Changes on Princess

[Babs02]

We haven't cruised on Princess for a couple of years what differences will I notice. There booking system is different from when we last cruised.

 

I know they've changed the coffee card rules I vaguely remember reading about a new scheme for sodas, mocktails hot chocolate, like the soda card, do they still do this or was it a trial. Anything else changed.

 

Have they introduced any drinks packages?

 

Any other changes I will notice when I'm on board? good or bad.

[Shogun]

Hi There

 

While there has been a number of changes nothing major, or anything

 

thats going to reduce your over all cruise experience,

 

yours Shogun

[Thrak]

Change in the smoking policy so, if you are a smoker, best to check it out. Vickie's blog for her current cruise stated that people were booted off the ship in both Hawaii and Ensenada. She didn't state what the infractions were but I'm wondering if they violated the new smoking policies.

[sunsetbeachgal]

The coffee card is $33 including gratuity and that is for 15 specialty drinks and unlimited brewed coffee, specialty tea and hot chocolAte. On our cruise last week on the Sapphire you could order large drinks, double espresso, flavorings and they only used one punch..if you are a coffee drinker this is the best.

 

I agree that you may not notice much, if anything, different. That is why we love Princess, we know what to expect!! Enjoy

[Thrak]

In case you are a smoker I'll paste the updated smoking policy below. It may not be relevant but there IS a change and you asked about changes.

===========================================

 

Keeping the comfort of our passengers a priority, and in consideration of consumer studies which show smokers are a small minority of passengers, Princess has implemented the following smoking policy:

Designated Smoking Areas

Clearly marked “Designated Smoking Areas” are available onboard and include a sufficient number of ashtrays that are emptied regularly. Generally, these areas include cigar lounges, a section of the nightclub and casino, as well as a portion of the open decks. As a safety precaution, passengers are reminded to properly dispose of cigarettes, cigars and pipe tobacco, which are never to be thrown overboard as this may be sucked back into the ship and cause fires.

Stateroom Smoking Policy Update

For all voyages departing after January 15th, 2012, Princess Cruises will prohibit smoking in passenger staterooms and balconies. This policy change reflects the preferences of a vast majority of our passengers who value having their primary living space (both stateroom and balcony) smoke-free. As balconies are a hallmark of Princess Cruises, we believe it is important to keep this peaceful space clear of smoke. Violations to this policy will result in a $250 fine for each occurrence, which will be charged to the passenger’s stateroom account. Keeping with the global trend toward more restrictive smoking policies and honoring the wishes of our passengers, we feel this change will enhance our onboard experience and do more to help our passengers escape completely.

Electronic Cigarettes

The use of electronic cigarettes is permitted in all areas onboard with the exception of dining areas and the Princess Theater. However, should a fellow passenger in the vicinity feel inconvenienced and complain, even after being told the difference between electronic cigarettes and real cigarettes, we will ask the passenger to refrain from smoking the electronic cigarette.

[Luv2escape]

We have been loyal Princess cruisers since 2001....We have noticed the quality and some food offerings have changed. Have seen a trend toward

"Carnivalizing" the Princess experience. Burgers in the MDR...and passengers pushing the limit on dress code at dinner.

The addition of the Piazza and Internalional Cafe and Vines are all great things for us. But we hate MUTS (noise level too loud and hard to view during the day) by the main pool and tend to stay away opting for the quieter spots on the ship or our balcony. Shows are repeated for several years and there has been a trend away from live "itinerary" related music in the afternoons by the pools (replaced by MUTS) or prerecorded CD's :(

We don't let these changes impact us too much because our cruise is what we make of it! ;)

[Mom33]

The shows have been changed from twice a night to three times a night and shortened to 30 minutes to accomodate those having difficulty getting to shows from dinner.

[caribill]

The shows have been changed from twice a night to three times a night and shortened to 30 minutes to accomodate those having difficulty getting to shows from dinner.

 

And most of the evenings there is no longer a featured entertainer (comedian, magician, singer, etc.) in another venue such as the Explorers Lounge.

 

Also, the Champaigne Fountain is no longer a seperate event late one evening. It is now part of the first formal evening's Captain's Welcome Party in the atrium around 7 PM.

 

MUTS and the International Cafe (sans Gelato) have been added to most of the Grand Class ships.

 

On several ships the buffet area has had the dessert area (lunch and dinner) and the toast/waffle area (breakfast) moved to a new stand outside the main food area. Within the main food area on these ships, the aisles have been made wider and the same food is available from two directions (which also means a little less variety available) on most of the serving areas.

[MilliesMom]

I just researched this for another thread, there is more pricing listed on the link below. I only posted the ones pertaining to soda.

 

Unlimited Soda Package:

Receive a souvenir tumbler and select from a

variety of unlimited soft drinks served by the glass

at all bars and restaurant locations throughout your

cruise. Price includes service charge.

Item #0523 – $5.18 per person/per day*

 

Unlimited Soda & More Package:

Indulge yourself with this premium Unlimited Soda &

more Package,† entitling you to the above Unlimited

Soda Package plus any mocktails, juices, shakes,

floats and complimentary hot chocolate throughout

your cruise. Price includes service charge.

