skynight

Wrong board

Yes, the hash browns are deep fried McDonalds. I did see potatoes in the buffet line that more resemble hash browns, In my opinion they are better when cut up than the deep fried ones, but they are not real has browns.

Sapphire will have fewer passengers, 2,650 as it is roughly the size of the original Grand Class ships. The Caribbean is what I would call a super Grand Class ship. It's an original Grand Class design with and extra passenger deck and 3,150 passengers. Both have a full promenade deck, but the Sapphire's is wider. No Crown Grill on the Sapphire. It's a Sterling Steakhouse in the aft section of the buffet seating area. Have read they now serve Brazilian BBQ. The Sapphire has 4 half size DRs mid ship vs the 2 full size mid ship DRs on the Caribbean. Both have the large DR on deck 6 aft. The Caribbean has a nice family pool and splash pool area on deck 17 aft. If there are lots of youth on board this area will attract them and thus keep some of them away from the main Lido pools. Cabins will be basically the same. If you have not been through the new locks, I would pick one of the larger ships. They are interesting. The ship fits in the locks with space on both sides as well as forward and aft. The ship is kept centered in the locks with forward and aft tugs. If I remember correctly there are two forward and one aft. The Coral is a smaller Original Panamax sized ship with 2,000 passengers. It has lots of public space per passenger. The buffet area is forward with sweeping ocean views. It has a large Universe Lounge aft. It will transit the original locks.

I was on the same cruise as luvtotravel. Agree. Omelets are nothing like the ones at our local breakfast/lunch restaurant no matter if you get them in the DR or at the Horizon Ct. Additionally, when you order one at the buffet you receive a slip which you provide to your server. By the time the omelet arrives, your sides are gone, your toast is cold and your coffee requires a refill. Princess needs to improve the omelet itself and improve how it is plated with sides. On the Ruby they might want to move the omelet station back to the Cafe Carib, enlarge it, and have a full plate table service. I did comment on the survey.

You receive a specialty dining meal at either Sabatini's or the Crown Grill on boarding day. The two specialty meals you refer to are attached to the Premier fare package not to suite benefits. You can order room service from the breakfast menu at no charge. I'm not sure what meal you are referring to for $45. Whatever it is I really don't think there is any benefit since full suite passengers are entitled to special made to order breakfasts in Sabatini's. See below. Not certain what you mean by premium plus dining. Full suite passengers can dine each evening in the Reserve Class DR which I believe on the Grand is the Da Vinci DR on deck 6 mid ship. It is walk in dining with prompt seating elevated service and an extra menu item each evening. This DR is open for breakfast and dinner each day and lunch on sea days. Full suite passengers can have a special made to order breakfast each day at Sabatini's. It is one of the top full suite benefits. It's called the mimosa breakfast in the benefits. Complimentary Specialty Dining Mimosa Breakfast (daily) Other amenities. You are mixing up the plus & premier fares with full suite amenities. They are different. Suggest you review the links in post #3. The specialty desserts and gym classes are part of the plus and premier fares.

This one.

This may have something to do with the announcement scheduled for this coming Friday. There could be other changes.

Generally no additional benefit to book on board vs purchasing Future Cruise Deposits (FCDs). I always purchase the FCDs then book once I return home and have had time to research while not under the cruise high. FCDs are charged directly to your credit card. They are $100 each and individual. If a couple each person must have one in their name. The $100 will be the full amount of the deposit (world cruises excepted) when booking a cruise and you will receive some OBC depending on the length of the cruise and the cabin category. They expire in one year and are fully refundable. If you know exactly what you want you can book on board. You will receive the same benefit as if you are using an FCD. You can also assign the booking to a T.A. if you have one.

If you are in a full suite or are elite loyalty status then you will receive a mini bar set up. This recently included 8 x 50ml spirits, 2 bottles or cans of beer, 2 Perrier water, 2 non sparkling waters, 2 cans tonic, 2 cans Coke, 2 Cans Diet Coke. This can vary, but it's always 10 alcoholic and 10 non alcoholic beverages. Any item can be exchanged for a non alcoholic item. Any alcoholic item can be exchanged for a different alcoholic item. The entire mini bar can be exchanged for a bottle of wine. You call room service to exchange. Free coffee is available all day at the Horizon Ct. It was Lavazza coffee on our recent cruise. You can also purchase brewed coffee at the I.C. along with other specialty drinks. Believe brewed coffee was somewhere around $2.50. Specialty coffees are in the $4/$5 range. No more coffee packages.

