Slow Sea Princess

[ONCRUISEMODE]

I thought that may be the case.

Still $100 for a almost totally different cruise to what was purchased when Princess knew what issues were onboard already, is very poor.

Equally poor by the TA for not making their customers aware of these issues that Princess were experiencing whne they booked.:(

 

I learned about the limping Sea Princess from Cruise Critic and my TA did not have a clue about it. He still hasn't heard anything.

[Bizziecruzer]

I don't believe it's the TA's fault - some are not aware of the issues on the ship and up until late yesterday you could still book the cruise as per the original itinerary. Fault purely and simply sits with Princess:mad: - they knew there was a problem and they chose to keep the ship afloat, keep getting the $$$ for the bookings and are now getting the flack and responding with a standard canned response: We are very sorry, deeply regret.... blah blah and that we are offering OBC (as if people would refuse it??) and that that fixes it! The OBC they are offering in no way costs them that amount - if you spend it on the ship all their prices are highly inflated and then it really only costs them a lot loss than what they offered.

We will not be spending our OBC on the ship - we will use the casino to access it and keep the cash. I know this won't hurt Princess, but it might make me feel a smidge better.:)

[MicCanberra]

It may not be the TAs fault for not knowing about the limping ship but it is their fault for giving up and saying it is all too hard to get the refund.:(

[RNGALNG]

When word got out about the Regal charging for room service and other added costs that had been complimentary before they got on the new ship, the Cruise Critic threads started a fire! I think all of you who are booked need to do the same thing. It worked for the fees being reversed and I think it could work for you.

 

1. Start a new thread here on CC.

2. Go to the Princess Facebook page. Let them know how you feel.

3. Email Princess.

4. Write to the heads.

5. Call.

 

Do so in a matter of fact way - don't get all huffy. Just lay down the facts. This is not what you signed up to do on your cruise. It might help you get refunds or out of the trip!

 

Good luck! I feel sorry for all of you. I would feel the same way as you all are feeling.

[Sandielle]

OMG, haven't they fixed this problem yet? :confused: (Haven't been on CC for a few weeks.)

 

Is there any sign of work being done on this ship? The rate they are going they will still be limping along for our February 2015 cruise. :cool:

[MicCanberra]

When word got out about the Regal charging for room service and other added costs that had been complimentary before they got on the new ship, the Cruise Critic threads started a fire! I think all of you who are booked need to do the same thing. It worked for the fees being reversed and I think it could work for you.

 

1. Start a new thread here on CC.

2. Go to the Princess Facebook page. Let them know how you feel.

3. Email Princess.

4. Write to the heads.

5. Call.

 

Do so in a matter of fact way - don't get all huffy. Just lay down the facts. This is not what you signed up to do on your cruise. It might help you get refunds or out of the trip!

 

Good luck! I feel sorry for all of you. I would feel the same way as you all are feeling.

 

Great advice, to attack the issue with princess from many different angles and with many people behind you, it may just work.:D

[MicCanberra]

OMG, haven't they fixed this problem yet? :confused: (Haven't been on CC for a few weeks.)

 

Is there any sign of work being done on this ship? The rate they are going they will still be limping along for our February 2015 cruise. :cool:

 

I believe it is being repaired when it gets to singapore, which trip that is, wand when I do not know.:(

[By The Bay]

Might be time to let that toothless tiger, the ACCC, know about the false advertising that Sea Princess is peddling about selling a cruise to ports that they know they cannot visit due to their known speed restrictions due to a known faulty propulsion system. :mad:

 

If they cannot help, get a good bush lawyer and off to a kangaroo court. :D

 

Limping around the ocean is not what people envisaged when the booked their cruise.:(

 

Take action as suggested by RNGALNG. A boycott and raising the issue by many could hasten its repair. I know I will not be traveling on Sea Princes until it is fixed. ;)

[ONCRUISEMODE]

It may not be the TAs fault for not knowing about the limping ship but it is their fault for giving up and saying it is all too hard to get the refund.:(

 

You know, I have yet to meet a TA that works hard regarding cruise ship travel. About 3 weeks ago, another cruise I was on gave a military discount. The savings was about $500. My TA gave all these excuses for not calling the cruise line. I finally said, "just do it". Sure enough, I got the deal. However, he made such a big deal about it that I must have wasted an hour on the phone with him when it could have taken 10 minutes.

ONCRUISEMODE

[ONCRUISEMODE]

Might be time to let that toothless tiger, the ACCC, know about the false advertising that Sea Princess is peddling about selling a cruise to ports that they know they cannot visit due to their known speed restrictions due to a known faulty propulsion system. :mad:

 

If they cannot help, get a good bush lawyer and off to a kangaroo court. :D

 

Limping around the ocean is not what people envisaged when the booked their cruise.:(

 

Take action as suggested by RNGALNG. A boycott and raising the issue by many could hasten its repair. I know I will not be traveling on Sea Princes until it is fixed. ;)

Who are the ACCC and how does one get a hold of them?

