Happy Hour

I would be very disappointed in Princess if they eliminated happy hour fleet wide. That's something my wife and I enjoyed in the afternoon from 3 to 4 PM. I know many of us from our roll call for the March 10th cruise on the Ruby Princess are hoping it's not true.

 

Cheers - Ken & Darlene

The Happy Hour was gone last week on Ruby on our 5-day cruise to Cabo...

Eliminating happy hour is a bad financial move on their part.

1. Happy hour lubricates the wallet and promotes spending (this is why drinks are free in land based casinos.

2. Once they get you to the happy hour and drinking, more likely than not the drinking will continue through the night and maybe even more gambling when happy hour is over thus making them more money.

3. Elimination will increase liquor smuggling, so a total loss of drink revenue there.

Maybe their logic that if the get rid of happy hour, they will sell more beverage packages, but that won't happen; big drinkers already buy it or smuggle it on board. Light drinkers who only have one or two, may just not drink or bring a bunch of liquor minis back onboard at their first port and be set.

I think it's just bad business to end all these nice little things that makes a cruise a cruise that long time customers expect.

I would rather they increase the price of their cruise than eliminate niceties that their customers expect.

I don't like the downsizing of products in grocery store and I don't like it here!

I've been cruising on princess only a little over a year and I've seen....

1. Steak in MDR go to a hamburger.....nice option on formal night NOT.

1. Almost lost ability to pre order water.

2. Reduction of all inclusive beverage package by reducing 40% discount on wine to 25.

3. Stopped allowing coffee card for gelato and added expiration date.

4. Happy hour

And many more in just the past couple years.

Add to this list, I'm sure I forgotten some.

We booked a b2b on the Regal from Apr 01-15 a few weeks from now. These bookings were a borderline decision for us. We have really enjoyed our time at Crooner's for the 3-4PM happy hour in the past having drinks with old and new friends.

I don't think we would have booked if we had known about the cancellation - we might have went for some all-inclusive instead or chosen some later cruise on another line in the fall with a stay in Italy before the cruise. No doubt this will influence our Princess cruise bookings in the Caribbean in the future.

I think that cancelling an obviously popular event like happy hour could easily backfire in numerous ways. Time to reduce the Princess pricing power, I think.

Just got off the phone with their consumer relations department and they did confirm that it is being phased out. The rep did say that if enough people call in and complain that they may reconsider. I asked if many had called in about it already and she said no. Everyone needs to give them a call.

Just got off the phone with their consumer relations department and they did confirm that it is being phased out. The rep did say that if enough people call in and complain that they may reconsider. I asked if many had called in about it already and she said no. Everyone needs to give them a call.

Rather than calling simply send an email to: customerrelations@princesscruises.com

They do read all the email that goes to that address.

Rather than calling simply send an email to: customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

They do read all the email that goes to that address.

Good idea! I am on it!

I hope they don't take away the wine allowance you can bring onboard at embarkation, too! I do have the beverage package in 2 out of the 3 Princess cruises I have booked. I was hoping to just bring my own wine on for that third one and pay the corkage.

Rather than calling simply send an email to: customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

They do read all the email that goes to that address.

Do they actually respond to questions sent to this email address?

I sent an email with questions more than 10 day ago. I got an auto response so I know it was received but no other response yet.

When did Princess actually implement the BOGO Happy Hour? The first I remember seeing it was on a Pacific Coastal in 2015. Prior to that, I recall a few specific drinks being around $4.00 at Happy Hour. And 3:00-4:00 PM was always an odd time for us, unless it was a sea day, we were often still in port. On our ten day cruise on the Royal last year I hit the afternoon happy hour twice. So, although it was nice and I'm a little disappointed that it's being phased out, it wouldn't make or break my cruise or cause me to leave Princess. Do other lines have a similar Happy Hour?

Just called Princess customer relations so I could politely register our displeasure with the cancellation of happiness in the afternoon at Crooners.

Rather than calling simply send an email to: customerrelations@princesscruises.com

 

They do read all the email that goes to that address.

Done.

I just did my part and sent an email to them. I'll call them as well.

We use to rush back to be onboard by 3:00-3:30 to take advantage of the happy hour. I guess now we can stay at the beach an hour longer and have our own happy hour before going back to the ship.

I've been cruising on princess only a little over a year and I've seen....

