Bye Bye Princess

[west coast cruiser]

It all comes down to the marketing. Ever since Princess was folded in to Carnival Corp., many regular cruisers fretted about the ability of Carnival to distinctively differentiate their holdings. How would Carnival differentiate Princess from HAL other than by personal preferences and loyalty - each of which change over time according to the demographic.

While that observation may be "Product" focused, the "Price" category apparently could not support the differentiation. Thus, the fares became intensely competitive and the quality of the product followed the decrease the revenue per passenger. More ships, more berths, more discounting to fill them. As I type this I see 14 Princess ships listed above - that's a lot of staterooms to fill.

Interestingly, Royal Caribbean went a different way by focusing on product and tailoring the price around that instead of the opposite. RC ships are now the really different ones and they are attracting a demographic segment to match. While this segment is decidedly different than the Princess/HAL demo, it works for RC. Can Princess say the same for their demo? Doubtful. Their long-time client is (no offense here) dying off. Newbies are not noticing an appreciable compelling reason to stay loyal. Prices keep dropping to attract new folks and the product follows.

The new Royal class ships on Princess are telling. Many of the familiar amenities to long-timers have either been eliminated or reduced. Notably, there is no longer a wrap-around promenade deck. There is a water show on the pool deck. While I enjoyed my last cruise on the Royal overall, I can't help but wonder what the line is trying to do - what direction they are going. They seem to be almost desperately trying new things for the sake of new things. Who are they selling to now? Who are they focusing on?

Differentiation, IMO, has to be driving force in marketing with a plethora of similar products all vying for cruisers. Princess, sadly, seems lost in that objective right now.

I think we'll see more smaller lines entering the breach - like Viking for example. We'll probably see a Viking Ocean in the Caribbean soon. I think a line like that will take a chunk out of the Princess demographic.

Do the Royal Class ships have sky walkers?

[Bimmer09]

Do the Royal Class ships have sky walkers?

 

No.

 

Norris

[ar1950]

Do the Royal Class ships have sky walkers?

 

No.

 

Norris

 

Which was the only thing that we "sorta" missed on the Regal. Then, again, we cruised on the original(?) Regal back in 2002 and it didn't have a Skywalkers either and we really enjoyed that ship. And then there was the Sun and the Dawn and we liked them, too......hmm? Skywalkers is pretty nice, but, not always a necessity I guess.

 

YMMV

Edited November 13, 2015 by ar1950

[reedprincess]

Which was the only thing that we "sorta" missed on the Regal. Then, again, we cruised on the original(?) Regal back in 2002 and it didn't have a Skywalkers either and we really enjoyed that ship. And then there was the Sun and the Dawn and we liked them, too......hmm? Skywalkers is pretty nice, but, not always a necessity I guess.

 

YMMV

The "old" Regal's disco was awesome! Proper wood dance floor, sunken with seating around the outside, stage for the band, etc. It was great for dancing and hanging out. Club 6 on the "new" Regal is a far, far cry! But, still does the job -lots of dancing going on during out last sailing...

[west coast cruiser]

I just will miss not to have a place inside with a panoramic view of the sea.

Thanks for your replies.

[Ron the Rev]

Hi All

 

I knew it would happen one day my next cruise would not be a Princess one, but I am rather sad that it has happened, you see its not because another cruise line has produced a better product than Princess, its more a case that the Princess offering has gone down hill to the point that other offerings look more interesting.

 

If l look back Princess, was not my first cruise line or even my second but my third, why did I even pick Princess who were not known in the UK at that time, very simple we saw a the Golden Princess as she was docked next to my little ship. At that time there was wow factor

the size, the look of skywalkers, the brochure looked good so we booked.

 

Now in those days Princess used charter flights, in flight service was very good.

 

At Barbados we would land and be met on the runway by a bus that took us straight to the ship, no customs etc, our bags were handled by Princess on the way home you put your bag out as normal last night with flight info on it and you saw it again back home at your local airport. All this has gone.

 

True 14 day cruises made up of 12 ports of call around the Caribbean have gone, ports such as Martinique, Guadaloupe or Tobago are rarely visited if at all.