 

Also, I am going to go on their facebook page and write my concerns.

[ONCRUISEMODE]

I don't know how Facebook works...but I sent them a message that I had to pay $1.00 for it to go on their inbox.

 

Then I went to another Princess Cruise Facebook page...and there I posted the message again.

 

This is what was stated: You wrote on Princess Cruises's timeline. View post in "Posts To Page".

 

I was wondering if anyone can see the post when you log on to Princess Cruise timeline.....

Lydia

[RNGALNG]

I just went to the Princess page on Facebook and saw at least 4 comments on the Sea Princess. So, you have started! If you go to the left hand side of their page, there is a small heading where you can 'click' to get the post to show and and you can read them. So, yes, it it there!!!

 

I wish you all the luck in getting the answers you need as I too would be upset if the itinerary changed THAT much after final booking when in fact they knew about it ahead of time!

[By The Bay]

Who are the ACCC and how does one get a hold of them?

The ACCC is the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is an Australian government body tasked with looking after consumers rights (among other matters). Here is a link to their web site http://www.accc.gov.au/consumers

Edited July 17, 2014 by By The Bay

[ONCRUISEMODE]

The ACCC is the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and is an Australian government body tasked with looking after consumers rights (among other matters). Here is a link to their web site http://www.accc.gov.au/consumers

 

You think they would help an American??

OnCruiseMode

[Sunny Jim Bob]

It's not the TA's fault at all, the first she heard of this was yesterday. She has never booked anyone else on this ship so did not know the history & Princess Cruises told her nothing and have not responded to her enquiries so far. She has to deal with NZ rep for them, I think it's Go Holidays. The problem is appalling customer service by Princess Cruises - they have not emailed me personally once to advise the changes, they have not put any messages on my cruise personaliser, but they had the gall yesterday to email me and ask me to book more shore excursions!!

Insurers say I cannot claim as the cruise is not cancelled, and a refund is not a realistic option as we have non refundable flights, a 3 day luxury train trip just getting to Perth plus hotels and transfers pre-paid for - it would be a total nightmare and we would loose thousands. Just going to have to grin and bear it. The good news is that Geraldton seems to be back on the list.

[ONCRUISEMODE]

It's not the TA's fault at all, the first she heard of this was yesterday. She has never booked anyone else on this ship so did not know the history & Princess Cruises told her nothing and have not responded to her enquiries so far. She has to deal with NZ rep for them, I think it's Go Holidays. The problem is appalling customer service by Princess Cruises - they have not emailed me personally once to advise the changes, they have not put any messages on my cruise personaliser, but they had the gall yesterday to email me and ask me to book more shore excursions!!

Insurers say I cannot claim as the cruise is not cancelled, and a refund is not a realistic option as we have non refundable flights, a 3 day luxury train trip just getting to Perth plus hotels and transfers pre-paid for - it would be a total nightmare and we would loose thousands. Just going to have to grin and bear it. The good news is that Geraldton seems to be back on the list.

 

Why not try contacting them directly via Facebook?

[Bizziecruzer]

It's not the TA's fault at all, the first she heard of this was yesterday. She has never booked anyone else on this ship so did not know the history & Princess Cruises told her nothing and have not responded to her enquiries so far. She has to deal with NZ rep for them, I think it's Go Holidays. The problem is appalling customer service by Princess Cruises - they have not emailed me personally once to advise the changes, they have not put any messages on my cruise personaliser, but they had the gall yesterday to email me and ask me to book more shore excursions!!

.

- shortened your quote.

Hi Sunny Jim - if you have booked through a travel agent (TA) - Princess will not contact you direct with regard to your actual booking - everything goes to your TA. However they will send to you direct info on "who's who" on the ship - captain, cruise director etc, as well us info on excursions and entertainment. If you have booked with Princess direct - they will correspond with you direct. This is just Princess' way of doing things.

[Sunny Jim Bob]

I just find all this intriguing. I still intend to have a good time on the cruise, but I am appalled at the way this company does business.

Princess Cruises claim to have made these itinerary changes due to “technical difficulties & having to sail at a slower speed”.

BUT:

They cancelled Broome. They are leaving 24 hours later than planned but we still board on the original day. They sail right past Broome to get to Darwin. So – why not go to Broome? They have to sail past it & they have a whole day to spare at present spent sitting at the Port of Perth doing nothing. So why not sit at the Port of Broome and do nothing??

You don’t have to be that smart to work out that the cancellation of Broome has nothing to do with “technical difficulties”.

