How much are you willing to let slide?

[voljeep]

11 minutes ago, suzyed said:

 And even if we cancelled, we would have only gotten FCCs, not cash.

so, you made a business decision weighing the pros and cons ... as always, follow the money ...

[nini]

In May, we completed our 7th Princess cruise- a 12 night British Isles itinerary on the Emerald.

 

Sadly, this was not the Princess we knew and loved; the reason why we kept returning. We were able to book one of our favorite corner aft balcony cabins (not a suite) on the Baja deck. We had sincerely hoped that the staff smoking area on the Promenade deck wold not exist. Well, it did and the cigarette smoke just wafted its way right to us ( 4 decks up). Based on hundreds of other comments and experiences, we did not even bother to talk the Guest Services.

 

Our cabin steward was great, experienced and hard working. He was always very professional and prompt with various duties... like returning our passports in a very timely manner as promised and delivering the hard copy of our negative Covid test results. He had been on the Diamond when Covid began.

 

However, the staff in general were not as up beat as we were accustomed. The buffet food was mediocre. The Crown Grill was very good but the service was unfriendly. The dining room food was basically very good, but the salmon was usually on the dry side so I stopped ordering it. Port was on the menu but there was none to be had, except at one bar and it was hit or miss. Sabatini's and Planks were closed the entire time.

 

Wine pours were 3 oz. and used to be 5- 6 oz. A standard pour is 6 oz. Therefore, you are paying more per glass. We had Princess Plus, so I just began ordering two glasses at a time. On day 7 of the cruise, passengers were permitted to approach, sit or stand at a bar or the coffee bar, due to our Covid numbers being so low. Only then, were tapas available at Vines. The Vines menu was fairly limited as the other bars and yes, I realize we have supply chain issues. One day, there was no Half-n-Half for coffee- they said it was down in storage. It was not uncommon for one of the buffet supervisors to snap at you, telling you that you were wrong about something.

 

All in all, these points are not necessarily enough to spoil a trip, however, the VIBE was not there.

 

We decided to keep our September Alaska cruise on the Grand. One of the reasons is to see if it was just the Emerald's issue as well to also to check it out, due to having booked the Grand for a Transpacific next year. We are hoping the Grand will have the Princess VIBE.

 

I hope to remember to report back!

[suzyed]

34 minutes ago, voljeep said:

so, you made a business decision weighing the pros and cons ... as always, follow the money ...

Yes, since it takes so long to get the FCCs, we may have missed the opportunity to rebook.
We've just resigned ourselves that we will be enjoying the most expensive "Cruise to Nowhere"  ever! 
Nuff said.

Edited June 18, 2022 by suzyed

[suzyed]

47 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

I think we've been lucky so far. We've cruised three times since the restart and the only things that really bothered us were these two things:

 

• Made the mistake of booking in the aft deck 6 dining room on the Ruby. Every night, it was a disaster at 5:00 when the world showed up and many of them didn't want to stand in line since they had reservations. The waiting area outside that dining room is ridiculous. It was shoulder to shoulder, with the line snaking back and forth. We stuck it out because we got a really great table for two and really great wait staff. We still had to stand in line and weren't allowed to just go in.
• We did a really nice excursion in Vancouver, but there was a lengthy delay getting off the ship. All the excursion groups were herded into the Princess theater, where we sat for over an hour with all the unmasked.

 

The other little differences didn't bother us, and I was a big fan of the smaller portions in the MDR. I could get all courses instead of having to forgo one or more.

 

As I said, I think we must have been lucky, since so many people have had so many problems.

We sailed on the Sky on NYE and it was wonderful!  The perfect cruise!  We're booked on the Caribbean Princess in October and the Enchanted for NYE again.  We enjoy Princess very much and expect those sailings to be just fine!  

[Sea Hag]

3 minutes ago, suzyed said:

We sailed on the Sky on NYE and it was wonderful!  The perfect cruise!  We're booked on the Caribbean Princess in October and the Enchanted for NYE again.  We enjoy Princess very much and expect those sailings to be just fine!  

We have two more booked for this year and two for next year. We're still optimistic. 

[suzyed]

1 minute ago, Sea Hag said:

We have two more booked for this year and two for next year. We're still optimistic. 

I don't have a problem with the ships per se, maybe just the marketing aspects.

