"Hard Sell" on Princess Cruise - is that normal?

[Marisawrite]

We enjoyed our Baltic cruise on the Regal Princess last month - the one sour note was the endless commercialism.

 

Every day the Princess Patter seemed to have a huge list of activities - but on closer inspection, more than half were just promotional events for the shops, the spa or the art gallery.

 

I had a spa treatment which was quite nice, but was then given the hard sell for two products which cost more than the treatment - she actually walked away saying, "I'll just add these to your account" and I had to call her back to say no. Totally destroyed the relaxing effect of the massage!

 

The first formal night was the champagne pour, which was a joke - instead of the spectacle of champagne cascading down the tower of glasses, we got an endless queue of guests coming up to the podium to add a tiny splash (so they could get their photo taken of course!). We were all crammed into the space under the balconies because so much space was taken up by that queue and the roped-off areas for formal photos. It lost all sense of atmosphere, it was all designed to suit the photographers.

 

Are all Princess Cruises like this?

[idahospud]

Yep.

 

After almost 40 cruises we've learned to just barely glance over the Patter, toss all the extra sales papers in the trash without reading them, and avoid the Piazza on champagne waterfall night and balloon drop night. Doesn't bother me a bit anymore. I'll have a great time anyway.

Edited June 8, 2016 by idahospud

[Marisawrite]

Yep.

 

After almost 40 cruises we've learned to just barely glance over the Patter, toss all the extra sales papers in the trash without reading them, and avoid the Piazza on champagne waterfall night and balloon drop night. Doesn't bother me a bit anymore. I'll have a great time anyway.

 

Hmm. We could do that too, but I have memories of the great atmosphere on formal night on our Royal Caribbean cruise. Whereas on Princess, I felt I'd got all dressed up for a party and then there wasn't one!

 

Sounds like it's back to RC for me then.

[ar1950]

I wouldn't call it a "hard sell". Just an opportunity for enhanced revenue by the cruise line. Not unusual these days.

 

BTW, we have yet to feel that these "revenue enhancement opportunities" by Princess ever felt like a "hard sell". Go to a timeshare presentation in the US if you want to feel like you have been to a "hard sell" experience. :cool:

 

BTW, things change. YMMV :rolleyes:

Edited June 8, 2016 by ar1950

[Marisawrite]

I wouldn't call it a "hard sell". Just an opportunity for enhanced revenue by the cruise line. Not unusual these days.

 

BTW, we have yet to feel that these "revenue enhancement opportunities" by Princess ever felt like a "hard sell". Go to a timeshare presentation in the US if you want to feel like you have been to a "hard sell" experience. :cool:

 

BTW, things change. YMMV :rolleyes:

 

Yes, I have been to a timeshare presentation so yes, I do know what a real hard sell feels like.

 

However, when I've ALREADY paid a lot of money to a company for a product or service, I think I should be able to enjoy that product or service and not be subjected to constant daily upselling.

 

I really didn't mind the sales junk and simply avoided the shops. What really got me was the absence of genuine activities in favour of promos, and the anti-climax of formal night. They can have all the photo opportunities they like, but I WANTED TO PARTY!

 

You're right, RC may be just as bad these days. It's likely to be a long time till my nex cruise anyway so it may all be hypothetical.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Marisawrite

[joybook]

You don't have to go to the US to esperience the 'hard sell' of a time-share operator. They are quite unbelievable. I have never experienced such a fast shove-off than when I showed little interest in the time-share on offer. They couldn't get me out the door quickly enough - quite rude actually.:)

[ar1950]

Yes, I have been to a timeshare presentation so yes, I do know what a real hard sell feels like.

 

However, when I've ALREADY paid a lot of money to a company for a product or service, I think I should be able to enjoy that product or service and not be subjected to constant daily upselling.

 

I really didn't mind the sales junk and simply avoided the shops. What really got me was the absence of genuine activities in favour of promos, and the anti-climax of formal night. They can have all the photo opportunities they like, but I WANTED TO PARTY!

