Loreni

Wow.  That is fantastic.  What a thoughtful feature. Kudos to NCL.

I have cruised exclusively with Princess and am trying to learn about the Bliss and NCL, in general.

The Local seems to be a very unique and welcome feature: a 24-hour table service restaurant. 

Please let me know during what hours  hamburgers are available.  Say I wanted one at midnight?

Is the prime rib always available, or only certain hours of certain days?   is the Prime rib gluten free? It probably is if served without an jus.

princess has a 24-hour International Cafe, but choices are very limited at night, it is not table service, and very little hot food is available at any time....soup, panini, and egg McMuffin.  Does Local offer any gluten free breakfast options...scrambled eggs should be OK.  Maybe yogurt and fruit?

I have cruised exclusively with Princess and am trying to learn about NCL and Bliss.  Ideally, I prefer a traditional covered promenade deck for walking in the shade and sitting and reading in the shade.  

May I sit at the restaurant tables on the Waterfront when the restaurants aren’t open?

i see there are also sofas on the Waterfront.  May I sit here to read, or do I need to order a drink to use the sofas?

there is a second covers promenade deck beneath the Waterfront.  Is this good for walking or is it used for smoking?

I have cruised exclusively with Princess and am trying to learn about NCL and Bliss.  The Observation Lounge is one of the selling points for me.  But...  The first time someone mentioned people sleeping in the Observation Lounge, I dismissed it.  By the third time, I was curious.  Someone also wrote that it looks like an upscale homeless camp.  Someone else showed a sign posted by NCL asking people not to use chairs as footrests and to wear their shoes except when using the chaise (then they should wear socks). Is such a sign really needed?

Yet someone else wrote that people camp there overnight for Glacier Bay.  What is the typical situation in the OL?  Is there enough seating for everyone, or are chair hogs and sleepers a problem?  I assume it’s open 24 hours.  Any hot food served?  Any food or snacks in the evening?

I appreciate all the help and information you each have given me.  Thank you.  I don’t know what ship yet, but probably Bliss or Joy.

It might even have two chairs. And some foot rests.  And a dining height table or two. And lounge chairs

it has private viewing for MUTs.  I wonder if those booking it will like all that noise in the daytime.

 On the plus side they can enjoy breakfast with a show: watching other passengers  scramble to save loung chairs by the pool.

We have also wanted to try HAL but been reluctant because of smoking.  I wonder if it is any better now, but I don’t think I’m allowed to ask questions like that on the HAL board, so how can I learn the answer.

HAL often has better itineraries than Princess.  On most ships, HAL has a better promenade deck.  I don’t doubt OP that the food is better, or at least comparable.  And the cabins appear to be more comfortable, especially in light of Princess continual bizarre efforts to reduce and remove both balcony and in room furniture.  Why would Princess put themselves at such a competitive disadvantage?

We are getting ready to try something new, even though we are elite.  Maybe NCL although I’ve read service  is painfully slow in the MDRs and the cabins are not thoroughly cleaned...that’s bad.  I’m not crazy about their ship listing today either.  It’s a beautiful design, but maybe too susceptible to wind?

I thought about Celebrity, but the thumping music everywhere would drive me crazy.

I might just stay on Princess and bring a small folding camping chair and a camping footrest.  I have room now that I no longer have to bring a mattress topper - I love the new beds.

Well food is subjective and I disagree with almost everything you wrote.  I like Princess version of Beef Wellington.  I don’t knowingly eat fois gras anymore.  I think the Princess pate layer is mushroom based; I like it.

I think the pub lunch is utterly disgusting and those with Celiac disease can’t join in.  Princess won’t even bring them a simple salad.  It is also not good for anyone with diabetes or heat disease or gallbladder disease. After I was done peeling the breading off my fish, I probably had less than an two ounces of fish.

I like Sabatini’s food AND decor.  

I  haven’t ordered the cheese plate in a while, but Princess offers a wide variety of cheeses at IC, HC, and the Elite cocktail hour.  I’v seen full wheels of Stilton and Parmesan.

