PandaBear62

I sailed on the Escape this past summer in the Haven and will be on the Prima in March and the Encore in June. I'm looking at the Bliss for March 2025. Is the Haven essentially the same on all of these ships? Or does it vary? If so, has anyone made any type of comparison chart (or is there a published one?) of the different ships and what the Haven is like or each one? Thanks for any help.

Depart San Francisco, then San Diego, Ensenada and back to San Francisco

In a Facebook group I saw a post about all passengers needing to go through customs in San Diego before departing the ship and some passengers needed to wait until noon to depart. It was on a very crowded, Thanksgiving cruise. Is this typical? I am taking it in February, over Presidents weekend, so it may also be crowded. I'm planning our excursions, so I would appreciate any information. Thanks.

They have four sizes that range from a half ounce to almost three ounces. I've looked into getting them, but have found that I typically carry much smaller size containers than these. But I do like the look of them!

Final Thoughts, Pro’s and Con’s First, a criticism…..jeez…..get your act together Princess and have the app be accurate! We found at least 6 or 7 mistakes in turns of timings, etc and that was just the things we were looking at….there could very likely be more. I understand it’s a big job, but some of the mistakes are just ridiculous…..like the wrong menu for the Salty Dog Grill, the wrong times open for the same (these likely don’t change-make it right), events that are not accuarte and wrong times for events that are likely the same on each cruise. And the system overriding the credit card I entered and using a previous card….just not okay. Rant over. In my mind, Princess offers “old style” cruising (at least on the smaller ships, which is what I’m used to sailing). I happen to enjoy it….the wine bar, Crooners, playing Bingo, trivia and funny game shows. This cruise was no different. I love curling up with a book by a window and reading and watching the ocean. If they offer it, the 50% off on certain cruises is an awesome deal! I just booked a 5 night cruise for February a few days before we sailed. I was paying $2500 for an upgraded balcony for 2. I was able to cancel that cruise and book a mini suite for $1500! Both have the plus package. We tried out Princess Premium package for this cruise. It really was a no-brainer: for $60 more than we were paying with Plus and each we got two specialty dinners. I also found the wine selection for Premium to be significantly better than plus. I typically pay the difference for wine because I find the choices so poor with plus. We didn’t take many pictures but did have three from embarkation so picked those up. We also received the “clip” for our medallion and when I got it I thought, “who in the world would use this”, well the answer is “me”. I typically wore a lightweight cardigan on the ship and it was easy to have it clipped on, I barely noticed it. We each had one ice cream sundae but we could have done that with plus. We wanted to try the food at Vines but this just wasn’t a long enough cruise. We did enjoy our meal at Salty Dog Pub. Otherwise while getting the clip and a couple photos was nice, it wasn’t that big of a deal. For a cruise 5 days and under, we will most likely book it again. Both dh and I agreed we enjoyed not going to the dining room. I think it’s more fun eating there when we travel with others. We probably won’t eat there that much in the future for shorter cruises. For 7 days and longer, I’ll probably continue to book plus, especially for a cruise with more ports. But who knows….I may have been so spoiled by the better dinners and wine I may continue to book it. As you might be able to tell from previous comments, I’m not a “Princess is perfect” person. However, we do enjoy it and are happy they are continuing to offer more cruises from California. I also happen to like other lines for other reasons and will continue to sail on them as well. I know have three upcoming Princess cruises and two NCL. I like different lines for different reasons. We are working to get that free laundry with Princess!!! We love watching an episode of Love Boat before bed. I remember watching it (it started when I was a freshman in HS) and we really enjoy seeing all the stars from our childhood. The crew was excellent, but again, I’ve never sailed on a line where the crew wasn’t fantastic. And except for the self centered woman at guest services, everyone we chatted with was super nice and we never saw any other “poor” behavior. . But I also think it's the attitude. We want to have a fun time so we choose to focus on the positive and not let the irritating things bug us. I know I shared some things Princess “did wrong”. I do that only as a point of information. It truly didn’t bother my trip at all. Tipping: I know this is another topic that people can have strong opinions about. We’re middle of the road. I know we prepay gratuities and for some people, that’s enough. And if I was young or on a tight budget, it would be enough for me as well. But I’m not (although I used to be!). We can afford to show some extra appreciation and we do. To paraphrase a quote about golf….a bad day on a cruise beats a good day at work!

I’ve seen the bangle advertised in previous cruises. We had onboard credit and didn’t anticipate using much so I decided to try and get one. Don’t quote me on these specifics, because I may have it wrong. There is a bangle bracelet (I believe it’s free). Then you can buy a little bag with 5 charms. That was $10. Then some additional charms are free and some are $5. Apparently there are also some special charms on cruises, like a moose for Alaska. The bracelet bag it came in charms in the bag extra charms I bought i probably won’t wear it but thought it could be a cute Xmas ornament!

