Wow! The pizza place that used to be free is now a la carte. To say the dining packages are BETTER is really stretching it!! It just another way to make sure EVERYONE buys a package! It won't be long until the only things actually included in the cruise fare is your cabin and the buffet......
Thank you for bringing this up, I’ve commented on the other posts about it. Princesses got in the toilet give me themselves completely obsolete to loyal customers. With over 100 CDs on Princess I have one more cruise booked and that is it never again! I will be switching my loyalty to Holland, America, and Azamara, and Seaborn.
Also screws those on longer cruises, where you can only use these Alfredo’s 2x. My cruise is 34 days! So screwed over in another way. I am going standard because I don’t drink!
Might see you onboard your cruise if you are doing the South America cruise in December. But yes agree with you it’s harder for us that are on longer cruises
Totally agreed. If you don't drink then the Plus packages are still not a good deal. I wish they could make a non-drinking package but obviously the cruise industry prefers guests to be inebriated.
I love the marketing, new improved etc. BS. Over the years as a standard cruiser I get less and less. Remember when we both got 150 minutes each free wifi? Lost that, now pay$75 for one connection. We do not drink alcohol (okay one bottle of wine per cruise), so the package is useless to us. Fortunately, non of the pay meals appeal to me (dietary issues) and the main dining room and buffet will meet my needs. Slowly the standard cruiser is being pushed overboard.
Great News for me, mostly. I only ate at the pizza place once. It was OK but not much different from the Lido pizza. It is typically deserted in there so not many people utilized it. Prices coming down for the Salty Dog Pub and Crown Grill! The stupid thing is to give two restaurant visits for Plus package whether you be on a three-day cruise or a 30 day. Who thought that was fair?
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay $15 for hot dogs and burgers. I'm sure they have hot dogs and burgers for free in the buffet. The fact they're charging $15 for a pizza is crazy. The cost of making those pizzas, including labor is around $3 per pizza maybe less. You know they don't hardly put any toppings on the pizza and they don't offer much variety.
@@exploringwitheric I worked in restaurants most of my life and pizza has a very high profit margin. The most expensive thing about a pizza is paying the employee to make it. The crust and sauce cost a few pennies, there's maybe 50 cents worth of cheese and 50 cents for the other toppings. Remember when you buy ingredients in bulk you get them a lot cheaper. Aren't more than half their pizzas just a form of a cheese pizza? Boring.
We always go with Princess standard package and pay as we go for drinks and specialty dining if we decide to use it. We ALWAYS come our way ahead compared to buying Princess Plus or Premier.
For a single cruiser who is paying double for my cabin and selected and paid in full for a standard fare before this change was made----THIS SIMPLY SUCKS-----no more Princess for me and I'm a loyal customer who paid for 11 family members in 4 cabins to AK and am paying for two besides myself on my January cruise (receiving no credit for all those extra fares)---I'm done and Princess is going to miss me!
Honestly this change will make me rethink booking with Princess. Last year I found some food on Princess terrible and the “orange juice” was so watered down they should call it “water juice”. I got terribly sick and missed several excursions. I have been waiting for a year for them to refund some items. Nobody ever responds and when you call I have waited several hours only for the line to disconnect.
I have to admit, I'm a package person, so for me, the casual dining is an added value (for me, I cant speak for anyone else). I was budgeting in my cruise budget for at least 4 meals at the salty dog gastropub at almost 20 dollars a meal, so for it to now be included for me, that's added value and I'll probably go even more (their fries are just to die for). I'm not the biggest fan of pizza so for me the loss of Gigis from the standard fare wasnt a loss but I definitely do feel for those standard cruisers who loved Gigis or Alfredos. The real kicker for me with the new changes (and I feel for the standard cruisers here) is the loss of Ocean Now and free room service. Princess was one of the last holdouts for free room service and this was the end of the free room service. Granted, compared to other lines and their room service charges, Princess is definitely more reasonable (other lines charge 8 dollars per delivery unless you're in a suite) and Princess is charging only 15 for the cruise as I understand it. Not too shabby in comparison, especially if you're cruising in colder climates and want to watch some fjords or glaciers from your cabin while munching on some chicken strips. Compared to free though, I definitely agree its just another thing they're charging extra for. Frankly rather than strong arming people into packages that many people wont use, if the cruise line raised the cost of the cruise by like 50 dollars per cabin, I dont think anyone would blink an eye. Then everyone could have their Gigis Pizza and their free room service.
