mtnesterz

You bring up a good point. The OP is from Australia. They grade their beef differently than the US grades of Choice and Select. As I recall they use number of stars when grading. Also, they use different cattle feeds than the US beef, which is high in corn. From experience, this change the taste of the beef. Aussie sourced beef tastes different than we were accustomed. FWIW, our steaks in the Crown Grill were the best steak we've ever eaten. We left from a US port, so most likely US beef. Someone accustomed to Aussie beef might find it tastes unusual.

The easiest and least expensive way to make contact is to use the wall panels, as you say, a couple times a day. Scan your Medallion and then locate cabin mates. You might be right around the corner, but even the biggest ship is not too big to go meet them.

Cruise Industry News is reporting that the previously unnamed third ship Carnival will let go is the AIDAaura. This will happen this September. It does not say where the ship will go. Wikipedia says the Fortuna and Magica will go to outside buyers by the end of the year.

With only a week to go, take a look at the Medallion App. It might show a schedule of events. As far as buying White and Gold clothes, here's a thread that might interest you. Note the clothes in the Piazza photo: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2885774-white-gold-night/

A Spanish news agency is reporting the two ships Costa is letting go are sister ships Fortuna (2003) and Magica (2004). Both are 2700+ passengers with 3400 max capacity. No word on what will be done with them. The third ship from Carnival's fleets was not revealed. The Magica is in lay-up and Fortuna will complete its scheduled cruises through April '23. Just an opinion here, but sure seems they would replace the Carnival Sunshine and POAU Pacific Explorer.

Similar story to yours. Earlier this year, we celebrated our 40th with our first cruise in two and a half years. Previously tried a forward facing balcony and won't do that again. Have read of soot problems with aft cabins, but no personal experience. We've found a higher level of cabin does not enhance the experience. Some may feel that it does. As you read the other threads here, you will see that others are dissapointed by some of the changes in the last three years; the daunting Medallion App, changes in food, poor internet. These types of things impact your trip more that which cabin you choose.

Flights are shown on EZ Air. Not sure I understand your concern. What I'm picking up on is a sense of anxiety. I may be wrong in that. It makes good sense to use Princess transfers at this port, because the distance between the port and Vancouver airport is substantial, an hour if not more during downtown traffic. So, you should book a flight to allow transit time. If your question is one of trust, we've had 16 cruises with Princess. Three started or ended at Vancouver. Never had problems at Vancouver airport, and always use Princess transfers with EZ Air booked flights with no problems.

Follow up to my previous post. I have had time to read your other posts and see you have already booked a flight to Hawaii. Whatever your reasons, good luck in your travels!

Not knowing the reason for your question, if you have a pressing commitment and can't make the sail date, the next sailing for this itinerary is not until March '23. You likely have not made final payment. Why not just change to a different sailing date and enjoy the whole cruise? OTOH, if you are fretting about your flight arriving late and missing the ship, then have you considered taking the same Hawaii destination out of Vancouver and avoid flying altogether. Or, if it must be L.A. just book through EZ Air and the ship will wait for you if the plane/bus is delayed.

Interesting article on future ship builds. This leads me to believe transfers within the Carnival family will be more frequent to replace older ships for some years. https://thepointsguy.com/news/carnival-corporation-cruise-ship-orders-on-hold/

Formal nights are on sea days. Just reserve on port days. Closer to your trip, you might see the schedule on the app. We did this itinerary earlier this year. No trouble changing nights on the ship. Neither Sabatini's or Crown Grill was crowded.

I stand corrected on ship age, but the Destiny/Sunshine has those moneymaking balcony cabins I mentioned that can prolong a ship's value. The last of those slab-sided ships, once the Ocean Princess, then Queen of the Oceans (2000), is now in cold layup, owned by Seajets, offered for sale in the ads, but no takers as yet. I just don't see those older ships as profitable in today's market. I've read drydock maintenance expense curve on ships is exponential with age.

