LEtue

I don't know what is actually in that blank space, but I can almost guarantee you that the cabins will not open out into an open area...There will be some sort of hallway.

Thanks! That is what I'm hoping :)

I looked at deck 3 and 5 to see if something was there and can't find any clues. No one at Royal seems to know for sure :confused:

Does anyone have any insight into what is in the odd shaped space on deck 4 in front of cabins 4682 - 4688?

It appears as though those cabins may open onto an open area?

 

That one is way too expensive for us in May. I should have mentioned I'd looked at that one.

Sorry, I saw a $237 per night for your dates and thought it might work.

Our home away from home in Barcelona is the very European style Hotel Colon located a few short blocks from the Ramblas in a perfect location across the street from the Cathedral. They show plenty of availability for those nights. Personally we prefer the quieter Gothic Quarter (Hotel Colon) to the noisy and too commercial Ramblas.

 

Hank

I agree with Hank on the Hotel Colon and really enjoyed our stay there!

I just booked a studio outside cabin on the Harmony this week!

Price was nice and I will be cruising on my first mega ship :D

I see plenty of availability on kayak including Hotel 1898 on La Ramblas.

You may want to try booking checking on one of the large search engines. Then if you prefer you can go directly to book..

Good luck

In addition to the 3 main dining rooms, there is the Horizon Court buffet, as well as the pizza and hot dog/hamburger grill on Lido. Down on Deck 5, there is the International Café and Alfredo's which is the "sit down" pizza café.

 

I don't think they experience long waiting lines on the first evening for dinner...don't know exactly why, but perhaps because a lot of people do tend to board somewhat later and are looking for a quick bite, and to be able to get unpacked and settled in. (We did not notice any bad lines.)

 

If there is a wait at a particular dining room, you can be sure that evening that the 3 Head Waiters on the door for each are communicating about how much seating they each have available and directing passengers to the best option.

 

While the menu is limited, there is also the room service option.

Thanks ggprincess2004,

I knew about the other options but I use the dining room as much as possible on a cruise since I live alone and can't get that kind of service at home :D I do love the Internaltional cafe once in a while though!

No, they haven't changed the itinerary, I think it's way to early for them to make that decision. Naples is indeed on our itinerary as well as in September (11th).

I don't think it is too early for those of us wanting to book - but not wanting to go to Tunis. I'm sure a lot of passengers still want to go there but I doubt it will be a good choice even over the next few years :(

Loved the rest of the itinerary but I gave up and booked the Harmony of the Seas yesterday :)

Was wondering if there will be a dining room back up around 6 pm since everyone will be trying to finish ahead of the cut off....

We are doing a Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise that returns to Whittier about 5:30 pm so we won't be aboard much before dining starts. Maybe the Bistro that night?

Princess is going to Palermo and Messina in 2016! Plus Malta and Tunis (maybe!). Looking forward to these new ports (for us)!

Looking at your itinerary for May 2016 it looks like Tunis is still scheduled. Did you receive a different itinerary with your confirmation?

I am interested in the booking the Royal for September 2016 and don't want to go to Tunis :( Hoping for Naples instead actually.....

I agree with the posters above. I'd sum it up as...a Caribbean cruise is vacationing, a Med cruise is traveling. :) Enjoy!

Perfectly stated and I totally agree :D

Could we please leave any discussion related to "how", "why", "fault" out of this thread and keep it dedicated to expressions of grief for the people involved and their loved ones.

Thank you.

Yes, please!

Prayers to all the families and friends of those lost :(

That is great news. I wonder if this means it will be available in 2016 too. I hope!

 

I'm serious when I say - stay home. Stay home and let her take her BFF, sister or SIL - because your attitude is a downer and will only ruin it for her. There are many different islands with white sand beaches and I've been on many of them - there is only 1 Alaska. :D

I totally agree. Alaska is too wonderful to not enjoy it with someone that really wants to be there.....

We are scheduled to sail at 8:30 pm.

