teecee60

Great news for those of you who were on the Disovery Princess or Emerald Princess for the recent Total Solar Eclipse! 

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/princess-cruises-sails-prime-viewing-133000036.html

Maybe they will even have a really good astronomy enrichment speaker on board...😁

Just off a 15 night cruise on Emerald for the solar eclipse and Panama Canal. Great ship, no complaints at all. Just not as glitzy/new as any Royal Class ship. Would go again any time.

8 hours ago, satxdiver said:

We have been on the Emerald many times and will be on it again next month.  We always get D632 on a cabin next to it so that we are near the aft elevators.  Their has never been a problem with noise at any time of day or night.  D624 is near where we always book.  

You forgot to tell kecat about the awesome enrichment speaker on that cruise! 😉

Just did 20 nights on Island Princess in January... wouldn't hesitate about doing more!

20 hours ago, teecee60 said:

As an enrichment speaker scheduled for the 18 February cruise, I just got my airline tickets to Rome as well as hotel and shuttle reservations from Princess Corporate HQ. I am quite confident the Sun will sail on the 18th.

Looks like I will get the next the next couple of weeks off... who'd of thunk...😕

37 minutes ago, fpsphil said:

Is it just me or is Princess just not drumming up that much excitement over this launch? I feel like I saw the Icon of the Seas splattered on every social media blogger for weeks even before it got to Miami

Twelve out of the first 15 cruises are sold out... "more excitement" seems unneccesary. 

6 hours ago, timcahill98 said:

Well, it's now February 12th and still no hand-over.  And the first cruise is supposed to depart in 6 days?!?!?  I really don't like how Princess is handling this.  No promo cruises? No shakedown cruises? It's actual first sailing will be with paying passengers - so different from how RC just rolled out the Icon OTS.  I'm supposed to be on the Feb 28th sailing and I'm still not confident mine will go off....

As an enrichment speaker scheduled for the 18 February cruise, I just got my airline tickets to Rome as well as hotel and shuttle reservations from Princess Corporate HQ. I am quite confident the Sun will sail on the 18th.

12 hours ago, beshears said:

Once again, thank you for your review with pictures. We have LESS than 2 weeks, and we should be on the Regal too. 

There's a great enrichment speaker that will be on the Regal with you... check it out. 😁 

19 minutes ago, LAS!!1414 said:

How long will u be on the Sun Princess ???

Just for the (new) inaugural. (18-28 Feb) I will have a VERY quick turnaround to be on Regal for 21 days in March, followed by the Eclipse Cruise on Emerald in April.

2 minutes ago, SouKnoMe said:

Thank you for sharing. You know you’ve been tasked to share the first images of the ship and meeting spaces. 😬

No, I just wanted to share some info from my enrichment programs... about the OTHER sun!

1 minute ago, cristine said:

I take that as a good sign. What are your talks on?

The sun, of course!  The OTHER one... along with astronomy and space exploration. 😉

I am an enrichment speaker for Princess, recently assigned to Sun for the 18 February sailing. They are flying me to Rome next week... so there are a LOT of "someones" at Corporate HQ that are at least somewhat certain that the sun will sail on the 18.

There will be an astronomy enrichment speaker on the Regal from March 3rd - March 24th.

16 minutes ago, DHP1 said:

What is enrichment speaker?

Someone who presents audio/visual programs on interesting subjects for cruise ship guests. My area of expertise is astronomy and space exploration. Besides my "sun" program shown above, here are a few more programs scheduled for the February 18th cruise...

On 1/24/2024 at 1:09 PM, LACruiser88 said:

I had been hearing "rumblings" from a few of our Princess inside sources that this was coming.  They just might cancel a couple more???  

On 1/24/2024 at 1:13 PM, mthomp5 said:

Must be so disappointing for those on the inaugural.  There was no mention of a delivery date so I’m guessing it may impact more cruises.   

On 1/24/2024 at 2:21 PM, UKWildcatCruiser said:

I’m on the 2/18 sailing. I really have no hope that it will go as scheduled. 

4 hours ago, DHP1 said:

Let’s hope the Feb.18th cruise is a go and we put a closure on this cancellation.  

I am an enrichment speaker for Princess Cruises, and I have just been assigned to the February 18th sailing of Sun Princess. The company is flying me from Tucson, AZ... to Europe... then back home, so at least SOMEONE at Princess Corporate HQ is definitely planning for that cruise to sail. 😉

The fact that the ship was not ready, rests with the SHIP BUILDER who signed a legal contract with Princess Cruiselines to deliver the ship on a specified date.

6 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

And the retired have too much time to spend on cruise ships.

I resemble that remark...😁

8 hours ago, Ocean Mouse said:

Thinking about a transatlantic next year and wondering if the ship carries a full complement of passengers. Do the ships feel crowded?

Why wait 'til next year... the Nov 10th 15 night Sky Princess T/A is available for under $600pp.

The Nov 10th, 15 night transatlantic on Sky Princess is available for $539pp. 

That's for an inside cabin, not a suite... but THAT'S a DEAL. 😉

Your itinerary looks absolutely fantastic but also fairly pricey... (if I have the right date... care to share the specifics?) I recently spent 17 nights doing a transatlantic on the Island Princess and enjoyed it very much. (inside cabin) I will be doing 20 more nights on it in January. It IS a little older and smaller but still quite comfortable and enjoyable.

