OR_Cowboy_1952

OK folks, look at this picture.  This was taken by a passenger from the open deck over the bridge.  You can see into and on to all most every balcony on the ship.  A similar view can be had from Skywalkers on Grand and Crown Class ships, and the Skywalk on Royal Class ships.  Do not assume you have any privacy on your balcony.  You don’t.   

2 minutes ago, Scottygirl1 said:

We too have a mini suite booked (the balcony cabins were all booked out).  We are on guarantee so I doubt we'll get the covered mini suites.  I'm hating the idea of an uncovered balcony because we spend a lot of time out on the balcony chatting, drinking and generally relaxing.  We often sit in bathing suite or night attire so I'd feel very uncomfortable doing this on Princess.  It's not just the open balcony ie, people seeing from above, it's the lack of privacy when talking.  In a closed balcony your neighbours might hear you but those above wouldn't.  We will just make the most of it though and thankfully we have port intensive days so it won't be such an issues I hope.

 Actually you are completely wrong about the nature of sound.  Your neighbors will hear more of your conversation in a closed balcony because the sound will reflect off the ceiling and bounce into your next door and below balconys.  Open balcony allow more of the sound waves to ‘escape’ to the open air and dissipate with distance.  Sound propagation is a very interesting science.  

I don’t understand.  We loved the open balcony on the Ruby (same configuration).  The Dolphin Deck Balcony’s are huge.  We said hello to the people and made present conversation with them.  We’d do it again a heart beat.  

5 hours ago, ScottC4746 said:

I am sure movies for a fee.

Remember the question is about Neptune Suites, the movies are included in the cost of the suite.  

Stop thinking about it as a ‘Coffee Card’, princess no longer sells or gives out coffee card.  Existing cards expires 31 August 2019, no matter what).  Princess now sells or gives the ‘New Grounds Coffee Package’.  The package is credited to your cruise account and accessed with your Medallion or cruise card.  The Medillion is just a high tech cruise card, that tracks even more about you.  

The “New Grounds’ package includes all-you-can-drink quality brewed coffee, tea, and hot chocolate from the IC or another venue, AND up to 15 speciality coffee or tea drinks.  The Specialty drinks can be shared but the brewed coffee, tea, etc. cannot be shared.  

When you trade out the mini-bar you basically buy the “New Grounds’ package at no cost from Room Service.  Get a receipt.  

1. You get to bring 1 bottle each (total 2 if you are 2 passengers), you can drink that wine in your stateroom at no additional charge.  You can also bring it to the MDR or a bar, but they will charge you the corkage fee.  
2. Every room has a refrigerator but may be pre-stocked with a mini-bar.  We ask our room steward to remove the mini-bar and give us a receipt that he did.  We can then use the frig as we see fit.  (The receipt is to protect against a room service charge at the end of the cruise.)
3. Additional wine can be brought on board at the charge of US$18 per bottle.  You stop and pay the fee as you board.  They then apply a stamp to the bottle.  You can bring that bottle to the MDR or bar at no extra charge.  The MDR has a wine sommelier who will take care of your bottle and yes keep white chilled.  They will also ‘transfer’ the bottle to one of the specialty dining venues (like the Pinnacle Grill if you let them know ahead of time 
4. Not every bar specializes in wine.  A bar will take you bottle but be sure they have a place to store and care for it.  

I just checked our booking.  There is only one Specialty Dining option available now, an ‘Afficinado Dinner with Andy Matsuda’.  It wasn’t there a week ago.  

There are also 3 ‘Dining Packages’ offered, Distinctive Dining (1 Pinnacle Grill, 1 Tamarind, and 1 Canaletto dinner), Evenings in the Pinnacle (2 nights in the Pinnacle Grill), and Signature Dining (1 Pinnacle Grill and 1 Canaletto dinner).  We are on the Eurodam for 11 nights in October Vancouver to San Diego via Mexican Riviera.  

The Patter was always placed on our bed or the little table by the door.  The ultimate idea of the Medallion is to go paperless.  Everything will be on your smart phone, tablet, or TV.  All the information in the Patter is largely on Princess-at-Sea now.  

I think 1130 is pretty early and everything has to go right, but Long Beach is closer, easier to get to, smaller and easier to navigate.  I’d still recommend you get there by 1000 to check luggage etc.  It’s 1020 here as I type this, Goggle and Apple are both saying it’s about 25 minutes from the port to airport.

Here are the picts.  I hit send too fast.

The above information is correct. The rear deck is huge and the side deck is just a bonus.  

Here are a couple additional pictures of the Westerdam.  The 1st is of the port side rear of the ship. You can see the window washing platform along side cabin 4180.  The 2nd is the same platform in the stowed position.  You can decide if it bothers you.

I’d be more concerned about having a NS so far from Deck 7, all the supplies and services for your suite are up on deck 7.  As well there are only 2 suites on this deck, so the steward is not used to serving suite passengers.

Additionally the stern SB suites are narrower than the SA cabins on Deck 7.  The rooms are less spacious feeling, BUT (and it’s a big but) you get that huge balcony and special view of the window washing platform.  🙂. 

