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Sunbeds on the decks are almost touching each other. Wine is served to you already in a glass and not by a sommelier. Evening meal portions are very small and the whole meal is rushed.
The Crown Princess Ship Offers Good Entertainment Options
It definitely is a bottomless money pit - as long as you keep throwing money into it. The math for plus or premium just doesn't work for us. We also don't spend much on board either, in fact I refer to us as a couple of freeloaders. We don't do many excursions, and we don't do specialty dining much either.
Crown Princess Roll Calls
A little research prior to booking would have been ideal. I have a feeling that you’re convinced that you won’t enjoy yourself. You already feel cheated and disappointed. Seasoned cruisers understand the importance of being flexible. Itineraries change all the time and you have to expect the unexpected when you choose to cruise.
10 of 19,620 Princess Cruise Reviews
Cruising is a great experience and IMO value for money whatever way you cut it but only if you do it your way and not the cruise line's way! Spend what you want to spend and no more and if that doesn't make cruising really attractive to you then best not to cruise IMO. Many, many people go in cruises every year and don’t buy anything more than the basic travel and they have a wonderful time. They aren’t worried about what other people on the ship get that they don’t get. Plenty of people do it on the cheap, don't drink and stick to the included offers you won't feel out of place and not fitting in.
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I just can't wrap my head about how much do you actually need to spend before it actually feels like a care free all-inclusive experience, which it certainly doesn't feel like it at the moment, it's like there's a toll booth at every turn. They also hold you to ransom with the deposit by the "You want to cancel? sure, we have pocketed your £600"...so long sucker, so I am hanging in there in the hope that something good happens, although that's not looking too hopeful right now. Crown Princess deck plans include six room-only decks (Emerald, Dolphin, Caribe, Baja, Aloha and Riviera), four of which are sandwiched between other room-only decks, allowing for quiet nights in a large percentage of the cabins.
Plenty of included food so all the paid options are optional. In the US Princess has fully refundable deposits most of the time. Now, other lines like X and RCI do not usually have refundable deposits, unless you pay a lot more for it. IMHO cruises are exceptional value for money compared with land based holidays. I would recommend canceling as I think your attitude isn’t likely to improve.
Fellow Passengers
I never buy anything from the gift shops. With that said, there is no way for you to avoid adding some expense to this trip. As for the cost to get to the ship, that shouldn't be a surprise to you. Cruising can often be pretty cheap if you want it to be but you have to work at making it cheap. It can be very easy to let the dollars mount as you upgrade cabins, buy packages, add excursions etc.
It would be nice if you added location to your profile, but I had not read very many words at all before realizing you are from UK. It is unfortunate the travel rules there - or one PCL takes advantage of or has a contrary policy - mean your deposits are non-refundable. You yourself has said this experience has tainted the entire cruise for you. It won't get better, sounds like you will just dwell on it and especially if anything else goes wrong between now and then. I think based on your post, you should cancel and find another vacation.
Related Cruises
We would not cruise with Princess again. Cruising is not for everyone and if you decide not to cruise then that is a perfectly good decision for you. For some people they only need the bare basics of accommodation, food, water and entertainment to make a cruise a wonderful holiday especially if the stops are places they want to visit. You normally don't need to spend a small fortune on excursions... We normally just visit by foot or local bus/train. However, others want the extras of drinks packages, wifi, and many love the ship excursions or health spa services, private cabanas, speciality dining.
Taxes, fees and port expenses not included. Rates are in USD and valid for US and Canadian residents only. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. We loved how easy it always was to find a seat for nighttime shows, a deck lounger near the pool, a spot to sit at the buffet restaurant (even during peak times) or to get a reservation at one of the specialty restaurants. The "Just get the Plus package" advice pushes the costs to £7k, not a small figure for any family and especially during a cost of living crisis, and that's before shore excursions or anything else.
A shame though as I think you and your family will get hooked on cruising if you did give it a try. I just need someone to change my mind before I hit the cancel button....be gentle. Read thousands of Princess Cruise Reviews from cruisers like you.
For me, how much you spend depends on the kind of holiday you want to have. Yes, Princess wants you to spend more but they are a business... Our job, as customers if you like, is to only spend what we are happy spending.
You can sell the cruise for reasonable admin fees if you can find someone to buy it. As for moving forward there are options in the UK as the package regulations. What surprises me is you seem to feel some of this is a surprise and a money grab.
But you really don't need all that stuff to have a good time. There are plenty of cruisers who stick to the standard fare, don't eat at the specialty restaurants, don't drink alcohol, and don't purchase shore excursions directly through Princess. Personally, I don't eat at the specialty restaurants, have my alcoholic drinks at bars while in port, and book my shore excursions independently.
If you are one of those people, go on the ship and enjoy it. If you are NOT one of those people — spend more or DO NOT GO. Your current view of your vacation will bring you only misery. Your current attitude will NEVER let you enjoy this cruise because you will always believe someone is out to steal your money and everyone on the ship will have more than you.
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