Coke products. Diet Coke as well as other Coke products. Did not see Coke Zero or caffeine free Diet Coke while on board the Ruby a few weeks ago. Take a look at this posting

On the Ruby I saw displays at the International Cafe. There were maybe 3 different cakes. You ordered from the I.C. attendant. The cake was delivered from what appeared to be the MDR kitchen by another waiter. I don't know if you can order elsewhere. Maybe via Ocean Now?

Is the "Main Dining Room" different than Da Vinci, Botticelli and Michelangelo? All three are MDRs and have the same menus. Botticelli is on deck 6 aft. To get there you have to walk on deck 7 or above to the aft elevators/stairs and go down to deck 6. The other DRs are located mid ship on deck 6 and 5. In the Caribbean Botticelli was the DR open for breakfast and lunch on sea days as well as lunch on boarding day. - Is it possible to get a preview of all the talks and shows before sailing? Or is it something you get once onboard? You have to wait until on board. They will be scheduled during the day on sea days, usually in the morning in the theater. There will also be narration while in Glacier Bay over the ship's PA system. Is it necessary to make dinner reservations? I've made them, but maybe will need to adjust if there's a particular show we want to see. Leave them in place. You can always change, not show, or show up at a different time and wait to be seated. Is it really "no jeans" in the dining room? He will be fine as you indicated. But he might want to bring another pair of pants along. I think the "plus" package includes 2 casual dining meals. So does that mean we have to pay for the pizza, international cafe or salty dog after 2 meals? No. These are not considered casual dining meals. There is no charge for food at the buffet, Salty Dog Grill by the pool, pizza at Slices by the pool, soft ice cream adjacent to slices, International Cafe. Also most food items ordered using Ocean Now are no additional charge. Casual dining on the Ruby includes the Salty Dog Gastropub located inside the Wheelhouse Bar and a raw veggie and deli meat platter at Vines. You might want to try the Gastropub one evening. It's just walk in no reservations. I didn't think Vines looked very good. Looked like something I could put together myself at the buffet. You can get specialty coffees at the International Cafe, Coffee & Cones next to slices and I believe, not sure, at the Calypso Bar by the Calypso Pool. Good brewed coffee is available at the International Cafe. Since you have the plus fare these are no charge and unlimited. Where is the buffet during dinner if all 3 MDRs are serving coursed out meals? The Horizon Ct. Buffet is on deck 15. It is open from 6am until 9 or 10pm. Never closes. Don't underestimate what is available at the buffet. You can get various kinds of fruits, cheeses, pre-made or make your own sandwiches, all kinds of desserts, soups, make your own salads, yogurt, cereal, made to order omelets at breakfast, hot foods at dinner, themed selections such as chocolate dessert day, Italian night and much more. And what is your opinion of Crown Grill and Sabatini? worth the surcharge? Both the Crown Grill and Sabatini's are very nice. The Crown Grill will cost you $45 and Sabatini's $42. The prices quoted by Princess $39 & $35 have an 18% service charge added to them. The Crown Grill will be booked pretty solid. If you wish to dine there make reservations on line, payable when made. Sabatini's will be less crowded. You may be able to wait until you are on board. Sabatini's is a 6 course meal. I could not finish it. No doggie bags on board. But on a 7 night cruise you don't have very much flexibility to do it all. If you are on board during the late port nights that may be a good evening the Crown Grill or Sabatini's. You can find sample menus on line. I suggest you study the deck plans on Princess.com, onboard our ships, deck plans, to get a good idea of where things are located.

On my recent cruise I only received canned sodas when ordered at the bar or from a bar waiter. I had the plus package. I never was served fountain although I can't say no one on the ship ever received a fountain drink.

There was an announcement at every port on our recent cruise not to bring any food, fruit, flowers, agricultural and other items off the ship. Pre-packaged food items such as granola bars, and sealed bottles of drink are normally allowed.

