CPs4591

2 hours ago, help32250 said:

MJ ---

I think you, more than most others, know that I have been a stalwart Princess advocate.  But regarding The Discovery Princess cruise (which I was significant in them doing even as a Port stop) they didn't even have the courtesy of giving me either an advance eMail on it or call prior to when it could be booked.  It was only due to my dogged-viewing of their site that I found out (almost too late) that I could still book a stateroom.

 

As late as Wednesday (the day before this cruise went on sale) my Princess TA didn't know it was going to happen!  But he called me after I had spent 2 very-early-morning hours on Princess' site trying to find a Starboard side Balcony stateroom.  To his credit he "wait listed" me as he knew I was very interested ... and shortly thereafter called me back getting a room he knew I would like.  Even Collin (aka "my Princess Exec") didn't know a thing about it just over a week ago.  It is very unfortunate and embarrassing their left hand does not know what the right hand is doing.

 

So love Princess as I do, I often wonder why.  And I find it fascinating to see Padgett climbing on the TSE Band Wagon after unceremoniously doing nothing about Total Eclipses before, including both of the just-concluded ones on The Discovery and Emerald.  (And I have the USPS registered receipt return confirmations to prove it.)

 

For those of you that are just reading my postings for the first time, I literally dragged Princess kicking and screaming into doing these cruises AND changing them to reflect this Cruise Critic Community's desires and preferences ... all while making money hand over fist.  And everything that I told them and forecast would happen ... did.

 

So for all those that couldn't get a booking ... allow me to forecast one thing what will happen on this itinerary that you might like:  On May 10, 2026, the day that final payment is due and can be canceled without penalty, many of those currently booked will cancel.  It happened on The Emerald Princess and it will happen on this one too.  So if you really want to be on this cruise mark your calendar and be ready to act.

 

The best to you MJ --- The Helpster

No doubt this is probably true, but for how much?  Seems like everything is through the roof for this cruise.  Thanks much.

Thanks all.  So again, mostly newbie question: did we already pay port fees for that stop and if they change to a sea day will they give us the credit on the ship?  Sorry just a semi-newbie.

We are prob going to bail.  The prices are getting insane!  

1 minute ago, EDVM96 said:

The images are often not accurate.

What is in the list will be the planned itinerary.

 

Except apparently Nicaragua, lol!  The list has that still on it.  I asked my TA too but she’s halfway around the world right now and don’t want to bug her.  I would, however, like to start figuring out some more excursions.  So any tips on finding out what are REAL itinerary is?  TIA

How do I find out the exact TRUE itinerary?  Even their list vs their map says two different things.  The map says it stops in PV (and also Nicaragua) and the list says Manzanillo.  I mean who knows the TRUE itinerary?  Seems like the phone agents will just read what I read.  Ideas? 

Might have to look at Cunard after all…

35 minutes ago, suekel said:

You won't be going to Nicaragua.  Princess hasn't stopped there in at least 4 years and I have no idea why they just don't delete it from future itineraries.  

Thanks, why the heck do they still keep it on the itinerary?  Not only that, they list excursions.  Baffling! 

Mods, feel free to move as I can’t seem to find where to post.  
we’re on a Fall cruise through Panama Canal, LA to FLL.  One of the stops is Nicaragua.  Noticed today on the news tensions seem to be increasing between US and Nicaragua, new sanctions imposed, etc.  I know many cruise ships stopped going there for awhile.  Is it likely this port stop gets skipped?  It will make a heavy sea day cruise a bit more on sea days.  Anyone steer me in the right way to research?  Semi-newbie, haven’t been on a big ship cruise in 20 years.  TIA

This thread is several years old but if OP ever gets on here want to thank him so much for this!  Our upgrade came through and we are in this same suite this year for full PC transit.  This is an excellent review and photos! 

1 minute ago, Misson said:

Thank you so much for your understanding and sympathy. It is my 16th cruise with Princess, tens of cruises with other companies. But it is the very first ever for my travel companion. After this bad first experience with Princess Cruises no chances for a cruise again...,  with Prinddes anyway. 16 hours on the plane to get here was for nothing...

We haven’t been on a big ship for 20+ years (we did Windstar last year) but I got on these boards because we are doing one of our bucket list trips in Fall to the Panama Canal on Princess.  If something like this happened to us, I would never get my spouse on another big ship again as well.  And so many of you saved up, rarely get to do a trip like this and have just had your whole trip ruined.  Just heartbreaking.  Hoping Princess does something to make up for this.  So sad for all of you!  My brother did Alaska last year for his 60th, same sort of lifelong dream, saved and saved, got his PTO, etc.  He would’ve been absolutely crushed.  Hang in there, there are people out here feeling or your folks.  

