally had them (no shakes on Pacific, Royal or Regal). If and when this changes I am sure this board will erupt with the news.

Do those three ships not even have ice cream bars? :eek: I thought all had some kind of ice cream service during the day?

Of course, subject to change on holiday cruises. (We're on the 12/28)

On an upcoming cruise we wanted the same cabin for a B2B2B. Before calling our TA I looked on the Princess site so I could tell her which exact cabin I wanted.

I could find it for the first two legs but not the 3rd leg unless it was booked as a 14 day (included a later cruise, not a combination that would work for us) so I called our TA and told her what I wanted.

She told be to give her a couple of hours to talk to a contact she had at Princess who had always been very helpful.

Sure enough, she got us the same cabin for all three legs. :)

Seems getting to the right person at Princess can make things possible.

LuLu

And a good reason for using a solid T/A!