Guindalf

Using the app to check in is easy. You can do a lot of it online before you sail. It makes embarkation a breeze! As for Muster, you watch two videos on your phone (in the app). Then all you need to do is go to your muster station and check in. They will know if you've watched or not. You are then free to go about the ship and enjoy your cruise!

We had it in our bathroom in a Sky Suite on Solstice Jan 28th sailing from LA.

Not sure why, but we were booked for our first Princess cruise to Alaska (our happy place!) with the DW's sister and hubby in May. 2020, and we all know what happened to that! Even though it's just the two of us, we decided it's time to go back to the 'frozen north' in a suite. We have sailed to Alaska on NCL and Celebrity in 2009 and 2019 respectively and had an awesome time on both trips. The weather was outstanding each time with 65 and sun for the first trip on the Pearl and even warmed in '19 on the Eclipse. We'll be on the Discovery in early September after debating whether to stick with Princess or transfer our booking to the Celebrity Solstice, which is the identical itinerary, but following our January trip on that ship (also shadowing Discovery), we decided to try something new. We're just six points short of Elite status on X, so we'll almost certainly be sailing on that line next, but it's nice to have options and, depending on our experience, maybe we'll be stolen away!

How much does a Viking cruise cost compared with X? I'm betting there aren't as many comp'ed cruises either!

No, they’re not included in the daily charge.

We're in a Penthouse suite for our Alaska cruise on Discovery in September, so hoping to get an invite. Am I right in thinking it's no extra charge or are there fees that I've missed?

IMHO, a balcony is ESSENTIAL in Alaska. The whole point in going there is for the scenery and an inside stateroom would rob you of that! We're taking our third trip to the frozen north in September (first on Princess) and this time, we're splurging on a suite. We love Alaska and sitting on the verandah with a cup of coffee and not feeling like we HAVE to socialize or squeeze in to get a better view is a major part of that enjoyment.

No, the gratuity is added to the price quoted pre-cruise.

Doubtful, but sometimes people cancel. If you really want to go on a specific excursion that is showing as sold out, you have two possible options... 1. Go to the Shore excursions desk when you board and ask. They may be able to hold your name for a cancellation or may have extra space available. You never know unless you ask! 2. Look for the tour independently. Check the Ports of Call section of this board and maybe even ask there to see if anyone knows the operator. Often they have a website where you can book directly (and maybe even save some money). Chances are they have allocated a number of spaces for the cruise line and have extra room to sell directly for other lines and local hotel tourists.

Those examples are additional. The gratuities that are included are the ones that are normally charged daily at a fixed rate and cover your room steward, wait staff and more. The gratuities that are charged on top of drinks, room service and specialty dining are extra.

Really? I’m glad I’m not flying on your plane! Personally, I’m happy to go through the ‘security theater’ as you call it to know I’m safe and I’m happy to wait a while to be checked out along with everyone else. If that means I have to get a slightly later flight, so be it, but that’s better than another 9/11! … and before you ask, on my return flight from LA to Atlanta two weeks ago, I was just short of strip searched because I’m in a mobility scooter and wear a CGM.

Forgot tot include the free valet service in my reply... https://www.portseattle.org/page/port-valet-enjoy-seattle-luggage-free?fbclid=IwAR2Ipvks9QQE9vI7bStr9oNW5YIiEaaMo27NujZrXAF82PJCTMVsuftIBHg

We're taking our first Princess cruise in September (21 on other lines). We were in Alaska on Celebrity in 2019 and planned to go back in 2020, but we all know what happened to that idea! We independently did the 'Deadliest Catch' tour in Ketchikan' and Tracy's Crab Shack is a must if you like King Crab. Skagway eans the White Pass & Yukon Railroad up into the Yukon and in Juneau, look at Wings Airways for a float plane flight over seven glaciers (with or without lunch at Taku Lodge).

