Luvmyrotti

For those who have sailed on the Grand recently, can you advise of what's on the menus, particularly on the Always Available selections? My husband's go-to choices were always either the beef medallions or the tri-tip. Are those gone from the menu? Is the Grand doing the Curtis Stone items?

We bit the bullet and booked the 28 day Hawaii, Tahiti and Samoa cruise for October of 2017. Not only did we get the sip and sail promotion and a hefty discount and OBC, but we got an upgrade from a Riviera deck balcony to a Caribe deck balcony!

 

The flip side of this coin is that we may not be able to cruise until then as it's a very expensive cruise. But it will be so worth it!

So envious! I will do this some day!

Considering Princess for the first time for the itinerary. Have previously enjoyed concierge class on Celebrity. Curious what would the equivalent cabin on Princess?

 

TIA

Princess recently introduced the club class mini-suites. Includes private dining room and other amenities.

We have recently sailed on the Caribbean Princess from Southampton (19 – 31 July) on the around the British Isles cruise and we have a few comments to make about this cruise.

Firstly, as experienced travellers and cruisers, we realise that sometimes changes have to be made to an itinerary. We do not understand why, on this cruise, when a change was made for the port of Cobh we were not informed. The Port Guide CORK (Cobh) which we took ashore so as to have the details of where the ship was docked and the Port Agent contact details stated “Your Princess ship is docked at Deep Water Pier in Cobh”. The Princess Patter on the previous night said we would be at Ringaskiddy Pier which to non-locals meant nothing. This, we assumed, was at Deep Water Pier, still in Cobh and we had no information to tell us that this was on the opposite of the river and we would need to go to Cork to access Cobh. We were in a public area when the first announcement was made about going ashore and no mention was made of the fact that we were not docked in Cobh. Even the tourist people said when they came on board that the public announcement said “welcome to Cobh”.

On the morning we caught the shuttle into Cork for a couple of hours with the intention of spending the rest of the day in Cobh. We nearly caught the train back to Cobh from Cork , but caught the shuttle back. On returning we asked the way to walk into the town only to be told “swim” or “get the shuttle back into Cork, make your way across town to the train station and catch the train”. Had we made our own way back to Cobh we could have been in serious danger of missing the ship when we went to return to it after doing our sight-seeing.

This lack of communication is reprehensible, our day was spoiled as a visit to Cobh had been researched and planned weeks beforehand. We missed out! What is also unforgiveable is the fact that your staff did not bother to answer either of our complaints.

Let us contrast this with an experience we had on the Sea Princess several weeks earlier. We had a change of dock for the Port of Stockholm. The Captain sent a letter to every cabin the night before notifying us of the change and giving the details of the new arrangements. This gave us adequate time to review our plans for the next day.

The other thing that really affected our enjoyment on board Caribbean Princess was the lack of quiet places with adequate seating to relax, read, or do our own thing. On a previous cruise last year on the same ship, we retreated to the Skywalker’s lounge for comfortable, quiet accommodation. On this cruise the some space (less than a quarter of the space) had been given over to the Mormon Church. This may have been alright if they had not been given a microphone and amplification that pervaded the whole area. Upon complaining to Passenger Services we were assured that they would be asked to reduce the noise factor. However they were louder than ever thus annoying many more passengers than Mormon Church members present. The Mormons said this was a private meeting and we should go elsewhere.

On one afternoon when the Mormons were at maximum volume we went in search of a quiet area. This is what we found: Wheelhouse Bar was closed for another Private Function (about 15 people), the Explorers lounge had an Art Auction, the Piazza had a loud children’s function (could be heard on decks, 5, 6 and 7). All other public areas had published activities taking place. The Library is much too small and of course Horizon’s Court (as suggested to us by Passengers Services) is always noisy, crowded and uncomfortable, certainly not a place of quiet relaxation.

