Mears Family

4 hours ago, geoherb said:

The front window is great. We asked our cabin steward to leave the shade open the whole time instead of putting it down each night. 

The bridge officers may direct your shade to be closed at night.  It can interfere with safe nighttime navigation.  Probably best to keep the bedroom dim if the shade is open. Also be aware that the crew may be able to see you from their hot tub on the forecastle.

10 hours ago, Traderboy said:

Do we get complimentary access to the Spa?
what other benefits do we enjoy other than Club class dining. 

 

 

The standard suite benefits are published on the web site.  I think two differences involved with the switch from the Grand to the Regal are:

- loss of access to the thermal Spa on the Regal (The Enclave requires payment)

- gain access to the concierge lounge 

In your case the latter is not as exciting as it sounds, it is quite a hike from one of the very lovely forward suites to the lounge which is near to the rear of the ship (and most of the non-forward suites).  If you getting all this for the window suite rate, best wishes that covid becomes behind us and you get to enjoy it.

I will not speculate on how things may look in the future.  From past experience, I would not consider the Club Class dining area as Covid dining compliant albeit better than the main dining area.  If you are concerned about Covid the best advice is not to be on a cruise ship in the first place.  My suggestion is to consider the value of your time and flexibility while on your cruise vacation.  If you want to schedule your day around activities and excursions without worrying about making it to the dining room at a certain time than consider the upgrade to get Club Class.  Club Class is available for breakfast and lunch (sea days) as well as dinner.   Breakfast is not necessary busy on a port day as the full suite passengers will usually choose Sabatinni’s over Club Class.  

Cruise Date:   May 13, 2020

Government Port Closure Date:  March 19

Princess Cruise Cancel Date:  April 14

Refund Date:  June 12

So  85, 59 or 30 days depending on which date you choose.

9 minutes ago, Vineyard View said:

I saw the report yesterday where Canada is not allowing any cruise ships with more than 100 passengers to dock in their ports through 10/31/20. 
I have returned to the link Steelers36 provided the information on. Our trip is not listed as cancelled yet it docks in Victoria and Vancouver. The note also says if you do not fill out the form for a refund by 6/15 it will default to FCC, which we do not want at this time. Princess.com still shows cabins available. 
Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you

I have no advice for you.   I think you fit the profile of a typical Princess client who finds the lack of transparency frustrating.  Princess should immediately remove the sailings from the schedule, place an adversary on their website about the cancellations, and advise when the cancellation policy will be issued by.

Just announced by Transport Minister.  

The size cutoff to permit small ships is now 100.

5 hours ago, overlake7 said:

We are looking to book a premium suite and are wondering if there are any major differences in premium suites . B 102, C102, and D122. Any info would be appreciated

Depending upon the lighting conditions there are some cabin privacy issues with respect to the crew hot tub located on the forecastle.  If the anchor chain is in motion the noise is incredible.  Great choice in cabins but go as high as possible unless you are quite motion sensitive.    Also, if you have mobility issues elsewhere maybe more appropriate; it is a hike from the elevators/stairs.

44 minutes ago, Pineapple Princess said:

Airlines allowed to fly with the middle row occupied, bars open, theaters open, beaches open and very crowded this weekend..... So why is the cruise industry treated as if they are making no attempt to protect passengers?  Would I sail now?  No, but I think that should be my choice not the choice of the CDC....

Not all jurisdictions are "open" in the fashion that you have described.  From Texas or elsewhere in the United States, cruise ships must visit a foreign port as per the Passenger Vessel Services Act.  The cruise industry must confirm to the regulations governing the foreign port.   The CDC has no jurisdiction in those ports.  United States executive orders stating that businesses must be allowed to open also have no jurisdiction in those ports.   Albeit, as recent history has shown not following CDC regulations makes it extremely difficult to disembark in the United States.  I cannot answer your question, but the relevance of the preamble is weak.

3 hours ago, RoperDK said:

We cruise on several lines, either in mini or full suites mostly.  I've only cruised in minis on Princess.  I have a club class mini on the Enchanted in a larger angled balcony next March.  We are pondering an upgrade to the side penthouse suites located near the concierge lounge.  Things I don't like are the tiny balcony and the $2000 upgrade price.  Things I do like are the larger bathroom with shower and of course the extra room.  My mini has the club class dining experience already, along with priority embarkation and debarkation.  I bought the plus package with included drinks, gratuities, and wi fi.  Do you think the extra amenities in the suite would be worth the upgrade?

Thanks! 

