Wellybeth

Last time we booked the thermal suite they had a deal for the 2nd person in the cabin. If you both signed up seem to think it was about 1/2 price for the 2nd person.

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Thank you ! Is there deck lounge chairs provided for the balcony? I didn't see any in your pictures.

No loungers, just the chairs, which recline. There should be footstools (think we had to get out room steward to track them down) and a small round table.

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We too love Aft cabins and were in B750 last September on the Crown. Not our first choice, but would consider booking again if it was all that was left.

Hopefully this link will get you to my cabin review and a few pictures. Should be post #199.

Princess Cabin Reviews – NO CABIN QUESTIONS POSTED HERE PLEASE!

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=54509789

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Hi Figgy

Looks like we’re on the same cruise. Our 5th with Princess. We’ll be accompanied by our DS (1st cruise) and DIL. Pop over to the roll call and say hi!

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2513558

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JP - my apologies for confusing matters for you - got my Princess lodges confused. As others have pointed out Talkeetna and therefore K2 are reached from McKinley Princess and not Denali. [emoji31]

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JP - my apologies for confusing matters for you - got my Princess lodges confused. As others have pointed out Talkeetna and therefore K2 are reached from McKinley Princess and not Denali. [emoji31]

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If K2 don't offer a pick up service, I vaguely remember Princess having shuttle that ran back and forth to Talkeetna for about $10?

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As suggested by LeeW you'll find loads of great help on the Alaska boards, but I'll add my 2 cents here and would suggest considering booking directly with K2 Aviation (Pretty sure they’re the same company Princess use). They have a few options available. We booked the flight with glacier landing. Unfortunately, weren’t able to land as weather ‘came in’ after we took off, but K2 refunded the difference in what we'd paid for and what we got.

As we did Northbound cruise we booked this for right after we got off the train in Talkeetna. Princess took our bags to the lodge and we caught the shuttle up after our flight and wander around the town.

I learned loads on the Alaska board and although it was our first cruise, was given the confidence to book all of our Alaska excursions independently, some with the same providers Princess use and some with other, smaller operators resulting in lower cost, smaller groups and personalised experiences.

Good luck choosing & enjoy Alaska!!

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Hi and welcome to CC!

No luggage limit. You drop larger bags with porters and they’re delivered to your cabin. Any carry-ons need to fit through normal baggage security screening.

There’s room to store your bags in the ‘closet’ area and under the bed.

Enjoy your cruise.

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We didn’t have the new mattresses back in September, but the ones we had were ok. Not sure if they’ll have been changed yet or if they’re being done as part of the upcoming drydock.

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Wellybeth, thank you so much for the pictures. Husband wondering if you have any pictures of the bathroom. From the diagram it looks like it may be larger than a normal balcony bathroom. Thanks!

Sorry, didn’t take photos of the bathroom & closet space - not sure why. But don’t remember it being any bigger than any other balcony cabin.

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Here are a couple of photos of B750. This is partially obstructed by the beam. As JF - retired JTT said, it’s no big deal IMHO.

Balcony is deeper and more sheltered behind the beam. Chairs can be turned sideways to sit in front of ‘beam’ or loads of room behind it for the table and chairs.

While not our ‘favourite’ aft balcony, wouldn’t hesitate to book it again.

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Wow! Great pressie from Princess.

We were in B750 on a recent TA, which is partially obstructed due to a beam, not an issue for your cabin.

We love aft balconies for the wake view and on Grand class ships for their proximity to HC/Cafe Caribe & Outrigger Bar on Lido. We could go up get coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks, beverages and bring them back to the cabin to enjoy on the balcony.

Although ours was a colder weather cruise (Northern Crossing TA in September) as aft balconies are quite sheltered, we still used it almost everyday.

There can be some vibration, especially when arriving in/departing from ports but we don’t find it bothers us. And while it is a bit of a walk to mid and forward ship, which some may see as a negative, helps get the steps in to make up for the extra calories. [emoji23]

Enjoy your cruise and your upgrade.

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I love to start my cruise with a massage and normally grab a first day offer, especially if I’ve had to work right up until holiday and/or spend loads of time travelling. I know I’m paying way more than I would on land, but it’s part of my holiday.

I’ve found telling them the I get regular treatments on land (which is true) and that I use the high end products they offer (not so true) usually ends the conversation.

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Going to Alaska on the Emerald in May. We are in a mini suite so need to book the TS separately. Is it able to be booked ahead? I can’t see it on the princess site.

 

 

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No, can’t book ahead. First come, until they sell all the available passes.

DH is a big gym user and really enjoys the TS. Thanks to all the great advice we’ve received here in CC, one of the first things we do, once we’ve dropped our carry-ons in the cabin, is head over to the spa and book; after we’ve called the dine line to get in ‘the list’ for Chef’s Table (if they have one) and/or other special dining bookings.

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Geoff - just wondering did you book direct with Princess or via an agent?

Asking because I’m in UK , have always booked direct and haven’t had any problem re-faring directly with Princess - no fees. (2x on Alaska and once this year, before final payment on our TA). I know things can/will change and as has been pointed out consistency isn’t Princesses forte.

Seems sometimes if you don’t like the 1st answer, might be worth calling again you might get a different answer. [emoji849]

Always have to consider what the new promo is and what makes most sense financially. I understand some offers are now non-refundable deposit, so risk losing that This was my most recent experience: booked Sept 2017 TA early, online (March 2016 ) to secure cabin, with ‘free’ AIBP; price dropped significantly (Oct 2016) - more than cost of AIBP and included some OBC; called Princess, prepared to loss AIBP and purchase just for me (like my cocktails on holiday, DH happy to PAYG) which still would save us loads of ££; lovely CS rep went through everything and in the end got new fare, OBC and got to keep AIBP for both of us. Happy Cruisers!!