I haven’t tried Crown Grill.  I have good steakhouses at home, and I understand that the beef is not prime, but select grade.  Portions are too large for me as well.

I think Princess pastries are just OK.  From what I can tell, the laminated pastries do not use butter.  I love Princess bread and rolls and find most of the MDR food very good.  Princess makes excellent and varied desserts for those with Celiac disease each day and has them available in the MDR, HC, and IC.  I like that Princess will provide low sodium food for me and it is still great tasting.

We may be cruising on NCL for the first time, after becoming elite on Princess.  I kinda regret sailing exclusively with them.  They do many things well, but lately management is making bizarre decisions, like removing furniture from the rooms. Already, Princess balcony rooms lack a sofa, now arm chairs are being removed. This removal is going fleetwide.  Tables are also being removed.  Footrests were removed from balconies.  Large balcony tables had already been replaced with small ones and comfortable balcony chairs replaced with lousy ones several years ago.

Unfortunately, if we sail NCL, it will be a last minute booking, less than 30 days out. 

Does everybody get to see the big shows as long as they are willing to line up early enough on standby?  Will I be able to get dining reservations for the MDRs at normal dining times?  If I get the free dining package, I pay gratuities.  How are they calculated?  Is it simply based on what I order?

We will be three in a cabin this time.  Unless sailing suite, mini suite, or deluxe balcony (on certain ships) on Princess, the third person is in a bunk bed.  It is not great,  but doable.  How are the sofa beds on NCL?  Would they be an upgrade compared to a Princess upper berth.  I don’t mind bringing my own mattress topper and used to do so on Princess, even with 2 people, before they upgraded the lower beds.  How are the lower beds on NCL? Firm?

i need to learn so much, I appreciate all your help.  I should say that Princess’ current beds are fantastic...not too firm, pillow top.

What if you booked through a travel agent?  Does NCL contact you directly to invite you to bid?

My understanding is that the Bliss design offers several improvements including no smoking on the Waterfront and no smoking in the casino except for a glassed-in area.

As far as food goes, some of it looks good and some not so good.  I think overall the food would be acceptable especially since Princess food is declining.

We are considered Bliss for Alaska.  Unlike Royal Princess, Bliss allows forward viewing to non-suite guests both on the Waterfront and in the Observation Lounge which has seating for 500 people.  I don’t know if Bliss allows any other forward viewing from the open deck, but Royal doesn’t allow ANY.

And Bliss goes to Glacier Bay!

The full height table was on the mini suite balcony.  

I agree that there are so many wonderful venues outside the room; that is called using positive reinforcement to get people out of their rooms.

However, different passengers have different needs at different ages and different times in their life Ives.    There are many reasons why one would decide to use room service.  This feature is advertised by Princess and those using it should expect some degree of comfort.

We travel with a multigenerational group and if all members of our group cannot be comfortable we cannot travel together.

It seems like Princess is trying to use negative reinforcement to change passenger behavior.  In 2012, they removed dining height tables from the mini suites.  They also removed half the chairs and replaced them with much less comfortable chairs.  If you insisted on ordering room service, you would not dine in comfort (overall comfort when using the balcony was also diminished).

Not long ago, Princess tried to charge for room service.  This would certainly decrease demand.  There was a passenger revolt, and Princess removed the fee.

Now both tables and chairs are being removed from cabins.  It is just about impossible to dine in comfort in your room.  Those with arthritis or back pain may find dining (or just staying) in their room physically uncomfortable.  That should modify their behavior. (I believe foot rests have also been removed).

If Princess can reduce demand for room service, they can reduce the number of crew.  Then more space can ultimately be devoted to passenger rather than crew cabins and this means...more profit and bigger bonuses.

An added benefit of using the the negative reinforcement of physical discomfort is that it drives people from their cabins into the public spaces where they can spend money.

The thing is, you don’t use negative reinforcement (especially physical) on people you respect.  

I have found more food photos and movies on YouTube.  Most of it looks good.  One big plus is that NCL uses real butter.  Another plus is that NCL has hard ice cream at the buffet, I think Princess cut this out years ago.  