[ebeluga]

I am only going to let it slide until I use up all my FCC which is probably a cruise away.

[suzyed]

2 minutes ago, ebeluga said:

I am only going to let it slide until I use up all my FCC which is probably a cruise away.

Ditto.  Ours will be all used up after the NYE cruise this year.

Edited June 18, 2022 by suzyed

[floridababa]

The staff is new and they are shorthanded .  The food is not like before but we were on royal last October and food was horrible.  I think if we choose to go we need to know that things will be very different.

[voljeep]

20 minutes ago, suzyed said:

Ditto.  Ours will be all used up after the NYE cruise this year.

huh...too bad you couldn't have used them on the cruise your daughters had to pay over 12k for...

[CineGraphic]

We're using up the last of our FCCs for our October 2022, and Feb 2023 sailings.

After that, anything is possible.

We no longer feel the need or desire to dedicate all of our vacation time and funds to Princess.

 

This isn't about getting one's ass-kissed, it's about getting what's been advertised......Something the industry is having a hard time doing.

[sunsetme]

I have 2 Princess cruises coming up, not happy with the masking on Alaska but will make the best of it. All of the travel industry has cut back, hotels especially irritating so I don't expect any more from Princess. It is just good to be able to travel again even with compromises.

[vjmatty]

2 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

We're using up the last of our FCCs for our October 2022, and Feb 2023 sailings.

After that, anything is possible.

We no longer feel the need or desire to dedicate all of our vacation time and funds to Princess.

 

This isn't about getting one's ass-kissed, it's about getting what's been advertised......Something the industry is having a hard time doing.

I just wanted to thank you for starting this thread. It asks a good question, and after reading so many reactionary hyperbolic responses on FB toward anything less than a 5 star review, I was starting to wonder if anything would be deemed unacceptable to some loyalists. Informative, honest reviews which I actually find helpful are blasted as “complaining” if mentioning simple basic facts that are less than flattering to Princess. I’m wondering if maybe the apologists just haven’t sailed recently. 

[tetleytea]

As far as I'm concerned, I'm the one who paid, I'm the one who sailed, and I'm the critic.  If others wish to view that as complaining, then okay--I am giving my opinions; not taking them. 

[PacnGoNow]

Great thread….thanks @CineGraphic!

 

We’ve been lucky and have had 6 cruises this year with Princess and NOT had a lot of problems, like others have.  Of course, it’s not as nice as pre covid, but what is?  Hotels, airlines, cruise lines and tour operators, etc are all trying to survive.

It’s rough out there and I understand the staff shortages, food shortages, pilot shortages and getting the ships and airplanes back into service.  
 

Believe me, it’s not just Princess that is struggling to get back to normal.

 

Really not had to let too much slide on those 6 cruises. But, understand others frustration.
 

I don’t understand with the issues on the Crown, why they are keeping it in service though.

Seems they could take it out and repair it sooner than October.  Maybe that’s not possible?  I know they have to book the dry dock pretty far in advance. Why not take it out of service and consolidate the remaining AK cruises on other ships?

That would give those crew members

a chance to go to other ships and fill the staff shortages they have.
 

But, we are booked on 3 more long cruises and plan on making the best of it. 
I’m optimistic that Princess will get it together. 
 

I told Princess in my review from the cruises….your crew is what makes these cruises great!  They were wonderful!
 

Well, I will let you know in November, if my ship makes it to the South Pacific and back. 🤔

 

Edited June 18, 2022 by PacnGoNow

[cruzsnooze]

One big reason I like booking with Princess is they don't charge an Administration fee of $100 PP like RCL and Celebrity if you cancel even way before final payment.  I did sail on RCL's Navigator but it was their simulated cruise which was absolutely wonderful. I took an NCL cruise on the Bliss in January and you couldn't give me another cruise on NCL. I took 3 cruises on Princess since the start up and they were fine, not great but good. Club Class dining made the experience better then had I waited in long lines at the MDR. I have a 16 day cruise this summer on the Caribbean Princess and am hoping for the best but at least I'm aware of the issue's everyone has mentioned. 

[Thrak]

John Padgett. 'Nuff said.

