ian441672

I was booked on the inaugural 19 day B2B in a Penthouse suite so am a bit disappointed to read this. Although it is better to find out this far in advance rather than a week or so. I will see what’s on offer for the end of September and decide whether to try my luck once more. A bit gutted though, but I’d rather have a ship that has everything working and ready, than only half of the things working and available and have that daily disappointment. Oh well……

We are booked on the inaugural B2B on the Star next August in a Penthouse Signature suite - we are nervous now after all the issues around the Sun. We missed out in the inaugural for the Enchanted with COVID, so we don't want to miss out on this one too! It all promises to be a fantastic ship, I just hope the kinks work out and they finish the schedule so that the production shows are 'live' and all the venues are up and ready - after all that is what you pay for, notwithstanding any 'unforeseen' surprises! Anyway, fingers crossed....it's very exciting.

I am so sorry for all those 100's of passengers so bitterly disappointed; I can imagine how frustrated, angry, upset you all may be. I would be too. We are booked on the inaugural Star Princess next July, so you can imagine I will be on tenterhooks for the next 18 months! They surely couldn't cancel two inaugurals in a row, could they.....?

...and to be honest, the way Luminae has been lately, you wouldn't be missing out on much anyway!

It's all getting very exciting - we have booked the inaugural 19 days B2B in a Penthouse Suite for the Star Princess the following August, so this will be a huge teaser of what is to come and how (if any) different it will be. I await all the reviews as much as anyone!! Have fun everyone, and happy sailing on the amazing new ship.

We were Princess devotees, suite and Elite guests until 6 years ago when we swapped to X since we felt Princess were slipping, asking more for less and X seemed to be 'all singing all dancing', and we fell in love with X and Edge class. However, after just returning from an SS on Apex we noticed the shine had gone off, Luminae was quite disappointing in food and service, the perks slightly diminishing and it didn't seem as 'special' as it used to be. Then I see the new President's way of things and further cut backs, we have excitedly moved our quite large ££ spend to Princess and the new Star Princess in July 25, with their new 'Signature' suite concept of restaurant, lounge and deck area for suite guests. On the face of it, it seems to be better value with the AI element still in tact plus quite a few perks to be had. We will rest X and look forward to go back to Princess after 6 years and to be very excited about that prospect. It is a huge shame, but we have freedom of choice, so I am now exercising it!

Just off the Apex 2 weeks ago, and dined in the Luminae, and I have to say it was a bit hit and miss. Some of the waiters were great (two of them recognised us off a previous cruise 2 years ago and were always attentive and great), but others were a bit lacking. Just as a sample, and by no means every time, but enough to mildly annoy (which it shouldn't on a vacation): No pre-dinner bread was forthcoming at times when other tables nearby were and after our appetisers were served we had to ask; entrees were served up half way through appetizers; wine was fairly slow on occasion (you could tell the 'favoured' tables), often promised it was on its way, but never materialised after three 'reminders'; breakfast juice was forgotten about, overlooked or very slow as was coffee sometimes. Food was 'OK', we felt menu somewhat limited. It could be great and we had 2 or 3 great meals and experiences, but more often than not we just felt it lost its sheen. We are not demanding to be honest, I would let things go and say to myself that they are busy, or short staffed or just a one off, but it wasn't and in the end as I said, I felt mildly annoyed and frustrated, compared to how my two previous experiences were. We were underwhelmed with the menu one night and ate in one of the MDR's and the contrast was amazing (albeit a different set up) - an attentive sommelier and waitress, great choice and tasty food in a vibrant atmosphere and a really pleasant dinner. It could just be our cruise or perhaps I was a bit too grumpy or my expectations too high, but overall I have had better and was underwhelmed. We will give X a miss next time and have booked the new Star Princess in summer 2025 for the new Signature Suite concept and see how that fares!

No, definitely not! Enjoy rest of cruise.

Hi - great trip report so far, we were on the last cruise before you in a SS to Iceland (amazing country and scenery!), also dining at Luminae. We too found the service patchy throughout. When it was good it was very good, but very often they either forgot my wife's breakfast, they brought up entrees with the mains, wine was promised but never materialised (several times), bread never turned up, juice was forgotten about, long delays between service and sometimes I jest felt overlooked and forgotten. Tresi was fantastic, as was Sonny, Raf the sommelier was good but the other gentleman didn't seem to care much in his service. The food was OK, sometimes really good, sometimes average but overall compared to 2 years ago when we were last there, it had deteriorated quite considerably which was a shame. We felt Luminae has lost its shine. We had one night in Tuscany as we didn't like the Luminae menu, and it was a breath of fresh air - attentive service, wine 'on tap', and some decent choices for the menu. We had a great evening! Eden amazing, we ate there twice and it was a great menu and atmosphere. Fine Cut also. I agree though, the coffee is by far the best on the ship, I loved the Americano, side of milk, and Marcus always referred to it as my 'standing order'! He was very good too. Enjoy rest of cruise and have fun!

Saving was around $300 so for the sake of an extra meal we will keep it where it is. We will still have five to look forward to! Thanks.

No problem - I assumed I would get one for the suite perk on leg 1 and then one (the sixth) for the second B2B leg on the first night, or does it not work like that? Even 5 is still a good deal!

So I have booked a 19 day inaugural on the new Star on a Premier package and we are in a suite. It is made up of a 9 day + 10 day B2B - that means I will get six free speciality dining, including the first night on board perk for suite guests?! Seems a lot, I won't get much chance to try out the new Suite Signature dining restaurant!