If you already have the beverage package the concierge lounge drinks is less of a perk.  If you are Elite or Platinum, the PES event is more social than the concierge lounge.  However that was then and then this is now, perhaps the exclusivity and LESS social interaction is a big plus.  On the Royal, the concierge lounge has no natural light-not very inviting.  In short, my opinion is leave the concierge lounge out of the decision making.  If you are Elite status, the big missing perk is breakfast at Sabatinis.  Club Class breakfast is still an excellent perk.   If your not elite, it might come down to free laundry and room size.

7 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Were the ports on your cruise itinerary permitting Princess to visit or were they closed by the local Governments?  No Canada/New England cruises can sail because the border and ports have been closed.  Alaska cruises the same thing.  Do you fall into the class of cruises which were cancelled by the passenger?  If all of the ports are closed and countries are prohibiting disembarkations from cruise ships, is it the cruise line deciding to cancel or is it the governments?

There is nuance involved here.  Using the phrase was “Princess ready, able and willing” to provide the service of a cruise.

1. Ready - will in my situation the ship was heading to Aruba when it needed to be positioned in the Salish Sea (BC/Washington state inner coast).

2.  Able - no as noted by the OP.

3.  Willing - probably not given the potential health ramifications.

If the health authorities said Covid-19 is easily treated with X and the world can get back to business, Princess is still unable to provide the service as their ship is in the wrong ocean.

1 hour ago, Cruiserkenn said:

 

Sorry to hear this.  As of yesterday, anyway, Princess was booking a fall, 2020 cruise to Hawaii from Vancouver.

We are booked on that cruise.  I believe the chance of it happening is essentially nil.  As of yesterday, our cruise departing today to Alaska from Vancouver was showing up as an active booking and we should therefore be arriving at the port shortly.  In other words,  do not take anything you find on the Princess web site too seriously.

As mentioned above, the BC Medical Health officer has made several statements that would make the September departure to Hawaii very unlikely.  Here is a bit of a summary of how things are playing out in British Columbia:

- first, a bonus item for Princess.  The sailing is the first listed for the Grand Princess after a business re-start.  One can make an assumption, the no one will need to leave the ship upon her arrival in Vancouver.

- periodic or one time gatherings of more than 50 people are not permitted (btw, this wording allows grocery stores to operate).  Physically distancing aside from household members is required (being expanded to a small "social bubble").  This would make embarkation very challenging.

- Non-Canadian residents may experience difficulty transiting Canada in order the board the ship.  The Canadian border is only open for essential travel. Canadians should obtain travel medical insurance before leaving Canada; good luck with that.  That does not leave too many potential passengers left.

- The Canadian federal government controls the ports.  They are currently closed to cruise ship (>= 500 passenger CAPACITY) traffic until July 1st.   Assume that problem goes away and the Grand Princess sails to Hawaii (BTW, the last I heard she and her passengers are not welcome there either) and returns two weeks later and the passengers disembark. They will be under order to quarantine for two weeks.  The will have strict rules to follow and can expect to be checked up on.

- Our Medical Health officer has very strong support in British Columbia.  We have a very low incidence rate of Covid-19 and her leadership is creditted for that.  There is very little public support to challenge her.

- Moving ahead to what things may look four months from now.  The messaging is that a vaccine is necessary to get things return to the state of normal that would make it reasonable for a cruise ship to dock at a BC port.  

- The universities are planning for online classes in the fall.   This is not an optimistic message.

- The current plan of action in BC is opening up as many businesses with guidelines for safe operation for both staff and customers.  The rule of 50 is not going to disappear anytime soon.

Hoping for a bright 2021 and beyond.

The Marine Traffic app shows that she is now at berth 92 in San Pedro after being anchored during the day.

Here are some other options if you end up in Seattle:

1)  Fly Kenmore Air float plane.   This is a beautiful trip.  You WILL have strict luggage limitations although they MAY be able to accommodate all your luggage for a fee.  If you it looks like a problem you could drop your luggage off beforehand at the aforementioned Victoria Clipper terminal and they will transport it for you for the next day (afternoon) pick up.  YOU will be responsible for clearing the items through Canada Customs (be sure you plan for this around weekday office hours).  You will need between 45 minutes (using cabs) and two hours (walking) for the round trip between Clipper terminal (pick up paperwork first) and customs office to make this happen.  The luggage cost will be $0.67US per pound.  Personal items will be admitted without duty and taxes but that is not the decision of the Clipper staff - you will be shipping via a commercial cargo service.   You may be able to get a customs broker to do the paperwork for you. 

