Arizona Wildcat

I think you missed where I stated my post was not about Princess. Many Celebrity ships, for example, had ONE and only one MDR. Some still only have one. Princess with at least 2 or 3 venues can easily manage seating except for the early dining rush that is inevitable

Have cruise on various ships in their first few weeks. From Princess in 1990 to 3 Celebrity ships, there were lots of issues that were sorted over time. Not worth flogging the shortcomings as over a few months the green crews and officers learned to work together as a team. I note that cruising today is different as labor changes have made hiring experience workers worldwide difficult. On board probably a year to get new workers really sharp and probably a third leave before or at the end of their first contract. That and things like attendants that used to have 8 cabins, then 10, then 12 and now ???; makes for a "new experience ".

Too soon to see the entertainers. You can bring canned sodas on board at embarkation- a 12pk per person. No glass. No plastic. In ports a can or two was never an issue

Not hard to organize. Pick a meeting place on the morning of the first sea day. Bring some name badges, a couple Sharpie markers and announce at your roll call. We also set up.a sailaway. A top deck with a bar. Just need time and location. Again on your roll call.

When is your cruise? If after September 13th your will need to wait till June if not in a suite. New dining schedule coming

Agree about doing it immediately as you leave port. Keeps the winds down.

Is it different than the last time fixed dining was offered? One or more nights we used either the buffet or specialty dining but were assigned fixed seating. For those that want flexibility, the change is the opportunity to book times night by night. The difficulty is going to be early dining times will be booked really fast. Would think changing a reservation on board could find most times unavailable.

In 22 X cruises have seen 3 helicopter evacuations. For those arguing, does it matter if winched or landing? Also 4 or 5 missed ports and a couple others where we went toward the nearest land and the transfer was made either at sea or pulling up to a pier - sort of a touch and go.

On a recent TA was closed about 1/3 of the time. Almost always when in port. Remember when window is open your climate control - heat/ac - are turned off.

Since this is a new booking you also might want to contact a couple TAs to see if they have group fares. Then switch and transfer at the same time. There is a website where you can list your cruise and have TAs Compete for your business. Usually a saving of about 5-8%.

Have picked up in port numerous times. Never more than a few extra seconds. The clerks who checked us in walked to a nearby table and retrieved our medallions. Not worth a call or stressing out IMO

Pretty much everything on Sun appears to have been disappointing at the beginning. Cannot remember where I saw it but service seems to have improved and wait times to dine are much shorter. We were on a test cruise for the new dining system. Was chaos on day 1. Very good by the 3rd day.

There were always lots of lines when dinner opened whether for fixed (people would simply arrive early, no idea why) or dine my way. Nothing has changed. With reservations there will be limits on how many can be accommodated early - same as before. While DW and I like to eat while on ship about 8pm or so; many friends eat their main meal about 2pm with a VERY light snack early evening.

In the past other cruiselines had a section of a dining room that was for fixed dining and another for flexible times. We likely will find out in June. Princess is simply going back to a system they used some years ago. I welcome traditional dining.

TDining is same time every night. Don't want same time each night book the MDR with reservations. Just want to show up then go to the 3rd dining room.

Your muster station is fixed. You can check in as soon as they open the check in. Sometimes immediately. Sometimes not.

Have you checked out the sticky about cabins. There should be several reviews on your cabin (could be same cabin on another ship of the same class or a port/starboard mirror).

Doubtful it will show up at your home. It will only take a minute to pick it up at the pier. Would not worry.

With TMobile no roaming in some 175 countries for Data and texting. When MIL fell Celebrity provided us with daily free phone call.

Probably because they said they will be cancelled over the coming days. Just announced and doubt Princess would do that on a weekend. It is thousands and thousands of reservations.

Seems likely with the huge MDR changes that dining reservations are paused everywhere. I got a similar message. Yes, Princess said other dining not effected, but. . . . .

Stosh - Princess told be that the new program goes into effect 14 September. There is a post on FB that says 1 September. That post was NOT from Princess, but a CVP. The Princess website says make your reservations. Formal press release said September 14th. A bit confusing. Right now I would "guess" the 14th is correct. Pretty easy to check by waiting a couple days and check if your reservations are still there. Good thing is your cruise is over 4 months away.

Princess cancelled ALL MDR reservations for cruises starting on or after 1 September. Your loyalty level does not effect the cancelations. Starting in June (date TBA) reservations will be accepted for the new dining room setup.

Sadly, has not gone that way this time. Things have gone from bad to worse in the last 6 months.

Heard people maybe 3 or 4 times on a 16 night cruise. Always mornings. Agree we never found the door locked.