walkingsoon

It greatly exceeded my expectations. It sort of works! One odd anomaly - trying to book MedallionNet, single device for 32 days, the new app wanted $270 while the old one charged the expected $240 ($7.50/day after discount). I used the old one. I will note that my dining reservations, excursions and the newly purchased MedallionNet did all get transferred to the new app. Despite some sign in and timeout issues, I have high hopes that this new app might not suck quite so much as the old one. I tend not to carry my phone around on the ship, so I don't really care that much about the app as long as they let me on board.

I've done just that several times, including on the Crown. I'd try it in Botticelli. Take those two available reservations (hopefully one is for the first or second day) and try as you describe, though I usually do it midway through the meal as opposed to on the way out, when it's likely to be more chaotic at the entrance. Your description of the reservation availability for four weeks out sounds familiar. It's the dining reservation system failure more than the app or website. All are kind of broken, though. I doubt elite status matters in this instance, gentle modesty and respect while communicating with the head waiter and front table employees being more important. walkingsoon

Sapphire is possibly my favorite Princess ship, certainly in the top three. A good size, it's got a very nice promenade deck and I like the variety in MDR design. I was last on it in August and, despite being full, everything was running smoothly and the crew were great. walkingsoon

I do indeed, Memoak, yet I still take small steps where I can. Thank you for your feedback. Walkingsoon

I got this offered by phone. I considered it and rejected it, feeling that I wouldn't get the full value out of the hotel package parts of the deal. Looking at at the numbers... You pay $5099 and the $4500 cruise credits and $200 shipboard credit. These are the only "hard" (imo) value components that you'll very likely get back at a 1:1 value. That means you're paying $399 for the rest and I felt that these "soft" value parts of the deal might not yield a worthwhile payout. I suspect that the 7 night premium hotel stay certificate comes with a whole bunch of strings. The $600 in hotel credits reminded of my "free" $200 hotel credit that I get with my Amex Platinum, but which are only applicable at super high priced hotels that already have that amount baked into their base price and are effectively useless because I'd never book there. Anyway, I looked and said no. Your mileage may vary. Walkingsoon

I do. I use a faraday pouch and belt clip to carry mine. It's a handy holder, the added rfid protection just a side benefit. Not so much for avoiding mischarges, I simply don't like being electronically tracked. You can't avoid it altogether in the modern world but you can still take small steps. I've heard third hand (take it for it's worth) that some passengers, despite testing c-19 negative, have been involuntarily quarantined based on contact tracing using their medallions. (during an outbreak on Majestic leaving PNG last year) Walkingsoon...tin foil hat pulled down low.

I sailed 11/6/23 and she was near full capacity. I thought it was fine. A few of the MDR crowd control issues that I had experienced on a 9/24/22 sailing had been ironed out. I'd happily sail on it again, preferring it to any Royal class, even the newest ones. Another personal preference. Walkingsoon

On the Ruby now, buffet has been open to 10:00 pm for last four nights, for the embarkation, two sea days and a port day. FWIW, I think they're doing a pretty good job. The ship is a hair away from full (I heard 3k passengers) and there have been some lines, but they seem to move well. For a sea day lunch, after running out of two toppers in Da Vinci (the only open MDR) they escorted people a dozen at a time up, aft and down to Botticelli (theoretically closed) to seat them there. I hadn't seen that done before. The head waiters and door personnel deserve recognition for working hard at a tough job.

Thanks, MK. My order history screen looks exactly the same as yours, except for the "cancel order" link. It's just not there.

I was interested to read that choosing to pick up your medallion at the port changed you from blue to green. I'm picking up at the port and have everything filled out, including the option to pick up at the port, yet I still show blue on the app and "incomplete" on the website. I tried to delete and resubmit my medallion order but was unable to do so. I called the Princess Ocean Medallion help line, a painfully long and slow conversation, and she told me that I would remain blue line because I was picking up at the port. She also said there was no way to delete and resubmit my medallion order request. Attempting to end the call politely, I was delayed as she then went on to try and sell me transfers, specialty restaurants and upgrade drink packages, all of which I declined. Though having helping me not at all, she then asked me to stay on the line and leave feedback. I declined, a kindness to her. I had hoped to change to green to avoid the extra hour plus long wait that being blue caused me last in Vancouver. Hopefully FLL will be different. I might just lunch out and wander in about 3:00 pm to minimize the added aggravation; embarkation day luncheon simply isn't worth it, imo. I've wasted enough effort on this. I know that arriving with appropriate documentation will get me on board, but I do have to say (repeat) that their app, their website, information inconsistencies and medallion program are simply annoying. To other folk with gray hair and perhaps marginal technical skills: the problem does not reside with you. It's with Princess.

That price seems very unattractive to me, no matter how you look at it. If you're wanting a long ocean crossing, that same ship is doing a 28 day Rome to FLL in late November without a single supplement for about a third of that guarantee price. Or you could get a mini suite for less than they're asking for the shorter transpacific inside cabin. If you really want that specific cruise, I'd wait. I sailed a transpacific this spring on a ship that was full before and nearly full after but had fewer passengers than staff for the actual crossing. Last minute deals were way below $100/day. If you really want that specific cruise and you really want to select your own cabin, call a CVP.

