July 25, 2021 Live From Majestic Princess Alaska sailing

[Mary Ann 2]

9 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I went to the priority disembarkation lounge (vista lounge) at 8:30 barely sat down before being escorted off the ship for my 8:40 time slot. I saw they had beverages and pastries. 
we had to show passports at customs and that’s it. No lines anywhere. Breezed past the luggage as I used port valet and was put immediately onto a princess transfer. 8:55 am we are on our way. So 25 min from cabin to transfer driving away. 
not too shabby!  

Thanks for that info.  How long did it take to get to the airport?    For others who took a taxi, how long was the taxi line and wait for a taxi and what time you tried; what was an approximate cost of the taxi, and when did you get to the airport?

[KLM3164]

@HaveDogWillTravelJust want to echo what others have said……thank you for all you did to get this thread started and to share so much information! I feel like I know you now and hope to maybe meet you on a cruise someday.

 

Thanks to all the people who were on the cruise who also posted so much on this Live string. I feel prepared now for resuming cruising in 4 weeks. Can’t wait to go to Alaska in August and Caribbean B2B in November.

 

Wishing all of you a safe trip home!

 

Kim

[JF - retired RRT]

3 hours ago, mmllss said:

That is such good news - I always did not like the amount of photos that were ultimately thrown away so much better for the environment

When we did the Ultimate Ship Tour (IIRC), they told us the unsold pix are recycled.

[RLK33853]

Thanks to everyone that has posted what is happening on the ship. 

 

I would think that a lot of people are in the same boat (so to speak), in that we have final payments coming up for cruises and were unsure whether we wanted to make the payment or cancel.  Live reports have alleviated a lot of questions.  Great Job!!!!!

[dskenn]

left my cabin at 8:30. Walked off ship. Got luggage. Cab waiting outside terminal. Sitting at gate  1 hour 45 minutes.    The cab driver was driving very fast!

To all of you going next and future have a FANTASTIC time.  We did 

Edited August 1, 2021 by dskenn

[azbirdmom]

24 minutes ago, dskenn said:

left my cabin at 8:30. Walked off ship. Got luggage. Cab waiting outside terminal. Sitting at gate  1 hour 45 minutes.    The cab driver was driving very fast!

To all of you going next and future have a FANTASTIC time.  We did 

 

Glad you had a nice time.  Thanks to all for the information shared.

Edited August 1, 2021 by azbirdmom

[ChangeOrder]

We went to our assigned zone this morning to exit. Our group was about 15 min behind the scheduled time, but I was in no rush and didn’t try to get off earlier. There were several folks in our area that were supposed to have early walk off, and there was some confusion as to how and when they could go. 
 

Debark was a breeze after that. Straight down the gangway to the terminal, a quick stop for luggage that was beautifully set out and lined up and waiting for us. Customs took a half second look at our passports and asked us to drop masks to verify, and that was it. No questions or anything. 
 

Seattle port has changed things a little for the pick up area. The buses are all right there in front to the right, well labeled and with plenty of port helpers to get you in the right direction. Uber and Lyft used to be a short walk down the right side walkway to their parking area, but now they want to put you on a shuttle bus to get to where the ride share area is. My daughter and I looked down at our heavy luggage, contemplated heaving that onto a shuttle bus, and decided instead to go left and grab a yellow cab. Taxis are plentiful and right there in the front area to the left side as you exit. 
 

Since I’m local, I’m already home with second load of laundry going, and everything unpacked with luggage stowed. Pleasant journey home to everyone else flying and with longer trips. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

@Mary Ann 2 there were taxis waiting and just a short line for them. Also Lyft and Uber are available.  Go back through @CruiseRaiderpost for her shuttle company.  She said it was great. Lyft costs about $53. Do not know about the cab. 
it is a 45 min drive to the airport. The regular security lines looked a bit long. Don’t know how much time they take. 
the tsa precheck line I used took 6 minutes. 
 

If you are flying Alaska and have access to their lounges, the lounge by N13 is great. There’s eggs, pancakes, barista, soda machine, alcohol drinks.  The one by the C gates is not very nice. The hot beverage machines were out of order and no soda/tea/lemonade. Only some bread for toast. The train takes you to N gates and the lounge has great signage. 

[Mary Ann 2]

3 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

The train takes you to N gates and the lounge has great signage. 

