floridalover5623

19 minutes ago, LSGDRG said:

I was thinking that Princess might want to change up their daytime activities, especially on sea days.  I would like to see more free exercise classes, like tai chi or an intro to pickleball.  I would also like more enrichment/port lectures and cooking/bar demonstrations.  So much of the activities onboard seem designed to sell you something.

I guess you have the answer. 

Lotus spa treatments, jewelry sales, shopping talks, paid for exercise classes, bingo, $10 clothing sales, wine tasting, casino.

The days of offering events to do for free are long gone. Even the daytime movies at one of the lounges on the CB were gone.

Maybe they could start selling tickets for first run movies at the door. 😏

2 hours ago, dchip said:

I have brought them in and they are immediately placed back outside.

Forget what the steward does. He's only doing what he's told on how the cabin should be set up.

Tell the stewards supervisor that you want them to remain inside. 

1 hour ago, Dani24 said:

But they are going to need to find their niche amongst a somewhat younger crowd to survive.

It's a catch 22 situation. 

Change to fast & they'll drive more their older loyal people to HAL.

Don't change quick enough & they'll lose out on future generations who've built up credits with Carnival, NCL & RCI who have already seen the writing on the wall. 

ie. dress codes, pool slides, etc.

4 minutes ago, capriccio said:

Not the only option; a mini-suite has two chairs and a full size couch.  But of course both a mini and full suite cost more than a balcony cabin...

We hardly even used them but it would only seem logical that they could provide chairs upon request?

1 hour ago, Wpooh1968 said:

Anyone recall colors of bands offered for sale?  I'd like to ask someone to pre-purchase the bands for us but hubby wants different colors (like WDW).  Also, is it waterproof? Can I swim with it on? thanks

They are waterproof and not affected much by anything including strong magnets.

About the only thing that does affect it is wrapping it in a piece of aluminum foil which will block it from their sensors & you'll also not be able to use it to get into your cabin unless you unwrap it. 

If they're still issuing the new cruise cards along with the Medallion, they also are not affected my a magnet or phone placed near them like the older cruise cards.

53 minutes ago, geocruiser said:

Sitting with my back against the wall on a bed is not good either.  Bed sitting I just can't do. But thanks for the suggestion.  I need a chair to sit on.  One for me and one for my DH.

Looks like a full suite may be the only solution... or another cruise line. 

2 hours ago, majorjan said:

I took this excursion last fall on the Caribbean Princess. We went to seven mile beach. A great beach, but at the entrance, the staff rifled through our beach bags , and removed any source of food and drink. They confiscated cans of soda, sandwiches, cookies, fruit, it made the lines long waiting to get in. 

That sounds just like what they do in Cozumel. LOL 😁

They've found that it increases food & beverage sales tremendously since loads of people just pack snacks & soda from the ship.

9 hours ago, Dani24 said:

I do think Princess needs to keep their base happy. But their base is largely older, and eventually will no longer be able to cruise at all. If Princess doesn't figure out how to attract a younger clientele now (and get them loyal), then when the current clientele passes away they will be in big trouble. My point is that many of the changes we've seen (that I've seen older folks complain about) appear to be targeting that younger demographic. And even people nearing retirement today have different needs and interests than today's retirees, and Princess needs to evolve to meet their preferences as well. 

Very true but I don't believe they want to change to fast for fear of scarring away their loyal customer base.

Saying that, I haven't seen many changes in the past 20 years that do attract a younger crowd.

10 hours ago, PrincessLuver said:

 

I think people are going to be canceling because they want comfort in their cabins, the option to have more livability for at least two people in the cabin with places to sit, and that Princess is showing a lack of concern/understanding for it's passengers needs.  

 

I really do not believe their reasons given so far for the removable of chairs.  I have a feeling it is a cost cutting measure only and means that it will take cabin stewards less time to clean a cabin consequently a cut back in cabin stewards.  Also, less maintenance for furniture which means less money they have to spend.

 

If I can go with another cruise line with the same itinerary, similar price,  couch and or chairs in the cabin then I am sure Princess will be losing some very loyal passengers over this matter.  Chairs in their cabins have never been a problem for all of the many years they have been sailing....why now all of a sudden and unannounced?

I have not read all of this thread but has anyone requested a chair & been turned down?

11 hours ago, geocruiser said:

Try have a very bad back and sitting on a bed.  Can't do it.  I need a chair and so does my DH.

That why I can't sit to long in one if the lounges by the pool.

Try sitting on the bed with you back against the wall for support. 

8 hours ago, Pink flamingo52 said:

Just did this excursion today.  We are on the Regal.  Bad experience.  We very rarely complain but did today.  The beach is not seven mile.  You cannot even get in the ocean.  Better off taking transportation to seven mile.  We were so disappointed!

