msw.delafield

As for the terms of "priority onboard excursion booking" - I think the OP is referring to specific wording noted on the Suites flyer.

(See attached)

Would agree w/others to reserve in advance and consider/cancel once onboard.

Have never heard of any discount pricing on excursions, although it cannot hurt to ask about this at the Excursions Desk.

Not sure what the obligation for filling capacity Princess has with the tour operators.

If Princess is obligated to covering cost of unfilled openings in some manner, the business man in me would think that a discount to fill remaining spots isn't such a bad idea?

PrincessSuite_eFlyer.pdf

We did the MDR for a number of our initial cruises, but these past few years we opt to go to Horizon Court for our evening meal. If traveling with extended family we prefer to join them for a breakfast or lunch in MDR, rarely for dinner – special occasion evenings are an exception. We also enjoy one or two evenings in CG for a really decadent meal.

As others indicate, is a relaxed and easy pace, choose your own table, a good selection of entries and accompaniments, take your time to talk, read or just catch up on the day – yes, there is an occasional disappointment – maybe it’s taste or sometimes temperature is off - but there is always something that hits the spot and fills the tummy.

Wait staff is surprisingly regular, and you do build a rapport. We also always encounter one or more of our Sanctuary stewards working HC each night and they really go out of their way to make our experience more pleasant and enjoyable.

Another benefit is the chance interaction with crew or show cast as they eat in HC nightly. It’s a pleasure to converse with them after you’ve had opportunity to watch them perform their shows or doing their job onboard. We enjoy hearing about where they are from or what their career aspirations are as they move onward with Princess or beyond after their contracts.

After reading many CC reviews of the Royal/Regal HC improvements, we’re looking forward to our December trip as part of getting to know the new class of ship.

Thank you all for your posts on this topic!

Bjtomko,

More information from you would help to provide best answers.

What is the departure date and length you’re looking at.

I see either 6-day, 8-day or combined 14-day trips in November 2016.

If you’re considering the 14-day trip (that’s also being sold as multiple shorter segments) it’s possible you’re not seeing all available cabins.

Princess will block segments of different cabin categories for different trip configurations and these may not appear as available to you if being looked at as a 14 day trip.

I suggest you look at each segment of 6 or 8 days (of the total 14-day trip) to truly see all available cabins.

If you find desired cabin is available on both of the smaller legs, but not displayed as available on the 14-day combination, you can simply discuss this with the Princess representative.

They may allow you to book that cabin at a combined 14-day trip cost. I have done this on several B2B trips in the past.

I tried to keep my explanation of this simple, I hope it makes sense.

We were surprised, having only cruised in warm climates, how much a cooler climate trip had added to the luggage.

Pack smart, as other have mentioned - try to plan layers and use that to minimize the volume you find that you'll be trying to bring!

Went out of our way to reserve a 'bump out' cabin based on all the hoopla we were reading here on CC.

This might be a critical necessity for some, but we found that the best observations of Panama Canal and transit were from other locations on decks of the ship.

Suggest you get a nice and economical balcony to enjoy and spend the transit time on the various decks to take advantage of the views from those points.

Just opinion, but if we did that rip again we would likely get an OV or Inside and save the $$.

Have been on many cruises where oysters were available in Horizon buffet. Maybe this was on certain 'theme' nights, never really noted - but they were there. Mussels too....

toberman,

Theoretically, how you book your trip shouldn't change your process/procedure for the turnaround day.

That said, you should book cheapest or most advantageous for you financially.

Regardless if booked as two separate or one single cruise, you would be subject to the turnaround 'experience'.

I've been on some where we were a small group of a dozen or so, and others where the group was a full third of the ships passengers.

My experience has been when we are only a small few, we trended to get off and sit until the ship clears.

When we were a exceptionally large group they accommodated and processed us on board in one of the large dining rooms.

We have done most turnarounds in the US, two in San Juan, one in Los Angeles - I expect procedure would also depend on your turnaround port as well?!

For what it's worth, these have been our experience.

I believe your cabin would be the one identified in this photo.

Mike

sfsd,

We had CB R746 this past March for a 5-day leg of multiple B2B trips.

As we were only in this room for 5-days, we did not fully unpack, so storage is somewhat fuzzy in my memory.

We pretty much ignored the cabin, reserving 'settling in' for the next legs of our trip in a different cabin.

I apologize for failing to take any pictures to share.

