What happened to the Bars on Sky Princess

I was just looking at the deck plans for the Sky Princess. There are not very many places to get a drink before & after dinner. I saw a large Bar called the Casino Bar and the Crown Grill Bar. If Crown Grill Bar is the size of the Wheel House bars on Regal & Royal it is very small. It is in the same location as on the other 2 ships. The other places were Vines Wine Bar, the Piazza Bar that is it. Vines is for wine which is ok for me, but DH doesn't drink wine. We don't care for the Piazza Bar not a quite place to enjoy a drink before or after dinner. We would really miss not having a place to enjoy this time. One of our favorite things to do on a cruise is to enjoy a few drinks before dinner in Crooners or Wheel House. The bar beside the Casino would have to be loud. I believe this is also being called a Sports Bar.

It's not a complete deal breaker, but not sure we would book this ship. It really looks like they have really cut down on the public space. The really nice covered bar area on the back of the Lido deck on Regal & Royal seems to be gone. We loved that area because it is covered and I can't be in the sun for medical reasons. I know anytime a new ship comes out people start saying they are not going to like it. My concern is it really seems like they have cut down on public space. For us unless this ship is going somewhere we really want to see, it don't think I will be booking it anytime soon. Just my thoughts.

I agree, I did not do an exhaustive comparison, but Sky looks like Majestic - I wonder if she is aimed at a different market. We also like Crooners and Wheelhouse for a drink before or after dinner.

I agree, I did not do an exhaustive comparison, but Sky looks like Majestic - I wonder if she is aimed at a different market. We also like Crooners and Wheelhouse for a drink before or after dinner.

Majestic is coming to Australia soon, the Aussies are already complaining there are not enough drinking places. Sky Princess would probably be the same. Both ships designed and built for the 'Asian Market?' Perhaps the Asian pax are not 'bar flies." :hearteyes::rolleyes:

I see Vines, Piazza Bar, a large bar by the Casino, the Crown Grill Bar, the Vista Lounge bar, the Seaview Bar, and one just labeled Bar near the Retreat Pool. I may be missing some but that is a total of 7. Emerald has a total of 16. Trust me, I visited them all on a 28 day cruise with the free beverage package.:o From 16 t0 7 is a major change to be sure. Of course they have added the "super hooptie wow wow French Bistro". Bleh. I really don't find much interest in sailing the new builds.

Edit: OK. I missed Bellini's. Wowie Zowie. 8 venues. No Explorer's. No Wheelhouse. No thank you.

I see Vines, Piazza Bar, a large bar by the Casino, the Crown Grill Bar, the Vista Lounge bar, the Seaview Bar, and one just labeled Bar near the Retreat Pool. I may be missing some but that is a total of 7. Emerald has a total of 16. Trust me, I visited them all on a 28 day cruise with the free beverage package.:o From 16 t0 7 is a major change to be sure. Of course they have added the "super hooptie wow wow French Bistro". Bleh. I really don't find much interest in sailing the new builds.

 

Edit: OK. I missed Bellini's. Wowie Zowie. 8 venues. No Explorer's. No Wheelhouse. No thank you.

It’s kind of surprising, isn’t it?! Not only is Crooner’s gone but they really have done away with the bars. I enjoy live music and being at the nighttime venues. I don’t usually go to the outside bar at night so it’s sure doesn’t leave many choices. And in all my Regal sailings I have never really seen anyone go to the Bellini bar! Unless you are gambling or don’t mind smoke, who is hanging around the casino bar?!

I see Vines, Piazza Bar, a large bar by the Casino, the Crown Grill Bar, the Vista Lounge bar, the Seaview Bar, and one just labeled Bar near the Retreat Pool. I may be missing some but that is a total of 7. Emerald has a total of 16. Trust me, I visited them all on a 28 day cruise with the free beverage package.:o From 16 t0 7 is a major change to be sure. Of course they have added the "super hooptie wow wow French Bistro". Bleh. I really don't find much interest in sailing the new builds.

 

Edit: OK. I missed Bellini's. Wowie Zowie. 8 venues. No Explorer's. No Wheelhouse. No thank you.

Deleted Post.

I inquired about this during a phone call with a Princess rep earlier today. In particular our disappointment about replacing Crooners with the French Bistro. Rep said they’ve heard a lot of complaints about it and that the final design was not yet written in stone. So, I sent an email to Princess and would encourage everyone else to do the same. Who knows if it will do any good but it can’t hurt.

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I was just looking at the deck plans for the Sky Princess. There are not very many places to get a drink before & after dinner. I saw a large Bar called the Casino Bar and the Crown Grill Bar. If Crown Grill Bar is the size of the Wheel House bars on Regal & Royal it is very small. It is in the same location as on the other 2 ships. The other places were Vines Wine Bar, the Piazza Bar that is it. Vines is for wine which is ok for me, but DH doesn't drink wine. We don't care for the Piazza Bar not a quite place to enjoy a drink before or after dinner. We would really miss not having a place to enjoy this time. One of our favorite things to do on a cruise is to enjoy a few drinks before dinner in Crooners or Wheel House. The bar beside the Casino would have to be loud. I believe this is also being called a Sports Bar.

Sadly - no Crooners currently shown on the deck plans. Another Royal Class blunder. The Crown Grill Bar is the same as the Wheelhouse on the Royal & Regal. The Princess Live Cafe probably will have some corridor seating, There is hope that Princess Live itself will actually be a lounge instead of an uncomfortable TV studio. The Bar beside the casino is separated from the casino, no noise. On the Royal/Regal it is called Club 6 and is used for the Platinum/Elite cocktail hour, so probably not available for general pre-dinner cocktails. There is Bellini's on deck six. It has limited seating.

WHAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

and we just booked SKY yesterday - oh well only 3 days - guess we'll survive without Crooners...

Does anyone know if the French Bistro is a fee based restaurant? I would think even if it is, Crooners would still be a bigger money maker for Princess. As I said in my first post, with lost of Crooners, larger Wheel House, and the nice covered area on the back, to me that is a lot of public space. I am hoping whatever itinerary this ship is doing it won't be one we want to do. I know I would not book this ship in the Caribbean. If this is a future design for Princess we may have to start looking at HAL. We have cruised HAL but like Princess better. When they start messing with my drinking place I may have to leave. LOL:eek:

Does anyone know if the French Bistro is a fee based restaurant? I would think even if it is, Crooners would still be a bigger money maker for Princess.

Yes, it was on the Majestic, cover charge $35. Not our type of food so we didn't eat there. Didn't like the layout either - people need to walk through the restaurant to get from A to B

turrible idea...ranks up there with SHARE and Princess Live

oh, and *****, of course:mad:

You would think princess would learn from there mistakes, saying that if they put another Princess live on a ship they obviously dont.now I've never sat in Crooners in my life, but I do know it' a packed. Walk past a speciality restaurant and they alway look empty

Could it be that venues found on Royal and Regal will still be there but, for some reason such as re-naming pending, they are not labeled? On the Lido deck I can see blank spaces where the Trident Grill and Prego Pizza and the bar between them are found on the Royal and Regal. Also there is a blank space where the amidships stairs are above deck 7 and where the Outrigger bar is on the Horizon Terrace area at the stern.

On Riviera deck there is shown a blank space where the Wedding Chapel and Concierge Lounge are on the Royal and Regal.

Majestic is coming to Australia soon, the Aussies are already complaining there are not enough drinking places. Sky Princess would probably be the same. Both ships designed and built for the 'Asian Market?' Perhaps the Asian pax are not 'bar flies." :hearteyes::rolleyes:

I have been on the Royal, Regal and Majestic and never seen any bar ever packed. Sure it is not a big problem for most people.....just maybe problem drinkers.....:)

I have no problem drinking.;p

and we do tend to going to the same venues/bars on the ships...

Vines...Crooners...Wheelhouse...Outrigger Bar...Pool Bar(s)...Alfredos, if available

one time as planned - we went to I believe about 14-15 different bars/venues...rather stick to a familiar few now...better service - maybe..

will definitely try to see the whole ship on the SKY as far as public areas...

I have been on the Royal, Regal and Majestic and never seen any bar ever packed. Sure it is not a big problem for most people.....just maybe problem drinkers.....:)

This is why there are less bars I ma sure they look at sales in each bar to determine what to include and what to get rid of. Just like venues they want to make it want the majority of people want . When anytime dining came out every one started screaming about it now there is more people using it then set .

I would think that the bars are big money makers for them, why would they want to end that?

What is Princess Live ? There are several things such as Trivia, Bingo Art Auction that we never attend.

I did a BVE on the Emerald last week and was chatting with a woman in the waiting area who works for Princess. She told me that the Sky will be more like the Majestic, than say the Royal or Regal. I told her about the complaints on CC about the loss of Crooner's and that no one is a fan of Princess live. She said that the final design plans are not done and that she and about 200 other employees read CC every morning, so your comments are being noted by Corporate.

One thing I cannot find on the deck plans is the Trident Grill. I'm sure they will have some sort of grill, but for the life of me I cannot find it.

One thing I cannot find on the deck plans is the Trident Grill. I'm sure they will have some sort of grill, but for the life of me I cannot find it.

On Lido Deck there is a location foreword of the pool just before stairs/elevators, with three unmarked bays. Maybe Trident will be there. However I just checked same spot on Majestic and those spots are Noodle Bar; Fountain Pool Bar; Lobster Grill. On Regal the 'Lobster Grill' is Trident Grill, so maybe just changes/additions to menu choice.

I have been on the Royal, Regal and Majestic and never seen any bar ever packed. Sure it is not a big problem for most people.....just maybe problem drinkers.....:)

Excuse me but are you saying people who enjoy a few drinks before dinner have a drinking problem????? As to Crooners being packed we were on the New Years Cruise in 2017 & 2018 on Regal had a problem finding a seat every night. We also did the first transatlantic on the Regal Princess 2014 had the same problem. We were on the Baltic cruise on the Crown last July. They have taken over half of the Wheelhouse bar to make a pay for restaurant the "Gastro Pub" Most nights no one eating there. Never during the 21 days we were on the Crown did I see more than 2 or 3 tables with someone eating. You could not find a seat in the Wheelhouse because half of the bar was gone to make this restaurant. I am sorry but seems like a bad misuse of space to me???? I know I will not be paying $35 per person to eat in a French restaurant on a ship, but I will be buying drinks if I can find a bar to sit in.

On Lido Deck there is a location foreword of the pool just before stairs/elevators, with three unmarked bays. Maybe Trident will be there. However I just checked same spot on Majestic and those spots are Noodle Bar; Fountain Pool Bar; Lobster Grill. On Regal the 'Lobster Grill' is Trident Grill, so maybe just changes/additions to menu choice.

For me, I do love French food and would love to try the new French bistro, however not where Crooner's used to be, where the gapers would be traipsing through the dining area. I say keep Crooners where it has been on the Regal and Royal and find a nice enclosed area for Le Mer, like they do for Sabatini's, Crown Grill, etc.