Grego

Actually, I don't care either way.  We enjoy the mini bar and have always done the Plus Package for the rest of our libations, etc.  If they want to throw in a specialty dining or two that would be fine.

On 1/31/2023 at 3:32 PM, jeromep said:

You know how I feel about that "mini-suite" name.  An inappropriate label for what is basically an extended balcony cabin.

.........but with a bath tube which makes it different than a balcony regardless of the category.

Let's see.....you would have Princess give up a small cost to them item such as a mini bar and also give up a big revenue generator such as not charging for the Premier Package?  I'll bet the bean counters back at Santa Clarita have figured out that hardly anyone uses all the items on the PP anyway so they get the benefit of a profitable package to them and now they give that away?

I would rather see getting the Plus Package for the standard fare pricing and lose the mini bar.  I can bring aboard rum runners for the cabin use if I really needed to but the Plus Package does give us the benefits that we do enjoy, especially not to have a big bar bill at the end of the voyage.

12 hours ago, capriccio said:

Possibly another Princess ship is already scheduled for Princess Cays?  I've never seen more than one ship in Princess Cays at a time.

That’s more likely the case

On 12/14/2022 at 3:56 PM, MissP22 said:

But don't you like to take photo's on the cruise? Having a phone serves a lot of functions. 

Agreed.  One of the most used functions with the app on the phone is checking the dining room menus for lunch and dinner each day.

On 12/1/2022 at 1:01 PM, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

I am hoping that our medallions are shipped, and they arrive well before the cruise.  I remember a thread a couple weeks ago about problems with shipping the medallions.  At first I thought maybe they were going to not ship some of them.  But it seems to be an error in the tracking system in the App.   What a peek into the future!  Anyhow, we booked and cruise before the new stuff  kicks in.  We do have the confirmation that we ordered medallions with zero charge.  I want to be ready to just walk on the ship!

 

They are taking away the "Excitement Factor" that we used to have when we went to the mailbox and found the boarding pass and cruise documents and now, unless you pay the $10 for shipping, the mailbox will be completely bare and you'll be picking up the medallions at the ship.

Seems to me that Princess is already paying to have the medallions shipped to the ship anyway, why not ship them to the customer instead?

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I have decided that waiting for Princess to actually do what they say is like holding your breath under water.  

 

Do you remember the Medallion roll out?  (YEARS later)

 

Do you remember booking a particular ship to only have you moved over?  (for me it was three ships total...at which point I said "no thank you).

 

Do you remember:  We are going to fix the Caribbean Princess (or fill in the black) propulsion problem that took years?

 

Do you remember....

 

I was taught to think things through BEFORE making an grand announcement.  

 Excellent points.   I was brought up in the Jack Welch era of GE where we were taught to think through the "what if" factor before making a decision.

On 12/5/2022 at 5:59 PM, runner2013 said:

We won't pay for a medallion if we don't get a plus package in the future, five extra minutes at the check in desk won't bother us. 

I agree.  They should wave the fee for Elite members.

On 11/21/2022 at 1:09 PM, Aviator of the Seas said:

The Trolley is not up yet. They just have three 5-pax golf carts running around. Sorry.

We are very interested in seeing any progress with the trolley system. Any excursions offered for our January voyage are already sold out.

20 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

He blew the horn several times! The captain was not amused. 

Nor were the many people that are affected by delays in departure.

17 hours ago, jwattle said:

@dands154 are you sure that Captain Michele Tuvo is no longer with Princess, or is he just on a break?

Let's hope that this is the case.

On 11/13/2022 at 5:20 PM, Steelers36 said:

On Regal in early October, there were only a dozen cabins sectioned off.  On Island these past two weeks, guests are isolating in cabins.  I am not aware of any separate deck section.

We were on the Island Princess in July and if both passengers in the cabin tested positive they would remain in cablin.  If only one, they were sent to Emerald Deck aft to quarantine until tested negative.  I know because I spent 5 days there along with other passengers.....not all of us in the same cabin.

In previous voyages post-pandemic, there was an area on certain decks that were designated as quarantine areas which was available since the ships were not to be sold out. 

23 hours ago, leck57 said:

We are on the Majestic now and Kevin Tugwell is the CD

Is the report true that Captain Tuvo is no longer with Princess?

7 hours ago, dands154 said:

Yes, Kevin Tugwell definitely latest CD on Majestic. Current Captain is Andrea Spinardi as Cpt Tuva is no longer with Princess. Entertainment Dir on Majestic. is Ron Goodman. Neville Saldana DRO leaves 8th December. Will post new name then. 

