items no longer given/offered

[gotta cruise again]

Little galleys, likely multiple ones, on each deck that were used to provide room service at breakfast. And I believe your steward took care of this, not the dining staff. I did see one on Pacific Princess but it wasn’t being used as a galley but for storage.

 

Gifts for returning passengers: that’s how I have 2 pairs of champagne glasses with the Princess logo.

 

Nice trivia prizes: umbrellas; unique ceramic mugs that weren’t the ones sold in the shop; leather coasters or luggage tags; luggage straps; note pad & multiple pencils in unique packaging (you got both). Those are the ones I can remember.

 

Getting to hold the champagne bottle all by yourself and pour the entire bottle onto the tower! And it was French too!!

 

The honor system in place to determine the most days sailing with Princess. I remember a large gathering and the host asking for hands of “who has sailed X days” then he kept increasing the number until only 1 hand remaining.

[triple7tahoe]

On 12/11/2019 at 1:07 PM, Colo Cruiser said:

Why another cutback thread?  🙁

Why not post some of the great things about Princess for a change?    🤔

Just watch any news channel and the answer is obvious--Good news does  not get any attention 🙂

 

 

[dreaminofcruisin]

Straws.....  😢

 

(....she says and ducks in fear....)

[cheezenip]

8 hours ago, tip said:

The New York Times Fax at Sea.     Those of us who like to read really miss it.

 

😂

I remember those...really enjoyed seeking them out in the morning. What was also fun was reading the versions for audiences in other countries for a different perspective. Thanks for bringing back those memories!!

[Thrak]

For the sugar folks: In the Piazza on our last cruise the sugar dispensers on the tables (for coffee and tea from IC) are a small kind of bulbous glass container with a spout that looks kind of like a liquor topper spout. They actually dispense a measured amount with each tip of the container. They were picked up in the late afternoon/early evening. I thought they were kind of nice.

[cruisequeen4ever]

No slippers for Elites 😢

[OzKiwiJJ]

On 12/12/2019 at 11:42 AM, Waynetor said:

Its been a few years but they used to have rack of lamp on dinner menu one per cruise. 

Rack of lamb was on Ruby this week, as were escargots.

[Sanz]

16 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

It's the 21st Century all of those have been replace with Instagram, Facebook, text messaging and email which is not even a first choice to communicate any more.

 

Which brings me a positive change for Colo Cruiser.  Improved wifi service!

Is there a pen in the stateroom?

[dog]

2 hours ago, Sanz said:

Is there a pen in the stateroom?

There was not in mine on the Sky Dec 4/19. 

[cheezenip]

3 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Rack of lamb was on Ruby this week, as were escargots.

Was this in either the MDR or buffet?

 

[SargassoPirate]

The cutbacks will continue until cabins go unsold.  

 

Fortunately, there are many cruise lines and many ships to choose from.  Most of them even include chairs/sofas in standard balcony cabins.

[Jnsplace1]

1 hour ago, SargassoPirate said:

The cutbacks will continue until cabins go unsold.  

 

Fortunately, there are many cruise lines and many ships to choose from.  Most of them even include chairs/sofas in standard balcony cabins.

And the items that one person finds value in, another may not.

Example: I don't care a chair in my room (takes up space/gets in way).  I can manage with or without.  Some folks cannot.

I travel a lot, and every hotel chain (or local) does what they deem best based off the ROI.  I would consider cruises no different.

[Go-Bucks!]

On 12/11/2019 at 2:45 PM, Lucky TGO said:

I have one. (See Photo) This may become a collectors item someday. 😳😁

Tony

 

Got those in a full suite last month.

[Go-Bucks!]

On 12/11/2019 at 12:59 PM, cruzsnooze said:

Bar soaps

 

Canvas tote bags in suites

 

Personalized stationary in suites

 

coffee cards with all 15 coffees you paid for good until you used all 

 

postcards of the ship

 

I was in a full suite on the Regal last month...got bar soap and ship postcard, but the cheap paper tote bag had replaced the canvas one. There was stationary but not personalized. 

[Go-Bucks!]

On 12/11/2019 at 5:00 PM, cruzrbachoua said:

What happens for those of us who use the 'non' sugar packets....does that come bulk to put in a shaker...i personally use the pink packets. 

 

Last month they still had Splenda (yellow packets).

[Photofinish4]

On 12/11/2019 at 5:02 PM, Nonnie1975 said:

Much to my dismay we did not have escargot on our last cruise.  I look so forward to eating this, I was so sad! This was a California Coast cruise.

