What makes Princess a premium line?

[AZbeachboy]

Here's one site that talks about how cruise lines are classified and shows some of the lines and their classifications. I'm sure there are others with different opinions but this one seems pretty accurate to me.

 

http://www.oceancruiseguides.com/cruiselines/clclass.html

 

Thanks for the link. Still gives plenty to think about and discuss>

[Coral]

The true premium lines would include Seabourn, Oceana, and Crystal.

 

These are luxury lines (exept Oceania). Oceania is hard to catagorize because, they themselves do not consider themselves luxury but they are nicer then premium lines.

[chasetf]

.......What is wrong with the 7 day Carribean mentality?

I think many of us that like to cruise do it so we can experience different parts of the world. To me, if all our cruises were only the Caribbean, then we would have gotten bored long ago. That is one thing we like about Princess.

 

We have been able to cruise Mexico, Eastern / Western / Southern Caribbean, Canada, Alaska, New England, Central America, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Med, Europe, and British Isles. We still have Northern Europe, Asia, South America, Antartica,...... to choose from for future cruises.

[Stevesan]

By excluding it (ice cream) - it is like you are making it a criteria. One needs to look at the whole picture and not just one criteria.

 

7 day Caribbean mentality - I am just saying there is more to cruising then the Caribbean market. Most people do not realize this. The experience of a mega ship in the Caribbean of a cruise line is going to be a far different experience then a 600 passenger ship sailing Europe.

 

Or the super remium Easy Cruise with a pax capacity of only 232 pax!:D

 

http://www.easycruise.com/faqs/OurShips.asp

[floridalady]

what you said is exactly right!

 

:)

Having sailed on Princess, RCI, Crystal, Celebrity, and NCL, I would not consider Princess to be a Premium line. They are mainstream, they are priced mainstream, and the their target market is mainstream-albeit perhaps not the exact same demographic target as Carnival. I would consider Crystal, Regent, etc to be premium. Princess is a great cruise line. We have been on 2 sailiing so far and will be booking again if the itinerary/price/ship matches up to our requirements

[floridalady]

most times when I read about cruiselines carnival -rccl-and princess are grouped togther.Princess is not premium!If it is than so is rccl.

 

Most industry specialists put the following cruise lines together:

 

Premium - HAL, Celebrity, Princess

 

Mass - Carnival, RCCL, NCL

 

Luxury - Crystal, Seabourne, Regent

 

IMO - Princess is a premium line by these definitions.

[3GR8Sons]

Most industry specialists put the following cruise lines together:

 

Premium - HAL, Celebrity, Princess

 

Mass - Carnival, RCCL, NCL

 

Luxury - Crystal, Seabourne, Regent

 

IMO - Princess is a premium line by these definitions.

 

OK-so what is the difference between Mass and Premium?

 

Jenna

[3GR8Sons]

I think many of us that like to cruise do it so we can experience different parts of the world. To me, if all our cruises were only the Caribbean, then we would have gotten bored long ago. That is one thing we like about Princess.

 

We have been able to cruise Mexico, Eastern / Western / Southern Caribbean, Canada, Alaska, New England, Central America, Tahiti, Australia, New Zealand, Med, Europe, and British Isles. We still have Northern Europe, Asia, South America, Antartica,...... to choose from for future cruises.

 

I like to experience different parts of the world also. For instance, when we went to Alaska we chose NOT to cruise in order to really see Alaska (we only had a week). We have also been to Mexico, Europe, Canada, and Central America, some while cruising, other times as land tourists. We do different vacations, not just cruises. IMO cruising is limiting as a method of REALLY seeing a place.

 

It seemed like the comment about the 7 day Caribbean mentality was a put down and I am trying to understand it.

 

Jenna

[3GR8Sons]

By excluding it (ice cream) - it is like you are making it a criteria. quote]

 

I'm not sure how asking to EXCLUDE something from consideration makes it a critieria, since criteria are the things you INCLUDE when comparing things.

