LIVE - Royal Princess Sep 23 (2 Day Coastal...and more)

[Cruise Raider]

7 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Oh, yes, that is super close. Actually two blocks from my house and I'm only a 10 minute walk from the ship. I've never stayed at the hotel, but it's a nice area and easy walk to food, seawall, etc.

That’s what we were hoping for when I booked it!  We are probably just staying close to the hotel once we are settled in because of the weather.  But, I’m sure after we’ve disembarked from the cruise, we will be looking for something yummy to eat close by.  I don’t think the hotel itself has any food venues attached.  We have umbrellas, though.  Last time we stayed there, it was at the Pan Pacific and we weren’t even sure where to stop in for a meal.  We ended up at the Cactus Club and that was so good.  The service and views were quite impressive.  Oh, those chicken wings were so delightful.  I may be easy to please.  😂 
We sure do hope to meet you onboard!  Like I told @AnyMajorCruiseDude, we like to hang out in the piazza and in Vines and my DH has a big white beard (and a pony tail now, too).  It was all a result of the CoVid lockdowns and cataracts … now, we both just really like it so he isn’t thinking of cutting any of it off.  
 

Anyway, I’m sure hoping the casino will be open.  I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be but last time we went from Victoria to Vancouver on the Royal, it was closed the entire time.  I would love to play a bit while we are onboard.  
 

 

[CalLuvsCrusingToo]

We got off Royal on Saturday, testing Pos and some others on our Rollcall, ditto.

Just now finishing Paxlovid, its helped.  Good luck 😷

Edited September 21, 2023 by CalLuvsCrusingToo

[Cruise Raider]

1 minute ago, CalLuvsCrusingToo said:

We got off Royal on Saturday, testing Pos and some others on our Rollcall, ditto.

Just now finishing Paxlovid, its helped. 

Please be careful & take precautions. Good luck 😷

We always do but thank you for that reminder.  That danger CoVid is still lurking!  

[memoak]

4 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

There is always one dining room open for lunch on embarkation (even though most staff will try to convince you otherwise). I believe it opens around noon until 2pm. The buffet will be open, as will Alfredos and the International Cafe. I always do Alfredos - best pizza at sea in my opinion, and don't even get me started on their veal ravioli!

Hope you have a package or there will be charges for Alfredo’s 

[reedprincess]

6 hours ago, NightOne said:

 

We are on this cruise too. 🙂

 

So what are all the options for boarding day lunch? I have the package that includes free casual dining. Also, I need to be gluten free so I am guessing the MDR, pizza, and some other places can handle that but isn't the MDR only open certain hours for lunch on boarding day?

Mdr 12-1:30

Buffet

International Cafe

Pizza and grill on deck

 

For fee: Alfredos (prix fixe if you have a package, a la carte if not).

 

Gluten free available at all of them... Pizza on deck takes a little longer for GF crust. Buffet has a good selection and MDR of course. 

[memoak]

4 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

That’s what we were hoping for when I booked it!  We are probably just staying close to the hotel once we are settled in because of the weather.  But, I’m sure after we’ve disembarked from the cruise, we will be looking for something yummy to eat close by.  I don’t think the hotel itself has any food venues attached.  We have umbrellas, though.  Last time we stayed there, it was at the Pan Pacific and we weren’t even sure where to stop in for a meal.  We ended up at the Cactus Club and that was so good.  The service and views were quite impressive.  Oh, those chicken wings were so delightful.  I may be easy to please.  😂 
We sure do hope to meet you onboard!  Like I told @AnyMajorCruiseDude, we like to hang out in the piazza and in Vines and my DH has a big white beard (and a pony tail now, too).  It was all a result of the CoVid lockdowns and cataracts … now, we both just really like it so he isn’t thinking of cutting any of it off.  
 

Anyway, I’m sure hoping the casino will be open.  I can’t imagine it wouldn’t be but last time we went from Victoria to Vancouver on the Royal, it was closed the entire time.  I would love to play a bit while we are onboard.  
 

 

Sailing in Canadian waters the casino will not be open. 

[AnyMajorCruiseDude]

33 minutes ago, memoak said:

Sailing in Canadian waters the casino will not be open. 

It showed open on journey view on the app as of midnight after departure.  We have done several 2/3 day cruises where they have opened the casino.  Ymmv, I guess!

[ceilidh1]

It has nothing to do with Canadian waters, it is dependent on how far off land the ship is. The casino can only open if there is a certain distance away from land (no idea what that distance is). The same applies to bars being open - once within a certain distance of Canadian land, only one bar per deck is permitted to be open...

[ceilidh1]

 

Royal Princess at Canada Place in 2019 - my fave picture that I took of her!

[Coral]

15 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

We are staying at the Auberge .. it looks like it is really close to Canada Place, had really good reviews and was about half the price of the Pan Pacific.  We love the Pan Pacific and would have stayed there if we could find a good price .. but, that wasn’t meant to be.  
We packed our decent umbrellas and a rain jacket just yesterday after seeing the weather report.  We don’t mind rain so much, actually wish we had more of it down this way, but probably will be hanging out close to our hotel rather than touring Vancouver this time around.  

