Kay S

After years of being Elite, I finally got the free tea perk in the cabin last year. There is LOTS of food! I stored some in the fridge for breakfast for three days.

The regular hot dogs at trident grill are really good. Just saying.

I am hoping with fixed seating they will continue the practice of holding an unfinished bottle for the next evening for those guests who want that. (I know this was possible during DMW, but it was such confused hassle.) On our last couple of cruises (a year or so ago) we had the drinks package but did not care for the "by-the-glass" selections in the MDR. Before DMW, we always got a bottle of something we actually liked, and, on the occasion we didn't finish the bottle, we had the server store it for us to use the next evening. (This did not happen every night. We are a couple of lushes. 😝) Anyway, I hope the new dining scheme will include this "traditional" service.

I have no doubt Princess did lots of marketing research before making this decision. They would not reinstate fixed dining just out of the kindness of their hearts. 😐

True, but the point remains. The menu is the same in all the dining rooms, and if someone books one of two or three or one of five, the menu will not change.

yes

I guess I won’t be ordering 27 crab cakes.

My answer is always "I'm allergic to politics." Then change the subject or remain mute until they move on.

Good advice. I probably won't be going on the new Sphere ships because I don't like the really big ships, but I also won't be finding fault with the features on the new ships (even though I haven't been on one.) Go enjoy yourself.

Well, I guess you will make a choice. If you want to eat in the DR now assigned to traditional, you can reserve there. If you want to eat in the DR assigned walk-up, you can eat there. Or you can choose a time to reserve in the DR assigned for reservations. Pick a DR and go eat there. Or you can go to the buffet, casual eateries, International Cafe, the deck grills, pizza, speciality restaurants, room service. Hmmm...sound like many choices to me. 🙂

Better safe than sorry, I guess. But the FAQ does not say boarding will be denied if the form isn't returned at least 60 days prior to boarding.

It removes choice for you, perhaps, but it provides more choice to thousands of passengers.

We did the Norway cruise last year and the Iceland cruise a few years ago. I found Iceland so much more interesting. Just my opinion, but I vote Iceland.

It's sometimes a pdf in your confirmation email. (I think.) I have had this problem myself.

Have you considered contacting a consumer advocate? Google should bring up some names.

Not to side track here, but bragging about the cost of the cruise and the brand of liquor, etc. happens on every cruise line (at least in my experience.)

I have known multiple people who think this way. If the show is important, they do the buffet and get to the theater early to find a seat. You are right in that not everyone wants to go the show. Which is a good thing since the theater gets packed as it is.

I looked it up. It was a P&O cruise out of Southampton in the UK. Apparently P&O has a published policy stating boarding will be denied without the form. Princess has no such stated policy, but they do encourage people to fill out their form so they know how many wheelchairs will be on the ship (for planning purposes.) Carnival says wheelchair users should make themselves known at the ship terminal before boarding (not in advance.) As usual, one media-hyped story morphed into "OMG panic wheelchair paperwork done or overboard you go, miscreant. " 😝

If that were the only consideration, yes, but the real value to me is outstanding service in the Reserve DR. Maybe you have to experience it to appreciate it, but it's like ten times the ordinary good service you get in the regular MDR.

Well, maybe. I know there was a publicized case where that happened, but it wasn't Princess. I've taken my wheelchair on many a cruise without filling out this form. However, it can't hurt to follow the Princess procedure. 🙂

I don't know if they have thought that far ahead. 😐 Whatever the process will be, there will doubtless be all kinds of confusion in all three dining rooms on the first night (at least until everything settles down.) Princess has not been forthcoming with details about this new dining scheme.

I don't know where you get that idea. The word "traditional" refers to fixed seating times. Princess has not indicated that dress code is in any way affected by this new scheme. Must we turn this into a dress code thread?

Something to note: non-handicapped rooms have narrow doors, only 24" wide. The wheelchair needs to be folding or otherwise collapsible. You will not be allowed to store it outside the cabin. Rollators tend to be narrower than wheelchairs.

Can I come over? 😄 I can't reserve yet, but when I do, I will take what I can get. Newbies here.