Sox Fan Cruiser

We skipped Kotor and went to Bar instead. The change was last minute and they had excursion online for us to book before the cruise. They also had excursions in our cabin when we arrived. No one complained that there was a “mad rush” to get tours. It was fine. We stayed on the ship as our Kotor guide told us that Bar was nothing special. Most people coming back confirmed that. Kotor was too far away to try and visit even though our guide was willing to come pick us up. 
 

We tendered in Santorini. There is nothing wrong with the ships tendering system because they could not sail if there was as it is also part of their emergency system. 
 

The landing is not for suite guests but an open area for all folks leaving the ship. There are seats for people to relax and a bar for selling water and other drinks. It’s used for both port stops and tendering. We never see the need for this space because we are never in the huge crowd waiting to go ashore. We always wait for most people to leave the ship and then we walk right off. 

2 minutes ago, plethera1 said:

I get the RollGlider a bit as it's a lot more complex but the ropes course?  What could possibly be taking so long?

I really don't know.  The folks need to be tethered as they make their way around the course so maybe that is not set up yet?  

I mean, they still don't have the prime rib "trolley" in the Signature restaurant even though they are serving it.  I think some things haven't made it to the ship yet.

2 minutes ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

You could always order a club sandwich via your medallion and have it delivered to your chair poolside.

The burgers, pizza, tacos and salads seemed to be an elevated food choice from the other ships.  Should be able to satisfy a lot of main pool passengers.  

I do appreciate the new beeper system for the burger stand so people aren't standing in a long line.  I hope they roll that out to the other ships.

3 hours ago, plethera1 said:

Does anyone know where I can get updates on the availability of the RollGlider and the Park 19 ropes course?

 

I found another thread from early March with the following dates:

 

• Arena shows will begin rolling out on March 29

• Park19 is open, minus the ropes course, which will be completed March 29, and RollGlider, which will be done on April 27.

 

I haven't see any references to any of the three mentioned being up and running.  Obviously, this gives the RollGlider date as being in a couple days still.  I was just wondering if there was some sort of status page or if anyone had seen anything.

Still nothing.  Ropes course is not open yet (as of a week ago).  One day they were testing out the RollGlider but they were just trying to run the "cart" around the track.  Some were succssfull and some where not with them getting "stuck" on the track.  Maybe that was the test?  But it didn't have anyone on it and didn't even have the swings attached except for one.  Not optimistic.

Agreed.  There are no facilities there.  With Deck 8 and 9 being cabin decks, there is little going on in those white spaces.

1 hour ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

I had read elsewhere that the suite holders had their own dedicated escalator that went from forward to aft and vice versa when needed to avoid the maddening crowds. 😉

Yes. But it wasn’t working on our cruise!  🤪

1 hour ago, shirazcruiser said:

Did you enjoy the Teppanyaki and Spellbound? Is the cost of Spellbound $149 pp and I read that they have a cocktail/formal dress code?   

Check out my extensive walk through of Spellbound:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2998028-sun-princess-spellbound-question/page/6/

And yes, it was $149 per person.

We also really enjoyed Teppanyaki.  It was something different to do a ship than we have done before.  Our table wasn't as "rowdy" as some of the other tables but that was more the passengers than the chef.  One warning:  Do NOT fill up on the fried rice.  They make a ton of it but the meal is served in stages with the meat coming last.  The rice was served first, then veggies and then meat.  We were already full by the time our meat was served.  🙂

Can I ask that you all take the Sanctuary Collection change to another thread?  I was trying to answer specific questions about the current suite experience as I just got off the ship. There are threads already started. 
 

Sorry. 

It’s the same with Celebrity.  The Retreat Sundeck doesn’t accommodate every suite passenger. Some cruises it’s more crowded than others. 

And the name change is also to distinguish the Sanctuary as a Suite Sun Deck and not the Sanctuary we think of on other ships.  It truly is now equal to the Retreat Sun Deck on Celebrity.  I would probably see no options to buy into the Sanctuary now for non suite guests.

Maybe Princess read my thread!!  🙂

But yes, there was always a wait at the Reserve Collection restaurant and a half empty dinning room in the Signature restaurant.  Spreading it out.

All that work...  and it's now not applicable.

I still hope you all get some benefit from my write up.

I just got off the Sun Princess and I confirmed that it's 16+.  There was one kid that came in to see his parents for a few minutes.  The father escorted him from the entrance to the loungers and they hung out for a about 5-10 minutes.  The wait staff came over and offered him a soda and were joking around with him so they clearly knew him.  But then the father escorted him back to the exit and went back to the lounger with his (assumed) wife.

So it's not like the staff jumps on kids and push them out but it's very clear that they can come and check in with their parents but that are not allowed to stay and use the facilities.