I have friends who stayed here in May and loved it. Looks like a great hotel.

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, Coral said:

I have friends who stayed here in May and loved it. Looks like a great hotel.

So happy to hear that.  It’s not inexpensive but got a great price a few months ago.  Kept checking prices at the Pan Pacific and they never really came down.  It’s just a short walk from and back to the pier, so that played a major part on my decision.  
 

I am wondering if anyone knows what embarkation in Canada Place is like since the recent changes.  My DH never received his medallion for our next cruise, although I got mine.  So strange!  So, I guess it’s the blue lane .. hope it’s not horrible.  

[Cruise Raider]

12 hours ago, AnyMajorCruiseDude said:

It showed open on journey view on the app as of midnight after departure.  We have done several 2/3 day cruises where they have opened the casino.  Ymmv, I guess!

I just saw it in the app .. on both tomorrow night and on Sunday.  That was very helpful .. thank you!  

[Coral]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

So happy to hear that.  It’s not inexpensive but got a great price a few months ago.  Kept checking prices at the Pan Pacific and they never really came down.  It’s just a short walk from and back to the pier, so that played a major part on my decision.  
 

I am wondering if anyone knows what embarkation in Canada Place is like since the recent changes.  My DH never received his medallion for our next cruise, although I got mine.  So strange!  So, I guess it’s the blue lane .. hope it’s not horrible.  

Let me know as I sail after you and am in blue lane.

[ceilidh1]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

So happy to hear that.  It’s not inexpensive but got a great price a few months ago.  Kept checking prices at the Pan Pacific and they never really came down.  It’s just a short walk from and back to the pier, so that played a major part on my decision.  
 

I am wondering if anyone knows what embarkation in Canada Place is like since the recent changes.  My DH never received his medallion for our next cruise, although I got mine.  So strange!  So, I guess it’s the blue lane .. hope it’s not horrible.  

Canada Place is always a gong show - take that from someone that used to work as pier supervisor there (and sailed from there a gazillion times). The HUGE factor is the number of ships in port - if you're the only one, you're golden. If there's two, it will be busy. More than two, pack your patience and be prepared for lots of walking and lines! Canada Place is unique in that you will drop bags downstairs (either in parking lot level or sometimes terminal level), you then go upstairs to street level to check in at Hall C in the convention centre (this is where you get your medallion). Once checked in, you head back downstairs to the terminal to clear security and US CBP (assuming your first port is in the US). ALL ship passengers go through the same line here and there is no priority, so this is where the lines start - they can be insane when it's a multi ship day (if that's the case for you. I highly recommend getting there by 10/10:30am - there may be a wait at the other end to board, but at least you will be through this part of it). Once cleared, you are funneled through to your cruise line and this is where the "priority" kicks in - if you have status you will be seated toward the front of the section to be first to board (unless boarding has already started, in which case you just walk on the ship). Vancouver SOMETIMES sections off a little "suite/elite" area in the waiting area pre-boarding, but don't expect anything fancy...In terms of being blue lane/collecting medallion, you shouldn't have any hold ups or waits for that portion - the check in is very streamlined and moves fast...it's the other stuff that takes forever!

[ceilidh1]

One more work day and one more sleep until cruise day. Woot. I'm heading to Costco shortly to pick up some goodies for the crew, then will "work from home" (aka, finish packing and get myself organised). Tomorrow morning, I will take our local bus at 5:40am to the train station and board Amtrak at 6:30am. Hoping for a smooth and uneventful trip down to Seattle!

 

Yesterday I came close to booking the Crown for the day after we arrive back in Vancouver - it's a four day Vancouver to Seattle. I was about to hit book but right before it I thought about how "disenchanted" I am with Princess at the moment. The fact that I NEVER get any of the promos/offers/deals that everyone seems to get, the fact that it feels like everyone got an upgrade on this mini sailing (except me), the fact that they are charging for what used to be free, all small, first world problems that add up to be a reason to look to other lines (yes, I know they are all doing this but I haven't spent thousands or my dollars with them in the past so have no expectations that they would be loyal to me). Anyways, I didn't book it. I will keep that money in my account and put it toward something next year - maybe Princess, maybe not! I will have a blast on this sailing and make full use of my package,  but my next two booked cruises are not with Princess....

Edited September 22, 2023 by ceilidh1
typo

[ceilidh1]

Costco shopping trip complete - my little bag is full to bursting with treats for the crew. It will be empty on the trip home (well, maybe a bottle of duty free). I actually have $100 non-refundable OBC to use on this sailing and have no idea what I will spend it on. Duty free shopping it is...

 

Just making lists for the kids for when I'm gone, cleaning the house, and prepping meals. All this in between "working from home". Vancouver weather is beautiful right now - hard to believe there is an entire week of rain, wind, and storms forecast next week. Which begs the question, should I pack an umbrella for the walk home from the ship on Monday...

