1st World Problem Vent :) Non-Vines customers camping out in Vines

[wowzz]

22 minutes ago, Knickearth said:

My friends and I for so many years have gone to the vines before going to dinner.  We order a bottle of wine and have the sushi or tapas.  When we noticed about five or six years ago many non drinkers sitting in the vines at a high useage time we spoke to the staff.  We suggested they put out signs saying “seating for cruisers enjoying wine from 4 to 7 pm”

 

we were told they couldn’t that.  My reply was this is where princess could make money but chooses not to.  Makes no sense.  All of us stopped going that year to the vines.  

Good try. It is a pity you were not listened to.

Princess descibes Vines as below. It is quite clearly a wine bar,  and is not  part of the general atrium seating area. As such, only those purchasing products from the bar should be seated there.

 

Voted one of the “Best Wine Bars at Sea,” by  USA TODAY  and located in a charming corner of the Atrium, Vines boasts an extensive collection of wines, fine Champagne and sparkling wines and regional offerings for purchase. The menu also includes wine flights and a selection of unique wines by the glass. Gourmet delicacies, such as antipasti and tapas, are complimentary with any wine purchase.

[skynight]

The frustration needs to be pointed to Princess and those that design the ships. The frustration should not be focused toward the passengers who are all there to have a nice vacation experience.

[ldubs]

6 hours ago, wowzz said:

What I am hearing is that Vines is a profit making venue, that exists to generate revenue by offering paid for beverages.  If potential customers are being dissuaded from spending money, because seats are being occupied by people who have not paid for a drink, then Princess staff should respectfully suggest that the non-drinkers should either purchase a beverage, or leave. 

 

I completely understand that view.  It is still only rational for a self serving non-existent rule.  

 

If you feel strongly that a new rule is needed, then perhaps suggest it to Princess.  Put it on your feedback survey.   For fun, on your next Princess cruise ask Guest Services to eject someone from the seat you are entitled to.   

[geocruiser]

Just a question:  Where on the ship (other than my cabin) can a person sit without a waiter asking you if you want a drink?  Every where on board that I have been to, sooner or later I am asked.

[ldubs]

27 minutes ago, geocruiser said:

Just a question:  Where on the ship (other than my cabin) can a person sit without a waiter asking you if you want a drink?  Every where on board that I have been to, sooner or later I am asked.

 

That is a very good point.  

 

Maybe they should put coin slots on chairs (no lap sitting allowed).  haha. 

[mtnesterz]

All of the above and previous pages reminds me of the threads when the Royal Class ships came out. Be it not enough seating in the theater, that they did not add elevators when the added decks of cabins, removed common areas to add pay-for-use areas, or removed the full Promenade, there is a loss of places just to hang out.

This should not be put on the passengers, who all pay to be on the ship.

This is solely on Princess for taking away areas for people just to relax without paying every second just to be there.

One thing that might help is that the internet cafe adjacent to Vines on Grand Class could be converted to a lounge area. Few use the internet cafe for the intended purpose these days.

Edited March 14, 2023 by mtnesterz

[waltd]

It would be an easy fix if the area did generate money or they wanted more money.   Just put a railing around the area like they do with Alfredo's.   Then have a hostess at the front seating people while Vines is open.   If not then just like every other area just come and go as you please.   Nothing is going to change.  

[XBGuy]

Mrs. XBGuy and I, frequent Vines patrons, have never been unable to find seats--be it at one of the sit down tables, the bar or the Stammtisch table.  We have noticed that when Vines first opens in the late afternoon, many of the tables are being used by game players.  It's just not that big a deal.  Generally, they wrap up and bustle off to the dining room fairly quickly.

 

I see, however, that Princess does listen to Cruise Critic opinions and has solved the problem on the Discovery Princess and the Enchanted Princess.

 

 

[memoak]

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

Good try. It is a pity you were not listened to.

Princess descibes Vines as below. It is quite clearly a wine bar,  and is not  part of the general atrium seating area. As such, only those purchasing products from the bar should be seated there.

