SUN Princess and slipping standards

[greykangaroo]

I have just picked up some friends from this ship in Fremantle at the end of the Asian 26 day voyage.

They stayed with us last night before we put them on the plane home to Adelaide today.

I would like to relate what they told us were the very good and very bad of their cruise.

Very good were the entertainment and the great movies on their cabin TV.

The food in all venues also was very good.

 

What wasn't good was the smoking which permeated much of the ship. They said that the main smoking area was right opposite the doors to Horizon Court restaurant and it rolled into the foyer area every time the door opened.

Dress standards were non existent and they were aghast to see shorts and thongs being worn into the formal dining room in the evening. They said all staff seemed powerless to speak to anyone about it but just looked and let them pass. :mad:

 

One point they made about the trip and outside the responsibility of Princess was that anyone who went to the expense of a balcony found it a complete waste of money as the humidity outside was so terrible that they couldn't open the doors.

 

On the way north they had to get a $44 on board visa for Bali and were aghast to find on the way back that they had to get another one for the second call at Bali as the visas were found to be only single entry.

$176 total for the two of them.

 

I hope that this post helps someone.

[Womble99]

They might be disheartened more so then to hear that Australia looks to be added to the free visa list this month so they wouldn't have to pay if they were a month later. [emoji15]

[easyboy]

On the way north they had to get a $44 on board visa for Bali and were aghast to find on the way back that they had to get another one for the second call at Bali as the visas were found to be only single entry.

$176 total for the two of them.

Thanks for this info.

[OzKiwiJJ]

I've been on both Sun & Dawn which both have the same smoking areas. We didn't notice any smoke drift into the foyer outside Horizon Court on either cruise, we only noticed it if we walked through that area. However I guess it really depends on how many smokers are on board, the OPs friends must have been unlucky on that cruise. Does this really count as "slipping standards"?

 

Also I'm not sure what the humidity in Asia has to do with slipping standards. It's what you expect travelling in that area.

 

The visa issue is annoying. At least they were only $44 each time, not US $60 which Princess advises is the rate for my upcoming cruise.

 

But it's sad to hear that the dress standards have slipped.

[clairebearinaus]

Thanks for the information. I'm on the Sun in a couple of days and always keen to hear more about what I can expect.

 

The smell of smoke really bothers me so I'll make a point of staying away from the Horizon Court doors, thanks. Hopefully there are ways in and out that don't involve running the gauntlet of smokers.

 

I couldn't care less what other peopler wear, and knew about the weather and the Bali visa fees so that's all good :)

[kobecat]

We are on the Dawn later in the year with an outside obstructed view cabin right outside the casino. I now see that Princess allows smoking in "a section of the Casino". Does anyone know which section this is?

Edited March 21, 2016 by kobecat

[OzKiwiJJ]

Thanks for the information. I'm on the Sun in a couple of days and always keen to hear more about what I can expect.

 

The smell of smoke really bothers me so I'll make a point of staying away from the Horizon Court doors, thanks. Hopefully there are ways in and out that don't involve running the gauntlet of smokers.

 

I couldn't care less what other peopler wear, and knew about the weather and the Bali visa fees so that's all good :)

 

I'm fairly sure the smoking area is on the port side on that deck so if you use the starboard side doors to/from the pool area to the lifts and Horizon Court you will avoid the worst of the smoke. Note, there is also a smoking area on the promenade deck, just a section of one side (can't remember which) but unfortunately if you are doing laps around the ship you have to walk right through it.

[rkmw]

Thanks for the information. I'm on the Sun in a couple of days and always keen to hear more about what I can expect.

 

The smell of smoke really bothers me so I'll make a point of staying away from the Horizon Court doors, thanks. Hopefully there are ways in and out that don't involve running the gauntlet of smokers.

 

I couldn't care less what other peopler wear, and knew about the weather and the Bali visa fees so that's all good :)

 

if smoking bothers you walk along the starboard side which is the non smoking side and access the Horizon Court stairs that way

[rkmw]

I have just picked up some friends from this ship in Fremantle at the end of the Asian 26 day voyage.

