Potential evidence Princess has made too many cutbacks?

[capriccio]

1 hour ago, kywildcatfanone said:

Carnival is going to try to maximize profits and minimize expenses. 

 

Any business answerable to shareholders (I don't have Carnival shares) is going to try to maximize profits and minimize expenses. 

[voljeep]

14 minutes ago, SteelMagnolia9 said:

 

I agree with the poster who stated there is nothing special about the MDR on formal night.

as do I - 100% - including food and service

[golfb4cruzing]

22 hours ago, voljeep said:

how did you feel when they switched from room "keys" to those new fangled room "cards" that never seemed to work right and were always getting 'de-magnetized' ?

We have never had a problem with the cards. 15 for 15 so I will stay with history. Also does one not need to have their phone to facilitate communications through the medallion ? I'm not a person attached to their phone 24/7. I'm simple, hungry-go eat, thirsty-go find a drink. I do not eat someone waiting on me. There are plenty onboard that command service.

[MissP22]

21 minutes ago, SteelMagnolia9 said:

I agree with the poster who stated there is nothing special about the MDR on formal night.

So even though the food might not be special enough in the DR on formal nights, it's still a step up than eating in the buffet, pizza or IC. 

For us it's a change from what we normally eat. 

[golfb4cruzing]

I think any other option is better than the MDR. What is so special about the MDR? Someone to take your order and bring it to you? I guess if you are handicapped that is a reason. Do you need to put on fancy clothes, sit with people you don't know and tell stories? You must like waiting for your food and maybe it's hot. I want to eat instantly, not linger and then move on to something else. I can sit around at home. I might not be a people person but I'm fine with that.

[voljeep]

9 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

For us it's a change from what we normally eat. 

not really for us ... just not on consecutive nights ...

 

the main difference to us is

 

1) we don't go to our local to pick up the ingredients

2) we don't cook it

3) it is served to us

4) we don't do the dishes

[ehogan]

We have sailed on most lines and have just reached Elite on Princess and I do have to say that Princess remains our favourite. ( really love the IC).  We are generally motivated by price, itinerary and value for dollar and Princess does usually deliver.  We have noticed an increase in cruise prices lately though so we are on alert.

 

Our last cruise was on Celebrity and we were very disappointed...while the price of the cruise was a deal, once on board everything was overpriced...eg 6$ for a specialty coffee, a charge for oj, specialty dinners starting at 50$pp,  15$ for a mixed drink and on and on.

 

Small adjustments that many lines have made such as no animal towels, no chocolates on pillow, do not bother us and as long as the food in the main dining room and the entertainment are good we are generally happy.  

 

Viking has been mentioned but we feel their all inclusive model wouldn't suit us since we do not drink and prefer to make our own air and shore arrangements.

 

PS.  also enjoy HAL

 

Any idea if Princess would provide a chair for those passengers who request one? e.g. for a bad back

 

 

[oskidunker]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

not really for us ... just not on consecutive nights ...

 

the main difference to us is

 

1) we don't go to our local to pick up the ingredients

2) we don't cook it

3) it is served to us

4) we don't do the dishes

If the food is not good, not having to cook it doesn't make it ok .

[MissP22]

18 minutes ago, ehogan said:

Our last cruise was on Celebrity and we were very disappointed...while the price of the cruise was a deal, once on board everything was overpriced...eg 6$ for a specialty coffee, a charge for oj, specialty dinners starting at 50$pp,  15$ for a mixed drink and on and on.

Wow. It has been a long time since we last sailed Celebrity.

The prices sure have changed.😲

[Ombud]

55 minutes ago, ehogan said:

Any idea if Princess would provide a chair for those passengers who request one? e.g. for a bad back

Your steward can bring one IF it's not already there

[kywildcatfanone]

2 hours ago, golfb4cruzing said:

I think any other option is better than the MDR. What is so special about the MDR?

