Iamcruzin

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.

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