The steward explained that this cabin had been refitted from previous storage space, resulting in the different configuration.

You have already noted the balcony is a wing type found on many 746/747 cabins across several ships.

This cabin does have an alternate layout, in addition to the unique balcony.

The room layout is somewhat of a side entry, as the entry door is on the aft facing wall directly across the corridor from the door to R750.

The bed headboard is on the forward facing wall, across from the door. The bath was located in the fore/starboard corner of the room.

It had a hanging closet space you walked into to access the bath, but if I recall it was smaller than normal.

There was non-standard cabinet/counter space in the aft/port corner which is where the TV/fridge were located.

Typical desk space between bed-headboard and balcony door and a small bump-out occupied some space in the aft/port corner of the room where the chair and side table were placed.

The starboard side of the cabin had slightly more open floor space than a standard cabin, the space to port from the beds to balcony doors was more typical.

The cabin did feel more open than a normal standard balcony, but nothing remarkable aside from the cabinet configuration.

You should search, as Colo points out, is possible others may have posted pictures.

Was a fine room, with he entry door on the dead-end leg of the hall it eliminated any real traffic you would experience if on the main corridor.

Hope this helps some!

Ship - Caribbean

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R750

Category – OV

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, No noise from Lido above.

Balcony Size – N/A

View – Twin Portholes

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - N/A

Soot - N/A

Problems - None

Comments – Great location, quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck. View out portholes is basically sky. Bed is located under portholes, would need to stand on bed to peer out portholes to see anything. Economical OV cabin in a great upper deck location.

__________________________________

Mike

Ship - Emerald

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R746

Category – BE

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, No noise from Lido above.

Balcony Size – Oversized, Angled

View – Port and towards Bow

Privacy Issues - Can be seen from other cabins when standing out on angled portion

Wind - Significant when underway due to angled layout.

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Roomy odd-shaped balcony. Quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck. Have stayed in this cabin and its twin R747 several times.

_______________________________

Mike

Ship - Emerald

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R747

Category – BE

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Starboard

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, No noise from Lido above.

Balcony Size – Oversized, Angled

View – Starboard and towards Bow

Privacy Issues - Can be seen from other cabins when standing out on angled portion

Wind - Significant when underway due to angled layout.

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Roomy odd-shaped balcony. Quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck. Have stayed in this cabin and its Portside twin R746 several times.

________________________________

Mike

Ship - Caribbean

Class - Grand

Deck - Baja

Stateroom # - B753

Category – B4

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Aft

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet.

Balcony Size – Slightly smaller, Angled and has support beam.

View – Aft

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Balcony is slightly smaller due to curvature of the back of the ship. There is also a support column running through the balcony. Neither we felt were any issue – enjoyed the Aft views.

_____________________________________

Mike

Ship - Ruby

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R751

Category – B4

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Aft/Starboard

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet.

Balcony Size – Slightly smaller, partially recessed, angled.

View – Aft

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - Some minor debris from Horizon Pool area, steward would clean daily.

Comments – Great location, last cabin aft on starboard-side, quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck. Ruby is the only ship with balconies in this location. Have stayed in this cabin and its Port twin R750 several times.

_________________________________

Mike

Ship - Crown

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R746

Category – BE

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, No noise from Lido above.

Balcony Size – Oversized, Angled

View – Port and towards Bow

Privacy Issues - Can be seen from other cabins when standing out on angled portion

Wind - Significant when underway due to angled layout.

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Roomy odd-shaped balcony. Quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck.

____________________________________

Mike

Ship - Caribbean

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R746

Category – BE

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, No noise from Lido above.

Balcony Size – Oversized, Angled

View – Port and towards Bow

Privacy Issues - Can be seen from other cabins when standing out on angled portion

Wind - Significant when underway due to angled layout.

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Cabin has a non-standard layout. Was a storage area that was remodeled into a balcony cabin at some point. Enter from the side, has two desk areas and storage cabinets w/doors. Was slightly roomier than standard cabin. Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Oversized odd-shaped balcony. Quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck.

____________________________________

Mike

Ship - Ruby

Class - Grand

Deck - Riviera

Stateroom # - R750

Category – B4

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Aft/Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet.

Balcony Size – Slightly smaller, partially recessed, angled.

View – Aft

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - Some minor debris from Horizon Pool area, steward would clean daily.