About 3 cruises ago, we quit going to the MDR.  While it's nice to be "served", it's an almost 2 hour process from start to finish, if you have all the courses, and dessert.  We decided we would rather just go eat when we are ready and then spend the rest of the evening at shows, shopping, or just watching movies in our room. 

Even though the buffet food is just okay, there is usually enough variety that we can try a little of many things and still get our fill.  And it only takes 20-30 minutes for us, which is nice.

[ccruzer123]

One of the reasons we sailed with Princess over the last 25+ years has been the food.  The food was excellent, the menu had so many good choices it was hard to select which one to get.  Now we have a hard time selecting any from a much reduced menu, we skip the MDR many times now because there is just nothing that is appealing on the menu.  Princess has always had a section before the entrees of pastas to select from but no more.  I loved Princesses pastas, now there maybe one listed as an entree.  The fettuccine alfredo on the daily offering is not nearly as good as it use to be, and no parmesan basket (miss that).  Also, no escargot, just another item of many missing from current menus. We have also noticed how bland and tasteless the food has become and the quality is not nearly as good as in the past.

My point here is that we have noticed a change at Princess especially with the food.

[Paula_MacFan]

12 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Somewhat only?  You certainly do not need the BOGO for a $1 if you have the PDP.

Not every single cruise offers the free PDP, hence the use of the word SOMEWHAT.

[Geoffa30]

18 minutes ago, az2sea said:

One of the reasons we sailed with Princess over the last 25+ years has been the food.  The food was excellent, the menu had so many good choices it was hard to select which one to get.  Now we have a hard time selecting any from a much reduced menu, we skip the MDR many times now because there is just nothing that is appealing on the menu.  Princess has always had a section before the entrees of pastas to select from but no more.  I loved Princesses pastas, now there maybe one listed as an entree.  The fettuccine alfredo on the daily offering is not nearly as good as it use to be, and no parmesan basket (miss that).  Also, no escargot, just another item of many missing from current menus. We have also noticed how bland and tasteless the food has become and the quality is not nearly as good as in the past.

My point here is that we have noticed a change at Princess especially with the food.

 

OP here. Our friends who cancelled two Princess cruises said pork belly was on the MDR menu more often than not over the course of their two weeks. As people will know, pork belly is an extremely cheap cut of meat. More endeavours at saving those pennies. 

 

The more more I read this thread, the more I think about the Princess product and wonder whether it’s worth the money. We will be on Sapphire Princess for two weeks starting 31 August. Will be interested to see if there have been further changes since our last cruise on Majestic Princess albeit it might be difficult to compare as that was more tailored to Australia/New Zealand.

[Geoffa30]

There are multiple references to Sip n Sail. Please be aware that this deal is not generally offered in markets outside of the USA/Canada AFAIK.

[c-boy]

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

So even though the food might not be special enough in the DR on formal nights, it's still a step up than eating in the buffet, pizza or IC. 

For us it's a change from what we normally eat. 

for us too. The night isn't just about dinner, it's cocktails, dancing, casino, a show, more casino. It's a night out on the high seas.

[stoneharborlady]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Your steward can bring one IF it's not already there

 

The true answer is MAYBE he can, if he has one available.  No guarantee.

[jagoffee]

1 hour ago, Paula_MacFan said:

Not every single cruise offers the free PDP, hence the use of the word SOMEWHAT.

but have been able to book under Sip and Sail promo.  Got it, be able to book with the Sip and Sail promotion only sometime.

Good point.

[jagoffee]

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Wow. It has been a long time since we last sailed Celebrity.

The prices sure have changed.😲

The drink prices on Celebrity are higher than Princess, it does not cost $15 for a mixed drink.  You can get almost any drink with the Classic Drink Package  with a $11 price point.  $15.50 is the limit for the Premium Drink Package with higher end alcohol brands/speciality cocktails. The OJ made from concentrate is free for everyone.

One nice thing about the Celebrity Drink Package is that you only need to pay the difference if you get a wine or drink that is over the limit. 