 

Jenna

[PescadoAmarillo]

Here's one site that talks about how cruise lines are classified...

Stacey, thanks for the link. It was very helpful, but I wish they would update it (published 2001). It would be interesting to see if there have been changes, but also to see where new lines like Oceania fit. Hope Wally is doing well!

[MV21]

This is a really interesting thread, not least that as I read through it I sense that posters are finding it very difficult to pin down exactly what they mean by, "better quality of service" or "service has deterorated over the years". Can anyone try and be more specific about what they mean? I'm not trying to be provocative , just trying to get underneath some of the perceptions of what makes quality service.

 

 

I also think that the general ambience of a ship is also very much down to the behaviour of one's shipmates and having cruised twice in the Med and once in the Carribbean I felt that my shipmates in the Med were more travelled, literate and interested in culture, therefore that enhanced somewhat the 'feel' of the ship. Now does that sound terribly snobbish or have I declared something that is 'unstated' on all cruises in that the level we feel comfortable with our fellow shipmates affects our level of comfort on board the ship?

[woodmaster]

By excluding it (ice cream) - it is like you are making it a criteria. One needs to look at the whole picture and not just one criteria.

 

7 day Caribbean mentality - I am just saying there is more to cruising then the Caribbean market. Most people do not realize this. The experience of a mega ship in the Caribbean of a cruise line is going to be a far different experience then a 600 passenger ship sailing Europe.

 

What exactly is a Caribbean mentality? Is that anything like an Alaska mentality? From your signature I would say that the bulk of your listed cruises are from those two destinations.

 

Carnival Fascination S. Carib 03/98 ~ Sea Princess W. Carib 11/99 ~ Grand Princess E. Carib 12/00 ~ Celebrity Millennium W. Carib 2/01 ~ Explorer of the Seas Carib 12/01 ~ Grand Princess W. Carib 04/02 ~ Radiance of the Seas Alaska 06/02 ~ Sun Princess Mexico 12/02 ~ Grand Princess W. Carib 04/03 ~ Coral Princess Alaska 05/03 ~ Golden Princess E. Carib 11/03 ~ Dawn Princess Alaska 05/04 ~ Dawn Princess Alaska 06/04 ~ Star Princess E. Carib 12/04 ~ Sun Princess Alaska 05/05 ~ Sun Princess Alaska 05/05 ~ Golden Princess Fall Foliage 10/05 ~ Sapphire Princess West Coast Coastal 05/06 ~ Star Princess Western Caribbean 12/06 ~ Crystal Serenity Western Caribbean 01/07 ~ Amadeus Tolstoy Russian River Cruise ~

 

If the Caribbean mentality is so poor why is that one of your primary destinations?

[silvercruiser]

As you can see by my cruising history below, I have quite a bit to compare Princess to and we just love it! Edges out H-A by a small margin because of the wonderful closets...like a small dressing room.

H-A is a little classier, but all told, we prefer Princess and can't wait to reach Elite status by the end of next year. The promise of priority tender boarding is almost as good as the free laundry!

[silvercruiser]

Oops! Guess I goofed when I updated my signature after a recent cruise. Have now corrected: We have 5 more cruises booked, not 65.

[Coral]

What exactly is a Caribbean mentality? Is that anything like an Alaska mentality? From your signature I would say that the bulk of your listed cruises are from those two destinations.

 

If the Caribbean mentality is so poor why is that one of your primary destinations?

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For many - the only type of cruise is a Caribbean cruise. There is more to cruising then the Caribbean. Once you venture past the Caribbean - you realize that there are port lecturers, guest speakers and demonstrations, there are educational opportunities other than "shopping lectures".

 

The Princess experience is different in the Caribbean than it is elsewhere. For RCCL, the mentality was the same in Alaska as it was in the Caribbean (no lectures, no educational offerings, etc...).

 

The only reason I have gone to the Caribbean recently was to see friends who I would not have had an opportunity to see elsewhere. I really don't care to return. I have ventured a far on my land trips (Asia in the last year) but do not list my land trips on my signature. Alaska on the other hand is incredible.