My heart breaks for all of you, especially the folks who saved up for this and had as a bucket list.  And especially new cruisers.  Princess really should NOT have taken off, but refunded everyone, and gotten the ship fixed.  I hope things will be made as right as they can be for all of you.  

Sounds like (if the most recent Reddit posts are to be believed) they will get Glacier Bay.  

I just read on Reddit that Ketchikan, Glacier Bay and College Fjord all cancelled.  If true, sorry OP!  Hope Princess REALLY makes it up to everyone.  

3 hours ago, alwalaska said:

We did an amazing private tour in Manzanillo when we were there in 2018. I can try and dig up the info if you want.  Someone on our roll call put it together and we joined along.  In a way, it was everyone's worst nightmare of possibly missing the ship, but we made it back almost exactly at all aboard time and the Princess Tours didn't make it until almost 2 hours later.  There was a massive accident on the only road that leads from the port to the cities that everyone wants to visit.  Our tour guide explained that he times things so that he knows he is leaving at least 30 minute before the last of the cruise busses.  That way, even if the worst happens, the tour busses are behind us and the ship will likely wait for them, which they did.  While we were sitting in traffic, he was on the phone with the port and with his office, coordinating everything and keeping updates on when the road would reopen, and confirming that the ship was waiting for the Princess busses.  This experience not only had me worried at the time, it also gave me comfort that the private tour guides truly understand how important it is to get people back on time and have plans so that it happens.  I'd gladly go with them again, if I was going to Manzanillo. 

Sure!  Would love to know, thanks.

On 5/6/2024 at 9:51 AM, alwalaska said:

Thanks.  Yeah, it looks like a cruise has not made it to Nicaragua since the COVID shutdowns.  My fingers are crossed, but I'm not booking it until at least one ship makes it there.  The Coral Princess (our ship) is supposed to go in July, so here's hoping.  It is the only new port for us and it looks interesting, so I'm hoping we make it.

 

I did post this question in all of the different areas too.  People frequently post in the Mexican Riviera area that Huatulco should be posted here and not there since most Riviera cruises don't stop there.  Hopefully, I get some info somewhere. 🙂  

We’re in the same boat trying to figure out these ports, only we have the added difficulty of Manzanillo instead of PV.

Regent has a no solo supplement sale going on now. 

10 minutes ago, phabric said:

On opening day for Elite to book the new itineraries, you don’t know the price until you log in.  I like to pick my cabin so it takes awhile to decide on the cabin.

Lol.  I’ll take whatever balcony or mini suite I can get.  We’re just lowly newbies.  But this sounds like a great cruise.  

On 5/4/2024 at 7:02 AM, phabric said:

Carmen Roig, VP Princess posted this on Facebook.  On sale May 23, 2024. 14 day Spain, France, and Portugal with a not to be missed Total Solar Eclipse departing Aug 8, 2026 on the Sky Princess.

 

I know you can’t predict what the weather will be.  I was told, Europe is very hot and humid in the summer months.  I have been on Mediterranean cruises in November, Britain in August and Norwegian Fjords in September with comfortable weather.

 

What are your opinions of cruising in August to Europe?

OP, thank you so much for posting this!  Our TA is going to put a deposit down for us.  We wouldn’t have known about this in time if you had not posted, so thank you!

21 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

If it’s like our Discovery TSE cruise it quickly sold out even without any real promotion. Now that Princess has discovered how popular the TSE cruises are it’s already being promoted before it’s available to book it.

 

We immediately booked on the one day early elite level booking day. Now that Princess is aware of a TSE’s popularity prices are much more expensive. The beginning $2,199 price per day for an interior is 50% higher than what we paid for a balcony…sticker shock. With our cruise sailing roundtrip LA airfares for most were less than flying to London for the next TSE cruise…even cheaper for those of us who drove to the port. And the weather was much milder than the Iberian Peninsula in August.

 

Even with these differences with the good press from the recent TSE & more promotion it will likely sell out fast due to there being more demand than the limited capacity resulting in these higher prices for what was a once in a lifetime experience for many of us.

 

So deposits taken May 24, 2024?  

46 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

Sea Day #2 and Cruise Day #26.  Weather continues to be windy and it has definitely become cooler.  Seas are "bumpy" with occasional big bumps!

