New to Princess

[Dup241]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are taking an Alaskan cruisetour with Princess in August. We have cruised often and solely with Carnival, so Princess will be new to us. So, I have a few newbie questions I was hoping some of you experienced Princess cruisers could answer. Here goes:

 

On Carnival, we normally try to purchase the Faster to the Fun program (priority boarding after Diamond/Platinum, express line at Guest Services, first to your cabin, etc.)...does Princess have anything like this?

 

Are there set boarding times you are slotted into for Princess cruises or do you just show up anytime between 11am-3pm for example?

 

Is there a soft drink package you can buy?

 

Are formal nights set for sea days and are there two on a seven day cruise?

 

Any information/tips/tricks from any of you that have done land tours?

 

Any Carnival to Princess peeps that have tips/tricks/differences to expect? I'm thinking with them being owned by the same parent company, the normal day-to-day stuff will be similar.

 

Thanks in advance!

[reedprincess]

Hi everyone! My husband and I are taking an Alaskan cruisetour with Princess in August. We have cruised often and solely with Carnival, so Princess will be new to us. So, I have a few newbie questions I was hoping some of you experienced Princess cruisers could answer. Here goes:

 

On Carnival, we normally try to purchase the Faster to the Fun program (priority boarding after Diamond/Platinum, express line at Guest Services, first to your cabin, etc.)...does Princess have anything like this?

 

Are there set boarding times you are slotted into for Princess cruises or do you just show up anytime between 11am-3pm for example?

 

Is there a soft drink package you can buy?

 

Are formal nights set for sea days and are there two on a seven day cruise?

 

Any information/tips/tricks from any of you that have done land tours?

 

Any Carnival to Princess peeps that have tips/tricks/differences to expect? I'm thinking with them being owned by the same parent company, the normal day-to-day stuff will be similar.

 

Thanks in advance!

No Faster to the Fun on Princess, and no real need. You cabin is ready upon boarding...

You can arrive and check-in anytime during the times in your documents, usually 10:30-4 or so, but depends on your sailaway times, etc. You'll receive an email with suggested boarding times by deck, but they're suggestions, not enforced - at least not on US sailings..

Yes, there's a soda and more package, $8.05 total per day per person, all nonalcoholic drinks and cocktails except bottled water..soda, mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, etc.

You can also bring on soda if you like, no restrictions really except be reasonable and you have to store it in your cabin. Lol.

Usually 2 formal nights on a 7-night sailing, and usually sea days - but depends on itinerary. Will not be first or last night.

Bring binoculars, eveb on the land portion - we saw lots of wildlife by the side of the roads and from the train...

What ship - that can make a difference on tips and tricks. And what land tour/lodges - again, makes a difference!

 

Princess is more understated than Carnival. Lots of live music around the ship in the evenings, game show, theater shows, etc. Crooners is great for a pre-dinner or post dinner drink with the piano bar. If your ship has it, Skywalkers is great during the day for scenic cruising - you're way high up, indoors, panoramic windows, etc..

Enjoy!

[OCruisers]

On Princess your cabin is ready when you board the ship.

Yes, there are soft drink packages.

On a seven day cruise there will be two formal nights ... on At Sea days when possible.

While both are owned by Carnival Corp., there are still many differences.

Enjoy you first Princess cruise! :D

[Thrak]

The other side of no "Faster to the Fun" is that, while your cabin is already available to you when you board, you have to disembark fairly early on the last day of the cruise so that the stewards can get the cabins ready for the next group. We love having the cabin ready when we board - even if we get to the port early and board with the first folks. We have never sailed Carnival but have been told that it has a very different ambience from Princess. We have been happy with Princess so have had no need or desire to check out the Carnival offerings. Hope you enjoy your cruise with Princess. Do not expect a lot of "night life".

[Dup241]

No Faster to the Fun on Princess, and no real need. You cabin is ready upon boarding...

You can arrive and check-in anytime during the times in your documents, usually 10:30-4 or so, but depends on your sailaway times, etc. You'll receive an email with suggested boarding times by deck, but they're suggestions, not enforced - at least not on US sailings..

Yes, there's a soda and more package, $8.05 total per day per person, all nonalcoholic drinks and cocktails except bottled water..soda, mocktails, smoothies, milkshakes, etc.

You can also bring on soda if you like, no restrictions really except be reasonable and you have to store it in your cabin. Lol.

Usually 2 formal nights on a 7-night sailing, and usually sea days - but depends on itinerary. Will not be first or last night.

Bring binoculars, eveb on the land portion - we saw lots of wildlife by the side of the roads and from the train...

What ship - that can make a difference on tips and tricks. And what land tour/lodges - again, makes a difference!

 

Princess is more understated than Carnival. Lots of live music around the ship in the evenings, game show, theater shows, etc. Crooners is great for a pre-dinner or post dinner drink with the piano bar. If your ship has it, Skywalkers is great during the day for scenic cruising - you're way high up, indoors, panoramic windows, etc..

Enjoy!

 

 

Reedprincess, thank you so much for all the information! Very helpful! We are cruising on the Star Princess (Vancouver - Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, College Fjord - Anchorage) and the land portion will have stops in Copper River, Denali and Mt. McKinley.