 

Voted one of the “Best Wine Bars at Sea,” by  USA TODAY  and located in a charming corner of the Atrium, Vines boasts an extensive collection of wines, fine Champagne and sparkling wines and regional offerings for purchase. The menu also includes wine flights and a selection of unique wines by the glass. Gourmet delicacies, such as antipasti and tapas, are complimentary with any wine purchase.

Not all ships have sushi and tapas at vines

[malba2366]

9 hours ago, wowzz said:

What I am hearing is that Vines is a profit making venue, that exists to generate revenue by offering paid for beverages.  If potential customers are being dissuaded from spending money, because seats are being occupied by people who have not paid for a drink, then Princess staff should respectfully suggest that the non-drinkers should either purchase a beverage, or leave. 

Im not so sure of that anymore.  With the majority of guests on board having the plus packages, Princess may prefer that non drinkers take up the seats in Vines.

[Guest ldtr]

4 hours ago, wowzz said:

Good try. It is a pity you were not listened to.

Princess descibes Vines as below. It is quite clearly a wine bar,  and is not  part of the general atrium seating area. As such, only those purchasing products from the bar should be seated there.

 

Voted one of the “Best Wine Bars at Sea,” by  USA TODAY  and located in a charming corner of the Atrium, Vines boasts an extensive collection of wines, fine Champagne and sparkling wines and regional offerings for purchase. The menu also includes wine flights and a selection of unique wines by the glass. Gourmet delicacies, such as antipasti and tapas, are complimentary with any wine purchase.

Sure it is a wine bar, just as other venues such as  Crown Grill Bar, Wheel House Bar, Good Spirits at Sea are also bars and allow anyone to occupy seats in the venue.  On the other hand those areas such as on the Enchanted and Discovery where they replaced Vines with the Salty Dog Gastropub they made it very clear that those seats were not available because of how they partitioned the space.  Also note that there does not appear to be a Vines on the Sun.

[jwattle]

5 hours ago, geocruiser said:

Just a question:  Where on the ship (other than my cabin) can a person sit without a waiter asking you if you want a drink?  Every where on board that I have been to, sooner or later I am asked.

Sooo...you DON'T want service?🤔I'm not judging, just asking, because that would be the complaint from most, is that "I sat there for hours, and no one offered to serve me".

[DallasGuy75219]

2 minutes ago, jwattle said:

Sooo...you DON'T want service?🤔I'm not judging, just asking, because that would be the complaint from most, is that "I sat there for hours, and no one offered to serve me".

Seems like when you want a drink no one is around, and when you don't want a drink they won't stop pestering you. 

[JimmyVWine]

15 hours ago, ldubs said:

Get up early and put a beach towel on the chair you want at Vines.  Problem solved.   

 

   

Sheesh!  Between the Lido Deck pool area, a window table at the buffet, seats in the theater, seats at Princess Live!, a window table by the bar at the IC, a table with a view of the Piazza performance area and now a window table at Vines, I now have to pack 7 towels and 7 books to pretend to read! 😁😈 

[wowzz]

4 hours ago, malba2366 said:

Im not so sure of that anymore.  With the majority of guests on board having the plus packages, Princess may prefer that non drinkers take up the seats in Vines.

Nah - Princess make a lot of money out of Princess Plus. The ropes will be out soon enough if they think  people are not buying the package because of seating issues in Vines.

 

[Mike45LC]

To satisfy half the people on this thread, I will order a glass of horse sweat on the Plus Package whenever I want to sit in Vines.  I guess I'll get red, so that I can claim I am letting it breath as it sits there untouched by my lips.  Will that please the people who object to fare-paying passengers utilizing the seats in this common area of the ship?  

 

Fortunately, ordering a glass of wine (or three) will not detract from the unlimited glasses of Coke and mocktails I get as part of the Plus Package that the casino keeps on buying for me.  As long as I don't have to drink the grape juice!

 

When I first made Elite, many years ago, I went to two of the free wine tastings.  Some arrogant pissant was pontificating about the wines, and I made a good faith effort to expand my horizons.  I stopped attending after two of these.  My time would have been better spent in the hot tub or sauna.

