skynight

Yes I forgot about the deck 8 minis. There are 12 all the way aft on deck 8 with covered balconies. " What would dry dock activity be?" Standard dry dock includes cleaning, blasting, and painting the hull. Inspecting and repairing the props, thrusters and all that operational stuff at or below the water line. There is normally some work in the passenger areas. Things like replacing carpets, bedding, lighting. Maybe some upgrades to the galley areas. I've seen new chairs and sometimes re-upholstery of old chairs. What is scheduled for the passenger areas can be very little or a lot. While you are on board you might see some preliminary prep work. Example may be new carpet being installed in some areas. You might see extra contractor supervisors who are on board getting ready for their crews. Once the last passenger and crew member disembarks, work begins.

April 8, 2025 7 day LA to Vancouver? I see almost all mini suites available. There are 3 boxes you can select from on the Princess site, mini suite, reserve class mini suite and window suite. On the Grand Princess all mini suites are on deck 9, nowhere else. All mini suites have identical interiors and balconies. Balconies are 9ft x 6ft and not covered. Reserve Class means that you receive some extra benefits the most important being Reserve Class dining. Reserve Class is a section of the deck 6 Da Vinci DR. The menu is the same as the rest of the DR except that there is one additional evening selection. Dining is walk in with prompt seating. Service is improved. I do notice that there are two window suites available. These are full suites and receive full suite benefits. There are only 7 of them and they reserve very quickly as the fares are only slightly higher then mini suite fares. I noticed that the April 8th cruise ends on the 15th. The next scheduled voyage is May 8th. It appears that the April 8th voyage is the last one before dry dock. There may be some pre dry dock activity on board during the cruise.

I have seen two of these shows in the past. Carlos Oscar is a good comic. Have seen him a number of times. Worth the visit. Bravo is an excellent show. Its theme is great songs backed by excellent music. There is an expanded orchestra adding some of the musicians you see around the ship such as violins and extra percussion. The Princess lead production show vocalists as well as a guest vocalist sing known songs as well as one or two light opera songs. I remember some of those powerful James Bond movie themes. Bravo is always SRO. Performers are dressed in nice what I would classify formal wear, tux and gowns. It has been around for years and always gets good reviews. Unless you have premier reserved seating arrive at least 45minutes early. You may wish to bring a book along. When Bravo is on the schedule I have always planned my dining around the show. Example, I will attend the early show, then pick up something after the show in the DR or elsewhere.

No Tom. All balcony cat cabins B1, 2 & 4, BA through BF have identical interiors. On Grand Class ships there are no sofas in any balcony cat. cabins. Since both cabins are on deck 10 the balconies are the same size 9ft x 9ft half covered. You are just slightly more centered.

There is no unlimited specialty dining in any package or cabin. Full suites do come with no charge specialty dining on boarding day evening. It also comes with the special full suite breakfast at Sabatini's and Reserve Class dining each evening and lunch on sea days.

There are 6 port and 6 starboard mini suites all the way aft on deck 8 that have 9ftx6ft covered balconies. All of these cabins are connecting. There is a smoking area on deck 7, starboard side, just forward of the most forward mini suite cabin. The smoking area is just before the promenade narrows to go around the stern of the ship. Deck 9, Dolphin Deck, has all mini suites. They all have identical interiors with 9ft x 6ft uncovered balconies. The 34 cabins mid ship are Reserve Class. The most important benefit of a Reserve Class mini suite is the Reserve Class dining.

I am reading these posts. I'm booked for the same itinerary & ship in March I find them very interesting. In case you are not aware in Curacao the ship will dock on one side of a port entry canal. The main street of Willemstad with all the photos you see in the ads runs along the canal. To get there you have to cross the pontoon bridge. This bridge opens for boats quite frequently. When open there is a ferry shuttle which takes longer to use. Avoid being caught on the main street side of the canal with little time to return to the ship. If the bridge opens it isn't easy to quickly get across to where the boat is docked.