Honestly, if you aren’t super picky about the hard liquor (I am not) you’ll be fine. I found maybe 4 or 5 drinks that were over the $15 limit. Three that I actually wanted to try (I pretty much only drink Vodka and tequila except for a few cordial type drinks). Premier does have much better wine choices.

10/22/23 We were in the walk off group and had an assigned time of 8:55. However, when we walked towards our assigned waiting area about 8:30, we were informed that anyone could leave if they were walk off, it didn’t matter your time. We had our passports ready and they weren’t needed as we cleared customs before we left. It was a dreary day and a light but steady rain was falling. We were parked just a mile from port and planned to walk, but quickly decided to take a cab. There was no line waiting (we were told there had been much more a line a little while ago) and we popped into a cab. This had to be the easiest debarkation ever and we have had many easy ones! Great way to end our trip.

10/21/23 Finally, I had a good nights sleep and woke up with energy and not feeling totally exhausted! I go or up and dressed and headed to the International Cafe for breakfast, meaning a latte and crossiant. I popped into the shops for the charm for my bracelet and went to the end of season sale but found nothing I wanted. I went to the the guest services desk to try and figure out our bill. I “owed” money but dh still had credit. It turns off they still had his credit card from our previous cruise. When I booked I put in my number for both of us and Princess overrode this and used this previous card. A little frustrating but we got it worked out. I was also really irritated because everyone was in line and someone from the travel seminar group from Westa stood right behind someone at guest services (essentially cutting the line). My dh heard her say’ “I only have a quick question so I don’t want to wait in line”. You guessed it….she was still there when I made it to the front. She was wearing her name badge and I was just so embarrassed to be an agent myself (although, of course, I had no badge indicating this). But how rude. I wish Princess had some way of establishing queues for places like this, to help prevent this rudeness. We then headed up and booked a cruise from LA to Vancouver in April at the future cruise desk. It really was a bargain. So many times you see on cruise websites (not just Princess) about a big sale and really, there is very little difference between what they typically offer. I went to a shop that was supposed to have another free charm, but the person at the shop said it was a mistake, they didn’t have the charm (a moose). I felt bad for him, because people were irritated. He very kindly gave us the charm that was supposed to be given out this evening, which was good for me, as I have dinner plans at that time. We then tried to find a place to sit and read but everywhere was so crowded! I got the bright idea to run up to Adiago and success….only a couple of people there. At 12:30 we decided we’d better get something to eat so we wandered over to the buffet. It’s not my favorite choice generally, but I wanted to try it once. I found a couple of things to eat and a table (the buffet was quite full) and we ate our lunch and then headed to the cabin to change and pop into the hot tub by the spa. We had a great time chatting with a couple and then headed back to the room to change once again. We missed the final Bingo, which I kind of planned to do (saving myself the fee, which is a win in itself) We headed to Vines at 4 and got a glass of wine, and I got the bright idea to book another future cruise for my mom and myself. So I did that and then rebooked a cruise for February, getting an upgrade and saving $1000! Seriously, those 50% off sales available only on the ship are great. But they’re funky….each cruise has different cabins available and different deals. Our dinner reservation was at 5:20 so we headed to the Crown Grill. We hadn’t eaten here since 2019, so I was looking forward to it. The cheese bread….very yummy The scallops appetizer…also quite good. The sauce was very good. Dh had the spiny lobster cake. We both had the filet mignon. I had a baked potato. Dh had the filet with mushrooms and red skin mashed potatoes. Mushrooms Mashed potatoes I also had creamed spinach. The mousse…hard to describe but it was really good….mousse plus ice cream!! Another view Dh had the key lime bar. The things that look like chips on the top is meringue. Quite a delightful dinner. We then headed to see Magic to Do. I know this show brings about a variety of opinions but I enjoy it. I will admit, though, that I am very partial to the music of Pippin, Godspell and Wicked, as well as Pocohontas, so I am biased. The theme is really weak, at best; it’s better to just enjoy the performers and not try to follow it as a show with a beginning, middle and end. I would go see it again on another ship. In terms of quality, I’d say NCL’s Choir of Man is superior, as are Disney shows. While the reserved seating for Premium was nice, there was plenty of seating available. We then headed to Crooners to have a last drink and listen to some music. I tried a minty drink and really don’t like it. So I gave up and went back to my amaretto on the rocks. I obviously order drinks I think I will like, but if I don’t, I will give up and order something else. This is the first cruise ever I tried and didn’t like 2 different drinks. We stayed until about 10 and then headed up to pack and of course, watch an episode of Love Boat.

