Princess Corp is watching!

[control-alt-delete]

I posted that same thing once (either starboard or port sideds could be non-smoking) and some nice fellow critic told me to take a hike to Celebrity. :eek:

 

We cruise 5-6 times a year exclusively now on Princess or NCL, mostly Princess. If second hand smoke is so deadly:rolleyes:, then surely those of us who actually inhale will all be dead in a few years, so the problem will be solved for all. Meanwhile, Princess gets a LOT of money from me, (I also drink and gamble:eek:).

[captainron]

Hey,

What a great thread. I wonder if this thread was actually started by someone working in Princess HQ in Santa Clarita.

 

With all the Princess praises raised on this 250 plus postings it makes for great confirmation to the Princess Execs that for the most part, they've got their act down pat ie. making the majority of customers happy.

 

Ciao for now!!!

[crusingnut]

I just returned from cruising on the Tahitian Princess ship. It's one of their smaller ships. As soon as I boarded the ship I smelled smoke in the hallways. I've never experienced this on their larger ships so was surprised and disappointed that the smoke odor was throughout carpeted areas. When in the small casino, it took only a few smokers to make it filter into the immediate areas. I guess since it is a smaller ship it doesn't take much.:(

[RaMar]

I just had to share the most incredible thing... and confirmation that Princess does read reviews here & take them seriously!

 

I posted my review very recently which included praise for service I received in the Wheelhouse bar on Golden Princess. This morning, I received a thank you note via email from one of the bartenders... Evidently, the 'big boss from the LA office came on board Golden for inspection of the bars department' & singled out the employees I mentioned in order to give them acolades! Very cool!

 

How do I know that the 'big boss' knew my experience from this site & not from my comment card??? ... whoever it is specifically mentioned 'Cucumber Martini Girls', and this is the only place I used that reference.

 

Very Cool indeed! (I think my impressions of Princess just went up again!)

 

That's cool! Princess Corp. Thank you for giving us that nice upgrade on our last cruise!

[pgh-pam]

Princess, my BF and I personally love the towel animals . . . they bring a smile to our faces everytime we return to our cabin . . . have to keep going on cruises to get my towel animal fix because I can't get my BF to make them for me each night at home :D

 

Also, I smoke (and consider myself a courteous smoker), thank you for charging me the same amount for my trip as the non-smoker and permitting me to do so in areas that likely work out to be less than 10% of the ship. :rolleyes: What about limiting the areas where those who wear too much cologne/perfume, talk too loud, drink too much, chew their food with their mouths open, leave messes wherever they go, etc. etc. can go . . . :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes:

[envy4u]

Princess, my BF and I personally love the towel animals . . . they bring a smile to our faces everytime we return to our cabin .

 

 

Towel animals are very nice but I prefer the cabin steward to be spending that time cleaning our cabin instead. I watched an investigative show recently and you would not believe the germs that can be found in those cabins :(

[lovey1103]

Just a note on the wheelchair accessible cabins... Princess actually instructs its reservation agents not to book into those cabins if that is the only cabin left in a category. The problem is that many people call in and claim they need one and book into one. Reservation agents are required to ask if someone traveling in the cabin needs a wheelchair accessible cabin but since its a bit of a sensitive topic for some folks reservation agents are not permitted to really delve into the why's or how comes and some people probably feel that requiring a doctor's note can be a bit invasive for such a simple request. There is policy to reserve those for those who need them, but often times its a matter of privacy why or how come someone needs them.

My husband has Parkinson's Disease and is not wheelchair bound, however, his mobility comes and goes without warning. He is unable to walk in narrow spaces and is a fall risk in a standard balcony room. May I ask my fellow CC friends to be sensitive to cruisers in a handicap room. Things are not always as they appear.

