HomelessBear

March 25

On 3/21/2024 at 7:55 PM, MTNest93 said:

Only category C1 and C2 cabana mini suites have access to the Cabana deck on deck 9.

I went to be nosy and find out how folks access the Cabana deck space, and there's a door at the end of the cabana cabins on deck 9 with a pad on the wall, which presumably opens with the appropriate medallion.

March 24

Glad it wasn't just us experiencing this then! Yep you look familiar 😊

March 24

We were on Sun P for it's 2nd cruise 9th March. I'll do a full review when I get the time, but thought I'd mention a few issues we had with Reserve Dining.

According to Princess:

Reserve Collection Dining* is an exclusive dining area featuring expedited seating with no wait or reservations required. It also features additional menu options, dedicated waitstaff and unique-styled decor.

Not on Sun Princess!

On our 10 night cruise, we had a few minutes wait just twice. Wait times were usually 10-20 minutes, but we also had a number of evenings with a 30 minute wait. The worst one was a wait of 40 minutes! We went at different times but it made little difference.

Also discovered that those in Reserve dining had LESS choices than the main dining room, especially for the main course. Fettucine alfredo (a favourite of lots of us) is also not available (but was in the main dining room). As the menus were on the TV, I compared them daily and felt a bit annoyed and short changed if I'm honest. The new Reserve dining room has its own kitchen, which is much smaller than the main dining room kitchen, hence the limited dishes available apparently.

The staff had only been working together for a few weeks, and clearly hadn't got team working or themselves into a routine. They were also using a new hand held computer system for ordering, which some appeared to be struggling with, as many resorted back to trusty pen and paper. There clearly weren't enough staff and dinner took around 2 hours most evenings, and that didn't include the wait time to get in.

Only occasionally did the waiter introduce themselves or give us menu recommendations, and on one particularly busy evening, they completely forgot one course of the menu, then brought it when we were having the main meal!

We were often told on arrival that there were "no tables available" when we could see ones set up and not being used. This was probably due to a lack of staff to service them, as I noticed that they kept us waiting then filled up a number of tables in the same section, so that the wait staff could do a number of orders at the same time. I can understand then doing that, but it's not what I've experienced in Reserve / Club Class dining on other cruises.

I totally appreciate that it takes time for staff to develop working together and its a new way of working on this ship, but there were a lot of disgruntled passengers who weren't getting from Princess what they'd signed up for..ie. no wait. We tried to be chilled and 'go with the flow', but must admit that it got a bit wearing not knowing what the dining experience was going to be like that day and how long we'd have to wait. Twice I was told they "don't have" decaf coffee or tea, often told they didn't have something that I'd had from the same breakfast menu many times before and regularly waited over 30 minutes between courses, which starts to irritate after a while. It was also a regular event that once the diners had left, the tables were not cleared. We often sat (as did many others) near to tables with dirty crockery, glasses and napkins. It was only after one man had some choice words with the restaurant manager that something was done for the next few evenimgs, and staff were brought in to clear tables, the left again. Few days later it was back to sitting by used tables.

I'm so sorry to sound negative and I tried my best to keep up beat, but it just got me down after a while. We've had great experiences before with Reserve / CC dining and were looking forward to the Sun Princess. Hopefully with time, they'll get into the swing of things and it'll be a much better experience.

March 24

Hello. Got back from Sun Princess on Tuesday and had reserve mini suite on deck 12. Bed was near the door and sofa by the window. When in bed, you can't see the window at all, as the bed in set back and the wardrobe is between the bed and sofa.

There's a kettle and tea / coffee. Balcony is small and chairs are not what you'd want to sit on for any length of time...short back and hard.

Hope this helps.

January 4, 2020

I really don’t need thanks for being honest. It’s the right thing to do and the way I was brought up. I know how I’ve felt before when I’ve lost things of particularly sentimental value, and it’s horrible.

