Any advice for a first time Princess cruiser?

[jac1976]

My family and I are cruising on the Sapphire Princess this August. It is my DH, myself, and our 2 kids ages 3 and 6. We have sailed before on Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and Disney, but never on Princess. Is there anything we should be aware of as first time Princess cruisers?

 

Also, I have a few questions. How do beverages work? Are drinks at meals free or do you always have to pay (non-alcoholic)? Neither of us are coffee drinkers, although I do enjoy my soda. Also, the kids tend to drink juice or milk. How much do individual drinks cost? (I've seen that you can purchase drink cards and am just trying to figure out how many drinks a day you'd have to drink to make it worth it.)

 

Also, can someone please explain anytime dining to me? How many restaurants are there to choose from? Are these restaurants completely separate from the main dining rooms?

 

Any other tips you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

[Talisker92]

One thing I have learned is to print out the deck plan from the Princess site or get it from one of their brochures. The little booklet they give you is a side view only. The deck plans will tell you where everything is, especially the restrooms, since you are traveling with children.

[ottojf]

Are you a vet or retired miliary? Princess has been offering $250 onboard credits on a 14 day sailing. Likewise, if you own Carnival Common Stock you can get another $250 on a 14 day trip.

 

Anytime dinning? On Sapphire there is one dining room for scheduled dining and three for open seating. You can reserve in the open seating for three days in advance. That is what we did on our Hawaii trip as there were five of us traveling toget

[ottojf]

There was more to my previous post but I hit a wrong key and it went in to space. Some one else will have to comment on the cost of softdrinks. We always fly to Ft Lauderdale a day early and hit a local market and purchase our own and take them on board. We have never been challenged. There is a Sleep Inn (and others) near the airport that has free Airport and Cruise terminal shuttle. It is right beside a Publix Market. We will be staying there next Tuesday evening (4/26/11).

 

I sort of paid attention to the cost of the softdrink card and I think you would have to drink several a day. It is not cheap.

[ottojf]

Sapphire restrooms are hard to find. The little signs are not big enough. They are located in different places on each of the public decks.

 

The new little fold out guide they give with maps is very good.

[Janet Foster]

My family and I are cruising on the Sapphire Princess this August. It is my DH, myself, and our 2 kids ages 3 and 6. We have sailed before on Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and Disney, but never on Princess. Is there anything we should be aware of as first time Princess cruisers?

 

Also, I have a few questions. How do beverages work? Are drinks at meals free or do you always have to pay (non-alcoholic)? Neither of us are coffee drinkers, although I do enjoy my soda. Also, the kids tend to drink juice or milk. How much do individual drinks cost? (I've seen that you can purchase drink cards and am just trying to figure out how many drinks a day you'd have to drink to make it worth it.)

 

Also, can someone please explain anytime dining to me? How many restaurants are there to choose from? Are these restaurants completely separate from the main dining rooms?

 

Any other tips you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

In addition to any time dining there are also speciality restaurants that you can enjoy a nice meal for a "cover charge". The steak house is specially good. Great cuts of meat and the service is outstanding.

 

Beverage cards.. there are lots of discussions about the cards and if they are worth it to you or not. We bring a case of soda and water with us and check it in along with our luggage. A can of soda can be $2.50 a can plus 15% tip. So it really depends on how much you drink. Adds up~

 

Others will tell you the water on the ship is fine and it is, it is just a preference for us which is the reason we bring our own. Plus we bring those packets of flavored drink mixes and keep the bottles of water on ice in our cabin.

 

The only drinks free at dinner time are coffee, tea, water (glass), there may be juices... can't recall.. so I am sure others will be helpful with that question.

 

My advice is plan ahead and do your research on the ports, excursions.... it will be an enjoyable time. Lots of helpful people here.

[willysgrandma]

My family and I are cruising on the Sapphire Princess this August. It is my DH, myself, and our 2 kids ages 3 and 6. We have sailed before on Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and Disney, but never on Princess. Is there anything we should be aware of as first time Princess cruisers? If there is an International Cafe on the Ship, most of the food items are free.

 

Also, I have a few questions. How do beverages work? Are drinks at meals free or do you always have to pay (non-alcoholic)? Neither of us are coffee drinkers, although I do enjoy my soda. Also, the kids tend to drink juice or milk. How much do individual drinks cost? (I've seen that you can purchase drink cards and am just trying to figure out how many drinks a day you'd have to drink to make it worth it.) There is free iced tea at dinner. Anything else (soda, etc.) you must pay for. Juice is free at the buffet for breakfast and if you eat breakfast in the dining room.

