Wishing on a star

Thank you so much Dides. I so appreciate your keeping on top of information! We are all indebted to you for your efforts. I will be looking forward to this if Princess continues to do this! Maybe, just the Port or Starboard side, if they do not always do this with the entire area?

I have seen no indication, at all, that the Seaview and/or Dome are adult only. I have seen mentions of the kids in that small indoor/outdoor pool. Should Princes have some open adult only area.. Yes. Do they, at this time. It does not seem so.

I have heard that some think that the new three tiered dining program will not only have three different types of dining. (Traditional, Reservation, Walk-in) but will also involve three different levels of dress-code. This might actually be a good way to address the snobs-vs-slobs differences. Wakepatrol, I am sorry to hear about these 'less-than' aspects of your cruise. I think that there is some truth to the idea that the time of year and the itinerary make a very noticeable difference. We also ONLY vacation/cruise when it is not the middle of summer, holidays, or other overcrowded busy 'family' vacation times. Our experience has not been what you describe. (Even so, the last few vacations, even off-season, the number of kids, many below school age, is just incredible. I do not know why families with children do not choose more family friendly vacations. The one thing that would bother me, and I would not want to simply look the other way... your description of the pools.

Princess has removed reference to these things at Park 19 on their Deck Plans. THAT, my friends, I believe for now, is their public announcement. Have to CYA against any 'fraudulent promises/advertising'. That is what I have been thinking. Ohhhhh my..... As mentioned, this is not the first major mistake/change-up with this ship. We now have a ship arriving to FLL and the Caribbean in October, during school's Fall Break, with NO family/kids area, and NO open adult area. This has taken away and destroyed the last tiny bit of any brand loyalty that I might have had for this cruise line. NOTE: I personally would be cancelling any 'family' cruise with kids. That is the last thing that Princess wants to happen. But, for me, the fewer kids onboard a ship like the Sun, the better. How to dismantle all of this... As mentioned, the TA will not be possible. I would not think so. and for safety reasons, etc... this whole area, the aft of the ship, would have to be cleared. My question is this... Are they going to begin this in Europe? Wait until the ship arrives to FLL? Could they manage to do this demo during the few days when this is an exclusive TA/VIP cruise planned, before Oct. 14?

Thank you! Hope they are doing a good job estimating how many seats they need to reserve. We have Premier for the first time on our upcoming cruise, and this will be nice.

There is a $14.99, one time per cruise, fee to cover the room service when you don't have a package, correct... Ocean Now... Just want to avoid any confusion.

We usually do not mind getting to the theater early, but when time is tight, with dinner reservations, etc.. that does seem like a nice perk! I would love to hear more feedback on how well that system is working.

Two things for you to consider, for which is right for you. This might be a different decision for each person. Depending on what they want/like. For wine drinkers, it seems the offerings on PLUS are, well, not the greatest. If you enjoy wine, and would enjoy the nicer (above $15.) special cocktails, then that is a consideration. (note: there are a pretty good percentage of cocktails/liquor that would be an upcharge for PLUS package. They could be $2/$3/$4/$5 extra, over the $15. ) Do you plan on booking a couple of Specialty Restaurants... again, that is a simple calculation. Would you enjoy the casual dining venues that are onboard your ship several times? Other perks do not factor into the 'math' as much. Whether the cruise is 4-5-6 days or 10 days... There are still two specialty dining meals. We also take short cruises... Since the packages are charged per day, the math comes out in our favor. Seven days... probably more of a break even. Depending on the perks you value the most.

In a warmer weather cruise, you probably would not have any luck. Not sure about NorthEast. The above post is correct... Back-to-Back guests already onboard will have first opportunity. Then, those with priority boarding who arrive to the port early. Of coarse, any days at sea will book up faster. You might find a port day, if you would consider that. If there is any way that you can get to the port early, I would plan to do that. You never know!

Sounds like the USPS more than anything to do with Princess... BTDT. Something I ordered for a Christmas gift arrived... in March! I did want to say, there are reasons for wanting to board early. Personal preference is just ONE of several... We have never found it to be too big of an issue, just get to the port early. No discussion is needed.

