Wishing on a star

I am hoping to find out if they really do not respond to bids until last minute before departure.

I don't know if you would find out if your bid was accepted today, but if any mid-ship obstructed balconies are available, and you could get one of those. (simple equal-cabin move) then that would be GREAT for that price. I would still take an obstructed Deluxe over any interior, especially with 3 in the room.

Also, I don't know if this was mentioned. But, about the invitation to bid on a cruise that is showing not available. It is my guess that 'not available' does not mean Sold Out. I am thinking that Princess is limiting capacity on many cruises because of staffing shortcomings. In that case, a LOT of invitations to bid would go out, as they would try to improve the revenues on a partially filled sailing.

That was my question as well. So, you are committed once you make a bid, but they are not committed until 3 days before departure? My decision to bid would be made after looking at availability. Because, if the bid put me in a location that I didn't like, once I had that new cabin category, I could move to a cabin in that category in a better location if there were any available. We have booked an extended balcony mid-ship. (Many balcony and deluxe balcony are still available). I might not want to move to a larger cabin category with a tiny balcony. If this is true, they might not notify anyone until that last week, when there is a huge chance that the better locations are all taken.

If you can choose the imported water, then I would think that one could certainly bring bottles of water with them as they leave the cruise. Not so much with unused coffee drinks. To the poster here, I know you said that you are not a big coffee drinker, but wanted to remind everyone here that there are all the options for the more 'fancy' coffee drinks, lattes, cappuccino, iced mocha.... My husband quite enjoys these!

That would be great if more info came out. I would be interested in the deck plans. Even though I am not looking forward to sailing on the new ship at this point, as I think it will be another behemoth salt-box with yet even more cabins, and less public deck area. I would be happy (and VERY surprised) to see if this were not the case.

And, it seems that post restart, and returning to higher capacity, with the lack of staffing, MDR dining has been a challenge all the way around!!!

Yep, love those darned typos! : ) Back on topic. Yes, to that one poster, there are ways to have, for example, one TD dining room. And, Princess has tried and re-tried the dual TD and ATD thing. Again, that brought issues of it's own. At the end of the day, Princess sees that the level of demand is just not there once everyone is onboard. I wonder if those that wanted that one TD dining room, with set times and communal seating, would complain if that one dining room was the lower Aft dining room, and not of the atrium/piazza? Anytime dining doesn't work well if there is no nice waiting area, as the case in the lower Aft dining room. I think Princess is on the right track. And given some time to perfect the system, it will work out.

So, Princess could send an Offer To Bid... trying to generate interest in upgrades. You can click on that, and then go up to the amount you are wanting to bid. That first screen there seemed similar to an Upgrade Offer. But it is an Offer or Opportunity to Bid. Good info on how this will all work.

Interesting that all of those coveted Sky, Owners, Penthouse suites are available!

So, the dollar amounts listed would be a 'min. bid'?

Re-check those deck plans. E111 is not over the Theater. It is forward of the theater. I would be comfortable to assume that you will hear some noise over any venue that has entertainment with big speakers. Again, I would be checking for those non-obstructed mid-shop bump-out balconies and deluxe balconies with no huge obstruction, and larger balcony size. Except for maybe on the ships with Crooner's just below the Port side.

All I can say is, especially for warm weather cruises, if It doesn't have an open Retreat Pool area, and a version of the Sanctuary, I am out.

It is very clear that with the technology available, the new system works for the great percentage of guests. But, this is like the whole Chair Hog, Slob-vs-Snob, Smoking, and many other beating-a-dead-horse debates.... There are gonna be those who want it 'their' way, and will die on that hill.

You should not have any noise, as you definitely would if you were above a venue like Crooner's. There are photos and videos that show what the view is like above that deck area below. Remember, if your ship has those shading tarp covers over that area, this is what you will see just below, the tops of those tarps. Those extended balconies and deluxe balconies are a great way to get a larger balcony than even a regular balcony at a good value! I have sailed in E405 on Regal. I think those cabins are a good option for you.

nana, That is what we hope to be able to do on our next sailing. vjmatty, there is nothing wrong with offering that, it just doesn't have to take the form of forced 'traditional' dining. Sue, that is wonderful cruising with your mother! Just have to remember that Princess has to look beyond this into the foreseeable not so distant future.

