Princess Ship's Theater Seats

[caribill]

2 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

We did a 12 day cruise on the Diamond in Jan 2015 and there were three 30 minute shows every night. Since we started sailing again with Princess in 2019 on the Crown and Island, there were only two evening shows 45 minutes in length. I wonder if they'll go back to three 30 minute evening shows?

 

There used to be two performances an evening, each about 50 minutes long.

 

Because there were not enough seats with two seatings for all who wanted to see the show, they shortened the performances to 30-35 minutes and presented them three times in one evening.

 

Then then cut this back to two performances with the length gradually creeping up to 45 or more minutes each.

 

What geoherb observed on the CB, two performances one evening and a repeat single performance the next, had also been tried in the past before they went to the 30 minute shows. Interesting to see they are trying that again, at least on that one ship.

[Hlitner]

We do not go on cruises for the "joy" of waiting in long queues, sitting in theaters for 30-60 minutes before shows, etc!  There are some basis "queue avoidance" techniques which are based on people changing their habits and adapting to the situation on the vessel.  So, we tend to dine in open seating and eat late (usually go to diner between 7:45 and 8:30).  Our waiting time to get into the MDR is generally less then 3 minutes.  As to shows, when one dines late they can go to the show that is intended for later diners.  On Princess this often means a pre-dinner show....often at 7pm.  That show is seldom filled until the last minute so we can usually get decent seats until near show-time.  This is usually true on ships where the show for early diners is packed and many cannot even get into the theater.  

 

By the way, when we do go to a 7pm show it will usually end about 7:40.  At that point we will often go to a bar and enjoy a nice pre-dinner cocktail before heading to dinner around 8:30.  At that hour we can share large tables or get a 2-top with no problems.  It is the same with the Lido buffets at breakfast and lunch.  If you go to the Lido at 11:45 -12:30 there will often be queues, difficulty finding seats, etc.   But go to lunch at 1pm and the lines are gone and tables are easier to find.

 

The one exception we have found to the rule happened on the Caribbean Princess last August.  There were always lines, all the shows were full, and our experience was among the worst we have had in far more then 100 cruises on many vessels and lines.  The CB will not be a part of our future :(.

 

Hank

[Thrak]

We arrive early and usually bring a drink and our books. We like to get a row with a railing in front of us as it provides a platform on which to set a drink. I freaking despise those little tables that fold out of the chair arms. I suppose they might be fine for the thinner folks but that leaves me out. We do have seats we prefer but rarely arrive early enough to get those seats as it appears others like them as well.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

One could say of the Ptincess theaters - "all the pretty Princess perches are perfect for petite passengers" - in other words all the seating is designed for skinny people - and for not those like myself, who are of a more ample size