When I read the airport website, it said something about buses to N gates I thought.  So to hear there is a train is welcome news if our plane leaves from a N gate. Is the train underground?  Can you give me an estimate of how much time that adds to getting to your gate?

 

Thanks again for all your so helpful posts and taking time out to do them.  Hope you have a good flight home!

[HaveDogWillTravel]

I just want to add that the technology and the TVs were really touch and go for me but did get better every day. I hope everyone boarding soon realizes that a huge amount of patience and respect is needed  for crew who are dealing with getting this new system working smoothly. 

one small example. I was in the Hollywood conservatory yesterday around 10 am and ordered a Perrier it took 15 minutes. I chatted up the crew member asking her what the crew experience was like wrt the order it for anywhere function. She said they still were working on getting orders sent from the closest bar. My water came from a room service area far away instead of the (closed at that time) bar in the Hollywood pool area.  She was saying that those delivering should get drinks from the closest bar open or closed to make it faster and easier but wasn’t sure if that would happen anytime soon. 
 

I asked Jan about journeyview reservations and what the master plan was for that. I asked if she could change the wording from making a reservation to “add to my calendar” or something like that. The word reservation is creating confusion. 
 

As you know from our posts there were no reservations needed for anything. And the number going displayed meant nothing as many people, myself included, made tons of unkept reservations. 
 

Jan said she wanted journeyview eventually to show real time actual usage of a venue. They were doing a dry run of checking reservations at a couple of venues/events (hence @CruiseRaider‘s experience getting their reservation checked). So it will be interesting to watch the next few live from threads to see how journeyview develops. 

 

it will also be interesting to watch the next few sailings to see if PES really can come early, sit inside the PES lounge in the terminal and be boarded with priority as Jan said. As you know sometimes the word from the top doesn’t always reach the crew on the ground. 

 

I also hope Jan takes to heart that reading over and over again in emails that “you will be denied boarding” for not being ocean ready when you absolutely can not get there is extremely stressful. I hope the statement  she made about accommodating and boarding pax who show up with vaccination records and travel docs even when they could not get ocean ready gets communicated LOUDLY. 
 

It will interesting to read on the live from threads if getting ocean ready gets easier and easier with each sailing. 

I asked Jan about vaccination requirement into 2022. She said they were looking to keep it through Oct of this year. And hoping that the vaccine would be available to 5-12 year olds by then.  She expressed great sadness that those traveling with under 12s had to have their cruises with children cancelled.  I should have mentioned that the message from Princess has been that west coast cruise are fully vaccinated at least through January. So I’m sorry I didn’t clarify what Jan meant in this part of out talks. I think this answer may not be the whole story in terms of my original question. 
 

Jan also said she was well aware of CC and said it was a very useful resource of information to gauge their customers’ experiences. 
 

Jan had Duke call me back for a shorter private talk. Within that conversation she did say that given the changing events testing is being discussed but no decision at the moment. 
 

For everyone considering sailing you really must be okay with ever changing requirements and with a set of functions in technology that is not perfect but is improving daily.  
 

You will find your workarounds. For example I like a glass of Gloria bubbly with my seafood appetizer.  I stop at vines and bring it in so I’m sure to have it right away. 

I am so glad I chose this first sailing.  I told @CruiseRaiderI felt a little like it was spring break lol. We were having such fun and with such normalcy and abandon.We had very little if any social distancing & almost no mask wearing until the last day.  I had two services a day from my room steward, Francisco.  He was awesome. He came into my room and fixed my tv or called for a tech to fix it when he couldn’t. There was absolutely no change in how that all worked. No I don’t care about the chocolate at night. The sailing was special in so many ways.
 

Tom Franek was AMAZING as was Barbara McCullough, Encore, Sweet soul Music and all the music entertainment.  Yes no game show, marriage match game and Hollywood  hiccups with Dan, Lauren and Rachel were side splitting, wet your pants funny. 
 

I will be interested to watch the coming up live threads to see how things change wrt masking, social distancing and such. 

 

I met the best people from CC and happy to be sailing with some of them in the near future. 

I think someone mentioned my signature showing my last cruise was 5 1/2 years ago. I’ve been on a couple dozen now with 16 on Princess. I   Just haven’t updated my signature. My last sailing was 10 days RT SF Aug 2019. 

 

 

[Host CJSKIDS]

@HaveDogWillTravelsounds like a fantastic cruise.  

