Wishing on a star

In a warmer weather cruise, you probably would not have any luck. Not sure about NorthEast. The above post is correct... Back-to-Back guests already onboard will have first opportunity. Then, those with priority boarding who arrive to the port early. Of coarse, any days at sea will book up faster. You might find a port day, if you would consider that. If there is any way that you can get to the port early, I would plan to do that. You never know!

Sounds like the USPS more than anything to do with Princess... BTDT. Something I ordered for a Christmas gift arrived... in March! I did want to say, there are reasons for wanting to board early. Personal preference is just ONE of several... We have never found it to be too big of an issue, just get to the port early. No discussion is needed.

Yankee, You can pull up your cruise, click on that port stop, and click on the excursion. When you look at Details, you will see that there are guest reviews. And photos. The private beach club excursion is showing 4 ****. The latest review from a month ago mentions Sol y Mar Beach Club. Know that the Beach Club that they contract with could change and be different on your cruise. Hope this helps!

Which particular things are concerning?????

On the Ruby, yes, those cabins and balconies are the same. So, in this case, yes the Forward or Aft location might be one factor. This is not always the case. I consider the larger balconies that are not priced higher as Premium as luck... a small gift. On the newer Royal Class ships, the larger/deeper balconies located on Deck 9 ARE Forward and Aft, and these are a 'Premium' category. (so no consistency here) In most every case the Premium Balcony/Deluxe Balcony will be considered 'Premium' because it does have a larger exterior balcony. There are always exceptions. The Aft Wake-view cabins do not ALL have a considerably bigger balcony, but in that case they seem to be sold as Premium because of that location that is popular and in demand.

We have gotten the cruise-specific insurance from the nation wide big agency. We like that it had additional cruise coverages, and you could get it until final payment. You can't get 'cancel for any reason' or pre-existing look-back waiver now, unless you get the insurance when you initially book the cruise. To me, it just does not seem kosher that something like an extra package, that can easily be booked at any time, thru the first day of boarding, and make it non-cancellable. If/since this is the policy... Yes, one might want it covered. But, insurance would not be needed if they had the appropriate policy, that extras like packages, specially dining, etc.. which can be booked, and are fully cancellable under any other circumstance, were actually cancellable. I don't see that as a respectful or reasonable policy. Nobody has to post, with an exclamation point... why wouldn't you want them covered. I don't see any clear, upfront, transparency that would explain how and why they are not cancellable. Or an explanation that would make any sense. I don't know if anybody is saying rip-off. But, it is fair and valid to try to understand how much one is being charged, and why.

Sorry if I am brain dead!!! Wake up, brain!!! I looked again. THANKS for showing this! I think I understand now. So, before and after this new pricing stuff... Your cruise fare, which does include PLUS, was used to calculate that insurance premium. $1525. 00 Base Fare $ 420.00 Plus Package assuming 7 days at $60. per day $ 1945.00 Total (fare, Plus, but no 'fees') $. 175.05. Insurance Premium $1945.00 X .09 THEN the port charges and fees are added on. Seems the PLUS Package was included in the fare, and used to calculate the premium. But NOT the port charges and fees. So, the premium to add this insurance on my booking, which now has PREMIUM, will def. be a little more with the package. Should have added insurance first then insurance? (Leave it to Princess. to insure something that is cancelable and refundable already... No surprise though.)

I am just hoping that somebody who is insuring a cruise can chime in here and tell us whether that percentage includes packages or not. cjpj, The new law, of course, is from California... And, it involves transparency in pricing. Stating these port charges and fees right upfront. Not buried at the end, and requiring that you would have to 'click' to show the breakdown. NOTE: since all of these major cruise lines sail from California, I understand that they have all followed the guidelines in how they show pricing. I hadn't thought about how that would affect the Insurance. Princess had been using the final TOTAL cost to calculate Insurance. I believe that even included extras like the PLUS or PREMIER package. Who knows how this would affect something like insurance? Princess seems to still be using the total with all of the port charges and fees to calculate the Insurance premium. (and, as mentioned, aren't these considered refundable extra fees? Which makes no sense to charge to insure something that is already totally refundable.. They must think that this is within the law. My guess is that they are also still using the total amount, including packages, because there is no specific requirement in this law that would stop them. If they must use only the base cruise fare, and no refundable charges, then I foresee an increase in that 9%. (or 12% if one does not have Captain's Circle status to include the automatic upgrade in the insurance).

I have seen mention that Princess may cancel your dining reservation if you have not arrived within 20 min. How strictly they will stick to that might vary. By ship, dining room, or even by that specific evening. If you have a private table for two, at a reserved time, and you are running too late, you could end up having to go get in line at the walk-in dining room.

Here is my question... If Princess has found a way to 'calculate' this to include Port Charges, etc... What about the Plus or Premier Package. They used to even include that in the total amount of the Insurance premium. We will be adding insurance on our next upcoming cruise. Which now has the Premier Package. Now I am also confused. I hate to bother our TA, again. Does anybody know if they are still using the packages in the total cost to calculate the insurance? Any insight on that?

Therese, you are correct.... Many do not like this, because Princess bases the insurance on your final total cost. If you, for example, book with Plus or Premier, yes, you will pay insurance based on the addition of the package.

I have always chosen the ones on the other side of the ship. Love the mid-ship larger balcony. We have not considered the deck below to be an issue at all. Except for the lighting down there on the balcony rail can shine up thru your balcony all the time. It is not a smoking area. I do hear that you can hear from Crooner's and the Piazza below. I am not sure if that is only when it is louder???

