Princess ending 24/7 Horizon Court availability???

[AlaskaFan05]

The DW and I are currently on the Caribbean Princess and the HC has been closed by midnight every night. The IC has been opened to 1AM. The HC is open again at 5 AM. Room service is still available 24 hours and is your only option between 1 and 5.

Jeff

[generichandle]

Well certainly speak for yourself. I use it every night. I wake 1-2AM everynight, home or abroad. My mate does NOT awaken, and certainly room service is no option at all for us.

On the Coral, when I walked into Horizon Court at 2AM, I found a LOT of people, not just a few. Certainly not crowded, but busy. And many were staff, to whom it was a great pleasure to converse. I loved my little nighttime walk, tea, book sessions.

I called Princess yesterday to confirm. Yes, the closing is linewide. The person who talked with me, who was very nice, agreed that it was a selling point; but we both agreed it is a business decision that, like any other, would stand or change on it's merits.

So, if you disagree with this decision, let Princess know. If enough of the input is negative, I expect they will recant. Though, sadly, too late for my December sailing.

Meanwhile, she did say check the Patter for alternatives, which she thought might be different on each ship. Hopefully Carribean Princess will have something.

Doug

[shredie]

Pack a lunch when HC is open and take it to your cabin fridge for later?

[CrusinAgain]

[quote name='generichandle']Well certainly speak for yourself. I use it every night. I wake 1-2AM everynight, home or abroad. My mate does NOT awaken, and certainly room service is no option at all for us.

On the Coral, when I walked into Horizon Court at 2AM, I found a LOT of people, not just a few. Certainly not crowded, but busy. And many were staff, to whom it was a great pleasure to converse. I loved my little nighttime walk, tea, book sessions.

I called Princess yesterday to confirm. Yes, the closing is linewide. The person who talked with me, who was very nice, agreed that it was a selling point; but we both agreed it is a business decision that, like any other, would stand or change on it's merits.

So, if you disagree with this decision, let Princess know. If enough of the input is negative, I expect they will recant. Though, sadly, too late for my December sailing.

Meanwhile, she did say check the Patter for alternatives, which she thought might be different on each ship. Hopefully Carribean Princess will have something.

Doug[/quote]

Doug, I agree with you. Some folks are nite owls and others are up at the crack of dawn. The ones who have no problem with no options other than room service don't seem to understand that traveling companions trying to sleep do not want to have a light on in the cabin or smell food which is why it was so nice to just quietly leave the cabin and have that snack even if the snack just consists of hot tea. Now of course I guess we could order room service, wait for it and then take it somewhere other than the cabin but even that is going to be more noisy since you have to call it in and then have everything ready to leave the cabin with your food/drink

If they can't leave the HC or Cafe Caribe hours as they were, then the International Cafe should stay open longer than 1 am and offer the same selection of drinks there. I never could understand why I would have to go up to the Lido deck to get my ice tea to have a snack from IC. People who don't frequent the casino must never see how busy they are after midnight and generally those folks frequent the late night snack area before retiring. It really sounds like those who retire early and get up early really may not know how much the HC and Cafe Caribe is used late at night since they have retired for the evening.

I agree with another poster, having the option available was a benefit that set Princess apart from others. Carnival still offers it, but we are Princess fans.

[1 HappyCruiser]

[quote name='shredie']Pack a lunch when HC is open and take it to your cabin fridge for later?[/quote]

[FONT=Comic Sans MS]The only problem is for me is that I don't have a microwave in my cabin to heat up the [/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS]items which should be[/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS] hot . :([/FONT]

[Loonbeam]

Actually, this leads to what would be a decent idea. After the HC and other options close have a small service station in the HC area with a microwave, coffee urns, maybe even some cookies. It would not require a large staff (maybe 1 person to check on it) and would meet at least some basic needs of people.