 

[cr8tiv1]

Thank you @CineGraphic for starting this thread.  In defense of Princess, I have to voice my opinions:

 

I have been on 4 Grand Princess voyages since October 2021 through April 2022.  Granted, all in a. Window Suite, CC dining, reduced capacity.  It was the Grand Princess and her crew that made each of my sailings very enjoyable. 

 

On the other hand, it is Princess' onshore support that has fallen short.of expectations (Medallion Class App, call centers, PVP, wait times, passenger capacity, etc).

 

I don't care where I cruise as long as I have a Window Suite (Grand/Caribbean).  

 

I honestly believe that no one is faulting the crew.  It is Princess corporate that is the weakest link.  

[LACruiser88]

1 hour ago, PacnGoNow said:

I told Princess in my review from the cruises….your crew is what makes these cruises great!  They were wonderful!

Ditto!  That is why we have kept coming back.  

[ldubs]

4 hours ago, suzyed said:

Yeah, except that they already have our thousands of dollars!!

 

Oh boy, that changes things.  Hopefully the next one will be a winner -- enjoy!  

[JEH]

Booked on the Crown 8/19 /22  7 night from Seattle ,  the key to our happiness  is low expectations . Have done in past years 2 land sea cruises with Princess which were excellent . We're  not expecting  that and are using  credits. Hope things improve .

[pris993]

We were on the Ruby for 10 days in February.  The only thing we noticed was less options/variety in the buffet.  We stopped going to the MDR years ago on all lines - long before the pandemic.  

 

Most evenings we stick with buffet, go early before it is crowded and enjoy a sunset with our meal.   A few times during the cruise we go to the Crown Grill for a change.  Did this on last cruise to.  Notice the rib steak was a bit on the thin side but I had more than enough to eat so no big deal.

 

Service both in the buffet, Crown Grill and our mini suite cabin was outstanding.  We order breakfast from Room Service as well.  

 

I am going again in December 15-day Hawaii on Royal.   

 

As long as I can take a taxi to the ship, don't need to fly I am more than happy with Princess.  The December cruise will be our 31st with Princess.  We have cruised 9 different lines, well over 60 cruises, I have lost count. 

[PescadoAmarillo]

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Thank you @CineGraphic for starting this thread.  In defense of Princess, I have to voice my opinions:

 

I have been on 4 Grand Princess voyages since October 2021 through April 2022.  Granted, all in a. Window Suite, CC dining, reduced capacity.  It was the Grand Princess and her crew that made each of my sailings very enjoyable. 

 

On the other hand, it is Princess' onshore support that has fallen short.of expectations (Medallion Class App, call centers, PVP, wait times, passenger capacity, etc).

 

I don't care where I cruise as long as I have a Window Suite (Grand/Caribbean).  

 

I honestly believe that no one is faulting the crew.  It is Princess corporate that is the weakest link.  

I agree that we had 30 wonderful nights on Princess ships post-COVID.  Not exactly the same as the pre-COVID experience, but in some ways even better (due to the lower passenger counts). Our 15 nights on the Emerald Princess, its first post-COVID cruise, rivaled our best Pacific Princess cruises in French Polynesia (our previous benchmark for an outstanding cruise). And this despite the fact that the Terrace Deck right outside our cabin was torn up for most of the cruise (we went with the flow despite the hammering all night long most nights) and even declined a move). We did get the Sanctuary as a replacement for the Terrace Deck, and though it was on the opposite end of the ship, enjoyed it immensely. THAT is the way to treat guests…if you take a major pool and deck right outside their cabin out of commission, offer a replacement. The Lotus Spa pool was algae filled for days until another cruiser personally escorted the HGM there and wrote his name on the algae on the wall. I didn’t mention either situation in my post-cruise survey but instead raved about the ship and crew and officers (especially the HGM Helmut, as personable a guy as you’ll meet anywhere). 
 

All this to say that most cruisers really don’t expect perfection. I had been having issues with Princess admin in Santa Clarita for over a year but didn’t give up on the product.  But what is happening now, the huge shortfalls in the experience delivered with an attitude by senior management coupled with the Santa Clarita admin issues are what is really hurting them, I think. 

[geocruiser]

I have no plans in sailing on Princess when Princess's  product is sub-par. 

[CineGraphic]

1 hour ago, PescadoAmarillo said:

The Lotus Spa pool was algae filled for days until another cruiser personally escorted the HGM there and wrote his name on the algae on the wall.

 

WOW!