10/20/2023 I slept until close to 9. I had a very bad night, not being able to fall asleep and my knee was the most painful it has ever been. I met dh at the International Cafe and enjoyed a croissant. We left to get in line to get the Princess bangle bracelet. The line was long….almost all the way to the Explorers Lounge. But it moved quickly and I had my bracelet. We then went through the shops and then headed up to the Lido deck for lunch. Small complaint….we had looked at the app as to where to go. The app said the Salty Dog Grill didn’t open until 5:30, but of course, it’s the Salty Dog Bistro. And the menu is wrong….the grill has street tacos and has had them for quite for awhile. So we had our lunch and then had the special sundaes. I would say at least 15 were ordered while we were sitting. Tiramisu sundae Key lime We wandered around the ship a bit then headed to the room. I napped (I was exhausted) and dh went to the hot tub for awhile. At 3 we headed to the wine tasting. It was fun but a little disjointed. The wine was poured separate from the description of the wine. We had two young couples at our table and both were going to stay in San Francisco at the end of the cruise, so we chatted about what to do there and in wine country. We then went to Vines to continue the wine experience. I have been enjoying having the wines in the Premier package. I went to the shop again to get my next charm and we then went to the Salty Dog gastropub (yes, both our lunch and dinner were at the Salty Dog!) We were able to walk up and be seated. The breadsticks are the starter. These were good…crisp on the outside and soft inside. I had the tomato soup and grilled cheese starter. The grilled cheese was a little dry….you definitely need to dunk it. I had the hamburger for dinner as it’s supposed to be the specialty. It was quite good and a nice size, along with the serving of fries. Dh had the jelly donut holes I had the lemon mousse with pistachio. We both enjoyed our desserts. We then headed to play sports trivia….we knew quite a few but not enough to win. We stayed to watch Majority Rules. Again we didn’t win but did pretty well. We walked over to Crooners to listen to the music and have a nightcap. I tried a champagne cocktail, continuing to try drinks that fall in the Premier package limits. Unfortunately, I really didn’t like it, so ended up getting sorgmething else. But that’s the advantage of the package…if you try something new and don’t like it you can have something else. So I orderer my standby: amaretto on the rocks. We then headed to the room after this for more Love Boat episodes!