 

If we returned to Ft L Princess used to take us to a hotel then to a mall, feed us then take us to the airport all free and part of the service, then the charged for the last day now it to has gone,

 

In Europe we could spend our last day onboard the ship or even go ashore if we had late flights, before being taken to the airport, leaving the ship an hour before sailing, now we are off before 10.00am

 

Flights were chartered jumbos from Qantas to do short hop with Captain saying sorry in flight movies longer than the flight, or even private airlines used by sports teams and vips with real

food and china cups etc all gone.

 

Onboard we liked the original skywalkers, it was a great viewing place and had an unique feel to it going up the travelator to it,

 

The original Sabatini's menu to much food but it was a special, we liked the restaurant location , it was romantic.

 

Even the golf area or the wii sports past a few hours on a sea day, all now part of history.

 

The Royal class ships did away with features that we like, places to sit and view the world sail by, in fact our time on the Royal made us cancel two cruises and not only look at other lines, but at land based cruises.

 

If it had not been for a cheap cruise we might not have gone back to Princess but this cheap cruise turned out to have a large number of crew that we knew well and turned out to be one of our best ever, so we stayed with Princess.

 

So our cruise on the Emerald last month was nice, but I want more than nice I wanted to be excited about my next vacation I want to be on a ship with wow factor, this could come from its design, service levels, entertainment,food in fact anything that makes up a cruise, I also want lots of ports.

 

Will l cruise with Princess again yes, but only because of low fares, very low fares, I will give other cruise lines more money because I expect to have a better vacation experience than just nice, I want good may be one day I can afford amazing, but I have had amazing cruise vacations but these were years ago with Princess, my advise to Princess is to raise fares and offer better.

 

Will I find better value I do not know but HAL and Celebrity can match Princess prices, so will try them. Azamara costs more but product looks interesting.

 

yours Shogun

 

Getting back to the Ops subject matter----

Shogun You have been a stalwart poster on CC we will miss your well thought out comments. You have, like so many old hands, been a faithful customer to Princess. Yes, the price war between the cruise lines has brought about many reductions throughout the whole industry, as to what cruising used to be, not so many years ago. Mega ships “cram them in” and hope the bar and casino tills ring more profit and I expect they do. Looking back though, we were happy to pay more bucks then for a nice product, perhaps the old school should rethink and look away from the large cruise lines. Must be an age problem !., well it is with me. Anyway, thanks Shogun, please post back on this forum when you have tried something different.

[seapals2]

No.

 

Norris

 

They have a glass sky walk instead .... LOL

 

What a waste of money .. the new Britannia ship didn't follow Princess lead on this.

 

Now all the balconies and this includes ourselves on the next sailing are overlooked from this structure and go to be allocated under GTY cabins as nobody wants them. We would not tick the upgrade box on this ship again.

[baldercash]

Shogun I can appreciate your recent epiphany my wife and I experienced a similar revelation on our recent Fall Colours snowbird cruise.

It was a totally enjoyable cruise very port active and we were very satisfied as it had exceeded our expectations, a redo of a Princess cruise ruined by Hurricane Sandy. Yet on the last sea day while in the cabin getting dressed for diner we both almost simultaneously stated to each other we did not want to do anymore cruises for awhile.

So after 15 years and 40 something cruises on X, RCI, Princess, NCL, MCS, Oceania, Azamara, P&O, Cunard and Viking we are giving cruising a break for awhile to allow for more time doing land travel.

Yesterday I canceled two X South American cruises for January and today I will cancel a RCI March cruise from Singapore along Vietnam to Hong Kong.

 

After roaming Europe last fall for a month we both feel we could do so much more if we did South America this time by land, the same applies with Vietnam no cruise can come close to a few weeks traveling the country by land and I want to see Angor Wat.

This change of mindset may have been triggered this past cruise by us repeatedly saying we would have to come back to various ports we had visited and spend a few days.

On our spring cruise we had done NOLA to Boston and spent 5 days in Boston at the end of the trip before flying home and had crushed the city not only doing the Fenway tour but even getting to attend a Blue Jays, Red Socks game while in town. This falls cruise stopped in Boston for a day and it highlighted for us how little one can see and do in just one day.

 

I am keeping a 2016 fall trans Atlantic cruise from South Hampton as we plan on traveling the UK for a month or so and will use the cruise as transport home and our Feb 2017 X cruise that docks in NOLA for three days during Mardi Gras will be kept.

