Wishing on a star

Thanks!!! LOVE to see all the smiling happy staff being introduced!

Yes... the above... Good Luck!

Yes, some of this could be specific to the Discovery... I have seen this, as I have especially noticed with the food and dining... The top Executive person and staff can make a huge difference!!! All ships seem to be suffering with inadequate bartenders and service staff. And, the thing with all of the charges?????? Two things are coming to mind... 1. With all of the newer changes with Plus and Premier, etc.. Could their system be wonky and just not handling it right???? I have heard of staff 'winging it' with the charges, and not relying on the system and the medallion system because, with issues, it was seemed to make their job easier. That leaves a LOT of room for error... and while not purposeful overcharging... yes, a problem. 2. The number of staff having been flown over to Europe to staff the new ship. I can see how this would have to affect staffing on some of the other ships... Perhaps the newer ships most affected??? I think staffing is a huge challenge for all businesses... Maybe, especially, cruise lines. It has been a while since we last cruised... I do have to say that the STAFF were a huge high spot! They all worked hard with a smile... no issues, except for overwork bartenders who simply could not keep up with the demand. They did try!!! I did send rave reviews on many staff, as I forwarded my cruise feedback to upper-positions at Princess.

These comments are NOT reassuring.... We have two cruises booked... SUN, when she gets here to FLL, and another next year. One hopes that issues are temporary, and one-offs... but maybe not.

I think you are off to a good start, and beginning to see your questions answered!!! Ask away!!! Yes, MDR is always available to everyone. Open for breakfast, and lunch on Sea Days... and for lunch on Embarkation. One of these dining rooms will be open. Reserve Dining is set up In a section to one side of the MDR. For those who book a 'Reserve' stateroom. Suite Breakfast will usually be in a venue such as Sabatini's. There should be a card in your room, to put out the night before, for you to have coffee and a light breakfast of pastries, fruit, etc.. That you can have delivered to your room. Some people do try to 'write-in' some extra items... I hear that sometimes easy items, like bacon, they will oblige. But, this is up to the ship, the staff, and maybe luck. Using the breakfast card is, of course, complimentary. Room service, like ordered by phone, could assess and extra charge. If you have PLUS, then room service is no charge. Room Service availability for the cruise can also be added for about $15.00. I hope that I am getting this correctly, as there have been ongoing changes... ( Yes, all of this can begin to be a bit confusing at first! ) Do not overlook The International Cafe... This is where you can always grab something for a quick and perhaps lighter breakfast or lunch, along with good specialty coffee drinks. One word... Almond Croissants!! and other goodies. Alfredo's is always a favorite as well. Should be the best (more Napolitan Stye) pizza onboard.

I believe that if you read 'solar heated', it means if the sun is out on a warm day they will be warmer!!! The pools, unlike some cruise ships, are FRESH water pools. You can get the accessories to hold your lanyard... Know that they are like an Apple air-Tag, and you can use an accessory for those for your medallion. The main production shows will be twice per evening. If you dine early enough, you catch the later show.. If you dine late enough, you catch the earlier show before you have supper. Be aware that there could be other things, perhaps an entertainment presentation in the Piazza that would be later in the evening. You might want to pay attention to the schedule of all these shows and events as they come out for each day. You can have lunch in a main dining room on sea days, AND on boarding day.. I wanted to go to the MDR later after having grabbed something to eat earlier when boarding, to get my first Souffle for the cruise, but the dining room was getting ready to shut down before we made it there! The lunch hours are limited. You can self disembark.. know that it is best to try to miss the 'rush' as you are dealing with busy packed elevators and everyone with their carry-on's and/or suitcases. Cruises encourage you to use the 'system' and put your luggage out the night before, for good reason. Enjoy!!!!