10/19/23 The next morning we had breakfast at the Diva (it’s included for Titanium Elite since they don’t have a lounge). We ate and relaxed an hour or so, packed up and walked down to the lobby about 10:45. The hotel is only .4 miles from the port, a gentle incline downhill. However, it was still raining so we took a cab. He took US dollars so it was about $5, so I paid $10 (I always appreciate it when we get a ride for such a short distance) and were quickly at the port. Our app said check in starting at 11:30, so we were a bit early. But just like at the airport, we quickly flew through the process and were on the ship! We went to our muster station and watched the safety video just to be done with those requirements and then got a table at Good Spirits at Sea. We sat near a couple who lives north of San Francisco and had a nice chat with them for an hour or so. I tried the watermelon Margarita (included in premier package). I had two….one was a little more savory and one more sweet but both were good. Thats Tajin around the rim. 10/19/23 The next morning we had breakfast at the Diva (it’s included for Titanium Elite since they don’t have a lounge). We ate and relaxed an hour or so, packed up and walked down to the lobby about 10:45. The hotel is only .4 miles from the port, a gentle incline downhill. However, it was still raining so we took a cab. He took US dollars so it was about $5, so I paid $10 (I always appreciate it when we get a ride for such a short distance) and were quickly at the port. Our app said check in starting at 11:30, so we were a bit early. But just like at the airport, we quickly flew through the process and were on the ship! We went to our muster station and watched the safety video just to be done with those requirements and then got a table at Good Spirits at Sea. We sat near a couple who lives north of San Francisco and had a nice chat with them for an hour or so. I tried the watermelon Margarita (included in premier package). I had two….one was a little more savory and one more sweet but both were good. Thats Tajin around the rim. We each had a sandwich from the International Cafe. I have eaten my lunch here many days on previous cruises. We headed down to the room to unpack and then to relax before our 5:20 reservations at Sabatinis. I have pretty bad insomnia, which manifests itself in not falling asleep (once I do I tend to stay asleep). Last night wasn’t too bad, but I was a little tired. I always ask the room attendant for an extra blanket and what I get is usually a cozy soft blanket almost like a throw. That way I can curl up on the bed and read and it’s nice and cozy. Dh napped….he never had an issue with sleeping and drops off in under 5 minutes whether it’s evening or a nap (actually quite infuriating when I can’t sleep!!!). We left to go to Vines, which is where we traditionally go before dinner. Unfortunately, because of not sailing on time, very few bars were open. About 5 the Captain came on and said there was an issue with the lifeboats (or maybe life rafts) and we would be delayed an hour. I ordered the Seghesio Zinfandel but it’s only available at Vines so I ordered a Pinot. Not sure what they brought but it was pretty bad and I only drank a little bit. We walked up to Sabatinis and the same thing occurred….you couldn’t order their speciality drinks. Which was a bummer as we booked both the Crown Grill and Sabatinis and I could easily booked Crown Grill for tonight….it was just a random choice. But that wasn’t going to stop me from enjoying our dinner! I love their Aracini balls. And their bread was wonderful. I then had the panzanella salad. It was quite yummy and the tomatoes were surprisingly good. Dh had the soup which we also liked . Next was the pasta course and I had the Trotie Con Pesto Fatto in Casa (thin twisted pasta, pesto, Parmesan, lemon and arugula). It may look a little funny but was quite good. I asked our server what she recommended for the entree and she suggested the OssoBuco Milanese. I would have never chosen this, but it was amazing. The meat was so tender you could just cut it with your fork. The saffron risotto was really good as well. Our plans were to go to the show in the Princess theatre, but our dinner went long. We wandered to the Crooners bar but their menu was unavailable because we had not left Vancouver. (We left around 8:15pn). We still had a drink, but then wandered to bed. I was tired after our day and my knee was hurting badly (I have osteoarthritis in both knees). We each had a sandwich from the International Cafe. I have eaten my lunch here many days on previous cruises. We headed down to the room to unpack and then to relax before our 5:20 reservations at Sabatinis. I have pretty bad insomnia, which manifests itself in not falling asleep (once I do I tend to stay asleep). Last night wasn’t too bad, but I was a little tired. I always ask the room attendant for an extra blanket and what I get is usually a cozy soft blanket almost like a throw. That way I can curl up on the bed and read and it’s nice and cozy. Dh napped….he never had an issue with sleeping and drops off in under 5 minutes whether it’s evening or a nap (actually quite infuriating when I can’t sleep!!!). We left to go to Vines, which is where we traditionally go before dinner. Unfortunately, because of not sailing on time, very few bars were open. About 5 the Captain came on and said there was an issue with the lifeboats (or maybe life rafts) and we would be delayed an hour. I ordered the Seghesio Zinfandel but it’s only available at Vines so I ordered a Pinot. Not sure what they brought but it was pretty bad and I only drank a little bit. We walked up to Sabatinis and the same thing occurred….you couldn’t order their speciality drinks. Which was a bummer as we booked both the Crown Grill and Sabatinis and I could easily booked Crown Grill for tonight….it was just a random choice. But that wasn’t going to stop me from enjoying our dinner! I love their Aracini balls. And their bread was wonderful. I then had the panzanella salad. It was quite yummy and the tomatoes were surprisingly good. Dh had the soup which we also liked . Next was the pasta course and I had the Trotie Con Pesto Fatto in Casa (thin twisted pasta, pesto, Parmesan, lemon and arugula). It may look a little funny but was quite good. I asked our server what she recommended for the entree and she suggested the OssoBuco Milanese. I would have never chosen this, but it was amazing. The meat was so tender you could just cut it with your fork. The saffron risotto was really good as well. Our plans were to go to the show in the Princess theatre, but our dinner went long. We wandered to the Crooners bar but their menu was unavailable because we had not left Vancouver. (We left around 8:15pn). We still had a drink, but then wandered to our cabin. . I was tired after our day and my knee was hurting badly (I have osteoarthritis in both knees). So we watched some Love.Boat episodes and I read and then tried to fall asleep.

Crown Princess 10/19-10/22/23 10/18/23 We drove to San Francisco and parked at a structure about ¾ mile from port (near Fisherman’s Wharf area, right next to the In-and-Out Burger, where the Alioto’s fish company was). We ubered to SFO and made it through security and stopped and had some clam chowder and made our way to the gate. The plane we were flying was slightly smaller, so only had two seats each on either side of the aisle. We were fortunate to be upgraded to economy plus so more leg room. The flight was quick and easy and we landed in Vancouver 4ish. We had used the Areive Canada app and we basically never stopped from the gate to baggage…a very easy process. My plan had been to try the Skytrain Canada Line to downtown, and then walk to the hotel (about 3 blocks). We each only had a regular sized backpack for this 5 day trip so it seemed very “do-able”. However, when we hit baggage, the door was right there to the pick up location for ride share and there was no signage for the Skytrain, so we went with what was easiest. It was also raining a bit so I wasn’t thrilled about walking to the hotel. The Skytrain is $4.25 plus $5 for the Canada Line add-on, vs. $38 for the Uber (both Canadian dollars). When I was younger and had less financial resources, I would have made the effort to find the Skytrain and would have walked in the rain, to save $20. At 61 for me and 65 for dh, we were happy to spend the extra (AKA we’re spending our kids inheritance). It’s about 30 minutes to downtown. Traffic was bumper to bumper going out of downtown, but we had a smooth ride into downtown. We arrived at the Metropolitan Hotel Vancouver (a Marriott Property) to our upgraded room (a one bedroom suite). I had already researched local restaurants within walking distance of the hotel but it was still raining so we decided to eat at the hotel. Not usually what I prefer but in this case a fantastic option. “Diva at the Met” was so much fun. Wednesday’s have happy hour drink prices all day. Our server (Brian) was delightful and the food and beverage manager came by and we had a great talk with him. The food was excellent. It ended up being so much fun! After hanging around in the restaurant a couple of hours, we headed up to the room. I luxuriated in the tub while dh watched TV. I had a reasonably good sleep, so I was happy the next morning.