You are apparently NOT the Consummate Host and we certainly have not come back new and are reviewing our future loyalty to Princess Cruises.

Isn't your cabin a quiet place to relax, read and do your own thing? That's where we do those things, not in a public space, which by it's very nature can be loud.

My husband uses a scooter to help get around when there is a lot of walking involved. We have rented a Pride scooter (I think it was a Go-Go) from special needs at sea on two different occasions, staying in a Vista Suite. The first was on the Island Princess, the second on the Coral. The scooter did fit through the door, although it needed some careful handling as there wasn't a lot of room to spare. We would park it along the wall between the door and the desk, which made it convenient for charging. Both times we were in rooms that were near the aft elevators. Once in the room, he used either a walker or a cane.

 

We requested a shower chair from Princess's access department. It was a tight fit in the shower, but it worked. The biggest issue was the step up into the bathroom. He actually fell and banged his shin trying to enter when he was half asleep one time. Had to visit the med center and fill out an accident report. Fortunately nothing was broken, just bruised.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Sue

Thanks Sue, this is really helpful!

Thank you Moki'smommy, I will reach out to the accessibility office. Hopefully they will have the details about doorway widths.

Thanks for the info Laura. Yes the smartscoot is the small scooter that folds up and is pretty compact.

The door is definitely a concern. I'm just worried that if I call Princess, I won't get a knowledgeable rep and won't get correct information on the doorway size.

We should be near to the aft elevator bank so that the cleaning carts shouldn't be a huge problem.

Thanks!!

I will be traveling with two of my friends next January or February. I think we will end up on the Caribbean Princess on a six-day itinerary.

One of my friends has mobility issues and we will be renting a smartscoot for her (she can walk and stand, just not for long periods of time or for long distances). My friends have never stayed in a suite (both are Princess newbies) and so I would like to treat them to a vista suite, which are my favorite. I've sailed in vistas a number of times, but never really considered them from the perspective of being mobility challenged or using a scooter. So, a few questions:

- how wide are the suite doorways and will they accommodate a smaller scooter?

- I think the bathrooms are a small step up or lip, which she can handle and I think the glass shower stall would be able to accommodate a very small round shower chair - what does anyone who has been in one think?

- given the size of the suite, there will be plenty of room to accommodate a small scooter, but is there anything else I'm not thinking of?

I just really want her to have a great time. She's a wonderful friend who unfortunately is mobility challenged because she had a tumor growing on her spine. I don't know how much more travel we'll be able to do together, so I want this to be great.

Thanks for any info anyone can offer.

We've thought about doing the 10 day Alaska out of San Francisco, so I'm enjoying your perspective. I can't wait to see your pictures, especially the pod of orcas!

We're strongly considering booking a Princess cruise B2B for Hawaii and Alaska for April, 2018. The deposit is only $400 for both, but the travel insurance is $900. Our TA says the insurance must be paid within 2 weeks of booking to get pre existing. If we decide not to take the cruise we can transfer all or part of the coverage to another cruise. We will receive a voucher for the unused premium to be used later.

 

We've never booked a cruise so far in advance. Is this what most of you do when booking cruises well in advance?

Yes, we always take our insurance within 21 days of booking, even if very early (we are looking at a 2018 Hawaii sailing too). We need good coverage that has a pre-existing waiver since my husband is in long term maintenance treatment for cancer. It is worth it to us to have the protection and high levels of coverage for care and evacuation. We too can typically just apply it to another booking should we change our plans. Better safe than sorry.

In March, the b2b people were told to come to the theater at 10 am. When everyone was there, iincluding the two selfish idiots who arrive over an hour late, we were directed to the theater exit where immigration checked our passport photo against our face. We were not required to get off the ship. People staying on went back to their cabins or any where else they wanted to go.

Oooo, this is nice. What port?

