How could Princess improve?

[tgmtgm]

[quote name='msmoger'][quote name='tgmtgm']

The offer you outlined makes the assumption that the passenger will order alcohol and non-alcohol drinks. If that fits your habits then it works. However, somebody like myself that rarely (virtually never) orders soft drinks that have a fee would need to order quite a few cocktails to make it cost effective.

Considering Princess drink prices are relatively reasonable, I would need to order 7 drinks or more per day to break even. I enjoy my martinis but that's a bit much for me. ;)

Therefore, unless Princess is going to significantly going to raise their individual cocktail prices, and of course I hope they don't, I think the current Soda Card offerings is adequate to meet the needs of all but those who drink alcohol fairly heavily.[/QUOTE]


Then you don't buy the package- pay as you go- simple as that.

Life is about choices, and I for one wish Princess would consider offering it's guests the option of a drink package. Is it the end of the world if they don't? Of course not. But they are certainly behind the times on what's occurring in the rest of the cruise industry.

[Nebr.cruiser]

[quote name='The Big Booper']You do realize that you have described in every detail what you find on a Celebrity S class ship.;)[/QUOTE]

Yes, I know, and we do cruise Celebrity, but we like Princess too; itineraries, prices and we are heading toward elite status. Everyone can improve!

[Vexorg]

Although I don't drink have no experience with alcoholic drink packages, I do typically end up getting the Unlimited Soda and More (all non-alcoholic drinks) package when I cruise on Princess. And even at roughly $8 a day and roughly $3 per non-alcoholic drink, I find that I can be hard pressed to get my money's worth out of even that sometimes. The problem there is that when you're not drinking alcohol, virtually all the alternatives involve lots of sugar, which comes with its own set of problems.

Then again, it seems like you often hear the stories of people running up $5,000 bar tabs on a 7-day cruise here, so I'm sure there's people who can actually save some money on paying "only" $55 a day for their drinks...

[tgmtgm]

[quote name='Vexorg']Although I don't drink have no experience with alcoholic drink packages, I do typically end up getting the Unlimited Soda and More (all non-alcoholic drinks) package when I cruise on Princess. And even at roughly $8 a day and roughly $3 per non-alcoholic drink, I find that I can be hard pressed to get my money's worth out of even that sometimes. The problem there is that when you're not drinking alcohol, virtually all the alternatives involve lots of sugar, which comes with its own set of problems.

Then again, it seems like you often hear the stories of people running up $5,000 bar tabs on a 7-day cruise here, so I'm sure there's people who can actually save some money on paying "only" $55 a day for their drinks...[/QUOTE]


Both of your statements ring true. You're not a booze drinker. That's fine, and you have no need or desire for a package that includes it. And on the other hand, you know there are people who would benefit from such a package. It's not that complicated really.

And those people who would/could benefit from a booze package are not all raging alcoholics. It's frustrating to see people post remarks like- "I'd be in a coma the entire cruise if I had 6 martinis in one day!" Trust me, I've seen boatloads of people polish off that amount and then some at Crooner's on any given night.

Judge not lest ye be judged ;) Edited December 3, 2013 by tgmtgm

[Cruise Junky]

I've used Celebrity Pricing as we're talking about Celebrity drink packages...

[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]Cappuccino[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]4[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]Fresh Squeezed OJ or Smoothie[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]4[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]Bottled Water[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]3[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]1 Beer with Lunch[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]5[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]1 frozen bev by the pool[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]7[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]Pre Dinner Martini[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]10[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]2 glasses of wine with dinner[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]16[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]Perrier with dinner[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]4[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]After dinner Cappuccino[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]4[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]After Dinner Drink with a Show or Casino[/FONT][/COLOR]
[RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]7[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]
[FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][FONT=Calibri][/FONT][RIGHT][RIGHT][COLOR=black][FONT=Calibri]64[/FONT][/COLOR][/RIGHT][/RIGHT]