[cr8tiv1]

Let's add fuel to the fire:

 

How is this any different that a smoker sitting on a slot chair AND not playing the machine.  

 

Been thinking of something to post ALL day.  It's raining...and I am bored.

[Mike45LC]

1 minute ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Let's add fuel to the fire:

 

How is this any different that a smoker sitting on a slot chair AND not playing the machine.  

 

Been thinking of something to post ALL day.  It's raining...and I am bored.

I don’t smoke, but I sit at slot machines without playing them, with my nose stuck in my Kindle. Just to keep my wife company as she plays a slot. And to cheer her on.

 

I will be happy to relocate if someone wants the slot I’m sitting at, because my only business there is as a cheerleader.

 

I will also go to the sports book if they have a comfortable arm chair to read my book. Living in Vegas, I spend a lot of time in casinos. 

[geocruiser]

6 hours ago, jwattle said:

Sooo...you DON'T want service?🤔I'm not judging, just asking, because that would be the complaint from most, is that "I sat there for hours, and no one offered to serve me".

I never said that I don't want service.  I said "Just a question:  Where on the ship (other than my cabin) can a person sit without a waiter asking you if you want a drink?  Every where on board that I have been to, sooner or later I am asked"

[cr8tiv1]

1 hour ago, Mike45LC said:

I don’t smoke, but I sit at slot machines without playing them, with my nose stuck in my Kindle. Just to keep my wife company as she plays a slot. And to cheer her on.

 

I will be happy to relocate if someone wants the slot I’m sitting at, because my only business there is as a cheerleader.

 

I will also go to the sports book if they have a comfortable arm chair to read my book. Living in Vegas, I spend a lot of time in casinos. 

 

You have a "valid" reason to be there.  I'm sure your wife is contributing for the both of you.  But I was just being cantankerous.  

[ldubs]

7 hours ago, jwattle said:

Sooo...you DON'T want service?🤔I'm not judging, just asking, because that would be the complaint from most, is that "I sat there for hours, and no one offered to serve me".

 

I'm not the person you quoted but I think the point is just about all areas of the ship are "revenue generating".  That honor isn't exclusive to Vines.   

[ldubs]

2 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

I don’t smoke, but I sit at slot machines without playing them, with my nose stuck in my Kindle. Just to keep my wife company as she plays a slot. And to cheer her on.

 

I will be happy to relocate if someone wants the slot I’m sitting at, because my only business there is as a cheerleader.

 

I will also go to the sports book if they have a comfortable arm chair to read my book. Living in Vegas, I spend a lot of time in casinos. 

 

Well, according to this new non-existent Vines rule, you must make a Wine purchase to occupy a seat in Vines.  Sitting with a spouse doesn't count.  Come on now, don't you know it is a revenue generating area (It is true, I read it on a forum) 😀 

[Over from NZ]

On 3/14/2023 at 2:15 PM, Mike45LC said:

Most of the responses are supporting the OP.  Mine does not. 

 

I have paid the cruise fare, and that entitles me to sit at almost any venue in the ship.  (Except specialty restaurants, spa, sanctuary, etc.)  I think of most of the venues' seating as "common areas" open and available to all on a first come, first served basis.  

 

As a non-drinker with the Plus Package, if I have to buy a glass of wine to sit at the Vines tables, I could do that.  But what makes you wine drinkers somehow more entitled to sit there than I am?  It's a cruise ship, and I paid my fare.  If I want to watch/listen to the activities in the Piazza, and there are no seats available there, I will sit in Vines. 

 

It is not as if Vines is an independent bar, with seats/tables reserved for it.  Vines is just one more "common area" of the ship.

Exactly!!!

[CruizinSusan70]

14 hours ago, geocruiser said:

Where on the ship (other than my cabin) can a person sit without a waiter asking you if you want a drink?  

Any bathroom sitting on the throne. 😉

[DallasGuy75219]

14 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Any bathroom sitting on the throne. 😉

But you could have a drink delivered there with the Medallion app 🙂