EDVM96

Yes, it is smoke free on OZ and NZ sailings. But on the repositioning cruise, once we leave NZ waters, I'm pretty sure smoking will be allowed again. The Retreat isn't noisy, it's a relaxing area. It's a popular place during sunny days, but you will usually find empty loungers. Royal Princess Retreat two months ago in SYD: If you didn't find it yet, this is our roll call thread:

I also had a great shore excursion there, with a stop at Lake Nicaragua, Apoyo Lagoon with a view of Mombacho Volcano, Masaya Volcano with its redhot lava lake and a nice lunch in Granada.

Yes. For Princess this is still the planned itierary. That's why you can book shore excursions there. Although it is most likely that San Juan del Sur will be cancelled. I would not book anything there first.

The images are often not accurate. What is in the list will be the planned itinerary.

Some of the upcoming Panama Canal itineraries now include Puerto Quetzal (Guatemala) or Puerto Chiapas (Mexico) instead of San Juan del Sur (Nicaragua). The Emerald made a stop in San Juan del Sur on January 9, 2020. We must have been one of the last Princess sailings that stopped there, more than 4 years ago. Then came Corona. Then came political unrest.

🤣🤣🤣

If you are on the ship, just go up there and take a look by yourself. The photos don't look too bad.

Ok, bucket list. Being called a fan boy in an internet forum. ✅ Priceless.

It's a lot of fully comprehensive insurance mentality here.

Me neither. It looks pretty good. I just mentioned early reports from February. 39 USD + service charge. Thought it was 29 USD.

Without alternative up there on Lido deck, that's for sure. But several people in this forum reported chaos and they got their sides after they finished the main (Diamond). Waiters walkways too long maybe. Even if they do not stand in the lines.

So whats's the problem? Just cancel and get the refund. Real drama here.

The question is, how often do they come around with the filet mignon.

Same here. Bad luck, last one on the Royal. I changed my 2nd Crown reservation to Sabatini's instead.

Yes, it is. People on the Diamond reported it in this forum. The waiters get the sides just from Horizon Court galley. And so is the beef.

Technically, Sabatini's is also a chain restaurant, available on most Princess ships. 😉

What are you expecting? You will board the ship on Saturday, and you will sail. What they will do in case is refund. That's about it.

Yes. It's Rotterdam. Sorry, forgot to mention it.

Usually, the technical problem is getting the exact replacement parts quickly, and not getting the ship out of the water. So stay calm. An unscheduled dry dock will certainly be the last option.

Yes, it's used by Carnival. But I can't remember seeing a Princess ship there.

The problem with the Gem Class ships was the location of Sterling Steak House. Located in a corner at the end of Horizon Court, and it even shared kitchen with the buffet. Maybe not enough for the expected fine dining in a steak house at 39$ + tax surcharge. The new Churrascaria also shares the kitchen with the buffet, of course. But the setting is much more casual, and so is the price. I think it was the right move.

Furthermore, Princess uses the dry docks in Portland OR, Victoria BC and Singapore for maintenance. Not southern Florida.

That's not true. Churrascaria Brazilian Grill is available on the Diamond since ca. early February now. The same press release stated "and coming soon to Sapphire Princess" at that time.

You can get to Kotor from Bar. With Princess, it's a 2 hour motorcoach drive each way + 4 hours in Kotor on your own: https://www.princess.com/ports-excursions/bar-montenegro-excursions/kotor-on-your-own

The Sun wasn't in Kotor on May 6. She was in Bar, Montenegro instead.