They stayed with us last night before we put them on the plane home to Adelaide today.

I would like to relate what they told us were the very good and very bad of their cruise.

Very good were the entertainment and the great movies on their cabin TV.

The food in all venues also was very good.

 

What wasn't good was the smoking which permeated much of the ship. They said that the main smoking area was right opposite the doors to Horizon Court restaurant and it rolled into the foyer area every time the door opened.

Dress standards were non existent and they were aghast to see shorts and thongs being worn into the formal dining room in the evening. They said all staff seemed powerless to speak to anyone about it but just looked and let them pass. :mad:

 

One point they made about the trip and outside the responsibility of Princess was that anyone who went to the expense of a balcony found it a complete waste of money as the humidity outside was so terrible that they couldn't open the doors.

 

On the way north they had to get a $44 on board visa for Bali and were aghast to find on the way back that they had to get another one for the second call at Bali as the visas were found to be only single entry.

$176 total for the two of them.

 

I hope that this post helps someone.

 

as i posted in post no.8 if smoking annoys people just access the HC from the starboard side and if the doors are closed a small amount of smoke might enter from the port side

 

not nice about wearing shorts in the MDR for dinner

[greykangaroo]

I've been on both Sun & Dawn which both have the same smoking areas. We didn't notice any smoke drift into the foyer outside Horizon Court on either cruise, we only noticed it if we walked through that area. However I guess it really depends on how many smokers are on board, the OPs friends must have been unlucky on that cruise. Does this really count as "slipping standards"?

 

Also I'm not sure what the humidity in Asia has to do with slipping standards. It's what you expect travelling in that area.

 

The visa issue is annoying. At least they were only $44 each time, not US $60 which Princess advises is the rate for my upcoming cruise.

 

But it's sad to hear that the dress standards have slipped.

 

I suggest you read my post again where it says that the mention of the humidity affecting balconies is outside of the responsibility of Princess.

I put this part in as information for anyone that is in the process of selecting a type of cabin during this Asian humidity period. Balconies are expensive and to pay all that money and not be able to open the door and use it would make me think again.

Like all these forums, people don't read them properly before commenting adversely.

[floridalover5623]

Thongs in the dining room for dinner? Seems to be a little extreme. :rolleyes:

[greykangaroo]

Thongs in the dining room for dinner? Seems to be a little extreme. :rolleyes:

 

I think that we all know that there are ships and ships, cruises and cruises and clientel and cliental.

This sort of cruise on this old ship is at the lower end of the spectrum and the company seems terrified to offend the passengers that are attracted to them in case they are half empty on sailing day.

Try wearing shorts and tees shirts to dinner on the QM2, or even the better ships of any of the cruise lines. Even the Explorer of the Seas had a rack of coats to lend 'gentlemen' on the cruise from Fremantle to New Zealand last year.

Everyone has different views on what cruising is all about. There are the people who want to experience the romance of the sea of old and love to dress for dinner and do things that are not done at home in the normal course of their lives.

Then at the other end of the spectrum are the 'you beaut' Aussies who think that anything should go and dress accordingly.

I think that the greatest mistake was to call ships hotels and pursers general managers. This set the stage for people to start treating ships as guest houses.

[MTJSR]

Thongs in the dining room? There are many other rules onboard that are "always enforced" that may offend a passenger.....so I don't see why Princess is "afraid" to approach and uphold their own printed onboard dress code standards. :confused:

[chrysalis]

Thongs in the dining room? There are many other rules onboard that are "always enforced" that may offend a passenger.....so I don't see why Princess is "afraid" to approach and uphold their own printed onboard dress code standards. :confused:

 

I suspect the OP's definition of "thongs" is the same as a North American's definition of flip flips.

[elliair]

I suspect the OP's definition of "thongs" is the same as a North American's definition of flip flips.