 

That said, there seems to be an undercurrent of people thinking Princess did this on some kind of a whim. I am certain that they did a very detailed study of how the venues were used, what food was used, how many people came through, etc. and determined that the cost of providing the service did not equal the value of the service provided for the majority of cruisers. While its a downer to those people who did use the service, I would honestly be surprised to see in actuality the late night users (teens aside) numbered more than in the dozens on a 3000 passenger ship...

 

Rule #1 of cost cutting, well maybe #2 is you do those things that affect the least possible number of your general population of customers (rule #1 is you try to do things they won't notice. Anyone look at the actual amount of OJ in a carton recently?)

 

 

The only problem is for me is that I don't have a microwave in my cabin to heat up the items which should be hot . :(

[PescadoAmarillo]

Pack a lunch when HC is open and take it to your cabin fridge for later?

 

The only problem is for me is that I don't have a microwave in my cabin to heat up the items which should be hot . :(

 

Actually, this leads to what would be a decent idea. After the HC and other options close have a small service station in the HC area with a microwave, coffee urns, maybe even some cookies. It would not require a large staff (maybe 1 person to check on it) and would meet at least some basic needs of people.

My goodness, this is starting to sound like my workplace!

[1 HappyCruiser]

Actually, this leads to what would be a decent idea. After the HC and other options close have a small service station in the HC area with a microwave, coffee urns, maybe even some cookies. It would not require a large staff (maybe 1 person to check on it) and would meet at least some basic needs of people.

 

 

I only posted that comment sarcastically. I certainly go to the trouble of taking a plate of food, storing in it in the refrig & have to reheat it later in the HC. I'll just have to adjust my schedule like everyone else to get the last feeding at 11 PM although there are some movies that occasionally end later than that.

[Chelsea1]

I have been on Cunard many times and was surprised the first time just how many people used the buffet after midnight. It was defintely busy with people having a snack around 1.00am after the casino, nightclub or just taking a walk, plus used by staff, and had a nice atmosphere. It was very rough one night and I went up for a cup of tea and some biscuits about 2.00am as I felt seasick stuck in the cabin and it really helped. There were quite a few others doing the same thing and the walk and having a snack really took my mind off the weather. Room service would definitely not have helped!

 

I appreciate the cost factor, but if bars, casino, night club (and teen club) are open into the early hours and Princess are happy to take the revenue from these I think it is sensible and only fair to offer some food in the buffet.

[Kinkacruiser]

Wise move to close the HC at that time...as long as a smaller eatery is open for snacks.

[crusinpeg]

Wise move to close the HC at that time...as long as a smaller eatery is open for snacks.

 

Ican't seem to find an answer..does anyone know if the International Cafe will be open past 12:00 or 1:00?

[chamima]

Ican't seem to find an answer..does anyone know if the International Cafe will be open past 12:00 or 1:00?

 

 

This is from the Emerald dining page. It seems to indicate yes, but (and this is a big but) it also indicates the ice cream bar is open all night! :rolleyes:

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/dining/dining_options/emerald.html

 

 

 

 

 

Ice cream bar Casual

11:00 AM

to

5:30 PM

 

5:30 PM

onward

 

 

International Café Casual

7:00 AM

to

12:00PM

 

12:00 PM

to

6:00 PM

 

6:00 PM

onward

[Chelsea1]

So on ships without an International Cafe the only option is the Ice Cream bar? (or room service)

[geoherb]

Although the times are listed as "onward," I bet that means they close down and don't stay open all night. Otherwise, they wouldn't need to list a time that they open the next morning.

[crusinpeg]

Although the times are listed as "onward," I bet that means they close down and don't stay open all night. Otherwise, they wouldn't need to list a time that they open the next morning.

 

I agree "onward" is not a very set time! More of a wait and see time.

[TomSailor]

Very disappointed:(

One of the reasons when we first tried Princess was the 24hr buffet dining and over the years we always loved having a snack before going to bed.

 

What I hardly accept is the fact that we are spending about 20% more for our 2012 cruise than we paid in 2010 for the same cruise, same cabin category and at the same time of the year.

