LindaMG

1 hour ago, centralcalicruzer said:

Why only one night in the MDR? What you have described fits perfectly  fine with Princess's request for attire in the MDR on all non-formal nights. Most people will be dressed similarly. 

Our cruise to Alaska is only 7 nights.  One each at the speciality restaurants, one night booked at Tracy's craab Shack.  One night MDR and well, my husband is a bit of a buffet fan.  I would love to go to the MDR for breakfast and lunch as well.  We will just see how it goes.

I asked this question on a Princess facebook page and it was removed by admin but not before a few people left me an angry face.  A couple of people did answer but would like a few more to reassure me.  I am not trying to start anything, I genuinely want to know as I want to make every minute of my cruise enjoyable and do not want to have people looking down on us because I am not in a ballgown and tiara and my husband isn't wearing a suit.  Anyway, we would like to have one meal in the MDR but not on a formal night.  We travel light and dress for comfort, not to impress.  So I would wear black trousers, a feminine pretty top and good leather ballet flats with some sparkly jewellery.  My husband, kindest, most hard working man I know (thats whats important to me, not the fact that he doesn't own a suit) would be in tidy black levis, a button down shirt with a collar and clean tidy shoes.  So will we be dragged on deck and made to walk the plank or would we pass muster?

We have booked dinner at Tracys Crab Shack in Juneau and thought it might be pleasant to walk back to the ship afterwards but I am confused.  Google says its a 1 minute walk but the excursion details quote a 15 minute drive.

4 minutes ago, h-sar said:

 

Having only ever walked by it, I can’t comment on the taste. However, the tiered tray presentation is definitely far nicer than in the MDR, where food is served to you on a plain white dessert plate. One of the things holding me back from trying the pay option is that I’m not a huge fan of the venue - right in the middle of the busy piazza. For a tea service like this, I’d prefer a small, intimate, quiet venue. Maybe even a section of Sabatini’s as I don’t think it’s used for anything at that time? On the other hand, Princess probably wants it out in the open where others will be influenced to try it.

 

The other thing is that I really enjoy the warm scones and usually get at least two at different times during my tea service. Wondering if the ones that come on the tiered tray cool down pretty fast. Or maybe they bring you fresh, warm ones throughout like in the MDR? Yup, lack of frequent warm scones would be a deal breaker 😁. 

Yes totally agree.  Warm scones are a must have.  No warm scones, no me😔

We are on the Golden in 4 weeks.  Do they have the daily afternoon tea on this one and do you need to make a reservation?

Well after much thought I have decided not to book anything at all.  I was only going to book a tour because I thought I should do something 'touristy'.  Whale watching seemed the obvious but I live on the Sunshine Coast of Australia and have whales migrating just off shore for 6 months of the year.  We can book a tour for 2 adults and our 2 grandchildren for less than the cost of just me going out from Juneau, especially with the terrible exchange rate that is getting worse by the day.  So I am going to do something I can't do at home.  I am going to try and get into the Sanctuary and just totally chill out, then wander into town for a coffee and some retail therapy.

I contacted them nearly a week ago with a question.  Never heard back so they have lost my business.  Finding this to be a common theme in Alaska, no response to emails.  I guess they don't need the business.

I am interested in a combination whale watch and Menendehall Glacier tour out of Juneau that I found on a booking website.  I have been advised to book directly with the tour company but need to find out who they are.

We have always booked our excursions through the cruise line.  We felt the extra money is worth it to have the security of the ship waiting for us if late back.  We are sailing the inside passage next month and have booked an excursion in Skagway that we will do togeather then 2 in other ports just for my husband.   I would like to do something I would enjoy but nothing Princess has to offer is grabbing me.  However I have found one run by Alaska Sore excursions I would be keen to go on.  But is it too risky to book through an independent company.

I am considering options for excursions from Whittier to Anchorage after disembarking in Whittier.  Very interested in the 26 Glacier cruise and transfer but notice that it is the only excursion out of all of them on the entire cruise that does not mention if there are restrooms on the coach after the glacier cruise.  Its a 1 hour 45 minute journey to Anchorage and I can have a weak bladder at times especially if its cold.  Has anyone done this tour and able to answer if there restrooms on the coach?

