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!

Um...I have no signature. Even if I did, it would show I've cruised twice on Holland America - a premium, not-all-inclusive line. Have you been racing to the 15-drink upper limit? You're seeing things that aren't there.

I can (and probably do) make spreadsheets in my sleep.

Yes, quite helpful. I paid $141 for unlimited laundry in January on HAL Koningsdam for a 17-day cruise. The turnaround time varied between 36 to 48 hours. I found it to be a welcomed luxury! I wasn't sure what to expect for my upcoming cruise on the Ruby Princess. I may pack differently.

Well, HAL puts the onus on passengers. I'm sure their unctuous marketers would respond that HAL is improving the passenger experience by providing shorted lists of drinks at each bar. But given the long lives of most of us cruisers, we've developed our own list of favorites. Although I don't drink much, I decided to use the cruise to try old favorites as well as drinks that I've heard about but hadn't yet tried. I did some simple Internet searches (like "best Hawaii cocktails", "best cocktails from the 1970s", "popular cocktails" - then I typed the ones I wanted to try into my Reminders App on my iPhone, including ingredients. It made it easy for me to remember. Then when you approach a bartender, you could simply say "I'd like the best classic gin and vermouth martini you can make that's within the "Classic Beverage Package". It's not "fun" to ask for the price, but that is a responsibility HAL has placed on our backs by not sharing comprehensive price lists. And prices ARE dynamic enough to sporadically announce brief specials. The amount of the delivered product that is "profit" is dynamic in that the bartender is choosing the quality of the liquor and additives that make it into the drink. On my first cruise I asked for a Maker's Mark Manhattan in the MDR. Every night hence one was brought to me without my asking. There were no "drink packages" then, so the cruiser often specified the liquor brand, or the bartender would ask. If you are planning on having several cocktails in the coming hours, perhaps spend a bit more on the first one while your taste buds are fresh. My father advised me, "after the first drink, your taste buds are numbed, so you might as well have well-drinks from that point on." That advice has served me well for many decades.

My list of onboard expenditures (via the Navigator Wallet) simply lists the date, name of the bar and the charge. I kept track with more details using my own spreadsheet. I was determined to limit my technology to one device - my new iPhone 15 ProMax. I had never tried building a spreadsheet on my iPhone, but it was quite easy (using Apple's Numbers app). I used the phone to surf the Internet, read downloaded Kindle books, and watch downloaded videos. It was nice not to cart around larger devices. I also used the shipboard library, reading three books during my cruise.

Latke, my post stated that “drinks listed on the menu were charged the amount shown on the menu.” Drinks ordered that are NOT on the menu are charged at the discretion of the bartender (each of whom is trained by the cruise line to recover the cost of the ingredients, then add profit). Even menu beverages are subject to pop-sales throughout the cruise during certain hours. I imagine staff receive their daily “marching orders” on what to charge to keep the billion dollar corporation happy. It is also in the realm of possibility that the magical HAL accounting system adjusts prices for non-menu items based upon such factors as time-of-day and whether it is a sea-day or a port-day. My point was that if you order a non-menu beverage, that would be the time to ask for the price. Ditto in the shipboard shops - most of the merchandise I perused displayed no price. I had to ask for the price. Cruise ships are infamous for snap price adjustments on shop merchandise based on supply and demand. If cruisers aren’t spending, a ”sale” will be announced. Products that are selling better than expected will probably not be included in such sales. Cruise ship are giant retailers focused on maximizing profit. Contracted shop clerks have daily sales goals to meet, and their net pay will reflect how well they have met those goals. Ask for pricing, just as you would at Macy's if merchandise is missing a price.

Ask the bartender. I don't understand why that is hard to do. I sailed on the Koningsdam last month to Hawaii. I ordered a Blue Hawaiian from the same bartender several times on different days (not on any menu) from the Panoramic Bar on Deck 10. It was a fabulous drink. My cruise account was charged varying amounts for this drink: $12.88, $14.11, $14.05 and $12.39. Again, same bartender and bar (face-to-face ordering as I sat at the bar), different days. I chose to add $2.50 tip on top of each of the above amounts. I didn't care about the small difference in pricing. I never drink more than one serving of alcohol per day on a cruise, so I focus on savoring a well-made drink. (The Mai-Tai made at the Ocean Bar was also exceptional, in my opinion). A cruise is a great way to try a variety of cocktails. I crossed a few off my bucket list. On that 17-day cruise I concluded that drinks listed on the menu were charged the amount shown on the menu. Drinks not listed on the menu were priced at the whim of the bartender. If a dollar or two is enough to ruin your cruise, maybe stick to the menu. Still, the best way to avoid a surprise is to simply ask the bartender for the price. Finally, while it's nice to see a photo of a drink menu from a recent cruise posted on Cruise Critic, just understand that prices are dynamic. The prices and the menus may be entirely different on the same ship a month later. They are snapshots in time.

It sounds like Princess cruisers need to be flexible on their dining / evening entertainment plans. Personally, I prioritize a nice sit-down meal experience at least once per day. I don't even look at the evening entertainment options until after I have dined. I don't find shipboard entertainment to be enjoyable (I certainly wouldn't pay to see it on land), especially if a venue is packed. I either gravitate towards a quieter venue with light music and good drinks, or watch a movie. It's nice that there are plenty of venues for the loud and rambunctious crowds - they are easy to avoid.

Last month I did a 17-day solo cruise to Hawaii in a balcony cabin aboard the HAL Koningsdam. I'm quite an introvert, so I was worried about the crowds. The usual worries. Not a problem. I never had a problem getting a table for myself. After breakfast, I'd find a comfy seat by a window in one of the many bars that didn't start serving until later in the day. With a book, no one can possibly be bored. When lounges were busier, I'd go back to my room and enjoy the view from my balcony. I enjoyed exploring the ship, especially when the crowds streamed off the boat for excursions. It was a great opportunity to find prime viewing spots of the ports from up high, and the buffet had no lines! It was a wonderful experience. I'm going to repeat the same itinerary aboard the Ruby Princess at the end of this year (my first Princess experience). I'm hoping it will be just as pleasant. Yes, it is expensive to cruise solo on premium cruise lines, but the beauty of the ocean and ships keeps me coming back!

When one is an extrovert, it is easy to assume that EVERYONE is an extrovert. But it's not true. I'm an introvert who loves to cruise. With balcony cabins and small dining tables, I'm much more comfortable signing up for a cruise than I was in the past. I've cruised both ways. Last month I was aboard the HAL Koningsdam for 17 days to and from Hawaii. I enjoyed my balcony cabin, eating alone in dining rooms, and quietly reading in off-hours next to a window in a comfy chair in lounges around the ship. There are more introverts than you would assume on your ship -- and it is by our very nature that you don't notice us. We draw inwards, and are very comfortable spending time alone. You assume we're lonely, if alone...but we're actually doing quite fine, reading, walking around the ship, working out in the fitness room, lounging in the sun, and eating in a restaurant. I enjoy good food, and I like it served to me rather than standing in lines at a buffet. Sitting alone, I tend to eat fairly quickly -- at least compared to the "talkers". Honestly, I'm paying for two as a solo cruiser, yet I use a table for half as long. So the smart mâitre d' understands that giving me my own table is quite efficient. Oh, here's another way to figure out who some of the introverts are on your cruise -- when you are all streaming off the ship for port excursions, many of us will be waiving goodbye to you from high above, smiling as we look forward to a wonderful day of quietly enjoying the ship! Just remember, if everyone was an extrovert, you would find the theaters and crowded late night venues MUCH more crowded. You're welcome!