Majestic Princess meets Grand Designs Australia

Princess e-mailed a link to a YouTube video with the host of Grand Designs Australia on board.

It was a sneak peek of upcoming videos (I think) of the Majestic.

I think there was some exterior stock footage near the beginning of the Majestic in the Med, they didn't look like houses in Asia.

What do you think?

The rest must have been shot when the Majestic sailed down to Singapore (round about March) and the cruise was open to the general public to book.

I just watched other videos in this series.

One was about the Auckland War Memorial Museum and the controversial new jelly fish on top. I loved the flow and uniqueness of the new roof.

Another was the Science Museum in Singapore, the building that looks like an opened flower.

There was a short video in the series of a flyover of the Majestic. Good to see the outside layout of the ship from the air.

I had better stop watching videos of the ship otherwise there will be nothing new for me to see in September. :eek:

The Captain and the Entertainment Director were also interviewed on the bridge and the Princess theatre respectively.

As you can see I am really looking foward to my cruise on the Majestic

Nice little puff piece. :D

I notice they clearly avoided mentioning that Majestic was designed for the Chinese market, not the Australian market. It's going to be interesting ...

Nice little puff piece. :D

 

I notice they clearly avoided mentioning that Majestic was designed for the Chinese market, not the Australian market. It's going to be interesting ...

Same thing RCL did with Ovation... always sell to your market, and don't worry about the truth! ;)

Nice little puff piece. :D

 

I notice they clearly avoided mentioning that Majestic was designed for the Chinese market, not the Australian market. It's going to be interesting ...

Are there really that many differences for the Asian market? A bigger casino and menu alterations perhaps - anything else?

Are there really that many differences for the Asian market? A bigger casino and menu alterations perhaps - anything else?

A lot more high end shops, no Crooners - it's a French restaurant, no Sabatinis - it's the Harmony Chinese restaurant, the Club 6 nightclub area is a VIP gaming lounge, the adults-only pool forward is covered, no Sanctuary - its now a closed in "Hollywood Observatory". The last two mean there is less open deck space over all as well.

Are there really that many differences for the Asian market? A bigger casino and menu alterations perhaps - anything else?

Definitely, as mentioned more gambling space and shopping areas which means less and smaller bar areas/ lounges.

Let's all wait and see. I sure Princess will Aussie-ize the ship. I don't know if the Chinese plan went to expectations re passengers.

Let's all wait and see. I sure Princess will Aussie-ize the ship. I don't know if the Chinese plan went to expectations re passengers.

The Asian market may be booming but I am not sure the cruise lines are making as much money as they thought they would. On the Ovation, there were a lot more pay for extras when sailing in Asia that are normally free when sailing downunder. Now the Ovation is going to go to Alaska instead doing a swap with the Voyager.

Let's all wait and see. I sure Princess will Aussie-ize the ship. I don't know if the Chinese plan went to expectations re passengers.

I'm with you John. I think that once she has finished the relocation cruise that Princess will want to make sure they sell as much alcohol as they can in the Australian market place. I don't think that there will be a shortage of bars.

Anyway only about three months until we find out.

The Asian market may be booming but I am not sure the cruise lines are making as much money as they thought they would. On the Ovation, there were a lot more pay for extras when sailing in Asia that are normally free when sailing downunder. Now the Ovation is going to go to Alaska instead doing a swap with the Voyager.

Ovation is only doing a swap because it's being replaced with an even newer ship in Asia.

They're not struggling there. Though just as here, they will try to maximise revenue as much as they can.

In fact, given my recent cruise on Ovation there, they're less concerned with international tourists than they were, and it's all about the Chinese tourist.

Ovation is only doing a swap because it's being replaced with an even newer ship in Asia.

 

They're not struggling there. Though just as here, they will try to maximise revenue as much as they can.

 

In fact, given my recent cruise on Ovation there, they're less concerned with international tourists than they were, and it's all about the Chinese tourist.

I didn't say they were struggling, but as you also said it is about maximising profits and the Chinese have differing spending preferences to westerners once on board. Our Ovation cruise highlighted this and I for one am looking to do more cruises in Asia because of it. The ship felt empty for much of the times due to us doing things that the Chinese majority aboard were no interested in.

I didn't say they were struggling, but as you also said it is about maximising profits and the Chinese have differing spending preferences to westerners once on board. Our Ovation cruise highlighted this and I for one am looking to do more cruises in Asia because of it. The ship felt empty for much of the times due to us doing things that the Chinese majority aboard were no interested in.

You did say you were "

Based on their financials, their occupancy and general advance bookings (though they have made adjustments in off-peak, just as happens elsewhere), and their continued emphasis on that region including by sending their newest there, there isn't anything to indicate any weakness in their projections.

Having a different spending mix on board is just catering to market preferences, the same as loading up with extra alcohol on Australian based cruises.