Thanks Caribill :)

I have been wondering about the timing of the lifeboat drill too since I am sailing on my first SB in August.

Open seating for dinner is great but what time is the lifeboat drill? I'm sure a lot of passengers will be trying to avoid being at dinner when it takes place :confused:

Was thinking the same....thank goodness for the tiered balcony design on the ship.

I'm guessing the one of the cameras pickup him up when he fell off the railing so they probably didn't know he had landed on a balcony below. Can't imagine what a surprise that was for the passengers in that cabin!

Princess also offers some nice rail trips from Anchorage or Fairbanks to Denali and you can stay as many nights as you want - without needing a car. Easy to get to Anchorage for a transfer to a southbound sailing from Whittier :)

http://www.princesslodges.com/alaska-rail-tours.cfm

Just to add, it doesn't take a day to travel to Vancouver - only 4 hours. The train leaves at 7:45 am and arrives in Vancouver at 11:45 am. Then you can transfer right to the ship. Works well for a pre-cruise stay in Seattle and part of the adventure :)

Also, I would disagree that Seattle has more to do than Vancouver. I guess it would depend on what you what you like to do but wow, there are so many wonderful areas to explore - Granville Island, Stanley Park, Gastown, Grousse Mountain.

Both cities offer great pre-cruise options - even for a short stay. So what cruise do you want to take? That is the real decision :)

Then on Monday we watched the Wonder and the Sun race north, the Wonder overtook the Sun again. We call it "cruise ship races" as they race to meet the optimal tide and current in the Narrows; then on other days they will just float by as there is no point in rushing to the Narrows. It's our summer sport.:)

LOL, that is awesome! It must be wonderful to watch them all sailing by :D

Princess and HAL have inside cabins for $399 sailing next month. I didn't look at any other cruiselines and didn't notice the details other than one of the sailings is Princess out of Whittier.

 

If you're on the fence, this price might help you over.

 

This is the 5th yr in a row that I've seen this .....

Yes, we booked in May when the prices dropped. Not quite $399 but $454 for the cabin we wanted :D We always talked about booking one of these last minute deals and finally made it work. With FF air miles it all came together :)

We were scheduled to sail in May 2016 but moved up to take advantage of the deals and put some space in between the next cruise ;)

Since you didn't give the actual dates I am assuming you mean the May 21st Crown vs May 14 Star?

The port time in Ketchikan is too short on the Crown and you get Sitka on the Star :) Plus as mentioned, leaving from Vancouver is so much better for scenery and it eliminates the manditory stop in Victoria and you spend the last day sailing along Vancouver Island into Vancouver. :D

You didn't mention how many of you are traveling but I have never found flying into YVR that much more whether using FF miles or buying seats :confused: There are also lots of flight on Alaska Air between the two cities or stay in Seattle and take the morning train to Vancouver to meet the ship. It is a beautiful 4 hour trip along the coast. Then either fly home from Vancouver or return to Seattle. Lots of options to check before you eliminate leaving from Vancouver.

Hi everyone!

 

I'll be boarding Star Princess on Saturday, June 20, in Whittier for a seven-night cruise through Glacier Bay to Vancouver with all-new North to Alaska! programming. We'll be running a Cruise Critic Live chat from June 22 to 26 while I'm onboard. If you've got a question about the ship, Alaska excursions or any of the onboard programs, simply leave it on the chat, and I'll answer once we get sailing. Thanks, and looking forward to it!

 

~Brittany Chrusciel, Associate Editor

Awesome Brittany and I look forward to the live chat!

I have...but not for a couple of days :)

If you can go in May take a look at the Star May 14 sailing which is RT from Vancouver. Princess doesn't normally offer these sailings.

I was originally booked on it until I found a deal that allowed me to go this year instead. It is a great itinerary and you can still fly in and out of Seattle if necessary and add transfers.

Yes, I am watching for any but I am particularly interested in the Juneau stop on the Star so I can get the time for Libby Riddles' talk - hopefully in the afternoon :)