Westsail32

I'm on the 9/24 Sapphire 10-day out of San Pedro.  This is my third scheduled cruise this year (first two were cancelled including last one on Diamond out of San Diego).  I emailed my Princess Travel Advisor to ask her about the "currently unavailable" note on the website.  If she responds I'll post the answer here.  I'm hopeful with the Diamond laid up they shifted crew to the Sapphire and the cruise will go on.  I can see maybe it's nearly sold out given all the cancelled Diamond cruises.  

On 8/28/2022 at 9:17 AM, hpeabody said:

On Discovery July 31st Alaska.  NO elite bathroom amenities at all, NO Princess blue bag.  Minibar was there but traded in for wine and did not pay attention to what items were there.  Robe was in room on the first evening.

Question for you... How do you "trade"?  Do you just tell the room steward what you'd like?  I mean I'd be happy with Diet Coke and Bacardi (for example).  Will they just swap it out?  Thanks.

I've had a couple long waits when Covid first hit due to cancelled cruises.  One time it took a little while to get a refund back to the credit card but they were really overwhelmed.  I think they were doing them all manually then too.  Overall the service has been very good and my Princess Cruise Advisor is great.  

I was able to pick mine this morning. Said 24 days out.  The 9/24 Sapphire Princess 10-day Mexico cruise.  

I had an extension cord confiscated on boarding.  They brought me an “approved” one instead.  I do recommend a multi-plug with USB plugs to use too.  They’re great.  I use this one from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082FJXVW6?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Thank you everyone for replying.  When I check in with the Steward I’ll mention it and what I like to drink.  I always tip them on the first day too so I’m always treated well.  They’re pretty attentive, only once have I had a steward who “forgot” something, and he corrected it when I reminded him.

I usually cruise alone and prefer to have breakfast alone and dinner with a group.  One thing I’ve done is for the first meals introduce myself to the supervisor (green jacket) and ask him if it’s possible to be seated with the same servers.  They’ve usually been able to accommodate me.  Often to the point that when I walk in the supervisor will give the host “my” table number.

Looking over the Elite benefits I realized my last cruise (first as Elite) I didn’t get a minibar setup.  I had a drink package so I wasn’t in the cabin a lot but it would’ve been nice.  Is this something we have to request in advance?  Is there a choice of what you want?  Thank you.

I was on the first Grand trip out of LA last month.  Security flagged my bag because I had a small 10” desk fan in my bag.  I like having a fan to circulate the air and I can’t sleep in a quiet room.  My room steward actually checked for my bag because it hadn’t shown up at my room.  He went down to security, then came up to tell me, then walked me down there.  It took about ten minutes for the three security guards to OK the fan.  Then my steward brought the bag to my cabin.  I’m cruising on the Majestic this Saturday so I’m hoping I won’t have a problem.  I’ve always brought a fan and this is the first time I’ve ever had an issue.

I have seen signs for sip and cover but to be honest at the bars I haven't seen people doing that.  Masks off at the bars seems to be the norm.  

I second everyone on Darren Dowler in the theatre.  He was fantastic.

Here are the senior officers.

I decided to stay on ship due to the humidity and heat.  There were a lot of tender groups and the ship seems empty right now.  I took a couple pictures outside then got back to the AC.  

1 hour ago, HBCcruiser said:

@Cruise Raider How is the internet? Weak or strong? 

So far it's been pretty good.  I was able to watch some YouTube video in my cabin last night on my iPad.  

Starting Day Three.  I'll echo everything others have posted.  Had a nice meet and greet with CruiseRaider and others on Day One on deck 14.  Sorry I'm terrible with names but I enjoyed meeting everyone.  I'm on Deck 8 Emerald.  I forgot the Grand doesn't have a central staircase but the elevators aren't bad with the reduced occupancy. 

Yesterday I had a nice dinner at Crown Grill.  Filet Mingon was fantastic, very tender, and the lobster was OK.  Service was top notch.  Spent a few hours at Crooners and enjoyed some conversations.  Ruben and Melody were the bartenders.  I showed them a picture of my last bartenders from an earlier cruise and they said one of them, Honey, was up on Deck 14 at Calypso, so I went up to see her.  She remembered me from the Ruby and what I used to drink!  I don't know how they do it.

This morning I had a nice breakfast in the dining room at 8am.  There weren't many people there and the service was good.  Then I headed down to Good Spirits on Deck 5.  Visited with bartender Joy and enjoyed a morning adult beverage.  

Masking hasn't been an issue for me.  It seems all the passengers are compliant.  I haven't seen anyone make an issue of masking indoors.  I will say the crew seems very happy to be back.  Several have told me they were off 18 months.  

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Oopsie... looks like wrong thread.  You probably meant to post in a LIVE FROM?

How did that happen!

Made it to the port this morning.  Ruby is here too.  Plenty of parking in the lot.  Check in was easy just showed Medallion, covid card and my negative test.  Took like two minutes.  Then went to the waiting area where they have the lounges set up for elite and platinum.  I signed up for Group A 1130 boarding time so we will see how it goes.  Elite just started boarding now at 1115.  