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, ceilidh1 said:

Costco shopping trip complete - my little bag is full to bursting with treats for the crew. It will be empty on the trip home (well, maybe a bottle of duty free). I actually have $100 non-refundable OBC to use on this sailing and have no idea what I will spend it on. Duty free shopping it is...

 

Just making lists for the kids for when I'm gone, cleaning the house, and prepping meals. All this in between "working from home". Vancouver weather is beautiful right now - hard to believe there is an entire week of rain, wind, and storms forecast next week. Which begs the question, should I pack an umbrella for the walk home from the ship on Monday...

I saw the forecast of heavy rain and wind on Monday .. so, we packed our larger umbrellas.  Still got everything into 2 carry on pieces and two personal items (we are continuing on a /2B on the Majestic)  but, no room for goodies for the crew.  So happy someone will be spoiling them, at least on the Royal.  
 

Thank you for the detailed info on the boarding in Canada Place.  There are two ships in port on Monday but hopefully, we won’t go through immigration there as our first port of call is Victoria.  
I went there once and it was a flippin’ mess.  There were 3 ships in port and US CBP only had one officer show up to work.  People were in lines for hours on end.  In the end, we were in lines for maybe 6 hours but there were people that faintly got onboard closer to dinner time.  OMG .. people were madder than hornets with their nest disturbed.  The next morning, we remembered the hotel director from a previous cruise and he apologized profusely for the mess.  It wasn’t his fault, after all!  
But yes, it can be such chaos there.  Glad the check in isn’t the worst of it as we will be needing to visit the blue lane for my DH!  We won’t be checking any luggage so, that’s one less step.  

 

[ChangeOrder]

2 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

Which begs the question, should I pack an umbrella for the walk home from the ship on Monday...

We are strong Pacific North Westerners, and we can handle a little rain! Right?

 

I was debating it too. I think I’ll skip it since I’ll only need it for the few blocks to the train. Packable rain coat for me. 

[memoak]

1 hour ago, ChangeOrder said:

We are strong Pacific North Westerners, and we can handle a little rain! Right?

 

I was debating it too. I think I’ll skip it since I’ll only need it for the few blocks to the train. Packable rain coat for me. 

People in Portland do not use umbrellas if we see someone with one we assume they are from another state

[katisdale]

I do miss Matt O very much. I've never had a better cruise director.

[ceilidh1]

Work done. Bags packed. Kids sorted! Let’s get this party started. I bring you the MOST Canadian of beers…”The Toques of Hazard”

[milogurd]

13 minutes ago, ceilidh1 said:

Work done. Bags packed. Kids sorted! Let’s get this party started. I bring you the MOST Canadian of beers…”The Toques of Hazard”

The Official Beer of All Canadian Hosers! Take off-eh... The Great White North.

 

 

[#55worktoplay]

Have a great little getaway. I think I would be so jelly if I got off and next stop was Hawaii.

[rj59]

I'll be joining you, taking the Amtrak bus from Bellingham. Another cheap option for getting to Seattle is Flixbus, which can be quite cheap, depending on day and demand. I used to live in Seattle, so I know I can take the 24/33 bus from the train station to the Magnolia bridge and walk from there (Professor Cruise has a good guide to getting to the piers on her brilliant web page, full of drinks and dining menus also). I might also see if I can find an electric app bike, which is even funner and quicker, going along the waterfront a park to get to the pier entrance, since I only have a backpack. I thought my entertainment email showed Duvall as cruise director, who leads an amazing Love Boat deck party---he dresses up as Isaac from the tv show. Unfortunately, the weather calls for rain and wind. The big question I have is where the ship will go on the sea day, since it doesn't take that long to get from Seattle to Vancouver. Because of tides and its height that make it a close call for Royal-class ships under the Lion's Gate bridge, it's not scheduled to arrive until 9 am, so we should get morning bicyclists waving from the bridge. I also had an inside, but got my Elite upgrade to a balcony. Solo tip--if you do lots of these short trips as a solo, you get to Elite level quickly, since they give double cruise credits for a solo.  Also, if you want even better deals for solos, look at HAL going to San Diego, which I'm doing on Sept 27 and twice in October, one as low as $220 for a solo for 4 nights on Koningsdam. I've done dozens of them, and they're usually full of Canadians, some who stay on to do a Mexico cruise. Because the final day is in San Diego, the final sea day also tends to be nicer than on Princess, which end in SF or LA. They also have a retractable roof on their pool decks, so it's easier to deal with bad Pacific weather in October or April. 

[disneyochem]

4 minutes ago, rj59 said:

Also, if you want even better deals for solos, look at HAL going to San Diego, which I'm doing on Sept 27 and twice in October, one as low as $220 for a solo for 4 nights on Koningsdam. I've done dozens of them, and they're usually full of Canadians, some who stay on to do a Mexico cruise. Because the final day is in San Diego, the final sea day also tends to be nicer than on Princess, which end in SF or LA. They also have a retractable roof on their pool decks, so it's easier to deal with bad Pacific weather in October or April. 

Are you on the Volendam on the 27th?  If so, we’ll see you on board!