I am SO sorry!!!! I don't know what any misunderstandings might have occurred... But, If they had wanted me off the ship THAT early, THAT badly, with no consideration for medical conditions... I would have politely declined and politely but directly informed them that if they wanted to 'evict' us from the cruise, perhaps they could contact the local authorities. If they want to 'evict' paying passengers for any reason other than 'criminal' type reasons, they should have an appropriate area, somewhere, for them to wait and to have assistance available. PS: Taxi's or Uber could be your 'friend'.... Princess should have 'been there' offering to make sure that you had transportation.

Looking at deck plans.. Regal and Enchanted... Looks like the Sanctuary is about 25%, or 1/4 less space.. with more cabana space. Far fewer loungers... Definitely cutting back on (non-revenue) space here. That is why, if booking the Enchanted for the itinerary, I am resigning us to having to hope for a Cabana to get into the Sanctuary at all. And, that also seems to be the only real shade. I guess if you gotta pay you gotta pay.... I don't know how long Princess can continue to get so many things wrong... The Sanctuary should be a Princess High Point!!!! Especially since it looks like SUN will not even have an open access adult area onboard. Maybe they will make the excuses of having a totally NON-enforced adult only AFT Terrace. More things that have us shaking our head...

Thank you!!!! So far I feel like I am the only one that has said that Princess REALLY MISSED THE MARK on these newer ships... What has been a welcoming and attractive area is now nothing but an open deck with some industrial/minimalistic box metal frame loungers. (Hey, do a couple of potted 'plants' really make this an upscale, exclusive, pay-per-use area???) That said, I will still be spending time there if we can get availability !

If you have one of these cabins, shown in the video... the part of the balcony, which is the same amount of area as the standard balconies, is covered... but the extended part will be open/uncovered. Best of both worlds, really.

The Sanctuary is different on the different ships. You might do a quick search for you tube videos of Sanctuary Enchanted Princess. Some have more shade than others. The canvas type awnings are in just the very front, and they offer SOME shade. (Sun does come thru) On the Port and Starboard sides, there does not seem to be any real cover.

I know that, at this point, this is all about how, if, and when the SUN will finally sail... But, I am just wanting to confirm that the Dining reservation on the APP is not open or operational for cruises in the future. DH downloaded the new APP... And you can pull up Dining Reservations, but it always just shows that none are available for booking.

I am happy to hear some more specific clarifications!!! Thank you experts, so much. I hate if this is a bit of a contentious topic. But those who are unfamiliar seem to be asking. There are just two of us... so that is great. We would def. consider a Cabana, if no loungers available. (either full day, or 1/2 if offered) It seems that in these newest ship's Sanctuary, shade is hard to come by. They do have the tarps in the very front. But, good shade is another reason to book a Cabana.

I am hoping that the info I have seen here is correct, that Cabanas can be rented for 1'2 day... I believe at $140. That would be easier on the budget, if it works out time-wise to have a Cabana for the afternoon. Rene, I am not sure if we have 100% confirmation of how many can be included in a cabana rental. I wonder if, perhaps they can have up to 4, IF these are all in the same stateroom. By your earlier posts, it seems you are traveling with your two adult daughters who are sharing a cabin of their own for the two of them. It would be very nice to have a cabana for a family!!! But, it is possible that the additional two guests would have to pay the rate for lounger rental. These cabanas do include the two loungers there at the cabana entry. I believe the cabanas are $220. per day. The loungers are $40 per lounger per day. $20. per half day.

Just to chime in here... This is not about something that is possible, and can happen.... This is something that was completely and totally mis-managed by this corporation. Yes, it is easy to throw around words like cover-up when there is absolutely NO transparency and due consideration to those who were cancelled. Can a maiden-voyage be cancelled??? Yes, of course. Should 2-3-4 voyages be cancelled, literally at the LAST MOMENT... Nope... there is no defense, glass-half-full, here. There are people here who have been affected by this in many many negative ways. And, in light of other issues related to Princess in whole.. customer service, etc... These 'complaints' are valid.

THANKS!!! What about deck areas and the very very limited pool space???

Yes! Those little mini-tarts with berries... just perfect!!!!

