It's been a loooong time.......

[mafig]

 

thanks, again, reedprincess!😍

[NewPennCruiser]

You have received a lot of good information but I thought I would add my 2 cents as we just cruised on Princess last month for the first time in about 7 years.  We were cruising with other lines although not necessarily in suites.  Our go to cabins on Princess are usually mini-suites and we usually go with Aqua Class on Celebrity and a mix of cabins on other lines.

 

Like other lines there have been post covid changes, most negative, some positive (emuster) so not really worth mentioning since it sounds like you have cruised with other lines recently and the changes are similar across the board.

 

Formal nights on Princess are significantly less formal than they were 10 years ago.  Some people still go for it, most don’t.  Nice slacks and button down shirts are appropriate and of course as always, if you don’t feel like getting out of your shorts and flip flops, the buffet and burger/pizza joints are always an option on formal nights.

 

The Medallians will be new for you and we really loved them.  They seem to make everything more efficient, from embarkation, to accessing your room, to ordering drinks/room service, etc.  It’s just nice to not need to pull a card out of your pocket and the services can walk up to you and know who you are.  I wasn’t sure how I would feel about them, but we loved the new service.

 

This was the first time we opted for Princess Plus.  It’s very similar to other lines trying to make things a little more all inclusive.  We’ve used “Free At Sea” with NCL and the “All Included” option with Celebrity.  I thought Princess Plus was a reasonable additional cost based on some of the options we’ve seen on other lines but you really need to look and see if the added services are important to you.  Of course if you cruise in a suite, some of this may be included.  We did not pick a reserve level mini suite but the entire Reserve and Sanctuary Collection services on Princess are getting closer to the whole ship within a ship concept that you probably experienced in Haven or Yacht Club.  Princess isn’t quite there yet but they are getting closer with how they classify cabins on the Sun and soon to be added Star.  On some of the older ships they will section off a part of the main dining room for you instead of having a dedicated restaurant.  It seemed to work ok.

 

Anyway, hope that helps.  We were happy to cruise with Princess again and would do so again.  While we cruise multiple lines, Princess always sort of feels like home to us because that is really who we started cruising with.  Even after being away 7 years, we still got that feeling when we stepped on the ship again last month.  Enjoy whatever cruise you choose and Happy Sailing !!!

 

Dave

[Treasure Hunter]

It would be helpful to know what ship you are thinking of sailing on. The Sun and in the future the Star will be very different from what's sailing right now. Those ships are moving closer to Celebrity retreat and NCL Haven.  We have sailed on 35 Princess cruises only in suites. But a reserve class mini is very nice too. It has a bathtub  ( unlike a suite which has both a tub and a separate shower). Some people find this difficult to climb over. It is more spacious than a balcony  and comes with reserve class perks. The most important being the Reserve dining with superior service and one or two extra menu items per meal. The full suites have a great drink set up but also free one day turn around laundry. We send out dirty laundry every morning and go home with a clean suitcase. We do not take any package ( we don't drink alcohol). The two bottles of water a day plus trading in the little bottles of alcohol for diet cokes and extra water works great. You'd have to drink 15 drinks a day to make a package worth while. We pay our gratuities at the end plus tip along the way for superior service. Sometimes the casino picks up our bill. The Royal class ships have a full suite Concierge Lounge ( they are very helpful with excursion changes, spa appointments, help with WIFI, specialty restaurant reservations- you get the first night free in a suite) and a happy hour. In the lounge, there are nice snacks available all day and a frig with free drinks for the taking. You don't get reserved seats in the theater but we just go 20 minutes before a show and have never had a problem. And no one needs extra desserts.

[mafig]

5 hours ago, Treasure Hunter said:

It would be helpful to know what ship you are thinking of sailing on. 

 

the Sun.

[Treasure Hunter]

I have not been on the Sun but I hear it is fabulous. There will likely be more kids ( more big toys like slides) and the Reserve idea is now Sanctuary. With a true separate suite dining room instead of just a roped off area. I believe in a suite they reserve a section of the Sanctuary for your use. This is wonderful for warm weather cruises. If you go for the true full suite let us know what you think. 

[mafig]

I will....😊