Fa-Li

We got an email about a month before sailing "inviting" us, but when our TA called to accept, they weren't actually ready yet. They told her they would call back 7 days before embarkation. They did not call on that day, so she called the next and they were ready to confirm. We were offered a choice of days and times. Then 3 days before embark, I got a call from the 661 area code and it was Princess inviting me to book. I explained we already had, and she found the reservation. So they are not completely combobulated yet, but it seems like all will work out.

If you're trying to compare to a Junior Suite on RC, it really depends on which class you've been on in one of those. I'd say the mini suite on Caribbean Princess is closest to the Junior Suite on a vision class ship, such as Rhapsody. On the Explorer, the Junior Suite was much, much larger and nicer than a Princess mini suite. The full suite on Princess is a really nice experience. The only thing we miss is that we fee the suite lounge on RC ships is much better. (Not even sure there is one on Caribbean Princess.) The Sabatini's breakfast is on par with the Chops breakfast on RC. One consideration is that with the Premier Package on Princess, it appears that you can purchase the perks such as reserved theater seating that are included with suites on RC. So if you care more for the perks than the space, you can save quite a bit and still get a luxury experience with a Reserve mini combined with a package.

We were invited for Enchanted next week. We will be in a suite but not elite.

We will be on the Enchanted, boarding next week! It’s my friend’s first cruise - I sold her on it by promising she could eat well. Your posts have been so reassuring 🥰

Thank you so much for this and the mdr info! She will be thrilled!

I had better luck booking in the web version of the app than on my phone. You might try that

Were they able to accommodate your dairy allergy just walk-in on embarkation day? Traveling soon with my friend who has same allergy and I so want to start off on the right foot! I know to consult about dinners the night before, wondering how first day lunch works. She would be so happy with everything in your photos if she could be sure they were dairy free!

I assume the answer is “duh, no” but … if the first night specialty dinner is complimentary because of being in a suite, could one still use the wine coupon?

Can we sit at the bar at Salty Dog (Enchanted), just to order drinks, without the cover charge? Or even walk up to get drinks then walk away? Or is the whole venue an upcharge? Thanks for any insight!

This topic has been so reassuring for my friend who is severely allergic to diary. I have convinced her to try her first cruise with us, partly by promising how well she will be able to eat! Quick question re embarkation day: For lunch, what is best practice? Buffet will be a madhouse, but will dairy free still be easily recognizable? Or better to try MDR even though they won't have had advance notice yet? We will be in club class if that makes a difference, but I don't imagine it will for an allergy. Hubs and I usually prefer MDR lunch on day one, but I am most interested in getting our friend off on the right foot. Thank you to everyone who has taken time to share their experiences with this!

Another vote for talking to Steve from TripInsuranceStore. Not only has he always taken the time to ask a million questions and really figure out the best for our needs (we have had some complicated preexisting medical situations), but when I have had to file a claim (not medical, ironically), one of his agents stayed on the phone with me and talked me through every line, and I was reimbursed promptly.

Thanks for the update. Good to know. If I hear cussing, I will send the hubs down to the cafe area. Fortunately, we have a lot of port days, so I imagine on those mornings his work phone can be his hotspot. It is disappointing that Princess did a bait and switch with their internet satellites. We booked this cruise when it really was the fastest internet at sea and all reports were great. Our next cruise is with RCI and good wifi was definitely a factor in that choice.

Thank you! It was driving me nuts! Used normal print and edge and got the correct size.

Sorry, I wasn't clear. You are correct. What I meant was when I first tried to print one reservation, it came to two pages of paper, and that made it look like I just typed it up myself. When I reduced to two pages per sheet, It gave me a print out that said Dine My Way at the top, then listed the days of the cruise, then showed my dining reservation time, place, and date. On the second "page" was the names of the people (four of us) on the reservation.

I went to the web version of the app, pulled up the dining, and right clicked to print. I then selected two pages to one sheet. This gave me a printout that showed it was “official” while keeping the date and the reservation on the same piece of paper. Not sure it will help, but I wanted it at least for our specialty dining

interesting! We have a ten day on Enchanted coming up in a few weeks. Any idea what the tropical night entails?

It works exactly like kindle except you are borrowing ebooks on your library card instead of buying them on amazon. Best thing ever, when it works!

I don't have any advice to get Libby to open, but do suggest that if you get it to work, immediately ask it to share your books to the kindle app (if you have that) Even at home, my Libby sometimes gets persnickety with books I've downloaded ( @Rick&Jeannie - this is why it should work without wifi, it's basically a repository of pages that have already been downloaded, it doesn't need to connect every time) but my Kindle app works every time.

I've been able to reprice for Royal Caribbean far more often than for Princess. Seems like more price fluctuation for those suites?

This is all such good information! Thank you to all who have taken the time to comment!

My non-negotiable for masking is in public restrooms (on the ship or anywhere). All sorts of gunk, including covid, is aerosolized and when someone flushes without the lid down, it becomes a fine mist that you can't help but inhale. No thank you. I don't take elevators anyway, so that's a non issue. Otherwise, will most likely mask in shows and other venues with high concentration of people and low air exchange. A good kn95 or n95 is not uncomfortable to me, and it seems low effort for a little protection.

I did this cruise just before the shut down in 2020 and it was great! Wishing you safe and wonderful travels!

I didn't see this must-have yet: for a first cruise I'd definitely suggest a travel agent. Someone who books a ton of Royal Caribbean cruise and can advise you on best cabins and watch for fare adjustments for you, as well as help with any notes about special needs for your mom or toddler. These boards are great and there is also a wonderful blog for RC you can find (not sure I'm allowed to name it here?) that has tons of explainers and tips as well as message boards, and a podcast if that's your thing. I hope you have a great cruise!

loving this report! Thanks for taking the time to post.

great advice on here already. I just wanted to add my 2 cents on the dishwashing options - I used to use those towels with the dawn when they were made, and could be gotten inexpensively. Since then, I just cut up a few sponges into thirds and immerse in dishsoapy water for a few minutes. I then allow them to dry out completely and store them in a ziplock for travel. When I want to wash our water bottles or whatever (works great for snorkel masks too), I just get one wet and I have a soapy sponge.