You did say you were "

not sure the cruise lines are making as much money as they thought they would."

 

That does not infer that they were struggling, just that they are not making as much money as they thought they would.

That does not infer that they were struggling, just that they are not making as much money as they thought they would.

No, it's just an Aussie turn of phrase.

First report I heard from a horses mouth was "Definitely not enough bars for Aussies".

First report I heard from a horses mouth was "Definitely not enough bars for Aussies".

Bummer.

First report I heard from a horses mouth was "Definitely not enough bars for Aussies".

That is painfully obvious just looking at deck plans. I do however have confidence in Princess recognizing the need to cater for the Australian market and making a few upgrades.

First report I heard from a horses mouth was "Definitely not enough bars for Aussies".

That is painfully obvious just looking at deck plans. I do however have confidence in Princess recognizing the need to cater for the Australian market and making a few upgrades.

I heard a rumour from a senior food and beverage crew member when I was on Royal last year that Princess would be increasing the number of bars for the Aussie season. However there have been no new deck plans covering that period on the Princess website which isn't a good sign.

There isn't a lot of space to put extra bars.

The Leaves Tea Bar outside Princess Live on deck 7 could be converted to a cocktail bar, as it is on Royal, but there isn't much seating there.

The Ocean Terrace Juice Bar at one end of the Atrium on deck 7 could be converted to a cocktail bar but there is even less seating there.

Bellini's on deck 6 is very small and there isn't much room for extra seating around it.

The VIP Gaming area on deck 6 could be converted into a cocktail bar. It already has a bar in it so would just need seating. It's Club 6 on Royal so there is some precedent for a bar in this area.

The deck 5 Piazza are will be very popular in the evenings, with Vines on one side and the International Cafe on the other.

The new Hollywood Observatory on deck 17 is served by the Hollywood Pool Club bar, but how many people are going to want to go right up there for a pre-dinner drink if they're dining in one of the MDRs?

I wonder where they'll hold the PES happy hours?

Time will tell, one thing is for sure, if they don't get it right, the reviews will be scathing.

I’m looking forward to getting onboard in September [emoji3] Exploring a new ship will be exciting and just like every ship so far there will be things I miss and things that are wonderful . Whilst my perfect build wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea I’m always happy with whatever is on the ship I’m on. Beats being not on a ship [emoji568]

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I'm counting down the months until my September cruise.

I'm going into this with an open mind. I'm just going to enjoy being on a new ship (well relatively new). The newest I have ever been on.

Some things will be different such as trivia might be held in Princess Live, not a good venue for it some people have said but I will wait and see if it is held there and then make up my own mind if it works.

I am looking forward to trying out the new Chinese and French restaurant and being able to sit in the atrium.

One of the Princess stage shows with a drone in it is getting really good reviews but I have noted that you have to get to the theatre early to get a seat (no suprise there with a Princess ship,) so we will just go to the late show where you can turn up 15 minutes early to get a seat.

We have only one cruise booked on the Majestic. We have not been on a Royal class ship before and will wait until after this cruise to decide if we book another on this class.

What ever the outcome I have never been on a cruise that I did not enjoy. Just some I enjoyed more than others.:)

I am looking forward to trying out the new Chinese and French restaurant and being able to sit in the atrium.

Without the seating usually found in Crooners as an alternative to the Piazza seating, the International Cafe will be jam-packed, I suspect.

But it will be good to try the new restaurants. And it will be fun to see how the differences work for Aussie cruises.

I’m looking forward to getting onboard in September [emoji3] Exploring a new ship will be exciting and just like every ship so far there will be things I miss and things that are wonderful . Whilst my perfect build wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea I’m always happy with whatever is on the ship I’m on. Beats being not on a ship [emoji568]

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I agree, I too am looking forward to my November cruise. No matter what the ship design is like, I don't think the ship will make my cruise bad. Although, I imagine if I don't like too many elements of the ship it will just mean I won't cruise on it again unless changes are made, there are many other ships to choose from.

I'm counting down the months until my September cruise.

I'm going into this with an open mind. I'm just going to enjoy being on a new ship (well relatively new). The newest I have ever been on.

 

Some things will be different such as trivia might be held in Princess Live, not a good venue for it some people have said but I will wait and see if it is held there and then make up my own mind if it works.

I am looking forward to trying out the new Chinese and French restaurant and being able to sit in the atrium.

One of the Princess stage shows with a drone in it is getting really good reviews but I have noted that you have to get to the theatre early to get a seat (no suprise there with a Princess ship,) so we will just go to the late show where you can turn up 15 minutes early to get a seat.

We have only one cruise booked on the Majestic. We have not been on a Royal class ship before and will wait until after this cruise to decide if we book another on this class.

What ever the outcome I have never been on a cruise that I did not enjoy. Just some I enjoyed more than others.:)