[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3] Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't be close to "in a Coma" with that. Now would I pay for that much liquid on a daily basis, absolutely not but it's not that hard to make a drink package pay with it including basically everything and not just booze. Celebrity and RCL don't make both people buy the package.[/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri][SIZE=3]Princess seems to be the loan holdout on not offering drink packages but they don't seem to be able to get a wine package successfully rolled out so I'm not holding out much hope for a drink package. RCL have been offering wine packages since the 90s.[/SIZE][/FONT]

[Cruise Junky]

Addressing the original question, my biggest disappointment with Princess in the past year or so (other than Royal ;) ) has been their Itineraries. They do Exotic and longer cruises quite well. Their Med and Caribbean offerings just suck. There has been no thought at all put into them, they just hit repeat. Celebrity is kicking their butt in the Med on Itineraries. I find it really disappointing that a cruise line that was known for their itineraries has just sat back on their laurels and have done nothing. They need to stop being so Vanilla.

Edited December 3, 2013 by Cruise Junky

[jean s]

My dh and I really enjoy Princess but there is always room for improvement. I would like to see more 7 day southern Caribbean cruises, some new stops in the Caribbean, anytime dining only for those signed up for it, more comfortable mattresses, comfortable chairs on balconies, monitor chair hogs and more television choices with on demand movies. Oh and if I had one wish for Princess it would be to build more ships the same size as Coral and Island.

[UpcountryTravelers]

I would also like to see Princess improve their beer selections. 4 mediocre brands - just not enough.... Add some IPAs and some craft beers for those of us who are not content with "Bud Lite"!

 

As for the beverage packages, forget it. We looked seriously at that on our Celebrity cruise. No way! We had before dinner drinks, after dinner drinks, late night drinks at Molecular Bar (wonderful!!) and still came out WAY less for both of us than a package would have cost for one of us!

[Cruise Junky]

As for the beverage packages, forget it. We looked seriously at that on our Celebrity cruise. No way! We had before dinner drinks, after dinner drinks, late night drinks at Molecular Bar (wonderful!!) and still came out WAY less for both of us than a package would have cost for one of us!

 

Just because they offer it doesn't mean you have to buy it!

[tgmtgm]

Just because they offer it doesn't mean you have to buy it!

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)

[Cruise Junky]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! :)

 

;). ..ohhhh you tried. My heart went out to you on this tread! Patience of a saint :)

[tgmtgm]

;). ..ohhhh you tried. My heart went out to you on this tread! Patience of a saint :)

 

Lol! I've been on here long enough to know better than to post on the regular boards. Frustration sets in real fast. I need to stick to the roll calls :D

 

Tony

[Go-Bucks!]

If the cruise line is going to offer nice pricey wines for sale then offer the Riddel wine glasses to enhance the taste experience. We had to request the proper wine glasses in the main dining room as well as the specialty ones. Once in the MDR the waiter advised he did not have any which we know is not true.

 

I was going to ask for another glass since mine was water spotted and then noticed that the whole table would have to be replaced and decided it was pointless.

 

 

Just curious . . . . . how does the "proper" type of glass make a difference in the taste of the wine?? :confused:

[Woobstr112G]

Food is very subjective, but I'd like to see better quality food in the CG and Sabatini's. I would

Don't mind paying more. The other improvements I'd like to see are stricter enforcement of shipboard rules, mainly dealing with chair/seat hogs-savers. One other thing I'd like to see is the elimination of the ability to make reservations in ATD. I believe the reservations are the biggest reason ATD has it's problems. Of course these are my personal opinions.....

 

Bob

[Ethel5]

Lol! I've been on here long enough to know better than to post on the regular boards. Frustration sets in real fast. I need to stick to the roll calls :D

 

Tony

 

Aw, don't do that! Your're one of the last of the good guys! :D

[Woobstr112G]

I would also like to see Princess improve their beer selections. 4 mediocre brands - just not enough.... Add some IPAs and some craft beers for those of us who are not content with "Bud Lite"!

