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The correct name for these cabins are "Reserve Collection Mini-suites". They are not in a FULL Suite Category. A premium stateroom category featuring our best located Mini-Suite staterooms, as well as the great amenities found in all Mini-Suites — plus premier dining benefits and luxurious perks. Each night, enjoy Reserve Dining, an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait, expanded menu options, dedicated wait staff and tableside preparations. Other amenities include priority embarkation and disembarkation, a complimentary one-time wine set-up and so much more^ ^Includes one 750 mL bottle of wine on embarkation day. Princess needs to rethink the terminology they use. I apologize for being such a stickler about labels. I am just as guilty as others for sometimes posting inaccurate information. Blame it on the days when I made sure my children knew the difference between Sushi and Sashimi (very long story).

Thank you for a compact review. I was waiting for someone to start this thread. Maybe others on this voyage will also chime in (if you don't mind). With very few ports, it is difficult for Princess to provide an array of entertainers since they could only board in Honolulu (a little more difficult for them to tender them out to the ship in Kona). I agree with you that they should have had more production shows or at least repeat them each week so that more passengers could count on attending them.

Technically, there is NOTHING that is native to the Hawaiian Islands. Everything was brought over by the ocean currents, birds (animals), and Polynesian travelers. Once the islands were discovered, we became a melting pot of cultures and foods from all over the world. So much still to be learned. I am thrilled to hear that you are so knowledgable about the islands. With advance technology, DNA can be traced to the origin of many people/animals/plants.

And there lies your answer: the box lunch was not off loaded from the ship. Probably provided by a local vendor....onshore. I understand the restrictions. Hawaii has you fill out an agriculture form if arriving by air. They are very strict with regards what is brought into the islands. And what is taken out of the islands. You need to go through an agriculture inspection at the airport (luggage AND carry ons). I am guessing that if it was once living or could live, one shouldn't take it ashore. Baked goods are probably an exception as long as there isn't cheese or dairy involved. Best to stick with pre-packaged items. You can get crackers and individual peanut butter cups from any US grocery store.

By the time you get your luggage and catch a cab, you will be able to just walk onboard (after check in). Most of the crowd should have dispersed by noon. Hopefully, you will be in time for embarkation lunch in the Reserve MDR. Doors will close at 1:29:59 PM

Thank you for all of your added clarifications @CPs4591. So here are a few more "options". Have you made final payment? Is your deposit refundable? Have you looked at maybe cruising on a different ship/different time that may have a suite open? Sometimes, one can be placed on a waitlist. Other times, that option is not available. There is no guaranteed Suites. Since you booked with a TA, you will have to have your TA make any changes. BUT...if a suite becomes available (say on a weekend or late at night, see if you can snag it immediately (be careful of fine prints). Do NOT place a deposit. Just a hold. Then. your TA will have to find a way to transfer your current booking to the suite you found. I know, it's more complicated than that.

I love LGB. I am guessing you are flying Southwest out of Sacramento. Just make sure there are several other flights leaving after yours. I was actually boarded on a SWA to Seattle when they took me off the plane. I was able to find a seat and connection on another flight route. Once you claim your luggage, there are lots of UBER/Lyft vehicles available. It will be a 45 minute ride to the cruise terminal. So much less of a hassle than LAX.

International Cafe (or go down the morning before and store some of the breakfast items to eat as you are getting ready. Crescents/banana bread/donuts store well overnight (zip lock bags). Breakfast sandwiches not so well.

I am not sure what Windstar had to offer you in a "Reserve Package". The top of the line in amenities ("having everything covered") would only be if you were able to book a FULL suite WITH a Premier Beverage Package. On the Coral, in a Reserved Collection Mini-Suite, you would still need to do your own laundry or pay by the piece. She does not have a concierge lounge, but a full suite would have access to a concierge through Customer Service. If these "amenities" are not important to you, then you will be fine in a Reserve Collection Mini-suite. Bidding for a suite has it's drawbacks. You will be assigned (without a chance to decline) a stateroom by Princess.....any where on the ship. If you are a risk taker, then this might be a fun upgrade. Good Luck.

@dockman I am not a balcony person either. I may peak my head out every few days. Guess growing up in the islands....surrounded by ocean...makes a balcony less appealing. As you mentioned, to each his/her own. I used to have a travel mate that enjoyed the balcony. She would be out there with her book dressed like Nanook of the North. We would enjoy lunch together...I would be inside and she would be outside with door between us. Now, Alaska is a slightly different story. I could sit outside (weather permitting) and enjoying the scenery. As for the canal....it really is best to be out and about.

In my opinion, if you are on the Caribbean Princess, I would be okay in an Ocean View. Just don't stay in your cabin. There are so many great viewing locations on the ship (aft/Terrace Pool). Enjoy your Window Suite to Hawaii.

Which ship? Which Canal (historic or new)? Full transit/Partial? I made the mistake on my first transit. I had a balcony and stayed in it the entire way through the locks. I should have gotten out and moved about the ship. If you are on the Coral or Island, there are some special doors that Princess will open for the transit. I would get a balcony just for the experience (rise and fall of ship). If you are on a larger ship, then an ocean view will be just fine since there really isn't much to see.