Also, NCL has chocolate bark and peanut brittle on the buffet...I have never seen candy on a Princess buffet, except once in 2005 Princess had chocolate dipped cherries and strawberries.

The MDR food looks good.  I am worried about the other restaurants because DH needs gluten free.  I need to learn more about how well NCL handles this, Princess has been fantastic with the special diet.  If we need to stick with the 3 MDRs, that’s OK.

I am also intrigued by the possibility of much better entertainment like Jersey Boys.  I am surprised to learn that my older DH wants to try the free fall water slide and the go carts.

11 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

Here is a link to Scott Singer Cruises video blogs. He has several NCL, Princess and HAL blogs. They are quite informative. 

 

Thanks for the YouTube and blog info.  I have a lot more research to do, but most of what I’m finding is encouraging.

i appreciate everyone’s help and input.  

Thanks for the food pictures.

Thank you for the review.  I just checked pricing on upcoming Mexico sailings.  I expected NCL to be much less than Princess; it wasn’t.  Some have said that the MDR on NCL is so bad that specialty dining is recommended.  If so, the base price should be lower.  Others say the MDR on NCL is surprisingly good.

I hope I can find some recent photos of the NCL MDR food as well as food in the Observation Lounge.  

Thanks, I will check FB and NCL boards and be careful what time of year we sail.   I also look forward to more insights from Princess cruisers who have also tried Biliss or NCL in general.   We don’t like crowds, but if the room is nicer, we’d spend more time there.  I know NCL charges for room service, but this may be OK depending on the total cost of the cruise.  Making reservations for a show might be better being forced to line up early to get a seat, like on Princess.

I hate the ship-within-ship trend, but sadly Princess is going to this way too.

 Elite cruisers, as a group, are older.

 Older people, as a group, have more ailments.

 This does not mean all Elites are affected by the recent changes, but, as a group, Elites are disproportionately affected.   And this is likely by design as management would prefer new cruisers who, as a group, spend more onboard.  

Those of us sailing from LA will soon have this choice.  I want 3 things from a cruise: a walkable promenade, comfortable cabin, gluten-free food.

We are elite on Princess and, since 2005, have sailed with them exclusively.  I never thought I would sail NCL, but I’m thinking about it.  Based on numerous changes, I don’t believe Princess values its elites or really wants to retain them.

I have seen higher cruise fares for elites on certain sailings.

Removing the chairs and tables from cabins and removing the footrests, larger tables, and comfortable reclining chairs from balconies disproportionately hurts elites. Literally HURTS.  Why?  They tend to older and have knee or back pain and/or arthritis.  They need chairs.  Some like to spend more time in their cabins to be close to the bathroom.  Some have hearing problems and prefer peace and quiet of their private space. They sometimes like room service because they can’t easily navigate the buffet or endure the long breakfasts and lunches in MDR.  For room service, you need a table.

I would probably still sail a Grand class ship rather than Bliss, but the Royal Class doesn’t have a walkable promenade.  Bliss does.

Can NCL accommodate gluten-free?  

Does Bliss offer more comfortable cabin and/or balcony furniture?  Tables for room service?

Just how how bad is NCL food in the MDR?  How does it compare to Princess, considering the decline in Princess food?

Are NCL’s for-fee restaurants good?  Is the food made to order? 

This decision may have unintended negative consequences for both passengers and Princess.

Passengers:  I have to assume that inflicting physical pain on those with back trouble who decide to spend time in their non-suite level rooms is unintentional...otherwise, it’s unconscionable.

Princess: I often have difficulty finding a seat to enjoy my purchased coffee at the International Cafe because many passengers are there reading and playing cards...sometimes with a thermos of free coffee taken from HC or their own water bottles... sometimes with no drink at all.  This problem will only be worse if passengers are driven from their rooms by pain.  And they will be right to take this prime space and spend no money.

