First Timer with LOTS of questions

We're taking our first cruise (Princess Crown) this summer, and I've been spending many happy hours reading all over these threads! However, I still have a few questions that I haven't been able to find the answers to. Please help if you can!

We chose "any time" dining, rather than traditional. It was a hard choice, but ultimately we thought we'd prefer the flexibility. Hoping we aren't missing out on anything too fabulous! The menus are the same for both, right? And formal night will be equally observed by both, right?

I'm contemplating the ultimate soda package, which is about $55 for the 7-day cruise. I don't drink anything with alcohol, but I love virgin margaritas, pina coladas, etc. I'm also a little picky about water. We have great tap water at home, but the water at most hotels tastes awful to me. Is the water good on a cruise? And how much do bottled water and virgin drinks cost? I'm trying to figure out if I'll really spend $8/day on these drinks, making the package a good deal for me.

Is it easy to tell what is free/included on the cruise, and what is going to be an extra charge? I mean, are there signs to indicate?

Final question (for now!) - On a Princess cruise, is the cover charge at a specialty restaurant the total cost of the food and admission? In other words, if Sabatini's has a cover charge of $25, is that just to get in or is it the total cost, including the price of your meal? Do specialty restaurants need tips, or are they included in the gratuity paid on the whole cruise?

THANK YOU for any answers & advice! I'm so excited, but also a little nervous that there seems to be a lot to figure out, and I'd like to make as few mis-steps as possible. :)

The MDR menus will be identical in the Traditional and Anytime dining rooms. The evening dress code applies to both (but nowhere else on the ship). Strictly based on anecdotal evidence you will likely see more enthusiastic participation in Formal Nights in the Traditional Dining rooms. However enforcement is purely random; you may find yourself seated with or next to someone not participating at all, as it is rare someone is denied admission to the dining room if only Smart Casual on Formal night.

The $8.05/day cost of the Soda and More package is easily eclipsed. Most mocktails are $5.75, canned sodas are $2.30 (all prices above include the 15% added gratuity). Bottled water is not included in the package. You can pre-purchase twelve half-liter bottles of water for $6.90. This must be ordered through the cruise personalizer, bottled water is only sold singly on board. But many people bring refillable water bottles to carry around and take ashore, refilling and keeping them in their cabin fridge.

All you are required to pay at the specialty restaurants is the cover charge; you may then order as much as you care to from the menu. Beverages extra, of course. The servers are all part of the tipping pool so any additional tip is totally up to you; there will be a space to write one on the chit.

(Welcome to Cruise Critic and I'm sure you will enjoy your first Princess cruise)

Welcome! And congrats on your first cruse. You only get one first, enjoy!

Traditional and AnyTime dining have Dame menus and same dress code. Similar experience in both. Menus are posted daily outside the dining rooms and also usually in the buffet somewhere to peruse for that evening. Order as many items as you like, and if you don't like something or its prepared not to your liking, be sure to let your waiter know so they can remedy the situation.

Soda and More includes non-alcoholic beverages except for bottled water - that's not included in it for whatever reason. Non-alcoholic cocktails like virgin Pina Colada is around $5-6us. Bottled water runs $3-5 depending on size of bottle. Soda is $2. Specialty coffees run around $2.95-4.95 or so. Tap water is perfectly great to drink and tastes fine, better than some hotels - just depends on your preference. You can pre-order a bottled water package for a very reasonable cost, but has to be pre-ordered. Or bring a case of water onboard.

Anything that has an extra charge will be clearly marked. You can't accidentally do something that costs extra, costs are up front and marked.

Specialty dining cost is all there is. Theoretically it covers cover charge, meal and tip. You can order as much as you like, within reason of course. Many add an extra tip if service is particularly good. Up to you.

Have a wonderful time and ask all the questions you like. Happy sails!

We're taking our first cruise (Princess Crown) this summer, and I've been spending many happy hours reading all over these threads! However, I still have a few questions that I haven't been able to find the answers to. Please help if you can!

 

Congrats on the Crown! We've been on her four times over the last few months. We love the ship and love the crew, especially some of the bar stewards.

 

We chose "any time" dining, rather than traditional. It was a hard choice, but ultimately we thought we'd prefer the flexibility. Hoping we aren't missing out on anything too fabulous! The menus are the same for both, right? And formal night will be equally observed by both, right?

 

Menus are the same, formal nights are observed.