Item #2312 – $8.05 per person/per day*

 

Canned Soda Package:

Choose any six canned sodas listed below in any

combination for the price of five: Coke, Diet Coke,

Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic

water, ginger ale.

Item #2311 – $11.75

 

††There are no milkshakes or thick shakes available for Ocean and Pacific Princess.

* Beverage package is calculated based on the total number of days of your cruise. When submitting

payment, please ensure to calculate the total number of days of the cruise by the per day rate.

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboar...s_Services.pdf

[kendon]

Babs, I know exactly how you feel. After 20 plus cruises with Princess since 2000, I hesitate to book another having seen the changes over the years. So, I decided to book with Celebrity this past summer to Bermuda (you know, the line with an "X" for luxury!). Ha, fooled me...it was awful in every way, except for entertainment. I all fairness, it could've been the ship, or the demographic...I think both. Anyway, we may be taking a break from cruising for a while and do more land based vacations. Your concern is a valid one.

[many cruises]

We just got off the Sapphire yesterday from a CA Coastal Cruise. We did notice many changes/cutbacks in the dining room. Overall the food was good, but not as wonderful as in the past. The menus have changed & now include hamburgers. The dining room is no longer open on port days for those of us who enjoyed eating lunch there. There were quite a few items on the dinner menu that were repeated over the 7 night cruise...especially the appetizers and the desserts. On lobster night, I received 2 of the tiniest tails I have ever seen and had to send the first plate back because it was spoiled. There were numerous noticeable differences in the food choices/quality from our previous cruises.

[Babs02]

Thanks for all the replies. We're not smokers so this is an advantage for us. Glad to see there are no major changes mentioned, didn't think there would be but you never no.

 

Have they introduced any wine packages?

 

Noticed on a review that shows were on earlier, so obviously this is because there on 3 nightly, as long as I can still see a show after late dining thats fine. Thats one of the things we like with Princess.

 

Kendon - was surprised with your comment on Celebrity, we actually considered a cruise with them, under the impression they were as good as Princess. We have done land based hols for 2 years to cut costs.

 

Looking forward to our Hawaii Cruise.

[dinosaurdem]

Thanks for all the replies. We're not smokers so this is an advantage for us. Glad to see there are no major changes mentioned, didn't think there would be but you never no.

 

Have they introduced any wine packages?

 

Noticed on a review that shows were on earlier, so obviously this is because there on 3 nightly, as long as I can still see a show after late dining thats fine. Thats one of the things we like with Princess.

 

Kendon - was surprised with your comment on Celebrity, we actually considered a cruise with them, under the impression they were as good as Princess. We have done land based hols for 2 years to cut costs.

 

Looking forward to our Hawaii Cruise.

 

We have sailed both Celebrity and Princess several times and enjoy both. There are some differences, which might result in an individual preferring one over the other, we prefer Celebrity, but they are both very good experiences. People who demean either line tend to be cheerleaders or people who had a uniquely bad experience for some unusual reason.

[Princess Patches]

And most of the evenings there is no longer a featured entertainer (comedian, magician, singer, etc.) in another venue such as the Explorers Lounge.

 

 

Not my experience at all on the Sapphire in May. We had a comedian, magician or singer nightly in the Explorer's Lounge.

[donna travels]

I just researched this for another thread, there is more pricing listed on the link below. I only posted the ones pertaining to soda.

 

Unlimited Soda Package:

Receive a souvenir tumbler and select from a

variety of unlimited soft drinks served by the glass

at all bars and restaurant locations throughout your

cruise. Price includes service charge.

Item #0523 – $5.18 per person/per day*

 

Unlimited Soda & More Package:

Indulge yourself with this premium Unlimited Soda &

more Package,† entitling you to the above Unlimited

Soda Package plus any mocktails, juices, shakes,

floats and complimentary hot chocolate throughout

your cruise. Price includes service charge.

Item #2312 – $8.05 per person/per day*

 

Canned Soda Package:

Choose any six canned sodas listed below in any

combination for the price of five: Coke, Diet Coke,

Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic

water, ginger ale.

Item #2311 – $11.75

 

††There are no milkshakes or thick shakes available for Ocean and Pacific Princess.

* Beverage package is calculated based on the total number of days of your cruise. When submitting

payment, please ensure to calculate the total number of days of the cruise by the per day rate.

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboar...s_Services.pdf

 

Thanks I appreciate this information

[KruzPrincess]

If it's only been a couple years, you won't see a lot of differences. The biggest is the smoking policy as previously mentioned. According to reports, the menu was changed so the always available items now appear with the regular evening choices. Thus, you will see repeats every night. Some always available items were, like the beef medallions, were removed and other items added. A sirloin burger is one of the items that was added. I'm not much of a drinker, so I don't pay attention to drink packages.