 

Why does Princess have to cut services AND raise ticket prices??:confused:

[stoneharborlady]

Maybe its just me, but it doesnt seem that big a problem. If the IC is not open, and you really need a "snack", the offerings from room service are decent, and would seem to fit the bill to tide you over till breakfast.

[crusinpeg]

Very disappointed:(

One of the reasons when we first tried Princess was the 24hr buffet dining and over the years we always loved having a snack before going to bed.

 

What I hardly accept is the fact that we are spending about 20% more for our 2012 cruise than we paid in 2010 for the same cruise, same cabin category and at the same time of the year.

 

Why does Princess have to cut services AND raise ticket prices??:confused:

 

Haven't you noticed everyday food and fuel price increases?

[4cats4me]

Here it is, 12:30 a.m. I got up out of a sound sleep because I needed to have a snack. At least I'm at home and I can satiate my hunger pangs. But if I were currently on a Princess cruise, that would not be the case I guess.

 

To those who are so adamant that some of us don't need to eat between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., how would you feel if they closed all eating venues between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.? Would you still have the same reaction?

 

People eat at various time for various reasons. Unlike a land vacation where you COULD go to the hotel coffee shop at midnight or take your rental car to a 24/7 coffee shop or grocery store to buy a few goodies, that is not possible on a ship where you are being held captive, so to speak, with no other options available. And I don't want to hear the room service argument again either, because it is too disruptive and I just want to be able to help myself to a LIGHT snack, not a full meal, and I don't want to wake up my travel partner.

 

At last on RCCL, which had no 24/7 buffet, they DID have a cafe where we could get sandwiches and cookies throughout the night, so if Princess is closing the HC then they should leave the IC open round the clock OR

Princess should host a midnight buffet, which is what all the ships used to do.

 

It's not for others to judge my eating habits. Something that hasn't been discussed here is the fact that people are traveling from so many time jurisdictions, so even though the clock strikes midnight in the Caribbean it is still 6 p.m. back home if you're from Hawaii.

 

Princess needs to be more accommodating in this regard.

 

We have a 15-night cruise planned to Hawaii next April, but this just might be a reason to cancel and do a land trip to Hawaii instead. At least I will be able to eat when I want if I have a condo, and it would be a lot cheaper, too.

[Rafa]

wow, cancelling vacations seems too harsh, but if you have reached this point of stressfulness get on a cruise SOON :-) ...room service anyone?

[PescadoAmarillo]

It's not for others to judge my eating habits. Something that hasn't been discussed here is the fact that people are traveling from so many time jurisdictions, so even though the clock strikes midnight in the Caribbean it is still 6 p.m. back home if you're from Hawaii.

 

Princess needs to be more accommodating in this regard.

 

We have a 15-night cruise planned to Hawaii next April, but this just might be a reason to cancel and do a land trip to Hawaii instead. At least I will be able to eat when I want if I have a condo, and it would be a lot cheaper, too.

You are absolutely right. No one should judge people's eating habits, or smoking habits, or drinking habits, or gambling habits, or... Unfortunately, it's what we all do. But you have every right to want a bit to eat between 11pm and 5am, for anyone of a number or reasons, only one of which might be jet lag. Some of us would feel that you still can, through room service. But obviously for many others, that doesn't work.

 

Each one of us knows what's important to us and what is a deal breaker in terms of a vacation. In my case, we cruised RC almost exclusively until their ships got too big. Other people love that about RC. We loved Celebrity until we couldn't get something to eat upon returning to the ship from port mid-afternoon (a situation which has improved in recent years). For us, that was a show stopper. That's what's so funny when we argue about which cruise line is best. Each one of them is best...for someone.

 

I understand if this change is your personal deal breaker. For DH, the discontinuation of the traditional Captains Circle party is much more disappointing. For me, it's closing the dining room for lunch on port days. If changes continue to happen that we dislike, we may return to a former cruise line or try something new altogether. I doubt that we'd abandon cruising altogether. That's one addiction DH and I share.

