Mary Ann 2

What is your understanding about the upgrade bids regarding the packages? If you already have the Princess Premier package when you bid, will you keep that package if you win a bid? I have assumed so, but some other posts on another website are questioning whether you would have to pay for the Premier package on your new room (they are assuming it goes away with your bid). I looked everywhere on the Bidding for Upgrade page and could only find this: "Current promotions on the reservation will not be altered." Would it be considered a current promotion on the reservation?

No, I believe that suites will still have their own restaurant as now - the Signature Restaurant. The Reserve restaurant will be relocated and renamed the Sanctuary Restaurant as they will need more room with all the Sanctuary rooms ( some balconies and more mini-suites) after Oct 14. If you are a first timer, I wouldn't buy into all the hoopla going around right now. Princess cruisers get used to the way things are and it takes some time to get over changes! Some changes will be good and some not as good, but I believe that Princess is still a great cruise line.

Okay so I watched the video made by a TA about this. Not sure what her source is though. The Sanctuary dining is moving where the Americana main dining room is currently. Then the Americana main dining room is moving where Butchers Block currently is at the end of the buffet. The Reserve restaurant seems like a big venue for the Crown Grill, but maybe with the new Premier unlimited specialty dining they will need a big space.

Across from the Wheelhouse is where the Reserve restaurant is?! So they are doing away with Reserve and only doing Sanctuary? Will there be room in the Signature restaurant for all those people?? It would make more sense to put the Crown Grill in the smaller Signature space and rename Reserve space as Sanctuary. I don't understand if they are making all these changes why nothing shows on the deck plans for sailings after Oct. 14 which has the new Sanctuary rooms showing.

🤪 I don't know how I missed them! Thanks for clearing this up.

This brings up my question: Why are the Sun Princess and Regal Princess or SkyPrincess not on this rollout schedule?

I have called about not being able to reserve the free first night twice now for our cruise with a suite. Each time, the person who answered the phone had no idea that was a perk. They even looked at a list and didn't see it until I explained where to look online. They also tried to talk me into booking once I was on the ship, but in March, I heard the suite concierge trying to book a reservation for the first night and they told him it was all booked up. He was able to get another night though. The last person finally agreed to send a request further up the line (maybe the Medallion people?). It took almost a week, but now I show my requested specialty dining room and the requested time. I know for a fact that the last time we got a suite, it showed that on the app and I was able to book it without any problems. Maybe now that the Sun has dining that isn't a "specialty dining" option they removed it and haven't fixed it yet since the big MDR release?

On the March 3 Regal cruise this year, they had corporate people or people who were looking for safety violations or fire hazards (we were told this by the suite concierge). There were people who were asked to take down their door decorations, but we had one tasteful magnetic picture and we were not asked to remove it even though we were across from the suite lounge. I don't think you should generalize what happened on the Regal that cruise to other cruises.

They had removed the curtains when we used them this year in March. There are some nice overstuffed chairs at both ends of the $50 cabanas with chaise lounges behind each side in two rows. Only the outside row has a little covering.

We rented a Retreat Pool Cabana on the Regal for one day on our March cruise this year. It was $50 for half a day. It does not provide complete shade. My side was more in the sun than hubby's which was good as he is the one that has to avoid the sun. He thought it was better than nothing and he was okay with it, but slats on the roof allow some sun through. We did enjoy our afternoon there, especially tea (although it was very late as we got it after the Sanctuary was served).

Since there will be no more Reserve mini suites or Reserve Cabana mini suites, it seems like the new Sanctuary mini suites and Sanctuary balconies would eat in the Reserve Dining Room, not the Signature Dining Room. I sure am glad that I am booked in a Reserve Cabana Mini Suite before Oct. 14 as having the Reserve dining was an important part of our decision to go with this category of room.

What day was Fiera? I looked at the Patters and didn't see it. It was supposed to be performed when we were on in December, but also never found it in the Patter. We will be back on in March, so I need to know where to look or expect it to be listed. Thanks.

I looked at this within the last 2 weeks and it showed at least through March when our cruise is. Funny that it is blank now!

I'm guessing they have the high glass just because the other parts of that deck (outside dining areas and the Cabana deck) need them and they think it will look better with continuity. Not that I'm very happy about it, but that's my guess.

Exactly! There are more of the Reserve Cabana mini suites that don't have anyone in front of you than those that do. I think there is a lot of speculation without any real information. We really won't know anything about the Princess Cabanas until the first cruises!

I was not required to give my sign on, but my stock is at Fidelity which is one of the choices. I have read here that you can pick one of the choices (but I can't remember which one) and just submit your proof of stock ownership without giving sign on. I imagine some one will shortly explain that for you.

We had the most awesome "suite host" on our recent Regal cruise this month. He organized a bridge tour for us and threw 3 parties! He remembered our names and often was out looking for suite guests in the evening to be sure they were having a good time!! He told us to meet him at Alfredo's the last morning and walked us off past everyone else inside the ship at disembarkation. WOW! Incredible service!! It really made our cruise very special even though we had been on that itinerary so many times. We loved it so much, we booked onboard another cruise before spring after making sure he would be onboard still. 🥰

So we were the first off after walk-offs at about 8 am, and we just walked down the ramp with no stops and got our luggage and right up to immigration. We were done in like a half an hour!

We met a couple who arrived more like 11:30 and she needed a wheelchair or somewhere to sit and they were told there were none available. Be sure you have reserved that ahead of time. I was not happy to hear that it took them 1.5-2 hours to board!!

They had benches for anyone with disabilities up at the entrance where it says welcome. Just take her up there first thing. It didn’t seem like they joined the first in line but maybe waited there for the rest of their party. No sure.

We boarded today and stepped on the ship at 10:44!! We dropped off luggage about 9:45. In line around 10 and were on the outer side next to the first two queues. No waiting anywhere once they let us inside before 10:30. Great embarkation!!

Glad to hear at least the line wasn't all the way to the other terminal as our cruise will have a Carnival ship at that terminal. I also was interested in hearing if anyone had tried later, so you answered that! I still can't figure out why it is taking them so long for embarkation. Out of 33 cruises, we have never had really long lines like reported lately in Galveston.

Guess everyone's busy having fun? No one aboard to reply??

A Carnival ship will be there this coming week also, so yeh, what then? And if it's raining??

We are also usually early and waiting for the doors to open. Someone said last week I believe that when they were allowed to go inside, they had to wait for the x-ray people for like 30 minutes to stop talking and open up!!