KruzeKrazy!

If one were to visit only one cathedral - the one in PV or the one in Mazatlan:

- Which one is more visually spectacular?

- Which one is easier to get to/from the ship?

- Any other reasons to visit one over the other?

Or are there simply better things to do with one's limited time in each of those ports?

Yeah but....the idea is to have them available as part of the perk, not to have to go searching for them. ;)

Agree. Our steward always leaves them for us. Just trying to give another out-of-suite option to taking a photo of the one outside the MDR.

Sometimes our Steward seems very overworked and so we hate to ask. We just go down to the dining room and take a pic on our phone. Menus are posted before the actual meal time and this gets us out of our suite..at least for a little bit

The full menus should also be available at the Pax Services desk to look at.

How do you always end up having Stewart for your steward [emoji848] We never get him [emoji849]

 

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We never get Stewart either. But we sometimes get his imaginary friend Harvey. [emoji6]

Jury is still out as to whether I like the sea witch logo....

Well at least the Sea Witch livery isn't as bad as the Sea Witch beer... [emoji15]

Yes, love those 9x17 balconies on the Grand Class ships. Oh and the separate shower and spa tub. Have stayed in 3 PH suites but am really looking forwards to a 900 sq ft owners suite on the Pacific Princess this summer. Still wondering how they will do Club Class Dining as my booking still says early seating (no Anytime dining on that ship).

We've also done multiple PHs on multiple ships and then on our latest cruise did an aft OS on the Pacific (since there are no aft PHs). You'll love it as it's a PH with lots more room, a fantastic wall of wood-covered storage, two completely separate baths, and a huge balcony!

And while it is a smaller ship the balcony is half the width of the ship. For the two of us, quite frankly, it was too large. We probably used 25% of the floor space. But it is a great private viewing space to both the back and the side if you're around any nice scenery.

And, of course, there's Breakfast in Sabatini's which on the PP is soooo nice as there are even fewer suiteholders (only 10 full suites) and it has a long wall of floor-to-ceiling windows for a wonderful view of the world while you're enjoying a terrific and relaxing breakfast.

We were in French Polynesia and Breakfast in Sabatini's with a view of those very special islands was one of our treasured memories.

Enjoy!!!!!!!

One more suite perk not listed above . . . which I know kind if goes without saying . . . is the larger cabin and balcony. That's what is really being paid for - all else are just what they're called - perks (which are nice indeed but not a huge cost to Princess).

Breakfast in Sabatini's is fantastic! No need to dress up - it's casual and many people go directly to their excursions or day's activities from there and thus dress for whatever they will be doing. Just no swim wear, etc. Enjoy!

Yes, Colo Cruiser - uiu are right. I know the non-CC family cannot dine with us in CC. I was wondering about the reverse.

Thanks, NavyVeteran - that is precisely what my question was all about.

And, yes, Selion, this will be our 4th Princess full suite cruise and we LOVE breakfast in Sabatini's! We'll be on the Ruby which has Share instead if Sabatini's [emoji26] but I'm sure we'll enjoy breakfast in Crown Grill. And we've already told everyone we WILL be having breakfast without them. [emoji4]

We are in a full suite but our 2 adult children and their respective spouses are each in a non-Club Class mini-suite. All 3 res are linked.

My question: so we could all done together we requested a TD table for 6. Does this mean my DW and I cannot dine in Club Class when we may be dining on our own separate from them?

We want to dine together when we do but we also should (we think) be able to dine in Club Class when on our own as we have paid for that...

Lots of service positions - and nanagement positions in the service industries - have customer survey results, customer comment card feedback, mystery shopper reports, etc. along with outlet performance metrics (in this case cover counts, revenues, margins, etc.) as meaningful parts of the compensation, retention, advancement, etc. determination.

Not that anybody asked, but I'm going to put my two cents in on the (American) tipping tradition.

 

In spite of its history, for a long time now the customary so-called "tip" has in fact been a service charge. It is factored into the employee's salary, both on the front end (how much the employer pays) and on the back end (how it is taxed). It is neither more nor less than a fee for a service, and as such should not be withheld except in extraordinary circumstances (such as not receiving the bargained-for level of service).

 

Mind you, this is a stupid, convoluted way to go about things, and I would welcome its immediate end in favor of employers paying their employees the full value of their work, with the rise in costs to me the consumer which that implies. But until that happens, I will continue to "tip," perhaps somewhat on the generous side.

 

On a cruise which follows the American tradition, that means leaving the auto-tip in place, and possibly adding more as appropriate for exceptional service.

I second your post.

The Sabatini'a decor update, unfortunately, isn't surprising. Seems Corporate America thinks making everything the same "understated elegance" of medium to dark woods, muted tones, and brass accents is the way to go. It's now only the quality of the finishings that varies depending on how upscale the brand is - the look is becoming ubiquitous...

sjaak -

Your English is far superior to what many of us could do in whatever your native language is! No apologies needed!

She's not the one who stands in front of me poring through all the slices of bacon, twice, until she's found the two perfect strips, is she?

It's a buffet so only two pieces...? [emoji4]

We've also done and like both. I'd summarize it as HAL is just a bit more upscale (without being stuffy), the decor/furnishings a bit classier, and the dining a cut above. But the pricing is slightly higher as well.

But Princess is just fine and we've repeated with them enough to now be Platinum.

I'd say if you feel like a good but a casual restaurant think Princess and if you feel like a little nicer and dressier one (without being pinkies up) think HAL.

I've also done Seabourn and that was fantastic service but definitely black tie and pinkies up.

The reason non-critical areas may not seem as kept up as they used to: just like hotels, resorts, etc. (and even seaside residences) it is the cost and availability of capital and prioritizing the use of it as a limited resource across all the needs. In other words...business.

Generally speaking, with the ever-present harsh environmental conditions ships face we feel they do a pretty darn good job. You could look at any ship, hotel, seaside home, etc. and find some weather-worn areas. To us, we view it as part of being on a ship and it's a bit of a novelty and reinforcement of a sea-going vacation!

And sometimes there is a re-pricing of some cabins from the before to the after dates...

You may be confusing a suite perks with a promotion. All 3 in a suite paid for the suite benefits which includes the complementary embarkation night specialty dinner. Promotions that include free specialty dinners generally are for only the first 2 pax in a cabin - no matter the cabin type.

We did the BVE thing at San Pedrdo. The first to get back on were the B2Bs. Then the wedding party then the BVE and handicapped. Next were the Elite and Suites.

Yes,I forgot about any B&B's. Thanks for the reminder.

Wedding parties, if any, will board first. Suite and BVE, if any, will be second. Elites third. Etc.

Yes, you will have comp specialty dinner on embarkation night but it can't be pre-reserved. There will be a card in your suite on day 1 with instructions to call for your reservation.

DW and I tried Seawitch with hopeful taste buds... Soon found out it may as well be called Peewitch... [emoji15]

We wanted to like it but just couldn't. Sorry, Princess... [emoji26]

It may also be quiet because some in Club Class may be sailing with friends/relatives who are not in Club Class and thus to dine with them, must forgo the benefit of the Club Class section of the dining room.

That will be us on our next cruise - we are in a full suite and our adult kids/spouses are in std mini's.

We've told them we'll give up CC lunches and dinners to dine with them but we'll be having breakfast on our own as we won't give up Breakfast in Sabatini's/CG... [emoji1]

Perhaps she's a mother and thus, as we all know, has eyes in the back of her head... [emoji6]