Karen Rogers went to Coral as CD. Kelvin Joy is now ED on Coral. 
Giuseppe Francina is now DRO on Grand. 

That is disturbing news about Captain "Bye-Bye" Tuva. He was well liked by crew and passengers and we personally had some great quiet conversations.  There have been too many quality senior officers and staff leaving with some going to MSC as they expand their presence.  Most of the time the reason to leave outweighs the reason to stay and that is usually due to money and position. We can't ignore another factor and that is leadership and direction from above.

2 hours ago, skynight said:

By the way. The best way to view the Panama Canal transit is from the open decks where you can walk around to get 360 views. There are lots of viewing locations around the ship including the bow all the way forward on deck 7 and up the stairs to deck 8. There is lots of time so you can move around. Be prepared for hot, humid and strong sun. If you remain on your balcony you will only get a one sided view. 

Good and proper responses to the question of taking the upgrade for a mini with Club Class.  We have really loved the CC experience on this ship as well as the others we have been on since the pandemic.  The service was more personalized and they got to know our preferences and they delivered the meals in a more timely manner.  We loved that we could walk right in and get a table right away.

The mini is always a nice cabin especially if you like bathtubs and a little more space.  For $500 a person for that length voyage is a good value when including the CC.

One other really fun place to view the locks passage is all the way aft either on Deck 7 or one of the other decks above Lido.

46 minutes ago, Coral said:

I have thought they have had an identity crisis for years as they really didn't know what demographic they were trying to attract. They keep throwing things at the wall to see what works.

 

Sure sounds like someone that doesn't know what they are doing or what industry they are working in.

21 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

Another JP flop!

If you are also thinking the Medallion is a flop, I can't totally agree.  Yes, the app is not perfect but the actual medallion piece itself has a lot of very good useage.

The other flop has to be the sponsoring of a NASCAR vehicle with the Princess Sea Witch logo on it.  I haven't seen one positive result of that.

The new CEO of Carnival Corp  has announced he is very involved in "cleaning house" and I for one will send him my household broom to start at the top of Princess Cruises.

21 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Advertising is all about making an emotional connection and sparking a memory that makes you recall the product when it is time to make a purchase. The Love Boat tie in has served Princess well and will continue to do so as people who watched the show between 1977 and 1987 continue to be potential customers. It causes an instant connection to Princess. By way of example, what comes immediately to mind when you say “Holland American”?  Nothing. Or “Celebrity”? Nothing. “Carnival”? Party ships. “Royal Caribbean”?  Amusement park decks. “Princess”?  That’s the Love Boat company!

 

Well said and I totally agree.  There is no question that Love Boat show put cruising in the minds of so many folks and the industry took off from there.  Our first cruise was with Princess over 30 years and 51 cruises ago and it was because of that TV series.  Heck, we still have the episodes on the TV in the cabin as we are getting ready for dinner instead of watching the news.

Indeed, we are all sorry for your loss and pray that you are OK.  You said something very important to me and that is that he died doing what he loved.  I hope that you will want to continue sailing and knowing that each time he is with you in the sound of the sea, the sunrise and sunset and the feeling of the sea breeze in you face.

33 minutes ago, Esprit said:

Here’s the dry dock schedule 

Emerald DD Time Line.pdf 116.46 kB · 5 downloads

Thanks for providing this.  We board her on the 23rd of November and will be interested in seeing what work was done.

11 hours ago, socram13 said:

Does anyone know what Mark Turner (previously Entertainments) is doing now? 

 

Should the Princess Circle host be added to the table?

We knew Mark when he was the Asst. CD and since then I believe he has moved on to be a HGM.  I haven't seen his name recently so I hope he is just on holiday.

A good forward step.  Mask if you want.  Still see folks wearing a mask in a car when they are the only one.........maybe it comes in handy during allergy time.

23 hours ago, amajaa said:

Anyone on board at the moment, did the Captain announce the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II? We were onboard last week, pleased we weren't at sea when it happened, so sad.

 

I know it has been reported that MSC Virtuosa and at least one of the Celebrity ships cancelled the parties planned for that night . 

Cunard, sister line to Princess, cancelled all the shows and other entertainment and I understand that some, if not all Princess ships did the same.

On 9/5/2022 at 4:27 PM, amajaa said:

 

Who's Rui?

Rui is the Maitre' d who is in charge of dining operations and master of the champagne fountain. 

4 hours ago, amajaa said:

The champagne fountain was back last night, first time since before the pandemic apparently. 

Yes, and I wonder if you can thank Rui for making that happen.  He loves the fountain time.