From now on we will only book cruises as a way to get to a destination and spend more time in the countries or it will have to be a very special venue like a North West Passage cruise!

So we move on not so much due to the cuts and changes as we realize those early heady days will never return but in a desire to experience new sights and cultures in a deeper way.

 

Shogun I have enjoyed reading your cruising insights and am sure your travels will continue unabated.

 

“When you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails”

[geoherb]

So not quite a real goodbye from Shogun. That's good. I've always looked for the best fit for our budget when booking cruises. We started out on Norwegian, moved to Royal Caribbean, then Celebrity, Princess, and Holland America. We even tried out a Carnival cruise due to convenience of leaving from a close port. It wasn't worth it. Eventually I'm sure we'll try some others. Princess doesn't get to monopolize our cruise travel budget.

[buchananglasgow]

Baldercash, i am keeping a 2016 fall trans Atlantic cruise from South Hampton as we plan on traveling the UK for a month or so and will use the cruise as transport home and our Feb 2017 X cruise that docks in NOLA for three days during Mardi Gras will be kept.

 

 

We are also on the cruise to Nola, very much looking forward to it even though it's 2yrs away.

Edited November 13, 2015 by buchananglasgow

[DebJ14]

I agree. I don't want anyone putting my things away. Years ago on another line, the Steward had gone through my drawer found a night gown and placed it on my bed. I had a fit. To me it was scary and a violation of my privacy in my opinion. I have never had that experience on Princess.

 

I can top that. On the last night on a cruise on the Oceanic in 1981, I came back to our room and found my nightgown, which had been in a drawer laid out suggestively.

 

I left the nightgown and the clothes I would wear off the ship the next day in a drawer. The steward left his semen all over my underwear in the drawer. I refused to stay in the cabin so they moved us to a suite for the night. The steward was held in the brig overnight, was fired and taken to the airport for a flight back to Italy.

 

They wanted to keep the underwear, but we called our attorney from the ship and he said we should put it in a paper bag and bring it home in case there was a legal battle. After a letter from our attorney they refunded our full fare and offered us another cruise, which I declined for obvious reasons.

 

It took about 6 years until I would get on another cruise ship. I make sure all my belongings are put away and would be super upset if I found that a steward had been going through my things.

[DebJ14]

Hi All

 

Been jumping around other boards appears experienced cruisers do not appear happy, folks complaining about cut backs, changes to favourite things

 

as a rough guide

 

Princess folks moving to HAL

 

P&O to Cunard

 

HAL to Oceania

 

Cunard to Regent

 

From this I would take that experienced are looking for a more traditional high service experience,

 

yours Shogun

 

I definitely agree with this. Those of us who have been cruising for years lament the loss of the traditional experience. I wonder how the Celebrity folks will feel now that formal night is gone and tonight I got an e-mail that they will have kids pricing in the specialty restaurants. That is not an enticement for those of us without kids to dine there.

[suzyed]

Getting back to the Ops subject matter----

Shogun You have been a stalwart poster on CC we will miss your well thought out comments. You have, like so many old hands, been a faithful customer to Princess. Yes, the price war between the cruise lines has brought about many reductions throughout the whole industry, as to what cruising used to be, not so many years ago. Mega ships “cram them in” and hope the bar and casino tills ring more profit and I expect they do. Looking back though, we were happy to pay more bucks then for a nice product, perhaps the old school should rethink and look away from the large cruise lines. Must be an age problem !., well it is with me. Anyway, thanks Shogun, please post back on this forum when you have tried something different.

 

Very well put!

[suzyed]

Shogun I can appreciate your recent epiphany my wife and I experienced a similar revelation on our recent Fall Colours snowbird cruise.

It was a totally enjoyable cruise very port active and we were very satisfied as it had exceeded our expectations, a redo of a Princess cruise ruined by Hurricane Sandy. Yet on the last sea day while in the cabin getting dressed for diner we both almost simultaneously stated to each other we did not want to do anymore cruises for awhile.

So after 15 years and 40 something cruises on X, RCI, Princess, NCL, MCS, Oceania, Azamara, P&O, Cunard and Viking we are giving cruising a break for awhile to allow for more time doing land travel.

Yesterday I canceled two X South American cruises for January and today I will cancel a RCI March cruise from Singapore along Vietnam to Hong Kong.