(sorry for duplicate post right after my first one.  i didn't see it when I was reading the thread!  I've been answering so many Sun Princess questions I am forgetting which thread is which! 🙂 )

If you do not have a package then you are paying for all your drinks at any bar. Same in the Sun Deck. But they are free for you in the Signature lounge. 

10 hours ago, oteixeira said:

I watched a video the other day that showed the menu for drinks up there and they were not free.  It was that Ben and David channel (I don't love it, but the ship was very relevant).

Yes.  As I said, the drinks in the Signature lounge don’t count towards your drink package maximum but drinks in the Signature sun deck do. If you have a package it’s covered up to the cost that your package allows. The same as any other bar on the ship. 

1 hour ago, CalTexCruiser said:

thanks for the detailed report @Sox Fan Cruiser.  Very much appreciated.

 

One question regarding the suite lounge...are alcoholic beverages available all day in the lounge.  If so, that would be unlike the concierge lounge on the Royal Class ships where free alcohol is available only during happy hour (5-7pm).

 

If free alcoholic beverages are available all day in the suite lounge, then there would less of a reason for folks in a suite to buy a Premium Plus/Premier package.

 

This lounge is nothing like the crappy suite lounge on the Royal class ships. It’s a true suite class lounge. Much to my surprise, Princess got this right. 

1 hour ago, CalTexCruiser said:

thanks for the detailed report @Sox Fan Cruiser.  Very much appreciated.

 

One question regarding the suite lounge...are alcoholic beverages available all day in the lounge.  If so, that would be unlike the concierge lounge on the Royal Class ships where free alcohol is available only during happy hour (5-7pm).

 

If free alcoholic beverages are available all day in the suite lounge, then there would less of a reason for folks in a suite to buy a Premium Plus/Premier package.

 

There was service form sunrise to sunset as described in our welcome letter and not just firm 5-7. That’s when they had a person playing an electronic keyboard. 

1 hour ago, oteixeira said:

I watched a video the other day that showed the menu for drinks up there and they were not free.  It was that Ben and David channel (I don't love it, but the ship was very relevant).

I never saw a menu for the drinks. I just ordered what I wanted. I never got close to the maximum so maybe it did count but I highly doubt it. 

Sorry but no one under 16 is allowed in the Sanctuary even if they are in a suite. They can enter to see their parents but must leave when done. They can not sit in a lounger to hang out nor enjoy the pool or hot tubs. 

46 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

You won't be missing anything.  Santorini is more of pain than a pleasure as a cruise ship passenger because you get dropped off at the bottom of a cliff and you're at the mercy of a cable car with not enough capacity, donkeys, or a path full of donkey dung to get to town--all of which are terrible options.

You are absolutely missing something. Santorini is one of my top 5 most beautiful places on Earth. But I agree, the cable car only access is horrible and not a good experience. I spent my honeymoon here (not on a cruise) and it’s absolutely stunning. But it’s not a good cruise port. And I think that’s what you were saying. 

58 minutes ago, azbirdmom said:

Thinking this must have something to do with suites.  It's another webinar this Thursday and it looks like everyone is invited.  And apparently there will be something new announced tomorrow too.

 

Very interested!!  Let us know what they say. 

Yeah, it’s totally because of the cable cars. Things started getting dicey when we were there. The heat.  A lot of foot traffic congestion right at the entrance. And people waiting in line for a long time.  We could feel the negative energy in the air building and so we walked down. Only took 25 minutes. There were people waiting for over 90 minutes and we were the only ship in port. 
 

Not a cruise friendly port. 

25 minutes ago, oteixeira said:

So this sounds less and less like ship within a ship.  You are telling me anyone onboard can go to the suite sun deck by simply paying a fee for a day or week?  Just trying to understand as this is a new concept and of course I have not sailed Princess in a long time (and not in a suite).

It’s actually the reverse for a lot of people. The Sanctuary on other ships is an adults only quiet place. Not for suites. When the Sun Princess news first came out they had the Sanctuary plus an area in there that was for suites only. So there is truly a ship within a ship concept buts it’s very small. The overflow goes to the Sanctuary. But now the Sanctuary isn’t like the Sanctuary on other ships and cost twice as much. So think of it as a suite sun deck plus other folks can buy in at $100 a day. Not many people will. The non suite designated area is very large so it can accommodate all suite guests plus those that what to buy in. Suite guests won’t notice a difference. But those expecting the old Sanctuary are a little upset. Some of the loungers don’t even have padding.

4 minutes ago, Nikkibird said:

Thank you so much for your thorough review. We are really enjoying it.

So the menu doesn't thrill me. Can you use the OceanNow app and get something delivered to you there?

Absolutely!

Signature Sun Deck menu: