stevenr597

We used to love "Traditional Dining" but, especially on Princess, we like to book a Reserve Class which gives preferential seating. We often take in the Early Show in the main theatre, getting there fairly early so we can find good seats, and then eat dinner afterwards.

We were book for Israel via Holland American this coming October, but cancelled the cruise after H.A. cancelled port stops in Israel. We rebooked and hopefully will be able to do stop in Israel for October, 2025.

I would imagine that assigned times would actually cost less money. Put less strain and give more efficiency to the waiters and kitchen in that they would not have to be preparing multiple dishes at the same time.

Yes, eating at a specific time. But the staff was much more attentive and had an easily time with the means.

Just remember the "Old Days" when there was a midnight buffet every night, with one gala buffet. When one had several waiters at the table, and if you food was not excellent, the waiter would be quick to replace it with another dish. Of course you would be expect to eat your three meals in the main dining room at your assigned table.

We are looking forward to a week cruise on the Sun Princess next March. We traditionally book Club Class/Reserve Mini-Suite which we did for this cruise. We are three people, and we have noticed that that the vast majority of Reserve Class Mini-suites will only accommodate two people. Those that will be set up for 3 or 4 passengers are usually connecting cabins. We have heard some horrible things about cabins which connect in that they can be quite noisy. However, we have been in hotel rooms which are connecting with no problem. Any comments about these cabins on the Sun Princess?

We had Princess Plus…but to be honest, we had so much food that either between lunch and dinner, or late at night we just had tea and a chocolate chip cookie.

On the Regal Princess, we asked the server if we could just have 1 or two scoops of ice cream instead of the Speciality Desert. His answer….no problem.

We have book Reserve Class Mini-Suite during March, 2025 on Sun Princess. We are a party of three and found out that most Mini-Suites are limited to two people. The majority of Mini-Suites available for three people are connecting. We have heard that connecting cabins are usually noisier. Any comments about this?

I believe that the couch converts into a bed in the mini-suites designed for 3 or more.

Wow!!!! We are booked, Reserve Class, Sun Princess, March, 2025. Hope that they get these problems sorted out by them.

I believe that Princess has done away with “Coffee Syrup” and now uses Lavazza Brand Coffee both in the Buffet and in the main dining room. . In the “atrium” one has the choice of a variety of different types of coffee, also from Lavazza.

Glad to hear that you had a great experience. Perhaps it was because you were on the “Edge” Class. When we sailed on the Reflection, some of the crew told us that Celebrity was putting much effort into this class. Our experience was not limited to Celebrity, or even to cruising. We have noticed higher prices and generally less service in hotels and restaurants. We do feel that it will be some time to fully recover from the effects of Covid. But like I said, a bad day cruising is still better than a great deal at work.

Just read today the food riots have broken out in…..Cuba. The State Department has issued an alert for, of all places, Nassau, about crime. In Granada a retired couple had their boat hijacked and they were killed. Sadly, the Caribbean is not as safe as it used to be.

Sadly, since Covid many things are "not the same." Prices are up, service is down; whether at home, or on a cruise. We have noticed on Celebrity in "Blu" that the variety of food on the menu is more limited, and actual size of portions have decreased. On Princess we noted relatively slow service in the morning "making up the cabins." But despite this, we are glad to be back at cruising, whether on Holland America, Celebrity or Princess. A bad day at sea is still better than a good day at work.

I think the Minisuite Reserve Class is not easily comparable to anything at the same price on Celebrity.

RCCL has announced that they are stopping, for at least one week, at Labadee.

We like Celebrity, but recently we have decided that Princess is a better value. We usually book Reserve Class Mini-Suite on Princess. But we are also scheduled to sale Holland America a during October, 2025.

I have found that if you book while currently on a cruise, you get a pretty good deal with a lot of credit for the upcoming cruise. Otherwise it is more a matter of luck. We usually are fairly selective in the type of room we book, Aqua Class on Celebrity and Reserve Class Mini-Suite on Princess, and quite often these rooms go fast, and we often see little in the way of sales. In respect to changing or missing ports, on Carnaval several years ago we missed most ports because of Hurricanes. The missed Disney’s Private Island because of thunderstorms, and and recently on Trans-Atlantic we arrived at the Azores 10:00 PM instead of 8:00 AM because of weather. Missing ports is something that is never liked but will happen. In the end my wife and I joke that a rainy day at sea is better than a sunny day at work.

Many years ago we were on the Sovereign of the Seas (RCCL) and stopped for a day at Labadee. It was a time of great turmoil in Haiti and the United Nation had sent peacekeepers. We were sitting at the beach and a Jeep came by with the United Nations Logo and several Canadian Soldiers. They stopped for a friendly “chat” with us and joked that they were there to make sure none of the “Yanks” misbehaved. I am sure that you will have a great time in a great and beautiful port.

I do wish that Princess would stock Laphroaig and Isle of Jura. Both are heavily peated and smoked scotch Whiskey.

Have to disagree with your comments….again. Suggest that you read my first posting, which was quite clear in respect to the problem we had experienced.

Must disagree, it is also the responsibility of the cruise line to make it clear, exactly what your are purchasing.

Why???

We received the notice of booking within 1-2 days after we requested our T.A. to book this cruise, as well as a E-Mail from Celebrity welcoming us back. In the bottom of the E-Mail of the notice from our agent that he made the reservation, there was a PDF box with the actual invoice. Once you clicked that I believe that there was a small notice that the booking was non-refundable. In any case, I am pleased to note that the problem has been rectified.