Complaint about Princess

[martzel2]

We have recently sailed on the Caribbean Princess from Southampton (19 – 31 July) on the around the British Isles cruise and we have a few comments to make about this cruise.

Firstly, as experienced travellers and cruisers, we realise that sometimes changes have to be made to an itinerary. We do not understand why, on this cruise, when a change was made for the port of Cobh we were not informed. The Port Guide CORK (Cobh) which we took ashore so as to have the details of where the ship was docked and the Port Agent contact details stated “Your Princess ship is docked at Deep Water Pier in Cobh”. The Princess Patter on the previous night said we would be at Ringaskiddy Pier which to non-locals meant nothing. This, we assumed, was at Deep Water Pier, still in Cobh and we had no information to tell us that this was on the opposite of the river and we would need to go to Cork to access Cobh. We were in a public area when the first announcement was made about going ashore and no mention was made of the fact that we were not docked in Cobh. Even the tourist people said when they came on board that the public announcement said “welcome to Cobh”.

On the morning we caught the shuttle into Cork for a couple of hours with the intention of spending the rest of the day in Cobh. We nearly caught the train back to Cobh from Cork , but caught the shuttle back. On returning we asked the way to walk into the town only to be told “swim” or “get the shuttle back into Cork, make your way across town to the train station and catch the train”. Had we made our own way back to Cobh we could have been in serious danger of missing the ship when we went to return to it after doing our sight-seeing.

This lack of communication is reprehensible, our day was spoiled as a visit to Cobh had been researched and planned weeks beforehand. We missed out! What is also unforgiveable is the fact that your staff did not bother to answer either of our complaints.

Let us contrast this with an experience we had on the Sea Princess several weeks earlier. We had a change of dock for the Port of Stockholm. The Captain sent a letter to every cabin the night before notifying us of the change and giving the details of the new arrangements. This gave us adequate time to review our plans for the next day.

The other thing that really affected our enjoyment on board Caribbean Princess was the lack of quiet places with adequate seating to relax, read, or do our own thing. On a previous cruise last year on the same ship, we retreated to the Skywalker’s lounge for comfortable, quiet accommodation. On this cruise the some space (less than a quarter of the space) had been given over to the Mormon Church. This may have been alright if they had not been given a microphone and amplification that pervaded the whole area. Upon complaining to Passenger Services we were assured that they would be asked to reduce the noise factor. However they were louder than ever thus annoying many more passengers than Mormon Church members present. The Mormons said this was a private meeting and we should go elsewhere.

On one afternoon when the Mormons were at maximum volume we went in search of a quiet area. This is what we found: Wheelhouse Bar was closed for another Private Function (about 15 people), the Explorers lounge had an Art Auction, the Piazza had a loud children’s function (could be heard on decks, 5, 6 and 7). All other public areas had published activities taking place. The Library is much too small and of course Horizon’s Court (as suggested to us by Passengers Services) is always noisy, crowded and uncomfortable, certainly not a place of quiet relaxation.

You are apparently NOT the Consummate Host and we certainly have not come back new and are reviewing our future loyalty to Princess Cruises.

[OzKiwiJJ]

Hopefully someone from Princess will read your post, however be aware this is a forum of cruisers, not a conduit to Princess. You would be better off making these comments in your post-cruise survey or in an email direct to Princess.

[Shogun]

Hi

 

Have been to Cobh a few times and watch ships via web cam never heard off

 

them not docking in the town before, town goes to great lengths to welcome

 

cruise ships, was there another ship in port that day, the fact you were not given

 

notice may well mean that the change was made very late,

 

did you every go to Adagio bar during the day, it is often very quite,

 

sorry things did not go well for you, did you speak to any officers on board about for concerns

 

yours Shogun

[aquilegia]

I don't think there is an Adagio's on Caribbean Princess, Shogun.

[-Lew-]

 

Hopefully someone from Princess will read your post, however be aware this is a forum of cruisers, not a conduit to Princess. You would be better off making these comments in your post-cruise survey or in an email direct to Princess.

I agree...

