Iamcruzin

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.

How would this benefit Princess? They already have you where they want you. If anything they need to add a level in between Platinum and Elite.

Disney is a class of its own and can't be compared to Princess, RCCL, Celebrity or HAL. However I'm not surprised about your report. These mainstream lines were slipping before covid. On my last cruise in 2019 on Royal Caribbean Anthem of the Seas. I found my self leaving the MDR to obtain beverages from the closest bar and brining them back to the MDR. Food was thrown on the table all at once including dessert and you never saw staff again during that meal.

Final payment for a May cruise will be due sometime in Feb. If you wait until after final payment the travel agents will be forced to release the block of rooms that they have and depending on how the itinerary sold will determine how much the price drops or goes up. It's a gamble but I have found the best deals closer to sailing. Honestly $150 pp isn't that large of an increase if they really want to go.

We will be sailing on the Island Princess. Does anyone know the cost of the CT and what it includes? It's been many years since the last time we attended. Thank you

Last time I cruised on Princess was 2013. It was a different world back then.

Thank you

No but I'm sure someone will report back if they were able to remove it. Personally I always tipped 20% so now it's less money and I don't have to walk around with cash.

They always added the tip to drinks so no difference there. Restaurant service was always included with the auto gratuity.

Thank you for your reply. We are going on an 11 day cruise and we live close to port so we don't have to worry about the flight. I take my shots on Sunday so I will be traveling with 2 pens.

Ships aren't registered to the U.S. so wouldn't international rules apply?

This is such a common practice at land restaurants now that I'm not surprised that it has trickled down to cruise ships. Royal Caribbean has already put this in place I think pre covid. The club house cafe in our community adds a 20% gratuity. My pet peeve is that at land restaurants they don't always tell you and many don't spot it on the check and leave an additional gratuity. I wouldn't be surprised if passengers remove this tip like they do with the auto gratuity for the staff. Tipping is an American custom and not recognized internationally. None of these ships are registered in the U.S. So when in Rome....

This is the first time I will be traveling since I became diabetic. My wife also uses a pen for weight loss. Are the coolers and I say cooler because they aren't cold enough to be called a refrigerator cool enough to store these drugs?

Thank you

I have never found a good deal during "Wave Season" and I have been cruising since 1986. Shoulder season and reposition cruises are where you find the deals. I just booked an 11 day Southern Caribbean cruise for May 2024. This is shoulder season and it's a reposition cruise. Shoulder season is the time just after a peak season ends and just before a peak season starts. May is after spring break and just before school is out for the summer.

My last cruise was 2019 pre covid. I'm sure so much has changed. I booked a cruise online and I was wondering if Princess still allows you to transfer the booking to a travel agent. I was just shopping and noticed the $100 refundable deposit and just proceeded to book.

I see auto gratuities being added more and more everyday at local restaurants on land. They also have added a service fee if you pay with a credit card. Given this and the increase in prices to account for inflation I have become less likely to tip extra. I used to be the advocate for paying the auto gratuity on a cruise ship but given the added expense and decline in service I'm now leaning towards reducing the tip by the amount of the increase. They all work hard Yada, Yada, Yada but so do I and I'm tied of paying towards the corporate payroll and not receiving the same experience.

I'm glad to hear that and considering that you are from SFB I would imagine that you would know good lobster.

My experience on Princess and Celebrity. Dry as a bone on Royal. It was basically a vehicle to push melted butter into my mouth.

I'll be the negative Nellie. MDR Lobster on any cruise line that I have been on hasn't been good since the turn of the century.

Loyalty programs are a trap and if you put your eggs all in one basket you are now feeling slighted. I always found them limiting so I never based the perks when making my decision. Overall price and promotions saves me more money than a load of free laundry and at this point any free wifi through a loyalty perk is a joke. The good old days theme is played out and it will never go back to where it was. They have you where they want you and know that you won't leave so they just keep cutting. Some of you act as if it's a sin to make a profit. These same people are probably the same ones who hold shares with the cruise line.