#love2cruise

Want to thank all you guys for you responses to this video thread.  You all make up for the negatives we sometimes see on this CC.  You all have made my morning with chuckles and some LOL times.  I know this was a serious situation and feel for the people involved, but also really good to see the sense of humor that others have shared.  Love a good sense of humor!!  Cruise on with faith that all will be well...

colo cruiser...we are going to have to change the last "o" in you name and move it next to the first "o" which makes it "cool cruiser".   But, cool does not begin to cover the incredible work you have done on this cruise with all your incredible pictures.  "WOW" to say the very least.  This thread is outstanding...THANK YOU!!!   Husband and I with 4 friends will be on this great ship, Sky Princess, in January 2020.  Love, love, love the Royal Class.

A little update from earlier today since now, have read other post plus OP stating ship is Sky instead of Sun. 

Regarding CulinaryCruiseGuy's post...it was great as well as post from USCcruisecrazy.  Love these positive thinking people.  My DH and I plus 4 friends are cruising on the Sky Princess on January 11, 2020.  We have been on the Royal and Regal and love the Royal Class ships.  OP...you will not be sorry you have chose Sky Princess.  There is a post called Live from Sky Princess that was filled with great pictures and post from the Chris and Sandra (I think).  You will have to look back 2 to 4 pages to find that thread.  Would be worth your time.  OP...you will be so glad you chose Sky Princess...Promise. 

This will be my 16th cruise on Princess, so going as Elite.  One friend going is a retired doctor and it will be his first cruise.  So much fun to go with someone on their first cruise ever.

12 hours ago, Fincherson said:

We just booked out first Princess Cruise (Sun Princess) after having previously sailed only Carnival and NCL. I was excited to get on Cruise Critic and join in on the fun/discussion on a new board, only to find it’s mainly negativity, rudeness and complaining. Am I missing something? Does Princess suck or are people generally more persnickety? Maybe I’m just reading the wrong threads? I’m kind of afraid to post this but I really want to know if I made a mistake giving Princess a try. Is it as mediocre as these posts make it sound?

I just read your post and have not read any of the other replies, so don't know what others are saying.  I can tell you, that Princess is one of the best if not the best.  I have been on several of the Princess ships and have had nothing but a great time on all.  I am not a negative person, but there is nothing negative to say on this subject.  I sure all can find some things that go wrong, but that is life.  IMHO, a cruise is about the journey and what you make of the journey is up to you.  If friends and family are with you, that even makes it greater.  You will meet new and interesting people and all the ships, no matter how old or how small or large will offer you the best time ever.  Your choice. 

43 minutes ago, tjcletzgo said:

Has anyone see this lately?

 

Thanks!

We were on the Caribbean Princess this past May and enjoyed it with dinner.

23 hours ago, vicnsue said:

It has been at least 15 years since our last Princess Cruise. I have heard a rumor that Princess is no longer making up beds with a top sheet. Has anyone experienced this? We have been sailing with Celebrity the past few years and thought about giving Princess another try, but are having second thoughts if this is true.

Yes, on the Royal Class ships, they do not put a top sheet on,  just the duvet.  This is way to hot for me to sleep under, so always ask for a top sheet to be added on top of the fitted sheet.  This was always done without any problem, except for one time. Steward did not seem to get the idea.  Finally, he did and all was well.

Sky booked in January 2020...YAY!!!

11 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

 What's sickening is how they've been allowed to get this dirty.

Sorry if you find it so offensive. I promise: No pictures of the commode.

I didn't think the OP post was sickening.  I thought it was informative.  Yes, my husband and I are very concerned, always, about having things "degermed" as much as possible.  We always use Hydrogen Peroxide wipes, but on our January cruise, I will be bringing Hydrogen Peroxide spray.  It takes about fifteen minutes or less to do everything and then we totally enjoy the rest of our cruise.  Always have the spray handy to use if necessary.  Plus, it will drive security crazy, trying to figure out if it is H2O2 or vodka.  Thanks CineGraphic for sharing.

10 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

But who do you think stacked those drink cups?

 

Hank

Sorry, but don't know what your question means?

Are my husband and I the only ones that have noticed that in the buffet eating area, those that clean used (dirty) tableware, plates, glasses and coffee cups off the tables, are the same hands, unwashed, that bring you your OJ, coffee, milk, tea, etc. to you???

I mentioned this on our post cruise survey last May but have not heard anything or cruised since.  We will be on the Sky Jan 11th for 14 days, so will observe. 

PS: we get our own drinks when eating in the buffet.

10 hours ago, tjcletzgo said:

Breakfast, lunch and dinner?  Plus when is bread pudding available?

The Royal and Regal have bread pudding with awesome warm vanilla sauce in the dessert area every morning for breakfast.  This has been my experience since that is all I have for breakfast every day on every cruise.  YUM!!!

1 hour ago, john_galt said:

Another photo mined from Instagram. Not sure what room this could be. Any guesses?

 

These are the "sideways" interior cabins, I believe, on some decks.  Have seen pictures of them on this site. Never had one, but have one booked on Sky Princess Jan 11, 2020 on Carib deck 10.  Soooo looking forward to that cruise!!

