Live: Majestic Princess Oct 10-12 - Another Cheeky Little Getaway

[VibeGuy]

1 hour ago, ceilidh1 said:

Crown Grill was outstanding tonight. To the point where we had to forego dessert as we were so full!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Personally I wouldn’t do anything so ridiculous as skipping dessert but our experience in CG on Majestic this week was the best we’ve had, fleetwide, going back to when the concept was introduced.  The dry-aged Nolan Ryan striploin and ribeye were sourced and prepared to a quality level I expect from a land-based steakhouse.   Service was flawless.  My only beef is that, like the MDRs, the lighting is way too bright during dinner service. 

[PescadoAmarillo]

On 10/11/2024 at 3:04 AM, YVRteacher said:

My love affair with Princess is over.

 

In more than 55 cruises, that was the single worst embarkation experience. I arrived at the port at 11:21am.

 

 

The thing about embarkation experiences is that everyone has a single worst. Whether you’ve embarked 2 or 102 times, one is going to be the worst. They’re never all the same. I’ve simply put San Francisco at the bottom of the list of places I’d choose to cruise from. That’ll show ‘em. 

[CruzinNoony]

On 10/6/2024 at 11:55 PM, startedwithamouse said:

The meal in question was Catch, and I was asking the person who ate there.

Why are you talking about Crown Grill?

We ate at the Catch on the Discovey a couple of weeks ago and was also disappointed.  My hubby had the jumbo shrimp and he said there was only 1 or 2 shrimp,.  I had the pasta with seafood and didn't care for it.  People around us had the filet and lobster and it looked delicious.  If we go again, I will order that.  

[TNVolnteerCruiser]

Better late than never.  All caught up!

[ceilidh1]

I have no idea where I left off last night. There was much merriment. Much laughter. Much dancing. And maybe even some shenanigans (IYKYK).

 

We didn’t make it out of crown grill in time for the show, so hung out at the VIP Casino bar with Alfredo and Ida. They are great bartenders and so fun!

 

Sunset this evening was stunning!

[ceilidh1]

[ceilidh1]

When the bar closed for the night we relocated to the piazza and danced into the morning hours. There were some interesting people out on the floor last night - yet another proposition (and room number) from some guy who admitted to having a pineapple on his door. I’m not sure what vibes I give off, but I seem to keep attracting these folks…I politely declined. Then we hung out with some guys we met the previous night…

[ceilidh1]

I walked off the ship at 8:30am (not sure what my actual time was as I didn’t get chance to read the disembark info). I was in my house by 8:45am!

 

This was so much fun! Can’t wait for next time…

[Cruise Raider]

15 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Maybe embarkation day? Overwhelmed? Busy? Never had an issue there before.,.

We went on embarkation night on our cruise, too.  I think the difference is that your is a two night cruise and a lot of people bought the premier package.  
I think they might be wise to not sell the premier package for those short little 2 - 4 night cruises, as it overwhelms the system in place.  
We had the best food on this last sailing and the best service, too.  Not many people buy the premier package on those longer sailings.  If you add 500% more with that buy those packages, I think it is bound to show up in your overall experience.  
 

[[Big Z]]

41 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

We went on embarkation night on our cruise, too.  I think the difference is that your is a two night cruise and a lot of people bought the premier package.  
I think they might be wise to not sell the premier package for those short little 2 - 4 night cruises, as it overwhelms the system in place.  
We had the best food on this last sailing and the best service, too.  Not many people buy the premier package on those longer sailings.  If you add 500% more with that buy those packages, I think it is bound to show up in your overall experience.  
 

I was on the 11-dayer and stayed on for this one and one of the officers had mentioned that there was gonna be approx. 500 more people on board and they sold out of Princess Premier for the two-day. 

 

I was one of those people who bought Premier for the two-day portion because it's not terribly expensive and with the double up promotion, made it worth it. 

Edited October 12 by [Big Z]

[Cruise Raider]

4 minutes ago, [Big Z] said:

I was on the 11-dayer and stayed on for this one and one of the officers had mentioned that there was gonna be approx. 500 more people on board and they sold out of Princess Premier for the two-day. 

 

I was one of those people who bought Premier for the two-day portion because it's not terribly expensive and with the double up promotion, made it worth it. 

So they do limit it?  I was curious about that.  They can’t promise to seat 3600 people for dinner in the speciality venues.  
I wonder where they cut the premier package off?  Do you happen to know?  
 

