Cruise Raider

My fingers are crossed. We go at the end of the month and so will report back to you. But, we are not going on the Sun so, that my experience may not reflect what happens to you.

No, you won’t! Doctor’s orders for my DH to eat as early as possible. I can still eat late but I don’t do that anymore.

Love that! 🤣 We try to never go to a SD restaurant on embarkation day. We tend to be a bit tired on that first night after a couple celebratory cocktails so usually, we like to go on the second night. We will probably just hit up Alfredo’s or the PES happy hour on the first night, especially if we have gone to the embarkation lunch. But thanks for freeing up that early dining for us. I certainly do appreciate that. It’s really funny to think we used to pop in for dinner at 9 PM in our past lives. We never could understand who wanted to eat dinner at 4 PM. That changed to 7:30 PM, then to 6 PM and now, the earlier, the better. We are officially ‘old farts’ now. We are usually off to bed before the 10:30 PM comedy show rolls around. I don’t even bother to look at the events that start after 10 PM on Journeyview. We used to close the casino down .. yep, also in our past life. 😆

We are also going to use our onboard credit to upgrade to the premier package next month. However, we don’t intend to eat dinner every night, maybe 4, possibly 5 out of 11 nights. We are super flexible so, whatever days they can give us will be fine with us. They usually tell us to come in at 5 PM on the dine line so, we will get the time we wish to have.

It’s so true that it oftentimes the very new cruisers that are in awe when they are onboard. Although we are frequent cruisers, we still have that feeling of awe walking down the gangway. We are content with the current tier levels and perks, even though we very rarely use the laundry, buy the package and take the wine of our choice to the parties and tend to not get off in tender ports (all except in Loreto and Kona). We do use the PES lounge, early booking, priority boarding, priority tender in those two ports noted above but little more than that. I do miss the loyalty credit but no sense on dwelling in that. Would I take more perks, if offered? Sure would! But, I won’t really complain about not getting enough .. just like the new cruisers that just seem to appreciate whatever they get.

Mostly pate from what I saw. I don’t eat that (fin and feather only) so, they were lost of me. I’ve had those made with tuna at a private cocktail party on Princess and they were so delish! They did have some wonderful Brie in puff pastry, quiches and seafood appetizers at the MTP, as well.

I can’t say much about the Sun but I can tell you that on the Majestic, there was no availability through the app for the days we wished to dine. When we got onboard, we were given exactly what we wanted. This was before the new premier package, but nothing on the app doesn’t really equate to nothing once onboard. Be prepared to ask for earliest dining times, though.

It is at the piazza bar .. beware, it’s super crowded, as the act not only as baristas but also as bartenders.

The ‘cruising ducks’ comment was an attempt at humor. Antiquated or not, I think the display was very elegant and it showed they put in time and efforts in doing so. It really set the mood for the party!

Yes! And I think it’s been like that for about a year.

I don’t think there ever was one on the Diamond.

If they have it at the bar where the event is being held, they will get it for you. At the luncheon, they poured some very good wine.

One thing I especially like is your dinner reservations show up in our Journeyview app along with the events you bookmark. I just love that!

I wished I had taken a picture on the way in .. a row after row of little cruising duck appetizers. So clever and such an elegant display. No way did we need dinner after all those wonderful appetizers.

Whoa .. While we have heard that the sauna and steam rooms were going to incur a charge on this class of ship with the lotus pool, we’ve never seen it happen. We’ve never heard that the pool was off limits .. maybe for children but not even sure about that. We never saw more than a handful of people at that pool. I didn’t think the spa people even worked for Princess .. and as far as I know, the Sanctuary isn’t part of the spa. Maybe I am wrong on this, though as things change often. Either way, I just confirmed the pool is open to all from a friend that is currently onboard the Crown.

We find that when we’ve gone, there is one side in the sun and one side in the shade with some very nice teak cushioned loungers. Right outside of the lotus pool area, there is a big sunning deck.

You are most welcome. I feel bad about forgetting to ask earlier.

So, my friend that is onboard right now confirmed the Lotus Pool is open to all, not just sanctuary guests. So, no change from before. It happens to be closed right now, as are all the pools because they hit some really rough weather.

I bet! We did that when we were in the Vista Lounge for the NBA finals on the Ruby a couple of years ago. We ordered 3 pizzas and 5 Caesar salads for our group. We had the best seats and nobody wanted to be the one to miss part of the game. They must have had 50 orders for pizzas that evening, it was so much fun and it was the best game ever! We were on a Celebrity cruise last year and even though there was nothing really wrong with the cruise, it was a bit disappointing that we couldn’t get a small bite to eat without going up to the buffet or pool deck. If I’ve got a great seat for a great event that I wish to participate in or watch, we love when we can just order food to our table. Princess really delivers on that perk!

We are just so different! I rarely order drinks via the app but food, that’s another story. I don’t mind waiting .. we are both pretty patient and I know they are working hard and we always get it well before I chew my arm off for sustenance. 😂

I was told by one of the F&B directors they are trying to make it a more all inclusive experience. I was happy enough with the couple of specialty dining meals but unlimited casual meals but heck, I will be happy to go out to eat at specialty for only 10 more per day pp on one of the Royal class ships. In no way do I think it’s worth it on the Crown/Grand class ships, though.

It’s not on the website or anywhere on the app, it’s just something mentioned to me by both my CVP and the future cruise consultant onboard. It’ll die down once everyone is on the same packages (the one that cost $80 and the one that cost $90). when they changed over on the previous packages, which was a couple of years ago, they more formally named the packages Plus50 vs Plus60. Same with the premier. Again, those terms died down now that those older packages were not on the current sailings.

It’s so new so, hard to tell but I think Princess is referring to their new premier package as Premier+ .. and not premier plus. How much more confusing can they make this? 😂 but you are so very right … the difference ps in the packages are stark.

I took this photo on the way out so, it’s kind of picked over .. but the appetizers were really delicious and quite a bit more special than just regular canapés. There were also some delicious coconut crusted prawns. You can tell that they go to a lot of trouble for making the cocktail party quite elegant.

@skynight detailed that out accurately! I just wanted to mention that those casual dining venues are unlimited with the premier package, as are the specialty dining venues with the new premier package.