kywildcatfanone

We eat most of our meals in the buffet or casual dining, etc anymore because of how long service takes in the MDR. We arent' interested currently in the 2 hour dinner. We like to be done in 30 minutes and then move on to something else. In the MDR there are people still handling you food, several of them in fact, but I think overall I did prefer right after covid when they were dishing out to your specs. Seemed more overall sanitary. On the Sky in December, the ice dispensers in the buffet were not working consistently at all, to the point they were putting ice in trays and it was self serve to get your ice. Saw many adults and children reaching in either with hands and grabbing ice, or dipping their cups into the ice instead of using the tongs. I complained to servers, nothing got fixed. If a server was getting ice for your table, he was getting it from the same place. I now bring my own ice and drink to the buffet if the dispenser is broken.

There is no real way of knowing when crowds will be worse or not. Most people who don't want to rush onto the ship wait till after 1pm, but who knows what it will be like at any time you go. I would think though if you wanted to avoid crowds and just walk on, go as late as you can.

If disembarking in MIA and flights out of MIA at 10am, I would do that with self disembarkation if it were me.

Usually enter terminal between 10 and 10:30 and on ship after 11. Depends on ship readiness.

Fear marketing

Boarding time varies based upon several circumstances to the readiness of the ship. Most of the time, you can get to the lounges by 10:30, and maybe on the ship around 11am. Your stateroom might be ready, it might not.

You have to check your folio daily, and screenshot it before disembarking. I see wrong charges constantly with the medallions.

We book inside cabins mostly, typically side way ones. We actually spent most evenings in our room watching TV. It's how we reconnect from the daily work grind where our schedules clash. I do appreciate princess having good on demand tv options.

I have learned, and it sounds like you couldn't avoid it, but if you get sick, try to take care of yourself, because since covid, they don't care.

Yes, as much as you want

The cruise lines job is to extract as much money from you as possible. Costs are going up, inclusions and loyalty benefits are going down. You have to choose what you want to use and what you don't and book accordingly. We don't buy packages, go to specialty dining or spend money onboard generally unless it's just something we really want. Everyone decides for themselves how valuable their money is to them.

Is your last name Osmond?

It's a tracking device, but opens your door, and gets drinks and food charged to your card that you didn't order. Check your folio daily.

You pay the difference plus that 18%

Sorry if my post wasn't clear. The mini bar is still there, but the swap out for the coffee is what was removed, which was a nice benefit that has been taken away. And on our last cruise, it wasn't 20, it was 18, so I think there has been another cutback there as well, at least on the Sky.

Unplanned maintenance happens. Ask me how I know. 😀

An Elite benefit removed a while back. Disgraceful of princess to do that to loyal customers

No A/C would be a "I need to speak to the captain" and not stop till they got it fixed. Inexcusable on a cruise ship with lots of maintenance people.

That would be fine. Thanks.

I take small usb battery powered fans, never had an issue.

Anyone else having trouble with Stockperks? I uploaded my info a month ago, and still don't have my credit for my cruise. I emailed them all the information about a week later, and still no response. I've asked for someone to call me and no response? How do you get through to them to clear up issues?

Anyone ever prepaid for tips or wifi and then once onboard bought a package and got them to add what you prepaid to the cost of the upgrade?

Thanks again. One more question, are there cabs ready and waiting upon disembarkation? At FLL, we just walk out of the terminal to the cab line and are gone in a flash. Do they have that at Seattle?

Sounds like you know the area well. Thanks for the thorough reply. Perhaps indulge me with a couple of follow up questions, as I have not been there before. This will be in May on Discovery Princess on a Saturday. A calendar I saw online said there are 3 ships that day, Norwegian Bliss, Discovery Princess, and HA Eurodam. Princess and HA are at pier 91. Itinerary shows last stop before disembarking as Victoria, which looks by the itinerary map to be pretty close to Seattle. Ship is current set to disembark at 7am. I do realize that can change, and have had that happen to us before. We have not missed a flight yet, but FLL is closer than SEA to the terminal. We have had one really close call. I can get a direct flight home at 10am, so I'm thinking IF things are on time, I should be in a taxi or other transportation by 7:30 by walking off with my own luggage. Would a Saturday morning be really busy traffic wise in May? And 3 ships, and pier 91 add to issues getting on the road under normal conditions?

Hi, is a 10am flight doable out of Seattle if the ship docks on time at 7am and you do express walkoff? Can get a direct flight at 10am. Have done this regularly out of FLL. Google says it's a 30 minute ride from cruise terminal to airport.