Blue Card plan reviews please

[sue2go]

Will be boarding our first Princess cruise (on the Island Princess) Feb 18 for a full transit of the Panama Canal. Will be boarding in San Pedro after our night at the Crowne Plaza. My blue card in hand, I will board without regard to the boarding time suggested and when on the ship go straight to our cabin and call the dine line and make reservations for the Ultimate Balcony Dinner and specialty restaurant reservations for a formal night, which I can determine from the Patter (not doing formal nights). I will ask our cabin steward for a top sheet. I will attend the meet and greet that our role call has set up the first day, and I plan to attend zumba and join the pop choir. We will watch for happy hour at the Wheelhouse Bar, and plan to enjoy our anytime dining even if we are given a beeper by grabbing a glass of wine while we wait, as we would in a restaurant on land. Our excursions are booked, our onboard credit for military service is there, we have prepaid for our coffee cards and a soda card (not and more - did it before it disappeared). Anything else that experienced cruisers would like to share with this blue card newbie? Not new to cruising, have a few cruises with other lines (Celebrity and RCCL) under our belt

Edited January 8, 2016 by sue2go

[sue2go]

And we will each have our allowed bottle of wine in our carry one! Cheers!

[Happy2cruise]

Enjoy! We just did the Panama Canal on the Coral Princess and it was fantastic:)

[Colo Cruiser]

Bon Voyage!!

 

You may find that the DINE line or whatever you will call to make a res for the UBD will not answer until late afternoon or evening. You might try speaking with a head waiter when you board either in the DR or the HC buffet. He may be able to put it down for you. ;)

[sue2go]

Bon Voyage!!

 

You may find that the DINE line or whatever you will call to make a res for the UBD will not answer until late afternoon or evening. You might try speaking with a head waiter when you board either in the DR or the HC buffet. He may be able to put it down for you. ;)

 

 

Thanks for the tip Keith! Will keep that in mind.

[skynight]

Specialty Restaurant Reservations, It might be easier to just visit the restaurant(s) around 1pm or so on boarding day. It is sometimes difficult to get through on the DINE line on the first day. The attendant there may also be able to help arrange the UBD.

[sue2go]

Specialty Restaurant Reservations, It might be easier to just visit the restaurant(s) around 1pm or so on boarding day. It is sometimes difficult to get through on the DINE line on the first day. The attendant there may also be able to help arrange the UBD.

 

Sounds like I have options for getting those reservations - thanks!

[Eagle_and_hawk]

You might consider buying the UBD before you get onboard, just to be sure you get it. We did that on the last cruise as we did it for four people. You can't pick the night in advance, and when we did get on board, we called to arrange the night we wanted and worked out as we wanted. I believe they only do a couple each night as our choices were 6:00pm and 8:30pm.

[Croptop]

+1 for visiting the restaurants directly to make the reservations. That's how I've always done it and I've always been able to get the date and time I was after with no difficulties.

 

Bon voyage!

[IECalCruiser]

A slight correction, you can arrive whatever time you want and I suggest arriving between 10:30 and 11:00 to be among the first in line to check in after priority check in of Suite, Elite and Platinum passengers. The earlier you check in the lower the number of your boarding group. You can't board until your boarding group is called.

 

We have also had some problems calling the DINE line early in the afternoon. There will be a table set up outside either Sabatini's or the Bayou Cafe. At that table you can make reservations for any specialty dining or the UBD. I would also suggest that after making your reservations you go to the DR well before 1:30 for a nice lunch. It will probably be in the Provence DR on Fiesta deck 6 but check your Patter.

 

You can bring more wine on board but you need to pay a $15/bottle corkage for additional wine and if you bring your "free" wine to a DR or other public place you will be charged the $15 corkage.

Edited January 9, 2016 by IECalCruiser

[sue2go]

A slight correction, you can arrive whatever time you want and I suggest arriving between 10:30 and 11:00 to be among the first in line to check in after priority check in of Suite, Elite and Platinum passengers. The earlier you check in the lower the number of your boarding group. You can't board until your boarding group is called.

 

We have also had some problems calling the DINE line early in the afternoon. There will be a table set up outside either Sabatini's or the Bayou Cafe. At that table you can make reservations for any specialty dining or the UBD. I would also suggest that after making your reservations you go to the DR well before 1:30 for a nice lunch. It will probably be in the Provence DR on Fiesta deck 6 but check your Patter.

 

Great tips! Was looking for the place to purchase the UBD before boarding and couldn't find it in the personalizer - the breakfast was listed but not dinner. If I go to the specialty restaurant and book it there will that be good enough? I was going to schedule it for the night we are in Fuerte Amador.

[IECalCruiser]

Great tips! Was looking for the place to purchase the UBD before boarding and couldn't find it in the personalizer - the breakfast was listed but not dinner. If I go to the specialty restaurant and book it there will that be good enough? I was going to schedule it for the night we are in Fuerte Amador.

Sounds like a great night since you will be at anchor! We only did the UBD once and had no problem booking on board. We choose an overnight at anchor in Cabo and had wonderful and changing views from our balcony. Call Princess or your TA to see about prepaying the UBD. At the tender dock in Fuerte Amador there is a shop that has a reasonable selection of decent wine. We bought some before our HoHo bus tour and by the end of the tour the selection was quite picked over. You may or may not be charged corkage for a few bottles brought on board there [emoji6]

[sue2go]

Sounds like a great night since you will be at anchor! We only did the UBD once and had no problem booking on board. We choose an overnight at anchor in Cabo and had wonderful and changing views from our balcony. Call Princess or your TA to see about prepaying the UBD. At the tender dock in Fuerte Amador there is a shop that has a reasonable selection of decent wine. We bought some before our HoHo bus tour and by the end of the tour the selection was quite picked over. You may or may not be charged corkage for a few bottles brought on board there [emoji6]

 

Wonderful - will do - thanks again for the information!