NO... I would say that two visitors in the morning and two in the afternoon is not really allowed. As loungers can be rented by the 1/2 day, then two different 'visitors' for each 1/2 day would be allowing non-paying guests to be there with the same consideration as paying guests. I would not consider doing that. There seems to be some uncertainty about whether the cabana is for 2 guests, or 4 guests (per stateroom). I can't say that I know for sure. I do not know if there is any specific info to be found on Princess???? Perhaps those that say it is for 2 guests, for sure.. can confirm that again. Perhaps they have seen policy or they have asked if 4 guests are allowed.. AND, if it matters if it is guests who are all in your same stateroom? Perhaps those 3rd and 4th guests have been visitors for a little while? Or perhaps they have actually reserved loungers, but are also cruising with the couple that have reserved the cabana. We do know that it is not that uncommon to see 3 or 4 people. If you want to have a couple of your fellow cruisers stop-by for a while, I would definitely clear this with the staff. I have seen that they can be accommodating. But, will want to uphold the main policies about paid access only, and 'relaxation area'.

State taxes... and taxes on the part of the fare that is NOT 'Princess'. ????

I do not know if you are booking thru some organization that is putting this together, and that looks like what they are offering with PLUS in their price... But, generally, no, cruises do not always include the PLUS package. As mentioned, PLUS and/or PREMIER are added on at a per day charge. If you are booking thru an agency that is organizing this cruise, double verify with them that PLUS is indeed included in the fare shown. Yes, there are fewer quick serve options on Princess... you have quickly seen that difference. With this being a music cruise.. this is likely how you will see this unfold on the ship. There may be music from this band/bands/genre playing, from the Spillway on deck, public areas, music sets on pool deck. The performances in the Atrium might lean towards that music. Any band/bands might perform in the theater... which would mean that Production Shows might be skipped. (I do not know about longer cruises, but the short '80s cruises, the production shows were not onboard at all. Maybe some time off??? Any special events or performances, of course, are up to the organizers of this cruise event. As you can see, the adult pool area is limited... most of this is open deck space, high on the ship, that overlooks the pool on the deck below. The Sanctuary is reserved, first come first served, when you board. Loungers book up very very quickly with any back to back cruisers from the previous sailing, and those with priority status/boarding. If loungers are booked up, one might find a Cabana available, as pricing means that these might not sell out.

You might be perfectly happy with the beverage (soda/coffee/water) package... Do take advantage of it, including the specialty coffee beverages. The one perk for many of the Plus package, other than an alcoholic drink or two, is the uncharge for the casual dining restaurants. Highly recommend Alfredo's Majestic is different than the other similar ships.... The Noodle bar, which most really like, instead of the Pizza Counter on the pool deck. Look for pizza on the buffet... and Alfredo's of course. The Catch by Rudi, and Harmony, are onboard. This cruise does a fjord, Endicott Arm, and not Glacier Bay... So, especially with limited Glacier opportunities, I would highly recommend the excursion there, the Endicott Arm Explorer. IF IT IS NOT BOOKED UP ALREADY. I hope you have a wonderful family cruise!

Enjoy!!!! Cabanas are more often available, probably due to the cost... You might be pleasantly surprised!!!

I find it interesting hearing the details of how the ICON went into service. Especially since Feb. is still winter, and def. not a high demand time to cruise Europe... I am with those who are placing responsibility squarely with Princess, even if the shipyard was a big factor. They should NEVER have tried to go forward with these Feb. sailings, especially if there was any question that every detail was not worked out and approved.

It might not have been well attended... And, I don't believe it is still offered, but the Royal Tea always looked super nice!!! I was tempted a couple of times, but never did it. Would be great for mother daughter grandma opportunity!

The cabanas do only have two loungers in front of each, but there is seating inside. I have always understood that they can accommodate four... If one is respectful, and there is only two of you, they might allow you to have a couple to visit with you for a while when you are there. Technically, four adults could be in the same stateroom. This is expected to be a quiet relaxation area... So any louder conversations and social interactions are to be quiet and low-key.