Just in case anyone from Princess sees this. Of course, there are those who pine for the old traditional ways. And for many, that is what they might prefer. I do not see why one dining room onboard couldn't be operated as traditional dining. As for us, on our last cruise, we did Traditional Dining, and it ended up NOT being a positive. We were traveling with our son, so that traditional dining together each night was one of the big parts of our cruise. We ended up with a bad seating location, a rough start with the wait team (which did thankfully improve a bit). And having to work around that set time was always a challenge. The one night of a late departure where all dining was show up when and as you are was SO much better. So much more relaxed, better window seat. Less rushed service. That experience told me everything we need to know. The truth of the matter, for those who are my age or older, breaking news, showing up at the dining hall for a communal meal is just such a foreign concept to anyone else any more. Most vacationers do not want that added timeline and stress. The set communal dinner hour is for old folks homes, and maybe a couple of other cruise lines. I don't need that on Princess. (Don't need water parks and climbing walls either!!!) Now as for other changes happening, I am not so sure I like them. The design of the newer ships, with less deck/pool area at the expense of the addition of a few more cabin fares $$$$$$. Utterly and completely and totally a huge mistake. WOW. Seriously makes me not want to set foot on those ships. The drab dated cabins. Hello... it is time for a makeover. (LOVE the layout, just please enter the 21st century!!!). Like the menus, please refresh!!! Photos look a bit brighter and fresher on the newest ships, but not by much. And, what about the other ships. My house doesn't look the same as it did 30 years ago, with new refreshed flooring, colors and decor. And, any excuse by any hospitality company for not being refreshed by now is just that, an excuse. From what I understand, the new entertainment In the Princess theater is a production with special effects with the theme of online gaming. Really? Princess, even while appealing to a younger less geriatric market, you are definitely NOT the cruise ships for gamers. I don't know that this kind of cruising is something that big gamers would even choose. Why develop this production when absolutely every other aspect of the ships is not what would appeal to that kind of demographic. Yes, please update the entertainment onboard. How about bringing it at least into this century,. Think about coming up with some activities with some interaction and fun-factor. (Yes, in the past these kinds of efforts might not have been well attended, but I think as part of an overall re-fresh, and a slightly wider demographic onboard, then you might find some positive feedback.) NO I AM NOT TALKING BRANSON'S VIRGIN VOYAGES. Just a refresh. Even Subway Sandwiches had to do a refresh, and you know what, I have seen an improvement in quality and taste and more current and varied options the last few times I have been there. Bottom line on entertainment, a new and so-called techno show in the theater is not enough to bring in a wider demographic. Sorry, but those people are not going to be placing a Princess Cruise on the top of their vacation list anyhow. So, just my two cents. (ummm no, four paragraphs) worth!

From what I am seeing and hearing, I have the same thoughts as Scott above. While the food and other aspects might be 'better' than some other lines, there are aspects that are lacking when it comes to what we like in a cruise, on Princess. The Piazza... The open deck areas.. the multiple pools... The Sanctuary... And, yes, even the Buffett. Those are all lacking on Scarlet Lady. Yes, princess could up their game... The 'drab' cabins. The lack of more exciting food and entertainment options. (the 80's are calling, they want their cabins, entertainment, and some MDR food back!!!{. But, when it comes to what we enjoy, I think Princess wins out overall.

I would go and make the reservations as soon as possible, to get the dining time that you hope for. I do get the feeling that they do keep these speciality restaurants capacity controlled. They are supposed to provide great service, and that doesn't work well with full tables and with staffing shortages. They do not usually seem to appear to be full. We did go back and check for availability at CG on one cruise (Regal), and they did work us in a bit later in the evening. So that is possible, if the head staff does this. I don't think that they really like to seat more people. But, I would say that the restaurant was busier than it probably should have been. And, while service was good, I would not say that the experience was excellent. Sabatini's, on the other hand, in the cruises that I have been on, and only did Sabatini's twice. There were many open tables, and not that many people dining.

Yes, that was kinda what I was getting at!. Was wondering if what we saw was not what others mention.

I seem to remember very limited availability of the food TAPAS. It just seemed it was not available, or at least until pretty late In the evening. Can anyone here tell me what the availability of the TAPAS has been recently?

I think we have been hearing of problems with the payments. I think some people have mentioned trying to call. But, who knows how long that would take to get ahold of somebody? Pulling up Live Chat while you are managing the booking might be something else to try.

I hope so too. I know you are excited booking this cruise with your son! Glad you got the 3 day hold, and I hope it all works out well! Your son would probably enjoy the soda package as much as you might enjoy the drink package.

I am kind of that way too! We have only enjoyed a few days in The Sanctuary, but I enjoyed venturing out for a dip in the Retreat Pool, to grab a lunch snack and hear the afternoon music for a few minutes on the (yes, loud and crowded, but more lively) main deck. I am not usually picky and demanding. But if we a are lucky and get in the Sanctuary on our next cruise... Hand and Food, bring it on!!! As long as the stewards are not really busy and seem accommodating, of course. We need to remember to have a nice cash tip handy!

I imagine that if one wanted that Plus package, there might be some savings. But, probably not as much to cover the $50.00. per person per day price of adding the Plus Package to today's fares. We will soon see! I imagine the discounted fare that we are getting when logged in to our Princess CC Account will disappear. So, I will check, but I am not really thinking that it would save us enough to bother cancelling and rebooking. We have messages in to the Princess Planner, (since yesterday) but, no surprise, no response at all yet.