2025 Alaska and South America itineraries due out the end of July. 🤞

[LACruiser88]

15 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Actually, we saw a cruise in Jan 2025 from Buenos Aires to Ft Lauderdale with 3 stops in Brazil that looked super awesome. So we sent an email to our TA to book it! 😁

We will be on this segment also, we will board in LA for the full 51 days.  See you onboard!   

 

 

Cruise itinerary: 51 Days | 18 Ports | 2 Scenic Cruising

Edited July 27, 2023 by LACruiser88

[cruisetilidrop]

18 hours ago, geoff2802 said:

I see Sapphire will arrive in LA from Santiago on April 8, 2025.  The next cruise I see in Alaska spreadsheet is a Pacific Coastal from LA departing on May 10.  Is it likely that Sapphire will do a couple of Hawaii cruises at this time?  

 

Sorry, I just saw there is a 32 day Pacific cruise.

I’m assuming you are seeing this because you are Elite? If so, I need to contact Princess. They updated my status but I can’t see the 2025 cruises you are seeing.

[AtlantaCruiser72]

1 hour ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

Pricing for specific categories will not be available until it opens for booking (other than "lead-in fares for each meta given to TA's)

IS      $2999

OV    $4599

BL     $5499

MS    $7049

RCMS   $8199

SU    $10999

Fares are Standard and exclude TFPE of $500pp

Captains circle Launch savings $50pp

For Plus add $60pp/day, for Premier $80pp/day

 

@FlorenceItaly please see my correction on lead in pricing for Balcony - My tired fingers inverted some #s 🙂

[MamaFej]

2 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

We will be on this segment also, we will board in LA for the full 51 days.  See you onboard!   

 

 

Cruise itinerary: 51 Days | 18 Ports | 2 Scenic Cruising

It would be so cool to follow that with a Panama Canal cruise to get home.

[geoff2802]

2 hours ago, cruisetilidrop said:

I’m assuming you are seeing this because you are Elite? If so, I need to contact Princess. They updated my status but I can’t see the 2025 cruises you are seeing.

I’m not Elite and could only see the 32 night Sapphire cruise departing Apr 8, 2025.  The others are on the spreadsheet that was posted earlier on this thread.  

[Ken the cruiser]

2 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

We will be on this segment also, we will board in LA for the full 51 days.  See you onboard!   

 

 

Cruise itinerary: 51 Days | 18 Ports | 2 Scenic Cruising

Cool! Just found out on a Celebrity forum thread that Brazil is going to start requiring Visas again starting Oct 1, 2023. If they’re asking the same in-depth questions they have no business asking like they did when we started to apply for a Brazilian visa prior to 2019 when they dropped the requirement, we probably won’t be going on the cruise. 

 

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-us-tourism-visas-lula-bolsonaro-e206025994b64fa5695484b99a807971
 

Edited July 28, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[BabsinTX]

We've cruised to Alaska several times and did a long driving trip up there, too.  Once we took Viking NB to Seward, rented a car and toured some of the state, then took NB Golden Princess back to Vancouver.  If you have the time, it's well worth it.  And Hubbard Glacier is magnificent!

[Ken the cruiser]

9 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Cool! Just found out on a Celebrity forum thread that Brazil is going to start requiring Visas again starting Oct 1, 2023. If they’re asking the same in-depth questions they have no business asking like they did when we started to apply for a Brazilian visa prior to 2019 when they dropped the requirement, we probably won’t be going on the cruise. 

 

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-us-tourism-visas-lula-bolsonaro-e206025994b64fa5695484b99a807971
 

@LACruiser88 I just checked, and it looks like right now US citizens (and maybe other qualifying countries) might be able to submit a simple online Brazil eVisa application after October 1, 2023. 🤞 If so, the chances are looking better that we'll be going!  😊 

 

United States passport holders who meet the requirements outlined in this article can complete the Brazil eVisa application process entirely online, without visiting the Brazilian Embassy or dealing with lots of paperwork.

 

Brazil eVisa for U.S. Citizens: Requirements, process, and tips for a successful application (ivisa.com)

 

[FlorenceItaly]

12 hours ago, AtlantaCruiser72 said:

 

@FlorenceItaly please see my correction on lead in pricing for Balcony - My tired fingers inverted some #s 🙂

Really appreciate ALL your help.  After running a few numbers, I will probably be staying with HAL.

I have a nice casino discount on the HAL cruise so I think this is why the numbers are running very close.  I will still be running the numbers upon release.  Thanks again!

[PacnGoNow]

10 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Cool! Just found out on a Celebrity forum thread that Brazil is going to start requiring Visas again starting Oct 1, 2023. If they’re asking the same in-depth questions they have no business asking like they did when we started to apply for a Brazilian visa prior to 2019 when they dropped the requirement, we probably won’t be going on the cruise. 

 

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-us-tourism-visas-lula-bolsonaro-e206025994b64fa5695484b99a807971
 

Here’s the visa requirement information so far for US Citizens.

https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-washington/consulate-general-of-brazil-in-washington-dc/visitor-visa-vivis-2013-stays-up-to-90-days
 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

2 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Here’s the visa requirement information so far for US Citizens.

https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-washington/consulate-general-of-brazil-in-washington-dc/visitor-visa-vivis-2013-stays-up-to-90-days
 

From what I can tell that's the current Brazil Visa application requirement. We're OTOH getting excited about the possibility of applying for eVisas after the new Oct 1, 2023 rules go into effect, to include submitting the form completely online with a lot less information required, a lot cheaper, and you don't have to be interviewed at a Brazilian embassy.

 

Of course, we really won't know for sure what options will be available until the new rules go into effect in October. But since the cruise isn't until Jan 2025, a lot can change from now and then. 

 

Brazil eVisa for U.S. Citizens: Requirements, process, and tips for a successful application (ivisa.com)

 

[PacnGoNow]

23 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

From what I can tell that's the current Brazil Visa application requirement. We're OTOH getting excited about the possibility of applying for eVisas after the new Oct 1, 2023 rules go into effect, to include submitting the form completely online with a lot less information required, a lot cheaper, and you don't have to be interviewed at a Brazilian embassy.

 

Of course, we really won't know for sure what options will be available until the new rules go into effect in October. But since the cruise isn't until Jan 2025, a lot can change from now and then. 

 

Brazil eVisa for U.S. Citizens: Requirements, process, and tips for a successful application (ivisa.com)

 

Yes and it depends on who is running the country in Brazil.  Anyway, sure hope it will be an evisa and less invasive too.

[PacnGoNow]

On 7/27/2023 at 3:31 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

An aft-facing premium balcony if they have any available. 

Do you know which aft facing balconies are covered or half covered on the Ruby?

 

 

 

 

[PacnGoNow]

@CoralDo you remember what time Alaska opens for Elites on Aug 2 to book?  Can’t find the AK booking time on here.

Is it 8am PT?  TIA

[Ken the cruiser]

42 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Do you know which aft facing balconies are covered or half covered on the Ruby?

Here’s a picture of the aft of the a Ruby Princess. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure our which ones are “B4” Premium Balcony cabins.

 

 

Heres a link to the Ruby’s deck plan.

 
https://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=RU

 

[PacnGoNow]

30 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Here’s a picture of the aft of the a Ruby Princess. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure our which ones are “B4” Premium Balcony cabins.

 

 

Heres a link to the Ruby’s deck plan.

 
https://www.princess.com/deckPlans.do?shipCode=RU

 

Thanks. Looks like 8-11 decks are covered.

[Ken the cruiser]

6 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Thanks. Looks like 8-11 decks are covered.

Yes. But careful not to book one of those aft-facing vista suites on a Grand class ship. Because if you do, you’ll never want to book anything else. 😂

[PacnGoNow]

11 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Yes. But careful not to book one of those aft-facing vista suites on a Grand class ship. Because if you do, you’ll never want to book anything else. 😂

So huge!  I want cover in case of rain and too much sun. Thanks, again.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, PacnGoNow said:

@CoralDo you remember what time Alaska opens for Elites on Aug 2 to book?  Can’t find the AK booking time on here.