I'm not exactly sure of your itinerary, but it appears that you have 2 sea days, the first and last evening, 2 late port days, and 1 day at Glacier Bay which is an on board day. Thee probably will be 2 production shows one of the first sea day and the other of Glacier Bay day. These shows will most likely be at 7:30 and 9:00 or 9:30. Just off the Ruby and they had 3 shows, Stardust a 30 minute show of very nice singing of old songs, Colors of the World, a show of song and dances from around the world, 45 minutes long and Magic to Do a 45 minute Broadway type musical production with magical illusions throughout. I would think that 2 of those 3 shows would be shown. There probably will be some comedians. There will also be game shows, karaoke, trivia throughout the day and evening. Events are listed each day in the hard copy Event Schedule and also on the app. You can review what you wish to do or see. All shows and events are walk in, no reservations. Arrive around 45 to 30 minutes early for production shows. Yes, you need to time dining to see shows. There will be lots of opinions regarding Glacier Bay. My choice is to hang out on the upper decks and move around. You may also want to move to the deck 7 promenade and move around there. Others will select a location and park there. Some stay on their balconies. If you remain on the cabin balcony you have to turn the TV to the designated station to hear the narration. It's up to you. You will have time to see the ship and make your plan. You can eat breakfast each day in the DR. This will probably be the deck 6 aft DR, it was in the Caribbean a few weeks ago. DR lunch is served on sea days only. On port days you have to get lunch either in the buffet, which is open from 6am until around 9 or 10 in the evening, at the International Cafe on deck 5 which is open 24 hours, at the Salty Dog Grill by the pool, or at Slice Pizza also by the pools these are open from 11am until 9pm. You can also order food & drink items via the Ocean Now App and they will be delivered to you. Live music and drinks can be found in Crooner's, Wheelhouse Bar, Piazza, and sometimes in Explorer's Lounge and Club Fusion. Look at the schedule. Crooner's and the Wheelhouse have nice background music. The Piazza is used for the party band, but also has other musicians. If you sit in Crooner's you can hear any music that is there or in the Piazza.

Appears like a dry dock in Singapore.

On every Princess cruise I have been on, almost 50, Princess adjusts their clocks to port time. You will have multiple time changes during your cruise. After leaving FL on boarding day or the next evening you will move your clocks back one hour to match Cozumel, EST. Overnight between Cozumel and Belize you will move your clocks back another hour to match the time in Belize and Roatan, CST. After leaving Roatan overnight you will move your clocks forward 1 hour to match the time in Costa Maya, EST. Overnight after leaving Costa Maya you will move your clocks forward to match F.L. time, EDT. If you use a phone for the time remember to set it on manual as you may not be getting the correct time otherwise. I use a wrist watch. Regarding private shore excursions the providers know when the ship arrives and you should plan by port time.

See above

Was just off the Ruby. Believe they are just open play, unattended.

You can reserve a dinner at Sabatini's specialty restaurant. Believe you will get a cake if you mention the special event.

Perrier. Club & tonic soda in cans. Just walk up to any bar and ask what they have. While the terms indicate fountain sodas, you really get canned sodas. I was just on board a few weeks ago and I never saw, nor was never served fountain soda, only cans.

No real queue. Just walk up to the Reserve Class DR entrance anytime the DR is open and you will be seated promptly, basically no wait. No reservations required. I believe the Reserve Class DR on the Enchanted Princess is the Capri DR, deck 6, mid ship. The DR is open every day for breakfast and dinner and for lunch on sea days. But, also remember the great option, one of the best benefits for those in full suites, that full suite guests are provided the full suite, basically made to order, breakfast each morning in Sabatini's. You will only require dining reservations for specialty dining. The included full suite specialty restaurant dining on boarding night is easy to get. It's not crowded on boarding day.

You most definitely can book the plus or premier fare as a solo. I have done it on a cruise which I just disembarked and for a bunch of future cruises. On the internet version the selection is right there as you go through the process. I don't know where to find it on the app version. A T.A. can also book these fares. You can also book the standard fare and upgrade to the plus or premium fare on boarding day. Staff are all around the ship selling upgrades. I believe the stand alone internet package is $25/day if you purchase all days in the cruise. There is a 50% discount for platinum and elite loyalty members. A single day is $30.

This past February 28th when we were boarding at pier 2 there was a person outside the terminal with a sign indicating a shuttle. These shuttles are no charge. There is also an intra port garage shuttle that is no charge. It's possible that the Princess intra port shuttle and the garage shuttle are one in the same.

Yes, correct I guess. We used to call these Shooters. I didn't notice shooters by that name on the menu, but maybe they were there.