Just off/done with Caribbean Princess

[eandj]

. I don't think I could skip my assigned dining and just jump on anytime if I selected early or late seating. There's a reason you pick what you pick, or at least one assumes so.

 

 

Yes, you should ASSUME so. Right? :rolleyes: Why ask for a dining preference at booking if the maitre d's let anyone come to anytime even with trad tables sitting empty or half full. :o

But people "jump in" the anytime line every day from what we have seen on our two Princess cruises and have read here often. Hearld lots of grumbling re that on our last Princess cruise. Just read accounts on past posts if you don't believe me.

Edited November 11, 2013 by eandj

[boca7]

I have sailed on CP numerous times & the only time the Piazza was very crowded & very hard to find a seat was this past sailing in April/May on a transatlantic where we had a lot of sea days & some cold weather. The staff was outstanding & never had a problem with anytime dining. Repositioning cruises are quite different as most passengers are plat/elite.

[dcrow72]

We were on this repo cruise as well. They made a late offer we couldn't refuse. I totally disagree with the OP.

 

We never ever felt crowded anywhere we went.

 

Always found seats in the theater.

 

Tons of lounge chairs always available somewhere.

 

Cafe Caribe dinner buffets were excellent. It was so good that we preferred to eat there than the dining room.

 

Didn't have to wait for table for 2 at 5 PM when we like to dine; walk in and be seated.

 

I didn't care for the production shows; thought they were "off tempo" and a bit lame, but that's just my opinion. Loved the comedians and illusionists.

 

Had amazing service everywhere except for drink service in the casino; the server was more interested in wandering and chatting than serving drinks.

 

I bring my own hand sanitizer and use it frequently so who cares? Not a deal breaker for me.

 

This was our second cruise on the CB and I would sail her again in a heartbeat. The shortened ports on a 10 day cruise were disappointing, but loved it anyway.

[MauiLvrs]

When someone say you never have to wait in line ... here is what the line looks like for not waiting in line.

2013-10-22_17-36-18_47 by MauiLvrs, on Flickr

[kgdmom]

How would you have known Anytime dining opened at 5:00? I checked the sign posted outside the door and it said 5:30, as did the Patter, so that is when we went. I never saw anyone waiting unless they wanted a table for two, which is why it bothered us, especially when there were empty tables.

[dcrow72]

How would you have known Anytime dining opened at 5:00? I checked the sign posted outside the door and it said 5:30, as did the Patter, so that is when we went. I never saw anyone waiting unless they wanted a table for two, which is why it bothered us, especially when there were empty tables.

 

we happened to be down there early to wait and saw people going in and just asked!

[7leagueboots]

Thanks for the review. It seemed fairly balanced.

[phantomII]

When someone say you never have to wait in line ... here is what the line looks like for not waiting in line.

2013-10-22_17-36-18_47 by MauiLvrs, on Flickr

The only problem with this picture is that it seems to be taken on the Grand Princess as all the other pictures in the Flickr photo book are.

[Musky Ike]

Part of the perceived "crowding" on this cruise may be weather related. Cool damp weather pushed people into the interior spaces leaving the open decks almost empty at times. You did not need to fight for a seat at MUTS, just for a blanket:rolleyes:

[whatcruiseisnext]

Part of the perceived "crowding" on this cruise may be weather related. Cool damp weather pushed people into the interior spaces leaving the open decks almost empty at times. You did not need to fight for a seat at MUTS, just for a blanket:rolleyes:

 

 

Cool damp weather????????....except for the day leaving NY on embarkation day and half the day the the next day the weather was HOT! Temps in mid to high 80's most of the time. By afternoon on the day after sailing we were in our swimsuits at the pool....temp in the 70's and by the next morning it hit 80 and above and never dropped below it the whole cruise. We did have some rain at times and the day in Cozumel it rained all day but it was not cool and damp!!!!!

Edited November 12, 2013 by whatcruiseisnext

[mcarbone2001]

Thanks for the photo

When someone say you never have to wait in line ... here is what the line looks like for not waiting in line.

2013-10-22_17-36-18_47 by MauiLvrs, on Flickr

[mcarbone2001]

Agree completely. Empty tables all over, but if you want a table for two you have to wait. This is my eighth cruise and never had this problem before. Not happy .