 

I suggest you contact Princess Customer Relations at the following email address: CustomerRelations@PrincessCruises.com

 

Please post their response...

 

[Luvmyrotti]

We have recently sailed on the Caribbean Princess from Southampton (19 – 31 July) on the around the British Isles cruise and we have a few comments to make about this cruise.

Firstly, as experienced travellers and cruisers, we realise that sometimes changes have to be made to an itinerary. We do not understand why, on this cruise, when a change was made for the port of Cobh we were not informed. The Port Guide CORK (Cobh) which we took ashore so as to have the details of where the ship was docked and the Port Agent contact details stated “Your Princess ship is docked at Deep Water Pier in Cobh”. The Princess Patter on the previous night said we would be at Ringaskiddy Pier which to non-locals meant nothing. This, we assumed, was at Deep Water Pier, still in Cobh and we had no information to tell us that this was on the opposite of the river and we would need to go to Cork to access Cobh. We were in a public area when the first announcement was made about going ashore and no mention was made of the fact that we were not docked in Cobh. Even the tourist people said when they came on board that the public announcement said “welcome to Cobh”.

On the morning we caught the shuttle into Cork for a couple of hours with the intention of spending the rest of the day in Cobh. We nearly caught the train back to Cobh from Cork , but caught the shuttle back. On returning we asked the way to walk into the town only to be told “swim” or “get the shuttle back into Cork, make your way across town to the train station and catch the train”. Had we made our own way back to Cobh we could have been in serious danger of missing the ship when we went to return to it after doing our sight-seeing.

This lack of communication is reprehensible, our day was spoiled as a visit to Cobh had been researched and planned weeks beforehand. We missed out! What is also unforgiveable is the fact that your staff did not bother to answer either of our complaints.

Let us contrast this with an experience we had on the Sea Princess several weeks earlier. We had a change of dock for the Port of Stockholm. The Captain sent a letter to every cabin the night before notifying us of the change and giving the details of the new arrangements. This gave us adequate time to review our plans for the next day.

The other thing that really affected our enjoyment on board Caribbean Princess was the lack of quiet places with adequate seating to relax, read, or do our own thing. On a previous cruise last year on the same ship, we retreated to the Skywalker’s lounge for comfortable, quiet accommodation. On this cruise the some space (less than a quarter of the space) had been given over to the Mormon Church. This may have been alright if they had not been given a microphone and amplification that pervaded the whole area. Upon complaining to Passenger Services we were assured that they would be asked to reduce the noise factor. However they were louder than ever thus annoying many more passengers than Mormon Church members present. The Mormons said this was a private meeting and we should go elsewhere.

On one afternoon when the Mormons were at maximum volume we went in search of a quiet area. This is what we found: Wheelhouse Bar was closed for another Private Function (about 15 people), the Explorers lounge had an Art Auction, the Piazza had a loud children’s function (could be heard on decks, 5, 6 and 7). All other public areas had published activities taking place. The Library is much too small and of course Horizon’s Court (as suggested to us by Passengers Services) is always noisy, crowded and uncomfortable, certainly not a place of quiet relaxation.

You are apparently NOT the Consummate Host and we certainly have not come back new and are reviewing our future loyalty to Princess Cruises.

 

Isn't your cabin a quiet place to relax, read and do your own thing? That's where we do those things, not in a public space, which by it's very nature can be loud.

Edited August 7, 2016 by Luvmyrotti

[Colo Cruiser]

We have recently sailed on the Caribbean Princess from Southampton (19 – 31 July) on the around the British Isles cruise and we have a few comments to make about this cruise.

Firstly, as experienced travellers and cruisers, we realise that sometimes changes have to be made to an itinerary. We do not understand why, on this cruise, when a change was made for the port of Cobh we were not informed. The Port Guide CORK (Cobh) which we took ashore so as to have the details of where the ship was docked and the Port Agent contact details stated “Your Princess ship is docked at Deep Water Pier in Cobh”. The Princess Patter on the previous night said we would be at Ringaskiddy Pier which to non-locals meant nothing. This, we assumed, was at Deep Water Pier, still in Cobh and we had no information to tell us that this was on the opposite of the river and we would need to go to Cork to access Cobh. We were in a public area when the first announcement was made about going ashore and no mention was made of the fact that we were not docked in Cobh. Even the tourist people said when they came on board that the public announcement said “welcome to Cobh”.