Back to the shirtless men... Hahahaha!!! " I know for my example because I am elite with Princess and I don’t have enough status on another cruise line to make a difference I am definitely thinking about trying another cruise line ,but keep coming back to Princess, because I’m familiar with the product. " I think you really nailed something here. We first cruised Princess because of DH parents... Not only were we then 'familiar'... but, even at a younger age. (demographics are not always so meaningful !) We were happy with the product. We don't need booze parties, onboard theme parks, etc. And, of course, more upscale cruising was beyond our pay-grade. It is just that, while Princess is trying to figure out their 'identity', they are moving away from what we, and other cruisers LIKED about Princess. Anyone could have chosen Carnival or NCL. There have always been choices. Like the one poster who has cruised with her kid had mentioned, she knows other families who would not choose to board Carnival. They want to move towards Haven and Retreat, ship within a ship.... they want to add a family/kids area. I get that. I am not being a complainer or 'one of those old-folks who just do not like change'. And, I will make that clear. The issue, for me, is not the additional changes... But that they are losing the things that most all Princess cruisers (not all of which have one foot in the grave) have enjoyed for years. Yes, it is like walking a tight-rope. And space on a cruise ship is limited. However, these other mass-market lines have succeeded in having all of these areas and options onboard. Princess, in my opinion, is failing at this...

Those insurance web sites are good! But, we generally go directly with the National insurance carrier that offers specialized cruise insurance. I thought they offered all coverage options, until final payment date. Which means that you can buy the Policy up until you know you will be. going on the cruise, unless something really does happen. But, I am thinking that might have changed. We might just go with Princess and the included upgrade to Platinum. I think the pre-existing and CFAR are a step up. Dog, ohhh, that is so sad. I really feel for them. I don't think we would have any issues with pre-existing. I checked and the look-back is 60 days, and we have had no major medical care in months. Thanks everyone!

I am SO enjoying your trip report! You are excellent at posting, and your photos are amazing! While some of the menus look a bit underwhelming, that blackened corvina and polenta does look very good. That is great info about the AFT balconies. I was thinking that should be the case, but was not sure! Of course, it is a hassle - but one can book a third person (friend or family) to select a Deluxe Balcony, and should be able to cancel before final payment. I have hesitated to do that, and accepted a standard balcony (one with a larger exterior balcony). But we are using this workaround as, on this one cruise, it is important to be where we wanted to book, and to have that Deluxe Premium balcony.

True!!! But, just personally, I like the walk-in concept, that does not open up into the narrow walking floor-space in the main area of the cabin. Need the best of both worlds!!!! PS: This thread was supposed to be about the brand/identity that Princess seems to be moving towards, and if there seems to be some issues with it. Seems the conversation has been a lot of complaints and discussion of everything but!

We are looking at insurance, and it looks like the costs are about the same. We would automatically get the Princess Platinum coverage by Captain's Circle Status. The other Cruise Insurance plan would have good coverage (would get the upgraded plan) But, with them I am finding out that the Pre-existing condition waiver, and Cancel for any reason, are not possible. I thought that they used to offer all options until Final Payment Date, but now it must be purchased when you book the cruise. Any insight is helpful !

Well, we are going into language and semantics discussions, and other things that really do not apply to the changes at Princess. Okay.... Yes, they are making changes. That does not concern me at all. It is HOW they are doing this, and the specific changes that they have been making recently. (cabin design, while a much needed change, is the least of these issues....) The changes that they are making are taking away basic things that we have enjoyed about Princess. Adult Retreat Pool.... now gone... enclosed with cabins and no real deck area, at all. The Sanctuary area... any open access adult area... now gone. Being replaced with an exclusive, way over-priced 'CLASS'. The Piazza, as an inviting place for cruise guest to hang out and enjoy cruising and bars and food... now gone. Replaced by an open 'big convention hall' concept with screens and loudspeakers that seem to be intrusive at any time of day or evening. I could go on and on. Change, I have no problem with. One can partake of new offerings or not. But, when you go after the core aspects that have made your line successful and that guests have confirmed time and time and time again that these are things that they enjoy.. ??? They claim they are changing to embrace multigenerational family cruising. Well, that would include grandparents/adults - but NO open adult area? How about kids - years after it's announcement... Park 19 is closed and is not showing on some deck plans. (Just personally, I think a small splash-pad a couple slides and ropes is a very very poor attempt at this. Don't have to have flow-riders and the whole gamut. but this is a very poor attempt. If this is what Princess wants to go for, then go for it, commit to it.) I agree that it seems that, as a corporation, they are changing.. no doubt about that. But what concerns me more is how this is being handled, the decisions being made, and then changed again... and again. Something is off, all the way to the very top.

I am a huge fan of the Princess Piazza... Love the concept. Not a fan of how they are using it. Expected periods of a more relaxing vibe, and some periods of loud entertainment vibe, that don't overlap and interfere with he time of day/evening... Admitting, this is only from what I have seen and watched, not in person.. But on the Sun, it just seems, well, corporate... like a big corporate convention... Screens, loudspeakers, etc. That, I am not a fan of.

Blerk, Slick glossy images... Basic PR is expected.... No problem. A multigeneration cruise/vacation experience that is expected, and promoted, to have an adult area and a kids area, but has neither, is a problem.

I would try to ignore that tern, no matter what the intended meaning, or whether it is being used in a positive or negative way. Just as I did when I saw it used here. Is this board the place for such a discussion?

Signage or not, this is to be an adult 'Retreat' pool area. Majestic and Sun Princess do not seem to have an adult area, at all.

WHOA!!!!! I think maybe the Ocean cruises and Ships are now a big step-up. I do agree that a cruise, for me, should not be 'sleepy'.

Love your trip report! Great photos!!! That show looks like quite a visual production and set! Have not seen that one. What other shows are onboard???

Do you like one of these cruise lines better than the other. I would like to try Viking. I think we would love Viking. But the fares, and some of the itineraries, are the thing for me.