timetravler

I love pier 27. So much better then the old pier 35. Does the OP not think a major storm in SF might delay boarding a bit? Gees, be happy, you're going on a cruise.

Princess explanation is no explanation. I have no idea what so ever as to why they are going to pier 35 instead of pier 27 at all. Perhaps private boats are using pier 27. You know money talks. However the stadium where the super bowl is being played is pretty far away from San Francisco. Just wish Princess would elaborate a bit more. Do expect large crowds in SF at that time though. That part I understand.

I also just returned from a 10 day Mexican cruise out of San Francisco on the Grand. I have now been on the Grand 3 times and the Royal once. I would pick the Grand going to Alaska any day over going to the Caribbean. Alaska is far more scenic. Plus the Royall is just so big service suffers. For instance when I boarded the Royal in October, 2015, our cabin was not ready until 1pm. Cabin stewards seem to be more rushed on the Royal too. The best thing about the Royal is the buffet which is superb. However on the Grand, everything ran smoothly. But I was on the Caribe deck and did notice some sort of wet carpeting several doors down from me. They had the carpet driers going for 2 days there. However over all, the Grand is still grand.

Don't forget that Elite members can get High tea delivered to their cabin if they wish. I have done this several times inviting a few people to my cabin. The tea includes several choices of tea, plus scones, jam and cream along with cookies, cake, and several choices of little sandwiches. I always order less food for the amount of people coming as what they bring is a huge amount. ps, there is no charge for this service for Elites.

Don't forget that Elite members can get High tea delivered to their cabin if they wish. I have done this several times inviting a few people to my cabin. The tea includes several choices of tea, plus scones, jam and cream along with cookies, cake, and several choices of little sandwiches. I always order less food for the amount of people coming as what they bring is a huge amount.

A BVE is the only way to be able to board early. You do not have to bring anyone with you to do a BVE. Plus if you book another cruise while on board, you get credited with the amount you paid for the BVE. If you are doing a BVE, you will board sometime between 11 and 11:30 unless something delays boarding. Also not all embarking ports do BVE's. Call Princess to find out which ones and what dates. One more thing, if you are doing a BVE on the Royal Or Regal, most likely your cabin will not be ready until 1pm. I have seen this on each of these ships so far.

From the first day that cruise goes on sale.Otherwise you will be out of luck.

I think I read somewhere that if a person books one of those cabins and does not have a handicap they can get banned from that cruise line for life?.

There are more and more of us now days needing that type of cabin with the population aging.To book that cabin when there are no physical needs is a truly very selfish move indeed.

I actually know someone who was indeed banned for life from Princess. This was over a long period of time in which they booked handicap cabins for every cruise. While embarking they would request a wheelchair and use it until they got to their cabin. Then they would tell the cabin steward to take the wheelchair away as they didn't need it. Then Princess found out they did active excursions that included lots of walking. It was all documented. Right before they were to leave on a world cruise, they got banned for life. So yes it does happen.

I have done both the Chefs table on the Royal and the wine makers dinner. With the Chefs table, you have no choice as to the menu and can only not eat what you don't want. But that totally defeats the purpose which is the Chef decides what to serve. So If I have dinning restrictions, I would not do the Chefs table as it would be a waste of money for you. Now for the wine makers dinner, usually the entrée is with some sort of meat plus fish. You might get both. So after you board, go to one of the restaurants and ask a head waiter what the wine makers dinner will include. Hopefully they can answer your questions. But I would try the wine makers dinner before I would do the Chefs table if you are pretty much a vegetarian.

BTW, I have done the Chefs table 4 times, but only once on the Royal. It's a beautiful dinning experience and includes a picture and a cook book as well. The wine makers dinner is much more conservatively priced and is still a wonderful experience.

Not sure about the Ultimate Balcony dinning for your cabin, but ask first and then decide.

I have done several Christmas cruises and I was also on this particular cruise. If you do not want kids on board then simply do not book a cruise during Spring Break, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas or in July or August. Now as far as the kids on this cruise, I never had any trouble with them other then a few playing in the elevators or running and bumping into others. But that was very rare. Most all the kids were well behaved. I had more problems with the parents who let their kids run around in the dinning room or let them in the hot tubs by themselves, or simply ignored them completely. Parents are the ones to blame, not the kids.

What irks me to no end is plates of food in the hall way, YUCK! Princess absolutely needs to put a notice both on the beds and in the patter not to leave food in the hall way and if seen will be put right back into your cabin. Also what I saw on my last cruise was people leaving large strollers in the hall way. If a cart happens to be there and a stroller is left there, then a wheelchair CAN NOT get by. Once again Princess needs to enforce their own rules.

I had a similar problem except 2 months ago my husband decided he did not want to go. So I called my TA right away and yes paid the single supplement. But I did have insurance so got FCC instead. However I am sure when you check in there will not be a problem with a no show. However Princess may charge your son later on the single supplement. So just be prepared for that possibility. My thought is suppose everyone who travels as a single did this, Princess would loose money. That is why I think a no show in a cabin may be charged at a later time.

The ONLY time I wear a lanyard is when my outfit doesn't have any pockets or I do not want to bring a purse. No one should care what color your cruise card is anyways. Also all kids have blue cards no matter how many cruises they have done. It is a easy way to identify who is 21 or not. Just be happy you are on a cruise and think about all those people who only dream of going on a cruise.

