mtnesterz

We ported in Falmouth, Jamaica on a Princess cruise. There is a port area with shopping and restaurants... it's super clean and nice there to walk around, shop, have lunch or a Red Stripe beer. The ship advised passengers not to go past the gate unless on an excursion bus. Since we did not go on an excursion, we walked down to the metal gate for excercise, but not beyond. Yes, we felt safe in the secured gated port shopping/dining area. Just follow recommendations.

Consider that the most common Medallion problem on the ship is that the Medallion battery goes dead and there's no replacing it. They get lost on the ship, some have it mailed but it doesn't arrive... So there has to be a system where passengers can get a new medallion if it's DOA at the port or goes dead or lost onboard. I did read somewhere that the replacement Medallions do have printing on them, but can't say from direct experience. If they've sold it to you, they need to provide it. This problem must have been considered, or resolution come up with after thousands and thousands of passengers. Bring your order confirmation.

As Voljeep wrote, there is no cost for the Medallion. Some want it shipped to them and that is $10. Some buy a fancy holder for the Medallion, or use the free lanyard that comes with it. There are general tutorials to answer your questions about Ocean Ready and the App on the Princess website. When ready to do your preboarding, including dining, log onto Princess and click your Cruise Personalizer. Near the bottom on the right, you'll see black boxes to download the App from either the Apple App store or Google Play. Download whichever because you may want it on the ship. Below those boxes, it will say use web version. That is what we found trouble free for preboarding. You may choose to preboard using the App that you've downloaded, but it has been buggy. All I'm saying is the web version was not buggy for me, just slow. Either way, you should preboard. Important to log into either the App or web version using your booking number. I see EDVM96 has also noted this. Otherwise, the app doesn't know to connect you and your booking number. Just work your way down the menu. If you get stuck. Call Princess and at the prompts, an Ocean Navigator will call you back, and walk you through it. But try first.

I get the impression some clarification might put this together for you. The Medallion App and the Medallion are two different things. As mentioned above, the Medallion you wear has a code, like a car license plate that identifies you to your cabin door and your onboard account. That is all. Yes, onboard you can request a cruise card instead, but it's actually handy. The Medallion App is what you may use for many things related to your cruise. There's a video about this on Princess website, more detailed than I can be here. To your question, you will want to download the App, which can be glitchy, but if you go to Princess website to download the app, select the option to upload preboarding using the web based version instead. It is slow to respond. Notwithstanding, this way went much smoother than the App for our cruises since restart. Oh? You say there has been a change and cannot do dining reservations? I just did my dining reservations a couple weeks ago. Hmm, well it worked for me. Maybe there is a faster way to book dining, but we did our reservations night by night rather than one time, one dining room for all nights. Slow, but you'll get through it. Another thing, remember to change settings on your phone or tablet so that your browser has permission to access your camera, because you'll need to take a photo of your passport. We do credit card at the pier, so we're always "Blue". Complete everything amd you're "Green!" You still need to go to the website to print luggage tags, but there's no more boarding passes. Good Luck!

Dining question? No, actually the Main Dining Room food is perfectly acceptable. There are specialty restaurants, but really not necessary. Ocean view cabin. You can go an obstructed view cabin, for not much more. The light is nice, but as the name implies, often obstructed. What it does buy is quiet. A guarantee that they won't be next to a broom closet or working corridor with noise at all hours. Work happens 24/7 on the ship. You say tips are covered, was it just tips or did you buy Plus or Premium? Plus includes drinks, tips and internet, Premium then adds Specialty dining x2, special desserts. But if they don't drink, it's pointless to buy either. Are they techno-savvy? If you are close by, assist them with the app for pre-boarding and get them familiar with the Medallion App. It can be wonky. Hint, the online version on the Princess website, works better. BTW, we have done this itinerary. Would do again!

Seems to me Princess would have bought the same make and model TV for all ships. If so, here is a thread about TV on the Enchanted Princess. Post #3 has a photo of the back panel. At the top is says "speaker out line out" but I would find a live thread and ask if earphones could be plugged in. https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2868995-enchanted-princess-hdmi/

As of 2022, the Baccarat table minimium was $5 according to another CC thread. Everywhere casino I've seen, the table has been either a separate room or a roped off area. Don't know if there are times or just a request to open it.

We too are interested in a cruise on the Majestic. Reports we've read are similar about the food. Please, someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the Gong-Cha Boba bar is gone. Boba, if you havent had it, is a fun drink with the tapioca pearls and huge straw. Also gone are the private Karaoke rooms. Some things just didn't catcht on in the west. Too bad. Can confirm the post that Harmony menu changed and reports were disappointing. I've seen the old and new menu. The difference between eating in Chinatown, Los Angeles and Panda Express. Consider that many passengers that are well travelled and can distinguish real Chinese food from local takeout offerings. Best review I read opined the cooktops are electric and they can't get the flamethrower heat needed for the style.

Easier way. Touch your Medallion to any of the wall panels and you can us that to locate those on your booking. Unless going ashore, we put our phones in the safe for the duration.

Cruise Vacation Planner is the newer term, that's all. Have a look at my earler post, #5. The only thing I'll say is if they're good, you'll get contacted a lot, so be firm with them not calling you. You can always request a change if dissatisfied. Edited, link didn't work. Call 1(800) 901-1172.

