dides

Folks also rave about the "obstructed" balcony staterooms on Emerald deck (forward) where you get the get extra space but with metal instead of glass railings (i.e the obstruction). Examples are staterooms in the range E107 to E110

Not always the case with Princess - the inaugural is usually for the first paying passengers but there is generally a preview cruise from the shipyard for press and big wigs who have to sleep somewhere! 😀 We have done 7 inaugurals across 5 different lines and love the excitement of it all

But underlines that Bistro Su Lar Mer didn't make the cut - linking into the plan to remove it from Sky Princess in the April dry dock (and replace with Crooners)

Boarding times usually open 60 days prior to embarkation on the app. They don't usually check your boarding time in Southampton.

This is a pic of the same sized sofa bed in our Sky Premium Suite pulled out, if that helps.

I have cruised on Iona and there are some fundamental differences to Sun Princess such as the walkaround promenade deck (with the infamous direct view into mini suite balconies) . I think all you can say is that Sun Princess is based on the same footprint as these ships but not the same skeleton and design.

Chatter on another site (via info at a Captain's Circle party onboard Sky Princess last week) that her dry dock in April/early May this year will result in: - Bistro Sur le Mer is being turned into Crooners Bar , - The bar at Crown Grill being renamed to Wheelhouse Bar - New carpets and furniture Will be interesting to see if this actually happens!

TO UPDATE THIS LIST: DO NOT push the "Quote" button. It creates a copy that the next person cannot properly update. DO select and copy ALL of the text (including the instructions and the list) up to COPY TO THIS LINE . . . from the most up-to-date list (the most recent reply with the list).  Go to the bottom of the latest post, to the "Reply to this Topic..." box to create a new post. Paste your copied text into that box. Make your modifications to the list. Add change notes at the bottom. Click the "Submit Reply" button just below the list you are modifying. Confirm that everything is correct! You can edit for up to 20 minutes. SHIP CAPTAIN CRUISE DIRECTOR ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR DIR, RESTAURANT OP's Caribbean Princess Ozren Marelic Daniel France Madison Adams Oscar Perego Coral Princess Diego Perra Andi Sanders Kelvin Joy Joachim Rothe Crown Princess Vincenzo Lembo Kristoff Greyling (until Mar 2nd) Michael Kujawski Mariusz Czemarmazowicz Diamond Princess Fabrizio Maresca Sophie Gideon Duke Christopher Jean Paul Muslu Discovery Princess John Smith Armando Merin Neil Rose Silvio Zampieri Emerald Princess Giuseppe Castellano David Frost Martyn Moss Enache Popescue Enchanted Princess Mario Ciruzzi Jody Miles Bernie Fuentes Francisco Patricio Grand Princess Michele Bartolomei Aaron Hawkins Callie Smit Giuseppe Francina Island Princess Paul Slight Cole Bockman Susan Rawlings Francesco Ciorfito Majestic Princess AndreaSpinardi Kevin Tugwell Ron Goodman Douw Steyl Regal Princess Paolo Arrigo Allie Ambriano Alex Yepremian Nicola Furlan Royal Princess Steve Holland Corinne Steel Ruth Sandell Daniele Saredi Ruby Princess Mario Tani Michael Reitano Lauren Meyer Jacques Ghennai Sapphire Princess Todd McBain Fernando Cunha Ben Powney Mario Propato Sky Princess Marco Fortezze Matt Barnard Dan Falconer Ciprian Hoidreag <COPY TO THIS LINE SO THERE IS SPACE TO TYPE CHANGE NOTES AFTER THE CHART> Update to CD's from social updates . Andi Sanders now on Coral and Kristoff Greyling for the short term on Crown (until March 2nd)

Yes there are 2 showers on the women's side with an accessible one. I recalled taking these pics in response to a forum request when we were on the first Sky Princess paying passenger cruise in Oct 2019 (seemed to have lost access to all my old historic threads on cruisecritic before Aug 2020 so only have my pics archive)

Next collection of Sun Princess construction pics:

Another social media site where you need to be a group member....😉

Some construction pics of Sun Princess from last month And from this week:

I had a rare (for me) diabetic hypo at 5:30am on embarkation morning and was able to order something using OceanNow to our cabin at 6am! Quite limited on breakfast items though 😀 Backup was to wake up my other half, get him to throw some clothes on and go along to the International Cafe but they saved the day.

