Thanks guys. I ended up just booking it since it's the only cabin available on the sailing I want. TA said I could transfer to them for 10% OBC

Are Princess cruise tours bookable by travel agents and do they have access to the same room inventory? I'm able to book a Grand suite cruisetour through Princess but so far no travel agent site show that cabin being available. Debating whether to book with Princess to lock in the room and transfer to an agent for some OBC if that can be done with cruisetours the same as with just a cruise.

2 hours ago, MudderBear said:

I went in May last year, and have scheduled May again in 2025.  However, I was very disappointed in the lack of animal sightings in May.  Am reluctant to book late August or September as I want to see SNOW.  Am I missing something?  I guess I can still change, although I LOVE the cabin I booked on Sapphire for May 25.  Maybe if a spectacular sale comes along and I can book a suite......... But anyway, will I still see snow in August?  We moved from the North East to the South ten years ago and I loved seeing snow......and knowing I'd never have to shovel it again!

My understanding is unless you are very early of very late in the season it will be unlikely to see snow other than up on the mountains. Lots of rain and but less chance of snow between June or August. 

The best animal sightings for us were the whales. Could watch that all day. 

10 hours ago, wallyj said:

@SWACruising, there was a great, imo, live from Majestic from June of this year, where they did the cruise first but also land tour after and had great pictures and recommendations regarding food, activities and the lodges. I do not know how to copy the link, but search for thread title ‘its going to be majestic’ by @Stealthdog. 
 

Found the thread. Got some reading to do. Really appreciate all the knowledge this group brings.

10 hours ago, wallyj said:

Going in May, animals are not as active and Salmon will not be running yet. NB , with Princess you usually get Glacier Bay and College Fiord, SB usually includes Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.

Also considering late August which might be better for both animals and salmon. Last time up there we cruised in September and the weather was perfect but I know it can be a crap shoot, 

Thanks, the princesslodges is a site I didn't even know existed. I'm learning. Did you cruise after the unescorted 6 night tour?

32 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said:

While we have been on and enjoy the Caribbean and that class ship, as well as the Royal class ones, I did like the smaller, more intimate feeling of the Coral. There are plenty of open deck areas for glacier and scenery viewing. It had about the same number of passengers as the old Sun Princess, I think. I haven't been on the Sapphire, but have seen good reviews about it. If you haven't yet read any blogs by Pescado Amarillo (pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com), she just completed a back to back Alaskan cruise on the Sapphire - great reading!

Thanks, I'll look her up

1 hour ago, WisCruiser2 said:

Our second time was in 2018 on the Coral Princess (my recommendation) and we did the Beyond the Beaten Path land tour, which started in Anchorage with an overnight there.

Looks like the Coral Princess is their smallest ship (not a bad thing for us). Anything specific about the ship compared to the other two?

Looking for guidance for booking a 25 year anniversary cruise for frequent RCCL cruiser back on Princess for the first time in over 20 years. Our first cruise was on the original Sun Princess in the late 90s and for whatever reason never cruised Princess again even though we had a fabulous experience. Going back to Alaska and Princess land/cruise combinations seemed like a no brainer.

• 2025 Cruise, ideally May
• Land first followed by cruise
• Flying from the midwest
• Been to Alaska before but never in the national parks
• 3-5 day pre cruise seems like enough
• My wife and I are in our 50s

Room

Plan to book a full suite. there doesn't seem to be much price difference between them. Aft facing preferred and wrap around if available would be ideal for Alaska. Do suites have any dining or lounge benefits? We usually book specialty restaurants if there is not a dedicated suite restaurant. Really enjoy a smaller, more intimate  atmosphere. RCCL has a suite lounge for coffee and light snacks/drinks throughout the day. Couldn't tell if Princess has anything similar.

Ships

• Caribbean Princess
• Coral Princess
• Saphire Princess

I have no knowledge on any of these ships and favorite ships can be subjective. Most of our time on cruises is spent around quiet, peaceful hanging out. Like good food, shows and intimate bars.

Tour Options

• Connoisseur Escorted

This is our preferred option as it seems like a turnkey vacation where everything is arranged for you. Value for the meals and tours included appears to be worthwhile.

• Denali Explorer
• Off the Beaten Path
• National Parks

Start Location

• Anchorage (preferred due to the availability of multiple nonstop flights from ORD)
• Fairbanks

Lodges

• Denali Wilderness Lodge
• Mt' McKinley Wilderness Lodge
• Copper River Wilderness Lodge
• Kenai Wilderness Lodge

Most seem to do the first two lodges and longer or Fairbanks starts may include the other two.

Any thoughts, suggestions or guidance are appreciated. We have only done 1 Alaska cruise previously and that was roundtrip Seattle. Want national parks and Glacier Bay on this one. Also love the train passage through Alaska which I believe is part of all the tours. Thanks for any help from my Princess experts.

