Platinum Carnival cruiser tries Princess

[AmberTeka]

Stu, you can still obtain status by number of cruises. It is 5 completed for Platinum and 15 completed for Elite.

 

You are right. Our next cruise on Princess is our sixth and after that we are Platinum there. So the next two cruises we have booked are on Carnival and Celebrity. Smart......Not.

 

But I am going to book the ten day cruise that goes to Bonaire for next Spring if they still go there. We did that cruise on the Star and loved it.

 

My husband smokes a cigar. Or rather he chews on a cigar. And I quit smoking and then he takes up that nasty habit in old age........but we have been together for 44 years and I still think he is the cute football coach I saw on my first teaching job...............so

Princess does not allow smoking on balconies. And he is afraid that even if he just chews on it he will get turned in and fined. So he won't go!!

 

But. .last time we were on Princess, we could still use the balcony but it did not have a cover and it was hot as heck. So he hung out at the smoking..chewing rail. He met a group of entertainers. A Do Whop group and became friends with them. For the rest of the cruise, everyplace we went, we saw one of them. My husband and the member of the group would fall on each other like long lost friends. and darn if that was not fun. They even talked me into going to some of the performances. Their harmony was stunning. Just very nice young men. It made that cruise for u s. So I am reminding him of the fun he had.....all because of him hanging out at the smoker's rail. I still think of that group. They were so full of life and fun. I hope they made or make..it big.

[vols_159]

Glad you spread your wings and tried something new! And glad you enjoyed your cruise! What's next? Rccl ncl? Maybe disney?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[golfadj]

Glad you spread your wings and tried something new! And glad you enjoyed your cruise! What's next? Rccl ncl? Maybe disney?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Actually our next one is March 2015 a CCL relocation cruise of 14 days that we had our arms sort of twisted to go on.

 

Think we will do another one before that and hope to be able to do a European one on Princess.

[golfadj]

Stu, you can still obtain status by number of cruises. It is 5 completed for Platinum and 15 completed for Elite.

 

I know. Our feeling is we want to do Princess in Europe and they will all be longer cruises of 15 days or more. Based on that we would be platinum on our fifth cruise.

[golfadj]

Thinking about the differences in the entertainment staff and really surprising to me as to how much more imaginative the cruise staff was on Princess than on Carnival.

 

Have to think their is contact between the two and info shares as to what each is doing.

[NavarreCruiser]

Have not heard they are making changes to playlist. Saw two shows in Feb and walked out on both. Can only hope they realize they are a disaster and make appropriate changes.

 

Epic Rock just won an award in a travel mag. It is the best show I've ever seen in my 88 cruises. Some of the others playlist shows are not so good. Carnival in putting 2 new shows on ships in the near future.

[navybaby1113]

Thanks for your review. We're thinking about sailing on Princess to Alaska. It would be our first time sailing on another line. Pretty excited that Princess honors past guest discounts from Carnival.

[jmwg49]

Actually our next one is March 2015 a CCL relocation cruise of 14 days that we had our arms sort of twisted to go on.

 

Think we will do another one before that and hope to be able to do a European one on Princess.

 

?? Arms Twisted?? really???? Stu...you know you just wanted to hang with your old pal Jill! :)

 

I am so happy you tried Princess and had a great experience! I think change is a great thing and keeps you looking for more! Welcome home,....and see you in March ;)

[shredie]

Pretty excited that Princess honors past guest discounts from Carnival.

 

I don't understand this. My status on Princess has never been affected by my status on Carnival and vice versa. What did I miss?

[OCruisers]

I don't understand this. My status on Princess has never been affected by my status on Carnival and vice versa. What did I miss?

 

Just that you'll be recognized as a "past guest" ... nothing else as far as status goes.

LuLu

[golfadj]

?? Arms Twisted?? really???? Stu...you know you just wanted to hang with your old pal Jill! :)

 

I am so happy you tried Princess and had a great experience! I think change is a great thing and keeps you looking for more! Welcome home,....and see you in March ;)

 

My pal Jill and Jon and Judy and George and _____. Will be a great cruise but need to find another one before that.

[golfadj]

I don't understand this. My status on Princess has never been affected by my status on Carnival and vice versa. What did I miss?

 

For pricing purposes we got a past guest discount but we were newbies on the ship.

[OCruisers]

Thanks so much for your review and comparison ... informative and a pleasure to read. :)

 

Had a comedian (Al Katz, best one we have ever seen at sea) ....

 

So agree! Al Katz is an outstanding and very professional comedian! :D

LuLu

[golfadj]

Thanks so much for your review and comparison ... informative and a pleasure to read. :)

 

 

 

So agree! Al Katz is an outstanding and very professional comedian! :D

LuLu

 

Got the impression from something he said that he had a falling out with Carnival some years ago.

[mississauga]

Got the impression from something he said that he had a falling out with Carnival some years ago.

 

 

Think he was on one of our Carnival cruises just last year. Comedians seem to make fun of other cruise lines when they are on another one. They seem to want you to feel good that you have chosen the right cruise line to cruise on or are they trying to suck up to the line they are currently contracted on?....lol:eek:

[golfadj]

Think he was on one of our Carnival cruises just last year. Comedians seem to make fun of other cruise lines when they are on another one. They seem to want you to feel good that you have chosen the right cruise line to cruise on or are they trying to suck up to the line they are currently contracted on?....lol:eek:

 

I have seen comedians do that before but seemed to us to be a little something more. In any case one very funny fellow who we hope to see again somewhere.