I am not a super experienced Princess cruiser...I've done three (a 7 day Alaskan cruise with tour add on, a 16 day Panama Canal cruise and a 10 day Alaskan cruise out of SF). Two of these post Covid. I have two more Princess cruises planned, one in two weeks and one in February. So, needless to say, dh and I enjoy Princess. Since Covid, I've also sailed DIsney twice, Celebrity, NCL & Carnival once. I enjoyed them all. However, after our NCL cruise in July (I sailed with my mom and sister), I came home and told my dh we absolutely had to sail NCL again. I loved the specialty restaurant choices and the bars were great. There was one venue that had a fun band that did different types of shows every night. One night they did the entire "Rumours" album. I also loved their brew pub...they had an amazing draft beer selection (I think there were 20). Choir of Man has to be the best show on the seas. They also had two comedians (which dh and I both like). But what I really liked was 3 or 4 nights, there were three comedy shows each evening. The 6:30 show was the "family" show, the 8ish show PG13 and the 10 or 11 pm show (sorry, don't remember the exact times) was the adult show. I'm not into the really crass comedians (I like people like Kathleen Madigan, Jeff Foxworthy, etc) so I appreciated the tiered comedy shows. We played cards in empty bars and never had an issue finding a place. Food wise, I didn't see much difference between NCL and Princess. They both have similar food in the dining room and buffet, in my opinion. And truthfully, I'd say the same for DIsney. Carnival's dining room and buffet slightly lower, but with great food around the pool and Celebrity's buffet is the best I've ever eaten. NCL is a different kind of cruising experience. It is different than Princess. That doesn't make it bad or good for me....it's different. I plan to continue to sail Princess, as well as NCL. I will also "fill in" with other lines if they work for my schedule as well as the itinerary.

We are traveling next June. My mom, sister and brother are in the Haven. Dh and myself are in a balcony, not a club balcony. Haven booking is 130 days out, dh and I will be able to book 120 days out. Will it be a big deal if we just wait to the 120 day mark? Also, since we are on two reservations, how does that work? I can only book 2 through the app and the rest of my family, 3. I'd appreciate any advice from those who have had similar situations.

Can anyone share if there is actually a beach? Or is it just a rocky shore with snorkeling? How far is it to the other activities at the park? I really appreciate all the information shared. I think I may be booking it!

I have done two Alaskan cruises carry on only. One was 10 days, in and out of San Francisco. The other was a seven day Vancouver to Seward with 3 days in Vancouver pre-cruise and a 4 day post cruise Denali trip. It can be done. This is one packing report I made from my cruise in 2022. I will say this cruise we had beautiful weather. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2872035-trip-report-packing-for-an-alaskan-cruise-in-a-carryon/#comment-64177533 This was for a Norwegian Fjords cruise (2019), which may have some similiarities to an Alaskan cruise packing list: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2675974-norwegian-fjords-cruise-packing-list/ This may be in a trip report somewhere, but I couldn't find it. But its what I took in 2019 with some comments about what worked and didn't. This was a rainy and cold trip! "Dressy clothes" 1 pair of black dress pants (Anne Klein slim ankle pants 68% viscose, 27% nylon & 5% elastane) I tea length lace fit and flare dress 1 knee length “dressy” floral dress 2 dressy tops 1 pair of dressy flats I brought one dress because my girlfriend did. I should've left it out. Also, I didn't really need the dress pants. My black slacks (below) would have been fine with a dressy top and nice shoes). So two items brought I didn't need. "Regular clothes" 1 pair of dark wash Belle by Kim Gravel jeggings (pull on 92% cotton & 8% spandex) 1 pair Dark wash jeans 1 pair of Black slacks These ended up being good choices. I was going to bring black leggings, but was really happy I chose the jeggings instead. They were comfy around the ship with my tunics, but also looked nice with the tops and flats. I was also going to just bring all black bottoms, but I liked having jeans. With different tops and shoes, I felt like I had a good variety of outfits. 1 ¼ button down denim like blouse 1 white “dressy” tee 2 comfy tunics (1 J Jill light blue and 1 Roz and Ali black and white stripe) 1 nautical style tee from Chico’s 1 rayon and spandex long sleeved blue tee from Chicos 1 Eddie Bauer Gatecheck Tunic Tee Amethyst (casual) 1 Chico's Zenergy blue, black, gray t-shirt (95% polyester, 5% spandex) These all worked fine. The two casual tees were very lightweight, so brought along in case the weather ended up being nice, but could also be worn with a camisole under and a jacket if it was colder. However, I didn’t wear the white dressy tee and could have used on less long sleeved tee. Two knee length dresses (95% polyester and 5% spandex) These dresses were for sleeping and as a swim coverup (not the pool but the Enclave at the spa). Because they really were dresses and not actually pajamas/coverups, they gave me flexibility to wash and use for another reason. The only reason I liked the second dress was because I went to the spa every day, so it made things easier. 1 pair ankle rain boots (Chelsea style) 1 pair skechers 1 pair keen mary janes 1 pair of dressy flats (noted above) I also really went back and forth about shoe selection. Because our excursions were not heavily athletic, I went with a basic rain boot but added good support. Instead of flip flops for the spa, I brought a pair of skechers. That way I had two pairs for ship days, or to wear on excursions if the weather was nicer. I definitely didn’t need the two flats. 1 Chico’s puffer jacket 1 Eddie Bauer packable rain jacket 1 Chico’s weekenders ¾ sleeve jacket (sweatshirt style, but zip up and dressier-not fleece) 1 Ann Taylor lightweight cardigan sweater I get cold! I knew I’d need more outerwear. The puffer jacket and rain jacket were new, bought just for this trip. The puffer jacket was awesome…so lightweight, but so nice and warm. I was also surprised how warm the rain jacket kept me with just a lightweight jacket. I had a 8 ½ x 11 zipper pouch out of lightweight fabric (very lightweight). I packed the puffer jacket in it so I had a little pillow. The rain jacket fit into its own packet. Both condensed down so easily they were a dream to pack. These were all used. 3 bras 5 underwear 2 camisole/undershirts 2 tights (nude and black) 1 pair gloves 1 pashmina 1 neck gaiter 3 lightweight wool socks 2 trouser socks These are were fine. I did wear the tights, but it wasn't THAT cold and I could have just had one pair. I used the gloves and pashmina frequently. The neck gaiter came in really handy as well. With socks on my feet, an undershirt and tights and the neck gaiter and pashmina, it didn’t matter that my jacket wasn't super warm. In fact, except on the Glacier Bay day, I often took off my jacket.