[Dup241]

On Princess your cabin is ready when you board the ship.

Yes, there are soft drink packages.

On a seven day cruise there will be two formal nights ... on At Sea days when possible.

While both are owned by Carnival Corp., there are still many differences.

Enjoy you first Princess cruise! :D

 

Thanks so much OCruisers!

[Dup241]

The other side of no "Faster to the Fun" is that, while your cabin is already available to you when you board, you have to disembark fairly early on the last day of the cruise so that the stewards can get the cabins ready for the next group. We love having the cabin ready when we board - even if we get to the port early and board with the first folks. We have never sailed Carnival but have been told that it has a very different ambience from Princess. We have been happy with Princess so have had no need or desire to check out the Carnival offerings. Hope you enjoy your cruise with Princess. Do not expect a lot of "night life".

 

 

Thanks for the info Thrak!

[OCruisers]

Dup ... If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. :)

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Don't forget to buy 100 shares of stock to get OBC every time you cruise.

[JimAOk1945]

Don't forget to buy 100 shares of stock to get OBC every time you cruise.

Sounds like a good idea. How much OBC do you get for 100 shares?

 

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[Bourbon Believer]

If boarding the ship in Whittier you will have 8 hrs. to get aboard and get used to the ship.

They opened boarding on our cruise last spring at 10:30 am. Ship does not leave until 8:00 pm in order to accommodate all those on bus and train excursions prior to the cruise. Vancouver is pretty much as all other ports, boarding opens between 11:00 am and Noon, ship leaves at 4:00 PM.

One hint is always arrive around 2:00 pm if boarding at any other port, Have never had to wait when arriving at that time, you walk right on the ship.

 

Here's a hint, if you are staying in Anchorage the night before and have do not have transportation to the ship in Whittier yet take the Alaska Railroad. It leaves from downtown and is a beautiful ride with dome cars for anyone wanting to use them. It's very reasonable and the train stops in Whittier right in front of your ship. You cross a small road and immediately enter the passenger terminal. We usually prefer the North to South routes and take the train every time when boarding in Whittier.

Edited April 19, 2017 by Bourbon Believer
Added information

[reedprincess]

Reedprincess, thank you so much for all the information! Very helpful! We are cruising on the Star Princess (Vancouver - Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, College Fjord - Anchorage) and the land portion will have stops in Copper River, Denali and Mt. McKinley.

Oh excellent f we did almost exactly same trip on Star in 2015, just in reverse. Land then cruise.

We had no meal plan through Princess for land portion - thank goodness! McKinley we ate at the lodge for a quick breakfast and had lunch and dinner in Talkeetna. They run a shuttle back and forth. Well worth exploring the town, so many great eateries and such, so much ambiance!

Denali, there's lots of restaurants and such across the road from the lodge. We had pizza at one spot there - amazing, and a huge beer list. Cheaper than the lodge, for sure. We also picked up a few things at the grocery store, enjoyed some truly amazing kettle Korn types and fudges, etc. We found the included Denali tour enough for our pleasure, but many people suggest upgrading it to the full day experience.. Up to you.

Copper River was our favorite Lodge probably. Smaller and intimate, great staff, beautiful surroundings so very easy to hike and explore in your free time. We ate at this Lodge the most as we had made arrangements to go into town via the diner's "limo" but it broke down. Lol. And the lodge shuttle times were limited. It was alright though as we hadn't eaten much at the other lodges so the variety was still fresh.

We ate and drank all we wanted along the way and came out significantly cheaper than if we'd done a meal plan or connoisseur tour, and we enjoyed the flexibility.

Be prepared for some seriously long bus rides. The ride from Denali to Copper River truly is all day. Lots of it along unpaved but decent roads. ALL day. Be prepared! Lol...some beautiful scenery though!

Star is among our favorites. I've sailed her several times...twice in Alaska. Skywalkers is great for daytime views - no bar or food service during the day, but quiet and panoramic windows. Lots of open deck spaces to take in the glaciers along the way.

Have a fabulous time!!

[skynight]

If your land tour is pre-cruise then your boarding time and process will be handled by Princess at the end of the tour. If the land tour is post tour your board as you like as others have posted.

There is no transfer of loyalty status between the lines.

If you have 100 shares of Carnival Corp. Stock you can get OBC, same as you would get on Carnival Cruise Lines. Check out stockholder benefit at the Carnival Corp. website.

If you are retired or discharged military and meet certain conditions you can register for the military OBC benefit. Once registered it becomes part of your file for the future. The benefit is per person max. 2 benefits per cabin.

On Princess OBC is stackable, no need to select.

I think you will find Princess to be a different cruise experience.

On the Star, there are a number of free dining choices besides the DR's. Check them out. The International Cafe is open 24/7.

[Selion]

Dup - You didn't mention which category stateroom you have. If you are in a suite or a Club Class mini, you will have priority boarding.

[KevintheIrishDJ]

Sounds like a good idea. How much OBC do you get for 100 shares?

 

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It varies by length of the cruise, We are getting $250 for an 18 day cruise.