[iancal]

Princess, premium line. Not on the last two cruises that we took, a ten day and a seven day Carib. Good cruise line, but not premium, notwithstanding what the Princess buffs may think.

 

What is the big deal with free ice cream? I read this on a number of threads that there is a knock on Princess because they don't have continuous free ice cream. Is ice cream really a good yardstick for measurement in the cruise industry? It was far down on my list.

[christinelee]

As I was reading all the above posts about what is "premium" and what isnt I was thinking about this:

 

Many of you have cruised a lot more than I have, but even I am starting to notice that things onboard are not "as special" as they were on my first cruise. Do you think though that it might be us? In other words we have seen the great service and eaten the great food so many times that it is becoming less exciting? Not because its worse, but because we have seen it all before. We cant be shocked forever and the little things that thrilled us once are now just expected. hmmmmm?

YellowDog you have "hit the nail square on the head." As we travel more and more the exciting, new, and wonderful things become the expected. We are always searching for the perfect cruise, but we are not going to find it in the mass market caribbean, mexican, alaskan cruises of all of the cruise lines. To find the new and exciting wonders of cruising you must move on to this great big wonderful wide world or be happy with the St. Thomas', St. Marteen's, Jamaica's and Mexico of the cruising world. Life is an adventure, reach for it with both hands.

[spongerob]

As I was reading all the above posts about what is "premium" and what isnt I was thinking about this:

 

Many of you have cruised a lot more than I have, but even I am starting to notice that things onboard are not "as special" as they were on my first cruise. Do you think though that it might be us? In other words we have seen the great service and eaten the great food so many times that it is becoming less exciting? Not because its worse, but because we have seen it all before. We cant be shocked forever and the little things that thrilled us once are now just expected. hmmmmm?

'Dog, there's nothing like your first cruise. Without going into details, both my wife and I have gone through phases in cruising. We both now look forward to cruises more for the social aspects, rejoining old friends and meeting new ones. Some of the things we used to get excited about, aren't such a big deal today. We tend to go on cruises with more goals set as to the things we want to see and do, and spend less time thinking about being overwhelmed by the extravagances on board.

 

As for Princess being premium, well, that depends on where you set your baseline. Personally, I don't think it's premium. Premium would mean full room service and a stocked bar for each cabin, even if it's just those airline-size bottles. Premium also means that most small-cost items, like real brewed coffee and espresso, would be included. And Premium would cost a little more.

 

I don't even like the term "luxury". As far as I'm concerned, any cruise is a luxury vacation.

[Coral]

'As for Princess being premium, well, that depends on where you set your baseline. Personally, I don't think it's premium. Premium would mean full room service and a stocked bar for each cabin, even if it's just those airline-size bottles. Premium also means that most small-cost items, like real brewed coffee and espresso, would be included. And Premium would cost a little more.

 

By your definition - HAL and Celebrity would not be premium.

 

Crystal would not be premium (though they are luxury) as they do not have a stocked bar in the cabin. They have non-alcoholic drinks in the cabin but not alcoholic drinks.

 

It appears that everyone seems to have a different definition as far as categories. For this reason, I will leave the categories up to the experts in the cruise industry.

[karatemom2]

For many - the only type of cruise is a Caribbean cruise. There is more to cruising then the Caribbean. Once you venture past the Caribbean - you realize that there are port lecturers, guest speakers and demonstrations, there are educational opportunities other than "shopping lectures".

 

The Princess experience is different in the Caribbean than it is elsewhere. For RCCL, the mentality was the same in Alaska as it was in the Caribbean (no lectures, no educational offerings, etc...).

 

The only reason I have gone to the Caribbean recently was to see friends who I would not have had an opportunity to see elsewhere. I really don't care to return. I have ventured a far on my land trips (Asia in the last year) but do not list my land trips on my signature. Alaska on the other hand is incredible.