The pre-purchase price is the same as the on-board price so there is no advantage to buying the “Sommelier Suite” ahead of time. If you do chose to purchase one of the package wait and do it at the 1st wine tasting.  That way you can sample and talk with the Sommelier about your tastes and preferences.

I would definitely bring the two ‘free’ bottles with you (assume that are 2 of you traveling together).  You can enjoy them in your cabin at no charge.  You can also ask your cabin steward to remove the mini-bar items in the frig to make room for your wine.  But get a receipt from the Steward; you don’t want to get a min-bar bill at the end of the cruise.  

My personal experience is you can buy the same wine thats on the Sommelier Suite wine lists for a lot less money that on the ship (at least here in Oregon).  Even if you add the corkage fee (US$18/bottle) it’s less money.  The draw back is you must carry the wine onboard with you and stop and pay the fee.  But you can take the bottles you have paid corkage on to the MDR and have a glass with your meal.  They will save you wine and even bring it to a specialty dining venue if you ask ahead of time.  

16 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

 

Unless you were sailing out of Vancouver, as some Hawaii cruises do.  I think I saw a one way to Hawaii a couple of years ago.

 

I was just going to suggest cruising from Vancouver, there is a 29 September 2019 16 day cruise Vancouver RT, with Hilo, Honolulu, Kauai, and Maui.  But you’ll have to take directly with HAL about having a passenger disembark at a Hawai port.

1 hour ago, CruiseRQA said:

The menu shows that they serve "choice" beef?

Nothing wrong with that but not what a premier steak house would serve. 

I’m a northwesterner (Oregon) and know Double R Ranch beef.  It’s only sold at local markets and high end / farm to table restaurants.  The product is very good and they really don’t follow traditional grading rules.  I’ll be happy with it in the Pinnacle.   

49 minutes ago, Jareds_mommytoo said:

Who ever told you that was mistaken 

It was a representative of the United States Government and they are never wrong when it comes to immigration.  Note that the FAQ specifically mentions “designated”, meaning not all.  

All I can do is relate our own experience.  I’m an American and my husband is Canadian.  On a recent cruise from Vancouver to the states (on another cruise line), Customs and Border Patrol told us, that our NEXUS cards were for land or air crossings between the US and Canada only and did not apply to sea entry.  You will need your passport.  That said their is still an advantage.  When you obtain NEXUS you are deemed a ‘trusted traveler’.  As a US citizen (I think) you can use Global Entry kiosks at the airport.  If a port has kiosk you can use them as well, but VERY few ports do.  

December is the rainy season in Hawaii with storms coming from the northeast, why the island have wet and dry sides.  

To save money you could stay in Long Beach or near the airport and get an Uber to the Port.

I realize that I have caused confusion.  The trip to Hawaii is a round trip out of Vancouver.  No one will disembark in Hawaii and stay in Hawaii (at least not intentionally).  

10 minutes ago, NavyVeteran said:

You cannot book that combination as a B2B because of the Passenger Vessel Services Act. It would be a cruise from one US port (Seattle) to another US port (Hawaii) without a stop in a distant foreign port. If you have already booked both cruises, Princess will cancel one or both of them. If your TA booked these two cruises as a back-to-back, then your TA doesn't know what he or she is doing and you may want to consider getting a new TA.

 

The Passenger Vessel Services Act is the only reason Princess has one day cruises from Seattle to Vancouver. They could not sail from Seattle to Hawaii. 

Sure they could sail Seattle to Hawaii, just like they do LA to Hawaii and San Francisco to Hawaii.  You just have to through 1 international port in there.  LA and San Francisco go to Ensenada on the way back.  They could do the same.  Why do you think so many cruises include Victoria?  The ships sail out of Seattle to Alaska and return with the 4 hour stop in Victoria.  Princess admitted they could do som but they are specifically offering the cruise from Vancouver.  And that’s fine.  

We have booked a 1 night cruise from Seattle to Vancouver on the Star Princess, and then continuing on a 15 night cruise to Hawaii from Vancouver, both are in the same S4 suite.  We spoke with Princess and our TA and they can not be booked as a signe cruise, so they are a back-to-back.  We will not get any special perks on the 1-night, it’s the only exception to the standard perks.  I suspect they will offer something just because we are in a suite and will be surprised.  We really don’t care as we’ll get 2 cruise credits for the 1 night.  

Glacier Bay is more than a ‘bay’ it’s fjord, 50 miles long.  A U.S. Park Service Ranger boards the ship at the entrance (near Gustavus, AK) and provides narration during the day.  The narration can be heard on deck and in public rooms.  It’s also broadcast on your stateroom TV.  Glacier Bay is the most scenic of all scenic cruising in Alaska.   

The glaciers are only at the upper most reaches of the ‘bay’ (they have retreated over the years) but there is still a lot to see, natural flora and fauna, think whales, otters, eagles, etc.  You don’t have to be on deck the whole time.  You can watch from your balcony.  You basically do a gaint ‘T’ up the bay and back.  