Is it 8am PT?  TIA

I can't find it. I assume 8 am PT.

[PacnGoNow]

3 minutes ago, Coral said:

I can't find it. I assume 8 am PT.

Okay thanks’

[Steelers36]

On 7/27/2023 at 3:24 AM, Ken the cruiser said:

Actually, we saw a cruise in Jan 2025 from Buenos Aires to Ft Lauderdale with 3 stops in Brazil that looked super awesome. So we sent an email to our TA to book it! 😁

Actually, I don't think much of that route segment having done it before.  The Caribbean is fine, but you have probably been there, done that.  Fortaleza is a waste of time.  We did enjoy the time in Rio.  In Winter 2018, the stop southbound was timed for Carnivale and that was quite an experience.  Otherwise, Rio is a risky place to be, but can be enjoyed if careful etc.  Having experienced it once, no desire to return.  Now, the leg from B.A. in the other direction, I'd jump on to do that over again.

[Steelers36]

On 7/27/2023 at 6:21 AM, thistledoo said:

Yes, not happy.  I was up in the middle of the night expecting to be able to book.  I ended up on the phone to Princess this afternoon and holding a  booking - of course the cabins I had picked were gone!   Also no OBC was being offered.   

No real way to know if they were gone (as in sold) or not released as available inventory.

 

[Steelers36]

On 7/27/2023 at 4:06 PM, BabsinTX said:

I'm interested in your TA.  I booked a suite yesterday for the 51-day SA cruise and am getting $2300 from Princess.  Seems kind of out of whack, though I have to say the suite prices were very low.  I figure out the cost per day on our cruises, and normally they are around $1,000/day.  The 51-day cruise works out to about $606/day.  Go figure.

S.A. sector has some of the lowest per day cabin costs.

[Ken the cruiser]

54 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Actually, I don't think much of that route segment having done it before.  The Caribbean is fine, but you have probably been there, done that.  Fortaleza is a waste of time.  We did enjoy the time in Rio.  In Winter 2018, the stop southbound was timed for Carnivale and that was quite an experience.  Otherwise, Rio is a risky place to be, but can be enjoyed if careful etc.  Having experienced it once, no desire to return.  Now, the leg from B.A. in the other direction, I'd jump on to do that over again.

Thanks and you’re probably right. But from our point of view it’s more about the journey and Brazil is one place we haven’t been that we’ve wanted to visit, but without having to get a YF shot. As far as being a waste of time, I doubt that as we will be booking PCL excursions at every port and seeing places we’ll probably never visit again. On top of that, we’re booking a Penthouse cabin on this 18-day cruise for about $325 pp/day, including the Plus package, after subtracting all of the OBC we’re getting from PCL and our TA’s discount we’re getting. 😁

 

As far as the leg from BA in the other direction, we’re doing that this coming January as a B2B combined with an Antarctica cruise.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Ken the cruiser

[Teechur]

On 7/27/2023 at 3:22 PM, Ken the cruiser said:

Cool! Just found out on a Celebrity forum thread that Brazil is going to start requiring Visas again starting Oct 1, 2023. If they’re asking the same in-depth questions they have no business asking like they did when we started to apply for a Brazilian visa prior to 2019 when they dropped the requirement, we probably won’t be going on the cruise. 

 

https://apnews.com/article/brazil-us-tourism-visas-lula-bolsonaro-e206025994b64fa5695484b99a807971
 

That VISA requirement stopped us from going to Brazil when we cruised around S.A. on the Crown. We chose to board in Buenos Aires instead. (I had also been to Brazil in the past.)

Brazil's foolish visa requirements are said to be reciprocal due to our requirements. Brazil conveniently ignores the fact that many Brazilians illegally immigrate to America on tourist visas, which Americans don't do to them.

Meanwhile, this will cost them a lot in lost tourist revenue.

Edited July 29, 2023 by Teechur