skynight

Thank you, partybarbie

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That's a broad question. If you are thinking about 7 or 10 day RT Ft. Lauderdale cruises then I would suggest the eastern Caribbean over the Western Caribbean. If you are thinking about longer voyages, such as two 10 day b2b then you will pretty much cover lots of the islands. Once you decide, then re-post and I'm certain you can obtain advice on tours. Many of the islands are easy to just walk around the town.

Have two b2bs booked. The first one begins in February 2024 from FLL, The next on begins in January 2025 from S.F. I selected manage booking for the February 2024 bookings. Entered all the requested information without any problems. The program thinks I am entering information for the 2025 voyages. For the 2024 sailing the program will not allow me to order the medallion for delivery. It only allows for pier pick up in San Francisco. I am in PA. Another issue is that the program will not accept my credit card information. Do I have to wait until final payment which is in a few weeks? Any ideas? I do have issues using cell phone apps. I make lots of errors because of the small print, and more important cell service is very poor in the rural area where I live. Cuts in and out all the time, as well as prompting the message of no cell service in your area.

I have crossed the Pacific once from Australia to CA and have also done the RT you are referencing. Both times it was in March/April. We didn't encounter any unusual weather. But, you never know what weather will bring. It was very hot with direct overhead sun. Most of the trip is in the tropics. My advice, sail when it's best for you.

The main benefit is that you will be able to dine in the reserve class section of the deck 6, mid ship DR. It is walk in anytime dining serving the same menu as non reserve class with one additional item in the evening. There is very little wait and service is improved. DR is open for breakfast and dinner each day and lunch on sea days. There are a few other benefits, but dining is the main one.

I'll be watching your posts. I'm booked on the Ruby Feb 28th for a 10 day followed b2b by the same Circle the Caribbean itinerary as you on March 9th. During this dry dock Princess has changed the former cigar lounge off of the casino into a game room. If you can please post where the new cigar smoking area is located. It probably will be mentioned in the hard copy list of daily activities on the first or second day. Why? I want to avoid that area.

In the Caribbean there is normally a deck party. Number of formal nights is shown in the Travel Summary. There might be a White & Gold Night. Many passengers attending the deck party wear some sort of tropical attire like tropical shirts. Passengers tend to wear this type of clothing anyway. Very few, if any, passengers dress for the white & gold night event. The same is true if there are other themed events. Passengers just don't dress for them. Formal nights. That's a whole other story. There are 10's of thousands of postings here on cruise critic regarding formal wear on formal night.

When I first started to go on cruises there were only fixed seatings, early or late. Theater shows and other evening activities were timed to these seatings. Evening activities were planned and attended around a fixed dining schedule. Passengers moved in groups from the DR to the theater to a game show or deck party, to a late night lounge. As dining changed over the years my thinking changed. For years now I have reversed my thinking. I now plan evening meals around activities that I wish to attend. Sometimes those meals are in the DR, sometimes at other locations and the timing varies. It works well for me and works well if like me you sail multiple cruises b2b2b.

Nothing. Once elite number of cruises/cruise credits are meaningless. Next recognized milestone would be 500 days at sea.

Somewhere around75 to 90 minutes. A lot depends on the table size. On tables for two the waiter keeps pace with how quickly or slowly the two dine. You can be out in an hour, maybe less. On a large table, such as a table for 8, the slowest eater will determine the pace of service. Tables for 10 are the worst. Waiters do not move on to the next course until all at the table complete the current course.

Looks like the refurbishment is 3 weeks. It could be partially dry dock and partially wet dock. There will always be required maintenance to the hull and mechanicals. Most dry docks include some work to replace furnishings such as carpets, upholstery, sometimes mattresses like they just did on the Ruby, new casino games, and other items. Internal work begins before the final passenger disembarks and sometimes continues on the following sailing. It is amazing the planning that goes into a dry/wet dock and how efficient the procedure is.

I have seen these types of nutritional drinks in cartons with plastic tops. Might have been Ensure. I have also seen them in powder form, chocolate and vanilla flavor. I assume you mix with milk which is available on board, regular or skim.

