Kay S

Reserve is worth the extra $ (IMO). The menu is not really different, but the service is outstanding. On some ships, the Reserve section is adjacent to the main dining area so conceivably you could book a table on the other side of the "divide" for the big family and ask the Reserve host to seat you near them. They would have a different waiter, of course. I know, that sound like too much trouble. 😄

Makes me wonder if there are significant numbers of people who worry they won't see glaciers in Alaska? That seems an odd thing to worry about. Oh well, I guess the marketing people know more about it than I do.

Okay, Lamb Lollipops going on my to-eat list. This thread is so helpful for us newbies!

I guess humor is dead on this board.

I've encountered some rude people on the dining lines before. Not often. I have been asking for an egg on the door hanger menu for years and always got it.

When is the John Pagett eclipse?

No salt, no spice, no garlic, etc. pinolover can fill you in. I love Dover Sole, so I'm looking forward to that.

Well, no one ever offered me a live fish to eat... I don't see why focusing on one kind of food would prevent them from improving all the food.

With kids, I would suggest Princess as a better fit.

I don't think the majority of passengers agree with you judging from the crowds! So, if not the buffet, our friend can go get his breakfast at the International Cafe and take it back to his balcony.

If the room service options are too limited, you can always go to the buffet and make a plate to take back to your balcony. In the olden days (when I cruised Princess often) I would fill out the door card to hang out in the evening, but I would write in that I also wanted a hard-boiled egg. I almost always got it. I heard of people doing that for bacon, too, but I just wanted my egg. 🙂

You are correct about the first part. We like to drive to ports. "Getting all the sun" we want at home is a bit more nuanced. It's not the sun that is so attractive. It's the ocean and the breezes and the pool and the vacation atmosphere. I subscribe to the theory that rude people are just rude whether on ships or at home.

Yes, doesn't the name have to match the name on the passport? I think that's the first place to start.

Call Princess twice and get three different answers. 😝 It's true that CC people are a more accurate source of info (in most cases.)

Yes, as I said, it was at the beginning of all of this and that I am aware things might have changed. Still, we did two cruises then (burning off FCC) where the lines were combined and out the door. People were complaining and one lady fainted from standing too long. I am happy to hear that things have improved in the year I've been away, and I have guarded hopes for the success of the new dining scheme.

That's too bad. I like the crab cakes. What is your idea of find dining?

In 30+ Princess cruises I have seen someone turned away only once. A guy in shorts on formal night. We sat with a man once who wore overalls and flannel shirts every night, including formal, and no one challenged him.

I don't know if there is a schedule, but I have seen these theme buffets on every HAL cruise.

You took the words right out of my mouth! 🤣 (Truth be told, I really love a Gaelic choir.)

The staff will seat you. You could ask for a particular location, but it's not a sure thing. With DMW, both reservations and walk ups are in the same line (at least that's how it was on my post-covid cruises) and when you got to the head of the line, they ask if you want to share a table. If you don't you likely would have to wait some more. Old traditional dining meant you had a table assigned before you go to the MDR and that was your table for the rest of the cruise. That meant just walking in and sitting down at your appointed hour. We were on the first couple of ships out of Los Angeles directly after cruising resumed. The whole DMW was a nightmare. Maybe they have changed things since then, but this new plan of three dining rooms sounds like an improvement.

I always try to book near the elevator. I've never had noise issues.

I know they used to...my SIL always liked to go to the meeting to talk with the older vets to hear their stories. He served in the 90s and loved hearing how things had changed (or stayed the same.)

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.