Casual Dining - Fixed Price Menus and A La Carte Charges

[PacnGoNow]

7 minutes ago, no1racefan1 said:

I got the same response. I appreciated at least getting a response.

Yes, be happy for a response. I sent messages about a TA OBC missing on our cruise in Nov.  I did see proof of the purchase from my TA, which I attached.

 

I messaged from Dec 7th to Feb 22nd and never received any replies.  I gave up. 

[dides]

The casual dining changes are meant to be rolled out from today for those boarding Enchanted Princess, Regal Princess and Royal Princess. Hopefully there will be some reports on how they are working out in practice.

[beshears]

Someone just mentioned that the Regal was one of the ships where there the changes will be starting on, and we are to cruise on it in February, and I would like to read someone's feedback on that, if they cruise the Regal after today.

[djfunk]

This is going to be odd for people on Majestic as their pool area doesn't have a quick serve pizza but a noodle bar instead.  The buffet didnt have pizza so the only option for such is in Alfredos.

[Veinless]

So is there no complimentary pizza any longer? Or if there is, where can it be found?

 

edit: whoa great timing above! I was specifically thinking about the Majestic.

Edited August 14, 2023 by Veinless

[caribill]

On 8/6/2023 at 5:43 PM, Westsail32 said:

I did just read that Princess made changes to the onboard military and shareholder credits.  They used to allow you to have both and they were refundable.

 

Stockholder OBC was never refundable. Military OBC was.

[Nidwaldner]

On 8/6/2023 at 4:46 AM, chamima said:

 

 

 

FWIW - I emailed them that we have a 32 day cruise coming up and that i thought the 2 casual dinings per cruise was unfair and that maybe the length of the cruise should be taken into consideration and i got the exact (and I mean EXACT !!!) same response. So, yes, it is a canned response to all. It sounds like - make the customer feel heard.

I am also baffled how those on longer cruises with Plus packages still only get 2 included per cruise.  Make it make sense!

 

[Oxo]

26 minutes ago, Nidwaldner said:

I am also baffled how those on longer cruises with Plus packages still only get 2 included per cruise.  Make it make sense!

 

Agree! This is a cheap way out. Just like one cabin set up per cruise regardless of number of days. 

[JimmyVWine]

On 8/6/2023 at 11:16 PM, memoak said:

If the wine is $18 then it is $3 plus tip no big deal. Were did you ever get the  $9 from ?

$3 x 3.  Three glasses of Silverado Cab at $18 (or 3 glasses of Belle Glos Pinot Noir at $19) will cost 

• ($3 x 3) x 1.18 = $10.62; or
• ($4 x 3) x 1.18 = $14.16

Do that for 7 days and you are between $75 and $100 out of pocket.  Moving up from Plus to Premier would cost $140 for the 7 days.  So the question then becomes will you spend the other $40-$65 on other things that are included in Premier that are not included in Plus.  The answer probably lies in how often one dines in Crown Grill and/or Sabatini's, and how many photos one buys.  My guess is that over the course of 7 days, the usage of the casual restaurants from "twice" to "unlimited" isn't worth very much, especially on port intensive itineraries.  As for the desserts, well...    

[memoak]

30 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

$3 x 3.  Three glasses of Silverado Cab at $18 (or 3 glasses of Belle Glos Pinot Noir at $19) will cost 

• ($3 x 3) x 1.18 = $10.62; or
• ($4 x 3) x 1.18 = $14.16

Do that for 7 days and you are between $75 and $100 out of pocket.  Moving up from Plus to Premier would cost $140 for the 7 days.  So the question then becomes will you spend the other $40-$65 on other things that are included in Premier that are not included in Plus.  The answer probably lies in how often one dines in Crown Grill and/or Sabatini's, and how many photos one buys.  My guess is that over the course of 7 days, the usage of the casual restaurants from "twice" to "unlimited" isn't worth very much, especially on port intensive itineraries.  As for the desserts, well...    

we buy no photos anymore and get 1 specialty dinner on embarkation from sailing in a suite and might buy one. Once I saw the “desserts “ I resolved never to eat one. I will stick with Plus

[WisCruiser2]

Thanks to the OP for posting the chart and menus! We are hoping to sail on Enchanted this winter and I was excited to be on a ship with the Ocean Terrace again (last time was 2019), until I saw they no longer offer the Crab Margarita... 😞 We'll still stick with the Standard Fare, I think.

