New Princess Sphere class ships?

[JimmyVWine]

2 hours ago, sloopsailor said:

NCL Prima has interior solo cabins that are 94 square feet small. Want a dose of claustrophobia, anyone?

 

Wow. Is that a cabin or a cell?

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, ldtr said:

Used to spend some time at Animal Kingdom Lodge each year when traveling to Florida.  Looked at doing it next year.  Priced spending 4 nights and 5 days there and the total price for 2 including park tickets was $5382.12 (not including any airfare between CA and FL).  On the other hand  I can book a 12 day classic Africa tour, including game viewing cruise and drives in various areas for $5498.  Bye Bye Disney hello South Africa.

I get what you are saying (and we want to go sometime as well), but the $100 extra is going to go up quite a bit when you factor in higher airfare to get to South Africa.

 

[sloopsailor]

26 minutes ago, oteixeira said:

Convince?   I think you are confused.  I was trying to explain to you, a person who has not been through the process of ship within a ship from what I can tell, what I, a person who has (both in and not in the area) have experienced.  I was doing so to explain to you how it worked and to try to ease your concerns.  I see now you don't want to be eased, you just want to tell me I am wrong.   

I am fine with that, please enjoy your cruise, and I will enjoy mine...

 

Celebrity was our cruise line of choice. We are Elite loyalty status with them.

 

When they started adding the ship-within-a-ship format, our cruises lost some of the magic. We stayed with them for several years and finally decided that the concept was not to our advantage. As they made the ship more attractive to the wealthy, they embraced a marketing campaign touting the "new" luxury line. And the prices for regular staterooms went up accordingly. And common areas shrank to be repurposed for the high paying passengers. We gained absolutely nothing for that alleged "luxury". Only the high payers did. It cost us more, and we got less. 

 

So we bailed and started cruising on Princess, a line that was more egalitarian. A better fit - until now. We saw how the entire Celebrity fleet changed, even the oldest ships, all following the design cues of the newer, more "luxurious" ships. For us, they ruined a good thing.

 

I have no doubt the same thing will happen to Princess. Once the corporate big wigs taste that addictive revenue elixir, they will never be satiated. It's only a matter of time. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by sloopsailor

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, oteixeira said:

If you look at my signature you will see that I do.  I am in this thread because I am EXCITED that Princess is doing ship within a ship.  I wrote them off years ago for having dated, boring, and really run down ships when I sailed on the Grand.....this might be my way back in.  I am reading to see if the product has improved since I was on back in 2007.  

It's all about choices and what weight factors each of us attach to features and such.  I understand how your approach makes a lot of sense.  As a couple who have not gone to the high end on Princess or another line, I am not sure if we will feel fine in the new environment, or will feel left behind.  Have to see how things pan out.  We are generally stepping back from cruising for  while after our trips this Fall, so we'll see. 

[Steelers36]

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

I wonder if Princess will be escorting the Signature Suite Pax onboard first like NCL and RCI (I’m guessing X too)?

 

1 hour ago, oteixeira said:

They just have to, priority embark and debark is one of the top perks of ship within a ship.

 

Some posts have addressed shrinking services and access for those guests not booking the more premium categories.  I am now thinking Elites may no longer be boarding the the myriad of Suite groups on the Sphere Class ships.  

[Steelers36]

29 minutes ago, oteixeira said:

Convince?   I think you are confused.  I was trying to explain to you, a person who has not been through the process of ship within a ship from what I can tell, what I, a person who has (both in and not in the area) have experienced.  I was doing so to explain to you how it worked and to try to ease your concerns.  I see now you don't want to be eased, you just want to tell me I am wrong.   

I am fine with that, please enjoy your cruise, and I will enjoy mine...

The only caveat is whether Princess will do it the same way you are used to with other line(s).

[JimmyVWine]

1 hour ago, oteixeira said:

But you are missing the point.  Those of us who love ship within a ship love it because the luxury lines don't provide us with the entertainment, nightclubs, casino vibe, and tons of eating choices that the big ships do.

Actually, I think it is you who is missing the point. I don’t think that there is anyone here who is arguing against the idea that the 13% are going to love the ship within a ship paradigm. What’s not to love?  And exactly for the reasons you stated. You are 100% right. But the point being made here is that the 87% are going to suffer the consequences of your enjoyment. MDR selections will be downgraded. You will have lobster. They will have orange roughy. You will have Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch. They will have Yellow Tail. You will have easy access to lounge chairs by the pool. They will have more people competing for less square footage of poolside comfort. I haven’t seen a single post here from anyone who has sailed on another cruise line that has a ship within a ship model who had said: “Nothing to fear. The standard cruise experience will not suffer from this change.”  Not one. So yes, the 13% are going to love this. Give me $10,000 and I will plan a Disney World vacation second to none. Give me $4,000 and I will be left planning a stressful trip where I will accomplish half of what I am used to.  Seems like Princess is angling for the same experience. Thankfully it will take at least a decade for this new model to supplant the old unless they retrofit the Grand and Royal Class ships but I don’t see that happening. 