2)  Take Dungeness Line shuttle from Seattle to Port Angeles and then Coho Ferry. You end up being stuck in Port Angeles overnight if the shuttle is late (I have no idea how likely that is).  The drive through the Olympic Peninsula is quite scenic.

3)  Fly a regular flight between Seattle (SEA) and Victoria (YYJ) airports.   Neither airport is exactly convienient.  

4)  Take Amtrak train or Bus to Vancouver; transit/shuttle to Ferry terminal on Vancouver side; ferry to Victoria terminal; and then bus/etc to downtown Victoria.   This is very much a "milk run" .

5)  There is an additional ferry option with the Sidney/Anacortes ferry but as with the Clipper you will have the next day departure issue.

If you work around the luggage issue,  the first option is the most enjoyable as well as the fastest.

All this somewhat assumes you want to be in downtown Victoria without a car.

Club Class Mini-Suite passengers have the option to have breakfast in the Club Class area of the main dining room.  BTW, full suite passengers also have that option.   az2sea, is there a chance that you have been mislead by a travel agent calling a club class mini-suite a suite?

40 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

Thanks for the info. It's an odd place to put a flight of stairs, so I was really surprised to see it on the deckplans. Maybe something else, but I wouldn't know what. I won't worry about it. 🙂

We're booked in a similar cabin in the future.  I fully expect that this is the emergency exit.   It is not odd in any way what so ever.  It is at the furthermost point along a passage way leading away from the primary staircases.

Maybe not worry about it; but do NOT ignore it-it could save your life.  Sea Hag, may I humbly suggest that next time you are sleeping in an unfamiliar place that you review the egress plan and not be dismissive of such.

Hi,

  We were considering a cruise on the Star Princess at the end of April 2020 from Vancouver.  I noticed that she is not on the Princess schedule from April 14th to 30th after her arrival in Vancouver.   She was in dry dock in December 2017 and is due to go to P & O in the fall of 2021.   Wondering if this is a dry dock visit or perhaps a charter.  Any ideas?  Is there a good way to find this out in general?   The thinking here is that it is best to avoid a ship that may still be undergoing major maintenance when she sails with passengers.

Thanks

1 hour ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

On the Crown now.   Observed many filthy PAXs ignoring the hand sanitizer stations at the entrance to the Horizon Court buffet.

Today, I heard a PAX complaining about the glass sneeze barriers  over the the food, complaining that they were an I convenience to her reaching the food.

Many PAXs on here heard and seen coughing.  Filthy PAXs coughing without covering their mouths, or coughing into their hands instead of into the crook of their elbow.  Then handling the serving utensils or food like fruits.  😡

1 hour ago, froggy9143 said:

It is so easy to wash your hands, I can't understand why some people refuse.🤮

I completely agree that people should be washing their hands prior to eating at the buffet.  Sometimes, there is a need to walk through the buffet to get elsewhere on the ship or perhaps get a napkin  (touch it, it's yours).  Judgement should be delayed until the offender grabs a plate.

On 8/19/2019 at 11:48 AM, antsp said:

The Island was a great ship until the bean counters slaughtered her

On 8/19/2019 at 2:18 PM, rkacruiser said:

The butchering of the aft of the ship to eliminate a public room and open deck space in order to install more staterooms, increasing the number of guests, is the reason I eliminated Island Princess from any consideration for my recently completed Alaskan cruise.  I won't consider her for any future Princess cruise for the same reasons.

On 8/19/2019 at 4:59 PM, wheezedr said:

The Island gets bad reviews because of the additional 200+ passengers that were added when she was remodeled.  That came at the cost of some public space and without any additional dining space.  That leaves the Coral as the more popular ship of this class.

On 8/19/2019 at 5:56 PM, GweninTX said:

Add us to the Island haters! They RUINED her when they cut her up and added all the extra cabins! Never again!!!!

What gives then?   The Fitness Center.

I believe every Princess ship except the Island, and every other cruise ship I have been on, has the Fitness Center on an upper deck with water views.  The FC on the island is interior on a lower deck.  My favourite part about going to the gym on a cruise ship is the natural light and the views.   I checked out the FC on the Island-the place was a dead zone; a couple of people were there.  I decided that climbing the staircases was a more pleasant way to exercise.  On the plus side, you will probably have your source of equipment.

If you select a Northbound cruise tour, you will be able to enjoy the embarkation afternoon on the ship.   With southbound, you will board the ship late in the afternoon or early evening.