The more I read about other lines, the more I like Princess

[abbydancer2003]

My husband refers to the new RCI ship as "Behemoth of the Seas", and wanted to know if there were golf carts to drive people around.

 

Our discussion and conclusion is that we cruise because we like the traditional cruise experience - long dinners with our regular waiters and tablemates - walking the promenade deck and watching the ocean - sitting in the patassaire and drinking coffee (even at 1.00 a cup) and mostly dancing every night - where else can you ballroom dance to live music every night?

 

If I want to ice skate I'll go to a skating rink (which I do - figure skating is my other hobby).

 

If I want the entertainment of Disneyworld, I'll go to Disneyworld (oh, wait I am going in September).

 

And I'll continue to enjoy relaxing on my next cruise.

[Go-Bucks!]

The Ice Bar. Billed as the first true ice bar at sea, the frozen chamber (illustration above) will feature a bar, walls, tables, stools, glasses and life-size sculptures all made of ice. The exclusive venue will hold just 25 passengers at a time who will be given fur coats, gloves and hats to keep warm (the rooms temperature will not rise above 17 degrees).

 

Come to Saskatchewan in January...we will let you in free:D

 

 

Isn't that the truth!! :D It's bad enough that many of us live where there's a cold, snowy winter, but the last place I want to spend my vacation is in a freezer! Give me warm, balmy, and breezy.

[iancal]

We've been on Princess, HAL, Celebrity, RCL, NCL, and Crystal . We liked them all and never had a bad one. But we liked them for different reasons. We have also found a difference between ships of the same cruise line, and between crews on those ships. We like Princess but there is so much choice out there at the moment. We are trying to snag a deal on Oceana but these are hard to come by.

[jean s]

We have been on a number of cruises but we always come back to Princess. We don't need rock climbing, an ice bar or a bowling alley. The atmosphere, the food, the entertainment and most importantly the people on Princess are perfect for us. Can't wait for our next cruise in February.

[isujim]

Of all the mainstream lines (from what I read) they tend to hold on or appreciate a few of the remaing cruising traditions that other lines are letting go. Trust me that many RC cruisers are looking for alternatives right now........we are coming back to Princess for our second cruise with them........I hope they remain true as long as they can to many cruising traditions and don't completely go the way of floating resorts at sea. I understand the temptation and the increased profitability that would provide them as a company........but hope they hold out as long as they can.

 

I appreciate them for that alone.

[jpg1747]

Keep it sweet and simple and I'm a happy camper. I don't need, want or use all the fancy add-ons. Give me a cabin, good food, a couple of nice bars, a casino, a few shows, a little shopping area, and a place to sit and read and I'm good. OK, MUTS is a nice new thing, but other than that ..... feh!

[xSoCalGal]

I lived in New England for 5 years, and I cannot imagine paying for the privilege of sitting in a 17-degree room! LOL

[grandmato4]

As long as so many people are willing to pay for extras, the cruiselines are going to keep rolling them out. My opinion only, and I am after all the person who thinks the specialty restaurants are an unnecessary extra.

 

I very much share your thinking. I cant imagine paying extra to go to one of the specialty restaurants I see that as only encouraging the decline of food in the regular dining rooms.

 

The idea of an icebar is certainly entertaining ;) but won't be one place we'd ever be visiting. We cruise to get out of the 17 degree temps, certainly would never be paying extra to spend time in them while cruising !!

[Tatka]

I, for one, actually enjoy NCL over the experiences I've had with Princess. I've had better service experiences with NCL and the food has been pretty much even with Princess.

 

Let's face it, all of them are pretty much mainline cruises that don't differ a lot. I believe that the ship and itinerary makes the difference, not line.

 

On which ships?

 

We had nice experiences on both, but Princess (Caribbean in this case) was a clear winner over NCL Sun and Spirit because it offered two adult only pools.. Spirit had very nice kids area in the aft, but somehow many kids decided that it's not enough making common pool and hot tubs looking like can of sardines. ;)

 

Also with both cruises in the peak of school vacation somehow huge CB had 400-500 kids, while Spirit had 800! :eek:

 

I wouldn't even go into service from state room attendants, NCL was clearly understaffed! Our room was not made until 1-2 pm every single day and till 9:30-10:00 every single evening even though we put card "Please make up my room".

 

We had wonderfull experience on Spirit/Sun, but it was despite all of the problems... ;)

 

Also how can you compare boring lunch buffet on NCL with wonderfull seafood and other selections on Princess?

[pyrogy]

Cruise line loyalty continues to amaze me. As with every single other product or service in the world, a variety of choices and experiences is the way things should be. Despite the loyalties of the posters on this thread and many others, the fact remains that all of the mainstream cruise lines are more similar than different. For RCI or NCL to introduce innovations is ultimately good for everyone as the cruise experience continues to refine and improve. At the same time, the traditional cruise experience still exists if you look for it. Its all about choice and variety.

[flvol77]

I think the whole ship should be for everyone to enjoy, it bothers me to have so many places that now require cover charges to enjoy. I feel the same way about the sanctuary (although if there were tons of kids on board I would use it!) and also the pay dining, although I understand why they have to charge.

 

That NCL article is just getting silly though, too many venues - I think they will have to phase them out once the novelty wears off and no one uses them.

 

Also, I'm not trying to knock the other lines, I think new innovations are important to keep passengers returning and attract new ones, but none on the NCL list appeal to me in particular.

 

Very true and one of the main reasons we disliked NCL.

[flvol77]

Cruise line loyalty continues to amaze me. As with every single other product or service in the world, a variety of choices and experiences is the way things should be. Despite the loyalties of the posters on this thread and many others, the fact remains that all of the mainstream cruise lines are more similar than different. For RCI or NCL to introduce innovations is ultimately good for everyone as the cruise experience continues to refine and improve. At the same time, the traditional cruise experience still exists if you look for it. Its all about choice and variety.

 

Why does it amaze you?

 

Same reason people prefer Coca-Cola to Pepsi and will not eat at Pepsi restaurants. Ford over Chevy and the list could go on forever.

 

People are creatures of habit and when they find something they are comfortable with they gravitate back to it because they want to enjoy themselves and spend their money in a way that they know will provide them with the most enjoyment for their money. (in the case of cruising)

[Umbarger]

Between bowling alleys, ice skating and rock climbing, new botox treatments and now this?

 

 

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I just want a nice atmosphere, good food & service, interesting ports - is there something wrong with me? :rolleyes:

 

Just like a cruise line that offers an adult only santuary for extra $$??