Anytime after about 7:30 is fine. It's really up to you. 1 or 2 days before you get back to SF, you will have a paper to fill out stating if you want to handle your luggage yourself and if you have any flights. It will not take long to get through immigration at all. So I would pick whatever time you want to get off. Pretty much everyone is off the ship before 10am. Also if after you get your luggage tags a day or 2 before, if you do not like the time they assign you, just go to the purser's desk. However they may not give you a better time.

Yes! They're in Sacramento. I went after I saw them on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and it was quite the experience.

I also went there because of DDD. It was an experience for sure. That cheese is like nothing I have ever had. The skirt of cheese hangs over the burger and onto a plate. However nothing beats a in n' out burger except maybe a burger from Gott's also known as Taylor's refresher. They have one along the Embarcardo btw.

When i started this post i never would have imagined it having more than 34000 views. i am really happy that some of you got a laugh or smile about my affection for In N OUT burgers…a sense of humor ,and, not taking yourself to seriously are 2 things i work on each day…

 

as of now we are told we will be in Ensenada as scheduled and for just a few hours stay. Since my time on the internet is limited since leaving Hawaii, i haven't had the time to check the best taco joints in Ensenada so if someone has a favorite please let me know.

 

we are really Looking forward to the turnaround day on the 10th.

 

Some other thoughts on this cruise…all good….Catholic priest on board celebrating Mass every day sure has been nice. The kids on board, from my perspective have been well behaved. Outstanding fresh made waffles every day…German night in horizon court was excellent…

i realize that folks from the west coast are used to it, but watching football at 0900 just doesn't seem right…or healthy…..or natural

 

Formal nights-some people dressed up some folks didn't…really not something i pay much attention to anymore...

 

although certainly NOT " IN N OUT " burger quality…the burgers on board are very good.

 

Although we have all stated how wonderful the crew has been, i feel compelled to repeat it again.

I struggle to find a negative about this cruise… Best i can do is mention the strong perfume some passengers steep themselves in and immediately jump on an elevator…the aroma reminds me of the very natural reaction our overweight english bulldog suffers after he has eaten a chunk of bratwurst.

My favorite fish taco's were next to the parking lot at La Bufadora(the blow hole). They cost like $2 each. So for $10 hubby and I had 2 taco's each and a bottle of water each. Can't beat that. However I am not sure you will have time to go there.

I haven't learned a lot in my life, but two things I have learned... 1.) You never have to apologize for being a couple of minutes early... and 2.) You can never say "Thank You" too many times.

 

Best quote I have read in a long time. Too bad we always have grumpy people no matter what.

Oh, and THANK YOU!

For a good "chain" burger, check out Gott's. It's in the ferry building just down the Embarcadero from the cruise ship terminal in San Francisco.

 

http://gotts.com/

I agree that Gott's has fantastic burgers as well as fish taco's and everything else. However I do not consider them a chain restaurant at all. The ONLY other place they have is in St Helena and Napa. The one in St Helena use to be called Taylor's Refresher. St Helena is where Gott's first started.

I just got off the Regal on Nov 3rd and had self debarkation. I was able to leave the ship by 7am or so. Got to the airport well before 8am. But I had a noon flight. I would NEVER stress myself out with a flight before 11am. It isn't worth it to me. One glitch is all it takes to miss your flight. Princess suggestion to NOT book a early flight is done for a darn good reason.

Does anyone know the width and height of the cabin doors? If it matters I am wondering about the Grand Princess. I am making a door decoration that covers the whole door. Thanks

I was also on this cruise and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of my cruise. I LOVED Fiera and thought it was fantastic. Also loved bravo and the singers were really good. The Sorprano from the USA was excellent. Much better then other production shows. But very glad to hear other opinions. Loved The Voice contest on the ship too, but only a couple of singers were really good. Heard one person stuffed the ballot box before the finals and got caught. Her voice was like fingernails on a chalk board so was glad she got caught. Its crazy what some will do in order to try to win something. As always the food everywhere was great though we did the Tuscan dinner and did not enjoy the meat plate much at all. It was $60 pp.I had a pretty good buzz on after all that wine though. I did the previous cruise also on the Regal and enjoyed that too. All in all I had a great time with several friends that brightened my day.

I have made a door decoration for all my cruises. I put the decorations in a plastic cover so the chances of stuff getting stolen is lessoned. Sometimes magnets are not strong enough, so command strips are also used by me. It makes it so easy to find your cabin too. If I can make someone smile after they look at the door decorations, then that is even better.

The scenery you don't see on the way up, you will see on the way down. Therefore it doesn't matter what side you sit on. BTW, I have done this excursion 3 times. When you book it through Princess you get a train car all for those who booked through Princess and usually it is the train car closest to the ship. This excursion is well worth the money and great for all ages.

One of the reasons Princess does not do many upgrades(free ones) anymore is because people complain about them. It became too much of a hassle. So you get a handicap cabin, which MOST all of us would LOVE, But you don't like it, really? Is it the stigma that you are in a handicap cabin that bothers you? BTW the mattress in a handicap cabin is the exact same type of mattress as every other cabin. I just do not understand your complaint. But I do hope you get a cabin that suites you more anyways.

because the ship has no idea if you are consuming anything you bring on board, the rules are still the same. Like the other poster said, the best way is to purchase alcohol on the ship to give to friends and such after your cruise. But be aware Canada has pretty strict customs on how much you can bring in.

Seeing the Royal for the first time as we are on a Vaparetto(2013) in Venice Italy. I'll never forget that sight.