You're right, RC may be just as bad these days. It's likely to be a long time till my nex cruise anyway so it may all be hypothetical.

 

Try a Carnival four or five day cruise. That sounds like a better fit for you. Carnival runs the gamut as far as cruise experiences go. You might need to go to a US or Mediterranean cruise to get "the party on" atmosphere. Just sayin'. :)

[Marisawrite]

Try a Carnival four or five day cruise. That sounds like a better fit for you. Carnival runs the gamut as far as cruise experiences go. You might need to go to a US or Mediterranean cruise to get "the party on" atmosphere. Just sayin'. :)

 

I'm not a party animal every night! It's just that I can't see the point of making room in my case for two formal outfits, and spend time getting all dressed up/doing hair/makeup, only to spend an evening watching other people get their photo taken. Thank goodness I didn't spend good money to get my hair done for the evening as well, then I'd be really p***d off!

 

Anyway that's not really the point - I would've been quite happy with an elegant pre-dinner event, mingling with other guests over a glass of champagne and some canapes, with a band playing some nice music. What we got - because of the splash-at-a-time champagne pour and the photo areas - was a cramped mill of people who could barely move, no music and no atmosphere.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Marisawrite

[ar1950]

You don't have to go to the US to esperience the 'hard sell' of a time-share operator. They are quite unbelievable. I have never experienced such a fast shove-off than when I showed little interest in the time-share on offer. They couldn't get me out the door quickly enough - quite rude actually.:)

 

LOL, "shove-off" doesn't happen in the US time share presentations. More like "how can we get you to sign up for a week or two". Never a "shove-off" no matter your lack of interest. Lack of interest means amp up the "sell" not go for a "shove-off". Let me introduce some US time share companies to you. :D

[idahospud]

If I'm going to go to all that effort then I expect to have a good night out at the end of it.

Out of curiosity, what is it that RCCL does on formal night?

[Aussieflyer]

Agree Marisawrite, it is so annoying when everywhere you walk on formal night, the photographers have set up backdrops and lights and seem to hog all the public spaces. I've seen this on many lines not just Princess. It's the push for extra money. As for the spa upsell, I've heard that reported many times in the past.

I get where you are coming from and I don't read your posts as that you are a party animal at all. I thought you meant that you wanted it to be a special evening with people dressed up and having a wonderful time.

Edited June 8, 2016 by Aussieflyer

[ar1950]

I'm not a party animal every night! It's just that I can't see the point of making room in my case for two formal outfits, and spend time getting all dressed up/doing hair/makeup, only to spend an evening watching other people get their photo taken.

 

If I'm going to go to all that effort then I expect to have a good night out at the end of it.

 

Thank goodness I didn't spend good money to get my hair done for the evening as well, then I'd be really p***d off!

 

OK, I get it. We always have had the good night out. I suspect another vacation venue might be a better fit for you. Try a premium cruise line maybe??:confused:

[OzKiwiJJ]

I found more annoying sales pitches on RCI than I've ever seen on Princess.

 

I watched the champagne waterfall once, now I avoid the atrium and head for another bar for my pre-dinner cocktail on that night. :D

 

We enjoy getting dressed up on formal nights, just for ourselves. In day-to-day life it is rare that we get a chance to wear elegant evening wear so we relish the opportunity onboard.

[ar1950]

I found more annoying sales pitches on RCI than I've ever seen on Princess.

 

I watched the champagne waterfall once, now I avoid the atrium and head for another bar for my pre-dinner cocktail on that night. :D

 

We enjoy getting dressed up on formal nights, just for ourselves. In day-to-day life it is rare that we get a chance to wear elegant evening wear so we relish the opportunity onboard.

 

Sounds like you have it figured out......;)

[wishfulone]

I think every ship does the champagne tower slightly differently. Some almost fill all the glasses before the guests pour, while on others there's barely a drop in the glasses. I've been on ships where the seas were so rough they lowered the tower to just a few tiers but it still went ahead and the crowds cam to watch. The champagne is cheap (be sure not to drink too much) but the canapes are wonderful if they're offered. Again, it's different on every ship. I believe some have something delicious called chocolate pops?