On the morning we caught the shuttle into Cork for a couple of hours with the intention of spending the rest of the day in Cobh. We nearly caught the train back to Cobh from Cork , but caught the shuttle back. On returning we asked the way to walk into the town only to be told “swim” or “get the shuttle back into Cork, make your way across town to the train station and catch the train”. Had we made our own way back to Cobh we could have been in serious danger of missing the ship when we went to return to it after doing our sight-seeing.

This lack of communication is reprehensible, our day was spoiled as a visit to Cobh had been researched and planned weeks beforehand. We missed out! What is also unforgiveable is the fact that your staff did not bother to answer either of our complaints.

Let us contrast this with an experience we had on the Sea Princess several weeks earlier. We had a change of dock for the Port of Stockholm. The Captain sent a letter to every cabin the night before notifying us of the change and giving the details of the new arrangements. This gave us adequate time to review our plans for the next day.

The other thing that really affected our enjoyment on board Caribbean Princess was the lack of quiet places with adequate seating to relax, read, or do our own thing. On a previous cruise last year on the same ship, we retreated to the Skywalker’s lounge for comfortable, quiet accommodation. On this cruise the some space (less than a quarter of the space) had been given over to the Mormon Church. This may have been alright if they had not been given a microphone and amplification that pervaded the whole area. Upon complaining to Passenger Services we were assured that they would be asked to reduce the noise factor. However they were louder than ever thus annoying many more passengers than Mormon Church members present. The Mormons said this was a private meeting and we should go elsewhere.

On one afternoon when the Mormons were at maximum volume we went in search of a quiet area. This is what we found: Wheelhouse Bar was closed for another Private Function (about 15 people), the Explorers lounge had an Art Auction, the Piazza had a loud children’s function (could be heard on decks, 5, 6 and 7). All other public areas had published activities taking place. The Library is much too small and of course Horizon’s Court (as suggested to us by Passengers Services) is always noisy, crowded and uncomfortable, certainly not a place of quiet relaxation.

You are apparently NOT the Consummate Host and we certainly have not come back new and are reviewing our future loyalty to Princess Cruises.

 

 

 

Did you ever think that maybe the change was made that morning? Possibly as the ship approached the harbor?

I hope you addressed these issues while onboard to the customer service manager.

[Colo Cruiser]

Hi

 

Have been to Cobh a few times and watch ships via web cam never heard off

 

them not docking in the town before, town goes to great lengths to welcome

 

cruise ships, was there another ship in port that day, the fact you were not given

 

notice may well mean that the change was made very late,

 

did you every go to Adagio bar during the day, it is often very quite,

 

sorry things did not go well for you, did you speak to any officers on board about for concerns

 

yours Shogun

 

 

No Adagio on CB.........

[myfuzzy]

No Adagio on CB.........

 

We are going on the CB, whats "Adagio"

[Steelers0854]

We are going on the CB, whats "Adagio"

 

 

 

A small bar and seating area next to Sabatinis.

[Shogun]

Hi All

 

Me bad, too early on Sunday morning,

 

yours Shogun

[Colo Cruiser]

We are going on the CB, whats "Adagio"

 

Its on the Ruby/Emerald/Crown. Small lounge with piano/singers etc.

Nice quiet place to relax.

[Steelers0854]

I agree, the ship should have informed the pax of the change in docks, and could have easily had information at the gangway for people to pick up. This one princess owns and is a problem.