But be prepared.  Depending on where you are from it will be cold or not, but it will most likely be cloudy and damp if not drizzly.  Even in summer only 4 days out of each month are sunny in SE Alaska.  Polar Fleece, waterproof shell, gloves, cap or sock cap, and water resistant athletic shoes, and the order of the day while in Alaska.  Actually if you want to look like a native, Xtratuf Alaska Sneakers are the footwear of the day (look it up).  

You ask a lot of questions, but I’ll see if I can help.  Last October we took the Ruby Princess from Vancouver BC to LA, it did include a stop in Victoria and San Francisco but had two full sea days.  It was the 1st cruise right after the Ruby had been in Victoria dry dock.  

Don’t assume the ship will be ready early, during dry dock the cabins are often extensively repaired, cabinetry can be replaced, plumbing repaired, carpets and furnishing replaced.  They will not make up the rooms until the morning in Vancouver.  That said, you are right the cabin will likely be available as soon as you board.  Since you are Platinum, you will be able to board early but it will be at the earliest assigned time.  When we boarded with had priority embarkation, we arrived at about 1100, they checked us and sent us to wait in the priority waiting.  We were allowed to board about 1215.

We are from PDX and took the Amtrak Cascades train up to Vancouver.  The through train does not arrive in Vancouver until 1100 PM.  The earlier train only comes from Seattle, so you have to stay in Seattle or in Vancouver one night.  That said we liked the experience and will do it again.  We stayed at the Pan Pacific Hotel which is right above the cruise ship terminal in Canada Place.  They took care of our luggage.  We had a leisurely morning, a light breakfast and did the above.  

If you fly up, it will still take you a while to get out of YVR.  You must do immigration and customs in YVR.  Even if you are a Nexus or other Trusted Traveler it will take at least 30 minutes.  Then you have to take the Sky Train Canada Line downtown and walk to Canada Place or take a cab.  Plan an hour.  By the way their are a lot of coffee shops and restaurants near Canada Place, so it’s easy to kill some time.  

The ship was still undergoing some work on our cruise but none of it was very obtrusive.  They were installing the wiring for Medallion (not functional).  We did have a formal night but it was no big issue.  I wore slacks, button shirt, tie, and a dressy leather vest.  It was more than enough.  Formal night aren’t the events they used to be.  it think they are increasingly for those cruiser who want to get all dressed and get their pictures taken.  That’s not important to us.   

You should expect all the basic activities will be available on board.  The cruise is basically a repositioning cruise.  Obviously there will be fewer shows, but they will be available.  

Activities, Entertainment:  I am imagining that with zero ports, all of the usual onboard activities will be “on”…even if the crowd is smaller than usual.  Any thoughts Princess will skimp in this area on this sort of cruise?  I would expect they will have the usual premium passenger perks, just like any other 3 day cruise.  Princess offers the perks you mentioned to full suite passengers too so they will be available.  

You’ll still get the premium disembarkation lounge, but remember again you’ll be doing US immigration and customs in LA.  It goes smoothly but still takes time.   You can do breakfast and still go to the lounge, you don’t have to eat there. Or you can get off at any time.  

Don’t be surprised if the ship fills up between now and April.  Princess will work hard to market it, even at a ‘loss’.  The ship will have a full crew on board who will be paid even if the ship is not full.  They’d rather sell a cabin cheap then not sell it at all.  

Yes you will get the 5150 minutes of internet access to be used for your three night cruise.  Remember you really only have 2 full days at sea.  BTW we took the Coast Starlight back to PDX from LA.  We made the whole trip an event for us. 

Do not try to use a hair dryer in the bathroom.  The outlet is a low amperage “razor only” outlet.  You will blow the circuit breaker if you try.  Ships electrical systems are not like utility power.  They are closed circuit and to control weight and cost, wiring size is minimized.  

That said, there is both a 120V and a 240V receptacle at your desk.  You can use your hair dryer.  If you plug your hair dryer into the 120V outlet the only thing that will happen is the drier with under perform or may not even work.  

Regarding wine:  What does your Passage Contract say?  Check section 5, paragraph 3.  It sounds like you bought this as one cruise, so for you it is not a back-to-back cruise.  A back-to-back cruise is where you purchase two contiguous cruises.  If you booked it as two separate cruises you can bring a 2nd bottle of wine on board at the end of the 1st cruise and start of the second.  

I’m not familiar with the specific of the Enclave on the Royal, but it sounds like a upgrade of the Thermal Spas on other older ships.  Can you buy it day-by-day?

Part of the Santuary is there is staff always available to tend to your needs.  The design of the space itself is nicer that the adjacent deck.  While it is adjacent it is separate from the Retreat Pool.  Also the view from the Sanctuary is spectacular it’s on the highest deck forward but also shaded from the sun and protected from the wind.  

The Balcony dinner is very good, but you have to decide for yourself.  There is a certain amount of flexibility but it’s based on what’s available on your ship for that cruise.  I’d wait and book it on board after you’ve talked with ship staff.  Start with your room steward.

Your TA needs to call Princess and request the gift back; it was his/her gift.