 

Also, can someone please explain anytime dining to me? How many restaurants are there to choose from? Are these restaurants completely separate from the main dining rooms? Anytime dining is held in one or two of the main dining rooms - you just go to whichever is assigned to Anytime whenever you want to eat dinner during the dining times listed in your daily paper. They rooms are the exact same rooms as Assigned Dining.

 

There are also separate pay restaurants that you usually need to have reservations for to eat at.

[jac1976]

Are you a vet or retired miliary?

 

We are current military. :) My husband is currently in Afghanistan. This trip is our reward to each other for making it through another deployment.

 

 

And thanks to the PP who suggested printing out the deck plans. That is a great idea. We do arrive into port the day before (sailing out of Seattle) so we'll have to make a run to the store. I hadn't thought of that!

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

Bring a clock and a flash light

[UandMe4Ever]

We are current military. :) My husband is currently in Afghanistan. This trip is our reward to each other for making it through another deployment.

 

 

And thanks to the PP who suggested printing out the deck plans. That is a great idea. We do arrive into port the day before (sailing out of Seattle) so we'll have to make a run to the store. I hadn't thought of that!

 

 

First of all, thank you both for your service to and for our Country. May you forever be safe wherever you travel.:)

 

I believe that upon boarding Princess, they have a little tri-fold card which has all the areas of the ship and locations, that you carry with you! You can take a highlighter to highlight the places you'll spend most time at, ie. dining, pool, etc. It may save you time and effort. They always have more at the Purser's deck, so you can each have one if you need it.

 

Enjoy your well deserved vacation and stay safe always!!:D

[willysgrandma]

Thank you for your service. You certainly DO deserve this cruise! Did you both apply for the military onboard credits?

 

 

 

We are current military. :) My husband is currently in Afghanistan. This trip is our reward to each other for making it through another deployment.

 

 

And thanks to the PP who suggested printing out the deck plans. That is a great idea. We do arrive into port the day before (sailing out of Seattle) so we'll have to make a run to the store. I hadn't thought of that!

[CruisJack]

Any other tips you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

 

The swimming pools have fresh water rather than salt water

as on some other cruise lines.

There are laundramats on each passenger deck which have

washers and dryers for $1 per load the last I knew. There

are also ironing boards and steam irons available. This may

reduce the need to pack so many clothes with luggage weight

being a major factor now.

Although there are supposed to be quarters available in the

change machinges in the laundry rooms, I always bring a roll of quarters with me. There are soap dispensing machines in the laundry rooms but it is less expensive to put one measure of detergent per washer load into zip lock bags at home.

May you have fair skies and calm seas for your cruise.:cool:

[RebelSoul]

There are soap dispensing machines in the laundry rooms but it is less expensive to put one measure of detergent per washer load into zip lock bags at home.

 

Great advice on the laundry. Only thing I would add is I find using the 3 in 1 sheets a little easier. No risk of something breaking and getting detergent all in your luggage. Plus if you pack the sheets right in with your clothes, they come out smelling nice when you unpack them on embarkation day. :)

[katisdale]

There is no additional cost for milk and it is available at every meal although you sometimes have to ask for this at lunch and dinner in the horizon court.

The anytime dining rooms are main dining rooms. The menu is the same as the fixed time dining room.

Your 3 year-old must be completely potty trained to stay in the kids area. If potty training is still on-going you can stay in the kids area with your child but he/she cannot stay there alone.

[IECalCruiser]

My family and I are cruising on the Sapphire Princess this August. It is my DH, myself, and our 2 kids ages 3 and 6. We have sailed before on Royal Caribbean, Cunard, and Disney, but never on Princess. Is there anything we should be aware of as first time Princess cruisers? The Sapphire does not have an International Cafe but they do have pastries and small sandwiches at the Lobby Bar on Deck 5 (Plaza) and Crooner's Bar on Deck 7 (Promenade) if you want a quick snack there. On Deck 14 (Lido) there is soft serve ice cream at Sundaes, pizza at Prego and burgers and hot dogs at the Trident Grill. No charge for any of these items. At breakfast Sundaes serves fresh waffles with your choice of toppings and the Trident Grill has omelettes made to order. Check the Patter for notice of the English Pub Lunch that should be served twice in the Savoy DR. You might also want to check out Afternoon Tea in the Pacific Moon DR from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

 

