If they would change just one thing...

[Colo Cruiser]

Not much to change, but here:

 

1) Bring back seafood buffets (although seafood offerings today are nice)

 

 

I agree!! It's been many years.

Miss those great crab/lobster claws.

 

I am afraid with the lean Princess we will never see free all you can eat lobster claws again.

 

Also wish they would bring back the live Maine lobsters and 12 ounce rock/Brazilian lobster tails at the

Crown Grill.

[Bill B]

I'm a smoker and would have no problem with completely smoke-free interiors. However, Princess would - smokers in the casino generate a lot of revenue. The solution has been proposed - enclose a smoking area in the casino and ventilate it properly. Churchill's Whisky Bar, ex-Cigar Bar (I assume to be 'PC'), is disgusting even to a lot of smokers... and one can smell it from 50' away as one approaches. Get rid of it.

 

Now, let's be fair to smokers -

There should be more than only two outside smoking areas. Most ships (perhaps all) now have only:

- Sun Deck, port fore (Tradewinds Bar). In this area, it is impossible to escape the aural assault of MUTS.

- Promenade Deck, starboard aft. This area has no seating (problematic for those who have trouble standing for any length of time) and can be closed for the entire duration of a tender port visit and during crew lifeboat drills.

 

For reasonable access, each ship should have four, outside smoking areas:

- fore & low,

- fore & high,

- aft & low,

- aft & high

at least two of which should have seating. As it stands now, smokers with mobility problems can be forced to travel the length of the ship... and then have to stand while having a smoke. Cigar and pipe smokers need an area with shelter and seating - it's idiotic to force the 'stinkiest' ;) smokers to smoke inside... as is now the case.

 

Therefore, they should bring back the smoking area on Lido Deck (or higher) port aft, and add a foreward smoking area (with seating) on Promenade Deck.

[Cruise Raider]

Add more free, casual alternative dining venues such as Alfredo's. Alfredo's is a brilliant addition and I would expand the concept to include a Mexican venue and a Chinese venue. Low cost food that shouldn't require a surcharge. Paying for Specialty Dining is fine when the meals are truly special. But simple, casual fare should not require an upcharge and the concept should be expanded beyond pizza. This would help reduce the ATD crunch. Looks like they are on the right track with the changes made to the Caribbean Princess, but they are overreaching when casual alternative dining requires an extra fee. They figured out a way to make Alfredo's an included "waiter service" option. They could do so with other casual fare as well.

 

I so agree with adding the mexican food and chinese food. They used to have it in the buffet (back in the Caribe Cafe area) and dedicated to a specific region of their culinary delights. Oh, how I miss those days. And no, the taco bar at on the pool deck is not even a decent replacement for this.

[emmak8]

Add ships year round out of NY.

 

Reduce the single supplement.

 

Add new production shows.

[Cruise Raider]

Yes! What he said.

 

Yes, what 'they' said. I would be happy if they switched out the Grand for a different Princess ship sailing out of SF instead of leaving her here for years. I would even take the Island, which seems to be criticized left and right on these boards.

[Go-Bucks!]

Also BAN Tipping !!!!!!

(Send in the flamers)

 

 

No flamer here --> I'm glad those in the British Isles and Aust/NZ don't like tipping cuz it saves me money when I visit there! Since you all don't believe in tipping, I don't tip when I'm in your countries. Nice to save some money. :D

 

One thing I'd like Princess to change is the new way for booking excursions where you have to pay in advance. Even though OBC can be used, I prefer to be able to just reserve them before paying on the ship.

[Idratherbeatsea]

NO smoking in the casino which is an indoor area.

Absolutely no smoking in casino. Can't even stand walking thru it!

[Colo Cruiser]

I so agree with adding the mexican food and chinese food. They used to have it in the buffet (back in the Caribe Cafe area) and dedicated to a specific region of their culinary delights. Oh, how I miss those days. And no, the taco bar at on the pool deck is not even a decent replacement for this.

 

 

I remember the Tequila Rose on the Grand Princess when she first came out for Mexican food.

Huge margaritas and great food!!

[rdsqrl]

16) Lower the lights in the MDRs and rely more on "candle"-style LEDs - my DH and friends look better and better the dimmer the lighting gets.

This made me laugh out loud. And I agree. I'm not sure why the dining rooms need to be lit like the operating theatre at Johns Hopkins.

My one change: Reduced single supplements on a regular basis, either through seasonal sales or for those who've reached Platinum/Elite status.

[Cruise Raider]

Pretty much all restaurants, bars, and hotels in California are smoke-free. I guess that's one thing California is actually getting right.

 

 

+1 and LOL!!

[Cruise Raider]

I am just loving all these ideas. I surely hope Princess reads this post ... it is free advice on those things that are actually important to their passengers. Some of these ideas are cost free for Princess to implement and some are so inexpensive, especially compared to the increased bookings and customer satisfaction they would receive, they would be foolish to not give them a second look.

 

I just love how Celebrity offers the so called 'free perks' when you book during one of their promotions and they nearly always have great promotions. I really don't pay more for these cruises on Celebrity than I would for a Princess cruise without these 'free perks'. What I pay for is the airfare!! I know Princess has some great promotions from time to time and so much more flexibility in booking cruises using FCC's, referral rewards and other obc opportunities, I would just love to see them expanded a bit to include promos like the Sip and Sail, such as Celebrity and NCL offers...year around! There are so many things that I love about Princess, but that is one thing I would like to see changed about their offers.

[KruzeKrazy!]

I am just loving all these ideas. I surely hope Princess reads this post ... it is free advice on those things that are actually important to their passengers.

