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?

12 minutes ago, FamilyAtSea.travel said:

Am I right in understanding that the Reserve restaurant is going away and now suites and mini-suites will share a single restaurant? 

 

This is our first experience with Princess... Have they always been so incompetent or are we just getting their absolute best with the Sun Princess being our first impression?

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.

On 8/18/2024 at 9:21 PM, Mary Ann 2 said:

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.

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.

On 8/16/2024 at 3:42 PM, Wishing on a star said:

It seems, by credible source, (but who knows!) that Crown Grill be moving across from WheelHouse Bar.

That Butchers Block is taking the CG space.   

I wonder how much they will change the decor to make it look like a Crown Grill steakhouse?

This will be interesting to see how this all works out.

IMHO, it is good thing to have CG there with the bar.

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.

2 minutes ago, voljeep said:

they are - some lines have 2 ships

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

On 8/15/2024 at 2:04 PM, grimace95120 said:

 

The rollout schedule for the Princess Premier package enhancements is as follows:

 

• Enchanted Princess: August 31
• Majestic Princess; Sky Princess: September 1
• Crown Princess: September 2
• Ruby Princess: September 3
• Grand Princess: September 4
• Emerald Princess; Discovery Princess; Sun Princess: September 7
• Caribbean Princess; Regal Princess: September 12
• Royal Princess; Sapphire Princess: September 14
• Island Princess: September 25
• Diamond Princess: September 26
• Coral Princess: October 17

 

Hi All, just called Princess to upgrade my current premium package and i was told by them that i couldn't upgrade until my ship is rolled out and  active ( Enchanted Aug 31st) . I certainly understand not being able to start using the new package until after Aug 31 , but not being able to reserve the package before then seems odd. My sailing is on Sept 21. I'm seeing on here folks have already procured the new package upgrade or am i mistaken?. Before I call them back and hopefully get a different agent, it would be good to be armed with some facts. Thanks !

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

1 hour ago, lennythenose said:

Well, apparently things have changed (maybe).  I just contacted Princess through the online chat. For background info, I booked last year long before the recent changes to Signature suites. I have the Plus package not Premier. When I booked, the first night dinner was listed as a suite perk.
 

With the latest update it is not listed. However, the supervisor stated I don’t need a reservation and should just show up on the first night as a suite guest. I understand we still have priority specialty reservations as a perk, but I am not convinced they won’t charge us since we don’t have Premier. 

 

I’m not really sure if I should go ahead and make the reservation and hope I can get it refunded onboard or just show up as they said. Also adding to the unknown is that current passengers are not under the “new” Signature system until I think October so no actual experience until then I guess. 

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?

7 hours ago, sandancer said:

That’s a shame my DH will be celebrating a big birthday on Regal and I was planning a birthday banner for the door. May still give it a go and see if I’m asked to remove it. 

On 7/8/2024 at 2:44 AM, cruisepest said:

Does anyone know if you can now decorate the outside of your cabin door? We were not allowed to on the Regal Princess in March of this year.

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.

On 6/12/2024 at 6:46 PM, kywildcatfanone said:

They are curtained, so maybe not completely out of the sun.

 

 

The Regal also has "free" seating bear the pool on both sides that are pergola style and can provide shade depending on the sun's position

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.

9 hours ago, luvseaside said:

Went to see comedian in Vista Lounge-pretty funny.  He got 5 minutes of material just out of the fact he was supposed to board in Cozumel. 😆. 
 

Because we had snacked most of the day, we just couldn’t settle on dinner so had another nibble at IC while having wine and finished night sharing a burger from the pool grill before bed.  
 

Musical choices around ship were plentiful. We’d seen Fiera before so did not attend show.Also played slots for a little while and am up $100 so no complaints.  

 

Have a private snorkel/kayak excursion this morning in Roatan but weather looks a little dreary. We shall see how that works out.  
 

Attached is pics of todays patter

 

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.

On 1/5/2024 at 4:01 PM, azbirdmom said:

 

Thank you!  I saw that one but nothing is posted beyond January.  Will keep an eye on it.

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!

5 hours ago, vjmatty said:

See that I don’t understand. Why do that when no balcony has ever needed double-height glass before, in fact no other balcony cabins on this ship will have it. 

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.

53 minutes ago, fpsphil said:

We are booked all the way forward on the reserve deck. Our rooms don’t have anyone walking in front so you aren’t necessarily locked into having that occur by booking one

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!

12 minutes ago, shamrockace said:

Beginning Jan 1, Princess is using Stockperks for your stock holder credit. They requested my finance company, the sign on for my stock and everything. Is this safe?  I feel this is very evasive and yet another way for Princess to make it hard for loyal customers to get perks. 

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.

8 hours ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

The suite hosts on the newer Royal class ships are a joke. They say they will do things for you but are basically inept. Asked me if I wanted some reservations in the Sanctuary upon embarkation said “perfect, I’ll go up there later today and see what I can get”. Um, they will be sold out in the next 30 minutes. You don’t know your own ship?  
 

And every single cruise I have to tell the dinning room staff that if I order wine to eat with my meal, don’t bring me my appetizer until I get the wine. Again, these things don’t ruin my cruise but frustrate me from a service perspective. We will see if The Signature Restaurant comes close to the premium suite dinning rooms on other lines. 

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. 🥰

On 12/4/2023 at 10:59 AM, helenb said:

Thank you so much for this report! I would also appreciate a report when you disembark, to see if they have resolved those issues as well.

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!

On 12/3/2023 at 5:03 PM, texasparalegal said:

Hope that we hear from people who arrived a bit later, like 11:30 or 12:00 and how long it took them to get into the terminal. My mom will need a wheelchair to board since the gangway goes back and forth, and standing outside in a line for an hour is not something she can comfortably do.

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!!

45 minutes ago, texasparalegal said:

Hope that we hear from people who arrived a bit later, like 11:30 or 12:00 and how long it took them to get into the terminal. My mom will need a wheelchair to board since the gangway goes back and forth, and standing outside in a line for an hour is not something she can comfortably do.

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!!

18 hours ago, TxNight said:

I'm on the Regal now.  Nov 26th sail date. Embarkation issues were the same as TxTeach reported.   We arrived at 12(came a little bit later hoping to avoid crowd some). The line went back and forth under a covering so if it rained there was protection.  We were on ship at 1pm. Left port sometime after 3:30. I wasn't watching the clock so don't know exact time. 

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??

1 minute ago, TxTeach79 said:

yeah, it was definitely in front of the other terminal when I got to the back. I really hope/assume that didn’t happen today, because Carnival Dream was there today. It was empty last Saturday. 
 

it moved relatively fast, but we were so far back that part still took an hour. 

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

1 minute ago, Steelers36 said:

I would ignore all that and either show up early or late to avoid lines.  I am always at the port before 10am waiting for doors to open and among the first to board the ship.  Others choose to show up at 12:30, 1:00pm and waltz through and onto the ship.  This seems pretty universal from reading many posts covering various ports.

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!!