1. Steak in MDR go to a hamburger.....nice option on formal night NOT.

1. Almost lost ability to pre order water.

2. Reduction of all inclusive beverage package by reducing 40% discount on wine to 25.

3. Stopped allowing coffee card for gelato and added expiration date.

4. Happy hour

And many more in just the past couple years.

Add to this list, I'm sure I forgotten some.

- There were a number of complaints about the new balcony furniture.

- They tried to charge for Alfredo's (on the ships that have it). That was quickly rolled back.

- There were a number of complaints about the new balcony furniture.

- They tried to charge for Alfredo's (on the ships that have it). That was quickly rolled back.

Hi Jerry,

Tell me more, when did they try try turning Alfredo's into specialty dining?

How did the furniture change?

Hi Jerry,

 

Tell me more, when did they try try turning Alfredo's into specialty dining?

 

How did the furniture change?

They implemented a $10 fee for Alfredo’s Pizzeria on the Regal’s inaugural cruise without any advance notice. That included a drink (soda, beer or wine) but the outcry was so great the change was quickly rescinded. They stated it was changed because there was no advance notice but since it hasn’t been reintroduced I think it was a result of upset passengers. That was done over Memorial Day weekend but so many passengers complained it was removed after 3 days.

The balcony furniture was changed but it’s still uncomfortable for me so I sit on folded towels.

Rather than calling simply send an email to: customerrelations@princesscruises.com They do read all the email that goes to that address.

Done. I suggested that they should at least match (or better) HAL's buy one get one for $2 policy.

Do they actually respond to questions sent to this email address?

I sent an email with questions more than 10 day ago. I got an auto response so I know it was received but no other response yet.

Yes. I received a very nice follow-up phone call from a Princess representative after sending email to that address.

The balcony furniture was changed but it’s still uncomfortable for me so I sit on folded towels.

Pam in CA found the new furniture so uncomfortable that she now saves money by cruising in inside cabins when sailing Regal or Royal (ships with no OV cabins). Princess used to be able to sell her a balcony cabin but the furniture is no longer usable for her so she made the switch.

Yes. I received a very nice follow-up phone call from a Princess representative after sending email to that address.

I have found that they have been calling me as well. I emailed prior to my cruise with a minor question and I even received a phone call about that!

Yes. I received a very nice follow-up phone call from a Princess representative after sending email to that address.

I have found that they have been calling me as well. I emailed prior to my cruise with a minor question and I even received a phone call about that!

Thanks for the response. I haven't received any phone calls but my phone was out of service for a few days. I'm really hoping to get a written response but I guess they don't do that.

It will be interesting to see if anyone gets a response in regards to the topic at hand. Hopefully Princess will listen to the dissatisfaction of it's cruisers and even replace the happy hour with something.

Pam in CA found the new furniture so uncomfortable that she now saves money by cruising in inside cabins when sailing Regal or Royal (ships with no OV cabins). Princess used to be able to sell her a balcony cabin but the furniture is no longer usable for her so she made the switch.

Sailing solo she also pays 200% of the cruise fare & often uses the savings to use The Sanctuary.

Due to the uncomfortable balcony furniture we’re less likely to get a balcony cabin...shouldn’t need my inflatable seat cushion that I need for a coach seat during a flight.

It will be interesting to see if anyone gets a response in regards to the topic at hand. Hopefully Princess will listen to the dissatisfaction of it's cruisers and even replace the happy hour with something.

Maybe they can replace it with unhappy hour. Come to the bar at 3pm and pay full price for all your drinks.

What a stupid thing to cut back on. It's very popular and of course people will not be happy about it. I think it's a bit too high profile of change for them to get away with quietly.

I emailed them as well. I'm getting tired of the cutbacks.

As suggested, I emailed my comments to Customer Relations this morning. The important part of their response was:

"As our onboard events and offerings are always changing, Happy Hour is in the process of being phased out across the fleet while we develop new programs and promotions for your enjoyment."

In other words, "We're taking Happy Hour away and will, maybe, someday, replace it with something else. Enjoy your lesser experience in the mean time."

As suggested, I emailed my comments to Customer Relations this morning. The important part of their response was:

 

"As our onboard events and offerings are always changing, Happy Hour is in the process of being phased out across the fleet while we develop new programs and promotions for your enjoyment."

 

In other words, "We're taking Happy Hour away and will, maybe, someday, replace it with something else. Enjoy your lesser experience in the mean time."

I also sent in my email comments about the Happy Hour removal and phase out and to boot what I thought of their Coffee Card expiration date!