no card rooms on Princess Cruises

[bridgeplayer]

We recently returned from a 15 day cruise, San Fransisco to Ft. Lauderdale--through Panama Canal. We were quite surprised to learn that Princess has removed ALL card rooms in favor of internet cafes (they make money!) When I questioned the cruise director, he replied "You would have known if you read your brochure!) AND they had bridge directors! We were relegated to a disco, low light, not proper tables, not enough time for a full session of bridge. After complaining, lights were brought in and time was added. This does not take the place of an informal cardroom. Card playing on a cruise is synonymous with a swimming pool. We also thought the tendering in ports was handled terribly, 2000 passengers for 4 tenders holding 100 people each--you do the math! Had a great time, though. We have cruised on QE2, Royal Caribbean, Renaissance, Celebrity. Sun Princess was probably the least good--food wise and pampering. ENTERTAINMENT was fabulous-Las Vegas type shows. The "anytime dining" was a very good feature.

[Coral]

I guess each person has different interests. I was actually glad when they converted the card room into an internet cafe. The old internet area was very small and difficult to get to.

[LARGIN]

What ship? The Coral had both last May..

[Coral]

What ship? The Coral had both last May..

 

Sun Princess.....

[spongerob]

That's too bad. Apparently there is more demand for on-line access than a place to play bridge. Maybe that's a good thing. I remember hiding under the bed as a child when they returned home from an evening of bridge and the discussion about, "How in the world could you bid no trump?" started.

[Host Caroline]

I could swear there's a card room right by the library on the Caribbean Princess..... I know I saw some people in there one afternoon playing cards but maybe it's not a "Dedicated" card/game room?

[Splinter]

Just got off the Island Princess on Saturday, and our cabin was right next to the card/game room which is opposite the library. There is a completely separate Internet area on the same deck. The card room was closed for several hours daily for exclusive use of bridge players. Not sure what ship you are talking about, but this certainly is not true for all Princess ships...perhaps just the older ones not originally designed with an internet area?

[bdjam]

Sun, Dawn and Sea had their card rooms removed to make way for the new Internet set up – the rest of the ships have not changed. I think I read somewhere that the card room on Sea Princess was moved up to the casino lounge (which was added when she was at P&O). I kind of thought they’d do the same with Sun and Dawn…add a lounge in the casino for cards...?

[jnc411]

HI, we were on the Regal in March and the card/game room was part of the casino area up in the dome, actually quite nice with a view. We used it a few times .

Cori

[Coral]

Sun, Dawn and Sea had their card rooms removed to make way for the new Internet set up – the rest of the ships have not changed. I think I read somewhere that the card room on Sea Princess was moved up to the casino lounge (which was added when she was at P&O). I kind of thought they’d do the same with Sun and Dawn…add a lounge in the casino for cards...?

 

In May - they were using the Shooting Stars lounge for a card room on the Sun Princess.

[GloriaF]

Often I've noticed a table of card players in the buffet or under the shaded area shielded from wind on the pool deck by the grill ~~ even on larger ships that had a card/game room. I would prefer to have the view of the water than be in an interior card/game room anyway.

[Genessa]

We recently returned from a 15 day cruise, San Fransisco to Ft. Lauderdale--through Panama Canal. We were quite surprised to learn that Princess has removed ALL card rooms in favor of internet cafes (they make money!) When I questioned the cruise director, he replied "You would have known if you read your brochure!) AND they had bridge directors! We were relegated to a disco, low light, not proper tables, not enough time for a full session of bridge. After complaining, lights were brought in and time was added. This does not take the place of an informal cardroom. Card playing on a cruise is synonymous with a swimming pool. We also thought the tendering in ports was handled terribly, 2000 passengers for 4 tenders holding 100 people each--you do the math! Had a great time, though. We have cruised on QE2, Royal Caribbean, Renaissance, Celebrity. Sun Princess was probably the least good--food wise and pampering. ENTERTAINMENT was fabulous-Las Vegas type shows. The "anytime dining" was a very good feature.

 

I'm sorry you were disappointed. I'd be disappointed too, if the cruise ship was missing something - a Promenade Deck for instance - that I take for granted. We don't play cards, or at least if we do, it's at a table by the grill, but it isn't one of our "cruise musts". Until you posted this, it hadn't hit me what the internet cafe was displacing as we had sailed on the Dawn both pre and post internet cafe.

[roe2ship]

I could swear there's a card room right by the library on the Caribbean Princess..... I know I saw some people in there one afternoon playing cards but maybe it's not a "Dedicated" card/game room?

Yes, you are right........the room is Jokers and it is right next to the Future Cruise desk and the library.

[Iamthesea]

Often I've noticed a table of card players in the buffet or under the shaded area shielded from wind on the pool deck by the grill ~~ even on larger ships that had a card/game room. I would prefer to have the view of the water than be in an interior card/game room anyway.

:mad: When passengers use these tables for playing cards, they take up a table where someone would like to eat their breakfast or lunch. Those tables are hard to come by. If you are eating and playing (eating shouldn't take you more than two hands at the most.)...that's one thing, but please don't use those tables for anything other than eating.