 

Glad you got the spirit of my question! I was not trying to start a list of criticisms but rather see what things were important to others and how similar or dissimilar all the ideas would be.

 

Wanted to do a first thread on non-ship ideas (see my initial post) and then later do a separate one just on ship ideas but, as you can read, those lines blurred early on so no matter - let all the thoughts fly!

 

Thanks!

[Bill B]

My one change: Reduced single supplements on a regular basis, either through seasonal sales or for those who've reached Platinum/Elite status.

 

I've just reached Elite (because I cruise solo, pay the supplement and get two 'credits'). While I don't like paying the single supplement - almost always 100% - I can't quite grasp your logic of "for those who who've reached Platinum/Elite status". Why not for everyone who cruises solo? Or, for that matter... why not wish for $1 'lead in' fares for all passengers on all cruises?

 

With the change to a focus on 'on board revenue' vs fares to provide profits, cruise lines now hate solo passengers... unless we all double our on board spending habits.

[Reader0108598]

1. Build larger dining rooms (I don't think the issue is strictly with Traditional individuals going to Anytime). I don't think they adequately increased the size of the dining rooms when they added additional people to the ships.

2. Covered Pools on all ships

3. Larger entertainment venues - they did not increase size of venues when they added extra people.

4. Bring back longer shows.

5. Bring back menus from 15+ years ago

6. Include promenade deck on all new builds

7. Smaller new builds. This will provide a mix to people who like large and smaller ships

8. Get rid of crazy promos all the time - go with a realistic price to begin with and refundable deposits all the time

9. I admit - I do like Celebrity's and RCCL's open dining rooms better

10. Turn off MUTS during the day or have soothing sea sounds (which they have). I have seen pool areas emptied once Tina Turner is blasted during the day.

11. Include pizzerias on all ships (I prefer the old Sun Class ships menu to the new Alfredos menu but would take either).

12. Go back to the old excursion policy.

13. More soft music (string quartet, piano, etc..) in the atrium than loud music where you can't hear anyone.

 

Sorry - more then just one :evilsmile: . I guess I liked cruising in the 90's and 2000's.

 

 

I totally agree! Also if I have to listen to Tina Turner one more time on MUTS...I may jump overboard. If they must have it on, get some new stuff.

[PescadoAmarillo]

Replace the minibar with drink coupons. These could be traded in for the same minibar or used around the ship. The labor involved in doing minibar setups and change outs must be huge and it's gotten almost impossible to reach them for change outs on embarkation day. If they got really clever they could have the choice be part of the Ocean Medallion system so it would be completed before one steps on board.

[VibeGuy]

I'm not sure why the dining rooms need to be lit like the operating theatre at Johns Hopkins.

 

All the better to reassemble the sweetbreads from your voul au vent a la Reine.

 

The worst offender was the brand-new Share on Ruby. We were in there the first night it was open, and it was *blinding*. How fortunate Rai Caluori stopped by the table. The lighting subsequently improved.

[KruzeKrazy!]

Replace the minibar with drink coupons. These could be traded in for the same minibar or used around the ship. The labor involved in doing minibar setups and change outs must be huge and it's gotten almost impossible to reach them for change outs on embarkation day. If they got really clever they could have the choice be part of the Ocean Medallion system so it would be completed before one steps on board.

Agree. I realize the ship sizes are quite different as is the staff-to-pax ratio (and, of course, the price!) but on Seabourn it sure was nice to have your online-entered pre-stock preferences all done (and done correctly) and waiting for you when you first boarded.

[bigenna]

Turn down the sound at MUTS during the day. It is so loud it spoils the enjoyment of the area.

 

 

Oh yes please!!!

 

 

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[arb18]

Agree with ships in NY/NJ year round.

 

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[arb18]

Larger showers... with doors!

Agree with the doors!

Not much to change, but here:

 

1) Bring back seafood buffets (although seafood offerings today are nice)

2) Change every ship to have at least one covered pools

3) Bring ship to sail from NY/NJ area to Bermuda and/or Caribbeans year around again

 

 

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[arb18]

NO smoking in the casino which is an indoor area.

Yes!

 

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[Adanac16]

change the 1 cruise, regardless of length receives 1 loyalty point

 

It is ridiculous that 2 one day cruises are rewarded the same as 2 fifteen day cruises. Princess makes a lot more money from the 30 days than the 2 days yet gives out the same 2 loyalty points

[Bill B]

Hot tubs that are actually hot!

 

If Princess can be party to my assisted suicide by providing smoking areas, they can also allow me to have a heart attack (after reading the warning signs), by making the water temperature above that of the friggin' swimming pools.

[Thrak]

Make the guaranteed 6p.m. traditional first seating in the mdr actually take place at 6p.m.

 

Go back to using real butter in the pastries and desserts so they would taste like they should.

 

YES! YES!! YES!!! Our "guaranteed" seating got moved to 5:15 on a 17 day cruise. Too... Freaking... Early!!!

 

We are "guaranteed" for a time slot on our next cruise but when I look at the actual booking printout (as opposed to what shows on the personalizer) it says "First Seating" which is NOT, NOT, NOT what I want. If we are slotted for 5:15 or some idiotic time like that I will be speaking with the maitre 'd on the first day. I don't want to spend 28 days eating my dinner that early.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Go back to their crew policy of CRUISE (Courtesy Respect Unfailing in Service Excellence) where the crew always smiled and greeted pax, spoke only in English when in the presence of pax, and was not supposed to say no to any reasonable pax request.

 

 

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