Wishing on a star

Transportation should be included... But, that puts you on that limited timetable. Taxis to any of the beach clubs should be available and reasonably priced. Many of these beach clubs you can book ahead online. How many ships will there be that day??? (check on cruise mapper website) We would be traveling without kids, and have no need for inflatable waterpark stuff, etc.. So, I am interested in booking Nachi Cocum if we get to Cozumel in the near future. The do have a pool, medium/small but looks nice, for their limited number of daily guests. Reviews seem good on the food. (which is good but not all-you-can-eat - you order your choices)

Looks like high winds tomorrow... No tender, no Princess Cays. Some might not be too disappointed, but I would be... as my favorite bungalow would await! I do hope you have a great cruise!

Wow... sounds like a security issue, and Princess and the authorities are probably doing the right thing. I hope boarding begins soon!!!! We have a cruise planned, to board Enchanted at FLL.

Okay, admitted I am NO 'pate' expert.... so I searched images. Something as simply as a scoop or small bowl might help! The title to this is Best French Country Pate......

You might look for other threads with titles that indicate 'first time Princess' etc... I am not the biggest expert.. but I will try to give you a little info, and hopefully others will add or correct info. Just trying to help out, as you have not sailed Princess before. Yes, there are things that you can, and should, book in advance. You can pull up your booking online... But, you should really download the App. Dining is available to be booked (your preferred dining venue and dining time). Specialty dining, those with an additional uncharge should be available. Pay at time of booking. But, this is now only showing for the first few sailings of the SUN. Shore excursions, if you wish to book Princess Excursions can be available. Some might book up, and you could go ahead and reserve. Also, pay when booking. Theater - I do not think that there are any theater or entertainment events that one has to make any reservations. The Sanctuary can not be booked before you board. And, those who have priority boarding, and those who are continuing on from the prior sailing can have this all booked up. The current protocol is to board as early as you possibly can, and rush up to the Sanctuary if you hope to find available loungers. About the packages... For many, if not most, the PLUS package can be the way to go. If you enjoy your coffee drinks, bottled waters, soda, juice, etc... Plush throw in the Gratuities and WIFI and two visits to what are called the 'Casual' additional dining venues. (Alfredos is very popular, you should try!). One almost breaks even pretty quickly. Just a few alcoholic drinks along the way, and PLUS can be a good option.

"What!!! What is this!!! Are you serving me cat food here??? " "Throw this out the back door for the bloody cats!!!" (plated crashes to the ground)

Did the kitchen run out of small serving dishes for that 'pate'!!!! Even if the taste was okay (good), that is a pass for me as well. Was that supposed to be a starter???

As you might see, there is another current thread about this. It seems the only totally flexible options seem to be a charter... OR I have found that, for my sailing, shore excursions group offers two departure times. I can't quite get them to give all the details. But, they have a departure early, like our cruise ship, and another departure at 9:15. (or maybe it is 9:30) I did contact them, and the vendor says that the excursion is longer than 4 hours. That it should be closer to 4 hours on the island. Good Luck!!!

You go girl !!!!!!!! Yes... OJ... it's all good!!! (maybe a little early for me.. but GOOD!!!)

I actually don't make a point to go and look at photos. But, when the opportunity comes up, I am surprised about how much it means to see those' times' and remember all of the good things!!!! I used to put together photo-books, the whole time we went on trips with DS when he was growing up.... Have some beautiful and amazing phtobooks!!! But, now, not so much... Everything is archived on computer backup. I will not spend my time at the Champagne event... But I can see how the whole thing.. 'champagne on a cruise' can be one of those photo op memories!!!

Have you seen videos? If you would be interested, you can go to cruise deck plans website, pull up the ships that have this layout, and it will show a YouTube symbol for those cabins that have a video posted. Personally, I would love to be there near the adult pool... but after being in a cabin on those uppermost decks during a cruise with high winds and surf... I book lower decks.

It seems that Dining reservations have only opened up for the first sailings. With the new Three Tier system, and the new venues onboard, I think that maybe getting the dining reservations system sorted out has been a work in progress???