For those of you still committed to cruising Princess and looking for a pain-free quiet place, I recommend bringing earplugs or noise reduction ear muffs.  The ear muffs are not subtle, but they work and people will not try to engage you in conversation.  I recommend Medalia d’Oro instant espresso; it is easy to dissolve even in cold water or milk.  I am sorry you can no longer expect comfort in your room. 

I wonder if the Piazza will appear to be an attractive space for the younger demographic Princess is after, if it is full of older passengers wearing ear muffs, reading Kindles, and drinking from thermoses.  I think not.

You may not find what you are looking for on Celebrity.  Do some reading on what is going on with the Edge cabin and “balcony” furniture.  We are also unhappy with the chair removal, but Celebrity doesn’t look like a good fit.

For those of of you who are considering leaving Princess, what type of vacations do you enjoy when not cruising.  Or put another way, what is it about cruising that you enjoy most and how much of this can be replicated on a land-based vacation.  

The sad truth is that DH and I, any many of you, fit into a category that the cruise lines are trying to shed.  The marketing departments want to boast attractive cabins, balconies, and room service.  But management doesn’t really want you using these...and if you try to, you will be punished with uncomfortable furniture, absent furniture, limited room service menus, and possibly even fees for room service.  For this strategy to work it has to subtle, the passenger has to think he choosing not to be in his cabin or on his balcony.  Otherwise, it is disrespectful and offensive.  But there is a category of passengers that they frankly don’t mind offending.

I usually don’t go where I’m not wanted, and it might be possible to have a better vacation at a resort or somewhere.   I was thinking about all the things I like about cruising and how they are getting harder to enjoy.  Remember being able to walk laps on a shaded outdoor promenade deck?  Or being able to lounge on a steamer chair on the promenade deck?  Having a reclining lounge chair on your balcony and a table suitable for dining? An oceanfront resort could offer some of this, and I have enjoyed resort vacations.  Ideally, I would love to find a small, pedestrian-only, seafront village.  I tried Mackinac Island, it was just OK.  Any other ideas?

Yes, the difference is still there today.  Prices are higher when I login.  Taking an inside as an example: For the Tahiti cruise, the first and second passenger rates are lower, but the third and fourth passenger are much higher.

For the Alaska cruises, while the third and fourth person rate is the same, the first and second are much higher...25% higher.

maybe it is a Platinum penalty, since some past passengers are not seeing the rates I’m seeing.  Or maybe it is regional. Could it be even more specific?  Might certain passengers be individually targeted for higher rates?  

I  thought we were welcome passengers.  We buy spa services and shore excursions.  We buy from the shops onboard. We leave the auto tip on and tip above this level as well.  We rarely drink alcohol and we don’t gamble.  Still I think our onboard spending is reasonable, but maybe Princess does not agree.

It seems almost as if Princess would prefer that we not book either of these cruises.  And maybe we won’t.  They will fill the ships anyway.  Truthfully, I have thought for a while we are in a bit of a rut when it comes to travel.  It is always difficult to decide whether to repeat an enjoyable experience or to try something new.  We were talking recently about certain types of vacations that we might not be able to take when we get older...maybe this is a sign that we should be prioritizing these vacations now and letting Alaska cruises wait.

Still...Why would Princess send me emails showing one rate and then when I login I get a higher rate?  I wonder if they would honor the rate they emailed me.  I don’t really feel like calling to find out.  I feel kind of ambivalent about sailing with Princess now.  I prefer to feel happy when I book a vacation.  I am not angry.  I am disappointed.  And my gut is telling me to try something new.

In one case it was March 2019 28-day round trip Tahiti from LA and the rates were especially different for 3rd and 4th passengers.

in the other case it wasn’t. 12- day April 2019 round trip to Alaska from LA. 

I noticed that for several upcoming sailings the past passenger rates on the Princess website are higher not lower than the standard rate  when I login ...about 30% higher in one case.   May I decline this rate and receive the standard rate.  I seems odd to punish past passengers.  Has anyone seen this before? 

The Cabin with upper we had, the person in the lower almost hit their head. Depends on how tall the person is.

Thank you. Sounds like we have to pay careful attention if we do this.