kad56

That's what I needed. Thank you.

I've read there's a shuttle that sometimes runs and sometimes doesn't. I'm going to the main strip in Mahahual, and prefer not to take a taxi since I'll be solo. I'll be there early July.

So I know that MSCs tech isn't great. Just booked my first cruise, and whenever I try to access my booking online with either my booking number or login it just buffers forever (ship icon and grayed out screen) or I get some weird tech error message. I don't want to contact their tech support because based on what I've read here, that would take a lot of work, and the issue might never get resolved... so, how do I check in for my cruise? Is there workaround online? Do I call them? Do I just show up at the ship on boarding day?

Thank you! That's what I'm looking for.

Just booked my first MSC cruise on the Magnifica after status matching to diamond. How do I max out my benefits? It sounds like there is just one specialty Asian restaurant on board. What does the tasting menu look lovely me? Where do make a reservation? At the restaurant or guest services? How do I block time in the thermal spa? Any other experiences I should book ahead of time?

Frogg Toggs are a great option for a rainjacket rain pant combo. I would spend 100s at REI unless you know you'll need rain gear at home.

+1 on the comment that weather can be unpredictable. First time I went to glacier bay (land trip), I landed, prepared, wearing warm clothes, and it was 90 degrees outside. A few days later I took the small boat to the glacier and needed layers, and I would have spent more time outside if had a warmer jacket on top of my layers. Another year I went camping off grid above the artic circle. The first half of the trip was hot. Like regular summer camping in the lower 48, and I never zipped my sleeping bag. Then the weather turned, and it was like camping in the fall in the lower 48. 50s-60s overcast and drizzly. I added layers and bundled up. There are averages to give a sense of overall temperature, but you can never predict what the weather will be on a specific day. Think about what clothing you'd need on a drizzly day in 50s that would let you stay comfortable outside for several hours straight, and pack enough layers. You might have a nice warm day, or not. I've been to a Alaska a bunch, but it's still super special to me, and I'd rather overpack to give me the ability to stand outside and look at the views for extended periods of time. I don't want to be going inside all the time and missing out because I wanted to pack light. 

Hmm.... interesting. My trip on the Royal is to Alaska. I actually found a brochure that mentions Spotlight Bar, 5Skies, and Rock Opera as entertainment options:

https://www.princess.com/html/global/brochures/pc/2024-alaska.pdf (page 84)

So I'm hopeful.... I missed 5Skies on my last cruise and was hoping I'd get to see it on this now. But now I've checked out the marketing for Silk Roads and I'm hopeing for that one too. We'll see. I'm getting really excited for this trip.

Does anyone know which productions shows are currently playing on Royal Princess? I couldn't figure it out on the princess website. I'm sailing to Alaska this summer and I'm curious what's playing. I did see the press release about a new aurora show, but I'm curious about the Broadway style productions like Spotlight Bar and Rock Opera.

I've done glacier trips in past on small boats, including Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords, and I'm going on a cruise this summer. I get cold easily, and I'm planning to bring a heavy winter jacket, plus a lightweight puffy jacket to wear underneath, also hat, gloves, long underwear, fleece sweatpants... mind you, I get cold easily. When you're cruising the glaciers you're crusing in a large freezer, and there's like to be wind (maybe rain). Something like Galcier Bay is a several hours, so the way I look at, I want to have enought layers to enjoy standing around in an open, windy freezer for several hours. Now, you also have the option to go inside to warm up, but I'd rather maximize my time outside. 

Thanks. That's what I was looking for. It's surprising how early you can board with a 6 pm departure. My last cruise was a 4pm departure and the absolute earliest I could board was 11 am (or maybe 10? I'm going off memory)

To clarify, I don't plan to embark then disembark. I've been to Vancouver in the past, and I imagine I'll only want to sightsee for an hour or two in the morning and then get on the ship and explore the ship. It sounds like folks are thinking boarding might start by 11 AM, which is earlier than I expected.

How early will Princess let me board the ship if there's a 6PM sailaway from Vancouver. I'm trying to plan my day. I might explore Vancouver a bit, but I like to get on the ship as early as possible and explore.

I belive that you can book excursions in Junea from the docks. Does anyone have a sense of what's on offer and what the prices are? I want to wait until I get to Juneau to decide what I'm doing (if the weather's great, I'll go hiking, if it's raining, I'll see musuems, if I feel like it, I'll grab a tour). This is my fourth trip to Alaska, and probably not my last, so I'm not worried about missing out on a once in a lifetime experience. I'm just curious what my option are if I decide to wing it. I'll also be there in early June, and I suspect I don't have to worry about everything selling out.

Thank you! My OBC is coming directly from princess. Follow up question - will I be locked into the excursion? Or can I cancel? I've been on one other cruise (Holland), and they had a 48 hour cancellation option.

I'm going on my first princess cruise this spring. I'm interested in a shore excursion, and I'm planning on paying for it with my OBC. Can I reserve my spot the excursion before I got? Or do I have to pre-pay? I don't want to pay for it now if I can use OBC. 

Thank you so much! Are you seeing lines to get into the MDR?