I have organized a few Meet and Greets (from the Cruise Critic Roll Calls). 99% of the participants are usually very friendly and are more than willing to share what they know about the cruise, port, etc. On your next cruise, offer to help with the Meet and Greet. Make name tags, keep a spreadsheet, plan an activity, etc. I do hope you enjoyed your cruise over to our islands. I had a friend on your cruise and we were able to meet in Honolulu.

Good description. Here are a few more "details" for Suite passengers. Be sure to label in big letters....EXPRESS (and check the box in the right hand corner). I generally hand the bag to my steward the night before or place it on the bed in time for turn down service. It needs to be in laundry by 9 AM to be returned the same day after dinner. I have chased my steward down in the morning or left it by the door before 8:30 AM. Once he didn't turn it in on time and on another he placed it in the regular bin. Most often, it was returned in a timely manner. Others have said to take a photo of the chit and/or laundry pieces. I have never done this and have always gotten everything back. You can send things out to be laundered or just for pressing. Princess no longer has "dry cleaning" and I was told that their chemical cleaning was no longer available. I always ask for extra laundry bags and tend to send out a few items every few days. I never send out laundry the day before embarkation (packing day). That seems rather risky for me.

The Grand and The Caribbean have the old Window Suites. The new Royal Class ships have Window Suites...too....but they are too forward and too high up. I also like the smaller ships. I don't miss the bells and whistles.

Everyone has their favorites. First on my list would be the Grand, Caribbean, and the Coral (followed by Sapphire/Diamond) IF they were ported on the West Coast. You won't catch me on the Royal Class or Sphere Class ships.

This is why I made that statement. I have been corrected many times for not clarifying that there is a "bundled" (PLUS/Premier) and other packages. And others wonder why Princess doesn't offer "MORE" options. It's already confusing with just these options. Can you imagine throwing in a "pick your own" package (I just want: coffee, or 1 or 2 cocktails, or I don't drink but want wifi and crew appreciation).

I am confused. Welcome to Cruise Critic, but I think you may have confused a mini-suite/Reserved Collection Mini-Suite/Full Suite. On top of this, a Plus or Premier Beverage Package is independent of your stateroom category. Mini-suites are often confused with FULL suites because of the misnamed category by Princess. I apologize in advance if I am trying to simplify your concerns. Which ship are you booked on? I am not familiar with Royal Class ships and don't know if there are "Premier Mini-Suites" (my mind recalls maybe Premium cabins???) Mini-Suite - a balcony cabin with an addition sofa and television. Reserved Collection Mini-Suite - a mini-suite in a prime location (usually midship. Also includes dining in Reserve Collection MDR Full Suites - comes with full amenities/Reserve Collection MDR/Specialty Breakfast/2 bottles of water daily/free laundry/complimentary minibar/concierge services or concierge lounge on Royal Class Ships. There are two popular beverage packages that include wifi/crew appreciation/alcoholic beverages/unlimited non-alcoholic drinks. Plus and Premier. These are stand alone and are NOT offered with any particular stateroom category. Any passenger may elect to purchase Plus or Premier. I hope this helps define your inquiry. Enjoy your cruise.

Yes, you will be disappointed if that is your expectations. The Explorer Lounge floor, if they have dancing, will be more social dancing than ballroom. In the past, they have had an hour or so of canned music for ballroom dancers…but since they removed the lounge in the back of the ship. Not sure where you would be able to dance. The Wheelhouse floor is even smaller. As a “ballroom dancer”, I have seen less and less catering to dancers and venues.

It sounds like OP is in a Mini-Suite (or would not have started this thread). It would be helpful if OP returns to clarifies stateroom category.

The ship will not provide any medical devices (CPAP, Oxygen concentrator, heart monitor, etc). You will need to either rent one from your doctor, home care store, or buy one. There will be an European outlet by the bed that you will need an adapter. Many out there. Buy one that will allow you to plug in the lamp AND your machine. Your machine should be dual voltage so that is a convenience.

As mentioned, the Grand will NOT have a concierge's lounge....but there will be a concierge available to you via Customer Service. You will be "entitled" to visit the Platinum/Elite/Suite cocktail hour somewhere on the ship. You will have one Specialty Dinner on Embarkation night: book when you board. You will have two Specialty Dinners with the Premier Package (some say you can book this early, others have been charge). You may call room service and order anything since you have Premier. Hot items are only available while the MDR is open. In general......Suite benefit breakfast will not be delivered to your room. Enjoy your time onboard the Grand. One of my favorite ships.

The bigger issue with Princess is that they do not know how to handle multiple packages (with/without loyalty, with/without suite, with/without alcohol, etc). This has been an issue since day one. You would think (aka Sheldon Cooper) that some IT person would be able to do an algorithm so that the persons on the other side of the counter would not have to second guess which package a passenger has. How many remember the coffee "card". It got to a point that the baristas were just handing folks coffees and not deducting them from the digital package. At least with the physical card, they would stop and add a punch.

@NavyVeteran Thanks for catching that. I caught a head cold from the kids and not operating at full capacity.

Mini-suites are misnamed staterooms. They are considered "extended/expanded" balcony cabins and do resemble Full Suites at all. Welcome to Princess? Enjoy your cruise.