[pgh-pam]

I watched an investigative show recently and you would not believe the germs that can be found in those cabins :(

 

I did see one of those shows one time where they did a black light type check on the bed . . . ugh!!! :eek:

[red4u2]

We cruise 5-6 times a year exclusively now on Princess or NCL, mostly Princess. If second hand smoke is so deadly:rolleyes:, then surely those of us who actually inhale will all be dead in a few years, so the problem will be solved for all. Meanwhile, Princess gets a LOT of money from me, (I also drink and gamble:eek:).

Well thats a bit harsh wouldnt you say? no one was wishing you dead, and i think thats a pretty flip response to that poster and mine was a post that was pointing out safety concerns more than anything -im sure the people reading this that have lost loved ones dont think your post was funny either. Everyone gets so touchy on this board about this topic. All i said was that the cruise lines should adopt the same policy as a lot of hotels and dining venues, smoking in a cabin/ balcony can be a fire hazard, one of the deadliest things that can happen on a cruise ship, if you cant burn a candle, them you shouldnt be allowed to smoke in your cabin/balcony. IMO it comes down to the money as i said in my previous post. As for rude loud people that leave messes that the other poster was complaning about, when you are outside of your cabin you can freely leave the area where the people are offending you, when you are in a smoke smelling cabin, or are on a balcony and the wind is blowing the smoke right at you, there is not much that you can do to get away from it, especially if you have allergies, and control alt delete- that was not meant as an attack against smokers, there are plenty of areas on the ships to smoke, drink, gamble, dance, eat , swim or whatever else makes you happy. In a public area a non smoker can walk away and it is not as much of a safety issue, in your cabin it is, thats what i was saying. And perhaps since you brought it up, you should look at some medical reports about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

[Manny's mom]

Well thats a bit harsh wouldnt you say? no one was wishing you dead, and i think thats a pretty flip response to that poster and mine was a post that was pointing out safety concerns more than anything -im sure the people reading this that have lost loved ones dont think your post was funny either. Everyone gets so touchy on this board about this topic. All i said was that the cruise lines should adopt the same policy as a lot of hotels and dining venues, smoking in a cabin/ balcony can be a fire hazard, one of the deadliest things that can happen on a cruise ship, if you cant burn a candle, them you shouldnt be allowed to smoke in your cabin/balcony. IMO it comes down to the money as i said in my previous post. As for rude loud people that leave messes that the other poster was complaning about, when you are outside of your cabin you can freely leave the area where the people are offending you, when you are in a smoke smelling cabin, or are on a balcony and the wind is blowing the smoke right at you, there is not much that you can do to get away from it, especially if you have allergies, and control alt delete- that was not meant as an attack against smokers, there are plenty of areas on the ships to smoke, drink, gamble, dance, eat , swim or whatever else makes you happy. In a public area a non smoker can walk away and it is not as much of a safety issue, in your cabin it is, thats what i was saying. And perhaps since you brought it up, you should look at some medical reports about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

 

Some of us have medical conditions that are worsened by smoke. I think there should be some "smoke free" cabins, just like the "smoke free" hotel rooms. If someone wants to smoke that is their privilege but I don't want to be sickened by it.

[johnmik1]

Princess I thnik it just fine to offer the suite passengers the Sabatini breakfast as part of their suite experience. I hope that you will consider adding it as an extra fee like Sabatinis in the evening and the Crown Grill. It would be soooo nice to enjoy it once or twice on a long cruise.

 

Or offer it to the Elites!

[peterv]

All i said was that the cruise lines should adopt the same policy as a lot of hotels and dining venues, smoking in a cabin/ balcony can be a fire hazard, one of the deadliest things that can happen on a cruise ship, if you cant burn a candle, them you shouldnt be allowed to smoke in your cabin/balcony.......... And perhaps since you brought it up, you should look at some medical reports about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

 

/sarcasm

 

Yes, smoking is an incredible safety risk, why just the other day I was noticing how often I hear of fires on cruise ships being started by smokers in their cabins.