I have been to Southampton a number times with Princess. We have docked at Mayflower pier, and one time we docked at the QE2 pier which is quite a distance from the Mayflower and other adjacent piers. To get more accurate advice I think you would have to know the pier assignments. I searched on line and found pier assignments for the next few months. I think when it gets closer you can find the assignments, and determine the best transport arrangement between ships. Some of the piers are right next to each other and you could just walk. Someone in the UK could chime in with additional information.

Believe the process is those at the elite or platinum loyalty levels can reserve MDR dining once booked. Others can reserve after final payment. But, the app is quacky. Try every now and then.

Make certain your air flights have been entered into the Princess system. Princess then knows you are arriving. Go to the baggage pick up and a Princess rep will be there.

Any net credit, OBC, on the first cruise will be carried over to the 2nd cruise and added to any new 2nd cruise OBC thus increasing your credit balance. In the reverse any debit balance from the 1st cruise will carry over and be netted against any new 2nd cruise OBC.

No one has sailed on the Sun Princess. Looking at the deck plans and with knowledge from Royal class ships the interiors and amenities would be the same. Premium would refer to location on the ship and from what I saw by looking at the deck plans probably larger balconies. I did notice non premium also with a larger balcony. Examine the deck plans

Pam in CA. Glad to hear from you again. However, I can't answer your question.

There are waiters that roam around with beverages on carts. You can also order bar beverages from them. Believe self service still remains.

You have to apply for and receive written permission from Princess to disembark mid cruise. Only Princess can answer. Princess would have to arrange for Immigration & Customs at the Mexican port of disembarkation.

The frequent formal dress question with hundreds of opinions. I'll try to answer as accurately as possible as to what people are doing. First understand that however formal is defined, it is only for the MDRs during the time you are actually there. The remainder of the ship has no dress recommendation other than what is acceptable any other day or evening. Some people change after dinner. Some will dress as you have described. A small percentage will be in actual formal dress. You will see men in suites, sport jackets with or without ties, slacks with an island or golf shirt and other wear. If you are wearing shorts you may be turned away. Women are normally always in suitable dress. Women may also be turned away if they are in shorts.

When designed the two midship promenade deck areas were supposed to be Al Fresco dining areas. They probably never had lounge chairs.

Assuming these are two Princess ships. If both ships are docked at the north port piers 2 & 4 these piers are directly next to each other. Easy walk. If one ship is at the north port and the other is at the mid port it is possible to walk, but not very easy with all the traffic and distance. You can take a taxi, fare will be the minimum. Tip generously. Another possibility is to grab a parking deck shuttle if running. This shuttles people between the north port and mid port parking decks. Not really considered a b2b. Each will be treated as separated cruises. Your folios will be closed out at the end of the first cruise. Any debit balance will be charged to your credit card. On b2bs, same ship, on board accounts roll over.

There is a large mall area adjacent to the pier.

"We had to turn our clocks forward last night. Hoping that was in order to match ship time to island time." Princess always changes ship time to match local time.

I have also seen $1 deposits. I would research the current fares. Then you will be able to compare. If deposits are more than $1 then watch out for non refundable deposits. Read the fine print.

Crown Grill & Sabatini's. Try one or both. All depends on what kind of food you enjoy. Here are the sample menus. https://www.princess.com/content/dam/princess/onboard-experience/food-dining/pdfs/menu-crown-grill.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf https://www.princess.com/content/dam/princess/onboard-experience/food-dining/pdfs/menu-sabatinis-trattoria.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf

Starboard side cabins will provide sun most on the eastbound crossing. The sun is south of the ship when crossing. Deck 9 is fine. Aft facing cabins would only receive the evening sun when crossing. Any deck with cabins above and below would also be fine. Currency will be in US$.

Historically 18 months before the start of the 2025/26 season. That would be spring 2024. Keep watching, maybe Princess will release earlier. They will have their new Sky and Sun coming to Ft. Lauderdale in November 2025. They will want to get these new design ships filled.

Thank you, partybarbie