Just canceled 2 upcoming Princess Cruises. I HATE the nickel and dimming. Enough. Prefer to pay Oceania more but not have to deal with this switheroo practice after you have already booked. Goodbye Princess
Hi Eric, it’s Lori. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to talk to you for a while. What was that Burger or you showed us was that a steak burger or a hamburger? It looked awesome. I hope you’re doing well. I see you’re still cruising a lot.
Not happy about this. We tend to go on longer cruises and we share a pizza at Alfredo’s almost everyday. It’s our favorite. We don’t drink enough for the plus or premier package though we will buy a couple bottles of wine, water and soda for our room. We also, like to play in the casino so they’re still getting our money. I just fill like they’re nickel and diming us. We’ve been very loyal to Princess but I think it’s time to try someone new. By the time everything is added up, we can go on an higher end cruise line.
They’re really not very all inclusive anymore. We used to buy soda package, but now that’s not available. They want you to pay 60-80 per person per day extra.
Something many people don’t know, Princess allows each passenger to bring 6 (possibly 8) cans of non alcoholic beverage on board. It is in their passenger conditions. Please check before you try to do this.
Alfredo's is perhaps the best pizza at sea! And having said that, it should never have, I repeat NEVER been given away free. It was worth the price then, and worth it now. Having worked in the restaurant business for over 25 years, I learned one thing...NEVER EVER start charging for something you used to give away free! No wonder everyone is pissed at Princess!
It has been 5 years since we cruised Princess. Options were "Formal Dining Room Specific time, table and people" or "casual dining" where people not on the "Formal Dining," room could go sit down and eat the same menu as what is served in the "Formal Dining". Both options were included in cruse fare. Then there was "Specialty" where you paid a cover to eat. We reserved in September of 2022, chose the "Plus Package" which had no dining clauses in it, only now to learn that we need to pay $70.00 each traveler to eat at a sit down? Or am I confused? What is the "Main Dining Room"? Is the main dining room what I am referring to as the "Formal Specific Time, table and People" option or is the "Main Dining Room" the dine when you want as long as the dining room is open? This has become too confusing.
Main dining room is the “formal dining “ you remember but it’s not really where people dress up like they used too. That is still included in the cruise fare Then you have speciality dining options think like a steakhouse or upscale seafood restaurant onboard those are extra $35-$39 per person per meal those are excellent restaurants. Now we have the casual dining restaurants aka Alfredo’s pizza that used to be free which now is $14.99 unless you have a package
@@exploringwitheric Bottom line, Eric, a huge number of us simply hate this----we are the ones who don't drink, have no alternate drink packages any more and can no longer get value for what is being offered.
I am cruising on Emerald Princess in September. The deck plans show Planks BBQ and Steamers Seafood on Deck 15 (Lido). This is the deck plans on the app. Do you think these casual dining options are not available on Emerald even though they are on the deck plans?
Princess are being discriminatory against people who don’t want a plus/premier package, or older guests who don’t want to use or have a smart phone! some people want to put their phones in the safe & unwind. Not everybody drinks alcohol, or wants Wi-Fi or fitness classes.etc. Also on Plus you get 2 visits to casual restaurants per voyage….so a 7 day sailing = 2. And a 20 day sailing still = 2. Seems unfair, was a great Princess fan. Now not so much. Think our October sailing will be our last. They should honour what the package was when you booked. Our Plus package has changed twice since booking. I’m sure if we changed something Princess would be claiming cruise contract infringement.
The visits should be adjusted according to the voyage length. Two visits does not justify the expense on a 7 day voyage. I guess the joke is on them when you can eat like a king in the main dining room and not miss a thing.
Agreed but remember, you don't have to participate in any of these extras if you don't want to. Yes Alfredo's used to be free but did you go there often? It is always deserted and most people complain their pizza was no better than the lido deck pizza. Lower cost for Crown Grill is a huge plus for me.
@@allent1034 => We used to go there 4 or 5 times on a 10 day cruise. No more since their forcing the package on us and we don't utilize the package enough to make it worth our money.
The Casual Dining Program is a bust. I will not take part in these changes. I will vote with my money and will book at other cruise lines. I hate to have places on the ship that have EXTRA charges. The beauty of a cruise is that everything is included. Princess has spoiled the experience.
Not sure I agree with you !! Every cruise line charges for different things you will see in the future it’s not that bad of a change it’s just pizza that you can get for free at slice which is basically the same
Way too complicated, who wants to do that much planning and thinking when they're on vacation? Give me Virgin Cruise lines where I can eat at every restaurant for no extra fee. Princes intro price seems reasonable but then they nickle and dime you to death until you're paying more than double what you expected.