 

After roaming Europe last fall for a month we both feel we could do so much more if we did South America this time by land, the same applies with Vietnam no cruise can come close to a few weeks traveling the country by land and I want to see Angor Wat.

This change of mindset may have been triggered this past cruise by us repeatedly saying we would have to come back to various ports we had visited and spend a few days.

On our spring cruise we had done NOLA to Boston and spent 5 days in Boston at the end of the trip before flying home and had crushed the city not only doing the Fenway tour but even getting to attend a Blue Jays, Red Socks game while in town. This falls cruise stopped in Boston for a day and it highlighted for us how little one can see and do in just one day.

 

I am keeping a 2016 fall trans Atlantic cruise from South Hampton as we plan on traveling the UK for a month or so and will use the cruise as transport home and our Feb 2017 X cruise that docks in NOLA for three days during Mardi Gras will be kept.

From now on we will only book cruises as a way to get to a destination and spend more time in the countries or it will have to be a very special venue like a North West Passage cruise!

So we move on not so much due to the cuts and changes as we realize those early heady days will never return but in a desire to experience new sights and cultures in a deeper way.

 

Shogun I have enjoyed reading your cruising insights and am sure your travels will continue unabated.

 

“When you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails”

 

We love cruising and will continue to do so, but DH and I have decided that some of our vacations in the future will be spent RV-ing throughout our own beautiful country! We have lived in almost every area of the country over the 40 years we have been married, but there are so many places we have yet to visit, in particular the many National Parks out west. So we bought an RV and so far have enjoyed several month long trips across the USA! To be continued......

[suzyed]

I can top that. On the last night on a cruise on the Oceanic in 1981, I came back to our room and found my nightgown, which had been in a drawer laid out suggestively.

 

I left the nightgown and the clothes I would wear off the ship the next day in a drawer. The steward left his semen all over my underwear in the drawer. I refused to stay in the cabin so they moved us to a suite for the night. The steward was held in the brig overnight, was fired and taken to the airport for a flight back to Italy.

 

They wanted to keep the underwear, but we called our attorney from the ship and he said we should put it in a paper bag and bring it home in case there was a legal battle. After a letter from our attorney they refunded our full fare and offered us another cruise, which I declined for obvious reasons.

 

It took about 6 years until I would get on another cruise ship. I make sure all my belongings are put away and would be super upset if I found that a steward had been going through my things.

 

EWWWWW! That is just disgustingly creepy! So sorry that happened to you. :mad:

[cruisequeen4ever]

DebJ14, I'm so glad you're ok! That's freaky! I agree with you; I don't like the steward touching my stuff and organizing it.

[nealstuber]

I'm so sorry Shogun!

..

2. Things do change across all cruise lines. It will never be, on most cruise lines, like it was 20 years ago...

 

!

 

20 years ago there was no such thing as a private balcony except perhaps in a suite. Paid as much for a OV then as I regularly pay for a balcony now. Other undisputedly great improvements have been in entertainment (though on some lines it peaked 5 years or so ago - but still better than it was). There are more ports of departure and more ports of call and fewer tender ports. Bigger ships have more venues but there are still plenty of small ships for those who would prefer that. And, generally speaking, the free casual eating venues have more variety and open hours.

 

I do get nostalgic for the days when every one ate at one of two times, went to one of two shows, and conformed to the same dress codes. It was more of a shared adventure then. I miss skeet shooting and golfing off the stern, horse racing, the Captains party and the midnight buffet.

 

So I find myself wishing that some of the big lines would pick a modern ship and designate it as a ship that offers a "Classic" experience.

[geocruiser]

20 years ago there was no such thing as a private balcony except perhaps in a suite. Paid as much for a OV then as I regularly pay for a balcony now. Other undisputedly great improvements have been in entertainment (though on some lines it peaked 5 years or so ago - but still better than it was). There are more ports of departure and more ports of call and fewer tender ports. Bigger ships have more venues but there are still plenty of small ships for those who would prefer that. And, generally speaking, the free casual eating venues have more variety and open hours.

 

I do get nostalgic for the days when every one ate at one of two times, went to one of two shows, and conformed to the same dress codes. It was more of a shared adventure then. I miss skeet shooting and golfing off the stern, horse racing, the Captains party and the midnight buffet.