Things can happen, but to go THIS long, with such a huge outage... That is not 'things happen'. As well as others tell of similar outages. Add in the fact that, to them, the PTB onboard and at Princess.. this is not something that is even acknowledged or addressed with the guests... NOT acceptable. We did sail on CORAL to Alaska, years ago, as there were fewer options then. Luckily we had no big issues. I was glad that our cabin was one of those that had been added, mid-ship, during a major dry-dock. New cabin! But, I have to agree, I just do not think that I would book such an older ship.

Port Side (correct when heading in not backing in) extended balcony Dolphin Deck... Sounds like an excellent set-up. Thanks! We've been there once, early timing... Have the most gorgeous photo off that side, double rainbow as the sun was coming up over the harbor, yachts, etc!!

We are looking at a cruise that will be in St.Thomas until late. Seem to be the only ship in Port. That sounds like a really nice opportunity??? Book at Sunset, and then all of the lights from the shore and boats on the harbor... Can anyone who has been there after dark recommend? To the OP, and anyone else who is not familiar... I understand that there is staff for only a given number of these each night. If there is a specific night, like while in Port, a special occasion, then it might be a good idea to go ahead and book, and let them know which night you want to plan. Once onboard, then you might want to confirm all of the arrangements right away. Alaska, in May... We traveled late May... yes, it was very chilly, and rainy along the coastal route. Note that at the Glacier Viewing sites, the temp will be cooler there, of course.

Thank you!!! No problem sharing the info. I also reached out to the Rebel Yell operator, but have not seen a response. WhatsApp might be the key!!!

I was not aware that this could be an issue on Great Bay... We were also looking at the water taxi as an option. Thank you PORT ROYAL! I see that you mentioned COCO... We were thinking of just heading to Bikini Beach. Thinking that is where many of the day trip vans drop off. But we should be only large ship in Port. Can you tell why you recommend COCO? Better drinks to try? Food? Service???? Thanks so much for all of your assistance here!

Also, I would throw this thought out there. I do not know about Viking... But, on some lines, they do not fully book excursions, and a few openings might possibly be available upon boarding? Good Luck!!! And, please do report back if you do get to JVD!!!!

Nick and Jessica... Back to your original question about timing, and how much time on White Bay. I finally got a good reply from Shore Excursions Group. For our sailing... (Princess - at Tortola until 4:00 pm) they offer two options. Princess only offers ONE, 7:30 am... (ouch!!! Painkillers for breakfast, anyone?) This third party offers TWO options... One early, and one at 9:15. (another even later is available to those who could do that) While the description mentions 4 hours. (as does Princess) Their reply is that the duration is actually over 5 hours... leaving quite a bit of time on the beach. They did not seem to want to specify whether they departed by boat from the Cruise docks at Road Town, or if they did transfer over to West End, and then board the boat over to JVD. In the end... If I can get a later departure time, and what seems to be a lot more time on JVD... I am in! I hate to copy the actual personal reply that I got from them, here publicly on CC. Check out my signature, below for info. Hope this helps!

Masks, good ones worn properly, work both ways. They are not highly effective... but they have to help! Along with all the other common sense measures.

We do 'all of the above'... But, as we have not traveled as much lately, and we have chosen to take shorter cruises. Our next will be on the 5 night Sun Princess when it gets to FLL this October. I believe that on longer cruises, when the 'incubation period' has been passed, and once a few start getting sick, then the numbers of people who come down, and have begin to spread the bug(s), start to rise very very very quickly. We should all be wise enough to admit that a cruise ship is very apt to spread any contagious germs! Next year we are booked on a 10 day... Yes, I do worry about that !

I just want to thank you, dides, for finding and sharing all of this information!

Thanks dides! Ohhhh no.... I was just waiting to hear this. I knew that there would probably be some VIP and TA stuff. But, this confirms that there could be many Back-2-Back guests onboard. I will still be boarding at the first possible moment and heading to the Sanctuary. (Which IMHO, Princess has totally missed the mark on the Sanctuary on the newer ships. It is just like a large open deck with minimalistic industrial square loungers. No nice design or decor or real designated seating area with real seats, tables, shade.)

I wonder, which dates, how far out, is the dining reservations working? Is it just the first sailings? or thru Fall? Do you have to have the new App? (which we have hesitated to download)

If it was just by itself, just the disc... make sure you check all pockets of what you have been wearing... Could it be hiding in a little travel bag of jewelry or other small items...