Why Doesn't Princess Modern"icized" Their (Old) Ships?

[pris993]

I am elite on Princess and Celebrity... I will take Princess the way it is any time... the longer I cruised on Celebrity... tried to like it... never cut it for me.  Came back to Princess and am not disappointed... looks are not everything.

 

[floridalover5623]

19 minutes ago, LSGDRG said:

I was thinking that Princess might want to change up their daytime activities, especially on sea days.  I would like to see more free exercise classes, like tai chi or an intro to pickleball.  I would also like more enrichment/port lectures and cooking/bar demonstrations.  So much of the activities onboard seem designed to sell you something.

I guess you have the answer. 

Lotus spa treatments, jewelry sales, shopping talks, paid for exercise classes, bingo, $10 clothing sales, wine tasting, casino.

The days of offering events to do for free are long gone. Even the daytime movies at one of the lounges on the CB were gone.

Maybe they could start selling tickets for first run movies at the door. 😏

[richsea]

6 hours ago, floridalover5623 said:

Very true but I don't believe they want to change to fast for fear of scarring away their loyal customer base.

Saying that, I haven't seen many changes in the past 20 years that do attract a younger crowd.

There is definitely two schools of thought here regarding Princess’ attitude towards their (loyal) base. Some say they don’t care about them, yet some are saying that they’re afraid to lose them. People talk about them losing older cruisers as they die off, yet as they die off, they will be replaced by former younger cruisers, who age into older cruisers. When we started cruising in the mid 90s, shipboard music choices were 50s & newer, with 50-60s music trivia multiple times per sailing. Gradually music has become 60s-80s & newer as us old farts die off. Our last sailing on Caribbean Princess they played mostly classic rock. I think each cruise line tries to appeal to an age group, rather than say, a younger crowd. Lines like Princess, Celebrity, & HAL, market to mature or older demographics, while Carnival, Royal Caribbean, & NCL go after younger people with kids. 

[Nebr.cruiser]

We enjoy Princess the way they are, but of course want and expect normal updates to decor and amenities.  Bigger showers would be great; handheld showers (for me) not a big deal.  About the only update I would really love to see on all ships is on demand tv's in all rooms.

 

While I can appreciate more 'modern' decor, some of the ways Celebrity has updated might look nice but are difficult to use; try sitting in most of their chairs or sofas in public areas if you are shorter--legs sticking out like a child.

 

The newer Princess ships--like the Regal--while having many fine features got rid of some of our favorites, especially a wrap around promenade deck.  Not all 'new' ideas are good ones.

[nukesubsailor]

When a ship is designed every pound of weight and its location on the ship have to be given priority in the design along with a safety margine.  This is necessary to keep the ship balanced in all directions for stability and fuel efficiency.  Any alteration to the ship must be calculated so that it will not change the balance.  In short, major increases in weight or position cannot be easily done to an old ship.  ( I am still curious how they made all those changes to the Island Princess)  That is why major design changes usually appear in new construction ship designs.

[floridalover5623]

2 hours ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

The newer Princess ships--like the Regal--while having many fine features got rid of some of our favorites, especially a wrap around promenade deck.  Not all 'new' ideas are good ones.

 

They at least segregate the Captains circle hosts area with a partition so people could talk to her without having to yell over the music.

Much to much noise in the Piazza for my taste most of the day.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Many of the central areas on most ships are too noisy nowadays.  Really not a fan of the piazza design due to noise and crowds; not just on Princess.  I'm not sure I've ever used the Captain's Circle hosts though.  

[Daniel A]

I believe that the original post requesting a "revolution in design" would be a mistake for Princess.

 

I'm not sure I really appreciate the concept that it's a good idea to sweep all of us retirees overboard in order to make room for families with kids.  After all, retirees are going to be dead soon...  Kind of sounds a little Orwellian to me.