 

Love Tom Franek.  He was always so entertaining when he was in Crooners on one of my sailings and we watched him every night. I always hope he will be on another of our sailings.

 

I want to thank everyone for taking time out of their cruise and helping with this live from.  It’s been amazing to follow along.  

 

Would be invaluable if there could be some reviews of the sailing, it’s been way too long.  

 

[voljeep]

11 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

As you know from our posts there were no reservations needed for anything. And the number going displayed meant nothing as many people, myself included, made tons of unkept reservations. 

so I guess I need to make "ton's" of placeholder reservations just in case we decide to actually go ?

 

without regard to those who actually want to go , but are 'shut out' by placeholders and need to just show up in a standby line ??

[HaveDogWillTravel]

20 minutes ago, voljeep said:

so I guess I need to make "ton's" of placeholder reservations just in case we decide to actually go ?

 

without regard to those who actually want to go , but are 'shut out' by placeholders and need to just show up in a standby line ??

None of that was a result of having made reservations that weren’t kept. Please do not spread falsehoods. Read our posts so you can be informed on what actually happened on our sailing. 

[LinnieRed]

On 7/26/2021 at 11:35 AM, wowzz said:

No changes - you can just turn up and be seated immediately. 

I’m hoping that you can answer another “Club Class” question: what’s the boarding situation for Club Class? Show up any time? Dedicated no-wait boarding? Thanks in advance. 

[voljeep]

17 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

None of that was a result of having made reservations that weren’t kept. Please do not spread falsehoods. Read our posts so you can be informed on what actually happened on our sailing. 

I have read every post, much appreciated - and I believe I read one where Princess was actually checking to see if you had a reservation

 

I'm sure it will all be worked out given time, and didn't mean to offend you or anyone else - but making reservations then doing a no-show is definitely a pet peeve of mine, sorry

[barrykel]

1 hour ago, Mary Ann 2 said:

Is the train underground?  Can you give me an estimate of how much time that adds to getting to your gate?

 

Yes, it's an underground subway loop - there are two of them, one from the security checkpoint by the C and D concourses to the N concourse (which is in a separate satellite structure) and the other one from the base of the A concourse to the S concourse (also in a separate satellite structure);  N is to the right from the checkin counters, S to the left. The trains run quite frequently - no more than 5 minutes apart during reasonably busy hours, and the ride only takes a minute or two.

[redrobin]

Sorry if I missed them, but I did not see the Patter posted for Day 7 or the MDR menus for Days 5-7. If anyone on this sailing has a picture of them, I'd love to have them posted. Thanks! 

[DRS/NC]

If possible, can anyone address the departure arrangements for those needing Wheelchair Assistance?  Do we meet in a particular area (often Vines on past cruises)?  THANKS!

[echoshipmate]

On 7/31/2021 at 11:20 AM, cr8tiv1 said:

@HaveDogWillTravel and all of Majestic's CC passengers that took time out of your busy/relaxing day to keep us posted.

 

Fact:  7 days was too short

Fact:  Weather was fantastic

Fact:  Photos were outstanding

Fact:  Passengers were excited to be on board the Majestic

 

So glad our journey will continue with a b2b cruise.  To be continued.....

 

Mahalo Nui Loa to all of you on board and a safe journey home.

 

Your post seems to indicate you are doing a b2b with this sailing and the next. We were told we could not do a b2b with our 8/15/majestic. Did I interpret your post correctly?

[Astro Flyer]

4 minutes ago, echoshipmate said:

Your post seems to indicate you are doing a b2b with this sailing and the next. We were told we could not do a b2b with our 8/15/majestic. Did I interpret your post correctly?

During a Princess webinar on 7/27 they stated they are now accepting B2B reservations for cruises from LA & SF up to 10/31/21 & thereafter after the CSO is scheduled to end on 11/1/21.

[HaveDogWillTravel]

@voljeepI addressed why cruiseraider had their reservation “checked” in post 1363. They were not using the system on our cruise. It is just being monitored and tested. I have no idea if Jan’s vision as stated will become realty or what will develop. We need to watch the facts unfold in the upcoming cruises. I am on 4 more sailings in Oct, Nov, Dec & January and would be peeved as well to get shut out. But I won’t react to what might be. I will wait to see what is before reacting. 

1 hour ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Jan said she wanted journeyview eventually to show real time actual usage of a venue. They were doing a dry run of checking reservations at a couple of venues/events (hence @CruiseRaider‘s experience getting their reservation checked). So it will be interesting to watch the next few live from threads to see how journeyview develops. 