[caribsun]

We have done about 25 Carnival cruises and have thought entertainment has gone downhill in a big way in past few years. Also tired of same old Caribbean cruises.

As a result we booked and are just back from our first Princess cruise a 15 day TA to Europe and thought I would offer some comparisons.

The ship was the one year old Royal Princess and she was a beautiful ship.

Holds about 3600 people and heard it was about 80% full.

We had most breakfast and lunches on Horizon court (their version of lido) and never had to wait on a line or had a problem finding a table.

On Princess no need to go get your own drink. Sit at your table and crew would come over and ask what you would like to drink and get it for you.

Went up to item we wanted and at most had one person ahead of us. Was amazing that during peak times they had enough food areas to spread us all out.

We had an obstructed balcony and would say room was a little smaller than on Carnival but had larger closets and larger shower.

Seem like DR staff had less people and service was outstanding. Was nice to see a whole new series of menus. Food was a little better than Carnival with better steaks for sure.

Went to the steakhouse the last night and DW and I both thought the Carnival ones we have gone to were better.

Entertainment was very different. Typically entertainers would have one evening in main lounge and a second one in the back lounge.

Had a comedian (Al Katz, best one we have ever seen at sea), three magicians (two outstanding and one rather pathetic) and than on successive nights violin player, sax/ clarinet, opera singer, pianist and we also had three production shows. Every night we had professional entertainment.

There were a lot of sea days and for each port they had a lecture on the port for people who wanted to explore independently. Still offered Princess tours but not in a pushy way.

 

We had a fabulous time and will be sailing on Princess in the future. Are we done with Carnival? No we are not mostly because we have a lot of friends still wanting to sail on Carnival and we will have a great time with them.

 

Let me know if you have any serious questions.

 

Thanks for the review. I'm in the same boat as you :) getting tired of Carnival and poor entertainment. We are sailing for the 1st time on Golden Princess to Alaska.

[golfb4cruzing]

Hey Golfadj, I found your analogy. There definitely is different clientele, even Caribbean, and the entertainment is entertaining. One thing we liked was the IC, was open 24 hrs. After the casino or late show, we could get something quick, always tasty or just gelato. I'm waiting for the wife to retire so we can do the longer trips. She isn't allowed two weeks in a row either (RN) so we are restricted to 7 day trips. I knew you would enjoy Princess. Some day we may cross paths.

[golfadj]

Hey Golfadj, I found your analogy. There definitely is different clientele, even Caribbean, and the entertainment is entertaining. One thing we liked was the IC, was open 24 hrs. After the casino or late show, we could get something quick, always tasty or just gelato. I'm waiting for the wife to retire so we can do the longer trips. She isn't allowed two weeks in a row either (RN) so we are restricted to 7 day trips. I knew you would enjoy Princess. Some day we may cross paths.

 

Looks like we will do our next TA next October Barcelona to Ft Lauderdale via Emerald Princess. Would love to do the previous segment Rome to Barcelona but three weeks will just not work.

[evandbob]

I'm platinum for some time now with Carnival, and had cruised almost exclusively with them until they raised their solo supplement. That forced me to investigate other lines, and it's been to my advantage. I discovered the solo studio on NCL, the outrageous deck party with fireworks that Disney performs, the incredible service and entertainment on Celebrity, and class, style and great food on Princess.

 

Had I stuck blindly to Carnival, I wouldn't have know what I was missing. I'm so glad I diversified my cruising experiences. I'm doing an Alaskan cruisetour with Princess in August and have another Carnival planned for December. After that I'm open to more new cruising itineraries and adventures.

[golfadj]

I'm platinum for some time now with Carnival, and had cruised almost exclusively with them until they raised their solo supplement. That forced me to investigate other lines, and it's been to my advantage. I discovered the solo studio on NCL, the outrageous deck party with fireworks that Disney performs, the incredible service and entertainment on Celebrity, and class, style and great food on Princess.

 

Had I stuck blindly to Carnival, I wouldn't have know what I was missing. I'm so glad I diversified my cruising experiences. I'm doing an Alaskan cruisetour with Princess in August and have another Carnival planned for December. After that I'm open to more new cruising itineraries and adventures.

 

like

[tncap]

I'm platinum for some time now with Carnival, and had cruised almost exclusively with them until they raised their solo supplement.

 

Carnival now has dozens of cruises with 0% solo supplement. They started this last September or so.

[evandbob]

Carnival now has dozens of cruises with 0% solo supplement. They started this last September or so.

 

Exactly right. The partial change to no solo supplement probably occurred because thousands of solo cruisers like me abandoned Carnival and tried other lines.

 

The 0% single supplement is now a limited offer and available only when Carnival has excess capacity. It's almost like a pack and go offer. They are still hurting from their attempt to soak the single cruiser.

[navyvet8395]

also with the ship at 80% full helps allot in the crowds and food lines... Carnival is always booked totally full on every cruise Ive taken with them.

 

I was on the Grand Princess back in 2001. Thought it was cool they played the Love Boat theme as the ship left FLL. Only thing missing was the Graffiti.. LOL.

[GlendaleCruiser]

I've cruised Carnival (seen Al Katz there) and Princess and loved the lectures on Princess. Loved watching movies in the showroom, too. Little entertainments in the atrium were fun and cool.

 

I didn't like the food on Sapphire Princess, though. Repetitive and uninspired. I actually stopped wanting to sit through MDR dining for it . No escargot, either.

 

Love their libraries and check out system. Manned more often than Carnival and open more hours.