We're on discovery in September and I asked the same question on FB. There are flights at 10:30am and then not until 4:10pm. Almost every reply said you will NOT make the 10:30 flight because SeaTac is a very difficult airport to get through. It can easily take two hours plus to get through security alone! I discovered this FREE service so we'll do some sightseeing and take the later flight. We've been pushed to make a flight before and it's just not worth it after a great, relaxing cruise!

No-one is defending X. Many, including me, are just parting with the information that they know. I was on Solstice just last week, so I have a good understanding of what was included in each package, so I know that what you perceived was either a misunderstanding or a glitch in the matrix. If it as the latter, then you have a valid complaint, but you would need to prove it to X, not to a bunch of yahoos on an indiscriminate forum! Unfortunately, the best time to contest this was when you first found out and definitely while on the ship. It's hard to imagine what, if anything, would happen now you're back on land. I hope you had a good trip aside from this disappointment.

No need to be ignorant or rude - and nothing to do with being a 'fanboy' as you call it! If you were that concerned at the time, you should have taken the list that you so righteously throw in our faces to the Customer Service desk and shown them the 'facts', as you call your 'VALID PERCEPTION'. If you could prove that you didn't incorrectly perceive it, then they would have no choice but to honor it. Much better than throwing around accusations and insults.

Classic drinks package has NEVER included Evian, Red Bull, vitamin water, etc., so where you got this idea from is beyond me. I have always upgraded to Premium for the simple reason that I prefer S. Pellegrino and have the option for Agua Panna, and so on (I also prefer the premium spirits offered like Grey Goose, Woodford Reserve and more). This leads me to be completely confused by your complaint. You must have misread (or misunderstood) something along the way.

You'll get the opportunity to choose an available time when check-in opens.

We disembarked Solstice a week ago and whilst I can't honestly say we didn't notice any differences, I also can't complain like the OP! Sure, there are things disappearing from the menus (like Prime Rib, Wellington, etc.), but this only makes a difference to those making direct comparisons and in reality, is barely noticable on board as there are plenty of replacements. The wait staff, and even Patrick, our Cruise Director, agree that the quality and offerings have slipped, but personally, I would rather have a comparity reduced cruise than none at all! We got great service and the food was (mostly) good. IMO, it's completely impossible to say that 'everything was bad' unless you make your mind up pre-cruise that nothing will be acceptable.

We're in a Penthouse Suite for our Alaskan cruise on Discovery in September. Is an invite automatic and is there a cost involved? We have done Le Petit Chef on Celebrity a couple times and this looks a little more immersive.

No Wellington or Prime Rib on any menus last week.

Yes, you can go to Guest Services and have them applied to your stateroom account. Or, if you prefer, you can use them to buy onboard credit through your account online before the cruise.

Not true! I quit smoking in June of 2015 (bear with me) and our next cruise was our last and final Carnival 5-day, because it fit the time we had available. I tried gambling in the non-smoking section and that made me realize that the only reason I gambled was because I could sit and smoke at the table. It was then that we transferred our allegiances from NCL to X. I have NEVER gambled on X, unless you count our second ever cruise on Zenith in 2003. My Captain's Club number has never been linked to a Blue Chip account until X did it this year and sent me a 10% off offer just before our Mexican Riviera cruise on Solstice last week, which is the first time my SeaPass card has EVER said 'PEARL' on it! I know that a large number of passengers on our cruise lase week had free staterooms. How they determine who to send the offers to I don't know, but it makes sense that bodies are better than empty rooms and a good way to fill them is with free offers, especially when the bounce-back after Covid is considered.

I got the Mexican Riviera offer on Saturday as we were returning from…you guessed it, the Mexican Riviera! We also live in Georgia and the air fare, taxes and fees, and hotel costs make it non-viable, not to mention getting the time off work! Oh, and we don’t gamble at all!!!

You have the same wait staff in Luminae as we had last week! Ana was very good at remembering your preferences. Try and catch Yuna without that huge smile on her face! Don’t miss TJ Tana, the magician/mentalist if he’s still on the ship. He performed in the theater one day and a 2:30pm matinee on a sea day. He also did a close-up special for suite guests in Michael’s Club one afternoon. All three performances were excellent!