 

As for the Celebrity/Princess comparison. I took one Celebrity cruise and had a nice time, but I missed Princess. I think they're more a like than different. They have some operational rules that I don't like. Anytime diners must pay gratuities in advance and I don't like that. Celebrity doesn't let you combine OBC's which I don't like. They have some strict rules about price drops after final payments. You can read a lot of complaints about it on the X board. However, overall, my cruise experince on Celebrity was pretty good.

[caribill]

Not my experience at all on the Sapphire in May. We had a comedian, magician or singer nightly in the Explorer's Lounge.

 

That was before the change to "anytime" entertainment.

 

For example, we also had a full schedule of entertainers on the Island Princess in August inlcuding the production shows at their normal 45 minute length. However, they did not switch to "anytime" entertainment until mid-September.

 

I do not know if the Sapphire has switched to "anytime" entertainment yet, but if they have, you will have a different experience the next time you are on it.

[Princess Patches]

That was before the change to "anytime" entertainment.

 

For example, we also had a full schedule of entertainers on the Island Princess in August inlcuding the production shows at their normal 45 minute length. However, they did not switch to "anytime" entertainment until mid-September.

 

I do not know if the Sapphire has switched to "anytime" entertainment yet, but if they have, you will have a different experience the next time you are on it.

 

You are wrong. We had switched to anytime entertainment on the Sapphire in May. We had 3 production shows nightly and we had a second show 6 nights out of 7 in the Explorer's Lounge. 3 nights we had either a comedian or a magician and 3 nights we had a singer. Princess began switching to anytime entertainment on some ships in February. I am sailing on the Golden next month and will report back on the entertainment upon my return. I find posts far more credible when they give specifics.

[caribill]

I am sailing on the Golden next month and will report back on the entertainment upon my return. I find posts far more credible when they give specifics.

 

Read Pia's recent live from on the Star. She lists each evening's entertainment and activities. Hardly any nights with an entertainer in a venue other than the Princess theater.

[Princess Patches]

Read Pia's recent live from on the Star. She lists each evening's entertainment and activities. Hardly any nights with an entertainer in a venue other than the Princess theater.

 

Read Vickie Bernie's blog. She is on the same cruise and has reported second shows. I guess we will need to see the Patters as that will give us the only accurate information.

[caribill]

Read Vickie Bernie's blog. She is on the same cruise and has reported second shows. I guess we will need to see the Patters as that will give us the only accurate information.

 

I have re-read Vikie's blog and do not find any evening where there was a second featured performer. If there was a show other than in the Princess Theater, the Princess Theater had a movie that night.

 

Yes, there were the various Princess bands performing elsewhere on the ship, but no 2nd show with a featured comedian, singer, magician, or other talent.

 

I may have missed a second show in my re-read of the blog, so I would be interested if you can point me in the direction of an entry which lists a second show.

[Princess Patches]

I have re-read Vikie's blog and do not find any evening where there was a second featured performer. If there was a show other than in the Princess Theater, the Princess Theater had a movie that night.

 

Yes, there were the various Princess bands performing elsewhere on the ship, but no 2nd show with a featured comedian, singer, magician, or other talent.

 

I may have missed a second show in my re-read of the blog, so I would be interested if you can point me in the direction of an entry which lists a second show.

 

Okay, sure. Try looking under "Second Sea Day of Four" where she posts about the production show Stardust and then about seeing a comedian juggler that same night.

 

I am sure neither of these ladies on the Star are posting full accounts of the entertainment onboard the ship. They are discussing a few of the highlights. To assume that there is no second show on the basis of a few posts is probably not going to be accurate.

 

I have read posts since February about how Princess has cut production shows in half time wise and how there are no longer any second shows. I was worried prior to my May sailing on the Sapphire but I found the truth was production shows were cut by 10-15 minutes to accommodate 3 shows per night and that 6 of 7 nights we had a second show in the Explorer's Lounge. I can list the names of the performers and the dates of the shows if you like.

 

Until someone who sails on one of these ships with no second shows actually proves it by posting their Patters or I sail on a ship with no second shows myself, I do not find it credible thus far. Now maybe I got lucky on the Sapphire and that was the only sailing with second shows, but I am skeptical. I will reserve judgment until after my Golden sailing next month.

[smilz]

Leaving on Emerald on Nov 7 for 10-day. I always bring home Patters. Even xtra ones for scrapping. Can you walk me through how to post them? Do I have to scan them (may be a challenge!) or do I take pictures and post them?:confused:

[Cruisin' Chick]

Change in the smoking policy so, if you are a smoker, best to check it out. Vickie's blog for her current cruise stated that people were booted off the ship in both Hawaii and Ensenada. She didn't state what the infractions were but I'm wondering if they violated the new smoking policies.

 

I read her blog too, but I don't think it was violating the smoking policy that got them thrown off. Princess will charge them a fine, if that was the case. It seemed to me it was more of a criminal offense (maybe drugs?), but again, that's my guess.

[caribill]

Leaving on Emerald on Nov 7 for 10-day. I always bring home Patters. Even xtra ones for scrapping. Can you walk me through how to post them? Do I have to scan them (may be a challenge!) or do I take pictures and post them?:confused:

 

Or just list the nightime entertainers in a post.