 

/sarcasm off

 

The reason candles are not permitted is because they are an open flame, cigarettes are not.

 

Also, thanks for the tip, I have looked at the "medical research" about second hand smoke and find it pretty laughable that people believe it.

 

Purely my own opinion of course.

 

Your mileage will vary.

 

Cheers,

Peter

[rjnaz]

:o:rolleyes:Please pretty please ,,,,please please please...resume your 15 day cruise from Los Angeles to Hawaii during the summer season....we loved that cruise and would do it every summer..nice option from Mexico or Alaska.....Hugs:p

[h3rjp]

Princess I thnik it just fine to offer the suite passengers the Sabatini breakfast as part of their suite experience. I hope that you will consider adding it as an extra fee like Sabatinis in the evening and the Crown Grill. It would be soooo nice to enjoy it once or twice on a long cruise.

 

Great idea. I think $10 per person would be a fair price, based on making an advanced reservation and limiting the number of guests that can do it each morning. I would certainly like to pay for one more Sabatinis breakfast, as next time I'm in a non-suite cabin. :(

[wilfros]

Dear Princess (if you are reading) please get rid of formal nights immediately. Thank You.

Dear Princess.

 

Please disregard the above and add one or more formal nights. I need to get my moneys worth for the tux I rented and the gowns I bought my wife!

 

We can all wear a dress or suit anytime we go out at home, BUT, only on a cruise do we (the general public) get a chance to go formal.

 

I have often mentioned (being in the Capital of Canada) that there are lots of formal events in this city but none that allow us to attend. Only on a cruise do we get this special experience!

 

More I say, give us more!!

[cascole]

Hey,

What a great thread. I wonder if this thread was actually started by someone working in Princess HQ in Santa Clarita.

 

With all the Princess praises raised on this 250 plus postings it makes for great confirmation to the Princess Execs that for the most part, they've got their act down pat ie. making the majority of customers happy.

 

Ciao for now!!!

 

Ha... I thought this thread was buried & here it is again. No, this thread wasn't started by anyone working for Princess. It was started by yours truly, and I certainly do not work in the hospitality industry... although the discounts would be nice! :p I started the thread because it was my first Princess cruise and I personally found out that my review on CC had been read & acted upon.... Although I must say I am disappointed that some have turned it into (yet another) smoking debate! :rolleyes:

 

Happy cruising all!

[rcacace]

Dear Princess.

 

Please disregard the above and add one or more formal nights. I need to get my moneys worth for the tux I rented and the gowns I bought my wife!

 

We can all wear a dress or suit anytime we go out at home, BUT, only on a cruise do we (the general public) get a chance to go formal.

 

I have often mentioned (being in the Capital of Canada) that there are lots of formal events in this city but none that allow us to attend. Only on a cruise do we get this special experience!

 

More I say, give us more!!

 

Or how about providing a decent meal in a separate dining room other than the buffet or extra charge restaurants on the formal nights. This would give people who really enjoy the dressing to dine amongst themselves & eliminate the hostility because some don't care to dress formally. Even better, you can make the regular dining room formal on ALL nights so they'll be better able to utilize they're formal attire to the max.

[rjnaz]

how about letting us order special items from the pay restuarants at the main dining room..sometimes I would like to order a special steak but wife would like to order off the regular menu.....

[red4u2]

/sarcasm

 

Yes, smoking is an incredible safety risk, why just the other day I was noticing how often I hear of fires on cruise ships being started by smokers in their cabins.

 

/sarcasm off

 

The reason candles are not permitted is because they are an open flame, cigarettes are not.

 

Also, thanks for the tip, I have looked at the "medical research" about second hand smoke and find it pretty laughable that people believe it.

 

Purely my own opinion of course.

 

Your mileage will vary.