You explained this very well. Thank you!
Thank you 🙏 for the kind words much appreciated
Wow! The pizza place that used to be free is now a la carte. To say the dining packages are BETTER is really stretching it!! It just another way to make sure EVERYONE buys a package!
It won't be long until the only things actually included in the cruise fare is your cabin and the buffet......
Great job explaining this hi-jacking of prices by Princess. Thank you for breaking it down.
SEE BOYS AND PADGETT-----WE ARE NOT AS GULLIBLE AS YOU THOUGHT---GREAT DEALS FOR PIZZA, ICE CREAM AND LOWER TIER BOOZE. JUST SHOW THEM THE MONEY!!!!!
Thank you for bringing this up, I’ve commented on the other posts about it. Princesses got in the toilet give me themselves completely obsolete to loyal customers. With over 100 CDs on Princess I have one more cruise booked and that is it never again! I will be switching my loyalty to Holland, America, and Azamara, and Seaborn.
For the price point azamara is basically the same price as princess and it’s a totally better cruise experience
@@exploringwitheric SO WHY ARE YOU PUMPING PRINCESS WITHOUT TAKING ISSUE????????
Also screws those on longer cruises, where you can only use these Alfredo’s 2x. My cruise is 34 days! So screwed over in another way. I am going standard because I don’t drink!
Might see you onboard your cruise if you are doing the South America cruise in December. But yes agree with you it’s harder for us that are on longer cruises
@@exploringwitheric Yes that cruise. Looking forward. Hope we cross paths!
Totally agreed. If you don't drink then the Plus packages are still not a good deal. I wish they could make a non-drinking package but obviously the cruise industry prefers guests to be inebriated.
@@allent1034 WE ARE CATCHING ON, PRINCESS MGMT!
I love the marketing, new improved etc. BS. Over the years as a standard cruiser I get less and less. Remember when we both got 150 minutes each free wifi? Lost that, now pay$75 for one connection. We do not drink alcohol (okay one bottle of wine per cruise), so the package is useless to us. Fortunately, non of the pay meals appeal to me (dietary issues) and the main dining room and buffet will meet my needs. Slowly the standard cruiser is being pushed overboard.
Great News for me, mostly. I only ate at the pizza place once. It was OK but not much different from the Lido pizza. It is typically deserted in there so not many people utilized it. Prices coming down for the Salty Dog Pub and Crown Grill! The stupid thing is to give two restaurant visits for Plus package whether you be on a three-day cruise or a 30 day. Who thought that was fair?
I 1000000000% agree with you on the last part
I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay $15 for hot dogs and burgers. I'm sure they have hot dogs and burgers for free in the buffet. The fact they're charging $15 for a pizza is crazy. The cost of making those pizzas, including labor is around $3 per pizza maybe less. You know they don't hardly put any toppings on the pizza and they don't offer much variety.
@@lennybuttz2162 they offer over eight different options not sure it should not cost $15 dollars
@@exploringwitheric I worked in restaurants most of my life and pizza has a very high profit margin. The most expensive thing about a pizza is paying the employee to make it. The crust and sauce cost a few pennies, there's maybe 50 cents worth of cheese and 50 cents for the other toppings. Remember when you buy ingredients in bulk you get them a lot cheaper. Aren't more than half their pizzas just a form of a cheese pizza? Boring.
With the Plus package, you get two free casual meals, and pay $14.99/meal thereafter.
What is most upsetting is Princess trying to make us believe that we are getting perks when this is just a money maker for Princess.
PRINCESS NEEDS TO SEE THAT WE ARE CATCHING ON, IN LARGE NUMBERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you reviewing the new food on Princess Line. Thank you going on Sky Princess in Feb 2024.
You Welcome 🙏 thanks for stopping by
We always go with Princess standard package and pay as we go for drinks and specialty dining if we decide to use it. We ALWAYS come our way ahead compared to buying Princess Plus or Premier.
Just like cruising everything is not for everyone
We all know the price of food has risen drastically. Couple that with how people pig out on cruises it is no wonder Princess has retooled prices.
They always seem to make these changes AFTER I have sent my payments in ...
For a single cruiser who is paying double for my cabin and selected and paid in full for a standard fare before this change was made----THIS SIMPLY SUCKS-----no more Princess for me and I'm a loyal customer who paid for 11 family members in 4 cabins to AK and am paying for two besides myself on my January cruise (receiving no credit for all those extra fares)---I'm done and Princess is going to miss me!