[azdmelani]

Here it is, 12:30 a.m. I got up out of a sound sleep because I needed to have a snack. At least I'm at home and I can satiate my hunger pangs. But if I were currently on a Princess cruise, that would not be the case I guess.

 

To those who are so adamant that some of us don't need to eat between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m., how would you feel if they closed all eating venues between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m.? Would you still have the same reaction?

 

People eat at various time for various reasons. Unlike a land vacation where you COULD go to the hotel coffee shop at midnight or take your rental car to a 24/7 coffee shop or grocery store to buy a few goodies, that is not possible on a ship where you are being held captive, so to speak, with no other options available. And I don't want to hear the room service argument again either, because it is too disruptive and I just want to be able to help myself to a LIGHT snack, not a full meal, and I don't want to wake up my travel partner.

 

At last on RCCL, which had no 24/7 buffet, they DID have a cafe where we could get sandwiches and cookies throughout the night, so if Princess is closing the HC then they should leave the IC open round the clock OR

Princess should host a midnight buffet, which is what all the ships used to do.

 

It's not for others to judge my eating habits. Something that hasn't been discussed here is the fact that people are traveling from so many time jurisdictions, so even though the clock strikes midnight in the Caribbean it is still 6 p.m. back home if you're from Hawaii.

 

Princess needs to be more accommodating in this regard.

 

We have a 15-night cruise planned to Hawaii next April, but this just might be a reason to cancel and do a land trip to Hawaii instead. At least I will be able to eat when I want if I have a condo, and it would be a lot cheaper, too.

 

To each their own, but to cancel a cruise to Hawaii because your only option is room service from 12-5 seems to be a bit overboard. You can certainly take a sandwich/dessert from the IC before it closesand throw in your fridge . Who is to say that there will be convenience stores open during those hours on a land tour of Hawaii?

[generichandle]

It is clear at least some folks agree with me that overnight options for food are important to them. Good.

 

I ask those people to PLEASE call Princess and let them know. You do not need to be harsh. Just let them know this is important to you. The more input of this sort they get, the more likely they will find some accomadating option. The lady I spoke to indicated just this.

 

So give input to them please.

 

PS: It is not QUITE a deal breaker for me, but it WAS a major reason I chose Princess, was very happy with my choice when I had it on Coral, and may look elsewhere if my December sailing is completely unsatisfactory in this service item. After my happy Alaska cruise I have felt very loyal to Princess, it could hardly have been better. I do not want to make this choice.

 

We shall see...

[srpilo]

To each their own, but to cancel a cruise to Hawaii because your only option is room service from 12-5 seems to be a bit overboard. You can certainly take a sandwich/dessert from the IC before it closesand throw in your fridge . Who is to say that there will be convenience stores open during those hours on a land tour of Hawaii?

 

I don't think or see it that they would cancel their cruise specificly because they don't/won't have food at 3:00am, but rather Princess has always seperated itself from other lines by advertisting 24 hour dinning, and many have come to expect that as part of their Princess experience, now by eliminating it Princess has thrown themself back into the mix for their cruise dollar with other cruiselines. I think it's more "they taken something away" from what we expect type reaction, then just that there's no food at 3:00am.

 

 

And to be truthful, I kinda feel that way too, like Princess has cheapened my cruise experience.

Srpilo

[Loonbeam]

I saw it as a way of heating up beverages and small snacks (that could even be left there in a small fridge and easily serviced (soups for example)..

 

It's not perfect but would enhance the late night snack options without being staff and spoilage intensive.

 

I only posted that comment sarcastically. I certainly go to the trouble of taking a plate of food, storing in it in the refrig & have to reheat it later in the HC. I'll just have to adjust my schedule like everyone else to get the last feeding at 11 PM although there are some movies that occasionally end later than that.