BTW, if you happen to go to Harmony, please tell Agnelo, the restaurant manager there we said thank you for taking care of that billing error I talked to him about on the morning of the 10th!  
 

Edited October 12 by Cruise Raider

[[Big Z]]

50 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

So they do limit it?  I was curious about that.  They can’t promise to seat 3600 people for dinner in the speciality venues.  
I wonder where they cut the premier package off?  Do you happen to know?  
 

BTW, if you happen to go to Harmony, please tell Agnelo, the restaurant manager there we said thank you for taking care of that billing error I talked to him about on the morning of the 10th!  
 

I have no idea, sorry. They never said one way or another. 

 

Also, I'm off the ship as the cruise ended this morning. 

[atanac]

5 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

This was so much fun! Can’t wait for next time…

And the next time is?

[ceilidh1]

34 minutes ago, atanac said:

And the next time is?

December 1st. NCL Bliss. I’m on the wagon until then! 

[wallyj]

6 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

So they do limit it?  I was curious about that.  They can’t promise to seat 3600 people for dinner in the speciality venues.  
I wonder where they cut the premier package off?  Do you happen to know?  
 

Yes, they have a limit, especially for Premier on the shorter cruises. A past thread mentioned a passenger wanting to buy/upgrade to premier as they wanted the higher limit drinks. Was told NO,  as the ship reached its limit and would not be able to accommodate any more Specialty Dining. Passenger said they did not care about SD and wanted premier for the higher drinks limit, was still denied even if willing to waive SD amenity. I have only heard this happening on shorter sailings, but am sure Princess does have a limit for every sailing, but lot lower possibility of reaching on longer sailings.

 

I do not think Princess would want to disclose what are the thresholds for each package.

[startedwithamouse]

20 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

I have no idea where I left off last night. There was much merriment. Much laughter. Much dancing. And maybe even some shenanigans (IYKYK).

 

We didn’t make it out of crown grill in time for the show, so hung out at the VIP Casino bar with Alfredo and Ida. They are great bartenders and so fun!

 

Sunset this evening was stunning!

That's the Olympic Peninsula, always stunning!

[crusinthrough]

19 hours ago, [Big Z] said:

I was on the 11-dayer and stayed on for this one and one of the officers had mentioned that there was gonna be approx. 500 more people on board and they sold out of Princess Premier for the two-day. 

 

19 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

So they do limit it?  I was curious about that.  They can’t promise to seat 3600 people for dinner in the speciality venues.  
I wonder where they cut the premier package off?  Do you happen to know?  

 

12 hours ago, wallyj said:

Yes, they have a limit, especially for Premier on the shorter cruises.

There was someone around the mid elevators selling the packages including the upgrade to Premier, which I purchased.  For additional perspective, I was at the end of the long check in line and it was around 2pm when I finally got onboard.

 

The Premier was a waste because dining reservations were full.  The hostess in Catch took pity and found me a table around 8:45 pm on the first night.  I tried to get a reservation for CG by going to the restaurant when I boarded, again later in the evening and on the second night as well as calling the dining reservation line.  I was told it was full.  I could have just paid for Catch and saved money.  None of my drinks were over $15, I don't participate in the fitness classes, I didn't take pictures and the Princes prizes never worked.  A message kept saying I need to upgrade my package.  I mentioned this while paying for my bill before I disembarked. 

 

 

[ceilidh1]

19 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

So they do limit it?  I was curious about that.  They can’t promise to seat 3600 people for dinner in the speciality venues.  
I wonder where they cut the premier package off?  Do you happen to know?  
 

BTW, if you happen to go to Harmony, please tell Agnelo, the restaurant manager there we said thank you for taking care of that billing error I talked to him about on the morning of the 10th!  
 

I did reserve specialty ahead of time without problem. On the ship I looked in the app for availability and both restaurants showed as no availability. However Catch never looked busy and crown grill had empty tables each time I walked past, so I don’t think either were at capacity. But it would make sense to have a limit as if I had the package and couldn’t get in to dining, which would be upset!

 

On another note, for the first time I’ve witnessed, the bar staff cut someone off from drinking on this sailing! He was an older guy (surprisingly) who was very drunk, dancing with all the females, and just being very inappropriate. Two females reported him to security and then he was refused service. Security officers kept a close eye on him. He behaved after that but did ask our group several times to get him a drink at the bar - even offered to h guy I’ve us cash to do so…nope.

[crusinthrough]

On the 2nd day the covered pool looked like a day in a summer day camp.  All the kids completely took over the pool and area.  It was the only downside to the cruise. 