 

Well I can't speak to all cruise lines in regard to the educational offerings, but I don't think Princess necessarily has the corner on that. On our NCL cruise to Alaska last year we had an excellent educator on board that presented a top notch series of lectures on Alaska. He was a retired university professor and was informative as well as exceptionally entertaining. This on a line that many seem to look down on as inferior for some reason unknown to me. Not to be critical of our educator on Princess as he was very nice, but he just wasn't up to the par of our speaker on NCL.

 

I do appreciate the educational opportunities presented on cruise lines, but I'm not sure that is what would elevate a line to premium status.

[rwalls]

I've been on Princess once before, in Alaska, and I never realized it was considered premium. Out of 14 past cruises in numerous parts of the world, I tend to personally equate "premium" with the quality of serve I receive and not the price paid. I find the term rather subjective, varying from person to person. I had better dining on other cruise lines than on my previous Princess cruise, but that didn't stop me from booking on the Star Princess for a 16 day cruise from Buenos Aires to Antarctica. The itinerary and the price made the difference. It's what I was looking for, and as long as the service is satisfactory, that's all that really matters.:) But that's not true with many who are looking at minor details.

 

rwalls

[spongerob]

By your definition - HAL and Celebrity would not be premium.

 

Crystal would not be premium (though they are luxury) as they do not have a stocked bar in the cabin. They have non-alcoholic drinks in the cabin but not alcoholic drinks.

 

It appears that everyone seems to have a different definition as far as categories. For this reason, I will leave the categories up to the experts in the cruise industry.

That's kind of my point - it depends on your point of view. If all you've ever done is camp out, a Motel 6 would be premium. If you stay in Concierge suites at Ritz-Carlton hotels any time you travel, I think most cruises would feel like camping out. It's all subjective. Companies come up with these terms as advertising puffery, nothing more. The only objective measure would somehow equate all you get with the cost to get it. Anything else is just semantics.

[DeRon]

Princess, HAL, Carnival, NCL, and Royal Caribbean are generally considered the same class. Celebrity a step above and Seabourne way out of my budget. I would consider Celebrity and Seabourne premium lines.

I have been on 2 Princess cruises and 2 Celebrity cruises. I would not agree with this statement above about Celebrity. Just my opinion.

[Casey12]

There is a whole list of criteria that cruise lines use to distinguish between classes - here are some examples. I used to work at an agency and these were the standards used by industry people to categorize ships and lines. Notice ice cream is not mentioned as a criteria.

 

Premium cruise lines - have better passenger to crew ratio, have better space ratio, cabins have many amenities, ships have a high ratio of balconies, have top environmental records, larger food budgets, large wine collection, excellent maintenance records, educational programs in certain markets, ships show more class in style compared to lower categorized lines. They also sail to more places, tend to have a more educated, more well traveled clientele.

 

Mass lines - less personalized service, increase in shipboard activites, more emphasis on nightlife activities, spend less $$$ on food compared to premium cruise lines, less varied itineraries, less varied educational offerings.

 

Below mass- they spend less money on food, more emphasis on shows for entertainment, they stay primarily in Caribbean and Mexican markets, rooms do not have many amenities, attract a beginner cruiser, more revenue generating items are done onboard. Space and crew ratio minimal compared to other lines.

[CruisinAlaska]

Princess, premium line. Not on the last two cruises that we took, a ten day and a seven day Carib. Good cruise line, but not premium, notwithstanding what the Princess buffs may think.

 

What is the big deal with free ice cream? I read this on a number of threads that there is a knock on Princess because they don't have continuous free ice cream. Is ice cream really a good yardstick for measurement in the cruise industry? It was far down on my list.

 

It's not exactly ice cream or that thing some lines do with towels, it's the fact that people like 'special' touches.....they like to feel like they're getting something extra. Disney does a wonderful job with extra details, but most of us old folks don't want to cruise with a ship full of kids. Maybe we could get Disney to start a mostly adult line.