 

Cheers,

Peter

Thank you Peter for you comments, and i do appreciate the sarcasm on and off, i surley could not have figured that out on my own. So you have never heard of a fire being started from a lit cigarette? well you have internet, so i will assume that you also receive news from some where- fires are started all the time from cigarettes, in fact my own mother set her home on fire with a cigarette.

You can believe whatever you want about second hand smoke, but if the research was that laughable and had no medical plausability then why would half the world be banning it in public places? Calif no longer allows you to smoke in any restaurant and there are many states and countries that are doing the same in all kinds of public locations. And the only reason that i brought that up in my post was because i was responding to Control alt delete and that person making light of dying from cigarettes and second hand smoke. So thank you for your opinion and your sarcasm, i was again stating that it is a safety issue not an attack on smokers.

[BruceMuzz]

how about letting us order special items from the pay restuarants at the main dining room..sometimes I would like to order a special steak but wife would like to order off the regular menu.....

 

Royal Caribbean started that recently.

It was the biggest Public Relations disaster they have ever experienced.

[HRHPrinceJim]

:o:rolleyes:Please pretty please ,,,,please please please...resume your 15 day cruise from Los Angeles to Hawaii during the summer season....we loved that cruise and would do it every summer..nice option from Mexico or Alaska.....Hugs:p

 

I second that. I would also do it every summer, maybe even back to back! :D

[BruceMuzz]

Princess should designate non-smoking and smoking balcony rooms. That way the smokers can have their space and the non-smokers won't be bothered by the smoke.

 

Great idea. But what happens when the non-smoking balcony cabins are sold out and only the smoking balconies are left?

Do non-smokers get a discount if they agree to take them?

Does the cruise line just leave them empty and raise the price of your cruise to cover the losses in revenue and tips?

 

What happens when the smoking balcony cabins are sold out and only the non-smoking balconies are left?

Do smokers get to book non-smoking cabins if they promise not to smoke?

Do they get a discount if they do that?

Does the cruise line just leave them empty and charge you more for your cruise to cover the losses in revenue and tips?

 

What happens when your non-smoking balcony cabin is right next door to the smoking balcony section?

[VictoriaH]

Many have commented on how few coin operated washers and dryers there are on the Princess Royal. The brochure shows only one laundry room on the entire ship, on deck 7. With over 600 passengers this is not nearly enough. With the air line weight restrictions we would like to bring fewer clothing changes on our next cruise. We will be cruising next January to the Amazon river and will be on the ship for 28 days on a B2B cruise. In that climate we will need frequent changes to clean clothes. I hate to think that I will be spending much of my cruise time waiting in line for a washer and dryer.

PLEASE Princess consider adding more laundry facilities and perhaps having more laundry "bag" days and announcing ahead when these days will be.

I understand that the laundry rooms close in the early evening to prevent noise for the nearby cabins. We have had cabins in the laundry areas on other ships and the areas were open 24/7 and we never felt there was a noise problem. Most of the noise problems were loud passengers passing thru the hallways at night and not laundry users.

If additional laundry rooms were added on other decks then there would perhaps not be so many people gathered in the area of one laundry room and that would eliminate much of the possible noise problem.

[RickEk]

Many have commented on how few coin operated washers and dryers there are on the Princess Royal. The brochure shows only one laundry room on the entire ship, on deck 7. With over 600 passengers this is not nearly enough. With the air line weight restrictions we would like to bring fewer clothing changes on our next cruise. We will be cruising next January to the Amazon river and will be on the ship for 28 days on a B2B cruise. In that climate we will need frequent changes to clean clothes. I hate to think that I will be spending much of my cruise time waiting in line for a washer and dryer.

PLEASE Princess consider adding more laundry facilities and perhaps having more laundry "bag" days and announcing ahead when these days will be.

I understand that the laundry rooms close in the early evening to prevent noise for the nearby cabins. We have had cabins in the laundry areas on other ships and the areas were open 24/7 and we never felt there was a noise problem. Most of the noise problems were loud passengers passing thru the hallways at night and not laundry users.

