cruiselvr1

Thank you everyone, I learned a lot.

This will be our first Alaskan cruise. Since most of the port stops last until late, I'm guessing that the MDR will be closed. This will be our first suite trip, and we were planning to eat every night in our room. This is our 10 year anniversary and we wanted to eat in our suite. Will we be able to?

The end aft cabins have much larger balconies, no neighbors to the back, and nice wake views. Here's some pictures I found online before our cruise to give you an idea.

It was nice to see the pictures, we are taking our first cruise in a suite. We are d737 on the crown, which is as far aft as you can go.

I believe caribill meant that Princess hasn't mailed out paper cruise docs, with tickets, luggage tags, etc. for years. It was always an event to receive them in the mail!

I have to agree, we couldn't wait to receive our documents. It isn't the same just printing documents.

Do you know whether Princess offers birthday cakes (free or for sale). I looked on the Princess website and saw a lot of food gifts, but not cakes.

I don't know what they charge for bday cakes, but my wife and I were married on board the sapphire and the cake came with the wedding package. It was great. They have amazing pastry chefs. It will be 10 years this year.

Just got back from the Grand Princess. Our flight landed at 0800 and we wanted to do some sightseeing at Seattle Pioneer Square first, at the airport I asked the Princess rep about transferring luggage only and they said they now will transfer luggage from SEATAC to Pier 91 for $3 a bag (Princess and Holland America). We did this and next saw our luggage when it was delivered to our stateroom! Took light rail from airport to downtown, explored some and had a nice seafood lunch and then took number 24 bus from downtown to pier 91. People had said it was a long walk from bus stop to shop but less than half mile, had no problems. On return used EZ check and the bus and lightrail to airport, beat the traffic.

I have heard that you can't walk from the street to the pier, do to traffic concerns.

If your driving to Seattle , can you park at a hotel? If not what does parking cost?

Thinking of booking a cruise on the Star. I'm looking at a larger balcony room on the Caribe deck but I saw a post that mentioned a lack of privacy on the balcony. Not sure what was meant by this.....can anyone please explain. Thanks

All I can think of is that you can look down on other balconies from the higher ones because the decks are tiered.

Pics of C750

Great pics thank you

Thanks for the assistance

Is there a difference comfort wise between either caribe, dolphin, or emerald decks. Is there more noise (clubs, screws, etc) in the aft suites.

Thanks

 

Found this photo.

Wow! How many kids will that feed? I can eat, but I don't think I could finish that.

Thank You !!!

We have a reservation at the covered garage (right across the street from the terminal) for November. Now were thinking about renting a car, and driving it one-way instead and taking the train home. it saves a lot of money. I like the cruise parking in San Pedro better, but with gas prices now it is better to go out of SF. On a 16 day cruise it can get expensive. SF also has a terrible cruise terminal.

i never saw one.

it was taken out for the sanctuary

Is there anyone besides me who would like a 14 day round trip from Los Angeles to Alaska? I have told someone at Princess at least 20 times, but it is not getting through to them.

I know this is a little off the thread, but what is the reason Princess doesn't go Anchorage? Is the port to shallow?

In my experience, insurance companies are less likely to grant vacation overrides several months in the future. Whereas I would have no trouble getting a two month supply on a monthly prescription once or twice a year, I can't do it more often than that or for multiple months at a time. And on a 3-month prescription, my insurance company absolutely won't authorize a 6-month supply to be filled at one time. It's a bit of a problem.

I take meds also. The ships have a home port, why not get the meds when you come home (port).

Well, I've never heard of such of year round cruise program. I'm sure you could work out anything with the cruise line if you wanted. So $57K / 365 = $156 + $2 tip per day. Not bad, but for a small inside cabin. Yikes!! But there had been several well known cases of people living on cruise ship. Loraine Artz and her husband sailed in the top suite on several of the Princess ship for 11 years, but I'm sure they paid much more than $57K a year!!!! Here an interesting interview I found with Loraine by USA Today.

 

By Gene Sloan, USA TODAY (2007)

There are people who cruise a little and people who cruise a lot. And then there's Lorraine Artz, 80, of Beverly Hills, Calif. The former dancer has spent nearly all of the past two decades at sea. A growing legend in the cruise world, Artz sails so often on Princess Cruises — at least 10 months a year — that the line just named her godmother of the new Royal Princess (which is fitting, as she recently moved onto it full time). USA TODAY's Gene Sloan spoke to Artz by phone during a port call in Israel.

 

Q: I'm told you hold the record for days at sea. How many is it?

 

A: As of today, I think it's 4,120. But I don't have my little book with me.

 

Q: And this all began when?

