Somewhat live on the Pacific Princess 50th Anniversary Cruise

[Working 2 Cruise]

The Pacific Princess was on one of the entertainment shows tonight... sniff!

[Colo Cruiser]

Yep. Place was packed. Peter and Chris are recruiting bridge players. Some dining time hiccups last night. Hoping it's all fixed tonight. Weather is great.

 

 

 

I'll trade places with ya if its that bad. :p

[ibfern]

Sea Day

 

Yesterday was an interesting day, celebs all over the ship just being regular cruisers. Everywhere I go I see Jack Jones, eating in the Buffet, at the lectures and the shows. I have not gotten the nerve to ask for a selfie with him but maybe today at the Q&A an opportunity will come up. Meanwhile, Sammi assures us we will be able to get autographs today at the morning lecture. Can't wait...

 

Dinner last night was awful and frankly it was awful the night before as well but I figured the first night is always crazy for the staff but they usually have it together by night two. This was not the case. Our waiter has never introduced himself to us, never makes recommendations for what to order, and we sat for an hour before we had our orders taken. Then of course it's rush, rush, rush and we are asked to leave while eating our desserts! Terrible service, the worst I've ever had on any ship.

 

The food itself is horrible, bland, rubbery chicken, and we never get what we order. I ask for chicken breast and get dark meat. I ask for no sauce on the food and it comes soaked in sauce. I ask for light salad dressing on the side but the salad comes soaked in dressing, and I am pretty sure it's not the low cal stuff. It seems our waiters ignore our requests. After asking the head waiter, I still got the wrong food! OMG what is going on here? I was truly expecting a higher class of food but instead the food is the worst I've ever had on Princess. And everything is saturated with salt, yucky table salt. I was kosher salt, come on Princess what is going on here?

 

Ok today is a new day, maybe something will change. Fingers crossed.

[CineGraphic]

we sat for an hour before we had our orders taken.

 

I would have NEVER waited that long before speaking up. I would have told the waiter, look, if you can't take my order, find me someone who can.

[chamima]

WOW!!! :(

 

Hopefully someone from Princess is monitoring this thread and will take notice and do something.

[kruisey]

Sea Day

 

Yesterday was an interesting day, celebs all over the ship just being regular cruisers. Everywhere I go I see Jack Jones, eating in the Buffet, at the lectures and the shows. I have not gotten the nerve to ask for a selfie with him but maybe today at the Q&A an opportunity will come up. Meanwhile, Sammi assures us we will be able to get autographs today at the morning lecture. Can't wait...

 

Dinner last night was awful and frankly it was awful the night before as well but I figured the first night is always crazy for the staff but they usually have it together by night two. This was not the case. Our waiter has never introduced himself to us, never makes recommendations for what to order, and we sat for an hour before we had our orders taken. Then of course it's rush, rush, rush and we are asked to leave while eating our desserts! Terrible service, the worst I've ever had on any ship.

 

The food itself is horrible, bland, rubbery chicken, and we never get what we order. I ask for chicken breast and get dark meat. I ask for no sauce on the food and it comes soaked in sauce. I ask for light salad dressing on the side but the salad comes soaked in dressing, and I am pretty sure it's not the low cal stuff. It seems our waiters ignore our requests. After asking the head waiter, I still got the wrong food! OMG what is going on here? I was truly expecting a higher class of food but instead the food is the worst I've ever had on Princess. And everything is saturated with salt, yucky table salt. I was kosher salt, come on Princess what is going on here?

 

Ok today is a new day, maybe something will change. Fingers crossed.

Everyone set their expectations so high for this cruise.What a rotten beginning for you.:(

[TracieABD]

I am so sorry to hear about the disappointing food and dining service... That is really unfortunate.

 

I hope there is a marked improvement and I hope it happens fast.

 

Keep us posted!

[Colo Cruiser]

Dinner last night was awful and frankly it was awful the night before as well but I figured the first night is always crazy for the staff but they usually have it together by night two. This was not the case. Our waiter has never introduced himself to us, never makes recommendations for what to order, and we sat for an hour before we had our orders taken. Then of course it's rush, rush, rush and we are asked to leave while eating our desserts! Terrible service, the worst I've ever had on any ship.

 

The food itself is horrible, bland, rubbery chicken, and we never get what we order. I ask for chicken breast and get dark meat. I ask for no sauce on the food and it comes soaked in sauce. I ask for light salad dressing on the side but the salad comes soaked in dressing, and I am pretty sure it's not the low cal stuff. It seems our waiters ignore our requests. After asking the head waiter, I still got the wrong food! OMG what is going on here? I was truly expecting a higher class of food but instead the food is the worst I've ever had on Princess. And everything is saturated with salt, yucky table salt. I was kosher salt, come on Princess what is going on here?

