Was It A Rumor - Sun Princess Dining Changes??

[CalTexCruiser]

6 hours ago, capriccio said:

 And they raised their Signature suite fares in March to Retreat/Haven prices!

 

We reserved an S9 on the Sun for next January a year in advance and paid the same as we did for our last YC cabin in December 2023.  Princess raised that fare for new bookings by around 50%. 

 

More power to them if they can sell out the Signature suites at the elevated fares given this s**t show of an opening.

 

We got our PH suite (I think now called a Vista Suite) at a good casino discount.  But all these changes have severely dampened my excitement.

 

[FamilyAtSea.travel]

Have these changes now been confirmed?

[dog]

1 hour ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

Have these changes now been confirmed?

Can’t answer for anyone else-  my reservations for October 19/24 cruise remain the same,! In the same locations as they are currently on the ship

[paradiseprincess]

I would agree that this is an attempt to push sanctuary guests to opt for specialty dining and the premier package. It has eroded my sense of value as a loyal passenger.

 

Deck 6 has live ambient music, soaring views, open aft view spaces that are touted on any ship as being most desirable. Deck 8 Sanctuary dining "premium" space will have guests moving from Wake Terrace bar and pool through the dining room in bathing suits and views of a bar, loungers and promenade with foot traffic. Consider this....Deck 7 for Sanctuary, 6 for traditional & Walk ins as well as 8 for Walk Ins overflow would have made far more sense. 

 

I would also add that we are traveling with family who booked a Reserve Mini and they were considering upgrading to a Signature suite to dine with us but guess what, while paying considerably less, they are now getting the same upgrade to Sanctuary. I'm just disappointed in this transition and decisions made by Princess. For sure, the two other speciality dining rooms needed an upgrade but the allocation of space in the MDR is not right.

 

I'll still have a great time but I worked hard for decades and this is my retirement trip and I now wish I would have selected a tried and true Royal Class ship. I hope to have more time to cruise in retirement and now I am looking at other brands. 

[dog]

The Sanctuary restaurant deck 8 makes no sense to me either. They Must change it so those going to/ from wakeview pool do not go through the restaurant!

[oteixeira]

5 minutes ago, dog said:

The Sanctuary restaurant deck 8 makes no sense to me either. They Must change it so those going to/ from wakeview pool do not go through the restaurant!

I heard that the views are basically of folks on a pool deck?  That would not be ideal.  I ended up paying my final payment, and this was supposed to be my comparison to other suite class cruise.  I can't help but feel it wont even come close to living up to the other brands.  At least it will still be a cruise, and I will like that part of it.

[dog]

The wakeview pool area is the smoking area. Lovely Upgrade!

[voljeep]

2 minutes ago, dog said:

The wakeview pool area is the smoking area. Lovely Upgrade!

you've got to be kidding .... that's disgusting 

[dog]

4 minutes ago, voljeep said:

you've got to be kidding .... that's disgusting 

Just read it on fb- several saw it on their cruise on SUN

[voljeep]

Just now, dog said:

Just read it on fb- several saw it on their cruise on SUN

so, you get to pay extra for the sanctuary experience, overlooking a pool with a smoking area

 

brilliant

[dog]

4 minutes ago, voljeep said:

so, you get to pay extra for the sanctuary experience, overlooking a pool with a smoking area

 

brilliant

I will be long gone if the flip flops, speedos, and smokers brush past my table while I dine in the exclusive Sanctuary restaurant.

[voljeep]

1 minute ago, dog said:

I will be long gone if the flip flops, speedos, and smokers brush past my table while I dine in the exclusive Sanctuary restaurant.

looks like there are outside doors to go around the restaurant to the pool.  hopefully the restaurant doors will be strictly manned to prevent that

[voljeep]

6 minutes ago, dog said:

I will be long gone if the flip flops, speedos, and smokers brush past my table while I dine in the exclusive Sanctuary restaurant.

wonder which pool(s) the bears will take over on the 10/26 cruise?

[dog]

9 minutes ago, voljeep said:

wonder which pool(s) the bears will take over on the 10/26 cruise?

I am on the 19-26 th. Heard about the group.  There is a large TA group on my dates.

it is almost to the point of 

insulting to those who booked Signature back months ago.

Moving restaurants made some sense - Dario’s by Crown Grill, but really Who is making these decisions?

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, this is all very confusing.

The location, regarding the WakeView Terrace has always seemed like an issue.