Hi, this is the phone case. Not super cheap, but also not super pricey either. LAMEEKU iPhone 13 Pro Wallet Case, RFID Card Holder Shockproof 6.1 Inch - Black https://a.co/d/6UPnmMJ I bought it last summer so it’s been on maybe 4 or 5 cruises and still looks pretty new. I also liked it had a strap and not a chain…I don’t like chains (just my personal preference). With so many cruise lines using apps and with having the camera it’s great for a cruise.

Hi, I often post my packing lists but I don't always share how it worked out. For this one, I didn't post pre-cruise, so am sharing a "how it went post" and "things I might do differently". My cruise was a 7 day NCL Caribbean cruise on NCL out of Miami. A big advantage of NCL is not having any formal nights (you can dress up, but no requirement to do so. This cruise was chosen as I was volunteering in Orlando the week before. So, I had essentially three travel days, 2 "free" days in Orlando, 4 days volunteering and then a week cruise. When I volunteer at the large arena, it is ALWAYS freezing. Same with flying (I am always cold on planes). Packing List: Clothes 5 sleeveless dresses 2 very lightweight cardigans in taupe and navy blue 2 pairs Athleta Brooklyn style pants in taupe and navy blue 4 sleeveless tops (essentially mix and match with both pants) 1 nightgown 2 one piece swim suits 3 shoes: one skechers slip on (not sneaker style), one pair Teva sandals (blue color, a little dressier than the rainbow style) 7 pairs underwear 3 bras 5 no show socks 2 very lighweight slip shorts in taupe and navy 1 packable hat Misc 8.5 x 11 wet bag packable tote phone case crossbody Skipbo 2 decks of cards Sea to Summit small toiletry bag quart bag for liquids kindle iPad large portable battery small purse size portable battery quart size bag of electronic cords and misc birthday magnets for cruise door small crossbody purse Good Luck gifts for our team small square soft cube of OTC meds, sleep meds, bonine, etc I packed in a Travelpro 22" suitcase and a Kipling backpack. Because I planned to ship through my luggage both ways, I packed a small cube with my nightgown, pair of underwear, 2nd top and the lightest weight dress I had. I wore a pair of slacks, top, cardigan and skechers on the plane. I wasn't really worried about losing my luggage, but still like a "just in case" cube. At worst, I can use the cube the first might of I don't want to totally unpack. My carryon also had the electronic cords, iPad, kindle, wet bag and good luck gifts for the team (I tried to make these small but did have 8 sets of juggling balls, so it took a bit of room) I was missing a pair of flip flops. I ordered a pair of crocs from Amazon, but the size was too small. So I ended up buying a pair in Orlando (I planned this knowing there are crocs stores there). What I didn't plan was one pair was $34 and there was a sale for 2 for $40, so I actually bought two pairs. I also went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast the first day and bought 2 dresses from Cracker Barrel. As an aside, I LOVE Cracker Barrel. We have none in my area and only two (I think) in CA. So whenever I go somewhere that has a Cracker Barrel I have to go. In this case, I found two dresses, both on sale. One was one I saw in March when I visited my mom and actually had buyers remorse for not buying it (A navy blue tee style with an embellished anchor-so cute for cruising) and the other, a pretty ombre colored dress). I did not wear these on the cruise, because they are too warm for the Caribbean. but they will be cute for cruises, especially from the CA ports where the weather isn't so humid. The amount of clothes was almost perfect. I meant to bring enough underwear for 9 days (the days of the cruise plus travel time) but miscounted (oops!). So I handwashed two pair one day, not a big deal. I was a little cold in the gym, but actually layered both cardigans one day and was fine and luckily, the other days were warmer. I often freeze in dining rooms on a ship on other cruises, but was fine on this one. The cardigans were the perfect accessory. My dresses all had blue in them, but were different styles and patterns. For example, I had a navy blue maxi dress with big rose colored flowers with a crinkle style fabric. Then I also had a navy and taupe with kind a floral pattern intermixed with geometric patterns. Then a very "flowy" almost chiffon type dress that had a very tiny floral print, so seemed more navy. I didn't wear the hat much, but that was in part because I traveled with my 87 year old mom, so did very little excursions. I wear a lot more when dh and I travel and would continue to bring it. I loved the color scheme. Navy blue and taupe seems