Yankee, You can pull up your cruise, click on that port stop, and click on the excursion. When you look at Details, you will see that there are guest reviews. And photos. The private beach club excursion is showing 4 ****. The latest review from a month ago mentions Sol y Mar Beach Club. Know that the Beach Club that they contract with could change and be different on your cruise. Hope this helps!

Which particular things are concerning?????

On the Ruby, yes, those cabins and balconies are the same. So, in this case, yes the Forward or Aft location might be one factor. This is not always the case. I consider the larger balconies that are not priced higher as Premium as luck... a small gift. On the newer Royal Class ships, the larger/deeper balconies located on Deck 9 ARE Forward and Aft, and these are a 'Premium' category. (so no consistency here) In most every case the Premium Balcony/Deluxe Balcony will be considered 'Premium' because it does have a larger exterior balcony. There are always exceptions. The Aft Wake-view cabins do not ALL have a considerably bigger balcony, but in that case they seem to be sold as Premium because of that location that is popular and in demand.

We have gotten the cruise-specific insurance from the nation wide big agency. We like that it had additional cruise coverages, and you could get it until final payment. You can't get 'cancel for any reason' or pre-existing look-back waiver now, unless you get the insurance when you initially book the cruise. To me, it just does not seem kosher that something like an extra package, that can easily be booked at any time, thru the first day of boarding, and make it non-cancellable. If/since this is the policy... Yes, one might want it covered. But, insurance would not be needed if they had the appropriate policy, that extras like packages, specially dining, etc.. which can be booked, and are fully cancellable under any other circumstance, were actually cancellable. I don't see that as a respectful or reasonable policy. Nobody has to post, with an exclamation point... why wouldn't you want them covered. I don't see any clear, upfront, transparency that would explain how and why they are not cancellable. Or an explanation that would make any sense. I don't know if anybody is saying rip-off. But, it is fair and valid to try to understand how much one is being charged, and why.

Sorry if I am brain dead!!! Wake up, brain!!! I looked again. THANKS for showing this! I think I understand now. So, before and after this new pricing stuff... Your cruise fare, which does include PLUS, was used to calculate that insurance premium. $1525. 00 Base Fare $ 420.00 Plus Package assuming 7 days at $60. per day $ 1945.00 Total (fare, Plus, but no 'fees') $. 175.05. Insurance Premium $1945.00 X .09 THEN the port charges and fees are added on. Seems the PLUS Package was included in the fare, and used to calculate the premium. But NOT the port charges and fees. So, the premium to add this insurance on my booking, which now has PREMIUM, will def. be a little more with the package. Should have added insurance first then insurance? (Leave it to Princess. to insure something that is cancelable and refundable already... No surprise though.)

I am just hoping that somebody who is insuring a cruise can chime in here and tell us whether that percentage includes packages or not. cjpj, The new law, of course, is from California... And, it involves transparency in pricing. Stating these port charges and fees right upfront. Not buried at the end, and requiring that you would have to 'click' to show the breakdown. NOTE: since all of these major cruise lines sail from California, I understand that they have all followed the guidelines in how they show pricing. I hadn't thought about how that would affect the Insurance. Princess had been using the final TOTAL cost to calculate Insurance. I believe that even included extras like the PLUS or PREMIER package. Who knows how this would affect something like insurance? Princess seems to still be using the total with all of the port charges and fees to calculate the Insurance premium. (and, as mentioned, aren't these considered refundable extra fees? Which makes no sense to charge to insure something that is already totally refundable.. They must think that this is within the law. My guess is that they are also still using the total amount, including packages, because there is no specific requirement in this law that would stop them. If they must use only the base cruise fare, and no refundable charges, then I foresee an increase in that 9%. (or 12% if one does not have Captain's Circle status to include the automatic upgrade in the insurance).

I have seen mention that Princess may cancel your dining reservation if you have not arrived within 20 min. How strictly they will stick to that might vary. By ship, dining room, or even by that specific evening. If you have a private table for two, at a reserved time, and you are running too late, you could end up having to go get in line at the walk-in dining room.