The Bayou Cafe specialty restaurant was thoroughly enjoyable with the BEST food on a cruise ship in nearly a decade. I also spent a fair amount of time at the Wheelhouse and Crooners'.

Be aware that you can get that same cruise for several hundreds of dollars per person less than Princess prices by going through a well known online travel agency. (that cannot be mentioned here) Have you checked the prices of airfares through Princess EZ Air? You can save a LOT of money that way.

Best of luck and let us know whatever you decide. 

16 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I want to be able to look at an airplane seating chart and pick the exact seats that I want.  I want to be able to pick my seats when I book and not be told that the airline will pick my seats for me.  

 

Can anyone tell me what the advantage to me of using EzAir is.

I have booked flights through EZ Air for 12 out of my 13 Princess cruises, and I have had access to the aircraft seating charts, and picked the exact seats that I want, each and every time.

The advantage of using EZ Air... is that it will almost always save you several hundreds to several thousands of dollars on international flights... while locking in current prices AND being able to cancel those flights and rebook later at a lower price.  Name one airline or travel site that lets you do that.

For the the November 10th Sky Princess Transatlantic, I can get a one way flight from Tucson to LHR for $360pp through EZ Air. Just do a quick search what that flight would cost ANYWHERE else.

12 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Very nice, and a great price point for the unforgettable experience. 

6 hours ago, adamtoonarmy said:

 Not for me, I wouldn’t go if Princess paid me $149

Different strokes... THAT is why it's so great to be offered so many different dining options. 😉

We were invited to 360 gratis... enjoyable, but no way I would pay $49... let alone $149.

On 9/4/2023 at 2:58 AM, PacnGoNow said:

Never duct tape, as that could leave a residue.

On 9/7/2023 at 2:04 PM, EMS8 said:

He covered the sensor with duct tape.  Problem solved!  

Duct Tape... never leave home (or the Earth) without it.

14 hours ago, lbfluffy said:

We have decided to do a different trip. We chose Panama Canal for March. We have a choice between the Emerald or the Ruby. So for anybody that has been on those ships, what are your thoughts. 

We were just on the Emerald in Aug/Sep for a 19 night Panama Canal transit. Although the ship is over 15 years old, it is in fine shape. Food and entertainment were ok, but the service was outstanding. 

The 15 night March 6th 2024 itinerary is being offered at a very reasonable price by Princess, and several hundred dollars per person LESS, by well known cruise consolidator travel agencies. $714pp inside, $1060pp ocean view, and $2309pp balcony. Just know that the taxes are over $500pp in addition to those base fares.

Also know that you can get $250 OBC for military service, as well as $250 for shareholder benefit, and yet another $150 (or more) for using a Princess Future Cruise Deposit. Have a great cruise!

23 hours ago, DCThunder said:

Are those of you who are "winning" bids, submitting them at the maximum amount or something lower?  The little bid "slider" shows bidding the minimum as a "weak" bid, but weak can still be winning.  What's the winning strategy?

MY winning strategy... is booking the absolute least expensive cabin I know I will be satisfied with... and then making just-above-minimum (weak) bids. It has worked two out two times I have tried it... inside to ocean view on one, and inside to balcony on the other...for much MUCH LESS money than booking the higher category from the start.

2 hours ago, oregonn8v said:

Hello,

 

I am planning on sailing solo for the first time next year and cruising for the first time in many years. I am considering a couple of January cruises down the Mexican coast. One is a 7-night from Los Angeles (Discovery Princess) and the other is a 10-night from San Francisco (Crown Princess). Because I'm sailing alone, I am planning on an inside cabin. Wondering if it is a good idea to book now, or if I can get a better deal if I wait until closer to the sailing date. Right now I can get inside cabins (single occupancy) for $1,026 (7-night) and $1,671 (10-night).

 

Does Princess discount unsold cabins as a cruise approaches? When do the deals start? Am I just better off booking the cruise and cabin I want right now?

 

Thanks in advance.

I just checked the Princess website and there is a deal on the January 20th Discovery for $418pp with $126 in taxes. That is the dual occupancy rate, but quite reasonable even when doubled.

The Crown is an older ship that has had a LOT of complaints recently.

The "deals" start whenever they get behind in bookings, and end whenever they catch up. 

If you are flexible as to exact dates, it almost always pays to wait until after final payment.

9 hours ago, Musky Ike said:

So we still "sail" aboard a ship powered by internal combustion engines? 🤔

9 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

Yes we do. It's a word that has evolved from its roots.

OR... (as opposed to "oar") you could consider the LONG TERM perspective...

1 hour ago, Kay S said:

My SIL served on the USS Kittyhawk and I learned that quote from him.  🙂

I lived close to where it was berthed at North Island, but I never landed on that boat...😁

3 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

For anyone who served in the Navy this distinction was pounded into our brains starting in boot camp…it was like fingernails on the chalkboard to refer to an aircraft carrier as a boat. 🤪

Any cruise buddy who wants to mess with me calls it a boat just to see me cringe. 😳

For any airedale who served in the Navy... frigates, destroyers and cruisers might have been ships... but aircraft carriers were always BOATS! 😉