LACruiser88

That is a big difference between Oceana and Princess! On Princess you will not hear from anybody in the Medical Dept during your quarantine (I sure didn't). I guess you get what you pay for!

Btw, our luggage dry run was a success! Debbie will have her clothing, shoes, and jewelry options! 😄

Whenever asked about our annual income, I put down a 9 digit number! 🤣

Unfortunately, milestone recognitions have been done away with except for the top 3 most traveled.

Being pescatarians for over 35 yrs, we frequently will have the veggie burger at the pool side grill. It is not our favorite, but we always ask for it well done which makes it a bit "crunchy" and more palatable. 🍔🍟 The Beyond Meat burger at the Gastropub is really good!

That's a shame. Our Dr had no problem with it as a precaution.

November 1, 2023 5:23 PM EDT Sun Princess Will Mesmerize Guests with New Show-stopping Productions and Favorite Shows Four Spectacular Arena Shows, Three Astonishing Dome Performances, Incredible Piazza Events and Much More Headline Next-Gen Princess Ship FT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Nov. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Iconic performances and world-class experiences headline a show-stopping array of incredible entertainment awaiting guests across the sensational new Sun Princess, the largest-ever ship from Princess Cruises debuting in early 2024. Today the cruise brand announced four exceptional production shows that will take center stage in the Princess Arena, the most technologically advanced entertainment venue at sea. The pinnacle of technological innovation in the world of cruise ship entertainment, the configurable Princess Arena supports shows in the round, in a 270-degree keyhole configuration, as well as via a traditional proscenium theater. "The Princess Arena is an engineering marvel that allows us to create awe-inspiring entertainment, offering our guests a completely different experience every night," said Denise Saviss, vice president of entertainment experience for Princess Cruises. "Not only will our productions shine, but the venue itself, with its state-of-the-art stages, captivating lighting design, and immersive surround-sound, will deliver show-stopping spectacles on every voyage." Headlining the entertainment line-up are three completely new productions, showcasing the tremendous talents of the Sun Princess troupe with four lead vocalists, 13 top dancers and eight Dome Cirque artists in various performances, including: Princess Arena Theater Shows NEW! Vallora, A Pirate Quest – Created, directed and choreographed by Danny Teeson of "American Idol" fame, Pirates features an upbeat and nostalgic 80's soundtrack, including Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams," Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," Chicago's "You're the Inspiration" and Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." The show follows the intrepid heroine 'Vallora' through a pirate adventure, telling a thrilling story of searching for what's lost and above all else, family and love. NEW! Stage Struck – Celebrating musical theater, Stage Struck features "On Broadway" from Smokey Joe's Café, "Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady, "Take Me or Leave Me" from Rent and "One Night Only" from Dreamgirls. Directed and choreographed by Karen Bruce, of "So You Think You Can Dance" for BBC and numerous shows on the West End. NEW! Viva La Música – This scintillating musical experience from famed Latin American choreographer Liz Imperio, the well-known choreographer of concert tours for Jennifer Lopez, Madonna and Gloria Estefan, features Latin soundtrack favorites like Miami Sound Machine's "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You," Camila Cabello's "Havana," Santana's "Oye Como Va," and Pete Rodriguez's "I Like It Like That." The Latin Grammy inspired concert is highlighted by a dance couple who invite guests to join them on the dance floor for a unique immersive experience. PRINCESS FAVORITE REIMAGINED! Fiera! – Love blossoms at a turn-of-the-last-century colorful European fairground in a story revealed through an artfully selected medley of popular songs such as Guns & Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine," and Lady Gaga's "Born This Way." Directed by famed choreographer Danny Teeson, a large, brilliantly costumed cast of performers brings the story to life, dancing on a vibrant set with a spectacular digital backdrop. Entertainment extends throughout the ship including two additional prominent venues– the Piazza and The Dome – an iconic new venue at the top forward portion of the ship. The Dome The mesmerizing artistry of one of the entertainment industry's biggest names, the renowned Cirque Éloize, will be on full display in The Dome, a remarkable multi-level entertainment venue perched atop the ship. Three specially-created and captivating shows - "Blue," "Come Fly Away," and "Artbeat" - will transport guests into a world of emotion, color, and music, featuring awe-inspiring acts such as aerial hoops, aerial poles, bungees, Cyr wheel, silks, mind-bending contortions, and more. Inspired by the enchanting terraces of Santorini, The Dome is a pioneering glass-enclosed structure, the first of its kind ever constructed on a cruise ship. By day, it transforms into an indoor/outdoor oasis with a sparkling pool, while at night, it evolves into an electrifying entertainment venue with a South Beach vibe. Piazza The heartbeat of the ship, the Piazza on Sun Princess reflects an exciting evolution, surrounded by a multi-tiered sphere of glass offering expansive views as well as a wide selection of entertainment every voyage. Here guests can continue to enjoy beloved musical acts and performances, as well as favorite game shows and an elevated Champagne Waterfall event. As with all Princess voyages, Sun Princess guests will be greeted with a NEW Sailaway Party, NEW night-time Welcome Show, a NEW Themed Deck Party, NEW Game Shows and a memorable NEW Farewell Show and Light Spectacle. Guests sailing Sun Princess also can enjoy Spellbound by Magic Castle, a collaboration with the famed Hollywood icon. The extraordinary experience blends the captivating world of magic with the art of mixology and features incredible feats of magic from talented magicians, surprises in themed rooms and theatrical cocktails delivered by sleight-of-hand servers. Debuting in February 2024, Sun Princess is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. The 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will also offer an array of exciting new culinary offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. With the most balconies and sun decks on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean, Europe and Caribbean are on sale now. More ship information and images can be found at www.princess.com/sunprincess. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-Princess (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting www.princess.com. About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK). View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sun-princess-will-mesmerize-guests-with-new-show-stopping-productions-and-favorite-shows-301974907.html SOURCE Princess Cruises