I'm booked on the 9/25 Cabo (Grand) and the 10/30 Mexican Riv (Majestic).  For the Grand I was able to get my usual favorite window cabin on Deck 8 (close to Crooners).  For the Majestic however I booked it back in March and I booked an inside cabin.  Since the ship probably won't be full I'm hoping to get an upgrade to a balcony (obstructed or not).  If I'm not offered one what is the process for going to Guest Services and asking for one?  Do I just show up and ask for an upgrade to my cabin?  Anything special I need to do?  I've had one upgrade from Princess pre-cruise a couple years ago (balcony to a deluxe) but I didn't ask for it.  

Thanks!

3 minutes ago, gmcwalker said:

Looks like we hit a bump in the road before we even have left. This came via email From Princess an few hours ago. Hang on folks it's going to an interesting time!

 

MPORTANT NOTICES ITINERARY CHANGE Please be advised that due to an operational speed reduction, Grand Princess will now arrive in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico 3:00 PM on Monday, September 27, 2021, rather than 12:00 noon as previously scheduled. Additionally, our scheduled arrival to Los Angeles on Thursday, September 30 will now be at 10:00 AM, rather than 6:15 AM. We want to assure you that this speed reduction in no way affects the safe operation of the ship, which is our highest priority. As a result of this change, our disembarkation flight guideline in Los Angeles for guests with independent air arrangements has changed. The earliest flight departure time is now 4:15 PM. Guests with Princess EZair flights that depart before 4:15 PM will have their flights changed and will receive their updated flight information soon. Guests will receive updated shore excursion information onboard. Please note that the itinerary that displays below does not yet reflect this change. Thank you for your attention to this notification.

 

 

I just read the email.  I feel bad for those with earlier flights.  Driving it just means I will miss morning rush hour.

On 9/15/2021 at 5:18 PM, DiRonT said:

Westsail32 - just wondering if you have been able to find a place for Covid test in the Palm Springs area within 48 hrs of sailing.  We are in Palm Desert and trying to decide if we should buy the home test as it looks like Princess will probably not test at the port (IMHO).

Sorry for the late reply.  I'm using EdMed Binax AG tests.  I have a PCR test 8am at Quest made thru that link from Princess.  I was originally going to book a rapid at the Torrance CVS on their website.  That was the closest rapid I found.  I changed my mind and just bought EdMed instead.

I was finally able to select arrival groups for both the 9/25/21 five day Grand Princess Cabo trip and the 10/30/21 seven day Majestic Princess Mexican Riviera trip today.  

17 hours ago, KLM3164 said:

I haven’t seen one child on this week’s cruise.

About five years ago I did the Alaska 10-day out of SF on the Grand.  It was crawling with kids and felt like a Disney crusie.  I was wondering how things were on this cruise with no vaccine for under12 kids.  

When I log in and look at cruises I usually go into the "pick a cabin" page to see what's available before I cancel out of it.  I almost always get a phone call within the next day from Anna-Lou my "personal cruise consultant".  I've got her in my contacts an she shows up when she calls.  I finally booked a cruise thru her for 9/25 (Grand Princess Cabo 5-day).  I was able to get a bit of a discount and some extra OBC.  

50 minutes ago, Bruin Steve said:

I received the notice early this morning regarding my October 30 Majestic Princess cruise out of Los Angeles.  Figured, based on the notice, that I might as well check into "Quest Diagnostics"...

So, I went to their website and registered...

First thing I found out is that the closest testing centers they have to my home or to the Port of Los Angeles are either in Palmdale or Corona.  Anyone who knows the LA area will find this laughable.  For me, it would take a 90 mile round trip just to get tested.  They've got nothing anywhere close to the port, to LAX or to where 90% of the population actually lives...

 

Then, when you hit the end of the registration process, you can click on an ominous link and get this notice:

 

Notice for California and Oregon residents

Note: California and Oregon state laws require that lab results be held for 7 days before Quest can release them to MyQuest. This hold is in place so that your physician has the opportunity to discuss your lab test results with you prior to you receiving them in MyQuest. Additionally, some testing (such as HIV screenings) has additional delays in place so that your physician has the opportunity to discuss your results with you.

 

7 days???  That pretty much makes this thing completely worthless.  How do you wait 7 days after testing to get you results and be able to present a negative result of a test taken within two days of sailing???

I'm on the 9/25 Grand Princess Cabo and the 10/30 Majestic too.  I was able to sign up for Quest for 9/23 an didn't see that California resident notice anywhere.  In about a week I'll be able to schedule CVS for a Rapid test.  Going to have to drive 80 miles to do it but want to make sure I have a result for the crusie.  

I woke up to the emails for my Sep 25 & Oct 31 cruises with "EMERGENCY NOTICE" on the header.  I knew what it would say.  I was able to go online and change my Quest lab PCR test appointment from Sep 22nd to Sep 23rd early morning.  I'm still planning on driving 80 miles to the closest CVS with the rapid test available once I get close enough to schedule it.  All the CVS and Walgreens around me are only offering the PCR test.  Two days is really cutting it close.  

On 8/29/2021 at 6:32 AM, manunia said:

26 days out - still "Sorry" screen

I'm 25 days out today (you on the five day Cabo?).  Still getting the sorry can't group message.