How would you have known Anytime dining opened at 5:00? I checked the sign posted outside the door and it said 5:30, as did the Patter, so that is when we went. I never saw anyone waiting unless they wanted a table for two, which is why it bothered us, especially when there were empty tables.

[Musky Ike]

Cool damp weather????????....except for the day leaving NY on embarkation day and half the day the the next day the weather was HOT! Temps in mid to high 80's most of the time. By afternoon on the day after sailing we were in our swimsuits at the pool....temp in the 70's and by the next morning it hit 80 and above and never dropped below it the whole cruise. We did have some rain at times and the day in Cozumel it rained all day but it was not cool and damp!!!!!

 

You must not have been there in the evenings. I was up there on the last Sunday and Monday nights and yes it was relatively cool with mist on Sunday and those few that were up there were not in swimwear or the pool. The open decks were like a ghost town. The pizza guys looked bored, so I had to help them out ;)

[Host Jazzbeau]

The pizza guys looked bored, so I had to help them out ;)

 

What a guy! "It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it" ;)

[MauiLvrs]

The only problem with this picture is that it seems to be taken on the Grand Princess...

Yep ...because unless we win the free cruise ... we won't be on the Royal or Regal. I recon that the like will look the same no matter what ship it is...

[Muscleshop]

I can understand someone new to cruising having a relative(ly) bad experience and "swearing off" a particular cruise line, based on their first cruise on a particular line. If they would follow places like this, Cruisecritic, they would certainly find that one trip does not make a line. Even the same ship can have a distinctly different feel when certain staff changes.

 

That said, people who claim to "have several cruises under their belt," "cruised for over 30 years," et al...... and they are giving up on particular line after just one cruise, shame on you. We ALL know that things are bound to happen at some point. Makes me wonder how many people gave up on would-be significant others after their first coitus encounter with that person was lackluster.

 

Research is key. If you see that a particular ship receives heaping praise 98% of the time, chances are your cruise on this ship will meet similar results. I.E. Coral Princess. If it reveals something else, like a large swath of negative reviews, chances are that your cruise on that ship will, again, have similar results. I.E. Royal Princess

 

Decide what YOU are looking for, specifically, research and ask your own questions BEFORE booking. :)

[Muscleshop]

The BIGGEST issue with anytime dining on Princess lies directly with "entitled" passengers (and Princess' response to it). Search this very forum and you will find a plentiful amount of passengers that believe it is their (god given) right to go up to the Maitre D' on the first day and book reservations for specific times/tables in the anytime dining room, for the entire cruise. Many also expect this to be completely FREE, but there are also many who "grease" to get ahead. Umm... WTH??????????

 

If you want a specific time/table, go to the traditional dining room. Expecting any of this at a "first come-first serve" anytime dining venue is REDICULOUS!! This is why, as many people have pointed out, that there are many open and never used tables around the anytime dining room....while people stand outside waiting to be seated.

 

A secondary issue is the implementation, and the lack of choices otherwise. For example, on NCL...there are considerably more "pay" restaurants for choices, some as low as $10 per person. They have many more restaurant choices per ship, and this makes for a much better flow of passengers (normally)...and the wait times considerably less.

[MarkSeattle]

The BIGGEST issue with anytime dining on Princess lies directly with "entitled" passengers (and Princess' response to it). Search this very forum and you will find a plentiful amount of passengers that believe it is their (god given) right to go up to the Maitre D' on the first day and book reservations for specific times/tables in the anytime dining room, for the entire cruise. ...

 

If you want a specific time/table, go to the traditional dining room. Expecting any of this at a "first come-first serve" anytime dining venue is REDICULOUS!! ...

 

Other cruise lines allow reservations at the "anytime" restaurant, same as most land based restaurants where a mixture of walk in and reservations are taken. It would be nice if Princess did this fleet wide as well.

 

Nothing "entitled" about coming off an RCCL or Carnival cruise and expecting to be able to do the same thing on Princess. Also, if one books cruises late, as I usually do, "anytime" is often the only choice available.

[Times Prince]

Cool damp weather????????....except for the day leaving NY on embarkation day and half the day the the next day the weather was HOT! Temps in mid to high 80's most of the time. By afternoon on the day after sailing we were in our swimsuits at the pool....temp in the 70's and by the next morning it hit 80 and above and never dropped below it the whole cruise. We did have some rain at times and the day in Cozumel it rained all day but it was not cool and damp!!!!!