 

We have the MTG luncheon tomorrow at noon in the Harmony Restaurant.  We are not impressed with the Loyalty and Events Host.

 

Two nights ago, she called our cabin asking if we were attending the luncheon as we had not provided a RSVP.  We informed her that we never received an invitation and had stopped by her office several times inquiring as to when the invitations were to be delivered.

 

And, she originally told us that the luncheon was to be held on May 6th, now the date was May 5th.  Last night we met up with friends (they are #2 most traveled on this cruise) and they too did not receive an invitation.

 

I think they are too consumed with selling cruises and not that interested in their most loyal customers.  Oh well, I know first world problems!  🤣

 

 

Well at one time you were a newbie too?  

33 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

This incredible, 14-day Mediterranean cruise sailing takes place August 8-22, 2026, roundtrip from Southampton (London), and visits seven historical and vibrant ports, including:

• Cherbourg, France - one of France's greatest ports with art and history museums, its basilica, the Ravalet castle and the Cité de la Mer maritime museum.
• Bilbao, Spain – located in northern Spain, Bilbao is surrounded by green mountains and is the de facto capital of Basque Country, with a skyscraper-filled downtown. It's famed for the Frank Gehry–designed Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.
• Malaga, Spain - famous as Picasso's birthplace and the gateway to Spain's Costa del Sol, Malaga mixes warm vacation vibes with Andalusia's indomitable spirit.
• Cartagena, Spain - founded by the Carthaginians around 220 B.C., the city boomed during the Roman period. Among its many Roman ruins are a 1st-century B.C. theater and Casa de la Fortuna, a villa with murals and mosaics.
• Gibraltar – this British Overseas Territory and headland is located on Spain's south coast. It's dominated by the Rock of Gibraltar, a 1,398-foot limestone ridge.
• Lisbon, Portugal – the capital and largest city of Portugal, Lisbon is mainland Europe's westernmost capital city and the only one along the Atlantic coast.
• La Coruña, Spain – in the Galicia region of northwest Spain, it's known for its Roman lighthouse, the Tower of Hercules, which has sweeping coastal views.

 

https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/princess-cruises-sails-prime-viewing-spot-2026-total-solar
 

This sounds great with a TSE to boot.  OP, thanks for posting. It will sell out fast

5 hours ago, HotRoot said:

If you look under the Dine My Wine topic at the top of the page, I listed the items available on the hanging tag for breakfast in one post and food items available from Ocean Now in another.

Dine my Wine?  Love it

I have been learning about this too.  Try some searches on this board about dietary restrictions and allergies.

i know on the website/app there is a place to put in both allergies and preferences.  But then people say to let the manager of the MDR know.  Now, I think you can do this right away, especially if you eat lunch at the MDR after boarding.  
if you are celiac, this is a whole different story because all your food will need to be prepared to avoid cross contamination.  (I am GF but NCGS so don’t have to worry about cross contamination).  There is a thread on here titled something like Goodbye Princess no help on dietary restrictions.  Try to find that.  The person was emailing and not getting a response but was using the wrong email.  In that thread some nice people post the correct email address to send in advance.  If you are celiac, I think going to the MDR and speaking to someone right away as well as filling out the info on the app and sending an email to the proper email address will at least get you started.  Then I think once on board they will give you a menu for the next day so your food can be prepared separately.

At least this is what I have been able to piece together from nice folks responding on here.  I am in the same situation as I have not cruised a big ship for awhile.  I have been reading some of the live blogs on here because people post the menus.  I’m finding that I can eat many of the starters so am thinking many of my meals will be a lot of the starters.  I do know they have GF bread and pasta.  Good luck.

We were on Wind Spirit last year in FP.  There was a man on there for a few days we got to know who was an environmental surveyor from Europe.  He flies all over the world for various ships, both commercial and cruise, doing environmental surveys.  Guy was amazingly interesting.  Anyway he was doing an environmental survey on our ship, and he was saying Windstar has this as a top priority as a company.  So it will be interesting to see these ships.  I’m just glad they have some balcony rooms.  Told ourselves we didn’t need it in FP because the whole ship is your balcony and that was true right up until…I got Covid the last two days and had to quarantine while they put my negative testing spouse in another cabin.  So two days at the end of this cruise and no balcony.  The balcony would’ve helped a LOT.  Anyway can’t wait to see these new girls!

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

I believe it was Opunohu.  There was a Windstar ship in Cooks Bay.

Loved loved loved Windstar in French Polynesia last year.  Best way to see the islands ther.