Iamcruzin

This isn't far fetched. Restaurants have started to add a 3% service charge if you pay with a credit card. They are trying to offset the increase that the credit card companies are charging them.

From what I have been reading about Medallion I'm afraid to use it to open the cabin door. It's one thing to use it on the ship to pay but I can't imagine using it in port. It's just as easy to use Apple Pay. I can select which card I want to use as opposed to the one card linked with Princess. I can't imagine it to be a secure form of payment outside the ship. Why involve a 3rd party just to buy a tee shirt. For the record I have also read horror stories about passengers trying to get a refund or exchange for something damaged through the Princess vendor product guarantee. I'll take my chances and shop where I want. We don't buy watches or Jewelry unless we are home.

I can't believe that Princess finally ended traditional dining. I guess Covid gave them the opportunity to change over. I have been predicting this would happen for years and every time someone said it will never happen. Last time I ate in traditional was 2006. I have to say that there was never an issue with any waiter on any of the lines that I have sailed on. The days of the waiters chatting you up are over. The service would run much smoother if people would just accept whoever shows up at the table and stop trying to get the same staff every night. I agree the main focus of traditional is having the same table mates. However with the buffet and specialty restaurants there is no guarantee that they will show up each night.

I' am enjoying your well written review. My first Princess cruise was in 1991. I was 30 and on my honeymoon. Needless to say we were the few of the young couples on board. I can't believe they are still doing those tacky 70's parties. I grew up in the 70's and it wasn't all Disco. It was a brief period of music. It ended shortly after Saturday Night Fever was released and New Wave took over. Princess has managed to milk it for 50 yrs. I can't believe these cruise directors can't come up with something new. You didn't miss anything at Princess Cay. It's not worth the tender ride. Many stay on the ship at that port. The ocean floor is nothing but sharp rocks. The other cruise lines have much better private Islands like Royal Caribbean's Coco Cay.

Fine is how I would describe it as well.

I have sailed on the Caribbean Princess the most and I didn't care for it when it was new and when it came out of dry dock in 2009 it wasn't much better. Horizon court is a nightmare, venues too small for the passenger capacity but service and food was good. You hit the nail on the head. They use the worst ships for the best itinerary. I'm sailing on the Island Princess for Aruba, Curacao and St Kitts. I don't know why they aren't going to Bonaire. Celebrity has ABC for twice the price for 8 days. Princess offers 11 days and adds Puerto Rico. The down side is it ends in NY. But even with the cost of a flight back to Florida it's still cheaper than Celebrity. This is going to be a snowbird cruise for certain. If I still had a place in NY that's how I would go back for the summer.

First I would like to say that Disney is in a class of its own and can't be compared to mainstream lines. Celebrity has a younger vibe and a dedicated indoor adult sanctuary that you don't have to pay for.The buffets on the Grand Class ships have always been a challenge. I see they are still serving instant eggs as well. Pizza and a salad are my go to for lunch on sea days. The only bad meals that I have had in the MDR is the rubber lobster but I seem to get that on Celebrity and Royal Caribbean as well. I have been sailing on Princess since 1991 and the entertainment was always lacking. Please tell me that they stopped doing those tacky 70s parties. I now live in a 55 plus community and our New Years Eve theme was 70's disco. You could tell who had a few cruises under their belt. Is anyone ever going to move on to the next decade? It's amazing how these loyalty programs suck people in. What they won't put up with for some cheap vodka and free laundry. Princess needs to do some rebranding because as the silent generation and boomers start fading away they are going to have to attract millennials and Gen Z who are not brand loyal.

The on board experience should be consistent across the brand. They need to fill the older ships just as much as the new ones. I realize the ship may look tied and not have all the new bells and whistles but the food should be consistent. Are they serving fresh eggs on the new ships? I have read that the buffet coffee is better on the new ships. I guess they are still serving swill on the Grand Class.

That is one sad story. I'm sure that was a bucket list cruise for many. Unfortunately it's the nature of cruising. About two weeks ago I can't remember the line, the itinerary was headed to the Caribbean from up north. The weather was bad along the east coast and they had to change the itinerary to Canada/New England in December. Passengers were not happy. I'm sure they didn't pack for winter.

Unless they are running a special price pre boarding I never purchase anything before I board.

I don't cruise for perks or status. I haven't cruised with Princess in 10yrs. I cruise for itinerary and price. Princess is not my favorite line for entertainment, room accommodations or overall on board experience. If the price is right and the itinerary is what I'm looking for I book them. I know the food will be good. It's just a floating hotel for me. Since covid the on board experience on any line is a crap shoot so overall price is even a bigger consideration now.

