Kay S

I can't imagine it is. Plated to order, sure, but if I order the meatloaf, I don't think they are back there in the galley baking one just for me.

The tub is not large, so long soaking baths might not work. The separate seating area is great.

Normally, you ask the cabin attendant to open the door, assuming both parties want to share a larger balcony. I don't know what an "unassigned balcony section"is, so I don't know how that would work.

The article says some of the dishes will be available in World Fresh Marketplace (aka the buffet) and others in Rudi's Catch. The latter is only on a few ships, and I assume the same procedures for reservations there will be the same as for any other specialty restaurant.

It's been awhile since I ate in the Crown Gill--pre-covid--but I always got the lamb chops. They were chops and always delicious. I think I'm going to take wowzz' advice and try the MDR extra charge version of the beef fillet. I have never been blown away by any of the CG sides.

My new SF terminal story: We were on the Majestic on her first stop in SF after the shutdown. It was the first cruise ship, period, to dock at the reopening of cruising. We had an over night stop. The first night when we were going back to the ship after dinner on shore, we walked into a crazy sight. A woman (she said she was a local neighbor) was standing at the entrance yelling at the guards to let her talk to the captain. They told her she couldn't go on the ship so she screeched (best description of it) that he had better come down and see her. After a few minutes of this, they got her to say why she needed the captain. It was because the ship made too much noise docking and she would not have it! They hadn't let us into the building during all of this, and there was a line forming to get back on the ship. I guess they calmed her down a bit by telling her "an officer" would come to talk to her. Then they let us pass. I kind of wish I had stuck around to see the rest of it.

I won't be home to get mine in the mail, so I'll pick it up at the port. I've done that before, and it's not a big hassle.

Looking forward to your report.

I refer you to page 2 of the brochure Astro Flyer posted here.

So I guess there is more demand for the Sanctuary than I thought. What's the attraction? How is it better than a personal balcony? How is it worth the extra money? Never been there, so I am clueless.

And they were all-inclusive!

Probably.

One thing I have always disliked about Princess is the lack of comfortable seating in the cabins. I guess some people want to sit in bed and watch TV, but that is not comfortable to me. The barrel chairs were more comfortable than the newest ones, but not by much. HAL and Carnival tend to have sofas in ever the lowest category cabins. We have moved to mini suites and deluxe balconies on Princess. Remember the Pacific Princess (best ship ever in the fleet)? Sofas.

Rebranding. To add confusion to everything, the grill on deck has more than one name, Salty Dog the latest. I think they removed that specialty burger by the chef with a name I can't remember. The hot dog is still the same, thank goodness.

Jan Swartz is long gone.

I think 35 is in use only when there is no room at the new terminal.

On HAL, I hang out in the Crow's Nest a lot. I also sit on the veranda. I never book the Sanctuary on Princess. My balcony is good enough for me, but DH is still miffed about Princess charging to sit at the front of the ship (with the great views.)

Very good service. Just like Princess of yore.

I resemble that remark?

Oh dear, will they use a pitchfork or just noxious chemicals? 😶

As I said, this thread has devolved into Elite bashing, and for what reason, other than perhaps jealousy or self importance, I cannot understand. You know, you don't have to read these threads if it upsets you so much (or utilize the ignore function and tune out the "snobs.")

I don't know the temp of the water, but I never send out anything delicate that might fall apart or fade. It's mostly undies and socks and my husband's white shirts for dress-up night. I have been known to go to the laundromat onboard to do wash myself from time to time.

Exactly. It's not cheating if you are just following the rules. I guess some people do "chase the levels," but that is true on any line. People who cruise a lot (because they are lucky enough to be able to do that) collect points almost by accident. We were Princess cruisers in the beginning largely because we lived near San Pedro where Princess docks all the time. We didn't want to take extra time to fly to and from a destination. The same principle applies for Carnival (and for HAL in San Diego.) When we were retired, we had more time to fly here and there. Princess had good itineraries, and a bigger selection. So over the decades, we accrued levels and made Elite on days (agree-no snark needed) simply because we cruised a lot. (We are almost to the top on Carnival and not because we are chasing levels.) I don't swing my medallion around and sing "free laundry, na na na na na" and I resent being accused of snobbery simply because I am Elite. This thread started out as suggestions to improve the system, but has devolved, sadly, into one of those Elite bashing screeds where jealousies (?) over status or the way they are reached get the full-throat treatment. My personal take on all of this is that Princess is degrading the perks, not improving them, because they want to attract a new demographic.

We did that cruise in November. I'm glad you had a good time. That is a very cute little girl. 🙂

The cursed app strikes again. Have you tried the web version?