[ceilidh1]

3 minutes ago, crusinthrough said:

 

 

There was someone around the mid elevators selling the packages including the upgrade to Premier, which I purchased.  For additional perspective, I was at the end of the long check in line and it was around 2pm when I finally got onboard.

 

The Premier was a waste because dining reservations were full.  The hostess in Catch took pity and found me a table around 8:45 pm on the first night.  I tried to get a reservation for CG by going to the restaurant when I boarded, again later in the evening and on the second night as well as calling the dining reservation line.  I was told it was full.  I could have just paid for Catch and saved money.  None of my drinks were over $15, I don't participate in the fitness classes, I didn't take pictures and the Princes prizes never worked.  A message kept saying I need to upgrade my package.  I mentioned this while paying for my bill before I disembarked. 

 

 

I think the dining issue is less about restaurant capacity and more about staff capacity. I never saw either restaurant full, but I’m betting they just didn’t have the staff to deal with every table if it was!

[ceilidh1]

2 minutes ago, crusinthrough said:

On the 2nd day the covered pool looked like a day in a summer day camp.  All the kids completely took over the pool and area.  It was the only downside to the cruise. 

Yes! I went to the hot tub in Hollywood Conservatory and it was PACKED with kids. I thought that area was adult only, but obviously not! I ended up in the outside one but it had no bubbles…

[Cruise Raider]

13 hours ago, wallyj said:

Yes, they have a limit, especially for Premier on the shorter cruises. A past thread mentioned a passenger wanting to buy/upgrade to premier as they wanted the higher limit drinks. Was told NO,  as the ship reached its limit and would not be able to accommodate any more Specialty Dining. Passenger said they did not care about SD and wanted premier for the higher drinks limit, was still denied even if willing to waive SD amenity. I have only heard this happening on shorter sailings, but am sure Princess does have a limit for every sailing, but lot lower possibility of reaching on longer sailings.

 

I do not think Princess would want to disclose what are the thresholds for each package.

Im glad to hear that there is some sort of limit.  Specialty dining would be overwhelmed, otherwise.  We had no intentions of eating at specialty dining every day or even half the days, but we ended up going 9 nights out of 10.  I think that’s a record for us for going for a sit down dinner.  
 

[Cruise Raider]

58 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

I did reserve specialty ahead of time without problem. On the ship I looked in the app for availability and both restaurants showed as no availability. However Catch never looked busy and crown grill had empty tables each time I walked past, so I don’t think either were at capacity. But it would make sense to have a limit as if I had the package and couldn’t get in to dining, which would be upset!

 

On another note, for the first time I’ve witnessed, the bar staff cut someone off from drinking on this sailing! He was an older guy (surprisingly) who was very drunk, dancing with all the females, and just being very inappropriate. Two females reported him to security and then he was refused service. Security officers kept a close eye on him. He behaved after that but did ask our group several times to get him a drink at the bar - even offered to h guy I’ve us cash to do so…nope.

Some people can’t handle 2 nights of unlimited drinks.  You’d think the first day would totally wipe them out as to where they wouldn’t want anything to drink the second day.  The unlimited drinks has absolutely no impact on how much we drink, as we’ve never come close to 15 either now or in the past.  It’s just not worth a whole day of feeling really bad that following day.  We do enjoy our wine but I can’t imagine drinking 3 bottles of it in one day, much less more than that.  


 

[memoak]

18 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

Some people can’t handle 2 nights of unlimited drinks.  You’d think the first day would totally wipe them out as to where they wouldn’t want anything to drink the second day.  The unlimited drinks has absolutely no impact on how much we drink, as we’ve never come close to 15 either now or in the past.  It’s just not worth a whole day of feeling really bad that following day.  We do enjoy our wine but I can’t imagine drinking 3 bottles of it in one day, much less more than that.  


 

We always take the Plus package and usually have around 10 drinks a day plus a bottle every 2 days with dinner. Since most of our drinks are under $15 we don’t really have a need for premier unlimited package

[Oscar13]

We managed to get on about 12:30, we got to the port about 11.  I didn't get the notification about the Coast Guard check so we went early.  Oops.  Went and found a table near the IC, had a snack and waited until our cabin was WTG.

 

Only complaint, if you will, is the push for buying the Premier package.  We must have had at least 6 people within the 1st 10 minutes on board try to upsell us. 

 

Counting down til the next one.   tick tick tick

 

K2