NorCal123

Thanks again Bruce.

Thank you so much for the pics. I guess since we are cruising in a clockwise fashion, being on the port side will mostly face the land as we go around.

We are in BF balcony, R218 to be exact, in three weeks, I’ll get some pics for reference and post when I get back.

That is very nice of you to offer. Thank and have a wonderful trip :)

Grand Cayman is a tender port, and you will not be close in. Limon is a cargo port, no view to speak of. Colon is a commercial port, not much view there, either. Same with Cartagena. Best views of Cartagena will be on deck as you sail in. EM

Thanks for the reply. Not cruising that area before, I didn't want to miss out on a nice view. You knew exactly what I was asking for. Thanks again.

We have done the Canal 4 times, most recently Nov 1. Not sure how one side can be better than the other. There are many views, big picture views, views all over, that are NOT dependent on being in one special spot. Rather, if you look at the Canal board, and elsewhere, you will see comments about being on the bow for at least a lock or two, being on the open side decks for a lock or too...in other words, all over the place.

 

And, if some says a given side is "the best", they need to quantify is that going east to west, or west to east.

 

But it really doesn't matter.

Thanks for your thoughts Bruce.

We loved the rear balcony cabin on the Riviera deck. Walk out the back door to the rear pool and up 1 flight to the food court and bar area. Really like that rear pool.

 

 

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Thank you for responding. I usually try for a rear balcony, but this trip we are in the forward balcony category.

We have done the Panama Canal twice and we found that the starboard side was best for balcony views. Just remember that the captain of your ship decides which side he wants next to the dock. Different ships---Different captains---different sides to the dock.

Thank you for such a quick reply.

We are booking a balcony on a 10 day Panama Canal Caribbean Princess Dec. 9, 2018 cruise. I assume the view is the 'same' on the port or starboard, but we are going to Falmouth, Jamaica, Cartagena, Colombia, Colon, Panama , Limon, Costa Rica , and Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Does anyone have a preferred chouce of view for those ports, when sitting on the balcony? Thanks to all.

I've never been on the ship, but have been on a lot of other Princess ships. Looking at the deck plans I don't see any problems.

 

You have cabins above and below you, which tends to be quieter than public spaces. Don't see any reason there would be a lot of traffic. In fact, that far forward, I'd expect very little. There are no nearby large white spaces, which can indicate crew quarters or storage.

 

Jim

Thanks Jim. That confirms what I was thinking. I have been on several Princess ships, but not this one or this far forward. We are in frugal mode this trip, so that put us in this category ;)

Thank you so much for the quick reply. It appeared the hallway ends with no where to go, so traffic should be limited. Ready to book now. :D

Sorry if this is on the wrong board, but gathering opinions for noise, above and below, and hallway traffic for forward balconies on the Riviera deck. Are they covered? Looking at Dec. 9, 2018 10 day Panama Canal. Thanks to all for any help.

Here is a link to Princess Bar menu http://www.alcademics.com/2012/07/the-princess-cruises-cocktail-menu.html

Here is a tasty link to the International Cafe thread http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1835544

Good evening all. I am doing some final packing and will be heading to Seattle on Saturday. I will be doing a live from blog.

Thanks Wendy. I am subscribed and looking forward to your posts. We are on the June 8 Grand. So looking forward to our 2nd time to AK. This time in the end aft mini on the Emerald deck with the extended balcony. Great for watching the wake, I understand :).

Thank you all for the quick response. NavyVeteran, your email was much more suggestive in feel than mine is, "Please arrive at your check-in time listed below. If you have booked a Princess Cruise Plus Package/Transfer, your check-in time will be provided at your hotel or the airport. Passengers traveling on shared transport or arriving as a group will be checked in together. Once onboard, enjoy a meal at the Horizon Court, which remains open throughout the day to serve you.