 

Wow! Thats disgusting!! All the hype for this cruise and this happens!! :( :eek: :(

[Pia1913]

The Pacific Princess was on one of the entertainment shows tonight... sniff!

 

Perhaps in California, but not everywhere. I tuned into ET specifically to watch it and, it wasn't shown.

[hpeabody]

Perhaps in California, but not everywhere. I tuned into ET specifically to watch it and, it wasn't shown.

 

FYI all, It was THE INSIDER that is or used to be (?) sister show to ET. The shoot was shown last night. It looked to me like the TV crew boarded during the turnaround time and then left. It came very unexpected as I too thought it was going to be ET. All of a sudden they started playing the Love Boat theme and showed a Love Boat show image. It may be possible that the 2 shows are still related and have common crew members (I am not quite sure) It was nice to see the cast reunited.

[Pia1913]

FYI all, It was THE INSIDER that is or used to be (?) sister show to ET. The shoot was shown last night. It looked to me like the TV crew boarded during the turnaround time and then left. It came very unexpected as I too thought it was going to be ET. All of a sudden they started playing the Love Boat theme and showed a Love Boat show image. It may be possible that the 2 shows are still related and have common crew members (I am not quite sure) It was nice to see the cast reunited.

 

Inside Edition followed ET, but it wasn't there either. I think certain network affiliates do not have to show what the majors show. In any event, my friends who are aboard keep sending me photos;up close and personal ones too.

[shredie]

I'll trade places with ya if its that bad. :p

 

 

Our dinner has been okay. Nice waiter. Great jr waiter. Late seating so maybe that makes a difference. There's a lady here who keeps hollering at the M'D. I've seen her waving her finger in his face every day so far. He just smiles and keeps going. He says "I can only do what I can do. ". It's kind of amusing. I don't know what her issue is. Room service has been slooooowww. I don't know if Has to do with all the big shots ordering from the suites. Tea time was very nice with large selection. Peter and Chris keep looking for bridge partners.

[sunsetbeachgal]

Wow, that is unbelievable about the food. We have always had good food on Princess ships, some of course better than others but absolutely nothing like this sounds.

[Wehwalt]

Inside Edition followed ET, but it wasn't there either. I think certain network affiliates do not have to show what the majors show. In any event, my friends who are aboard keep sending me photos;up close and personal ones too.

 

They were doing filming with the cast around 245 pm on the starboard aft corner of the jogging track. I was allowed to watch from behind the production crew. But I got a decent shot.

 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Love_Boat_cast_2015.jpeg

[Quenby]

Service has been hit and miss - room service initially took a very long time, but things seem to have improved today. Dinners have been slow, but the food quality has been good from my perspective.

 

Loved the session this morning with Sammi interviewing all the Love Boat cast and hearing about all the different turns their lives have taken.

 

Here's hoping Peter and I have better luck at bridge today.........

Edited December 5, 2015 by Quenby

[Colo Cruiser]

Our dinner has been okay. Nice waiter. Great jr waiter. Late seating so maybe that makes a difference. There's a lady here who keeps hollering at the M'D. I've seen her waving her finger in his face every day so far. He just smiles and keeps going. He says "I can only do what I can do. ". It's kind of amusing. I don't know what her issue is. Room service has been slooooowww. I don't know if Has to do with all the big shots ordering from the suites. Tea time was very nice with large selection. Peter and Chris keep looking for bridge partners.

 

 

Break it!! :eek:

[kruisey]

What specials functions and entertainment have they put on for you on this special cruise ?????

[Wehwalt]

Laundry is taking an extra day, due to the huge number of Elites. The bag handed out first night was the regular one, not the 50th (!) There are three wine tastings due to many Elites, also 2 Captains Circle parties, to be held later on (the 11th?) There is a large sign on the Captain Circle/FCC desk informing us that the Most Traveled passenger has 1,900 nights and the cutoff is 600.

 

We have promises of special merch in the gift shop, the port Ts and itinerary Ts will apparently be special, but due to short staff in the shops, they aren't out yet, also magnets. There is a special logo, labeled "Throwback Cruise" which hasn't been used much.

 

They did read the roll call and the casino manager at the Cruise Critic's meeting took some delight in informing us there will be a slot pull, having read our conclusion the casino wasn't large enough.

 

I've heard rumors the cast is getting off in Puerto Vallarta. Others say they are on for the whole cruise. We shall see.

 

(sorry to crash the blog)

[PescadoAmarillo]

Wow. It sounds like the Pacific Princess went to hell in a handbasket in the 2.5 hours after we disembarked on Thursday and embarkation began for the 50th anniversary cruise. I'm sorry...I hate to question people stating negatives, because every cruise is different, but I have a hard time accepting that it got that bad that quickly.