[sloopsailor]

6 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Thankfully it will take at least a decade for this new model to supplant the old unless they retrofit the Grand and Royal Class ships but I don’t see that happening. 

 

It took less than four years for Celebrity to "upgrade' their older ships. When each went into drydock, they came out with the new format added.

 

It will happens quicker than you'd like if the concept is a success for Princess. And based on Celebrity, NCL, MSC, who have all gone down this path, the changes will become a permanent part of the Princess style. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by sloopsailor

[Kay S]

"Ship within a ship" is fine and dandy, but who's going to be sailing in all the other cabins?  They have to fill the ship, and the expensive suites alone won't do it.  Families with kids.  That's their goal.  Lots of them.  The advertising for that will commence soon enough.  Carnival kid cruises without the drunks throwing punches.

[JimmyVWine]

5 minutes ago, sloopsailor said:

 

It took less than four years for Celebrity to "upgrade' their older ships. When each went into drydock, they came out with the new format added.

 

It will happens quicker than you'd like if the concept is a success for Princess. And based on Celebrity, NCL, MSC, who have all gone down this path, the changes will become a permanent part of the Princess style. 

Was that four years from the type of press announcement Princess did yesterday or four years from when the first ship within a ship concept set sail?  If it is the latter, then we have a 2 years plus 4 years buffet. Fingers crossed. 

[Grislap]

6 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

How is a big ball of burning gas not a sphere?

"Big Ball of Burning Gas Princess." Now *there's* a name! After all, LNG!

[suzyed]

On 9/15/2022 at 8:30 PM, Thrak said:

 
Isn't it Disney that lets passengers bring actual booze aboard?

They used to.  Thought I heard not any more.

[JimmyVWine]

2 minutes ago, Kay S said:

"Ship within a ship" is fine and dandy, but who's going to be sailing in all the other cabins?  They have to fill the ship, and the expensive suites alone won't do it.  Families with kids.  That's their goal.  Lots of them.  The advertising for that will commence soon enough.  Carnival kid cruises without the drunks throwing punches.

That’s what I am wondering. Take the inaugural (curiosity and “I have to be first”) people out of the equation and I can’t see why anyone would pay MORE to sail on this ship as part of the 87%. Would it be great to be part of the 13%?  Heck yeah. But pay a premium to be part of the second class? I  don’t see that as being an attractive option as long as one of the other many ships remains an option.  $700 for a week in an Inside on a Royal Class ship or $1,300 for a week on a Sphere Class ship. Hard to see how they sell these cabins. The price will have to level set. 

[Guest ldtr]

41 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

I get what you are saying (and we want to go sometime as well), but the $100 extra is going to go up quite a bit when you factor in higher airfare to get to South Africa.

 

Actually that number included air fare to/from LAX to Cape Town and back fron Johannesburg (complete package including air fare transfers, all breakfasts and dinners, some lunches were on your own). Actually if I booked it today it would be cheaper since they are running a 20% sale on bookings this month). It was the Disney number that did not include airfare

Edited September 17, 2022 by ldtr

[Guest ldtr]

5 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

That’s what I am wondering. Take the inaugural (curiosity and “I have to be first”) people out of the equation and I can’t see why anyone would pay MORE to sail on this ship as part of the 87%. Would it be great to be part of the 13%?  Heck yeah. But pay a premium to be part of the second class? I  don’t see that as being an attractive option as long as one of the other many ships remains an option.  $700 for a week in an Inside on a Royal Class ship or $1,300 for a week on a Sphere Class ship. Hard to see how they sell these cabins. The price will have to level set. 

I expect the prices to adjust once the newness wears off just like it did with the Royal Class.  Will be interesting how current customers react

[Steelers36]

2 minutes ago, ldtr said:

I expect the prices to adjust once the newness wears off just like it did with the Royal Class.  Will be interesting how current customers react

Yes, I think we all have seen that the newest ship gets the highest fares in it's first season and then adjusts down.  Or at least adjust down when the next new ship comes along.

 

[Bobbiegentry]

11 hours ago, SantaFeFan said:

 

Then why not cruise on luxury cruise lines instead of wanting the mainstream lines to carve out areas exclusively for you? It's fine for you because you can afford it. It's absolutely not fine for those of us who have to save for a cruise and will now be banned from more areas of a ship to satisfy you. 

 

How about this - one cabin class and size across the entire ship with each cabin priced exactly the same. 
 