 

As for a quiet place, I think quiet is relative. It sounds like you were looking for absolute quiet where no music or any other activities could be heard. Did the group have the Skywalkers lounge every day, all day for the cruise? I would be surprised to hear if they had the space for more and an hour or two, similar to other areas of the ship, activities generally don't last longer than an hour. Did you try Club Fusion, a lot of times there isn't a lot going on there? Maybe the promenade deck on one of the nice loungers out there? In our experience Crooners is a good place as its high enough that the activities in the piazza are not as loud as being on the lower decks. You mentioned a kids program in the piazza, that couldn't have lasted any more than an hour in the day.

 

Unfortunately you cannot please everyone. Some people will complain if there isn't enough activities and others will complain if there are too many. On a cruise on a mass market line I wouldn't expect to find a lot of "quiet" spaces other than your cabin as they are all public areas and I would have an expectation that there is something going on the majority of the time. I usually have no issues finding a spot where I can read and not feel inundated with activities or music. I'm sorry you weren't able to find one that fit your needs. Maybe trying a line like Crystal or Seabourn would offer a more subdued on board experience and offer more quiet spaces to take advantage of. I cannot say for certain as I haven't said on those, but Windstar would definitely offer a quieter ship.

[donswife]

When we were on the CB in January, there was always quiet space in the Cafe Caribe seating areas except for peak meal hours. There were also a lot of different areas outside, such as the deck above the aft pool. Club Fusion was also usually quiet during the day, but the lighting not so good for reading.

[shredie]

Large groups on cruises can be very annoying. They often take over venues with microphones. I sympathize.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Essiesmom]

Silhouette was in Cork the same day. EM

[tailspintom]

I would suppose that I would have been miffed at the lack of communication in this instance.

The CD should be expected to communicate fully on any change to the docking scheme that may take place, no matter when that change takes place.

 

As to the quiet places, in our experience, each cruise has its own dynamic. There have been some that are sedate for the entire trip. Others that seem to have a goodly amount of noise seemingly everywhere where we needed to work to find a place to our liking.

 

At any rate, as somebody suggested, letting Princess management know that they fell short of expectations is something that would be appropriate. I would suggest that you contact Princess in writing and describe what your expectations were and how they may be met with a different behavior.

[myfuzzy]

A small bar and seating area next to Sabatinis.

 

Its on the Ruby/Emerald/Crown. Small lounge with piano/singers etc.

Nice quiet place to relax.

 

Thanks, I will keep that in mind, if I can ever get to those ships

[satxdiver]

The Caribbean Princess is somewhat of a transition ship between the original grand class ships with the "shopping cart" look and the much better design of having Skywalker's lounge moved off the aft and set next to the funnel. However some of the newer designed ships, Ruby, Emerald and Crown, went a step further by adding the Adagio lounge and Sabatini's restaurant on the Sun deck aft. No matter what time of day, I love going to Adagio lounge for peace and quiet. Most pax do not even realize it is there so it is very lightly used.

 

I was not on the OP's cruise but will be later this month. Sometimes the port master will switch the ships and piers around at the last minute. As to when the switch was made by the port master is up for question. It may not have been enough time to notify the pax. We always check where we left the ship so that we can return before the ship departs. We have a hand held GPS for this purpose. Moral though is to make a good mental (written?) note as to where the ship is actually located before leaving the port for the day. Remember your mother is not with you! :rolleyes:

Edited August 8, 2016 by satxdiver

[easyboy]

Hopefully someone from Princess will read your post, however be aware this is a forum of cruisers, not a conduit to Princess. You would be better off making these comments in your post-cruise survey or in an email direct to Princess.

I fully agree.

[srpilo]

Hopefully someone from Princess will read your post, however be aware this is a forum of cruisers, not a conduit to Princess. You would be better off making these comments in your post-cruise survey or in an email direct to Princess.

 

Good advise

 

 

 

 

OP - Welcome to Cruise Critic

Srpilo

[riclop]

Thanks for your comments.

[joeyancho]

So, how was the food?

[Lucky TGO]

Its on the Ruby/Emerald/Crown. Small lounge with piano/singers etc.

Nice quiet place to relax.

Thanks Keith I didn't know that either. :eek:

Tony

[Colo Cruiser]

Thanks Keith I didn't know that either. :eek:

Tony

 

De nada. :)