dawntrdr

The Dolce Vita bar, which is the main bar and gathering space, has a menu of specialty cocktails but they are not necessarily tailored to the local area as in the S.A.L.T bar on the Moon and Dawn. The bar staff do often have, however, spirits and beers acquired locally and will be happy to make up something for you. I found that a variety of local beers was also available at the Pool bar.

I book directly with SS in the US and have had several cruise consultants over the years. When I first starting booking, the SS consultant would give me OBC, either automatically or if I asked about it at booking as an incentive. Most recently, however, I've been told that, since SS now has included excursions in every port, they do not offer OBC any more as it is not necessary to enhance the experience. That said, I would still inquire about it if the voyage was pricey already, since OBC comes out of the agent's commission.

The best tip I have learned from sailing SS is to pass on the included bus transfer from the hotel to the pier (for embarkcation) and from the pier to the airport (on debarkcation). Take a taxi or an Uber or arrange your own bespoke transfer. Yes, you've already paid for the SS bus, but getting to the destination immediately with your luggage in hand with an experienced driver who will guide you one-on-one with your questions is to me well worth the extra cost. And you are certain to get to the ship or the airport check in line before the crowd. The only time I would not do this is in an exotic port where you would feel safer in SS's bus. To paraphrase Thoreau, when you travel alone, you leave when you are ready. When you travel with others, you leave when the others are ready.

With that bath/shower set-up, there is certainly no way you can ask the butler to run a bath for you! They'd have to take off their shoes and socks and get right in there to reach the controls.

I was browsing in the "Find a Cruise" feature on the website for August 2023, and noted this one for the Silver Ray (???) I think they mean Silver Nova (at least that is what it was yesterday). Query whether "Silver Ray" was its working name before "Silver Nova"was chosen and this is one of those famous glitches.

The Princess website for EU departures says tests for the fully vaccinated (antigen OR PCR) must be done within 72 hours. This was updated June 6. I must assume this is the same for all CLs.