 

I'm contemplating the ultimate soda package, which is about $55 for the 7-day cruise. I don't drink anything with alcohol, but I love virgin margaritas, pina coladas, etc. I'm also a little picky about water. We have great tap water at home, but the water at most hotels tastes awful to me. Is the water good on a cruise? And how much do bottled water and virgin drinks cost? I'm trying to figure out if I'll really spend $8/day on these drinks, making the package a good deal for me.

 

Water tastes great on board to me. Certainly better than hotel water. If looking to cut drink costs without buying a package there are also two different happy hours per day. One is from 3:00-4:00 in the Wheelhouse Bar and the other is in the evening in Club Fusion. It's buy one, get one for a dollar. Don't know specific costs of bottled water and virgin drinks as we don't drink either.

 

Is it easy to tell what is free/included on the cruise, and what is going to be an extra charge? I mean, are there signs to indicate?

 

There will be daily automatic gratuity charges, one per person added to your account each night. A good rule of thumb about additional costs - if you are asked for your card, there will be a charge. Be wary of when offered drinks at dinner or on deck. Ask if there is a charge before saying yes.

 

Final question (for now!) - On a Princess cruise, is the cover charge at a specialty restaurant the total cost of the food and admission? In other words, if Sabatini's has a cover charge of $25, is that just to get in or is it the total cost, including the price of your meal? Do specialty restaurants need tips, or are they included in the gratuity paid on the whole cruise?

 

Food is included in the cover charge. When given the bill at the end of the meal there will be a gratuity line. Up to you whether to add it, but we always do.

 

THANK YOU for any answers & advice! I'm so excited, but also a little nervous that there seems to be a lot to figure out, and I'd like to make as few mis-steps as possible. :)

 

One more thing - you will get a newsletter of sorts each day of the cruise listing the day's activities, sales, dining locations, etc. If you look under my signature I have a link called "Princess Patters". There you can find those papers from a couple weeks back on the Crown. Might be worth a look.

Enjoy your first cruise. After one you'll be hooked!

Princess has a great bottled water deal, pre cruise only. You can buy 12 bottles of water for $6. They'll be in your cabin when you board. It's in your cruise personalizer under the drink package section. You can get more than one, so you could get 24 bottles for $12. Great deal!

The water on the ship is as pure or purer than bottled water. Hotel water comes from city or town sources as is most bottled water. Some people say they prefer bottled water but I've never been able to tell the difference. I just fill a bottle or glass from the tap and add ice. You'll have a small refrigerator in the cabin and your steward will fill it with ice every day.

You've paid for everything really. Your fare includes your accommodation, transport between ports and all your meals and basic beverages, transfers to the pier where tenders are involved, exercise classes, all onboard entertainment, enrichment and port lectures, even trivia sessions!

If you want extras like alcohol and specialty dining, or spa treatments then you can expect to pay. The best thing about cruising is that you've already paid up front for almost everything.

One last thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is gambling. Any play in the casino or playing bingo has an additional cost. I know this seems obvious, but on our last cruise one lady was shocked there was a charge for bingo.

Trivia is free.

I I'm also a little picky about water. We have great tap water at home, but the water at most hotels tastes awful to me. Is the water good on a cruise?

 

THANK YOU for any answers & advice! I'm so excited, but also a little nervous that there seems to be a lot to figure out, and I'd like to make as few mis-steps as possible. :)

Ahhh remembering my first cruise, don't worry, when you return you'll be answering questions for others, and probably itching to book your next cruise. I strongly recommend getting the future those credit while onboard, if you like Princess and your experience which I'm sure you will!

As for water, my #1 tip is Brita Bottles. $7 online or found at box stores. They have filters in them. We use them in the room so we have water at night and don't have to run to the buffet, fill with ice and water from the bathroom sink. The filter in the cap ensures we have good tasting water. And it's great for when you go on excursions, you can refill at any water fountain with little worries.

The water on the ship is highly purified though, so you can feel safe drinking it, I can't remember any bad taste.

WHile people have helpfully quoted a can of sode at $2 (total $2.30 with automatic gratuity), canned soda is NOT part of the package. The package includes only fountain serve coke products and cans of root beer (as well as the mocktails, hot chocolate, etc). Only the All Inclusive Beverage Package includes cans of soda. Our experience--the Mocktails on the menu are very small. If you go "off menu" and order something like a virgin Pina, you get a much larger serving. Guess it doesn't matter because you can get many of them if you like something, but I found it curious.

If something has an extra cost, you'll have to sign a charge slip for it. Yes, it is easy to tell.