Honestly this change will make me rethink booking with Princess. Last year I found some food on Princess terrible and the “orange juice” was so watered down they should call it “water juice”. I got terribly sick and missed several excursions. I have been waiting for a year for them to refund some items. Nobody ever responds and when you call I have waited several hours only for the line to disconnect.
So according to that four tier , the pizza on deck is still free ?
Yes that’s correct 😊
Casual dining is included, no cover charge, with the Premiere Package
I have to admit, I'm a package person, so for me, the casual dining is an added value (for me, I cant speak for anyone else). I was budgeting in my cruise budget for at least 4 meals at the salty dog gastropub at almost 20 dollars a meal, so for it to now be included for me, that's added value and I'll probably go even more (their fries are just to die for). I'm not the biggest fan of pizza so for me the loss of Gigis from the standard fare wasnt a loss but I definitely do feel for those standard cruisers who loved Gigis or Alfredos.
The real kicker for me with the new changes (and I feel for the standard cruisers here) is the loss of Ocean Now and free room service. Princess was one of the last holdouts for free room service and this was the end of the free room service. Granted, compared to other lines and their room service charges, Princess is definitely more reasonable (other lines charge 8 dollars per delivery unless you're in a suite) and Princess is charging only 15 for the cruise as I understand it. Not too shabby in comparison, especially if you're cruising in colder climates and want to watch some fjords or glaciers from your cabin while munching on some chicken strips. Compared to free though, I definitely agree its just another thing they're charging extra for.
Frankly rather than strong arming people into packages that many people wont use, if the cruise line raised the cost of the cruise by like 50 dollars per cabin, I dont think anyone would blink an eye. Then everyone could have their Gigis Pizza and their free room service.
Princess is screwing existing customers with these changes. Shame on them!!!!
YEP, WE ARE CATCHING ON--------THEY WILL RUE THE DAY THEY LANDED ON THIS SCHEME.
They dropped Princess into the value category. Pizza is super cheap.
So, Alfredo's will not be complementary anymore, but all the other casual dining eateries are coming down in price. Thank you.
Yes that’s correct like salty dog pub used to be $18
The graphics are wrong here. Shows Alfredos in both categories. Should be in the second one.
The photos showed what it used to be like with the two tier system and now the new 4 tier system
Just canceled 2 upcoming Princess Cruises. I HATE the nickel and dimming. Enough.
Prefer to pay Oceania more but not have to deal with this switheroo practice after you have already booked.
Goodbye Princess
Hi Eric, it’s Lori. I’m sorry I haven’t been able to talk to you for a while. What was that Burger or you showed us was that a steak burger or a hamburger? It looked awesome. I hope you’re doing well. I see you’re still cruising a lot.
Hi there Lori how are you doing ?? It’s more like a steak burger ground ribeye and short rib patty really good
Not happy about this. We tend to go on longer cruises and we share a pizza at Alfredo’s almost everyday. It’s our favorite. We don’t drink enough for the plus or premier package though we will buy a couple bottles of wine, water and soda for our room. We also, like to play in the casino so they’re still getting our money. I just fill like they’re nickel and diming us. We’ve been very loyal to Princess but I think it’s time to try someone new. By the time everything is added up, we can go on an higher end cruise line.
I agree with that the higher end cruises are becoming more of a bigger deal if you think about it
ANOTHER WISE MALCONTENT!
Is it 2 per week or 2 no matter how long your cruise is?
Sadly it’s only 2 per cruise no matter how long the cruise is
They’re really not very all inclusive anymore. We used to buy soda package, but now that’s not available. They want you to pay 60-80 per person per day extra.
It has value for some people better than other cruise lines
Something many people don’t know, Princess allows each passenger to bring 6 (possibly 8) cans of non alcoholic beverage on board. It is in their passenger conditions. Please check before you try to do this.
I just checked. You can bring up to 12 cans of soda, sealed and in your carryon bags. You can only do this on embarkation day.
Grand Princess casual dining will only be Alfredo's Reduced menu (3 course) or Vines (veg platter, meat platter, and a chocolate). Is this correct?
Yes that’s correct
Alfredo's is perhaps the best pizza at sea! And having said that, it should never have, I repeat NEVER been given away free. It was worth the price then, and worth it now. Having worked in the restaurant business for over 25 years, I learned one thing...NEVER EVER start charging for something you used to give away free! No wonder everyone is pissed at Princess!