[jasbo49]

Sounds like you might be the best-prepared Princess cruisers we've seen. Now, just realize the Panama Canal and environs may be the hottest, most humid place you've ever been.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip going the other direction Dec. 5-20. We especially liked San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, But boy, the canal and Colombia were hotter that we could prepare for.

 

If you want to see a mess of crocodiles, make sure you go on a Tarcoles River croc cruise.

 

Jim

[sue2go]

Sounds like you might be the best-prepared Princess cruisers we've seen. Now, just realize the Panama Canal and environs may be the hottest, most humid place you've ever been.

 

We thoroughly enjoyed our trip going the other direction Dec. 5-20. We especially liked San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua, and Puntarenas, Costa Rica, But boy, the canal and Colombia were hotter that we could prepare for.

 

If you want to see a mess of crocodiles, make sure you go on a Tarcoles River croc cruise.

 

Jim

 

There are benefits to reading things on these boards for over a year pre-cruise! I have ordered a thing that you wet and wear around your neck to help with the heat from Magellan's... will post a report after our cruise (to thank all the kind folks on this board for sharing their knowledge and experiences) and let you know how it worked! I also have some cool wipes my daughter jokingly gave me years ago in my stocking for dealing with hot flashes that I plan to pack and take along - hahaha!

[nukesubsailor]

I have not sailed on the Island Princess. I have sailed on her sister ship, the Coral Princess. If the Island has the Bayou Cafe specialty restaurant, I highly recommend trying it. Also, if the Island puts on the production show called On The Bayou, go see it. That show was put on in the aft lounge on the Coral but they have removed that lounge on the Island. I don't know if the show was discontinued or moved to the Princess Theater. It is a great show.

[sue2go]

I have not sailed on the Island Princess. I have sailed on her sister ship, the Coral Princess. If the Island has the Bayou Cafe specialty restaurant, I highly recommend trying it. Also, if the Island puts on the production show called On The Bayou, go see it. That show was put on in the aft lounge on the Coral but they have removed that lounge on the Island. I don't know if the show was discontinued or moved to the Princess Theater. It is a great show.

 

Will do! Have read wonderful things about that show! I'm also looking forward to MUTS.

[junglejane]

Other possibilities for the "after boarding" to do list: (1) have lunch in the MDR--don't let them force you to eat in the buffet; (2) sign up for ultimate ship tour; (3) buy internet package to get possible bonus minutes offered the first day; (4) make spa appointments at specific times/days, if that's important to you; (5) if you want to take photos of the ship itself without crowds, this will be your best chance.

[sue2go]

Other possibilities for the "after boarding" to do list: (1) have lunch in the MDR--don't let them force you to eat in the buffet; (2) sign up for ultimate ship tour; (3) buy internet package to get possible bonus minutes offered the first day; (4) make spa appointments at specific times/days, if that's important to you; (5) if you want to take photos of the ship itself without crowds, this will be your best chance.

 

Regarding the internet - was figuring that it was pretty much a waste of money based on the complaints on the speed... has something changed to make it tolerable? Not expecting lightening fast, but also don't want to pay good money for slow dial up type speed...

[Cruisin' Chick]

As for Los Angeles, be prepared for rain. El Nino has arrived and we had a few inches of rain in just a few days this week (compared to some of our recent drought years when we were lucky if we got ten inches of rain all year). When it rains here, streets tend to get flooded quickly.

[thecruiselover7]

I was on the Island Princess from Nov. 25 - Dec 5. It was my first Princess cruise and I really enjoyed it. The Panama Canal is a site to see!

 

I was not impressed with the production shows, but there is an excellent piano player and singer in the Crooners Bar. I would highly recommend you check him out if you get the chance.

 

Have a wonderful cruise!

[sue2go]

As for Los Angeles' date=' be prepared for rain. El Nino has arrived and we had a few inches of rain in just a few days this week (compared to some of our recent drought years when we were lucky if we got ten inches of rain all year). When it rains here, streets tend to get flooded quickly.[/quote']

 

We are actually visiting family in Venice Beach for a few days prior to the cruise, and they just said and you are coming during our el nino! I do hope it's not going to make for rough sailing, but I'll cover up and enjoy what I can despite the rain! Guess I should pack some rain shoes, eh?

[Steelers36]

Bon Voyage!!

 

You may find that the DINE line or whatever you will call to make a res for the UBD will not answer until late afternoon or evening. You might try speaking with a head waiter when you board either in the DR or the HC buffet. He may be able to put it down for you. ;)

 

HUH? We've been on every cruise early and always got an answer on the dine line (push button on the cabin phone).

 

If you don't get an answer, head for the specialty restaurant (as others have posted I now note) and likely someone will be there can take your res. I wouldn't expect the specialty restaurant to handle UBD. I'd try HW as Colo mentioned. Or, visit the MD in one of the mid-ship dining rooms on embarkation afternoon (check that first Patter for location and time and arrive early).

Edited January 9, 2016 by steelers36

[Colo Cruiser]

HUH? We've been on every cruise early and always got an answer on the dine line (push button on the cabin phone).

 

 

I know its shocking isn't it. :rolleyes:

The last cruises 3 it rang and rang and rang. I gave up.

Edited January 9, 2016 by Colo Cruiser

[Steelers36]

I know its shocking isn't it. :rolleyes:

The last cruises 3 it rang and rang and rang. I gave up.

 

I see. You just need to let it ring and ring and ring and ring. ;)