HaveDogWillTravel

Before you take your results too seriously please remember who your sample is. The sample does not represent the population of Princess cruisers so the results can not be extrapolated. The results represent cruise critic members. I am pretty sure Princess did their due diligence and knows that this program is going to fly for a vast majority of their clients.

That is us as well. As elite we get 2 mini bars in a suite. Specialty dining first night and great club class dining. Suite breakfast includes specialty coffees and bubbly. We get 2 waters a day but I order cases for $7 pre cruise to supplement. If we sail Royal class the concierge lounge has waters, beers, canned, sodas, high quality booze & ok wine. It’s a lesser experience on the Grand class. But still no need for a package. For what you pay in a suite you really shouldn’t need to pay more for a package. 1 Princess removing free room service (MDR and regular) from the suite perks would be a grave error. Getting lobster on formal night delivered hot to your room so you can eat it on your balcony watching sunset sailing out of Mauai makes the $400-$500 per person per day price tag a bit more worth it. Without this perk I might still sail Princess in a cheaper cabin for itinerary if it was really exceptional but I would not give them my “Suite” level money.

I booked a last minute 19 day LA to NYC sailing for Aug 21 just 3 days ago. I have 34 days in December (SA/ Antarctica) and 13 days for a B2B starting March 31 2024 for the eclipse. I have 269 days completed so I’m a nobody with respect to “most traveled guest”. But I do have skin in the game. After my initial holy s**t reaction I went back and really looked at my cruising style. I looked at what I actually did and stopped thinking about what I think I might do. In general I have bought plus or premier for shorter sailings but went standard on longer ones. So I thought, why would that have to change? For me, on my next 19 day sailing in the emerald it doesn’t. There is no Alfredo’s. So no loss there. After paying grats and internet (as elite) I have $723.50 to spend on the “nickel and diming” before it is advantageous to buy premium (because that’s where I’d want to be if I drank the koolaid). Since I bring my own wine (princess wine is simply not good enough to justify paying for it when I only drink white)there’s no way I would spend $723.50 on room service or extra dining venues. I buy cases of water on the personalizer at $7 a case and I bring my own coffee. I will continue to book Oceania, Windstar and Cunard. But I will also continue to book Princess when the itinerary and price warrants it. It just will be a bit less frequently.

I had them in a mini suite on the July 4th Emerald sailing

I booked 2024 and 2025 with Oceania onboard in March so I haven't paid attention to this. I'd still suggest looking at their pricing. The newly upgraded cabins on the Marina were stunning. I had a balcony B3 category on deck 7. #7119 The balcony was huge and it had 2 thickly padded loungers as well as a table and 2 chairs. The room also had a lovely comfy couch. Their basic balcony was waaaaayyy nicer than a princess mini suite. And because of the included dining it is even nicer than the Club Class (Reserve Class) minis. I think Riviera has been upgraded now too? And of course the new Vista will be shiny and new.

Did anyone else notice #7 above? These packages are "capacity controlled"! So if you wait to book onboard using OBC they may be "sold out"!?! ugghhhhhhhh FWIW I sailed Oceania this spring and I am sailing Windstar this fall. Yes they are a bit more (especially windstar). Oceania (was not much more at all and now that you have to include plus or premium to even get room service wellllllll) had spectacular food (lobster and fillet at the upper deck grill every single day and don't get me started on my lollipop lamb chops for breakfast every day), outstanding specialty dining included for all and all the excellent barista coffees, filtered water and an amazing fresh juice bar and incredible premium ice cream parlor included in the basic price. There is always one night where it's open bars across the ship and the captain pays. Twice every night there is a 2 for 1 happy hour. We did not need OLife or any beverage package as everything we wanted was included. So for those of you who are used to paying for at least a mini suite I would suggest Oceania.

The door hanger for “traditional breakfast” is still free. It’s in the second paragraph of Indulge in More Fine Dining. But I bet you won’t be able to write in extras like we used to. I would write in cheese omelet with a side of sausage and always get it. I’ve even written that I’d like a bowl of fresh berries and gotten it. In regular cabins not full suites.

No mention is made regarding those on standard fare in a full suite where ordering from MDR as room service is complementary. It will be interesting to see if this is eliminated.