We always use black electrical tape. Very easy to pack and remove from the sensors.

Today there have been questions regarding Paxlovid on our two roll calls. Whether you should bring it from home or depend on the onboard Med Center to provide it if you contract Covid. We are bringing it from home, as you can never depend on the Med Center to have sufficient supplies of it and it will be very expensive onboard. For us, our Medicare coverage paid for it. So, nada out of pocket. Having come down with Covid on a Panama Canal cruise early last year, we feel it is better to be safe than sorry!

Since this press release, our 8 future cruises (thru fall of 2025) have not dropped a dime. A few have actually gone up. 🤷‍♂️

$149 pp

History does repeat itself! 🤣🤣🤣

Looking forward to it! 🙂

We are now 72 hrs away from our departure from home to Madrid. Later today, we will be doing a dry run with our luggage as 95% of our things are out. It looks a bit daunting seeing all of the items to be packed, but Debbie assures me that it will all fit into our scheduled four checked bags! Flying BC, we each get to check two bags up to 70 lbs each. We have prepared for chilly Madrid and also if we hit a warm stretch as we did on last year's Med cruise. Countdown continues....

Usually the best meal of our cruise!

No, offering the suite breakfast to the most travelled passenger onboard (regardless of their cabin category) has been in place for years.

It has been our experience that ships will frequently use outdated fliers/brochures. The ships are slow to receive the newest versions of their fliers/brochures. Not good marketing. 🤷‍♂️

The suite breakfast is only offered to the most traveled onboard, #2 & #3 do not.

I have been busy this morning answering questions re: bus service from Livorno to Pisa and Florence, on the two separate roll calls from our voyage. I recommended asking questions and answers here for the sake of simplicity. Below is my input regarding the bus shuttles to Pisa and Florence. Going on how it was handled this past November, they had several buses going to Pisa and several buses going to Florence. They all left between 9:00 am and 10:00 am. I do not recall them making continuous round-trips throughout the day??? The bus to Florence takes around 80/90 min's each way. The bus to Pisa took about 30 min's each way. You catch the bus right where the ship shuttle bus drops you off in Livorno. No need to pre-book, pay at the time. The tour company drops you off in Florence for a DIY day. They will give you a time to return to the bus and returns you to the same ship shuttle bus stop. Here is the web site of the company running the buses. https://www.city-sightseeing.it/livorno/

Stateroom Upgrade Bids: Several folks on the roll call for the first segment of our voyage have reported successful bids from a balcony to a mini-suite over the past two days. Hopefully, there are more to come!

A couple of days ago, someone on our roll call for the Nov 12th, Enchanted, 26 day, Med/TA, posted that their bid was accepted for a mini-suite (from a balcony).

Along with Curtis Stone's 5 year contract...

Prior to his firing last year, I would mail the letters to Mario Seibaldi, VP of Guest Services. Now I mail them directly to the head guy below: John Padgett, President of Princess Cruises 24305 Town Center Drive Santa Clarita, Ca 91355

We frequently write letters of commendation for specific crew members and mail them to the corporate office. We almost always receive a return thank you letter from corporate. We also frequently hear back from the crew member that they received a copy of our letter and that they received special recognition.

For a long-time now we plan on it taking 72 hrs. If laundry is returned sooner, we are pleasantly surprised. 🙂