WisCruiser2

If I remember correctly from our two Alaska trips (2002 & 2018), the Grand Pacific glacier is to the right as you are facing Margerie, basically the end of the Bay. This photo is from 2018.

We cancelled a cruise scheduled for last October as DH had a cardiac procedure (ablation) scheduled for 2 weeks after we returned and the hospital policy was 3 weeks of no symptoms or positive test. We didn't want to risk it being postponed. We did go on a 20-day cruise in February and were among the few wearing masks inside the ship. Avoided Covid until the end of the cruise, which I feel we may have gotten from the dining room...luck of the draw, I guess.

So, typical Princess misinformation...

@MacMadame it may have been 90 days in the past but at least for the past year it's been 60 days.

1) Yes - the form has a line for New Agency Name and New Travel Advisor's Name (if applicable). You need to contact your TA (or agency) and have them send you the request form, all their information will be already included. 2) If you find a fare drop or better deal, your agency can either apply it for you or re-book it. 3) I don't think it matters if your agency does not show the stateroom as available -- of course, if you already booked it with Princess, it wouldn't. 4) From the form: "Bookings may only be transferred within 60 days of booking creation so long as (a) the request is made outside the Final Pyment period, and (b) the booking is not paid in full." I don't anything regarding sales, maybe someone else has more info.

What is CC?

I'm guessing that maybe Princess holds those cabins for 3 or 4 person bookings, then releases what is left for 2 people? I know that when we booked on the Enchanted in October for this past February, Deluxe Balcony Guarantees (DF) were the only category left for balconies (had just wanted a regular balcony). We ended up in a quad room (with bed in the ceiling, didn't bother us a bit) on Dolphin deck, with the big balcony. I'm not sure, but if the only way to book a Deluxe is with Guarantee, they would have to give you a refundable deposit?

We used to get 3rd-party travel insurance but since Covid we've gone with Princess. One advantaage was that we had not paid for the insurance when we decided to cancel before final payment (just weren't quite ready to cruise yet) and another time after final payment (when we had paid the insurance) we had to cancel due to DH having a procedure scheduled just after we were to get back. While it didn't fit under the Medical reason for refund, we did get FCC for what we paid instead of losing several thousand dollars.

In October 2013 we spent the weekend in Bar Harbor while visiting our daughter in Boston. There were 3 or 4 cruise ships there on Saturday - we commented on how it felt to be on the other side of a port stop!

My bad, I thought I'd read somewhere that only the Royal class had the fresh juice bars.

We had balconies, 152 & 710. I realized you have an inside but don't think you'll get much (if any) sound from the deck below.

Since Deck 9 is all staterooms, I'm guessing it's storage, crew stairways, etc. We were on Dolphin on Enchanted (same layout) in February - one stateroom forward, the other aft - and never heard any noise from those areas. You don't need to worry about the deck above.

I would guess Palm Beach - that's the one with all the high-rise hotels. We've only done a ship tour in Aruba once (first time there) years ago and it didn't have a beach stop.

Apparently, the higher-ups at Princess don't realize that THEIR poor choices regarding Customer Service (or Customer No-service!) are costing them new cruisers. I agree with the post above re contacting the head of Customer Service -- maybe if they get enough complaints...?

@IUSteve, as others have explained, booking a DF Guarantee room does not necessarily mean that is what you will be assigned. We booked last fall for February on the Enchanted (A Royal-class ship) and wanted a balcony. There were no regular balcony staterooms left so we booked a Guarantee Deluxe (DF), only choice left. About a week or so before our sailing we were assigned a Deluxe in a higher category (i.e., better location). So I wouldn't be too worried, especially if your cruise is a ways out.

Did you book the cruise through Amex or just pay with it? I may have to read the Amex info more carefully!

I think the "juice bars" are only on the Royal-class ships?

I don't know if it is unlocked when not being used, you could probably ask at Guest Services. Do know that there is a daily Friends of Bill W meeting, usually around 3, that uses the chapel.

If you enjoy jazz, don't miss Take 5 - hopefully, the James Faherty Trio is still playing, they were awesome! Each night was a different "era" or style of jazz, so not a lot of repeats. Several members of the House also played a couple of nights, excellent, too.

Also check out the Ports forum here. Plenty of posts about tours that folks have taken!

I think it's because those cabins are held for those who have 3 or 4 people, then released when they don't fill up.

@bandp407 if you booked a "Deluxe Balcony" apparently those are all Guarantee rooms for some reason. You said you booked through a big box agency - if you wanted a "non-Deluxe" stateroom, you should have been able to choose it. We were on Enchanted in February for a B2B - had booked a regular balcony initially the year before. When we decided to add the other leg last fall (due to cancellation of another cruise) the only available option was Deluxe Guaranteed (with a good fare) so we took it. Ended up for that leg with a Deluxe on Dolphin deck, with the bigger balcony!

On our Enchanted B2B in February we missed Princess Cays both times. The port tax of $67 or so was applied as OBC to our folio by the next day each time. We also missed Dominica, that port refund was about $8, so it really varies depending on the port!

OMG, we were on Enchanted in February and LOVED Take 5 and the Jazz trio that was there! The House band (or at least some of them) also played a couple of nights and were good, too. There were always a lot of people in there, seemed to be a hangout for the officers, too. And the bar staff was great! Different strokes for different folks, I guess...

we did a B3B on Enchanted in February, in two different cabins. The first was a deluxe balcony and the bed was very comfortable. The second was a regular balcony and that bed definitely was softer and more saggy. My husband wondered if a "plus-sized" cruiser had been in the room before us! Good to know that you can ask to have the mattress flipped, will try to remember that.