[voljeep]

16 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

$3 x 3.  Three glasses of Silverado Cab at $18 (or 3 glasses of Belle Glos Pinot Noir at $19) will cost 

• ($3 x 3) x 1.18 = $10.62; or
• ($4 x 3) x 1.18 = $14.16

Do that for 7 days and you are between $75 and $100 out of pocket.  Moving up from Plus to Premier would cost $140 for the 7 days.  So the question then becomes will you spend the other $40-$65 on other things that are included in Premier that are not included in Plus.  The answer probably lies in how often one dines in Crown Grill and/or Sabatini's, and how many photos one buys.  My guess is that over the course of 7 days, the usage of the casual restaurants from "twice" to "unlimited" isn't worth very much, especially on port intensive itineraries.  As for the desserts, well...    

this EXACTLY! - we'll do the 2 specialty dinners - hopefully one at Rudi's  - maybe both

and don't forget the PRIZES!

also a couple of casualty meals in O'Malleys (fish and chips)

for us on a 5 day - it's a no brainer

but we're not on casinos upgrades to full suites - just mere balcony dwellers 

[dides]

There seems to be a few things in play at the moment which might change the menus provided with the original announcement:

- Sapphire Princess and a Royal Class ship (which one @Steelers36?) had different Alfredo's pricing  ($8.50 instead of $12 for pizza)

- Vines and the Salty Dog Gastropub were not explicitly mentioned on the email sent out by Princess so are they still part of the deal?

 

Also, someone reported that Planks and Steamers may be returning to Emerald Princess within the next month.

 

If anyone has confirmation from other sources then please let us all know.

 

Edited August 16, 2023 by dides

[dides]

48 minutes ago, dides said:

There seems to be a few things in play at the moment which might change the menus provided with the original announcement:

- Sapphire Princess and a Royal Class ship (which one @Steelers36?) had different Alfredo's pricing  ($8.50 instead of $12 for pizza)

- Vines and the Salty Dog Gastropub were not explicitly mentioned on the email sent out by Princess so are they still part of the deal?

 

Vines have the new menu on Crown Princess  as per this post

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, dides said:

- Sapphire Princess and a Royal Class ship (which one @Steelers36?) had different Alfredo's pricing  ($8.50 instead of $12 for pizza)

Don't recall and really don't want to hunt for it.  I don't think it is important as the menus are going to be the same elsewhere for the same location type.  Alfredo's has two types and that is why I was looking/waiting to see if the full-service locations would be the same price.  By "full-service", I mean the full menu with more than one App and more mains than pizza and generally larger locales (Royal Class).

 

[dides]

16 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Don't recall and really don't want to hunt for it.  I don't think it is important as the menus are going to be the same elsewhere for the same location type.  Alfredo's has two types and that is why I was looking/waiting to see if the full-service locations would be the same price.  By "full-service", I mean the full menu with more than one App and more mains than pizza and generally larger locales (Royal Class).

Only wanted to check if the Sapphire reduced menu was a rushed anomoly 😀. There are menus out there with just the $8.50 speciality pizzas which can confuse matters (Enchanted's Gigi's confirmed as having just these this week, no printed fixed price menus but the rules being applied)

 

Edited August 16, 2023 by dides

[Senga]

3 hours ago, voljeep said:

also a couple of casualty meals in O'Malleys (fish and chips)

I hope you DON'T have any "casualty" meals!!!!  🤣

[dides]

Updated table below:

 

Venue (with menu for logged in users)	A la carte charges	$14.99 cover charge includes	Ships
Alfredo’s Alfredos 2.pdf	Appetizer $5.50 Pizza $8.50 Pasta $8.50 Special Pizza $12 Dessert $4	1 x Appetizer 1 x Pizza or pasta 1 x Dessert	Majestic Princess Regal Princess Royal Princess Sky Princess Star Princess Sun Princess
Alfredo’s – reduced menu Alfredos 1.pdf	Appetizer $5.50 Pizza $8.50 Dessert $4	1 x Appetizer 1 x Pizza 1 x Dessert	Grand Princess Sapphire Princess
GiGis GiGis.pdf	Appetizer $5.50 Pizza $8.50 Pasta $8.50 Special Pizza $12 Dessert $4	1 x Appetizer 1 x Pizza or pasta 1 x Dessert	Discovery Princess Enchanted Princess
Ocean Terrace Ocean Terrace.pdf	Appetizer $3 Starters $14/$12 Nigiri $5 Sashimi $5 Combis $7/$13 Maki Rolls $5	1 x Appetizer 1 x Nigiri or Sashimi 2 x Maki Rolls	Discovery Princess Enchanted Princess Regal Princess Royal Princess Sky Princess
Salty Dog Gastropub SALTY DOG GASTROPUB.pdf	Plates $10 Desserts $5	2 x Plates 1 x Dessert	Crown Princess Discovery Princess Emerald Princess Ruby Princess
Vines Vines.pdf	Crudités $3 Charcuterie Board $12 Chocolate Truffles $3	1 x Crudités 1 x Charcuterie Board 1 x Chocolate Truffes	Caribbean Princess Crown Princess Emerald Princess Grand Princess Majestic Princess Regal Princess Royal Princess Ruby Princess Sapphire Princess Sky Princess
O’Malley’s O Malleys.pdf	Starters $5 Mains $10 Afters $5	1 x Starter 1 x Main 1 x After	Enchanted Princess Star Princess Sun Princess
Kai Sushi Kai Sushi.pdf	Starters $12/$14/$20 Noodles & Ramen $10-$15 Appetizers $4/$3 Nigiri Sushi $5 Sashimi $5 Maki Rolls $5 Combis $7/$13 Dessert $3	1 x Appetizer 1 x Nigiri Sushi 1 x Sashimi 1 x Maki Roll 1 x Dessert	Diamond Princess Star Princess Sun Princess
Planks Planks.pdf	Starters $5 Planks $12 Extra Meat $4 Desserts $3	1 x Starter 1 x Plank 1 x Dessert	Caribbean Princess Emerald Princess
Steamers Steamers.pdf	Starters $5 Steamer $12 Seafood Platter $12 Add Lobster Tail or Snow Crab $10 Desserts $3	1 x Starter 1 x Steamer or Seafood Platter 1 x Dessert	Caribbean Princess Emerald Princess