 

So I find myself wishing that some of the big lines would pick a modern ship and designate it as a ship that offers a "Classic" experience.

 

I remember what you are taking about. I use to sail on Home Lines starting in the late 1970's, and it was like you said. The dining room times would get to me back then. All was fixed sitting. Early sitting was 6AM breakfast, 12 noon lunch and 6PM dinner.

Late dining times were, 8 AM(maybe it was 8:15) for breakfast, 2PM lunch and 8 PM for dinner. And then there was the midnight buffet. I would all way sleep through breakfast. I don't think I ever made it to one.

[west coast cruiser]

20 years ago there was no such thing as a private balcony except perhaps in a suite. Paid as much for a ov then as i regularly pay for a balcony now. Other undisputedly great improvements have been in entertainment (though on some lines it peaked 5 years or so ago - but still better than it was). There are more ports of departure and more ports of call and fewer tender ports. Bigger ships have more venues but there are still plenty of small ships for those who would prefer that. And, generally speaking, the free casual eating venues have more variety and open hours.

 

I do get nostalgic for the days when every one ate at one of two times, went to one of two shows, and conformed to the same dress codes. It was more of a shared adventure then. I miss skeet shooting and golfing off the stern, horse racing, the captains party and the midnight buffet.

 

So i find myself wishing that some of the big lines would pick a modern ship and designate it as a ship that offers a "classic" experience.

 

like!!

[gremlinbangles]

lol we just bought are 1st rv in August so starting the rv journey also. We have 2 more cruises scheduled but are planning to travel more here.

 

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[nealstuber]

like!!

 

Now all we need is 73,216 other couples of the same mind willing to book it once a year to fill a "Classic" Grand Class ship for a year.

 

Not holding my breath! :rolleyes:

Edited November 15, 2015 by nealstuber

[SoCal Cruiser78]

Now all we need is 73,216 other couples of the same mind willing to book it once a year to fill a "Classic" Grand Class ship for a year.

 

Not holding my breath! :rolleyes:

 

But it might work as an occasional "one off" cruise.

Edited November 15, 2015 by SoCal Cruiser78
clarity

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

I do not think the cruise gods do not want me to leave Princess, there is a cruise only goes once per year that I wanted to do last year but medical issues with DW meant we could not go,

 

well this year price was just silly about two and half times last year offer,

 

but I said if price is right I will cruise Princess so this cruise was just above HAL

 

in price but is three days longer,

 

well price has dropped by about 30% still not enough but found one web site offering it at over 50% but can not make booking as you need to call,

 

there are not open just now, so will need to call in a few hours,

 

yours Shogun

[Oppalopa]

20 years ago there was no such thing as a private balcony except perhaps in a suite. Paid as much for a OV then as I regularly pay for a balcony now. Other undisputedly great improvements have been in entertainment (though on some lines it peaked 5 years or so ago - but still better than it was). There are more ports of departure and more ports of call and fewer tender ports. Bigger ships have more venues but there are still plenty of small ships for those who would prefer that. And, generally speaking, the free casual eating venues have more variety and open hours.

 

I do get nostalgic for the days when every one ate at one of two times, went to one of two shows, and conformed to the same dress codes. It was more of a shared adventure then. I miss skeet shooting and golfing off the stern, horse racing, the Captains party and the midnight buffet.

 

So I find myself wishing that some of the big lines would pick a modern ship and designate it as a ship that offers a "Classic" experience.

Sounds like a great Idea to me.

[keithm]

I can relate to the red above. Nothing excites or interests me in the Royal class.

 

I'm trying Celebrity in January, Steve, and will write a review. The cruise offered a suite with all gratuities paid, free drinks package and $300 OBC at a savings of $1800 vs the Royal Princess suite with nothing included. Too good to pass up.

 

I think a change will do you good.

 

Good luck in whatever you do choose!

 

Norris

You should have butler service on Celebrity as well. Food is subjective, but we found the food better than Cunard(exception the Grills)We booked a B2B on the Regal Princess Feb.7 Normally we would have done the Eclipse as in the past 2 winters, but pricing went up by 600+pp & they now do an overnight, which we didn't care for. We'll see how the Feb. trip goes & if it's really good we'll stay with Princess. If not, we'll probably go back to Celebrity/Cunard.