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@Fishbone I am so very sorry to hear you got Covid. Hopefully you'll be feeling better soon.

And here I was worried I was being creepy! Two peas in a pod, I think. Definitely next time!

@Fishbone Welcome home! Hot and humid here in NY too. Wants to rain but... don't think it's gonna happen any time soon.

Just ended our Alaskan cruise on the Royal Princess this past Saturday, July 27th. We had booked a suite as a splurge so had access to a dedicated concierge. The very first day we asked him about Chef's Table and how much we would like to attend. He said he would take care of it (getting us on the list) and NOT to contact Dine Line OR Guest Services. We never heard anything else the whole cruise. Would have been nice to get notice that sorry you weren't selected. Have no idea if the Chef's Table even happened. ☹️

Just returned from the Royal Princess (sail dates 7/20/24 to 7/27/24) with Reserve Class Dining as a perk. Really enjoyed the no hassle seating and stellar service. We had the same wait staff each time we dined (Concerto mid ship deck 6) and they do go above and beyond to make you feel special. Shout out to both Edison and Michael!

Just came off the Royal Princess (7/20 to 7/27 sailing) I was not impressed with either of the specialty restaurants. The Crown Grill is located behind the Wheelhouse Bar. You need to enter the Wheelhouse Bar (by the bar) to get to the hostess stand for the Crown Grill. This made it confusing as to who was on line for the Crown Grill and who was just milling about the bar. Crown Grill was very loud and chaotic and service was very slow. Slow to the point we had been waiting over 30 minutes AFTER completing our main course for the dessert to show up which had been ordered at the same time as the appetizer and main. The food was ok but not worth the added cover charge IMO. The steaks were more choice than prime which was disappointing. I ordered my steak medium rare but it was more on the rare side. Didn't want to send it back because I was hungry and who knew when I would see it. Sabatini's wasn't much better food wise although the service was better. I found the food to be under seasoned and very much in need of salt. The veal cutlets were ok but the sauce was bland. I actually had three free specialty dinners for this cruise but after trying both canceled the remaining reservation. This is just my opinion, others may have other thoughts.

Ship: Royal Princess Class: Royal Class Deck: Baja (Deck 11) Cabin: # B735 Category: S3 Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern: Stern (Aft) Connects With Cabin #: N/A no connecting room Accessible: No Quiet: For the most part, when on the balcony you can hear those on the balconies surrounding you. Balcony Size: Large wrap around balcony with partial cover narrow balcony through bedroom slider access, wonderful wide balcony through living area slider access. (see photos) View: Beautiful wake view Privacy Issues: Not really, if another passenger on one of the surrounding balconies looked up or down over their railing and you were at your railing, you could be seen. Wind: very little to none even when the ship was in motion Soot: None Problems: I experienced no difficulties at all Comments: For my Alaskan cruise, the balcony was worth the extra cost of this aft facing suite. It was a large wrap around balcony with two entrances. Furniture on the balcony included two loungers, a dining table, two side tables and four chairs. The stateroom itself was clean and comfortable, although there were spots that were showing a little wear and tear, notably the sink in the shower room which featured a small hairline crack down the bowl. The bathroom was split in two sections; sink and toilet and sink, tub, and shower. The water pressure was not great but adequate. The provided toiletries were a shampoo/conditioner combo and shower gel in the shower/tub, hand soap and hand lotion by the shower sink and hand soap by the sink in the sink/toilet combo. The living area and bedroom were separated by a curtain and a closet area which made it feel like two separate rooms. This cabin was super comfortable for two with plenty of space for lounging both indoors and out.

@Italy52 I'm on Baja port side aft. No stinky smells here! I do agree with @Fishbone Deck 7 by the Vista Lounge does have a distinct odor and isn't very pleasant.

Right back at you @Fishbone! What fun to meet you! The odds of meeting shouldn't have been in our favor but they were! And I'm so glad they were. Happy cruising!

@Fishbone Arriving late tomorrow in Anchorage and this last recap has given me new ideas for Anchorage exploring, thank you!!

Are you a professional writer? Seriously, you know how to write! I felt like I was right there with you. DH and I will be flying out on Sunday for Anchorage. I cannot wait!! Keep the stories coming 'cause Sunday feels soooo far away!

It's certainly going to be an adventure! Safe travels and enjoy every minute!

Did you try to access the option via the full website? I've been having difficulties with accessing certain functions on the app (delta and jetblue) but no issues with the website. Safe travels! Enjoy!

This happened to me. I forced those earring studs right on through, no blood thank goodness, but they were definitely sore for a few days. Good news is that after a couple of days, the ache disappeared.

Do you know if there is a meet and greet on the ship? I have a feeling you and I would get along nicely!

No, we opted to take the 50% refund and 50% FCC. We were also able to submit (and were paid) for our flights and a few other incidentals by Princess. With that, we were able to book the 7/20 cruise AND spend 5 days in Anchorage with a bunch of great excursions AND new flights, so I'm happy! Can't wait for this adventure!

DH and I will be on Royal out of Whittier 7/20 as well. Originally cruising on the Ruby out of San Francisco last summer but, alas, the ship hit the pier while docking and the itinerary was changed substantially so this bucket list item was put on hold. I can't wait to board (fingers crossed) this summer.

Thank you for this suggestion. I'll be on the southbound Whittier to Vancouver on the July 20th sailing and really appreciate your insights.

Thank you! This is exactly what I was looking for!!!!!!

Does anyone have the Suite Experience PDF they could post? Due to a quirk with Chrome and the html language on the princess site, clicking PDF link just takes you back to the same webpage. TIA

I was able to reserve on the app

I was in a Penthouse Suite on the Ruby last summer. Rec'd flowers, a sampling of canapes and two flutes of champagne on embarkation day. Booked the Crown Grill for the complimentary embarkation dinner and enjoyed breakfast at Sabatini's. Opted not to use the thermal suite so can't talk to that. Our steward was fantastic, very attentive and thoughtful.

You could purchase roll up compression bags for bulky items. I tried them last summer and they worked pretty good. Just search on Amazon for roll up compression bags. They really saved me a lot of space. This is just a sample image. I used them for sweaters and jackets.

Thank you, thank you! I love all of your posts and the wonderful information you have shared. DH and I will be headed to Anchorage 7/14 before our cruise on 7/20. Thought we might check out the Tony Knowles trail and will probably rent bikes from Pablo's now! I had read reviews about the International House of Hotdogs but wasn't sure, think we'll give it a try too! Your posts have really gotten us both super excited for our upcoming adventure. Thank you again for sharing your experience!

Thank you so much for sharing everything here. DH and I will be headed to Alaska in July. 5 days on land and then cruising out of Whittier on the 20th. Your photos and experiences help make the wait easier!