Kay S

Our last Princess cruise was with 17 year old grandson (twins) a year ago. They have been cruising since they were little and both are Platinum now. They have always done the kids' club, but on this cruise they decided they were "too old." This time they played ping pong, pickleball, used the gym, watched movies in the cabin and ordered room service. We had more of their company on this cruise than we ever had before when they were reluctant to leave kids' club. It was so nice to enjoy their company. (We have been taking them cruising since they were wee tikes.)

I like peace of mind.

The whales have minds of their own. I saw some magnificent ones in Icy Strait Point about 15 years ago. Haven't seen anything that good since. I did see some (two) in Mexico off Cabo last year, but I have given up on ship tour whale watching.

True. That would factor in for us, certainly.

🤷‍♀️????

Good point. I haven't had nor do I want a butler. I don't have servants at home and I get along just fine. Not to sound too snarky about it (🙃) but am I likely to find a "snob" attitude on board when I confess I'm not in a butler-class cabin? (My first O cruise coming up.)

I often find that my fellow cruisers (no matter the line) have no idea what CC is or that it even exists. It's not productive to rely too heavily on a CC review. As you say, the only person whose opinion matters is your own.

That was then. Part of the problem is that people think it's still the same. No one has to share a table nowadays in traditional dining.

I love to watch the wake.

Yep.

Never had a cruise line do a visa.

My guess is aft dining room for TD (on Crown, etc.) I think I read that the Coral and Island will combine walk ups with the reservation people.

It should be emphasized that TD is NOT mandatory table sharing. I think that's a common misperception that scares people off. We look forward to sharing, but that's just us. More than once we have ended up at tables for two in TD and have asked to be moved. There are tables for two available in TD dining rooms.

I cruise to relax, and hunkering down with my Kindle is my favorite thing. But that's me. What kind of activities are you talking about? Trivia? Game shows? Dance contests? My teenage grandson can spend hours playing shuffleboard. What will make your GF happy?

Seven months, twelve days, sixteen hours, four minutes and 22 seconds.

Or that it never worked right in the first place.

Self-fulfilling prophecy: if you go expecting a bad time, you will find it.

I'm guessing you will be among the walk-up diners? This new system has everyone worried that their preferred way of dining will be a big mess. I'm in the fixed dining camp, where enough of us complained about eliminating it that Princess gave in and restored it. I suspect the DMW reservations people are worried about their new rules as well. In the past, the overflow walk-in people would be redirected to any empty tables in the fixed MDR. I saw it all the time. In any case, I don't see how this new system could be any worse than the zoo of reservation people lined up with the walk-ups in queues that went on forever. It was a nightmare and put us off Princess for the past year. I'm waiting to see how it all shakes out, and I guess you are, too.

If they aren't on strike--which is more often than you might think.

Yes. I'm waiting to see if Princess does as it says it will with this system. I won't consider booking again until I'm convinced they won't go back on their word to provide traditional dining again.

Getting to the aft MDR is not especially easy, and waiting for an elevator can be a pain. I can't do stairs, but a trick I have is to go up a few decks from somewhere else on the ship with a more available elevator. Then I make my way to the back elevator and take it down to 6. Catching it at 7 is nearly always a big hassle. Also, I like to tell people asking where the aft MDR is that "you can't get there from here." 🙂

I'm wondering if these things are mutually exclusive. Can a singer who stays on key have a European (whatever that is) accent or does having a European accent mean he can't sing in key?

And then there's the incremental difference between price tags... 😝

In the Los Angeles area (where you and I live) we are spoiled by the authentic international restaurants so abundant around us. My favorites are all owned and operated by people who immigrated from their various countries. I think I have a better chance at "authentic" cusine because of it. It's not better or worse than mass market cruise food, just different.

Someone will always be unhappy, but the three dining rooms on most of the ships are similar enough that decor, etc. should not be a valid problem. The trek back to deck 6 for the aft dining rooms could put people off, but I's hoping those will be the TD dining rooms.