Edited June 12, 2019 by jagoffee

[Sea&SkiCruiser]

2 hours ago, az2sea said:

  Princess has always had a section before the entrees of pastas to select from but no more.  I loved Princesses pastas, now there maybe one listed as an entree. 

I, too, love the pastas and for several years have been ordering the pasta entree as an apetizer.  It comes as a smaller portion.  No problem.

Edited June 12, 2019 by Sea&SkiCruiser

[geocruiser]

1 hour ago, stoneharborlady said:

 

The true answer is MAYBE he can, if he has one available.  No guarantee.

You are right.  There is no guarantee that any one would get a chair.  I got that answer directly from the lady who called me from Ms. Jan Swartz office.

[bemis12]

On 6/9/2019 at 8:12 AM, Coral said:

Thus, the end of it. I did get one last year on my Norway trip. Not something I care about in the Caribbean but on other cruises I do keep them.

 

Heck - they can even email me them at the end of the cruise to save paper.

 

We got one yesterday at the end of our Alaska sailing on the coral princess

[BritinSoCal]

On 6/10/2019 at 2:10 PM, neverbeenhere said:

Here is a list of some passenger's "cutback complaints" More could be added, We see changes in all cruise lines, some for the good and some for the bad.  

 

A list of Princess changes in the last couple years…

1)      Change in the MDR menu, less options, different options on the everyday menu

2)      Change in the Elite lounge drinks and cost

3)      Apparent increased workload per room steward

4)      Generally Slow elite laundry turn around

5)      They got rid of the red/blue carpet and I can’t find my way to my stateroom

6)      Where are those butter pats?

7)      Barrel Barrel, who’s got the barrel chair?

😎     BOGO $1--- no more

9)      Less Buffet variety on older ships

10)   MDR – can you find an assistant waiter?

11)   Dress code loosening

12)   Coffee package replaces coffee cards

13)    

 

 

Just like food, every cruiser's opinion is purely subjective and from my subjective viewpoint (10 Princes cruises over the past 5 years) and so my subjective thoughts in response to your comments...

 

1). MDR menu / quality seems more to do with Ship / Chef than any deliberate ploy. Just off of the Diamond and MDR food was OK, but then again for the price of the cruise ("obstructed" - in reality, not - view, shed load of OBC, etc...) I'm not complaining. And proving how subjective comments on food are, our dining room companions were from Oz and one was complaining about food on the Majestic... Which we were on in November and thought was the best MDR food we'd eaten

2). Haven't got that far yet...

3). Our Diamond room steward was the happiest, cheeriest, all round top bloke we've had...

4). $3 a load self-service. Brink your own pods and fabric sheets..

5). Were on the Majestic and Star last year - admittedly not on the Diamond

6). On the dining room tables. Just ask for more if you run out

7). Mrs SoCal misses those - me less so

8). 2 fer 1 on the Diamond - we're not huge boozers anyway

9). See (1). Definitely think lunch choices are better than Dinner. However, we luv a good curry and you can generally get a good curry or 3 in the buffet

10). Never really needed one

11). Lets riff-raff like us in. Clean jeans and shock - wore a shirt (albeit a casual one) this time

12). I've always maxed them out on a cruise anyway. Definitely good vfm for us caffeine addicts

13). Looking forward to the Pacific Princess in August

 

Truth is, I suspect the cost of cruising, just like flying has never really been cheaper. Certainly even 10 years ago I'd never imagine us taking a cruise or 20-odd years ago regularly flying around the world.

 

 

 

[BritinSoCal]

15 hours ago, Skai said:

Princess used to have 'something' that set it apart(as a premium line) from the other mainstream lines.  Lately, Princess has lost its unique identity, and has become a lower-class line suited for plebeians.

 

Plebeians? Have we been formally introduced? I do miss the days of Steerage...

[neverbeenhere]

Don't worry: Those are raisins in our porridge.