I believe the oldest ship of Carnival's fleets, a slab sided, (fewer moneymaking balcony cabins) style ship, now is the P&O Explorer from 1997 . It had dry dock in '17 and '20, so another coming up soon? This is possibly the third ship mentioned in the Cruise Industry News article. I'd imagine P&O would like a newer ship transferred from Costa.

No, not worth taking a chance. You are not far enough north. Fairbanks 64 degrees, need to be above 65 degrees. Months September to March, you'll be there in summer. Ship? smaller is better. Exclude every Royal Class ship. Sapphire is in Alaska that would be my choice for it's prommenade deck and Skywalkers.

"So confused - New beverage package question" That's the whole point of it. "The general rule is, the more confusion, the more profit. Therefore, the best approach is to create problems, then offer solutions." Milton William Cooper You have to do the math. If at any point the math breaks down, it's not worth it. Your cruise is a 7 nights, not a world cruise segment, So for myself, I'll unplug from the internet for a week. Are you an occasional drinker, envelope tipper... not the fitness class type? You're asking about two or three dollars here and there, where the real issue is the $420 ($60/day for 7days) you are spending and may not get full use of. Might be better to have the extra $420 and pay as you go.

Not much for sweet drinks myself, but I looked up the ingredients. Several here have commented on how much they like Princess' Dirty Banana, which you might find to your liking. For me, Princess makes the best Negroni.

Following. Very interested in this itinerary.

Thanks @scottca075 and @Bruin Steve Whether staying in a hotel or not, we still have to get to and from our city, roughly 50 miles one way. Next cruise in a 16 night. Have to check on how much that would cost to leave the car at the hotel, weigh it against Uber. Will ask our daughter how to book a ride. We too, are slow to accept new ideas.

So, may I ask, since we live not far from each other and neither of us need a hotel or airport, how do you get to and from San Pedro Terminal? Before Covid, we used SuperShuttle but they're history. Primetime doesn't have the usual setup at the port anymore that we saw. We've never used Lyft or Uber, which several say is slow. The usual family ride will not be available for our next cruise, going or coming. Any thoughts on Red Line shuttle? If you use a limo, we'd consider it. Appreciate a good referral. Thanks!

Princess doesn't want you to feel at home. They want you to be on vacation. You know, like spending lots of money on things you wouldn't think of buying when at home. They want to appeal to families who spend lots of money creating family memories. Or, forget the memories, just spend lots of money. Will this be what people want? We'll be spending our cruising dollars elsewhere.

Post edited. I'm confused about all this.

First, I don't know anything about fishing. At a glance, I didn't see it mentioned, but at the bottom is a notation that the crew may use their discretion on items. Consider that a knife and sissors would be confiscated. Here's the list, under prohibited items: https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise/

If you book your air and transfers with Princess, from the moment you board the plane, you are in Princess's hands. If the plane is delayed, they'll wait for you. If the bus gets a flat tire/accident, they'll wait for you. On your own in a different country/language/currency, has potential to be penny wise and dollar foolish. Next cruise is mother-daughter, so we feel safer in a group in a foreign country. It's a game to see which of us spots the Princess sign first at the luggage area. To our way of thinking, it's not about being on our own schedule, also about meeting new people we'll cruise with and all being a part of the fun. A few reasons, as you are curious, but to each their own.

Yes. Contact your CVP and have them email the list to you. Don't have one? Get one. CVP not letting you know? Get a new one. If you're an Elite frequent cruiser, you should receive this. It came out yesterday. Of course, at best, you'll only get the list by Monday the 12th at this point, but for the future...

For the same reason you post. Because spending time on Cruise Critic is entertaining. The contention comes from Princess' ambiguity. Princess' line, "please observe," is not a rule, it's a request. A request leads to discussion. Sometimes we learn another's point of view, sometimes share our own. My own thoughts on formal night wear have changed over the course of reading these threads. So, saying folks don't take a new point of view is not a given.