very "nautical" and because I had very different styled clothes, I didn't feel like I was wearing the same thing again and again. It really helped in reducing shoes. I used to always have black as a base color and will probably still do so for cold weather trips, but loved it for summer! I appreciated two suits. We didn't necessarily go in the pool every day, but it was great not to have to put on a damp suit. I don't think I'll ever only take one again! The no show socks are great for my feet while wearing skechers and take up no room. I am very happy with my crossbody phone case. I can keep a credit card or room key in it, or small bills for tips. Its great for cruising and taking pictures. I wasn't worried reaching my phone out to take phots, because if I dropped it, it would just fall around my neck. This goes with me on every vacation where I am taking a lot of photos. My electronics kit has become a dumping ground for lots of cords, chargers, etc/ I really need to clean it out-I was way too may unneeded items, Same with my OTC meds bag. I packed it for a 16 day cruise and had way more items than I needed, especially considering I was "on land" for over half the trip. Because I travel a lot, I am realizing I need a large and small of many items, like my electronic bag, my OTC meds bag and even my toiletries. Because I'm lazy.....I like to have it ready to go and not repack these items each time I'm gone. This is the second cruise I took cards and didn't need them, because you can get them on the ship. I probably need to leave them off in the future on cruses. When I travel with my mom and sister, we play a lot of cards. Finally, I am plus sized (1x or 2x and size 18/20). So my clothes aren't small. I hope this helps someone who may want to pack lightly for a cruise (If you don't tha';s okay! This is just my style)

There is a menu. My mom and sister had the wraps and they liked them. I had a hot dog. There are obviously other choices….hamburgers, etc. Maybe 8 menu items? I’ll try and take a picture today.

I’ve sailed to Alaska twice on Princess and was very happy. They have a large quantity of educational programs….naturalists, educators, etc. Last year a man from one of the local Alaskan tribes carved a totem pole over the course of the season. It was wheeled out multiple times and he talked about his upbringing, history, etc as he carved the totem using traditional methods. I’m excited to see what NCL will do.

Back to the Haven for dinner. I blew it and forgot to take a picture before I ate but these are lobster deviled eggs. Delicious. The lobster tail and filet were amazing. The lobster was stellar. I forgot to add, my brother decided he wanted to go to Alaska. So now I have to go to the Cruise next desk AGAIN and meet with Bruno. I am seriously setting embarrassed by how many times I’ve been there! So my mom, brother and sister will share a 2 bedroom and dh and I will get a different room. We played cards after dinner until 11 and then turned in.

Friday My sister and I were up and ready by about 8:30 this morning to do a spur of the moment excursion. I absolutely wanted to see the spider monkeys at Monkey Island and that was our only agenda. We found our way to the monkeys and arranged to be part of the 9:40 group. It was a fantastic experience. The guide was wonderful. He took pictures with his camera (which you can buy) as well as with yours. You basically have a half hour with the monkeys. The first part is structured, with the guide doing pictures and the second part is you just getting to be with the monkeys. It was $25 to do it. A monkey jumped in my hand immediately in front of my phone and I was essentially snapping “monkey selfies”. Seriously, best day ever! We got 41 photos that the guide took and you pay by the number of people. We paid $35 for the two of us. A family of seven paid $80. After visiting the monkeys we walked to a pool in yhe vicinity that had a big pool and lazy River . There is also a larger pool a little closer to the ship but doesn’t have a lazy River. They are free, you just purchase food or drinks. But no one is monitoring and there is no minimum. I’m sorry I didn’t even think to take pictures. It was really a fantastic day. After walking back to the ship we cleaned up and walked to the brewhouse again before the 6:30 comedy show with Flip. I love the brew house and all the beer choices. The comedy show was hilarious and clean (the family show). At the end he brought on a guy who does the dueling pianos and the audience suggested a music genre and popular movie. For example, Home Alone and rap. He made up a song about Home Alone in the style of rap. He did this with three movies and it was hilarious.