Welcome back! Sapphire is my favorite ship by far for Alaska. I hope you have a different naturalist than I did in April this year on Sapphire. I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Happy sailing.

You can see the Alaskan routes in my post 80 where I pasted them. Not the best formatting. But @Coralalso posted links to the files in post 84. it is my understanding that only those who log in with an elite account on Aug 2 at 8 am pdt will see these Alaska sailings.

No worries 😀I really do feel for you and your situation with trying to do something special with your grandchildren while you can. Life is precious and shorter than we’d like. Best of luck to you. I hope you the get the vacation you wish for.

I like this one too on the 3rd and 4th sail free. Ok now I’m probably being too helpful. My apologies

Yes that ooohh and look at this sailing now that I see Vancouver and anchorage are on the table. 3rd and 4th sail FREE and in a full suite. That’s an awesome promotion. you can place as many no cost holds as you want while you consider your options.

I wish I could give you my princess planners info here ☹️. Next time you board a princess ship join the roll call and make an announcement at the meet and greet that you’d appreciate referrals for CVP and TA’s. I personally prefer my CVP but others feel strongly about their TA’s. And lol I’ve often said Princess should pay me. book that suite now bc it can be gone in an instant

I just found exactly (not exactly as I have now read more. But close… maybe close enough?) what you asked for. here are the screen shots. This also happens to be my favorite vista suite. My apologies for posting this before reading the entire thread. Just trying to be helpful. But this does not have GB. These suites sometimes come and go quickly you can book online no need to call.

According to my very experienced & competent princess CVP the Alaska itineraries open at 8 am pacific time Aug 2 for elites and 8 am pacific Aug 3 for all. No bookings can be made for those without elite status prior to Aug 3rd unless they are sharing a cabin with an elite. (The South American bookings open in July). Even though I know bookings don’t open until 8 am pacific I always start checking at midnight “just in case”. Especially when it’s an itinerary I’m really excited about and there is a cabin I really want for it. I’ve never seen them open early but I’m like a 5 year old on Christmas Eve.

I really liked the Ruby. I sailed on her 64 days from Nov 2021 to Sept 2022. I did miss Alfredo’s. The IC, vines, crooners were all great. I love the upper decks especially the aft area, you can get out on top of the bridge, the full promenade, I love that Sabatini’s is aft and up on deck 16 with Adagio next door. Of course it has sky walkers. I stayed in balconies, minis and full suites. The beds were fabulous in all but the couches were only nice in the full suites. The minis need their couches upgraded. But I found that need for new couches in the minis on the Sapphire and Emerald too. The crew was exceptional during those months. I’ve noticed a bit of a decline in the new crew training in my last few sailings. Those that have been around for 20 years really are a whole other level of great compared to some of these new crew. The ship will be fine, it’ll be the crew that will make or break the sailing. There’s a whole new crew on her now and I haven’t sailed with them.

That is an incredible itinerary. The launch prices are in post #84. 2nd attachment down in right column.

@Coralthank you ever so much!

@CoralThank you!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️are they open for elite august 2?