Just saying………..

[Bizziecruzer]

I just find all this intriguing. I still intend to have a good time on the cruise, but I am appalled at the way this company does business.

Princess Cruises claim to have made these itinerary changes due to “technical difficulties & having to sail at a slower speed”.

BUT:

They cancelled Broome. They are leaving 24 hours later than planned but we still board on the original day. They sail right past Broome to get to Darwin. So – why not go to Broome? They have to sail past it & they have a whole day to spare at present spent sitting at the Port of Perth doing nothing. So why not sit at the Port of Broome and do nothing??

You don’t have to be that smart to work out that the cancellation of Broome has nothing to do with “technical difficulties”.

Just saying………..

Sunny - do you know "Jo"? Wording is same as on facebook.....

[rkmw]

I just find all this intriguing. I still intend to have a good time on the cruise, but I am appalled at the way this company does business.

Princess Cruises claim to have made these itinerary changes due to “technical difficulties & having to sail at a slower speed”.

BUT:

They cancelled Broome. They are leaving 24 hours later than planned but we still board on the original day. They sail right past Broome to get to Darwin. So – why not go to Broome? They have to sail past it & they have a whole day to spare at present spent sitting at the Port of Perth doing nothing. So why not sit at the Port of Broome and do nothing??

You don’t have to be that smart to work out that the cancellation of Broome has nothing to do with “technical difficulties”.

Just saying………..

 

maybe they are doing some work on the ship in Fremantle and they are leaving a day late so they have to make up time and the only way is to cut out Broome......princess wont tell you so you cant ask them

 

[Aus Traveller]

I just find all this intriguing. I still intend to have a good time on the cruise, but I am appalled at the way this company does business.

Princess Cruises claim to have made these itinerary changes due to “technical difficulties & having to sail at a slower speed”.

BUT:

They cancelled Broome. They are leaving 24 hours later than planned but we still board on the original day. They sail right past Broome to get to Darwin. So – why not go to Broome? They have to sail past it & they have a whole day to spare at present spent sitting at the Port of Perth doing nothing. So why not sit at the Port of Broome and do nothing??

You don’t have to be that smart to work out that the cancellation of Broome has nothing to do with “technical difficulties”.

Just saying………..

It is quite likely that they are doing work on the ship while it is docked in Fremantle - work they couldn't do in Broome. Another point is that the ships can only enter and leave the port of Broome at or near high tide. If they left Fremantle on schedule and cruised slower, they might miss that window of opportunity when they can pass over the shallow part of sea that they have to cross to reach the wharf in Broome.

 

Make this negative into a positive. There are a lot of great things to see in Fremantle near the ship and others further afield in Perth or Rottnest Island.

[Sunny Jim Bob]

Sunny - do you know "Jo"? Wording is same as on facebook.....

 

Bizziecruiser - someone might have cut and pasted.

 

I am still going to have a good time on this cruise, don't worry :o

Going to forget about all this now and get on with life.

Thanks for all the kind comments everyone.

[Sunny Jim Bob]

It is quite likely that they are doing work on the ship while it is docked in Fremantle - work they couldn't do in Broome. Another point is that the ships can only enter and leave the port of Broome at or near high tide. If they left Fremantle on schedule and cruised slower, they might miss that window of opportunity when they can pass over the shallow part of sea that they have to cross to reach the wharf in Broome.

 

Make this negative into a positive. There are a lot of great things to see in Fremantle near the ship and others further afield in Perth or Rottnest Island.

 

Thanks Aus traveller for the kind words - Rottnest Island is a great idea, haven't been there for years.

I'm over and out about this now. :)

[mcspudmack]

I called Princess Australia today and spoke to a customer service person (Jamie). He was helpful and told me what he could which was not much. Suggested I email Princess, which I did. I simply asked if the current problem was going to affect my November PNG cruise and if it was to what extent and what were they going to do about it. I got an automated reply saying they would get back to me in 15 to 25 days. Wow, no need to hurry in replies I guess. Anyway the email address is

 

feedback@princesscruises.com.au.

 

I remain less than optimistic of a reasonable response. Will keep this thread posted.

[By The Bay]

I called Princess Australia today and spoke to a customer service person (Jamie). He was helpful and told me what he could which was not much. Suggested I email Princess, which I did. I simply asked if the current problem was going to affect my November PNG cruise and if it was to what extent and what were they going to do about it. I got an automated reply saying they would get back to me in 15 to 25 days. Wow, no need to hurry in replies I guess. Anyway the email address is

 

feedback@princesscruises.com.au.

 

I remain less than optimistic of a reasonable response. Will keep this thread posted.

I have also received responses from info.princess@carnivalaustralia.com