ArizonaStorm

Wow. Suddenly my old career doesn't look so bad in comparison.

It's probably a secret perk for Elite cruisers.

Lock it and burn it! Get a life!

I've sailed on Holland America for past cruises. I've scheduled two cruises with Princess for the latter half of this year. These will be my first cruises with Princess. If I like my experiences, I have plans for several more next year. I truly don't care about what Princess "no longer offers". My cruises will set the bar for my future cruises. I have enough years left in me to whine and moan about how Princess no longer provides the services that I grew to love in late 2024. Still, I've Googled the various immigrant ships my ancestors took to America in the mid to late 1800s. There were no flush toilets, and certainly no showers or bathtubs. The two meals per day were, um....lacking by today's standards. Sure, you could smoke where you wanted -- the smell of the smoke was probably preferable to the stench from your loved ones. Stabilizer bars? Who needs 'em? There was plenty of opportunity to hurl over the side of the boat. And, there was a good chance that you'd survive all the way to Ellis Island -- about 75% to 80%. Yes, the theatre performances were subpar, telegraph service was spotty, the variety of cocktails was a tad limited, and room service was poor for those without rooms. On the plus side, unlimited laundry was provided for those willing to stand out on the decks during hard rains. And there was a VERY good chance that your long-time family name would be forever changed by ignorant and lazy clerks either before the sailing, or in the immigration office -- making genealogy searches aggravating for future generations. Of course that's not anywhere near as inconvenient as a 2024 Princess Medallion App occasionally making an error in a dinner reservation. The next time you disembark from your "disappointing" cruise, count the number of body bags that are carried off behind you. None? All in all, the days I spend on a cruise are WAY better than how I would have spent the same time at home!

I appreciate the review. I'll be on the Ruby to Hawaii in December, and am looking forward to the sea-days.

Sometimes I think I'm a fairly good photographer -- until I see photos like these. It takes a keen eye to really see the photo-worthiness of random objects. Professional equipment is helpful, but such tools are wasted in the hands of someone with limited imagination. If I had a hat I would tip it in your general direction.

Just to make sure, as soon as you board the ship, check out the 3 dining rooms, and ask the restaurant manager to assign you to the table of your choice. Often one of the three dining rooms is for set-time dining, while the other two are for anytime dining. This can vary by ship and even by cruise. Breakfast is also only served in one dining room -- and again, that can vary by ship and by cruise. You might also look at the daily cruise newsletter "Princess Patters" to see the "open" times for your dining venue.

Editing is hard on Cruise Critic!

Proof Cruise does a great job posting menus. I often used the site for my Holland America cruises. Now I've got several "cheat sheets" for my two upcoming Princess cruises.

Here's a sampling of what's available with prices from late 2023. The long list is what would appear on your Princess App if you were ordering drinks from your phone. This doesn't preclude you from asking a bartender to make a drink that isn't on a list or menu. Most of the time they will try to accommodate you. Don't hesitate to ask for the price before you order. If you have a package deal, you can work with your bartender to use standard ingredients rather than premium to avoid higher costs. Nevertheless, this list gives me a framework of general drinks, brands, and costs as of a few months ago. https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/princess-cruises-drinks-menus/ https://lifewellcruised.com/princess-cruises-bar-menus/

https://www.princess.com/en-us/faq/pre-cruise#prohibited-items

Nothing is set in stone. I've seen Holland America switch dates mid-cruise. "I love spontaneity -- especially the part where I over-research and plan for it."

About half-way down this list are scotch choices on Princess cruises in November 2023. This doesn't preclude other brands. If nothing else, it gives a sense of pricing. https://www.cruisemummy.co.uk/princess-cruises-drinks-menus/

Because there are three dining rooms. It's always nice to save a step after embarkation stress.

There are so many daily activities aboard Princess ships, and so many opportunities to meet people. Below are some examples of daily activities aboard the Emerald Princess from a Caribbean cruise three months ago. You'll find on the first day there was a solo/singles meet-up at 5:00 pm in the Wheelhouse Bar. Every cruise has its own "vibe". Group meetings such as this one lets the coordinator gauge the interest-level in scheduling additional gatherings. Sometimes groups are active, other times less so. Alternatively, you can readily meet people in other group meet-ups on the first day of the cruise. Perhaps you enjoy card games or trivia contests or arts and crafts or fitness classes? If you find an activity that interests you, go early and mention to the coordinator that this is your first solo cruise, that you are feeling a little apprehensive, and that you'd like to meet others. A good coordinator will be able to introduce you to people with similar interests. Once your Roll Call for Emerald on this website becomes more active, express your interests and gauge the interests of others. Enjoy your cruise!