We had escargot on our coastal cruise on the Royal in Nov.

[1980dory]

14 minutes ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

Got those in a full suite last month.

And the great thing is;  It's made in China,  Home of the finest products in the world!

[Missysole]

Was on Island Princess over Thanksgiving - full suite had bar soaps, bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion.  Stationary (not personalized), we had escargot on the menu, straws in our drinks (paper), canvas tote bags and slippers in our room.

 

We attended the 'chat with officers' and they are moving to bulk items to reduce waste and said alternative sweeteners are next. I think the bulbous brown and white sugar dispensers are effective and sanitary - you're not sticking anything like a spoon into a bowl - it's just a pour dispenser. 

 

That said - did notice many other changes that indicate cuts such as no more passing cookies & hot cocoa at MUTS, the ice cream is only 2 flavors and only sprinkles for a topping, etc. 

 

Oh - and we also got chocolate covered strawberries on formal nights.

 

Overall we still heart Princess, though. And it's remains a good deal for us. 

Edited December 13, 2019 by Missysole

[4x4bob]

Ref Escargot in Dining Room.  On our 29 cruise on the Emerald, 4 Nov to 3 Dec, it was offered once on the 2nd leg, Fla to LA, and it was poorly prepared.  The little cup was half full of a mystery liquid and the top had no taste.

Another noted item.  It took 3 days for the Mini Bar to appear in our room, even after 3 phone calls to room service. Then instead of a mixture of little bottles, it was all Dry Gin.  Took another two days to get that exchanged and I had to call the Passenger Service desk to get the exchange. 

Generally speaking, because food is subjective, we found most of the meals in the MDR to be lacking in taste and often the main portion of the dishes was tough.  I suspected that the meals were precooked and then heated when ordered which was drying them out. 

We discussed this one night with the Head Waiter. 

The offerings at the pastry counter, International Cafe, was really cut back from what we have found on previous cruises. 

And, yes, we did miss the barrel chair that was removed from our cabin.

Princess Bean Counters, take pride in your work. 

 

On the plus side, the staff all over the ship was outstanding. 

Bob

 

[casofilia]

@4x4bob

 

On the plus side, the staff all over the ship was outstanding. 

 

I would fully concur with that sentiment they were.   If you had been on in the earlier cruises in the Med when there was the Code Red situation you would have been even more impressed by each and every one of the staff who faced the public.

[Lucky TGO]

5 hours ago, 1980dory said:

And the great thing is;  It's made in China,  Home of the finest products in the world!

Truer words were never spoken 😳.  FUGHEDDABOUDIT !!!

The Captain of The Rowboat,

Tony

 

[pablo222]

8 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

The cutbacks will continue until cabins go unsold.  

Based on the love blind apologists here, cabins will never go unsold.

 

I'm actually surprised that some of them haven't jumped in to tell us not

to live in the past when things were better.  (Which I have read here)

 

I miss the plain soda package to $4.95.

The forced up sell to the soda'n'more to someone who doesn't want the 'n'more prevents me from purchasing.

Which, at the moment, is one of the things that keeps me on land.

 

 

[pablo222]

On 12/11/2019 at 12:03 PM, Knickearth said:

Being on a cruise at present, I thought it interesting to start a topic of items we noticed were no longer given or offered.

 

Butlers in suites.

[MissP22]

6 hours ago, Missysole said:

Was on Island Princess over Thanksgiving - full suite had bar soaps, bottles of shampoo, conditioner, lotion.  Stationary (not personalized), we had escargot on the menu, straws in our drinks (paper), canvas tote bags and slippers in our room.

 

We attended the 'chat with officers' and they are moving to bulk items to reduce waste and said alternative sweeteners are next. I think the bulbous brown and white sugar dispensers are effective and sanitary - you're not sticking anything like a spoon into a bowl - it's just a pour dispenser. 

 

That said - did notice many other changes that indicate cuts such as no more passing cookies & hot cocoa at MUTS, the ice cream is only 2 flavors and only sprinkles for a topping, etc. 

 

Oh - and we also got chocolate covered strawberries on formal nights.

 

Overall we still heart Princess, though. And it's remains a good deal for us. 

It'll be interesting to see how they accomplish that one. 3 or 4 shakers at each table? Maybe one wall mounted one for the whole restaurant? 😅

I think the sugar dispensers they're no using are worse for spreading germs since many hands touch them each day & they're probably never cleaned, only refilled.

[c-boy]

employ the same mentality when you use salt and pepper shakers