 

I had the chicken breast many, many times over 67 days and never found it to have dark meat. DH always requests his beef without sauces, and, even when he would forget, the waiter would remind him by asking if he wanted it that way. And it was never served incorrectly.

 

Everyone set their expectations so high for this cruise.(

 

And therein lies the problem. Frankly, the entire ship's company knew that this would be the case. I was getting emails from 50th anniversary passengers asking about special crew ("the best?") coming on board, additional crew coming on board (to handle laundry. Where would they sleep?), special menus, special production show cast, etc. The reality is that, to the people on the ship, with the exception of Sammi and some in the entertainment department, this is simply the cruise following the last cruise and before the next cruise. To imagine service should be better on this cruise implies that the crew was not doing their best on the cruises that we were on, and I promise you, that was not the case. They do their best all the time, whether they're serving Gavin MacLeod or a blue card cruiser. As for the food...I suppose Princess could have upped their game for this cruise, but that was never promised or implied.

 

The problem is that this was promised to be a cruise with special guests and entertainment, and the expectation became something much bigger than that.

 

As for the CC host having a sign on her desk with the MTP numbers...I'm so glad she did that. DH suggested that, knowing that she would get asked 100 times a day what the numbers were.

[Colo Cruiser]

Wow. It sounds like the Pacific Princess went to hell in a handbasket in the 2.5 hours after we disembarked on Thursday and embarkation began for the 50th anniversary cruise. I'm sorry...I hate to question people stating negatives, because every cruise is different, but I have a hard time accepting that it got that bad that quickly.

 

 

Hahaha I know right!

[Pam in CA]

So far, I've found the food to be pretty typically Princess. Not great, not bad. Alfredo is boarding the ship in PV so I would expect some special dishes. Tomorrow, they're doing a special brunch which is supposed to be incredible.

 

Had dinner last night in the Sterling Steakhouse and they seated us way in the back. However, we were one table away from the entire Love Boat cast and their friends. They were having a ball, playing trivia with each other, etc. They obviously really, really like and enjoy each other.

 

The suite has been OK. Heard that Jan Swartz was told she had to give up her cabin so people like my sister and I could be upgraded to free up some cabins. Also heard that guest entertainers were switched to give up cabins as well.

 

Today was a fun day with the Love Boat actors. Tonight is formal night.

[TracieABD]

Thanks, Pam, for the update. Glad to hear it is going well. Any specific details on why the suite is just OK?

 

Keep us posted!

Tracie-Lynn

[Pam in CA]

I'll write the details offline and post. :) Nothing really wrong with the suite.

[TracieABD]

I'll write the details offline and post. :) Nothing really wrong with the suite.

 

Thanks! I look forward to hearing your impressions! Don't forget breakfast in Sabatini's (which is my favorite perk!).

 

Happy sails, friend!

[Pam in CA]

The suite is lovely and very spacious. The balcony is delightful. The pull out couch is very comfortable.

 

However, the suite is really designed for a couple. All of the outlets and storage are in the sleeping area. There's a little storage under the TV but that's it. No nightstands, just tiny tables on either side of the couch. There's no storage in the half-bath other than under the sink. There are no shelves there nor an outlet. It's just a very basic half-bath with a toilet and sink. I had to ask for an extension cord in order to have a US outlet in the living room area. Nothing like a big orange extension cord for ambience.

 

If I get up earlier than my sister, which I usually do, I have to pre-organize everything and I have no way to fix my hair if I don't want to wake her up. If I want to go to a show at night, I have to organize not only all of my next day's clothing but my night stuff as well. Not impossible but not convenient. I plan to get a UK>US adapter at Walmart in PV so I can use an outlet in the living area. I've got several at home but didn't think I'd need it.

 

It's not awful and I'm certainly enjoying the balcony. The Sabatini's breakfast hasn't been worth it. I indulged in Eggs Benedict the first morning and instead of hollandaise sauce, there was a gloppy cheese sauce that looked like it had been under the heat lamp too long. I'll probably just go to the dining room from now on.

 

The one benefit that might be worth the suite has been a special laundry bag so hopefully, we won't have to wait 72 hours for it to come back.

 

They just delivered our flowers for tonight's formal night. One corsage and one boutonnière. Hmmm... Last I knew, we're both ladies. :) When we first arrived, there was zero information in the suite about the suite perks, Sabatini's breakfast hours, etc. I was told I should have printed out the list from the website (which I did but it doesn't include any specifics.) They kindly wrote the hours on a piece of paper for me. It's little things like this that show a lack of attention to detail.

 

We're having a great time and meeting many new friends and reconnecting with old friends. And that's what this cruise was and still is to us.