12:00 PM - Dolphin Deck: Cabins which begin with "D" 12:30 PM - Caribe and Fiesta Decks: Cabins which begin with "C" and "F" 1:00 PM - Aloha

Deck: Cabins which begin with "A" 1:30 PM - Baja and Plaza Decks: Cabins which begin with "B" and "P" 2:00 PM - Lido and Emerald Decks:

Cabins which begin with "L" and "E". Thank you for your attention to this notification." We will be arriving at noon, and hoping for their customer pleasing style, which appears to be dwindling.

We haven't cruised in 5 years so this is new to us. We are on the Grand to AK June 8 and just received our Progressive Check-in email. We are scheduled for a 2:00 boarding. Check out time at hotel is 11:00. We are leaving the cars there and taking the scheduled hotel shuttle to the pier.

Looking for people that have found out whether or not this boarding time is strictly enforced or not. We are Ruby level, so we don't have any VIP status (except in our own minds :D) and want to have lunch in MDR before it closes at 1:30, not to mention rather not sit in the terminal for 3 hours :mad:.

I still think you should book the balcony and the inside as long as you book a balcony that can accommodate four people (four beds). The reason is that even if you book the two cabins that way, you can switch the sleeping arrangements once onboard and have the kids in the bunk beds with you. I assume the twins would be OK in one bed. That way, they're not on their own. The inside cabin could be used for storage and a 2nd bathroom.

Great idea Pam. I think the twins could squeeze on the sofa bed. Heck, at night, you could throw a sheet and blanket on the floor for a camp out adventure cruise :p for the young ones. I wouldn't think princess would care as long as 2 cabins paid for and the gratuity pot is right ;). What a nice thought 2 bathrooms is.

My SIL turned her champagne into a mimosa by ordering orange juice from room service.

What a great idea to improve the lower end champagne.

If you get an end Mini, you will get an extended balcony, which gives you a really cool wake view as well. It really makes the whole cabin feel lso much bigger! I highly recommend these cabins and tried to get into one onboard the Golden, a year from now, and they're both booked.

I guess I was lucky to snag the aft mini on the June 8 Grand. I was hoping to be able to watch the wake and a larger view all around. This is a nice link showing the equivalent aft mini on the Star http://eatpraycruise.blogspot.com/

My wife and I enjoy the extra sitting area of the mini. The couch is a nice place to eat room service, if it is too cold for the balcony. Also, being a bit challenged in the hair dept. :o I like the full covered balcony on the Emerald deck.

There are few reports on how this is handled, but what few reports there have been suggest that boxes of wine are charged on a pro rated basis as described above.

Thanks Jimmy and the other responders to my boxed wine question. And also thanks for showing restraint on my choice of libation :D.

No, not really. Princess allows unlimited 750ml bottles of wine and Champagne. The first bottle per adult is free to bring on board, and free to be consumed in your cabin. All additional bottles are subject to a $15 per bottle corkage fee at the time of boarding, and once that is paid, the bottles can be consumed anywhere on the ship at no additional cost. The "free bottles" will be subject to the $15 corkage fee at the time of consumption if consumed in a public area such as a dining room or lounge.

 

There seems to be a misconception that because Princess charges a fee for bottles in excess of the free allotment, that only one bottle per person is permitted. But rest assured, under no circumstances will Princess confiscate, destroy or in any way prohibit* anyone from bringing on multiple bottles of wine or Champagne. They just have to be 750ml bottles, and they just have to be paid for.

 

*Australian departures have reported different rules.

Thanks Jimmy. Without getting into discussion of my wine taste preference :p, is my 5 liter box of white zin considered my one free 'bottle'? It doesn't need corking, just opening the spigot :D.

It didn't really disappear. It's been replaced with free soft serve all day out by the pool where the pizza is. (Except for the Island and Coral where it's served from the bar by the inside pool)

Thanks Karen for the update ;-)

I didn't see it listed on this 'Secrets' thread, but back in the day, free scooped ice cream was available with cookies at the Horizon Court 3:30-4:30. Maybe this has gone the way of many freebies ;-(

Thanks Pusniski

Mikebrill,

Off the subject, I have seen the instant message abbreviation rotflmao before. I can figure what the lmao is, but I can't figure the rotf. Can you help this newbie?

Steve