That's the best way of an enjoyable day at the beach. 

6 hours ago, USCcruisecrazy said:

We had late TD on the Crown last year and never had an issue finding a seat for the late show time...and that was with a party anywhere from 6-12 people.  I think the demographics on Princess play out better for those doing the late show than the early show.  Just MHO.

Those old timers are in bed by 9:30. 

4 hours ago, LSGDRG said:

I know that I am in the minority, but I would like less trivia and more of a variety of activities.

So would I but when would you like them to schedule it?

As it is there's something scheduled for every conceivable hour in the evening. 

3 hours ago, deliver42 said:

We are going on our second Princess cruise in My. Lived the first, and are commited to the 2nd, but if they don't change their chair policy, I will cancel our Sky reservation, and look elsewhere.  HAL, Celebrity, or MSC.

All because of a chair?😢

24 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Not for much longer. They expire the end of this year (?) unless there's a date on them. Then they expire on the date on the card.

ALL coffee cards expire on Aug 31, 2019. 

11 hours ago, MauiLvrs said:

Anytime you are ready you can show up at the door and WAIT to eat ...

The actual process of getting seated at a table isn’t usually that straight forward🤭

That's true. Mostly when you choose to eat at the most popular times from 6:16 to 7:30.

In all our years of cruising I can only recall 1 time when we dined with friends & showed up around 7 PM and had to wait 30 minutes with a beeper.  

Try adjusting your schedule around those hours & you'll fine there isn't much of a wait at all unless you have to have a table for 2. 

10 hours ago, OCruisers said:

The best thing about Anytime Dining is not being locked into a time you need to arrive for dinner.  

And you can adjust your eating schedule, to some degree, around the shows for that particular evening. 

Try that with traditional dining at a table for 8 & you'll miss the show because all the seats are gone or have a stiff neck sitting in the very first row. 

On 2/26/2019 at 5:16 PM, canadarocks said:

HUGE improvement on the ridiculously early shows at 6:45 & 8:45pm on the Caribbean Princess cruise right before this one! 

The 6:45 show was aimed at the late diners although it was always filled since many early diners made it to the show anyway even though they arrived after it had started.

2 hours ago, satxdiver said:

 

We are ones that liked the new CB buffet layout and the food offered.  We ate lunch there every day the MDR was closed (port days) and several sea days as well.  It is different than the other Princess ships so I can see some not liking change itself or the new offerings.  I would suggest that Princess is using the CB WFM as a test ground.  The only port we had not been to was Trinidad.  Other ports of call we had been to several to many times (St Thomas).  

That proves my point exactly. I can agree with most of what you post but in the future I just ignore your opinion on buffet food. As you say it is different. 😫

Our view of what items & prep. for buffet food are just not similar. 

1 hour ago, KatieMac67 said:

The first cruise I was on was on the Emerald and I thought it was a beautiful ship, wonderful food, you couldn't ask for any nicer customer service. That was in 2015. But before I went on that cruise I visited CC and ask questions about what to bring clothing wise, and other wise. I cannot tell you how much stuff people recommend that you bring along with you. I was starting to believe that I would need to bring my own bed (ha ha). Anyway some of the information was over the top and some of it was good. You just have to decide for yourself.

Obviously you didn't know the people who were posting. Some of then do bring all that junk, just in case they need it.

We learned years ago that if we needed something we forgot to bring, just buy it,

In over 30 some odd years of cruising we've bought 1 item & we travel lite. 😉

Maybe 20-30 people attend depending on the food. 

They'll never question what a child wears in the DR, nor what a woman chooses to wear either.

The dress suggestions seem to be aimed only at the men and even at that are getting more lenient as time goes by. 

3 minutes ago, satxdiver said:

We were on the CB in November and found the complaints to be unfounded.  I have found that the people who are unhappy will yell it from the highest mountain while those who are content will say little or nothing.  Always take criticism with a large grain of salt. 

Yes, we were a couple of the people who dislike the food changes on the CB buffet and won't return until they change back to the old way. Still many people say they like it & have no complaints. It's difficult to read reports & base an opinion on someone else's report unless you know that individual. 

The only thing you can do is follow reports from past posters that you can agree with & hope they will comment on that ship before you sail.

Traditional dining does work for many people but it always late for us (even first seating) & drags on. Anytime early is best for us without any reservations.

We do eat early & leave to get seats for the early show.

First come, first served and first seated for the show. It also lets us attend any later events where if you eat later you might not get a chance to attend them.

Like I said, it's not for everyone. 

14 hours ago, voljeep said:

could you book a specific time - say 6:30  or were you given the options of say 5:30 or 7:30 ?

I have never seen 6:30 as being an option. There would be to many people tying up the DR to eat at that time so they just don't do it. Most ships cutoff reservations at around 6 PM & don't start taking them until after 7:30.