6 hours ago, capriccio said:

 

JF describes why quite succinctly. We've been in the Sanctuary on at least 3 different ships.  I still want to see the exact setup and get seats in the shade for most of the time.  You can't always tell that from a deck plan.  Are you willing to pay and then find out you don't like the location of your lounges and forfeit your payment if there aren't any suitable ones available?

 

 

We've only used the Sanctuary on Caribbean sailings (and always for the full cruise).  The shady and partial shady areas have always been full and the sun areas mostly full.  On one Royal Princess B2B in 2015 we were offered a Sanctuary cabana on the second cruise for the price of two Sanctuary lounge chairs but without the extras (mostly booze) that comes with a cabana.  That was lovely with both shade and sun!

 

 

So you can still turn up, pay your money, walk into the sanctuary and find all the best seats already taken? Sorry to ask such an odd question but I'm really not sure what the system is regarding the Sanctuary. 

How do I go about reserving the sanctury online?  I seem to be able to reserve everything else well in advance but can't find anywhere to do this.  Thank you in advance.

In the past we have had an oceanview cabin and a balcony cabin but this time decided to try an interior cabin for our first Alaskan cruise.  We are only ever in our cabin to sleep anyway, preferring to relax in public areas or spending our days exploring the ports.  I booked the cruise online myself and was able to select exactly where I wanted to be, I'm quite fussy about cabin location. The option came up asking if we would be interested in a possible upgrade and decided to reply 'no'.  I just didn't want to risk been upgraded to a cabin in a location I wouldn't be happy with.  So how many of you are also happy to stick with your choice and not risk the upgrade?

When I made the booking for our Alaskan cruise sailing into Whittier, I did not book a transfer to Anchorage as we had planned to travel onto Seward. We have now decided to go directly to Anchorage instead so would like to book the transfer.  I have looked at our booking information on the Princess website and can't find anywhere where I can make that modification.  Suggestions please.

Firat of all I apologize for all the questions, past and future. Is there anywhere on board the Pacific Eden where I can purchase a bottle of spirits to take back to our cabin? I believe I can buy wine from any of the restaurants for consumption in our cabin but not sure about spirits.

Thank you for your replies. I spoke to P&O today and they tell me the sale was for guaranteed cabins. As a newbie cruiser, this is only my second, I hadn't come across the guaranteed cabin concept, but P&O explained it really well so now I have a much better understanding. Now begins the long wait to see if we are lucky enough to be upgraded.

Just wondering what all the rooms are mid ship that show up on the deck plans as just outlined areas. I can see some stairs but nothing is actually marked. There is one large area with smaller rooms and stairs attached. I thought it might have been the atrium but I don,t think that starts until deck 6.

If you booked a specific cabin,you would already know the cabin number, but if you booked a "guarantee" cabin, you won't be allocated a cabin until near departure date.

Thank you for your reply. At no time was i told by the salesperson on the phone that I was booking a guarantee cabin. I thought i was going to be allocated a cabin instantly as she said this cabin was part of their sale and i was getting a really good deal. I think I will call them tommorrow.

Last week booked our passage for a cruise that sails at the end of September. I did this by telephone directly with P&O then registered on Cruise Control. As yet our cabin hasn't been allocated. Just wondering when this is likely to be. I was reading another cruise message board and stumbled on a post from someone also booked on a P&O cruise, theres isn't until January 2018 but they already have their cabin number.

I recently took advantage of a 3 day sale to book a cruise to png and the Solomon Islands in September. I wanted an oceanview on deck 5 and decided to book by phone as I just couldn't get to the cabin selection online. At first I was told all the cheaper cabins were gone and was offered deck 6, which i didn't want. Then i was offered an oceanview on deck 5 (which I had asked for originally anyway), on sale from $7000 to just $2180 twin. This is just the standard 'go' fare, no bells or whistles. I was told we would be in the middle of the ship. Would love to know what type of cabin this is as my previous research hadn't shown any cabins in the $7000 range in this area of the ship. Even the balconies were cheaper. Me thinks the sales rep may have been trying to pull the wool over my eyes.