1) Valiant Lady - 3 Day UK Mermaiden (March 2022) 2) Enchanted Princess - 5 Day Belgium Netherlands Sampler (May 2022) 3) Sky Princess - 7 Day Norwegian Fjords (June 2022) 4) Enchanted Princess - 4 Day Netherlands Channel Islands Sampler (August 2022) 5) Discovery Princess - 6 Day Pacific Wine Country (September 2022)

Matt Roberts, one of the passengers mentioned in the article, just did a live interview on BBC News here in the UK: Here is what was discussed: BBC News: Hundreds of passengers have been stranded on a cruise ship off the Australian coast after potentially harmful growth was found on its hull. The Viking Orion was reportedly denied permission to dock in Adelaide after authorities discovered biofoul, a cumulation of microorganisms plants or small animals. Well, it’s since stopped in Melbourne, where passengers passed through Australian customs before returning to the ship. I am joined now by one passenger on board the Viking Orion, Matt Roberts. Matt, thanks so much for joining us on BBC News. What's it been like for you? Matt: Thank you for having me. Well, it's been frustrating to say the least. We found out on December 24th that we would not be going to any of the ports of call that we had hoped in New Zealand and then missing Tasmania. And then we intended to go to Adelaide. And then after three days at sea, actually, four days at sea, we were told, oh, Adelaide won't take us either. BBC News: So, how has life been for you being stuck on board that ship? Matt: Well, I will say that, you know, it's a privilege to be on the ship and life has not been as bad for us as it's been for all of the staff and crew who have been working really, really hard to take care of us and have been putting a great face on a very difficult situation. They don't get to go outside, like we do. Their free time is spent below deck in their quarters. So, but that said for us, it's been… I don't think many of us would have chosen to fly halfway around the world for this kind of once in a lifetime opportunity, if we knew we're going to be bobbing at sea through the New Year. BBC News: Okay, so what have you been told about the coming days? When do you think you'll be able to disembark and go on your way? Matt: We won't be able to get off the ship until, we understand, January 4th. So that will be from the last time we were, well, I mean, aside from this literal three-minute, excursion off the boat into Melbourne, to get our passports looked at and then sent back on the boat. We haven't been actually able to be free on land since Boxing Day. So January 4th will be the first day we've gotten to actually go for a walk. BBC News: And what the company been saying, the cruise company, about compensation? Matt: There hasn't been a lot. I have to be honest with you. Some senior members of the crew, very senior members of the crew describe their roles as being, this is a quote, glorified bus drivers and they said that they are kind of at the mercy of what the company tells them to do. And they don't get to choose where they go. We were told very early on in the trip when we thought there were just going to be a couple of ports that we were going to miss, that they would give us a 50%, voucher toward a future cruise which if you do the math is really, 25% discount off of two cruises. BBC News: I want to ask you is put cruising now for life? Matt: You know, I don't think I'm gonna sign up for anything right away. BBC News: Okay, well fair enough. Matt thank you, once again I would say, for taking the time to talk to us but obviously, I think you've got quite a lot of that going right now. Matt: Nowhere to go but thank you for having me.

It depends what is important to you - itinerary or ship. We have been on both but not to Alaska. Discovery will have better open decks - albeit not a full wrap-around promenade deck - for viewing and NCL Encore will have the indoor forward-facing floor-to-ceiling windows of the Observation Lounge. If you are staying on your balcony then that won't really matter. Food and service were much of a muchness - you adjust expectations according to the line.

Yes, the second TV is in the far corner of the bedroom. See this pic from our Sky Princess Med Inaugural cruise:

All suite passengers on Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted and Discovery Princess can use the Concierge Lounge. You are provided with door access cards in a named envelope in your suite on embarkation day along with a letter summarising some of the main perks (see example below). This does not include free access to the spa on Royal class ships. There may have been some confusion in that complimentary Lotus Spa Thermal Suite access is provided on these older ships for suite guests - Caribbean Princess, Crown Princess, Emerald Princess, Ruby Princess, Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Coral Princess & Island Princess.

So sorry my other half said he can't explain it - he should have done a video of it lol

Yes, the Majestic is a Royal Class ship and they all have a Concierge Lounge on deck 14 not far from the aft elevators. It should have the same standard offering for Suite passengers - Concierge service at certain times of day, coffee machine, free soft drinks, nibbles (small sandwiches, cheeses, breadsticks, canapes, desserts). Don't know if it has the Suite Lounge complimentary drinks between 5pm and 7pm like the other ships as this has been a relatively new perk. Maybe someone else can advise.

We did the September repo from Vancouver to LA so technically yes. But it was like a mill pond. 862638597_PXL_20220926_152841298_TS2.mp4

Agreed, we had some really busy cruises with bad weather on sea days (ex-UK of course) so the Concierge Lounge was a little oasis of calm and guaranteed indoor seating. We also discovered the knack of opening the little metal fridges to get more (cold) cans of soda when there were no servers around. And for our fly-cruises I always use the launderette next to the Concierge Lounge - easier to sit and wait for the washer and dryer to complete there rather than walking up and down the length of the ship each time! (yes I know we could use the free suite laundry service but don't like to for casual/intimate clothing - plus this launderette was strangely free of charge on Discovery last September!)

We have booked a forward Premium Suite on 6 of our 7 most recent Princess cruises. Love the roomy bedroom. Very handy for Sabatini's Suite Breakfast but a bit of a trek to the Concierge Lounge. The balcony is the standard depth but is longer with nicer furniture. Preferred Baja or Caribe deck locations - Aloha deck had too much overhang. Here are some pics:

Yes, this was the same issue I reported in #54, two posts up the thread

Julia (Solo Cruiser) shows this setup for a Riviera deck S4 in her vlog from Regal Princess last summer. Go to 4.19 for the footage.