And, I believe the one  side of this is known as the Smoking Area.

The deck plans show that they have named the Deck 6 and Deck 7 levels of the MDR.

Deck 6 is showing as the Soliel Dining Room.

Deck 7 is showing as the Eclipse Dining Room.

They can make this dining room as nice as ever, and put blinds and curtains.

But, access to the WakeView Terrace seems to be a problem.

I see doors going out on both Port and Starboard, at the Aft Elevator/Stairwell.

So, would that then be the only way to access the WakeView Terrace?

That and having to come down from behind the Buffet and American Diner.

It is not shaded as a public area on the deck plan.

Edited September 14 by Wishing on a star

[Nikkibird]

The new dining room changes are now showing on the deck plans for after October 14th. They have also renamed the MDR's. It's going to be interesting!!!

[arizonaperson]

Here are a few side by side “ looks” of the changes to signage/ shuffling. Deck 7

 

 

 

 

Edited September 14 by arizonaperson

[Ombud]

My 9/23 transatlantic cruise dining has changed: it was 6pm private table Signature Restaurant for the entire cruise. Now:

924-9/30: 7:40 Horizon DR private table

10/1-10/8: 6:00 Signature DR shared table

Should be interesting 🤔 I don't mind sharing as long as I can eat at my normal speed which is 1/2 hour or less. 

[arizonaperson]

Here’s a few more of deck 8.Kai sushi name change to Makoto Ocean.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 14 by arizonaperson

[arizonaperson]

Few more deck 9.

 

 

 

[Nikkibird]

11 minutes ago, Ombud said:

My 9/23 transatlantic cruise dining has changed: it was 6pm private table Signature Restaurant for the entire cruise. Now:

924-9/30: 7:40 Horizon DR private table

10/1-10/8: 6:00 Signature DR shared table

Should be interesting 🤔 I don't mind sharing as long as I can eat at my normal speed which is 1/2 hour or less. 

How did you even book the Signature Dining? My booking says "reservation not required" and no times are available.

[Ombud]

8 minutes ago, Nikkibird said:

How did you even book the Signature Dining? My booking says "reservation not required" and no times are available.

🤷‍♀️ 

Edited September 14 by Ombud

[dog]

19 minutes ago, Nikkibird said:

How did you even book the Signature Dining? My booking says "reservation not required" and no times are available.

Early in, we were able to book it.  No longer- walk in now

[keldaria]

5 hours ago, paradiseprincess said:

I would agree that this is an attempt to push sanctuary guests to opt for specialty dining and the premier package. It has eroded my sense of value as a loyal passenger.

 

Deck 6 has live ambient music, soaring views, open aft view spaces that are touted on any ship as being most desirable. Deck 8 Sanctuary dining "premium" space will have guests moving from Wake Terrace bar and pool through the dining room in bathing suits and views of a bar, loungers and promenade with foot traffic. Consider this....Deck 7 for Sanctuary, 6 for traditional & Walk ins as well as 8 for Walk Ins overflow would have made far more sense. 

 

I would also add that we are traveling with family who booked a Reserve Mini and they were considering upgrading to a Signature suite to dine with us but guess what, while paying considerably less, they are now getting the same upgrade to Sanctuary. I'm just disappointed in this transition and decisions made by Princess. For sure, the two other speciality dining rooms needed an upgrade but the allocation of space in the MDR is not right.

 

I'll still have a great time but I worked hard for decades and this is my retirement trip and I now wish I would have selected a tried and true Royal Class ship. I hope to have more time to cruise in retirement and now I am looking at other brands. 

I’m honestly somewhat shocked at erosion of benefits promised to suites. It will be interesting to see how they handle it live and the feedback they get. I think they are bound to make more chances before starting Europe cruises next year. The lounge being one of the few benefits for suite class is a pretty limited offering considering many of the rooms aren’t exactly bigger or offer much in the way of amenities themselves. I can’t see people bidding on upgrades or booking at higher costs just for the lounge.

 

honestly I think they need to reexamine the love restaurant location. That would’ve been the perfect place for a new signature restaurant if they could find somewhere reasonable to fit Love. Honestly I’d have moved it to the new butchers block location and try to squeeze that somewhere else.

[MsSoCalCruiser]

7 hours ago, voljeep said:

wonder which pool(s) the bears will take over on the 10/26 cruise?

Do you know how large this group is? I had a cruise ruined once by a large group. They took over so many areas of the ship.