Just checked - I have been allocated 4 cruise credits so it's looking good for the 4 mini bars - just hope for the multiple speciality dining! Thanks all.

Hi Took the plunge and booked a Signature Penthouse suite on the inaugural sailing in August 2025. There is an inaugural 10 day and a 9 day cruise on offer, plus a 19 days 'Grand Med' cruise amalgamating the first two. I booked the 19 days cruise as a whole package (slightly cheaper than adding the 2 separate) - even though it is on one booking, does anyone know if this will be classed as a B2B cruise, and being Elite on the Princess Premier package, will I get the embarkation night at the speciality restaurant complementary (for Suite) plus two further dinners (for Premier), x 2 for the B2B, ie. 6 in total for the 19 days, plus double mini-bar set ups for suite-elite, on change over? Not expecting it, but if so, that will be lots of fun! Thanks.

I agree - I would have booked it there and then even if she offered $100 extra, but now I am dithering still! Thanks.

Hi I am looking at the inaugural 19 night Med cruise for August 2025 on the new Star Princess. Not sure if this is a UK only query, but I decided to follow up on my regular email sales pitches I receive about using a Princess specialist agent to help me with my bookings. I rang her up and got the feeling she didnt know too much about the ship, saying that I probably knew more than her, and she asked if I knew about the new suites on offer? I said only what I had read and asked her why she asked that question, perhaps intrigued about something I didn't know, but she replied vaguely without really saying what was different about them, getting muddled between the Penthouse (thin long) suite and the Signature Penthouse suite (looking similar to the current square type PH suite). I was none the wiser - apart from the modern design, are they much different? (I know about the Signature deck and lounge perks etc.). Anyway, she quoted me a price and offered $200 OBC per person which I was a bit disappointed with considering the overall price of the cruise is in excess of £20000, and the many $$ I would no doubt be spending on the shore excursions. I asked if she had any discretion in reviewing this (I know X can as I have negotiated $200 extra per cabin in the past, twice), but she said her hands were tied and this is it. I wasn't confident in her overall approach to the 'sale'. I was wondering if anyone knew if this was a Princess decision and no negotiation is given, or perhaps if I had spoken to another agent I may have been more lucky. I know it is only another $1-200, but it all helps and if other companies do, then me in my mind thinking I have got a little extra would make me more inclined to book. I didnt complete this booking because of this, but I will review in line with what others may add. Thank you.

We are in a SS, and made a bit for the Edge Villa. Not hopeful, but we will see! If successful would we then get access to the higher suite perks, such as the bottles of liquor in the suite and the speciality dining etc., or 'just' the room itself and Retreat benefits (that we already get with the SS)? Thanks.

Thanks both. Might give the Villa a go and see what happens. Seems a reasonable price to start with anyway!

Hi I was wondering why the Edge villa was cheaper than Penthouse and Royal and same as Celebrity suite? Does this seem a good deal, what would you go for, if anything? We are booked in a SS suite on the Apex off to Iceland in August. Thanks.

Yes, we are on the Apex too. Thanks for that info, that is a shame but I guess I can book with the Retreat Concierge once I get a chance to review the menu's nearer our departure date. Thank you!

Hi We are on a Aug 9th Iceland cruise, dining at Luminae and I was just trying to review the daily menus on the app, as I have done in the past (I saw them last month), to see which days I wasn't so keen on and to try and book some speciality restaurants and Eden etc. Just logged on and it seems they have mostly disappeared and it says half way down that 'menus are subject to change'. Does this mean they are reviewing / updating the menus or is it a change in policy that they no longer pre-advise the various menus? Their options don't always appeal so I wanted to pick my days elsewhere! Thanks.

We have booked this for our upcoming Apex trip in August to Iceland. Is there a standard 'usual' day of the cruise that it is on, or can it vary by itinerary? Was just looking ahead to plan and book Eden and steakhouse and to see what days might be available (on a day that Luminae may not appeal to us!). Thanks.

Great, thanks for replies, that helps!

Hi - we are going to Iceland for 12 days in August, dining in Luminae and a couple of specialist restaurants - we have also requested the 'chefs table' speciality dining event as well, that you have to pay for. I notice on the app that Luminae menu is already up and showing all the days, some are appealing to us and others are not! I was wondering are these likely to change between now and August when we go, as I will then book Eden and Fine Cut for two of the nights that I know the menu won't appeal to us so much. I know chef will take the odd 'special request' but I don't want to keep on relying on that, so if I know the menu's won't change, I can pick my days to eat elsewhere! Thanks.

So different from our sailing on there just after lockdown in July 2021, probably its 4 or fifth sailing. 450 pax, lucky to see anyone at all whilst walking to dinner! Luminae half empty but still an atmosphere, Retreat Lounge a haven of relaxation with so many seats and a great view and instant service, the retreat deck almost empty non-pool side and no matter what time of day, for the first time ever, we could handpick a cabana (that's never going to happen again!). Eden area was table service, never much of a wait, theatre was busy some evenings, but always a seat, casino mostly empty and we won the 'spot prize' twice whilst playing at the slots! (2 decent bottles - one of perfume for DW and Eau de something for me!). Lunch buffet a dream and seating on or outdoors a dream. Happy days....it will be interesting to compare this August when we are back again going up to Iceland; after having tasted that luxury, I know we will be sorely disappointed....mind you, on Apex you cant really be disappointed for long!