Bonnie1222

Thank you for taking the time to post all this great information.

My husband and I have booked our first NCL cruise on the Breakaway in 2020.  We are Platinum on Disney Cruise line and have only ever sailed Princess once about 18 years ago.  We are so used to the set dining times, rotational dining, free soda/juice/coffee etc and Disney's ways this is and exciting, and at the same time intimidating change; but the we couldn't pass up a 7 day western cruise to all our favorite ports for 1/3 the price.  

The first thing I did when we decided to book was get out my pad and pen and start writing down questions we have.  Reading your post, has already answered a few, but added some new ones as well.  Thank you again for taking the time to write the review.  I may pop back here and ask you some questions if you don't mind.

Personally, I think it does too.

We just booked our first NCL for next year and will be sailing on the Breakaway.  We did 1 Princess cruise 15 years ago (gift from MIL) and are Platinum with Disney.  I have so many questions I don't even know were to start.  😄

Thank you for posting the menu pictures.  I am sorry you were disappointed. 

DH and I just booked our first ever NCL cruise.  We are Platinum with DCL and are used to their rotational dining system. I have to say looking at the menus you posted I see lots that I would order as well as a lot of things my husband likes. 

This is going to be a totally new experience and I am doing my best to go into it with an open mind and positive attitude.  I know NCL works a lot different than Disney so I am trying to think of all the questions I will have about how things like dining work on Norwegian. 

I'd be curious as well.  DH and I are looking to try NCL after years of sailing DCL who does not offer drink packages.  I would be curious just to get an idea of the drink costs in general.  

I got mine at CVS for $15, but I had a 40% off coupon... Amazon had it for just under $8 with free delivery on Prime

I just purchased the Nivea on Friday along with a Garnier under eye roller my Goddaughter swears by.  I am seeing a difference already. Thanks for posting this @pcur, after spending $75 on an under eye gel that after 4 months barely did any good I am excited to see the results of this after a couple weeks if I see a difference after 3 days.  

@Thrak  Thanks for the info.  This will be our 2nd Princess cruise so I guess I have a way to go to get the free minutes.

On 2/18/2019 at 7:11 PM, Omitravels said:

Hello!

 

We are late to the dance and are booking the southbound Alaskan Cruise on the Coral Princess for May 22 2019.

Cabin selection is understandably scarce. We have tentatively selected an OV Cabin on Emerald Deck 8,

at the very front of the bow. Will we be sorry as we lay in our bed at night? It’s a premiere OV so it is larger than a standard OV.

The other choice is mid aft Deck 5 below the Explorer Lounge.

 

Not sure if the cabin location is a big concern on smaller ships on the inside passage as far as wave action goes.

 

 

Thanks

I would love to hear what you decide and please post pictures when you return. 

We are booked on the Coral for Alaska in 2020 and opted for an ocean view as well.  We are booked in E202, right where you are describing.  I have been searching for pictures of the room with no luck.    I did find pictures of the premier cabins on the deck above and they look much larger and the bed was shown on the side wall, leaving the window open and easily accessible to look outside.  I am very excited my TA was able to get us, what looks to be such a nice room.

The first time I sailed on Princess the internet was not as big a deal as it is not (15 years ago). We booked our Alaska cruise on the Coral in 2020.  I know plenty can change in a year, is there a benefit to prepurchasing your internet?  Do you get a better price for the internet, or extra minutes if you purchase it in advance of getting on the boat? 

I normally sail DCL and they give you 50 megs free your first day, and depending on what computer I bring that can last me then entire cruise.  Does Princess do anything like that?

What a wonderful celebration and absolutely worth the extra expense!  

I have been waiting on DCL to release 2020 Alaska as well.  We are Platinum and know that it would cost us a premium.  So we booked a 4 day land, southern route cruise on the Coral Princess.  We as figuring we got 11 days for less than the price of a 7 on Disney but we still want to see what Disney offers.  

We have only done 1 other cruise besides Disney and it was on Princess.  The cruise wasn't bad, but it wasn't Disney.  But back then we were younger (the trip was a gift from the in laws and they were big Princess sailors).  I am doing my best to keep an open mind and remember that is will not be Disney, but being a port intensive trip I thought it was worth putting my money toward excursions.  

Brunch is amazing!  I book that the very first thing when my booking window opens because we usually do Western Caribbean and it is only offered on Sea Days and I prefer the 2nd sea day.    It is leisurely and be prepared you may  not want to eat the rest of the day.  We have our favorite server, Silvio, and the last 3 times we have gone he lets us take our time and we usually stay 3 hours.  It is a nice variety and the desserts are amazing.   I really want to try dinner, and Silvio always asks us to come back.  Our next cruise later this year is our first as Platinum cruisers so we get a Palo meal as a perk.  I may just get to do both next trip.

If you opt for brunch, you have to ask for the Gorgonzola and grape flatbread.  It is not on  the menu any more, but they will still make it.  DH thought it sounded gross the first time I ordered it so Silvio did 1/2 that way and 1/2 the way DH wanted.  Now, DH only want the grape and Gorgonzola.  

DH and I request a table for 2 and have never been denied the 9 times we cruised just the 2 of us. 

If you want to sit with other cruiser but only adults, you can always put in a special request on your reservation as well and they will do their best to accommodate you.  And on embarkation day go to the location where dining changes are made and they can double check to make sure your request was fulfilled.

DH and I are platinum Disney and just booked Alaska in 2020 on the Coral Princes. We were on 1 other Princes cruise 15 years ago but MIL paid for everything so I have lots of questions as well.

Disney has soda stations and I see Princess sells a soda package.  Do you have to pay for soda at the restaurants too or just at non meal times. I mostly drink water but DH likes iced tea and w/ breakfast he likes juice and I like coffee.

And Disney has under bed storage for the suit cases. Does Princess have this? Every picture I see online I never see a suitcase.

Last Disney's formal nights are relaxed and optional. How strict is Princess. And since we picked a set dining time do we keep the same servers.

Thank you 

DH and I are platinum Disney and just booked Alaska in 2020 on the Coral Princes. We were on 1 other Princes cruise 15 years ago but MIL paid for everything so I have lots of questions as well.

Disney has soda stations and I see Princess sells a soda package.  Do you have to pay for soda at the restaurants too or just at non meal times. I mostly drink water but DH likes iced tea and w/ breakfast he likes juice and I like coffee.

And Disney has under bed storage for the suit cases. Does Princess have this? Every picture I see online I never see a suitcase.

Last Disney's formal nights are relaxed and optional. How strict is Princess. And since we picked a set dining time do we keep the same servers.

Thank you 

Thank you to everyone who posted here.  DH and I are booking Alaska for 2020 and we had 2 tours we were considering one on the Coral and the other  on the Royal.  We opted for the Coral Princess and after reading all your comments I am glad we did.