 

Yep, we call "thongs" flip flops, but with the standard of dress these days, people do get confused.

[floridalover5623]

I suspect the OP's definition of "thongs" is the same as a North American's definition of flip flips.

 

OK. :D:D I see.

I had a completely different image of what the OP was trying to convey. ;)

[sennen]

I did not think they allowed people to go topless on board ships. I would not want to see that sight surely their would have a top on as well as just a thong, a pair of shorts would have been better. That cannot a been a nice thing to see.

[RetiredNTraveling]

This could have "degenerated" into a really bad discussion.

 

I appreciate the clarification on the "Thong" issue. I can just imagine a bunch of dirty old men with cameras standing outside the MDR doors. :eek: Nyah, Nyah! :D

 

Just Mike

[greykangaroo]

Oh sorry to all who aren't Australians. We were wearing rubber thongs on our feet for fifty years before suddenly the name was hijacked a few years ago to

encompass those disgusting, unhygienic bum strings.

Shorts, tee shirts and thongs are the national dress of Australia. Unfortunately a certain set have never owned a suit and suddenly find themselves propelled into more er, genteel pastimes that require one.

 

I wonder if any cruise line will ever have the courage to go 'non smoking' like the airlines. I see the long haul flights continued after smoking was completely banned on all aircraft.

Remember the days of being asked if you wanted smoking or non smoking seats? How many years I helped the selfish smokers in the seat in front get through their cigarettes!

[OzKiwiJJ]

I suggest you read my post again where it says that the mention of the humidity affecting balconies is outside of the responsibility of Princess.

I put this part in as information for anyone that is in the process of selecting a type of cabin during this Asian humidity period. Balconies are expensive and to pay all that money and not be able to open the door and use it would make me think again.

Like all these forums, people don't read them properly before commenting adversely.

 

I did see that, sorry if my post seemed a little terse. I actually thought I said more on that topic at the time.

 

Most people from Australia particularly should be aware of the humidity issue in that part of the world. We had a similar issue on our first cruise to the South Pacific on Sun but soon realised that we only noticed the humidity for a short while, immediately after moving on to the balcony from the cool, airconditioned cabin. However it very much depends on each person and how they react to humidity. We're more used to it living in Sydney.

[clairebearinaus]

I'm fairly sure the smoking area is on the port side on that deck so if you use the starboard side doors to/from the pool area to the lifts and Horizon Court you will avoid the worst of the smoke. Note, there is also a smoking area on the promenade deck, just a section of one side (can't remember which) but unfortunately if you are doing laps around the ship you have to walk right through it.

 

Thanks that's good to know. Shame about the promenade deck, my son is supposed to be training for a running event when we return home, I don't really want him running through a pack of smokers. I'll have to pretend he's a bit older and try to sneak him into the gym!

[Kinkacruiser]

I suggest you read my post again where it says that the mention of the humidity affecting balconies is outside of the responsibility of Princess.

I put this part in as information for anyone that is in the process of selecting a type of cabin during this Asian humidity period. Balconies are expensive and to pay all that money and not be able to open the door and use it would make me think again.

Like all these forums, people don't read them properly before commenting adversely.

 

 

Airconditioners work much better with the doors closed when the humidity is high. If you want to use the balcony, close the door to the cabin.

[caribill]

Airconditioners work much better with the doors closed when the humidity is high. If you want to use the balcony, close the door to the cabin.

 

I think the OP meant that since the humidity was so high outside, it was not worth the effort to open the door and go outside.

 

I do not think the OP meant that the door should be opened and left open.

[greykangaroo]

I think the OP meant that since the humidity was so high outside, it was not worth the effort to open the door and go outside.

 

I do not think the OP meant that the door should be opened and left open.

 

Quite right Caribill. Better to have a cheaper cabin with a window than a balcony you can't use.

By the way, I have to ask this. What is an OP? I have been called many things with some of them being unsuitable for printing here, but I have never been called an OP before.

[shredie]

OP=original poster