Also, I have a few questions. How do beverages work? Are drinks at meals free or do you always have to pay (non-alcoholic)? Neither of us are coffee drinkers, although I do enjoy my soda. Also, the kids tend to drink juice or milk. How much do individual drinks cost? (I've seen that you can purchase drink cards and am just trying to figure out how many drinks a day you'd have to drink to make it worth it.) Iced tea and hot coffee from syrup, hot tea from bags, milk and water is available all day. A wide selection of fruit juices is available at breakfast and lemonade (Horizon Court buffet only) is available at lunch. No charge for any of these drinks. Soft Drinks by the can are $2.24 ($1.95 + 15% gratuity). I was told that the Soft drink card is now $4.50/day. You must buy for the full 7 day cruise so it would be $36.23 for one person for the cruise. They actually put a sticker on your cruise card. It is only good for fountain sodas (coke, diet coke, sprite and ginger ale) at the bars. That is equal to about 2.3 soft drinks per day. There is also the UKP (Ultimate Kids Package) available to everyone. I was told that the UKP is now $7.00 per day or $56.35 for the cruise with the 15% gratuity. In addition to fountain sodas the UKP includes "mocktails" (virgin cocktails), milkshakes, fruit juices, smoothies, and possibly canned root beer.



Also, can someone please explain anytime dining to me? How many restaurants are there to choose from? Are these restaurants completely separate from the main dining rooms? Rather than two anytime dining rooms the Sapphire has four smaller dining rooms. The International DR aft on deck 6 is used for Traditional dining all night. In addition the Vivaldi DR is used for Traditional dining until 8:00 p.m. The other dining rooms are the Savoy, the Santa Fe and the Pacific Moon. The four dining rooms originally had their own menus but now the menus in all four plus the International DR are the same. The four do have a signature dish (osso bucco, pork chop, frajitas and stir fry) available every night. The Anytime DRs are open from 5:30 to 10:00 and you can just walk up to the dining room and ask to be seated. You can ask for a table for four or you can share a larger table with others. You may need to wait at some times during the evening. We ate between 5:30 and 5:45 and did not have to wait to be seated. You can also call DINE (3463) from your room phone are make a reservation at a specific time and table size for up to three days in a row. We liked our waitstaff the first night and two calls reserved that table for two for us at 5:45 p.m. for the rest of the cruise.



Any other tips you could pass on would be greatly appreciated. You will receive the Princess Patter in you cabin every evening. Check to see what interests you the next day before you go to bed. The following thread gives you examples of the Patters from a recent Mexican Riviera Cruise. Activities will be geared to Alaska but it will give you an idea of what is happening on the Sapphire.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1399805

We were just on the Sapphire last week. I have provided information specific to the Sapphire in red above.

 

Thanks to your husband for his service. It is not easy duty for him over there (or you at home with your two young ones!) and I hope you have a wonderful cruise. For your 7 day cruise he will be eligible for $100 On Board Credit. See the thread below.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1392431&highlight=military+obc

 

[caribill]

How do beverages work? Are drinks at meals free or do you always have to pay (non-alcoholic)? Neither of us are coffee drinkers, although I do enjoy my soda. Also, the kids tend to drink juice or milk.

 

No charge at all meals (buffet or dining rooms) or from room service 24 hours a day: milk, coffee (from syrup), tea, water (not bottled).

No charge at breakfast: juice (several types). To have juice available later in the day, you may want to order from room service at breakfast time and keep in the in-cabin fridge.

Other posts have covered the soda and lemonade options.

 

 

Also, can someone please explain anytime dining to me? How many restaurants are there to choose from? Are these restaurants completely separate from the main dining rooms?

 

When you signed up for the cruise, you were given (or should have been given) the option to have a traditional dining room time (usually around 6 PM or 8:15 PM) or be in anytime. On the Sapphire, there are four anytime dining rooms and one traditional dining room (these five rooms are the main dining rooms). If signed up for anytime, you can use any of the four anytime rooms and switch among them. The menus and the dress code for all the dining rooms are the same. Each of the anytime dining rooms has a specialty dish, but you can order that dish in any dining room. One dining room will be open for breakfast and for lunch if you wish to not eat at the buffet or have room service (limited menu).

 

 

see above

[IECalCruiser]

The International DR is used for breakfast and lunch on the Sapphire. We ate most of our breakfasts and lunches there on our recent cruise. If you don't eat lunch in the DR you miss all of those great freshly made ice creams for dessert. 3-4 different flavors each day and the Sapphire had some of the best ice cream we have had on any Princess ship. Some of the cakes and pies aren't our favorites but the ice creams, souffles and creme brulees are the best.

[CFLCruisers]

Get that on board credit(obc) for military service.