I may have missed if this question was ask before, but what is the pool in the front of the ship, looks like deck 7 or 8 area? Thought maybe was for the crew.

22 hours ago, Cruisin' Family said:

What are your favorite foods aboard the Princess Ships?    We'll be on Star to Alaska this month and Sky Princess to the Caribbean in March.    What foods do you recommend we try?   

Without a doubt...warm bread and butter pudding with warm vanilla sauce for breakfast...every morning of the cruise!!😉

12 hours ago, I Love NC said:

We are a small group traveling together with 3 cabins.  We are all repeat Princess travelers.  Two cabins got $100 OBC called Welcome Back.   Third cabin didn't get this!   Anyone have any info??  Thank you in advance!

 

Call Princess or you Travel Agent and ask them.  They should be able to answer your question.

10 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

We arrived at Port Everglades, and check-in was only delayed because some of the local agents seemed to be still learning the whos, whats, wheres, whys, and hows of the Medallion system. Boarding had not quite started, but within 15 minutes or so, we were on the ship. Our cabin wasn't ready yet, but I dropped off our case of wine and carry-on bags before heading to the dining room for lunch.

 

Our waiter strolled in about 10 minutes later....he had just returned to the ship after spending several months at home, and he wasn't in his groove yet. We were in vacation mode, and apparently, so was he, so we chuckled about it.

We ended up eating in the main dining room only a couple of times, opting for the buffet, and specialty dining more often than not. Once at both Sabatini's and Planks BBQ, twice @ Steamers, and four times in the Crown Grill.

 

Sabatini's: It's been at least 7 years since we've tried Sabatini's. The meal was excellent. Everthing was fresh, and tasty. My only complaint....it's a loud room, Lots of hard surfaces. They also sat 5 tables in our waiter's section within minutes of our arrival, including a party of 10, swamping the poor guy, but everyone stepped up to get things served as timely as possible. He thanked us for being patient. Hey, I'm on a boat, with my wife, and a killer bottle of Chianti. What's not to like!?

 

Planks: Service was great, but the food was only so-so. But when it comes to BBQ, I'm a tough cookie, because I live in Georgia, and I'm surrounded by great BBQ.

 

Steamers: We really enjoyed the view from the window while chowing down on great seafood. Add the crab legs and lobster! Not everyone likes certain things, so it was real easy to say, no clams, or no mussels. They gladly offered substitutions. The service was outstanding.

 

Crown Grill: Excellent service. I'd always drop off my wine a few hours before our reservation, and it would be decanted, waiting for us when we'd arrive. I had the lamb chops twice , and they were cooked perfectly. My wife had the filet each time. Only once, did she have to send it back for being under-cooked. It happens every once in a while, and they took care of it. The entire CG staff were kept busy all night. Princess would go broke if they had to pay these folks by the mile.

 

Vines: We enjoyed 2 flights of wine, and the pricing was very reasonable. Service was perfect.

 

MDR: We had dinner there once, and were seated in a section that didn't have a waiter. After a few minutes, the Maitre D' asked us who seated us there, and quickly found a waiter to serve us. He did a great job, even without the help of an assistant waiter, but we found ourselves missing the friendly faces of the servers on the Lido Deck.

 

The Ship: They are keeping her up nicely, always busy working on something. They are dealing with a/c issues in both public areas and cabins. We needed someone to fix our a/c the first night at around 11:45pm. They adjusted everything, and it was ok for the most part, but not 100%. Fans were offered, we declined.

 

Our cabin was R745, the very last inside on the starboard side, which we absolutely love due to it's location. Three steps up, and you're at the terrace pool. We liked to call it our own private balcony. We ate breakfast and lunch up there most of the time, and there's always someone willing to bring you a drink or take your plates away. Every member of the food & beverage team we encountered on the Lido Deck, were delightful. Service was excellent.

 

The Crew: Everyone seemed to be in great spirits as they had just finished doing months of 7 day Caribbean sailings, and this was a big change for them. New ports, cooler temps, and a week off from dealing with a turnaround day.

 

We rarely encountered any lines or delays going here or there, because we learned a long time ago, that the early bird gets the worm. We were usually off of the ship while most were just showing up for breakfast.We walked between 5-6 miles each day in port.  In a stop like Charleston, it was nice to walk and see everything and be back on the ship before it was too hot. How do you avoid an hour long line to buy ferry tickets in NYC? You download their app, and buy your tickets on your phone.

 

I realize that some folks were miserable on this cruise, while others, like us, hated to leave. It's all up to you how you want to spend your time. Do you spend the night complaining, or do you choose your battles wisely and roll with things. I'll give you an example, there's a special drink I like on the platinum/elite lounge menu, I'd order it every day, and it was consistently made wrong. Instead of sending it back each evening while my wife drank her cocktail, we'd joke about if they were going to make it correctly or not each time. They got it right only once. A miserable record, but great folly for us. Some people seemingly take comfort in berating the help, I witnessed some doozies on this sailing. I would never let folks talk to my employees that way.