If you book reserve class mini with plus or premier then you would receive really nice benefits. You could have breakfast and dinner each day and lunch on sea days in the reserve class DR section. Of course, depending on the ship there are a lot of additional dining options besides the DR. You can price your cruise out both in a full suite and in a mini suite by going to the Princess.com web site, select find a cruise and then go through the booking process without finishing.

probably also Vines.

I can't comment on HAL, but you already know what they offer. A mini suite is just a larger balcony cabin with a 3 seat sofa, slightly larger bathroom with tub shower. No important benefits. A Reserve Class mini suite is the same cabin design as other mini suites. The main benefit for those booking a Reserve Class mini suite is walk in Reserve Class Dining, which is the same menu as regular dining with improved service and one additional selection each evening. Full suites are entitled to full suite benefits detailed in the site shown below, including the special full suite breakfast each morning, Reserve Class Dining, ability to order room service dinner off the full DR menu and more. The Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess have two Sky suites. These have additional benefits beyond normal full suite benefits. Benefits are also obtained by any passenger in any cabin that books the Premier or Plus fares. It takes between two to 3 alcoholic beverages/pp/day to breakeven on the plus fare. See reference below. In 2024 Princess will introduce the new Sun Princess followed at some point by a sister ship, the Star Princess. These ships have an entirely different design with lots of new cabin categories, special DR for full suite passengers. https://www.princess.com/en-us/ships-and-experience/ships/staterooms/suites https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages

I don't see how the cabin steward would know anything about the financial booking transaction. This information is maintained at headquarters. It's possible the hotel manager has access to this information if it is something unusual, example you won a free cruise. The steward is aware of your loyalty status, if you are on b2b voyages, things like that. In all cases cabin steward service would remain exceptional.

Yes correct. Each adult is permitted to carry on 1 x 750 ml bottle of wine at no charge for use in the cabin. If that bottle is brought to a public area, ie DR, it is subject to a $20 corkage fee. Additional bottles may be carried on and are subject to the corkage fee when boarding. These bottles are marked and may be carried to any public area. This information is detailed in the FAQ's.

My experience is that you do not hear very much when across from the elevators. Lots of people will walk past your cabin day and night. You may hear them speaking. The doors you are referencing are fire doors. They are always open. They close in case of a fire. B436 is a cat. BA cabin. You can save a little money if you select a cat. BB which is a little further aft or maybe one of the Cat BD cabins with the extended balconies, example B706. I have found that being further aft really doesn't cause any issues. Port or starboard, no real difference. There is a smoking area on deck 7 starboard all the way aft on the patio.

Could also be that when sailing from Vancouver Princess can offer one way Vancouver to Hawaii and one way Hawaii to Vancouver.

Currently I think they are valid for only one year.

Yes, Adagio is a nice quiet lounge on deck 16 aft across from Sabatini's. Comfortable seating. It nice for daytime use for quiet reading. There are low tables, but some do play cards there. I remember that the bar opens late afternoon, but I guess with Ocean Now you could have a drink anytime.

In a balcony cabin the lower berths are placed in the twin config., and the upper berths lower from the ceiling one over each lower bed. In a few cabins the 4th berth is a roll away. In a mini suite the 3rd berth is the convertible 2 cushion sofa and the 4th berth lowers from the ceiling over the sofa. Interior & outside view cabins vary. Most have the 3rd & 4th berths fold out from the walls over the twin beds. Not certain how full suites are configured, except that the two family suites are actually two rooms with all lower beds.

Before the inclusive fares Princess was selling specialty coffee packages (actual cards way back) which included 15 specialty coffees or teas and unlimited brewed coffee. Elites and full suite passengers could trade their mini bar for 2 packages (cards). That was their coffee marketing plan in the past.

It is for new bookings. Your TA can cancel your current booking and apply the $100 deposit to a new booking. You would have to decide if you want your current deposit back or applied as payment toward the new booking number. You will have to do the math to see what is best.