From another thread:" All the info on military OBC for all Princess Cruises can be found by going to your Cruise Personalizer, then clicking on FAQ, look for Military Program on the right side of the page. Click and you have all the info. It's a great program and I thank PRINCESS for all of the VETS out here...."

 

From yet another thread:

• Complementary plate of assorted stuffed olives at the martini bar.

• Pre purchase internet minutes before you leave you’ll get free minutes based on the package you pick.

• Escargot!!!

• Insulated travel coffee mug

• One of the dining rooms will be open for lunch on embarkation day.

• Volcano dessert, available on children's menu basically a huge banana split.

• When you open the little door under the TV for the plug, well, there are extra outlets not being used. But not if it’s a flat screen

• Ask for Egg crates, top sheet, robe, slippers, bed topper, and upgraded pillows.

• Always ask if there is a charge.

• Under your bed is more bedding.

• Cocktails for $2.99 in all the bars… time ?

• Request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks.

• Request extra hangers.

• Passenger Service Desk (also called the Hotel Manager) will make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. They will also do that for you in the casino and give you a lanyard.

• There is another electrical point under the bed.

• Bring a roll of quarters and laundry supplies.

• If you decide to eat in a specialty restaurant you may want to make the reservation for the last night

• Sabatini’s reservation for the night that they are serving Italian food in the main dining room.

• Reservations for the steak house ask to sit at the counter overlooking the kitchen area, fun to watch the staff put it altogether and see the teamwork involved.

• The Fettuccine Alfredo!!! Plus it’s served in a Parmesan bowl, a crispy melted cheese bowl.

• Bring along a small electric alarm clock.

• On the first day, we simply ask to see the week’s menus and look over what’s happing for the week. Then make plans for the week there and then. The MD or any head waiter can show them to you.

• Can go up to the Spa to shower.

• Take 3 or 4 of those black metal binder clips or plastic clothes pens and hang them on the bottom edge of the shower curtain.

• Computer station in the Future Cruise booking area or Internet Cafe, free e-postcard, 300 character limit but you could send more than one message to the same email address if you need to get a longer message out.

• Befriending the maitre'd, the head waiter, and everyone who takes care of you.

• Appetizers and sushi are free in the Vines wine bar but not the cheese.

• When you get off of the elevator to go to your room, one side of the ship on every passenger deck the hallways have blue carpeting. The other side has blue carpeting but there is some red in that side.

• Duck liver pâté appetizer.

• Various lamb entrees.

• Last night of the cruise, head up to the Horizon Court (or the International Café) for some pre-travel treats. Cookies are always available. We put a couple cookies in our zip loc bag(s) for our travel home the next day.

• Ask for anchovies on your caesar salad at dinner.

• Take a pop-up mesh hamper for your dirty clothes.

• Empty luggage? The Steward will stow it for you.

• Find out when/where the Muster drill is and go get your life jacket. Take it with you a little ahead of time and "beat the crowd".

• Highlighters for Princess Patters and highlight times/ places/ activities, etc for the next day

• Sticky notes for when spouse sleeps in to leave a note on the MIRROR or DOOR

• Magnet to put it on the door.

• Water bottles for on shore.

• Clothes line in the bathroom for swimming clothes

• On disembarkation day if you are trying to get on an elevator to get down to the disembarkation decks, push the up button, ride up and then down as the up elevators are not full.

• We take our empty water bottles up to the buffet and fill them from the water spigots there (late at night just before we go to bed) oh and we might pick up some desserts to eat too lol!!!

• twice-baked goat cheese soufflé,

• Lobster and Scampie Dinner with a side of Alfredo.

• Purex 3-in-1 strips

• air freshner

• waterproof case, that will go around your neck and will hold your ID, cruise card, credit card etc. while swimming/snorkeling in port.

• empty beach bag a place to put all your purchases

The $2.99 cocktails are from 4:00-7:00, and include Pina Colada, Long Island Iced tea, Singapore Sling and a few beers.

 

Enjoy!

[Astro Flyer]

Here's a link to the info which Princess keeps updated on this great military program & includes a PDF application form to request the MOBC:

 

http://www.princess.com/learn/faq_an...ry_program.jsp

[RebelSoul]

I know you have cruised before, but the best advice I ever got is:

 

Remember you are on vacation! Relax and have fun. Be prepared that maybe not everything will go perfectly or as you planned, but do not sweat the small stuff. And if it does go perfectly, even better.

 

If you haven't already, join your cruise's Roll Call. Nothing better than meeting some experienced Princess cruisers and finding the ins and outs of Princess and your ship.

 

(And thank you for your service to our wonderful country!)