 

So....if you don't like standing in lines, go before or after everyone else does. Don't get angry at the Maitre D because it's your anniversary and you can't get a window table. If it's so important to you, make arrangements ahead of time. Plan ahead, so you can enjoy later. You're on a floating hotel in the middle of the ocean, if you can't somehow enjoy yourself, you deserve to be miserable.

Great pictures, great review!!!  Thanks so much...

1 hour ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

)Princess is one cruise line which actually has a reasonably priced water package.  I just bought 12 bottles for a little over $7 for our cruise in December.  We will refill from there.  Half liter bottles; I don't want full liter bottles because they are so big to haul around.

I have to have my bottled spring water (16oz).  We buy from Sam's Club or BJ's as a #40 per case, tape a luggage ticket on it.  Of course, we live in Florida and drive to Fort Lauderdale and park at Park & Go on Eller Dr.  We pull in there and their guys take over with our luggage and bottled water. We will not touch our luggage/water again until it is delivered to our Cabin.  And, then the fun begins!!!

13 hours ago, nusail said:

Thanks to all who responded. I confess, now that I know what it is ... bangers and mash, meat pie, etc. ... I don't think it's really my thing but many others clearly enjoy it if the line starts early and gets long. We're lucky the cruise lines have something for every taste. 😊

Don't rule out to quickly.  The Fish and Chips are to die for and I think the most poplar of foods offered!!  Then finish off with the Bread and Butter Pudding.  YUMMY!!!

41 minutes ago, Potstech said:

So now it is bad manners to not do what you want othets to do.  Sorry but many will disagree with you. I will continue to sit there and read until Princess indicates otherwise.  And I will enjoy myself.

I, actually, laugh out loud when I read what the OP posted.  A coffee shop in any town is there to sell coffee, etc.  The Piazza on Princess Ships are there for everyone to enjoy whether they are eating, reading, playing cards, drinking or watching an activity.  Husband and I do not ever sit in the area of the IC, as I do feel this is meant for those getting food/drink.  Otherwise,  any of the other tables and chairs are there for EVERYONE ON THE CRUISE, and we do sit at these tables and play cards.  I cannot imagine that anyone would think otherwise.  As far as not being able to take food or drink to deck 6 or 7, is a new one for me.  I would have a hard time conforming to a request to leave that deck...

On 7/26/2019 at 5:50 PM, CineGraphic said:

We just checked in to our hotel in Hollywood, and all I can say is, “WOW”!

Casa Pellegrino is wonderful. We were met by the owner’s son, who welcomed us with some of his mother’s homemade limoncello. They also knew we were celebrating our 20th anniversary, and decorated the room a bit for us. They are highly rated on all of the major sites, and they only have 10 or 12 rooms, so don’t delay booking if you’re the slightest bit interested. This hotel is not just an investment for them, it’s their child, and it shows in how they run things and how they treat their guests.

CineGraphic, thanks for posting your affection for this hotel.  I did not know it existed.  Just made reservations for a Indiana friend who is flying in January  2020 for a 7 day cruise on Princess Sky...his first cruise.  This is the perfect place for him to start his vacation...a retired OB-GYN physician so he knows sleepless nights.  He will rest quite well here.  Thank you for sharing.  As a side note, a couple years ago, you provided me with information on your TA.  I have used him since. Very nice guy.

3 hours ago, richsea said:

Someone mentioned earlier that Princess stopped serving real butter? Is this true? It certainly wasn’t true on our last cruise in January.

Not so on Caribbean Princess this past May 4-25. Real unsalted butter...so we just put a little salt on it.  Worked ok.  Was, also, very disappointed with the buffet.  All staff was great.  Probably won't go on the Caribbean in the near future.  Booked on the Sky P. January 11th.  Really love the Royal class.

59 minutes ago, Ombud said:

I am hoping all paper handouts discontinue with the medallion. Less waste 🤞

Yes, they could save a lot of money if they stopped all the paperwork they leave in our cabin every day. They have many ways now to advertise and push their products...tv, medallion, interactive boards around the ship. Etc.   PRINCESS, USE your head for a change.  Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know, that lowering prices for all things for sale onboard will increase the sales volume to benefit you.  You are losing loyal guest.

Thanks everyone and, Thrak, I knew I could count on you.  I will use the email for them and hope for the best.  "Happy cruising, everyone".  

Yes, I did google it...only number given is the main Princess number 800-774-6237.  I remember there was a thread some time ago on CC with the number but did not write it down then.  Thought maybe someone would have it.

Remember reading in CruiseCritic a thread showing the phone number to Princess Guest Relations Department.  Can anyone help me?  THANKS😎

We are in our late 70's and have 13 cruises with Princess...last one was 02/03/2019 for 14 days.  Which ever elevators you use, back, front or middle (other than the panoramic in the midsection), just remember which way you turn when you get our of these elevators.  You will go left or you will go right no matter which deck you are on.  You should have it down pat after a day or so.  Hope this helps and happy cruising.  Our next in 01/11/2020 on the new Sky Princess.  YAY!!!