I have a question. Are traditional and anytime dining in same dining room or do you have one dining room for each; and thus you must eat only in this dining room? On NCL their freestyle dining allowed you to eat anytime in any dining room. Is this the same on Princess? Thanks

I have a question. Are traditional and anytime dining in same dining room or do you have one dining room for each; and thus you must eat only in this dining room? On NCL their freestyle dining allowed you to eat anytime in any dining room. Is this the same on Princess? Thanks

There is one dining room (usually on deck 6 aft) set aside as a full-time traditional dining room for early and late seatings. One other dining room (usually deck 5 midship) has an early traditional dining set around 5:30pm and then it turns into an anytime dining room. It all depends on how many people choose traditional vs anytime.

For almost everything with a charge, it is clearly marked, so it is hard to get into trouble. But I can think of one exception: waiters walking around with trays of drinks and looking to hand you one. Occasionally these may be free, such as a glass of champagne at the Champagne Waterfall, but generally they are not. It is mostly seen at an event, such as sail away party or an evening deck party. But I have been on many cruises and have been surprised a few times myself, handed a drink and taken a sip and then been asked for my card. At that point, it's mine. So, just be careful and feel free to ask a waiter if there is a charge before accepting a drink.

Also, there may be a bottle of "fancy" water in your cabin that will have a tag on it showing the cost.

However, if you're tired and thirsty when you get on board (not to mention excited and looking at everything and nothing all at the same time!!) you could miss the tag and open the bottle.

Cabin steward accounts for any/all "tagged" beverages in the cabin so they can get charged to you.

WHile people have helpfully quoted a can of sode at $2 (total $2.30 with automatic gratuity)' date=' canned soda is NOT part of the package. The package includes only fountain serve coke products and cans of root beer (as well as the mocktails, hot chocolate, etc). Only the All Inclusive Beverage Package includes cans of soda. Our experience--the Mocktails on the menu are very small. If you go "off menu" and order something like a virgin Pina, you get a much larger serving. Guess it doesn't matter because you can get many of them if you like something, but I found it curious.

 

 

 

If something has an extra cost, you'll have to sign a charge slip for it. Yes, it is easy to tell.[/quote']If you have a soda package you will get your soft drink from the bar gun. Without a package, when you buy a soft drink for $2.30 you get a can and and a glass with ice, not soft drink from the bar gun. If you want to determine if the soda package is worth it, you compare the $8.05/day cost for the soda and more package to the $2.30 cost of a can (or the $4.60/day cost? for the soda only package if it is still offered).

I'm also a little picky about water. We have great tap water at home, but the water at most hotels tastes awful to me. Is the water good on a cruise?

 

 

My husband is kind of a "water nerd". He was intrigued by the ship's desalinization and purifying systems, so he brought his water tester aboard (I told you, "water nerd"). The ship's tap water tested out at close to zero parts per million. Our reverse-osmosis system at home comes in at about five parts per million with a spanking-clean filter.

In other words, the water is good on a cruise!

>> If looking to cut drink costs without buying a package there are also two different happy hours per day. One is from 3:00-4:00 in the Wheelhouse Bar and the other is in the evening in Club Fusion. It's buy one, get one for a dollar. <<

I wasn't aware of this (our first Princess criose as well). What is included in these happy hour prices? All beer and mixed drinks? Specialty drinks?

Thanks

EDIT - For 1st timers with Princess is there one evening where drinks and apps are free for an hour or so?

One thing not mentioned is making phone calls or sending emails/text messages while on the ship.

There are alot of threads on this subject. Just do a search. Basically, though, there are usually roaming charges from your cell provider and a surcharge from Princess for calls & texts. The internet is notoriously ssss...lll...ooo...www and Princess charges per minute. They offer packages minutes that are not included in you cruise fares.

Most cruisers shut off the cell phones or at least switch to Airplane Mode during the cruise.

An option is that most ports have free wifi somewhere near where the ship is docked. Check the port threads here on CruiseCritic. Do a search or ask the question. Most of the crew use these port hotspots so ask them where to go.

You've come to the right place for questions and to help you prepare. Enjoy your cruise.

>> If looking to cut drink costs without buying a package there are also two different happy hours per day. One is from 3:00-4:00 in the Wheelhouse Bar and the other is in the evening in Club Fusion. It's buy one, get one for a dollar. <<

 

I wasn't aware of this (our first Princess criose as well). What is included in these happy hour prices? All beer and mixed drinks? Specialty drinks?

Thanks

 

EDIT - For 1st timers with Princess is there one evening where drinks and apps are free for an hour or so?