It has been 5 years since we cruised Princess. Options were "Formal Dining Room Specific time, table and people" or "casual dining" where people not on the "Formal Dining," room could go sit down and eat the same menu as what is served in the "Formal Dining". Both options were included in cruse fare. Then there was "Specialty" where you paid a cover to eat. We reserved in September of 2022, chose the "Plus Package" which had no dining clauses in it, only now to learn that we need to pay $70.00 each traveler to eat at a sit down? Or am I confused? What is the "Main Dining Room"? Is the main dining room what I am referring to as the "Formal Specific Time, table and People" option or is the "Main Dining Room" the dine when you want as long as the dining room is open? This has become too confusing.
Main dining room is the “formal dining “ you remember but it’s not really where people dress up like they used too. That is still included in the cruise fare
Then you have speciality dining options think like a steakhouse or upscale seafood restaurant onboard those are extra $35-$39 per person per meal those are excellent restaurants.
Now we have the casual dining restaurants aka Alfredo’s pizza that used to be free which now is $14.99 unless you have a package
@@exploringwitheric Bottom line, Eric, a huge number of us simply hate this----we are the ones who don't drink, have no alternate drink packages any more and can no longer get value for what is being offered.
I am cruising on Emerald Princess in September. The deck plans show Planks BBQ and Steamers Seafood on Deck 15 (Lido). This is the deck plans on the app. Do you think these casual dining options are not available on Emerald even though they are on the deck plans?
Are you seeing on the deck plans on the app but I don’t seem them listed on any deck plans on the princess site
I see that they were on the ship before but looking on the princess site it has no mention of it
Yes I see them on the app
@@Francine-gc2re interesting maybe they are opening them back up on the ship 🚢 I will look it to this
@@exploringwitheric I did ask on the chat just now on their website and she said yes they are on deck 15.
Check the prices! It’s way more for specialty dinning now! 3/10/2024
well once again I will be cancelling my gratuities to cover the extra costs on my next cruise with Princess booked for May 24
Do they let you canceling gratuities ? I m going for September, 24. Please let me know how you cancel the gratuities. Thanks
@@trangtran-vb2bn yes no problem go to guest services desk 2nd day of cruise and ask for them to be removed
Princess are being discriminatory against people who don’t want a plus/premier package, or older guests who don’t want to use or have a smart phone! some people want to put their phones in the safe & unwind. Not everybody drinks alcohol, or wants Wi-Fi or fitness classes.etc. Also on Plus you get 2 visits to casual restaurants per voyage….so a 7 day sailing = 2. And a 20 day sailing still = 2.
Seems unfair, was a great Princess fan. Now not so much. Think our October sailing will be our last. They should honour what the package was when you booked. Our Plus package has changed twice since booking. I’m sure if we changed something Princess would be claiming cruise contract infringement.
The visits should be adjusted according to the voyage length. Two visits does not justify the expense on a 7 day voyage. I guess the joke is on them when you can eat like a king in the main dining room and not miss a thing.
Agreed but remember, you don't have to participate in any of these extras if you don't want to. Yes Alfredo's used to be free but did you go there often? It is always deserted and most people complain their pizza was no better than the lido deck pizza. Lower cost for Crown Grill is a huge plus for me.
@@allent1034 => We used to go there 4 or 5 times on a 10 day cruise. No more since their forcing the package on us and we don't utilize the package enough to make it worth our money.
And can you tell me where Alfredo's or Gigi's is on the Caribbean Princess?
None on the Caribbean sadly
Do have slice thou
Went Alfredo’s on last cruise service was so Slow,Slow,Slow and not that good when it was included!
The Casual Dining Program is a bust. I will not take part in these changes. I will vote with my money and will book at other cruise lines. I hate to have places on the ship that have EXTRA charges. The beauty of a cruise is that everything is included. Princess has spoiled the experience.
Not sure I agree with you !! Every cruise line charges for different things you will see in the future it’s not that bad of a change it’s just pizza that you can get for free at slice which is basically the same
THEIR MANAGEMENT HAS SHOT THE LINE IN THE FOOT THINKING THE PUBLIC WOULD PERCEIVE VALUED ADD---NOPE, JUST PROFIT ADDED.
I'll stick with the complimentary stuff. No more Alfredo's/Cici's.
Me as well slice pizza up on the lido deck is good as well and free
I'm thinking Alfredo's will be a ghost town, just in time for Halloween!
Way too complicated, who wants to do that much planning and thinking when they're on vacation? Give me Virgin Cruise lines where I can eat at every restaurant for no extra fee. Princes intro price seems reasonable but then they nickle and dime you to death until you're paying more than double what you expected.
This sucks. I’m sorry but common man.