[spongerob]

The card room on Grand Princess was turned into a larger internet center, but I think there is still a card/game room on Golden Princess. The answer whether or not a card room exists will depend on the ship. In true Princess fashion, there is no single right answer to the question.

[Pam in CA]

:mad: When passengers use these tables for playing cards, they take up a table where someone would like to eat their breakfast or lunch. Those tables are hard to come by. If you are eating and playing (eating shouldn't take you more than two hands at the most.)...that's one thing, but please don't use those tables for anything other than eating.

I'm not sure when you've seen bridge players taking space from people wanting to sit down for breakfast and lunch since most bridge players play mid-morning or mid-afternoon. That's when the bridge get-togethers and scheduled games are held.

 

If they've taken away bridge, my BIL will be very, very disappointed. That's one thing he really looks forward to on cruises.

[Iamthesea]

I'm not sure when you've seen bridge players taking space from people wanting to sit down for breakfast and lunch since most bridge players play mid-morning or mid-afternoon. That's when the bridge get-togethers and scheduled games are held.

 

If they've taken away bridge, my BIL will be very, very disappointed. That's one thing he really looks forward to on cruises.

The buffets are opened 24 hours and the pool side grill is opened from 11:00 - 5:00. People eat at all times of the day. Those seats that are meant for eating should not be taken up by persons playing cards. I saw a post on this board not too long ago where someone was complaining of a group of card players in the Horizon Court. They had taken the tables next to the windows at the bow...prime spot!

 

We see the same thing on the other cruise lines. Passengers are either playing cards, reading a book or have dumped all their possessions on a table around the pool/grill areas and in the Windjammer/eating areas. It's kind of like the pool chair hogs. It's tough to find a place to sit down and eat your lunch!

 

The same thing happens in the library. The rooms are suppose to be nice quiet places to read, and then comes along a group of teens that decide the library is a great hang out area.:eek:

 

I don't have a problem with card players...like to play a game or two myself. ;) It's too bad that Princess is taking away the game rooms.

[calikak]

The card room on Grand Princess was turned into a larger internet center, but I think there is still a card/game room on Golden Princess. The answer whether or not a card room exists will depend on the ship. In true Princess fashion, there is no single right answer to the question.

I think you're right that there's a card/game room on the Golden. I think I remember there being a game room next to the future cruise desk...I know my friend borrowed Trivial Pursuit from there, but I don't remember if it was a dedicated game room or not. My dad (who was on the cruise with us) is a bridge player, and I remember him saying they had too many people show up for bridge for their original location, so they moved to one of the dining rooms instead. The casino on the Sun/Dawn isn't very big compared to some of the other ships, so maybe that's why they haven't installed a card area?

[slgjhg]

Bridge is a very important part of our "at Sea" days for my husband. He has always enjoyed it and several of our friends are "bridge directors" for several different lines. Bridge (serious) players usually play in the afternoon with lectures in the morning.

 

Does anyone else know something more about this. Last fall, our last cruise with Princess, 30 days, Rome to Bangkok, we had soooo many bridge players that the Bridge Director's wife set up an additional area for those of us who were interested in learning.

 

I know HAL has special bridge cruises, I certainly hope Princess isn't ddoing this to all its ships.

 

Happy Cruising,

 

Shannon

[Eelman3]

Just got off the Star Princess. There was quite a large card room. And there were many well organized games. The internet was in another location on the way to the Princess theater. Pick a ship like the Star and you will not be disappointed in the card program.

[susancruzs]

I'm back from my Sea Princess cruise and there were tables in the casino that were to be used for cards. The casino is in one half, tables in the other.

The casino for a ship that size is pretty small, with older style slot machines.

 

One lady commented to me that it was very distracting trying to play bridge with the noise from the casino. I would agree plus the lighting didn't seem good. I was on for 21 days and did not see anyone making use of the bar area or tables that much, not like you would expect.

 

Susie

[CL-JW]

Sun, Dawn and Sea had their card rooms removed to make way for the new Internet set up – the rest of the ships have not changed. I think I read somewhere that the card room on Sea Princess was moved up to the casino lounge (which was added when she was at P&O). I kind of thought they’d do the same with Sun and Dawn…add a lounge in the casino for cards...?

 

Just got of the Dawn this morning, and it still had a card room on Deck 12 forward, next to the conference room. It is hidden up with some cabins.

[badboytkf]

I just got back from the Sun Princess on 10/9. That ship needs to be sunk or given to Carnival.

All of the Grand Class ships that Princess has to offer still have the card rooms. It's the smaller size ships like the Sun, Sea, Dawn etc that have either done away with them for the internet cafe or have located them in a hard to find area.

[DavHar]

We just got off the Pacific Princess on Saturday

after a 28 Day Cruise.

There was a Card Room on Deck 10 next to the

Internet Room.It was very popular!

[daWoods]

I just got back from the Sun Princess on 10/9. That ship needs to be sunk or given to Carnival.

All of the Grand Class ships that Princess has to offer still have the card rooms. It's the smaller size ships like the Sun, Sea, Dawn etc that have either done away with them for the internet cafe or have located them in a hard to find area.

 

Exactly what is the source of your angst against the Sun? Most comments I've read about it are positive.