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by HaveDogWillTravel

[echoshipmate]

3 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

During a Princess webinar on 7/27 they stated they are now accepting B2B reservations for cruises from LA & SF up to 10/31/21 & thereafter after the CSO is scheduled to end on 11/1/21.

Thanks, we have a b2b scheduled in January from LA, hopeful, but the poster seem to indicate they were doing a b2b now in Alaska. Would love to extend our Aug 15 another week, 7 days is sooo short, but just lucky to be able to go at all, we hope.

[js1357]

On 7/28/2021 at 10:00 AM, HaveDogWillTravel said:

If I live to sail into Skagway a hundred times I would still want to sail in a hundred more. It’s a 3 hour slow roll through archipelago and fjord……snow capped mountains with rushing waterfalls, low lying forested islands…….simply stunning.  Especially from an aft cabin. 

The ship barely makes a wake almost as slow as glacier bay itself. This trip I was up  at 4 am and we get to port at 7 am. The trip out tonight will just as wonderful only different lighting. 

 

The entire sail so far Seattle to here has been like sailing on a lake. Barely any movement, just enough to know you’re sailing. 

 

A few more notes from my experiences.  My free elite laundry is 3 day turn around. My elite mini bar set up is identical to past ones. It does incl the brandy in the glass jar. I mention that because on my last sailing in 2019 the brandy wasn’t available. The PES happy hour has been the same as always. There’s a lovely singer who plays guitar. 

 

My Rivera deck aft cabin had a little soot the first day but yesterday and today there’s been none. I get a small faint whiff of smoke from the deck 17 aft smoking area occasionally. It passes quickly and does not linger. 

 

The ship position map is on the tv in the Patter section. It no longer includes longitude, latitude, temperature or sea depth. Just degrees, heading and speed. Also the zoom in out isn’t as fine tuned as before, meaning you go from too far out to too far in with one click. 

 

They don’t have the passport stamps or the pop out ships maps…the one with a picture of the ship and your room number on it. 

 

So I was talking to Neville last night and he said he will only have the one chef table for us. He is doing a wine table as well. He was talking about how special this first post pandemic chef table was for him. I echoed the feeling as he and I have had lots of good times at past chef tables. 

 

There are very few on board who wear masks.  I’ve stopped carrying mine around. I isolated before the trip and wore a kn95 on the plane and at all times in the hotel outside my room. Being vaccinated and careful I feel certain I didn’t carry covid with me on board. 

We meet, we socialize, we sit side by side at bars, we laugh, we sing along with songs, we eat with new friends…..nothing about this has changed. Since we have only 2286 or so pax the elevators have been very easy to get with the aft elevators of course the easiest as always. 

 

I was talking to Helen up decks after she almost won the first Yes/No Game show. That show was wet your pants fun! She and her son were masked up and I asked her if she wouldn’t mind letting me know why… we were outside and it isn’t even suggested there. Even though they are vaccinated, they come from Florida near the cruise ports and said it was such a hotbed of delta variant she was being extra cautious to not bring the variant onboard. She’s been on 81 cruise and her 19 year old sweet son has 31 under his belt. 
I can’t believe I’m able to post this using medallion net. 

Did you request what you wanted in your mini-bar setup before or after you boarded?

[Astro Flyer]

7 minutes ago, echoshipmate said:

Thanks, we have a b2b scheduled in January from LA, hopeful, but the poster seem to indicate they were doing a b2b now in Alaska. Would love to extend our Aug 15 another week, 7 days is sooo short, but just lucky to be able to go at all, we hope.

I know that it’s not in Alaska but from LA this Spring. Based on their webinar B2B in Alaska this season is still not allowed.

 

Edited August 1, 2021 by Astro Flyer

[echoshipmate]

1 minute ago, Astro Flyer said:

I communicate with her & it’s not in Alaska but from LA this Spring. Based on their webinar B2B in Alaska this season is still not allowed…sorry. 😟

When we booked AUG 15, we tried with our TA to book b2b and he was told by princess that no b2b was being allowed. But we have been sailing with princess for many years and know the first answer isn't always the correct one, sometimes depends on who you talk to at Princess. Consistency is not their long suit! Thanks for jumping in with your info, makes me feel better that I was not advised incorrectly advised by Princess.