I will try to be even handed. The lines you previously sailed are all considered Resort Class lines. Princess, along with HAL, Celebrity... are considered Premium Class lines. If you like rides on deck rides, catering to children and young families and the other things unique to them, you will miss them on the Royal and all other ships on the line, and in this class. To put it simply, expect less energy onboard. It's more for grown-ups. The Royal class ships are different than a standard cruise ship. No full Promenade, which was a joy to many. Few places to sit and watch the sea go by. The ship is tighter, proportionally less seating in the theater and they didn't add elevators but added decks of cabins. People have to schedule their time better just to walk through crowds and vie for seating anywhere. This is why people don't like the Royal Class ships. On the upside, the buffet is amazing for it's scale, just get there early or late to find a place to sit. Hope you enjoy your cruise!

I'm thinking the ship's chief medical officer asked for a private chat with the Captain after hearing that announcement.

Both of your points are true, Alaskan cruises tend to the casual as opposed to a world cruise, but also true that Princess is more traditional than RCL and Carnival. What you describe wearing is fine. Alaska in July, highs are in the 50's F. I suggest wear a sportcoat on the plane and roll up a tie in the pocket. Then you'll have it if you choose with no luggage space taken. If you go outside, meaning the Lido or pool deck, evenings before and after dinner you may want that sportcoat.

I held off posting because I suspected there was something else; a reason for your indecision. After all, the FCDs are refunded after a year if unused. You know there is no risk. Princess does have things for kids of different ages, you can look into these programs. But Princess would not be our choice for a cruise with really young ones. RCL, Carnival and Disney excel at this market and likely have cabins to match. Dealing with bored kids would be no joy for anyone.

The key phrase is, "on certain ships." When Princess started the Royal class, they didn't add enough seats to theaters/venues to accomodate the additional passengers. A design blunder. If you like shows, games, quizes etc... get there earlier for a seat, or sail Grand/Coral class where there's ample seating by design. So much goes on behind the scenes to put on a show, prepare and staff, not to mention we're talking dancers, not just musicians, I don't see three shows happening.

Yes, we've done it. You also get OBC applied to the newly booked cruise. A recent change you may not know is that you used to get 2 years on your FCD, It's now one year, should you not apply it right away.

We use a CVP. Some here have bad experiences with CVPs, but we have a good one. Sorry, cannot mention his name. For one cruise, there was a problem and our CVP was a direct line to Princess. No hour on hold or callback. The problem was resolved in a few minutes. Could a TA handle that? With time, sure. Book ourselves? Not as complex as things are today. No added perks or discounts. Just the feeling that we have a direct line to Princess. That is our priority. Yours is up to you.

Well, in L.A. there's the Jonathan Club.( jc.org ) Quite a waitlist though so there is a demand for this. Two more Princess cruises booked, then I think we'll try Cunard.

I too have found Princess cruise pricing a big shell game. Get some perk like free specialty dining, but price is higher... Regarding Hawaii Cruises out of Vancouver, which I presume you are booked for. Have you noticed that starting Sept. 21, '24, It will no longer be a 16 night RT, but a one way,13 night coastal that makes its way, to/from Hawaii? This might be what you want, but if you're more a fan of the RT, only 2 more sailings. Don't miss them.

Cherish this time together. You can tell by our screen name, those days are past for us. Probably your last big vacation together. They are adults. You can't make sure they have a good time. By sailing Princess instead of Carnival, what you're saying, in a subtle way, is they're not kids anymore. Onboard, they'll gravitate to the onboard activities that interest them, just as you or I would. They are at a tough age, too young to drink, too old to hang out at the older teen area, called Remix I think. They'll miss friends, be horrified at the thought of bingo and trivia. And spend too much time on phones. If they will go, then don't miss this opportunity.

Source Cruisemapper: "Cruise passengers-to-space ratio The ship's "space ratio" (by definition) is the enclosed space (measured in ft3/cubic feet) per passenger. A ship of 45,000 GT (gross tonnage) with capacity 1,000 passengers will have a space ratio 45 (or 45ft3=45000/1000). So if your ship has generally smaller cabins but very large public spaces, she will have a higher space ratio, and the higher the space ratio number, the more guests will enjoy a sense of spaciousness on board."

It is possible. Of the Princess fleet, the Coral has the best passenger to space ratio at 1:38. Sisters Diamond and Sapphire, our two favorites, are next at 1:36. The Caribbean is the least at 1:30.

Interested in following your question for options which seem limited to: Drink syrup coffee on Grand/Coral class? Yuck. Give up coffee? Nope. Drink tea? 🤣 Bring Arabica bean instant, Via for example.

They need Panamax ships to use the old locks and for world cruises. Someday, they will need to be replaced, of course. But I hope Princess doesn't stop cruising to smaller, remote ports and longer itineraries that can only be, or best be served by smaller ships.

Our experience? A forward facing balcony is usually an Obstructed Balcony category, meaning a metal railing or something. If you bid on a standard balcony, you won't, make that shouldn't, get an Obstructed Balcony cabin; a different category. As startedwithamouse said, we haven't done this bidding, so don't know the details of how a selection is made, or if you can refuse and go back. We live in hope the upgrade fairy will return someday. 😁 Also in our experience, pools are on the middle of the ship, lengthwise. Balcony cabins are on the perimeter. Our last cruise we were one deck from the theater, and we usually turn in early. Couldn't hear anything but the usual ship noise. I wouldn't worry about it.