Equal access for everyone to all shipboard restaurants, entertainment and all other amenities. 

This provides a completely democratic cruise experience. 
 

Problem solved! Simple, huh? 

 

[suekel]

2 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

I wonder if Princess will be escorting the Signature Suite Pax onboard first like NCL and RCI (I’m guessing X too)?

I was escorted onboard the Grand in 2019 while I was in a Vista Suite.  Some ships have done it already. 

[Guest ldtr]

16 minutes ago, Bobbiegentry said:

 

How about this - one cabin class and size across the entire ship with each cabin priced exactly the same. 
 

Equal access for everyone to all shipboard restaurants, entertainment and all other amenities. 

This provides a completely democratic cruise experience. 
 

Problem solved! Simple, huh? 

 

How about different cabins with different cabin sizes, with different in cabin benefits, but most areas on the ship open to everyone on the ship or can be purchased ala carte by anyone in any cabin.  So that what one picks drives their benefits, but does not impact anyone else on the ship.

 

Oh wait thats what we have now.

 

 

[Astro Flyer]

35 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

I  don’t see that as being an attractive option as long as one of the other many ships remains an option.  $700 for a week in an Inside on a Royal Class ship or $1,300 for a week on a Sphere Class ship. Hard to see how they sell these cabins. The price will have to level set. 

I feel the same way….we have a 10-day Discovery cruise in a balcony cabin in Spring 2024 for just over $100/pp/day.
 

There’s no way we’d pay $200/pp/day for a Sun interior cabin 2 months earlier. We’re not going to pay more on a ship that restricts where we can go onboard. For the 13% who can pay more for a cruise the Sun will likely be a much more enjoyable cruise. Even if my cruise experience is not greatly diminished we’re not going to pay more than double for a cruise on Sun Princess.

 

[Bobbiegentry]

9 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Not that difficult of a concept.  Take the Sanctuary as an example.  There will be a "Signature" area within the Sanctuary.  We don't yet know how that will work.  But let's assume that among typical Sanctuary bookers, there is a consensus that certain lounger locations are preferred, and that there are 50 such loungers.  People scramble on departure day, falling all over themselves to get one of these 50.  And if they can't get one of these, there are 30 more that are solid second choice.  Not as good, but they'll do.  The remaining loungers are better than nothing, but not all that special.  Now suppose that the 3% (60 cabins, for a total of roughly 120 people) are allocated all of the 80 best loungers described above as part of their special section.  BOOM!  Your ribeye inventory is now affected.  Your usual Sanctuary booker who locks in a space during B2B cruises, and those who scramble up to the Sun Deck on departure day all of a sudden become #121+ in line as there are 120 "virtual" people ahead of them each and every time.  Their days of getting the plum loungers is over.  The very simple and predictable result of increasing demand without increasing supply, and then allocating the existing supply in an inequitable manner.  (Inequitable in terms of "effort to obtain" and past procedure, as opposed to inequitable based on $$$.)  At some point, giving someone a large balcony, and giving them teak furniture, and then on top of that giving them a plum location in the Sanctuary is going to have an impact downstream.  It has to.    

Lots of “supposing” going on in all of your posts on the subject, amigo.

[Bobbiegentry]

1 hour ago, ldtr said:

How about different cabins with different cabin sizes, with different in cabin benefits, but most areas on the ship open to everyone on the ship or can be purchased ala carte by anyone in any cabin.  So that what one picks drives their benefits, but does not impact anyone else on the ship.

 

Oh wait thats what we have now.

 

 

Nope. Not nearly democratic enough for me. You sure you’re not an elitist?

NOTHING LESS than total and complete equality for each and every passenger aboard. 

[HBCcruiser]

7 minutes ago, Bobbiegentry said:

Nope. Not nearly democratic enough for me. You sure you’re not an elitist?

NOTHING LESS than total and complete equality for each and every passenger aboard. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by HBCcruiser

[Kay S]

54 minutes ago, Bobbiegentry said:

Lots of “supposing” going on in all of your posts on the subject, amigo.

Well, until we get the full story of the ship and its itineraries, we can but speculate.  

[HBCcruiser]

2 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Actually, But the point being made here is that the 87% are going to suffer the consequences of your enjoyment. MDR selections will be downgraded. You will have lobster. They will have orange roughy. You will have Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch. They will have Yellow Tail. You will have easy access to lounge chairs by the pool. They will have more people competing for less square footage of poolside comfort. 

Where is your proof that this will happen? You are speculating. Let’s see what happens when the cruises start.  My guess is you will always be able to order upgraded food ( i.e. lobster) if you pay the upgrade charge. This is nothing new. BTW most Haven guests do not take main pool loungers or main pool space away from other cruises.