That nickel and dime vibe would drive me crazy, especially on a cruise that’s already expensive. Charging for Starbucks when you have a beverage package, measuring wifi in minutes, and making water bottle filling feel like an upsell is wild in 2025.
The food part is the biggest red flag though. Bad specialty dining is one thing, but when the buffet and casual spots are also borderline inedible, that’s hard to excuse. Grey churrasco beef and bad hibachi fried rice is not what anyone signs up for on vacation. Princess food isn’t perfect, but it’s usually at least solid and predictable.
Pride of America always gets a bit of a pass because the Hawaii itinerary is unique, but this really sounds like you’re paying a lot and getting less across the board. Renting cars and doing your own thing in port was probably the smartest move.
Good reminder that switching lines can be a shock when you’re used to a certain baseline.
0