Thanks. I have sailed Celebrity, Royal, Carnival and Princess. That just pointed out just how lame Princess rewards are. Honestly most the the free perks don't amount to much but I do know that on Royal they like to wear their status pins.

At 500 days, life support would have to be a perk. If you can afford and have the free time for 500 days why are you nickel and diming the cruise line for for a lot about nothing perks? If you are looking for a challenge sail another line and start from scratch. You may enjoy it better.

Sounds like more work than just using the laundromat and having it back in an hour.

From what I have read here on CC it seems that Grandma and Grandpa get elite laundry and send the entire extended families laundry out with there's. I don't know if they have cracked down on that but I hope they did. To be honest on a 7 day cruise it takes 48 hours to get it back. I can use the self serve machines and have it back in an hour and a half. On longer cruises it's a benefit.

I don't understand why people put their eggs all in one basket and think the cruise line actually cares if you are loyal or not. For every person who leaves Princess there is one coming from Celebrity who feels they can no longer can sail with them. Business models changes. Ships change. Last time I booked traditional dining was in 2006. The dining room was empty every night except formal night.This was about the time they started Anytime dining and people who booked traditional thought they could bounce back and forth all week. Traditional is no longer working. How much longer before they do away with all MDR meals and only offer the Buffet with the basic fare and turn those MDRs into pay for specialty dining?

Ruby adds an upgrade to Princess Platinum travel insurance if you purchase the basic plan. We are Platinum and we recently moved to Florida from New York. I just found out when I booked my next cruise that New York residents don't qualify for the Platinum insurance. This is something new. I had to update my residents information in order to purchase the plan. If you live in NY Ruby is just a red Medallion to wear at the repeat passenger cocktail party. Platinum benefits from the 1/2 price internet plan if they book the basic cruise.

I couldn't agree more. We didn't even rent tuxedos when my son got married a few years ago. The grooms men purchased waist coats from amazon and my 2 sons and I rented Navy suits. I own 2 suits and pray they fit by the time the next wedding or funeral rolls around.

These programs are marketing ploys designed only to give the illusion that they valued past passengers. The truth is that first time cruisers spend more on board than past passengers who are only looking for free stuff. They need to concern themselves with attracting new passengers as the old passengers fade away. These loyalty programs are not going to do it.

I only book balcony or concierge but even the inside staterooms on old ships are better than Princess. Sadly I can only afford an ocean view on Celebrity now. Since covid I refuse to sail in anything less than a balcony even if it means not cruising at all.

I really don't like the new larger class ships on any of the lines. I most of my Princess cruises have been on the Caribbean Princess which was too large for me back then. This was the Crown class ship that they added 500 more rooms to but no additional common space. Lounges are too small for that ship. My favorite ship was the Celebrity Summit and it was long in the tooth when we sailed on her. It was renovated so it looked good. I'm actually looking forward to sailing on the Island Princess. I have never sailed on a smaller Princess ship. The older ships have the best itineraries. They are small enough to visit smaller ports. All these larger ships do is transport more people and the ports are just too over crowded now and they don't have enough staff handle the crowd on board.

A true Formal night went by the waste side when they implemented Anytime dining. My SIL and BIL always sail Princess on 7 day Caribbean itineraries and alway dress formal. Me on the other hand have conformed to a dress shirt and slacks. Celebrity doesn't even call them formal nights anymore. I think Princess is only kidding themselves.

Celebrity is out of control with pricing which is why I turned back to Princess. I booked an 11day Southern Caribbean cruise for half the price my friend booked on Celebrity for an 8 day similar itinerary and balcony room. My room is in a better location.

I will say one thing in the OP's defense. These loyalty programs do suck some people in. How many times do you read posts that start with I'm Elite and then goes on to complain about cut backs, service and watering down of benefits. Then you see how many future cruises they have booked with the cruise line. They must shop a lot on board to make that 10% off work for them. Which by the way, is another way for the cruise line benefits not the passenger. If you have the time and can afford to cruise often and like the line then it's a bonus. Right now the cruise industry is riding high because people are done with covid and want to make up for lost time. The market will correct its self just like the housing market and the stock market.

I'm not cruising to reach a level. I book price and itinerary. 15 cruises until you get to elite just for some cheap booze and free laundry. I can make my own drinks at home. When I'm on vacation I want to be served. Free laundry is a moot point when you can do your own laundry and have it back the same day. No incentive there. I would rather shop around for a good deal. Also millennials aren't brand loyal like boomers so it won't sway them one way or the other.