 

Maybe I'm a closet voyeur but I love watching all the happy people having their chance to pour the champagne. While doing this doesn't interest me one bit, those standing in line beautifully groomed are making a memory that will last forever.

 

As for the advertising, it's much easier to recycle all that paper if you gather it all into a pile near the waste bin. After a few days either I toss it in the bin or the room steward removes it.

[Marisawrite]

Out of curiosity, what is it that RCCL does on formal night?

 

It was a few years ago now but it wasn't rocket science. A pre-dinner "reception" was held in the big open area in the centre of the ship (can't remember what it's called). The formal photo areas were on an upper balcony (something Princess could easily have done too). There was free champagne and canapes, a band playing party music, lots of balloons, and people just mingled. The cruise director and his staff did an introduction with a few jokes to warm up the crowd, the captain gave a speech.

[moki'smommy]

Yes, our experience was largely as OP reported. Serious sales attempt at the spa. And in addition to the hard sell, they had the nerve to suggest an additional tip on top of the 18% automatic tip! Ridiculous. Sorry, but I felt the 18% amount was excessive. This is supposed to be a tip, not the entire salary for the spa personnel. Of course, had they skipped their "product recommendations," they also would have reduced their time with me by 10 minutes.

 

And I, too, was disappointed in the champagne fountain. I left after about 5 minutes, wondering what the point was supposed to be. Unfortunately missed the chocolate, but a tablemate got some for each of us! Formal night activities were ...lacking.

[Marisawrite]

Yes' date=' our experience was largely as OP reported. Serious sales attempt at the spa. And in addition to the hard sell, they had the nerve to suggest an additional tip on top of the 18% automatic tip! Ridiculous. ...

 

And I, too, was disappointed in the champagne fountain. I left after about 5 minutes, wondering what the point was supposed to be. Unfortunately missed the chocolate[/quote']

 

There was chocolate? Darn, missed it!

 

I was also astonished to be given a receipt with further space for an additional gratuity - surely that's what the automatic gratuity is for? Needless to say I didn't add anything!

[moki'smommy]

 

I was also astonished to be given a receipt with further space for an additional gratuity - surely that's what the automatic gratuity is for? Needless to say I didn't add anything!

 

It wasn't just that the receipt had an extra line--that I expected. It was that the spa employee verbally suggested that I could add additional gratuity. The cost of a spa service already yields an automatic gratuity of over $20 per hour. That's quite sufficient for me.

[JF - retired RRT]

Yep.

 

After almost 40 cruises we've learned to just barely glance over the Patter, toss all the extra sales papers in the trash without reading them, and avoid the Piazza on champagne waterfall night and balloon drop night. Doesn't bother me a bit anymore. I'll have a great time anyway.

Me, too!!

[Carolyn R]

It should be noted that Princess has nothing to do with the spa. All cruise lines independently contract out their spa services.

[moki'smommy]

It should be noted that Princess has nothing to do with the spa. All cruise lines independently contract out their spa services.

 

Absolutely correct.

[thinfool]

It should be noted that Princess has nothing to do with the spa. All cruise lines independently contract out their spa services.

 

True....and also applies to the shops and all of that connoisseur quality art work that is sold at auction.:D

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Once upon a time cruising was all inclusive,

 

todays model, is the very opposite,

 

very low cruise price to hook your victim

 

then once onboard bleed them dry.

 

yours Shogun

[Cruise Junky]

Hi All

 

Once upon a time cruising was all inclusive,

 

todays model, is the very opposite,

 

very low cruise price to hook your victim

 

then once onboard bleed them dry.

 

yours Shogun

 

Exactly. They all do it. We pretty much ignore all formal night activities in the atrium and avoid the spa like the plague. But if you've experienced less of a hard sell on RCL and more of a party on Formal Nights, then I can see how you'd be annoyed with Princess.