I have looked at some UK online TAs, to see if there were any added perks (TA’s don’t seem to give away much here) and did see that some of them had all sorts of ‘Admin fees’ for all sorts in their small print. So, decided to continue to DIY.

Would be great if we got some of the deals available across the pond. I have US passport and family in US so could probably circumvent the system if I tried, but after living in UK for 20 years have come to accept that we pay more for most things.

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We only tend to use buffet for daytime meals, preferring MDR or specialty restaurants for dinner.

As others have said opens earlier, for continental breakfast. On our recent TA on Crown (Northern Crossing) they quite often ‘moved’ the ‘Grill’ to Cafe Caribe at lunch for burgers & fries [emoji488] [emoji489] and ramen/noodle bowls. [emoji501]

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Ship: Crown Princess

Class: Grand

Deck: Baja - 11

Cabin # 750

Category: B4 - Premium Balcony

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern: Aft

Connects With Cabin #: NA

Accessible: No

Quiet: Yes

Balcony Size: Deeper than normal

View: Balcony partly obstructed due to support beam

Privacy Issues: None

Wind: No problem

Soot: No

Problems: Had problems with toilet not properly flushing on several occasions. Maintenance attended to rectify. Understand there was on ongoing plumbing issue in this area of the ship. Will hopefully be resolved during upcoming dry dock (if not before).

Not really a problem, but had to share - we had a ‘stowaway’ on our balcony. One of the maintenance team came, checked him out and saw him off the ship. Apparently, it happens on a regular basis and they have a bit of special training to deal with the ‘stowaways’, but a new one for us.

Comments: Love aft cabins for the wake view. Don’t find the ‘vibration’ bothers us. Liked the deeper balcony, especially as this was a colder weather cruise (Northern Crossing TA in September) as much more sheltered, meaning we still used it most days.

Chairs can be turned sideways to sit in front of ‘beam’ or loads of room behind it for the table and chairs.

Convenient to HC/Cafe Caribe & Outrigger Bar on Lido. Which meant we could go up get coffee, breakfast, lunch, snacks, beverages and bring them back to the cabin to enjoy on balcony.

Some may consider it a negative, that it’s a bit of a walk to mid and forward ship, but not an issue for us, gotta get those steps in.

While not our ‘favourite’ aft cabin, wouldn’t hesitate to book again.

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We did the Salty Dog one evening on our recent TA. Did book a table in advance.

We enjoyed the food/experience. Thought it was more than enough food (2 covers - 2 people - 4 plates & desert) or maybe we’d had a big lunch/snacks at the IC [emoji23]. Kindof like having appetisers for dinner, which we occasionally enjoy.

We had the Ernesto burger, calamari, beef short ribs and lobster mac & cheese. Think we had the chocolate pot & lemon posset for dessert.

For £12 ppn we’d go again, but would probably each order a burger or rib as a ‘main’ and then 2 plates to share. Burger is small so difficult to ‘share’ - ended up having to eat with knife & fork, as kinda fell apart.

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On our last cruise, waiters came around with trays of 'champagne' (If that's what you want to call it [emoji23]) during the Captain's Welcome Aboard Party. It's the night they introduce the officers and do the 'champagne' waterfall.

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Last time we booked the had a deal where when one of you books, you can add the 2nd person at a discount. Don't remember the exact cost, but seem to think it was about 1/2 price for the 2nd person. The spa is usually one of the 1st places we head, after we drop off our bags, as Thermal Suite passes are limited.

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You pay the full price for any drinks over the $10 limit.

If you buy a bottle of wine, you get 40% off and are permitted to share it.

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My concern is that everybody always says there is way too much food. Looking at the size of the salad alone makes me wonder how in the world we could eat the whole dinner. We have a 28 day cruise coming up and have a Caribe balcony so it would be the ideal time to give this a whirl but it just seems like sooooooo much food!

We did ours at sail away from Corsica. As it was a port day we ate a normal breakfast, loads of walking and only a light lunch/snack. No stops on the Lido or IC for any extra snacks.

It's a well paced meal and we just about managed, but were defeated. We were able to save the desserts in the fridge for the next day. So all was not lost.

We loved it and I wouldn't hesitate booking it again. Although not sure a Northern route TA will be the best itinerary for using our balcony, but you never know. Might just have see if we can get seats at the Chef's Table and give that experience a go.

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I have added the AIBP to my Princess 'basket' within my personaliser, but not paid for it as yet.

 

 

 

We sail on the Caribbean Princess on 7th October this year and the cost for the AIBP in my 'basket' is $57.45 per day.

 

 

 

Never had the AIBP before so don't know if this is a price increase or not.

 

 

 

cheers

 

 

 

Pete

If you don't pay for something in your basket and the price changes the price of the item in your basket changes. The only way to 'lock-in' the price is to make payment.

Found this out by forgetting to pay for $99 photo package when they were testing the water. Package is now $199 if prebooked or $249 onboard (sorry, off topic just an example of how pricing changes)

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If your up for booking independently Alaska is one of the easiest places to do it. We did all independent and it was our first cruise.

Be sure to check out the Alaska board. Loads of great info & recommendations for highly reputable companies that guarantee to get you back to the ship in time.

Depending on what you're looking to do, would personally recommend Harv & Marv for whale watching in Juneau and White Pass Summit Rail & Bus with Chilkoot Charters. Both excursions were cheaper than Princess & small groups.

Enjoy your planning & cruise! [emoji199] [emoji228] [emoji568]

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