My mom is having a great time! She and my dad cruised a lot, as well as traveled in Europe quite a bit. She can no longer travel alone, so my sister and I take her on a vacation every March (when my sister, a teacher, has spring break) and every summer. We’ve done lots of different things, but now will stick to cruising. She enjoys it so much and in some ways, it’s easier than a land based vacation (although more expensive, lol).

Thursday I’m starting to feel a little bummed as we just have three days left on our cruise! My mom and sister got up and went to breakfast. I was the last one out of bed today and as I was getting up they wanted to leave and walk around the port area. I didn’t care much at all, except to to tell them to ask at the shops if anyone sold stamps. If so, I’d head out and write some postcards and then hop back to the ship. I went to the restaurant and just asked for a latte to take to the pool area. I’ve eaten so much this week, I just wanted a coffee. Yes, I could have used the Nepresso in my room or coffee by the pool, but really wanted a latte. I stopped by the concierge and ordered a cake for my moms birthday. Her birthday is actually Monday, but next week was not a good week for me to sail. So we’ll celebrate on Saturday. I also picked a half dozen cruising ducks my sister made to distribute around the ship. She made a bunch and hadn’t hidden very many, so wanted to do something for her. So as soon as I finished my coffee I was off. I basically walked the public decks of the ship, hiding ducks in pretty easy to find spaces and checking out what’s around the ship. We’ve really only been to our specialty dining, the show rooms like the theater and comedy club and then hanging out in the Haven. As I think I’ve mentioned, we’re booking two more NCL cruises. One in March out of Galveston and one in June to Alaska. We are seriously considering “downgrading” (lol) to maybe a suite or balcony but honestly, when I was out and about I was overwhelmed by the quantity of people and I think my mom could not handle the noise, the large amounts of people, etc. My sister? Yes, absolutely. My husband and I? Yes, we’ve cruised a lot and typically book an obstructed view (one step above an inside cabin, because my husband likes natural light). But my mom? Unfortunately, I think she’d go crazy. She has just lost that level of tolerance and adaptability. I realized this when I returned to the Haven pool. The temperature must be 15 degrees or more less than on deck! And so much quieter! No loud music, not tons of people. However, I will admit that even the Haven is not without issues. The other day, a staff member obviously told a child to stop the splashing (they were being very disruptive to everyone, not just playing in the pool) and he just told her “no”. She then talked to what I assume are the parents and they said there was nothing wrong with what he was doing. However, it is still miles quieter than the other pools (please not, I’m not saying it’s bad….I enjoy the music and people around….it’s just that my mom couldn’t handle it) We ate lunch by the pool. My mom and sister had the chicken Caesar wraps and me, the hot dog. We spent an hour or two in the hot tub. It’s not super hot, more like bath water, which was great for the current temperature. There were kids in pool playing and I realized the issue isn’t them playing, it’s the high pitched screeching. It was quite funny listening to them decide and change the “rules” of whatever game they made up. A thoughtful mom came over and reminded them not to scream. Not too successful, but I did appreciate the effort! After awhile I went backto the room and then to book our next two cruises. We decided on a 2 bedroom Haven for my dh, mom and sister. We will sail out of Galveston in March and then from Seattle to Alaska in June. For Galveston we had a few cabin options but for Seattle there was one left! While I was doing that my sister and mom cleaned up and wandered out in the ship. I met them at Syds Pourhouse and we met up with two couples who were on a mission to try every drink in the menu. They were obviously feeling no pain and were fun to chat with. We then went to La Cucina for dinner. It was not that great. After 90 minutes we still didn’t have our entrees. We were asked if we wanted a second glass of wine but didn’t arrive until we finished eating. Caprese salad Beef tenderloin Even the vibe was kind of negative. The waitstaff was very disengaged and it just wasn’t that fun. I would have rather eaten in the Haven. It was quite a disappointment after the fantastic experience at LeBistro. We went to the late night comedy show featuring both comedians. Definetely adult rated but there were also kids in the show (I think they weren’t supposed to be there). We headed to bed to be rested for the DR tomorrow

I’m not sure what the Waterfront” is, however, the outside tables are just basically outside Le Bistro and across from Headliners.