Comments – Great location, last cabin aft on port-side, quick access to Terrace Pool, buffet and Lido deck. Ruby is the only ship with balconies in this location. Have stayed in this cabin and its Starboard twin R751 several times.

__________________________________

Mike

Ship - Crown

Class - Grand

Deck - Dolphin

Stateroom # - D733

Category – MD

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Starboard

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet

Balcony Size – Oversized, about 20’ long.

View – Starboard to Aft

Privacy Issues - Balcony open to above

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice location, aft end of corridor w/little traffic. Oversized balcony perfect for entertaining. Balcony curves to the Aft – views to starboard and some aft.

____________________________________

Mike

Ship - Coral

Class - Panama

Deck - Baja

Stateroom # - B309

Category – BE

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Starboard

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet

Balcony Size – Standard, Corner ‘Bump-Out’

View – Starboard to Aft

Privacy Issues - When at balcony railing, can be observed by pax in B311

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Great location for Panama transit, on higher deck. The coveted ‘corner bump-out’ increases view to the Aft of the ship.

______________________________________

Mike

Ship - Golden

Class - Grand

Deck - Emerald

Stateroom # - E728

Category – ME

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Port

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet

Balcony Size – Oversized, Curved to Aft

View – Port and some Aft

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Standard size Mini, HUGE balcony about 20’. Covered from above. Nice location near end of corridor so minimal traffic.

____________________________________

Mike

Ship - Crown

Class - Grand

Deck - Baja

Stateroom # - B749

Category – B4

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern – Aft/Starboard (Corner)

Connects With Cabin # - None

Accessible - No

Quiet – Very Quiet, Dead End of Corridor

Balcony Size – Oversized, Slight Angle

View – Aft and Starboard

Privacy Issues - None

Wind - None

Soot - None

Problems - None

Comments – Nice aft corner cabin, balcony wraps slightly to starboard

______________________________________

Mike

JohnHall1965,

I enjoy indulging in the spa shaves during our cruises. I prefer the Royal Shave experience. It is only a few $$ more than the Express and worth it for the extra scalp, neck and arm massage.

Have not encountered a straight razor for any of my shaves. You are seated/reclined in a traditional British type barber chair. They do mix-up the lather in a bowl and apply w/brush, but all of my shave experiences have been done with standard multi-blade razors.

The shave process itself is actually two separate shaves with hot towels and facial scrubs/treatments before, in-between and after.

Well worth the experience at least once!

Enjoy!

Fofaloia,

Only once, this past March on Caribbean Princess, did we encounter Sanctuary booking advance single days on embarkation day.

They were most accommodating and were allowing passengers to pick 1/2 day or full day options for days during the cruise (in addition to full cruise reservation) - was the most organized and compliant arrangement I've ever seen. Made for many happy guests!

As I mentioned, we've found booking practices to vary between ships over the years.

I suggest you re-post your questions, specifically stating the ship - and allow some more current passengers to respond with what they experienced.

You could also try searching the forums for your 'ship name' and 'sanctuary' to see if there any recent posts that may provide more information.

Morning Breeze -

Last we traveled on board, Sanctuary was $40 for a one-off full-day, $20 for 1/2 day. Was $30/day when booking for the entire trip.

Have found that booking practices do vary from ship to ship, but in general the soonest you can get up to Sanctuary when boarding, the better your outcome.

As Colo pointed out, this is a great location for a budget price.

We’ve stayed in these outermost OV cabins on several ships and agree the ‘view’ is limited – but for us, just having daylight visible beats what you get with an inside cabin.

Located on Riviera or Aloha deck depending on the ship, you can avoid elevator waiting to access the upper decks. Just 20 or so steps and you’re up on the Horizon pool deck and quick access from there up to the Lido buffet or to Sun and Sports decks.

Have never experienced any noises overhead and if sailing on the Ruby, you get the bonus of these rooms having balconies. I agree that the door out to the deck can slam at times, but that has never been any noticeable bother.

Some mention movement as a concern. In my opinion, if the ship is moving enough to bother you in these rooms you would likely be feeling ‘movement’ in other cabin locations as well.

Others have also pointed out that an Aft Inside cabin on this same upper deck could be an attractive budget option (if you don’t need to see daylight) – In that case I would suggest Cabins 736/737, they seem to be placed under the wall structure from the deck above and this minimizes any overhead noise.

Enjoy the fun of making your cabin choice and planning your first Princess cruise, I’m certain you’ll enjoy the trip, the Crown is a great ship!