"On what ships was that? Recently?" Sapphire, Crown. Spring and summer.

Now I believe. After submitting last week and getting rejected, I resubmitted today and got it applied to my account. The response was < 1 hour. Kudos to Princess for wisely reversing their decision and to their SHB representative who is responding so incredibly quickly. This goes a long ways to overcoming my disappointment at losing the coffee card, losing the loyalty OBC and having the most travelled luncheon converted to a cocktail party. The ever expanding size of their new ships still bothers me, but one can't really argue with the incredible value added by their OBC programs: Shareholder, military, FCC, casino core and Amex Platinum. Walkingsoon

... and I prefer the older ships to the newer Royal class ones, but I respect those who don't. It's good to have choices! Some of it depends on your personal preferences. Do you like a full promenade deck? How concerned are you about a ship's age? How sensitive are you to crowdedness? If I were going for an inside cabin, I'd definitely opt for the ship (the Emerald) with a promenade deck for scenic viewing. If I had a balcony (and one thing right on the Royal ships is the very good value available for some of their obstructed view cabins with outsized balconies) then it might simply come down to a price comparison. Regards, Walkingsoon

good news: I got a response nearly immediately. bad news: This was it -- "We received your request for Shareholder Benefits, unfortunately your booking has Military Benefits already. The two benefits can’t be combined in one passenger per booking".

I just heard today (from a random CVP - mine's on vacation) that the policy change had indeed been reversed. Sent in an e-mail SHB request and will believe it when I see it.

I recently spent 28 days directly above that cabin and was bothered not at all by engine, wake or thruster noise. I liked the far aft location. I'd pick that oceanview cabin in a heartbeat if the alternative was an inside. Three steps: 1) Book that cabin 2) Don't give it another thought 3) Enjoy your cruise

Don't know the 'why' only the 'what'. I thought it had to do with cookies, tried clearing them, but still couldn't access the excursions. So I can get to them by (1) signing in incognito or (2) sign in from the regular window and then right mouse button and 'open link in new window'. There's a lot of stuff that shouldn't be with their electronic interface.

Another way - sign in from Chrome's 'incognito' window.

Sabatini's - better location and menu variety. My last few Crown Grill meals left me unimpressed. My opinion, walkingsoon

I'd go with Jade, having been on both. I expect you'll do fine either way. The ships - Jade is simply smaller. The Grand class ships are indeed grand, but adding an extra deck for the Grand-X class makes them somewhat crowded at full capacity. The service - Neither is better or worse than the other, imo. I sail more on Princess, but NCL does lots of stuff well, including their long running version of dine anytime (freestyle cruising) which is still a work in progress on Princess. Main dining room food on both ships is good enough for me. I have a slight preference for the specialty restaurants on NCL. For casual dining away for the pool area, I prefer O'Sheehans on NCL to the International Cafe on Princess. Many here will disagree with me. The itinerary - that's a toss up. They're both great, with the fourteen day voyages taking you to some of my favorites: Martinique, St. John, Puerto Plata, Curacao. I'd have a hard time choosing, but you should enjoy either one. Note that, with your plan of exploring on your own, not all is paradise everywhere in the Caribbean.. The vibe - also a toss up and your concerns shouldn't be problem. Your young family will be well received in the Princess main dining room. Nor will there be a heavy drinking party feel on NCL. That's more a function of length of voyage rather then choice of cruiseline. Either of these two should be a lot more mellow than the five or seven day voyages out of Florida. Enjoy your cruise! walkingsoon

If you're happy enough to wheel your own luggage a block and a half, the Skytrain might be your quickest option. It's my favorite choice, anyway. Walk up and out of Canada Place, pass by the subway entrance on Howe and turn left onto Cordova. Waterfront station is between Granville and Seymour, probably a five minute walk after you exit Canada Place. The ticket kiosks will take a credit card (buy a two segment ticket) and should only be can$5 or $6 for that direction It's easy and efficient, even if you haven't done it before and have a lot of luggage. No matter how good your private transfer operator is, they'll likely still be stuck in traffic on Granville while you're checking in with your airline. You ought to make that 11:50 flight. walkingsoon

It kind of depends on which land tour you're doing, but... The pace is pretty fast; You need to have luggage out early every morning and there's a lot of bus time. You won't be underfed. Don't expect to see Denali and you won't be disappointed. The group tour guide should help make it trouble free, well planned out for the slow, lazy and cognitively declined. (All three here:-) Sapphire is a fine choice, and land-first cruise-second is my preference if I can't cruise both ways. All in all, I enjoyed it and will repeat at some point.

I like the Royal class forward facing balconies. They're really large and great for entering and leaving port. Priced as an "obstructed" balcony, with an obstruction that never bothered me, they present a good value. Likewise, complying with the request to close curtains at night and keep the balcony door closed came pretty naturally. Enjoy your cruise. I'm not a huge fan of the Royal class in general, but my wife and I warmed up to the Majestic on that very same itinerary this year.