 

A: In the early '70s on a ship called the Spirit of London. (Sun Princess) At the time, I didn't know about cruising. We got on the ship in Los Angeles, and it was a little tiny cabin. It certainly was not comfortable. I just hung my clothes in the shower; that's how small it was. But after that first night on board, my husband and I said to each other, "We'll never travel any other way again."

 

Q: What hooked you?

 

A: It was so easy. On a cruise ship, everything is done for you. You have a room that is spotlessly clean. There is a room steward that takes care of your every need. There are shows, gambling, magnificent food. We'd done a lot of land travel before this, and it's hard work to land travel!

 

Q: Still, 4,120 days. That's the equivalent of more than 11 years. Doesn't it get boring?

 

A: I've got a standard answer for that, which is the smart-ass answer: Only boring people get bored.

 

Let me give you a little scenario of a day onboard. (After some time ashore) you return to the ship and get ready for the evening. You go down to one of the many bars, and you have a drink. You spend an hour relaxing with friends, and most of my friends, of course, are crewmembers.

 

(Then) you go into a beautiful dining room with a menu that any fine restaurant would be pleased to present, and when dinner is finished you have options. You either go to a movie or a production show or a comedian or a magic show. And then you go to sleep in a comfortable bed, and you wake up the next morning, open your drapes and you're in another country.

 

How anyone can be bored on a cruise ship, I don't know.

 

Q: Is part of the allure seeing lots of places?

 

A: It is, and it isn't. I like to see (different) countries. But for me, the best part is the life aboard. I came back to sea about a month after my husband died (five years ago), and from the moment I boarded, it was like I had this enormous family that cared what was happening with me. I didn't realize it at first, but (members of the crew) were taking intervals not leaving me alone.

 

Q: How many countries have you visited?

 

A: You know, I've never counted. But I've been pretty much around the world — India, China, Vietnam, Thailand, England, Scandinavia, Russia.

 

Q: Even suites on ships aren't that big. How do you manage?

 

A: Doesn't seem to bother me. I'm very comfortable. That's why I sold my house. I didn't feel like I needed it. Remember, you've got a whole ship there. You're not confined to your room in any way.

 

Q: And what happens when you leave the ship?

 

A: I keep the cabin all year, even when I'm not here, so I don't have to pack and unpack.

 

Q: I've got to ask: Do you ever get seasick?

 

A: Never (laughing). I grew up in the U.K., and I used to go fishing with my father in the Irish Sea. Do you know how rough that is?

 

Q: What's your favorite place to cruise?

 

A: I'd say Chile. The fiords are magnificent. I've been in Norwegian fiords and Alaskan fiords, and they don't compare to Chile's.

 

Q: Least favorite?

 

A: The Caribbean. Forty years ago, the Caribbean was wonderful. But now you go into a Caribbean port and there are seven ships a day there, it's crowded and (the locals) stand there with their hands out.

 

Q: How much longer do you expect to keep this up?

 

A: Until I die (laughter). I'd like to be buried at sea, but they don't allow it! When my husband died, this is what I put on his tombstone: "If you don't mind. I'd rather be cruising." And I've also ordered my own, and do you know what that says? "Me, too."

Love it and love her.

I think Costa Maya is very safe, so safe that I bought land there in 2003 and 2004!

 

I am female and have driven by myself between the port and the capital of Chetumal, (beyond the ruins), as well as the port area to Cancun on numerous occasions. I get gas, drive, find offices, go to the grocery, etc. Never had a problem. I've even driven from Phoenix, AZ to the port and back in my truck (with ex-husband)!

I also drive to Nogales, Rocky Point, and San Felipe, MX. I don't know why people are so afraid of Mexico, or where these stories come from.

 

There are bad areas and bad people anywhere; you should always be aware of your surroundings. I think all of us would not be walking around east LA, Detroit or the Bronx either; its common sense, and paying attention to your surroundings. A lot of what's going on now is drug related; the average person would not get a second look, however, military are targets because they're trying to stop what's going on.

 

As far as I know, the Costa Maya area is not a drug trafficking area, however, there are some cartels in Cancun, but I don't think most tourists run into them.

 

I would recommend leaving the port and doing whatever appeals to you. It's a beautiful area and the port doesn't have a real beach.

Where is it coming from? How about all the murders in Mexico. I am a retired Deputy Sheriff, who has seen it all here. I have never in my years seen anything like what is going on in Mexico. My DW and have decided to spend our money in other countries instead. Sure there is crime everywhere, the cartels are taking over Mexico. Another example, not that long ago a bus carrying excursioner's from a Carnival ship were robbed.

I am happy you have never had problem, and stay safe.

My DW and I were thinking about taking this cruise. We checked how the weather is in the atlantic, that time of year. We decided on Hawaii instead.

I have no problem letting guest services know, I can't stand the smell. I paid extra money for a balcony, I want to be able to use it.