PRINCESS Sweet Pea

Okay, I was thinking that the bid was for that category, and wasn't specific as to the location. Like a Mini would be just a Mini, (anywhere on the ship) and not like MA mid-ship mid-deck, versus a lower category Mini. How is that working? I might bid for a MA, or deluxe balcony in the higher mid-ship mid-deck category. But. def. not forward or aft.

I know that messaging is turned off and they don't do that here. But, I seem to remember that some people had some contact info, like in their 'signature'. Is that allowed? Do some people still have that? Might be something that would be helpful with people who want to keep in contact, like on a cruise roll call.

I just wanted to make a high recommendation. I have the true, high quality, powdered Matcha green tea. I get this here. Have used it for a long time. (since Teavana stopped selling, way before the on Dr. endorsed it on their web-site.) It is wonderful!!! https://matcha.com/collections/tea/products/superior-matcha Just use a little whisk, like a battery milk frother whisk, to blend. If you use any sugar or sweetener, then take your spoon and blend the sweetener with the powder before adding water. The powder is an all natural leaf, and can have some clumps when you simply add with water. So, the tiny whisk and the blending with the dissolvable sugar/sweetener first, will stop that.

If midship balconies are available, then yes, why not upgrade. Princess has been seeing aside covid isolation cabins, and they will not be mid-ship, because they need to be at the end of a hall to be isolated from traffic. The main thing is that, yes, Princess sells midship cabins at a slight price increase over forward or aft. Lucky for anybody that likes to be far forward, or likes those aft cabins!!! We were forward in a high deck only once. Never again. The motion up there, and all the walking were awful!

Princess does sell their ships by category, and offer upgrades by category, with mid-ship being slightly higher than mid-aft or mid-foward. And those being slightly higher category and higher priced than FWD and AFT. This seems because of the reasons that are talked about here! I like mid-ship. But, there are those forward or aft cabins that some people might want. And, it seems that 'no upgrade' is completely meaningless to Princess right now. I have heard of some people who had booked their favorite aft wake-view cabins while they were still available right after the cruise booking opened up, and now Princess is changing them!!! Not a good thing.

I know that this is nothing compared to some of the excursions mentioned. But, does anybody have any insight on how this would work. If we booked a Bungalow on Princess Cays, and then decided to cancel that and change to Sanctuary, of it is available to book for the length of the cruise when we board, could there be any issue with that? The fact that somebody has had an issue with something as simple and basic as dining onboard is just not okay.

"Princess Big Hair". Hahaha!!!!! thanks!

I like the looks of that one, if it is Silicon Rubber. Is that one on strapsco like a silicon? On a short cruise I am sure the little plastic round one would work. could always but a little clear tape. But silicon would really protect it, as well as maybe good a little better than cheap clear plastic. I have a question. I have heard comments about lanyards you are givien. Are the long? How long are they? We did cruise before the pandemic, and the lanyard was too small to put over my head with my hair put up in big hair clips.

I would ask!

Did the Majestic to the round trip Seattle? Am I right thinking that Seattle departures sail to the west of, and not thru, the Inside Passage. It could be the Seattle departure and not the ship or ship size. That is how I have understood.

I hadn't thought of bringing some onboard, but I like this idea! Not limited to the selection and price onboard.

Where is the aft smoking area on Enchanted. Is it on port side. I don't think that would be much of an issue, and especially so when underway. But thought that smoke might be a concern for this poster.

I am definitely talking about pre-booking bofore the cruise.

Yes, it is confusing! I thought I had heard that you can't book and pre-pay before the cruise. I thought that some people had kind of complained about that? Like the one poster said 'as long as you book and pay onboard'. What I am seeing is when you look at the shore excursion and hit book now, it then shows your available OBC and you can click to use it to book that excursion.

Okay... Thanks! (it is non-refundable onboard credit from Princess)

Sorry if I missed something, if I should know this. I had thought that you couldn't use OBC for shore excursions. But, looking at a cruise, it shows you can select to use OBC when making payment.

That is a good question! I do think that this would have to be mandated if there were 4 in the cabin. There has to be some safety considerations. Just wouldn't work otherwise. But, I think I have heard that people have had the bed set up as one 'queen'. Maybe that would be a good new thread topic! And, if each of you could carry a six-pack of soda/juice type drinks onboard, then that would really cover most any drinks for your grand-daughter. And, they would be handy right there in the fridge for mornings and evenings. If they are enforcing this, they aren't supposed to allowing plastic drink bottles onboard now.

I am seeing 8170 available. Are those balconies slightly deeper than deck 9 and 10. It is the corner balcony on the bump out, so I. like the idea of that. But, what is under that on Deck 7. Does anybody have any idea if there will be crew or machinery noise from below?

It sounds like Princess, as final payment nears, decides which sailings and categories have availability to offer these bids to upgrade. I would think that certain categories on certain cruises would be picked. This would all depend on bookings and availability in the categories above the one booked. And, I am thinking that the cruise being unavailable or considered to be sold out does not matter. Because it looks like Princess has limited bookings on some ships because of staffing and supply chain issues. It might to mean that all cabins are sold out. So, if this is true, then a cruise that is not available any longer, but has a limited number of bookings on the ship, would actually have a lot of cabins to upgrade to. And this would be a way for Princess to increase the booking revenues on the sailing.

I am not sure what cruise this is, the old Promo for many 2023 cruises was third passenger free. That fare seems high for a child in an inside. But, I guess it is what it is. Ohhhhh, kids today can, unfortunately, be soda-holies!!!! Mine didn't get all that soda! No way would I feet that to their growing healthy body. But, don't underestimate how much soda kids and adults drink! Thrak, can people still bring some soda/juice/water onboard? That might cut down on the amount of buying soda onboard.

Does anyone here have any info on the Royal Afternoon Tea. Are any ships doing that? Is that the one where they set up a special area with tablecloths. Maybe a live musician for that one? There is so much going on that I haven't really had the time to make that a priority. I like to be outdoors on warm weather sailing. But that always seemed to be a more special experience.

Anyone other family or friends with an adult sailing with you?

That is great preference! But, without the Sanctuary, there is no other nice area for those who do enjoy being in the fresh air and really experiencing sailing, the sunsets, scenery, waves, views. A public 'observation deck' is fine.... They should add one somewhere. But not taking away from the already shrinking and often crowded areas of open deck area. Other preferences are great, but not taking away from the general reason for being out at sea sailing. Many do prefer to be pampered. Many do prefer the open deck areas like the full Promenade. I would enjoy the Sanctuary. My fear is that Princess is going the wrong way and designing for single particular likes, at the expense of other major things.. Princess has already done away with the nice, open, Retreat Pool area. No long promenade areas. If the way too loud, way too crowded, central pool deck is all that remains, then I see that as a problem. Enough to make me second guess getting on any ships newer than Regal. The indoor areas are great, especially for cool weather cruises. But not at the total expense of deck area. My issue is that Princess has limited areas like these, to fit even more cabins on already crowded ships. The thing is, we all know that comes down to $$$$, so that will probably continue to get worse. I don't think they will change.

Thanks! I am hoping that Princess is able to make some improvements in the staffing shortage situation. We are so looking forward to the cruise!

Thank also Cruise Raider, didn't want to miss that 'thank you', now that I see your good info coming in.