If additional laundry rooms were added on other decks then there would perhaps not be so many people gathered in the area of one laundry room and that would eliminate much of the possible noise problem.

 

Well, do remember that the Royal Princess (and her sisters) was designed by a now defunct cruise line. Had Princess designed them, no doubt they would have added more laundry rooms. I don't see them adding more laundry facilities though.. they'd have to take away passenger cabins and I'm sure that's not going to happen. :)

[Philip217]

ALL the major cruise line execs read Cruisecritic.

After they finish reading, they are ALL more confused than before they started.

 

On the past 14 pages I have read arguments for:

 

More smoking / less smoking

Towel animals / no towel animals

Better coffee / same coffee

Starbucks/ Peets / Seattles Best coffee

Dress code / no dress code

Traditional diners allowed into Anytime dining / not allowed into Anytime dining

Too much seafood / not enough seafood / just enough seafood

Trays in Buffets / no trays in Buffets

MUTS is wonderful / MUTS is terrible

MUTS only at night / MUTS all day long

 

If you people cannot get onto the same page with each other, how do you expect the cruise lines to figure it out?

 

The same thing happens on the comment cards I read every week:

 

200 say it's too warm onboard / 200 say it's too cold

150 tell us that our food is too spicy / 150 tell us it's too bland

100 tell us the food is too salty / 100 tell us it needs more salt

500 complain about too many smokers / 500 complain there are not enough areas to smoke

200 say the entertainment is only for old people / 200 claim it is only for young people

50 want only salt water in the pools / 50 only want fresh water

 

And the really brilliant ones:

 

"We want smaller ships"

If smaller ships could make a profit, don't you think that somebody would be building them?

 

"The ship is too big"

It's the same size it was when you booked the cruise. Didn't you do your homework?

 

"24 Hour Laundromats"

What about the passengers trying to sleep at 3am in the cabin next to your washing machine? (Put them in an area away from pax cabins, you say? We tried that already. Everybody complained that they had to walk too far.)

 

"24 Hour Fitness"

See above.

 

"Enforce Dress Codes"

Great idea. When we refuse to feed 500 badly dressed pax in the dining room, where do you think they are going to eat? The Buffet? No problem - but we will be forced to send a third of the dining room waiters and a third of the cooks upstairs to take care of those extra 500 buffet diners. Hope you don't have any plans this evening, because it's now going to take 4 hours to serve your dinner.

 

"Carry Coke AND Pepsi products"

No problem. But without an exclusive contract, Coke and Pepsi will each charge us twice as much for their products. Hope you don't mind paying $3.50 for your Pepsi.

 

"Why charge for sodas?"

For the same reasons that McDonalds charges for sodas and crack dealers charge for their products:

Americans are addicted to that garbage and can't stop.

There are massive profits involved.

The public is willing to pay money to drink colored water with carcinogenic chemicals added.

 

"Towel Animals"

Cute. It costs each ship over $100,000 per year to supply the extra towels required, replace the stolen ones, and wash them. Thousands of extra tons of water are required for the additional laundry. Stewards don't have enough time to fold them new every day. They re-cycle the towel animals from other cabins/other cruises. Who was touching/sneezing/coughing/doing God knows what with those towel animals yesterday or last week?

 

"Stop the Nickel and Diming"

Agreed. I would prefer to charge you upfront for everything - whether you use it or not. This stops the complaints and makes my job far easier. It also triples or quadruples the price of your cruise. Be careful what you wish for.

 

"The ship's internet is too slow and too expensive. Lower the prices/ buy more bandwidth"

Lower internet prices = more people logging on = even slower internet.

Buying more bandwidth = more speed = higher costs = higher prices = fewer people logged on = even higher speed.

You can't have it both ways. Either it is cheaper and slower, or more expensive and faster. Or we can leave it alone, and the smarter passengers will use the internet on off hours when it is much faster.