All drinks are covered by this offer at 2 for $1 dollar, ie first drink full price second drink one dollar, has to be same drink. Many folks use this a time to "stock up" on beers or sodas or bottles of water or glasses of wine or whatnot to take back to the room with them also. Works well for soda and beer especially, the bartenders will not open them if you don't want them to.

The champagne waterfall evening has free "champagne" and a few other mostly juice cocktails available in the atrium during the event along with small appetizers such as cake pops and small popovers, etc. The "champagne" is rough, but drinkable, barely. Waiters are circulating with trays, just have one, or two.

Cruising friends, this SO helpful! Thank you so much for the answers and advice given so far!

Here's another question:

One of the biggest reasons we chose Princess is their smoking policy. I have asthma and am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, beyond just thinking it smells terrible. Our cabin is on the Aloha deck. There's no way smoke from smoking areas could infiltrate the hallways and our room, is there? I looked on the Crown deck maps, and found the casino and cigar lounge, but it doesn't show where the other smoking areas on the ship are found - and I'm really hoping there isn't one near our cabin.

All drinks are covered by this offer at 2 for $1 dollar, ie first drink full price second drink one dollar, has to be same drink. Many folks use this a time to "stock up" on beers or sodas or bottles of water or glasses of wine or whatnot to take back to the room with them also. Works well for soda and beer especially, the bartenders will not open them if you don't want them to.

The champagne waterfall evening has free "champagne" and a few other mostly juice cocktails available in the atrium during the event along with small appetizers such as cake pops and small popovers, etc. The "champagne" is rough, but drinkable, barely. Waiters are circulating with trays, just have one, or two.

The "champagne" is rough, but drinkable, barely. You said it! I'm not a fan of champagne anyway and that was rough! Almost had to spit it out!:D

Crown Princess is a great ship!

Be sure to go to the IC (International Café) which is open 24 hours a day for a light meal or a tasty snack.

Enjoy your cruise! :)

Cruising friends, this SO helpful! Thank you so much for the answers and advice given so far!

 

Here's another question:

One of the biggest reasons we chose Princess is their smoking policy. I have asthma and am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, beyond just thinking it smells terrible. Our cabin is on the Aloha deck. There's no way smoke from smoking areas could infiltrate the hallways and our room, is there? I looked on the Crown deck maps, and found the casino and cigar lounge, but it doesn't show where the other smoking areas on the ship are found - and I'm really hoping there isn't one near our cabin.

The outdoor smoking areas will be listed in the first day's Princess Patter so you will know where to avoid. Likely among them will be: Starboard side of the Promenade Deck (deck 7); near Tradewinds Bar (Deck 16) and the Aft of Deck 17. Subject to additions or changes so again be sure to read the Patter. Should not have any effect on Deck 11 (you didn't say if you have a balcony, and whether port or starboard).

WHile people have helpfully quoted a can of sode at $2 (total $2.30 with automatic gratuity)' date=' canned soda is NOT part of the package. The package includes only fountain serve coke products and cans of root beer (as well as the mocktails, hot chocolate, etc). Only the All Inclusive Beverage Package includes cans of soda.

[/quote']

 

It is worth clarifying that the Soda and More excludes canned sodas. I too used to argue that the comparison of the price of can sodas to the value of the included fountain sodas was not relevant as the cans are twice the size of the glass you are served with the package. But now that there is no longer a cash value to a glass of fountain soda (was told on Emerald in April that without the package you can no longer order gun sodas) the comparison of the cost oft the only out-of-pocket method of purchasing a soda (cans at $2.30 each) to the daily cost of Soda and More ($8.05) is the only valid method of judging the "worth" of the package even if the products are different.

Cruising friends, this SO helpful! Thank you so much for the answers and advice given so far!

 

Here's another question:

One of the biggest reasons we chose Princess is their smoking policy. I have asthma and am very sensitive to cigarette smoke, beyond just thinking it smells terrible. Our cabin is on the Aloha deck. There's no way smoke from smoking areas could infiltrate the hallways and our room, is there? I looked on the Crown deck maps, and found the casino and cigar lounge, but it doesn't show where the other smoking areas on the ship are found - and I'm really hoping there isn't one near our cabin.

I am going on my first Princess cruise (not first cruise) in December. I have read a lot on the Princess boards about everything I can:). One thing was about the smoking policy I believe these are the only places aboard the ship that you can smoke. Also if i am not mistaken the Aloha deck is deck 12 and the casino and cigar bar is on deck 6 (or at least on the Ruby). The likely hood of cigarette/cigar smoke making it to your room I would say is zero, zilch, none.:D Also I'm jealous I wish I could do my first cruise over:D