I'm confused about the suite breakfasts. I thought the ships without Sabatini's did the Suite breakfast in the Crown Grill? With the advent of Club Class, will it be combined with the Club Class mini's and become a "nothing special" option moved to one of the MDR's to accommodate the larger crowds:confused::mad::confused:

 

Bob

This is exactly my worry Bob. If they do away with the Sabatini's/specialty breakfast for suites, I will be very sad. Besides the large cabin of the suites and the aft views of the grand class vista suites, the specialty breakfast is my favorite perk.

It's so confusing in how they are listing these premium minis on the website. They now have the regular minis still listed in their own category (same as before), but now they are listing these premium minis in the suite category. I guess I thought they'd leave the premium minis in the mini category or would create a separate category for the club minis, like what Celebrity does with the Aqua class listing

I think it's misleading to list these minis as suites.

Don't believe for one minute that breakfast in Sabatini's for full suite passengers will go, if for no other reason than the fact that the people who take advantage of breakfast in Sabatini's get excellent service and many show their appreciation by tipping well at the end of the cruise.

 

Can't see for one moment believe that the staff who work in Sabatini's would want to give up that perk.

 

Also if they went down this path, then for an Elite, particularly on the Sun class ships where the mini-suites have a similar layout to the full suites on the other classes of ship, there would be little or no benefit to be gained by booking a full suite.

Well that's hopefull. The brochure only mentions the club breakfast and a mimosa, with no mention of a specialty location breakfast.

In so far as breakfast is concerned, the club dining has been introduced for club mini-suite passengers and therefore also made available to suite passengers, but would a suite passenger want to take advantage of this when they could take breakfast in Sabatinis?

 

My concern is that they are going to do away with the Suite breakfast in Sabatini's (Crown Grill on Ruby & Emerald) in lieu of this new club dining area. I will be very disappointed if that happens. Besides the extra room in our suite cabins, the best perk, for us, is breakfast in Sabatini's.

We typically sail in suites and still buy the AIBP. Though we still get the suite mini bar and the Sabatini's breakfast, we like the ease of the AIBP and find it worth it (plus we really like cocktails)!:p

Ummm, the full sites are more expensive . . . But fewer so more desirable.

If the ship left with the kids wouldn't that be considered kidnapping?

It would appear that they had relatives or other traveling companions on board. My guess is this would be checked prior to leaving without the parents so that there is no "kidnapping" (really? :rolleyes:)

If the ship had already pulled away from the pier, there certainly would have been no returning, be it Princess or any other line.

Princess has a nice, but different, Sangria recipe. It is available even if you don't see it on the menu. The bartenders will generally know how to make it or can look it up in their book. I discovered it on a Med TA I took a few years ago. It is red wine, chambord, orange juice all mixed together over ice with a bit of soda water for bubble. I enjoy it a few times every cruise even if not on the drink menu. I hope your friend likes it!

We still use those whenever drinking champagne! :D Two of them were etched with the year (1989) which I think may have been one of the last years they were given to Circolo del Comandante (Captain's Circle) members but obviously my memory could be wrong. :p

 

I agree about the prices...the attached PDF copy of a 1977/1978 Princess brochure has prices that nearly 40 years later are similar to today's prices.

 

Our first Princess cruise was on Sitmar six months before merging with Princess...white glove service from silver platters was amazing! :D

 

Although the older ships' cabins were not as good as those we have today. Back then they built a ship & figured out where to put cabins (there were some really odd cabins) but now the cabins are modular and much nicer than what we had back then.

That brochure from the 70s is great! It's amazing that the were commanding those prices on a short sailing, and of course no real balcony cabins or suites as we know them today. Thanks for sharing!

Enjoy the mini! If you want to hold onto the partially covered balcony, mark it as no upgrade (or as a meta upgrade only).

The Caribe deck aft Vista suites are our favorites. You will love it! Enjoy!

Very pretty! Thanks for sharing!!!

I love the extre space of a mini. The uncovered balcony is not an issue for me. I would take it in a second!