 

- Updated Alfredo's and GiGi's menus with the revised post-rollout prices

- Removed Island Princess and Coral Princess from the reduced Alfredo's as Island Princess seems to be replacing their complimentary Alfredo's pop-ups with full-menu and pay only Sabatini's lunches.

Edited August 30, 2023 by dides

[Veinless]

Thanks for that!

[tserface]

When my wife and I got to Alfredos we always share the pizza.  I wonder if we go there now and share a pizza, appetizer, and whatever normally costs $14.99 if we'll only be charged for one?  There's no way we could eat 2x of everything they give you for a lunch.

[wallyj]

2 hours ago, tserface said:

When my wife and I got to Alfredos we always share the pizza.  I wonder if we go there now and share a pizza, appetizer, and whatever normally costs $14.99 if we'll only be charged for one?  There's no way we could eat 2x of everything they give you for a lunch.

If you are paying and ordering ala carte, you can share anything you order.

 

Pizza is $8.50 and some have specialty pizzas that are $12, with fancier toppings.

 

You can order a $14.99 set menu and share too, as long as you are not using a dining credit from a Plus or Premier pkg.

 

Sharing is restricted if you are using a casual dining credit from Plus or Premier, same principle as you are not suppose to share ‘drinks’ from your package.

[tserface]

8 hours ago, wallyj said:

 

You can order a $14.99 set menu and share too, as long as you are not using a dining credit from a Plus or Premier pkg.

 

Sharing is restricted if you are using a casual dining credit from Plus or Premier, same principle as you are not suppose to share ‘drinks’ from your package.

What if you both have Plus Package?  Do you have to burn two credits if you only eat one meal to share?  It’s already kind of unfair that you only get two visits on a 15 day cruise and same on a 7 day cruise, but pay the same daily rate on either.

 

Just trying to understand the changes and maximize our options.

 

What’s the difference, really, between sharing a $14.99 meal or using one of two of your $14.99 credits?

 

I can totally understand not sharing an unlimited part of the benefit like drinks.

 

To make it worse, since we only eat enough for one of the meals, we will, essentially only get two visits if they make us use two credits each visit.

 

It seems like if they give you 2 meals you should be able to use them as you choose.

 

For example, I get 5 free drinks per day on RCI cruises and I can use them however I want.  It’s a finite number that they give us as the perk.  Similarly, if I’m Elite an Princess they give us a minibar setup and we can let anyone use it.

[Steelers36]

On 8/30/2023 at 2:46 PM, dides said:

Updated table below:

 

- Updated Alfredo's and GiGi's menus with the revised post-rollout prices

- Removed Island Princess and Coral Princess from the reduced Alfredo's as Island Princess seems to be replacing their complimentary Alfredo's pop-ups with full-menu and pay only Sabatini's lunches.

In the next version, I would suggest removing "Princess" from all ship names for brevity and size.

 

I wonder if guests sailing on Coral/Island are going to be looking for Casual Dining compensation as there is really nothing for them.

 

[Tedferg]

10 hours ago, wallyj said:

Sharing is restricted if you are using a casual dining credit from Plus or Premier, same principle as you are not suppose to share ‘drinks’ from your package.

However if both of you are on Plus, then it is not sharing per se. DW might order a drink and find she does not like it, no problem with me finishing that drink.

[ChutChut]

On 8/6/2023 at 1:23 PM, Boiler Cruiser said:

My wife and I were on the Royal Princess to Hawaii out of San Francisco earlier this year and Alfredo's was free.  We had lunch there and we were not charged. 

Change is being rolled out now.