I’ll apologise that I’ve got 2 posts saying the save thing - sorry - I couldn’t find this 1st post after and thought I’d not done it properly, so I “tried again”. You’d think I’d be better now with technology at my age. Thank you for your patience at my stupidity.
Happy New Year by the way .....if it’s not too late to say it.

January 4, 2020

Thank you. Didn’t think of that. Will do. Worth a try.

January 3, 2020

I know this is a long shot, but I’d not forgive myself if I don’t at least give it a try.
DH and I have recently got off Island Princess from 20th December cruise. We always clean down cabin surfaces with antibacterial wipes when we arrive, and DH found a distinctive ladies watch (not in safe). We handed it in to Passenger Services desk and I stressed that it would be lovely if it could be reunited with its owner. We were in C328.
Just on the minor chance that someone on here left their watch behind or knows of whoever did, I just wanted to at least “put it out there”.
I sincerely hope that watch and owner can be reunited, as if it was mine I’d lost, I’d really like to think it would be found and I’d get it back.
Thank you for reading.

We had a fab cruise and hope to get a review written soon.

January 3, 2020

I know this is a long shot, but I’d kick myself if I didn’t at least try. We were on the Island P from 20th Dec over Xmas, in cabin C328. DH found a distinctive ladies watch in the cabin - but not in the safe. We handed it into Passenger Services and I stressed that I really hope they can return it to its rightful owner.
Just thought it worth posting in here on the slim off-chance that the owner may read this, and will hopefully get back their treasured possession. If I’d lost it, I would want to try anything to get it back.

December 18, 2018

Thank you to everyone who has replied. You’ve made me feel calmer about the situation now.

We’re off today for the flight and start the cruise the day after we arrive. I’m now really looking forward to it and seeing new places.

Have a very Happy Christmas everyone.

December 17, 2018

Thanks so much to Reina and Lisiamc for your replies. Really appreciate you taking the time to do this.

It seems I’m getting myself in a tizz unnecessarily (hope so). Decided I won’t take the tramadol but will need the co codamol to keep on top of the pain. I’ve got a list of my medications from the GP surgery and the prescription part for reordering. I couldn’t get copies of the prescriptions themselves, so these will have to do.

Thanks again for your help and I hope my stress levels go down enough for me to start looking forward to the flight and cruise.

Happy Christmas to you all too.

December 17, 2018

Thanks so much for your reply. I hope I’m just getting stressed for nothing.

Really apreciate you taking the time Aus Traveller to reply.

Happy cruising.

December 17, 2018

Thank you for your reply Aus Traveller. Much appreciated.

May I ask if you declared the fish oil supplements on the “landing card” as a food item?

Thank you.

December 17, 2018

Going on the South America cruise on Star next week and really looking forward to it. Flying into Santiago airport from UK and was getting packed today when it struck me that I need to take my prescribed co- codamol tablets with me (along with blood pressure, migraine, anti emetics and epi pens) and they may not be allowed. I’m also prescribed Tramadol for night time, but have read lots of negative stuff about these being brought in, and I can manage without these until I get home.

I’ve been searching for hours trying to find whether I’ll be ok bringing these into Chile via customs and to the cruise.

I’ve left it far too late now (kicking myself big time) to get a letter from my GP, but will try to get copies of prescriptions tom.

Has anyone experience of taking these types of medications through the Santiago customs?

My DH takes COD liver oil capsules, echanacia and St John’s Wort, and we wondered if they will be allowed or not?

Alollogies for asking this as it’s not technically a “cruise” question, but I’m now getting stressed just before our cruise. You don’t need to tell me that I should have sorted this out sooner, as I know I’m an idiot for not, but there’s been so much bad stuff happening to us recently that I’ve been distracted and just ever gave it a thought Thank you.

October 5, 2018

P&O charged us £120 for both of us round trip with Thomas Cook in the Premium cabin. This was Manchester to Barbados. Not sure if this is the same if you are flying in economy.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Yes was same cost for economy for standard seats. Extra leg room ones cost more. Sorry can’t remember the exact cost but think it’s around £60pp each way.