More Ashore Itinerary Days Ports 2025 Dates Ship More Ashore Voyage of the Glaciers (Northbound) 7 Vancouver, B.C. ► Ketchikan ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► College Fjord (Scenic Cruising) ►Anchorage (Whittier) May 10, 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30 CaribbeanPrincess®️ May 14, 28; Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Coral Princess®️ May 17, 31; Jun 14, 28; Jul 12, 26; Aug 9, 23; Sep 6 Sapphire Princess®️ Itinerary Days Ports 2025 Dates Ship Voyage of the Glaciers (Southbound) 7 Anchorage (Whittier) ► Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ►Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Skagway►Juneau ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. May 17, 31; Jun 14, 28; Jul 12, 26; Aug 9, 23; Sep 6 CaribbeanPrincess®️ May 21: Jun 4, 18; Jul 2, 16; 30; Aug 13; 27; Sep 10 Coral Princess®️ May 24, Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30; Sep 13 Sapphire Princess®️ More Ashore Voyages of the Glaciers Grand Adventure®️ 14 Vancouver, B.C. ► Ketchikan ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► College Fjord (Scenic Cruising) ► Anchorage (Whittier) ► Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Skagway ► Juneau ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. May 14, 28: Jun 11, 25; Jul 9, 23; Aug 6, 20; Sep 3 Coral Princess®️ May 10, 24; Jun 7, 21; Jul 5, 19; Aug 2, 16, 30 CaribbeanPrincess®️ May 17, 31; Jun 14, 28; Jul 12, 26; Aug 9, 23; Sep 6 Sapphire Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 7 Seattle ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ►Ketchikan ► Victoria, B.C. ► Seattle May 17, 24, 31; Jun 7, 14, 21, 28; Jul 5, 12, 19, 26; Aug 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; Sep 6, 13 Royal Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage 7 Seattle ► Ketchikan ► Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ►Juneau ► Skagway ► Victoria, B.C. ► Seattle May 4, 11, 18, 25; Jun 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; Jul 6, 13, 20, 27 Aug 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; Sep 7, 14, 21 DiscoveryPrincess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 7 Seattle ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. Sep 20 Royal Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 7 Vancouver, B.C. ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. Sep 17 Coral Princess®️ Jun 10; Jul 8, 15; Aug 5 Grand Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage 7 Vancouver, B.C. ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. *Haines replaces Skagway May 27 ; Jun 3, 17, 24; Jul 1, 22*, 29; Aug 12, 19 Grand Princess®️ Itinerary Days Ports 2025 Dates Ship More Ashore Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 11 San Francisco ► Ketchikan ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Victoria, B.C. ► San Francisco *Port order varies; Prince Rupert replaces Victoria; No More Ashore late night in Juneau May 4, 15*, 26: Jul 20; Aug 11; Sep 13 Ruby Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage 11 San Francisco ► Ketchikan ► Juneau ► Haines ► Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Victoria, B.C. ► San Francisco *Skagway replaces Haines ^Sitka replaces Haines, port order varies. Jun 28; Jul 9*, 31; Aug 22^ Ruby Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage 11 San Francisco ► Skagway ► Juneau ► Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Ketchikan ► Prince Rupert, B.C. ► San Francisco Sep 2 Ruby Princess®️ Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 11 Vancouver, B.C. ► Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Sitka ► Icy Strait Point ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Skagway ► Juneau ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. May 3 Coral Princess®️ More Ashore Inside Passage with Glacier Bay National Park 16 Los Angeles ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Sitka ► Icy Strait Point ► Ketchikan ► Victoria, B.C. ► Los Angeles Aug 30 Grand Princess®️ More Ashore Ultimate Alaska with Glacier Bay National Park 17 Seattle ► Ketchikan ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Anchorage (Seward) ► Homer ► College Fjord (Scenic Cruising) ► Sitka ► Haines ► Icy Strait Point ► Wrangell ► Victoria, B.C. ► Seattle May 6 Grand Princess®️ More Ashore Ultimate Alaska Solstice with Glacier Bay National Park 22 San Francisco ► Ketchikan ► Wrangell ► Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► Haines ► Icy Strait Point ► Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising) ► College Fjord (Scenic Cruising) ► Valdez ► Anchorage (Seward) ► Homer ► Sitka ► Juneau ► Skagway ► Glacier Bay National Park (Scenic Cruising) ► Victoria, B.C. ► San Francisco Jun 6 Ruby Princess®️ Alaska Sampler 4 Vancouver, B.C. ► Ketchikan ► Seattle *Operates in reverse order Apr 30 DiscoveryPrincess®️ May 13 Royal Princess®️ May 23* Grand Princess®️ Alaska Sampler 4 Vancouver, B.C. ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. Sep 13 CaribbeanPrincess®️ Alaska Sampler 5 Vancouver, B.C. ► Sitka ► Ketchikan ► Vancouver, B.C. May 5 CaribbeanPrincess®️ Not the best format, but I copied and pasted it. If you download the original link I posted then open the download is "should" open as a pdf. It worked for me but I am no expert on why it would not for you. Hope you can see this well enough. The RT out of LA is back and that 22 day RT out of SF is incredible.

Hopefully that pdf works Alaska 2025.pdf

@CoralThank you so much for the SA/Antarctica itineraries. I found the new 2025 Alaska itineraries on facebook (there are some exceptional ones on there!) but no pricing or release date for elites. By any chance do you have pricing or the release date for elites for the 2025 Alaska sailings? Thank you for all the times you have given us the tools to plan our future sailings.

I saw that smize ice cream on the ap for room service on the emerald July 4th sailing. I did not order it