50 wings for 30 bucks, yes please. Still a bargain

Probably too early. Giovanni's was open on embarkation day when we sailed Allure last month. Walked right in at noon without a reservation and had no issues. Never filled up more than half

1 minute ago, LisaLisa87 said:

 

 

Oh boy... we need a tiebreaker!

We had snacks at Playmakers but had meals (several lunches) at Portside. Both are great but unique. 

Revenue management.  Double the price and only lose 1/3 of business, they will double the price. Happening everywhere. It's the convenience of bottled water already in your room vs carry on or tap. Enough people say no, it will come down. Sadly now the 50% "sale" is higher than the previous full price and not just for water.

4 hours ago, ajtaylor29 said:

Thanks for the report! We'll be boarding on the 16th, can't wait!!!

Did you dine at any specialty restaurants and if so - your opinion?

thanks!

We sailed the week before this on Allure. 150 Central Park, Giovanni's and Izumi were excellent. Chops was ok. Samba Grill was one and done, too much meat and that's coming from a hard core carnivore.

150 CP - Lamb Wellington was my favorite (ordered both meals)

Giovanni's - Ask for Ali as your server, fantastic! Carbonara, Gnocchi, Filet

Izumi - Futomaki Roll and Spicy Miso Ramen (best dish of the cruise)

Chops - Usually a ribeye lover but it was too thin. Recommend the strip or filet. Lobster not recommended, was Caribbean lobster not cold water (no claws)

All waitstaff was very accommodating for multiple dishes usually bringing out things to try without ordering. Always left stuffed.

Sabor was good for a couple of lunches. Guacamole and shrimp tacos

Other than Izumi, restaurants were rarely more than half full.

 Enjoy!

6 hours ago, jmac99 said:

Not sure when your cruise will be but wanted to set expectations on central park.  Allure lost almost all of their plants in a freeze earlier this year and and slowly growing/replacing them but it looks like it will be a process.  I imagine it was very nice when full but when we went 3 weeks ago it was quite sad and a shell of what it would have been.  Just wanted to make sure you were aware and not too disappointed.  

 

Congrats on your recovery!

Just got off Allure. The lower plants are about 3/4 restored and saw new planting constantly. The trees are untouched so far but hopefully soon will be back. I expected the worse and it was pretty good.

9 minutes ago, StormySeas said:

I ordered the liquor with soda mixer pre-cruise yesterday morning but I still have not gotten an email verifying the purchase. I printed the screen shot with the order number and it says they will email an order confirmation. at what point do I worry? should I call to ask about the confirmation or wait until we are closer to cruise date? (we cruise on May 4, 2023)

Usually takes a day or 2 for confirmation 

42 minutes ago, Kis01met said:

Is Sabor open for dining during the day or only for evening at an extra cost. Years ago it was open all day and was alacarte which was cool.

 

The app shows it open for lunch and dinner all days except port days when it's dinner only. $24.99 for lunch/dinner

Is Sabor considered an a la carte restaurant or specialty and available on the UDP?

$8.99 to $9.99 seems to be the new normal

8 minutes ago, resetjet said:

Wel if you think you are gonna get:

 

• Welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot - $50
• Priority embarkation and debarkation. $$$?
• Inside Access tour (two guests) - $200+
• Officer's lunch (two guests) - $100+
• Unlimited internet access (two devices) $42 a day 7 day about $280
• Captain's toast and photo???  $40
• Wine pairing with sommelier (two guests) - wine is complimentary $50
• Laundry service (one bag per stateroom) - $35

Same price for 3 day or 7 day?

Roughly $750 worth of stuff plus priority boarding for $89 please call me.  I have a bridge for sale.

 

however i hope you get away with it!!!

 

Not sure many here believe this is legit. But like the $18 DBP mistake, sometimes they honor it and like many others, sometimes they don't. But they certainly won't honor it if I don't purchase it.

Knowns

$90 per package for 2 people regardless of cruise length

Value far exceeds the cost

Not available to all sailings

Just now, Merion_Mom said:

He is guessing that it's a glitch and this is the un-glitched truth.

That's not what he said 

4 minutes ago, resetjet said:

I figure it is $89.99 for two per day just like it says.  I think they are gonna be coming for alot more money.  $45 a day sorta makes sense.  I would expect an email or worse get pulled out of line on boarding to go to the money owed counter. 
 

it just makes no sense on any level that they would offer it at that price,  they would lose alot of money,  especially when it clearly say per day for two.

Where do you see it clearly stating per day for two? I see that no where

I purchased this and now my set sail pass has the key on it. Something ain't right 

https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/2023/03/11/royal-caribbean-launches-new-cruise-vip-package?fbclid=IwAR2MLFgc5Q9V8wTlwwYzYGvwwaHbYgVvChg84oXhRoqbZsGsE7pBhBqP-ig

Gaining some traction