Seeing as you come from Michigan, I can see why you would think it hot. ;) Yes, most days were pleasantly warm. It is all in one's perception. It was a nice cruise, despite the occasional rain. We had to use our blankets while watching Man of Steel under us as the loungers were soaked from a rain shower - and that was around our first port if I recall rightly.

[Muscleshop]

Other cruise lines allow reservations at the "anytime" restaurant, same as most land based restaurants where a mixture of walk in and reservations are taken. It would be nice if Princess did this fleet wide as well.

 

Nothing "entitled" about coming off an RCCL or Carnival cruise and expecting to be able to do the same thing on Princess. Also, if one books cruises late, as I usually do, "anytime" is often the only choice available.

 

Yes, there certainly is an "entitled" mentality to it. I am NOT talking about making daily reservations at an "anytime" I.E. first-come-first-served in this instance (although that is ludicrous too), but rather going in on day one (or after finding a waiter someone likes)...and making a standing reservation for the entire cruise. The comparison to a land based restaurant is a non-starter. On land, you can walk or drive to tens, maybe hundreds of restaurants within a short distance...not the case on a "captive" ship now is it? Especially when we are only talking about 5-6 places to eat, generally, for thousands of people.

 

Just because other cruise lines are inept at the practice as well doesn't make it any better. I've seen it happen on other lines too, so I know you are correct. As for booking late and 'anytime" being the only choice....that is YOUR choice (likely to save money)...and not the rest of the passengers problem, IMO.

 

My point is, if this were rectified and there were NO reservations at "anytime" rooms (which was planned as first-come....) then the 90%+ of the ships passengers who are under the assumption that it is really first-come, first-serve.... wouldn't be waiting nearly as long and their experiences would be much better, especially for those waiting on 2 tops. Instead, we have an "entitled" few...who deem that their experience is more valuable than anyone else's, and the cruise lines are enablers.

Edited November 14, 2013 by Muscleshop

[bethaniesmom]

just back from this same repo a week and a half ago and had a wonderful time! Even enjoyed Curacao in the rain! First time we have ever had rain on a cruise, but that is hardly Princess' fault.

Only two things I would have changed were location of the piano bar (that is the location where they were providing fold up chairs because there was not enough seating), and the sports bar and cigar bar should not be the same location! Would either of these things keep me from sailing Princess a third time? NO! Wonderful trip! Great ship!

 

Beverly

[CI66774]

Other cruise lines allow reservations at the "anytime" restaurant, same as most land based restaurants where a mixture of walk in and reservations are taken. It would be nice if Princess did this fleet wide as well.

 

Nothing "entitled" about coming off an RCCL or Carnival cruise and expecting to be able to do the same thing on Princess. Also, if one books cruises late, as I usually do, "anytime" is often the only choice available.

 

Uhh - yes it does sound as if you feel "entitled" because you could do it on other cruise lines. It makes no sense to me to choose Anytime Dining then expect to make a reservation. Choose Traditional Dining next time. That's where you make a reservation and stick to it.

[phantomII]

Uhh - yes it does sound as if you feel "entitled" because you could do it on other cruise lines. It makes no sense to me to choose Anytime Dining then expect to make a reservation. Choose Traditional Dining next time. That's where you make a reservation and stick to it.

I just hope the powers at Princess read these comments and take some action. They should check everybody's card at dining check in and if they are Traditional they should not be seated. Period. (oh, oh there's that period stuff again!)

[Host Jazzbeau]

Uhh - yes it does sound as if you feel "entitled" because you could do it on other cruise lines. It makes no sense to me to choose Anytime Dining then expect to make a reservation. Choose Traditional Dining next time. That's where you make a reservation and stick to it.

 

While it may not make sense to you, it makes lots of sense to other people. We always choose anytime dining because: (a) we don't want to be stuck with the same people every night; (b) we don't want to have to dine at the same time every night (with varying daytime schedules). But once our daytime schedule is set, we can predict when we will want to dine so we like to make a reservation for that day.

[MauiLvrs]

They should check everybody's card at dining check in and if they are Traditional they should not be seated.

When we were on the Grand ... they were checking cards....:)

Edited November 15, 2013 by MauiLvrs