 

As for the beverage packages, forget it. We looked seriously at that on our Celebrity cruise. No way! We had before dinner drinks, after dinner drinks, late night drinks at Molecular Bar (wonderful!!) and still came out WAY less for both of us than a package would have cost for one of us!

 

I am in total agreement with you.....:):):)

 

Bob

[Cruise Junky]

Just curious . . . . . how does the "proper" type of glass make a difference in the taste of the wine?? :confused:

 

It makes a huge difference. Try this link for an explanation...

 

http://winenews.com/blog/?p=48

Edited December 4, 2013 by Cruise Junky

[UpcountryTravelers]

Just because they offer it doesn't mean you have to buy it!

 

Exactly!!

[Go-Bucks!]

To me, one of the highlights of travel is trying local foods. On Princess, I cannot tell where I am traveling based on the menu . . . . couldn't they include one or two local specialties each evening?

 

 

I've had local specialty foods many times on a ship when in certain areas.

 

A few months ago we were on the Crown Princess and stopped in Bruges, Belgium. Their local specialty is a Pot of Mussels. I had that at a local restaurant, which was delicious. At dinner on the ship that night they offered the same thing. Since I really love mussels, I ordered it on the ship and it was just as delicious as in Belgium.

[macleay]

All of my cruises have been with Princess with the exception of one, my last one, with Royal Carribbean. I found both to be pretty equal with one exception--entertainment! RCCL's was WAY better in my opinion. That is the only thing I would change with Princess--upgrade the entertainment.

[Go-Bucks!]

You do realize that you have described in every detail what you find on a Celebrity S class ship.;)

 

 

But here's what you don't find on a Celebrity S class ship:

 

~ footstools on any balcony except Concierge, Aqua or suites

~ decent amount of drawer space for storage

~ shore excursions that don't have to be paid for in advance

~ combineable OBC/perks

~ self serve laundries and free laundry service for Elite/suites

~ free Internet for both Platinum and Elite

~ the ability of travel agents to discount the cruise price (often by 15-20%)

 

As far as improvements for Princess, I'm glad the mattresses are being replaced because they were too hard. Other than that, I'm very happy with my experiences on Princess. :D

[Wehwalt]

Better and cheaper internet would be nice, especially since the new T mobile unlimited data international plan is going to undercut them on port-intensive cruises.

 

I agree, more variety in ports of call would be nice. I understand that Princess has port agents and excursion companies it is comfortable with, but if other CCL companies are going say to Sochi, why can't Princess?

[Coral]

 

I agree, more variety in ports of call would be nice. I understand that Princess has port agents and excursion companies it is comfortable with, but if other CCL companies are going say to Sochi, why can't Princess?

 

Princess did go to Sochi a few years ago on some of their cruises.

 

I don't think it was a popular port, it also wasn't an Olympic year. I think it was 2009 but could be off.

 

---

 

I found it - here is the 2009 brochure with it listed: http://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/europe/Europe_2009.pdf

Edited December 4, 2013 by Coral

[Cruise Junky]

But here's what you don't find on a Celebrity S class ship:

 

~ footstools on any balcony except Concierge, Aqua or suites

~ decent amount of drawer space for storage

~ shore excursions that don't have to be paid for in advance

~ combineable OBC/perks

~ self serve laundries and free laundry service for Elite/suites

~ free Internet for both Platinum and Elite

~ the ability of travel agents to discount the cruise price (often by 15-20%)

 

As far as improvements for Princess, I'm glad the mattresses are being replaced because they were too hard. Other than that, I'm very happy with my experiences on Princess. :D

 

Am I correct that by reading your signature, you haven't actually sailed on Celebrity yet? you might want to reserve judgement until you have.

[Ethel5]

Am I correct that by reading your signature, you haven't actually sailed on Celebrity yet? you might want to reserve judgement until you have.

 

I don't think the items listed were a "judgement" and can be obtained by reading the web sites of both lines without having to sail on either ship.