Here is my question... If Princess has found a way to 'calculate' this to include Port Charges, etc... What about the Plus or Premier Package. They used to even include that in the total amount of the Insurance premium. We will be adding insurance on our next upcoming cruise. Which now has the Premier Package. Now I am also confused. I hate to bother our TA, again. Does anybody know if they are still using the packages in the total cost to calculate the insurance? Any insight on that?

Therese, you are correct.... Many do not like this, because Princess bases the insurance on your final total cost. If you, for example, book with Plus or Premier, yes, you will pay insurance based on the addition of the package.

I have always chosen the ones on the other side of the ship. Love the mid-ship larger balcony. We have not considered the deck below to be an issue at all. Except for the lighting down there on the balcony rail can shine up thru your balcony all the time. It is not a smoking area. I do hear that you can hear from Crooner's and the Piazza below. I am not sure if that is only when it is louder???

Back to the shirtless men... Hahahaha!!! " I know for my example because I am elite with Princess and I don’t have enough status on another cruise line to make a difference I am definitely thinking about trying another cruise line ,but keep coming back to Princess, because I’m familiar with the product. " I think you really nailed something here. We first cruised Princess because of DH parents... Not only were we then 'familiar'... but, even at a younger age. (demographics are not always so meaningful !) We were happy with the product. We don't need booze parties, onboard theme parks, etc. And, of course, more upscale cruising was beyond our pay-grade. It is just that, while Princess is trying to figure out their 'identity', they are moving away from what we, and other cruisers LIKED about Princess. Anyone could have chosen Carnival or NCL. There have always been choices. Like the one poster who has cruised with her kid had mentioned, she knows other families who would not choose to board Carnival. They want to move towards Haven and Retreat, ship within a ship.... they want to add a family/kids area. I get that. I am not being a complainer or 'one of those old-folks who just do not like change'. And, I will make that clear. The issue, for me, is not the additional changes... But that they are losing the things that most all Princess cruisers (not all of which have one foot in the grave) have enjoyed for years. Yes, it is like walking a tight-rope. And space on a cruise ship is limited. However, these other mass-market lines have succeeded in having all of these areas and options onboard. Princess, in my opinion, is failing at this...

Those insurance web sites are good! But, we generally go directly with the National insurance carrier that offers specialized cruise insurance. I thought they offered all coverage options, until final payment date. Which means that you can buy the Policy up until you know you will be. going on the cruise, unless something really does happen. But, I am thinking that might have changed. We might just go with Princess and the included upgrade to Platinum. I think the pre-existing and CFAR are a step up. Dog, ohhh, that is so sad. I really feel for them. I don't think we would have any issues with pre-existing. I checked and the look-back is 60 days, and we have had no major medical care in months. Thanks everyone!

I am SO enjoying your trip report! You are excellent at posting, and your photos are amazing! While some of the menus look a bit underwhelming, that blackened corvina and polenta does look very good. That is great info about the AFT balconies. I was thinking that should be the case, but was not sure! Of course, it is a hassle - but one can book a third person (friend or family) to select a Deluxe Balcony, and should be able to cancel before final payment. I have hesitated to do that, and accepted a standard balcony (one with a larger exterior balcony). But we are using this workaround as, on this one cruise, it is important to be where we wanted to book, and to have that Deluxe Premium balcony.

True!!! But, just personally, I like the walk-in concept, that does not open up into the narrow walking floor-space in the main area of the cabin. Need the best of both worlds!!!! PS: This thread was supposed to be about the brand/identity that Princess seems to be moving towards, and if there seems to be some issues with it. Seems the conversation has been a lot of complaints and discussion of everything but!

We are looking at insurance, and it looks like the costs are about the same. We would automatically get the Princess Platinum coverage by Captain's Circle Status. The other Cruise Insurance plan would have good coverage (would get the upgraded plan) But, with them I am finding out that the Pre-existing condition waiver, and Cancel for any reason, are not possible. I thought that they used to offer all options until Final Payment Date, but now it must be purchased when you book the cruise. Any insight is helpful !