Wishing on a star

You can find the ship's catamaran excursion here: https://tropicalad.com/tours/mystic-lobster-lunch-cruise-excursion-a-catamaran-boat-tour-in-antigua It gets good reviews. Check on trip advisor. I believe that the ships charter the Catamaran. It looks like you can't make a booking on your own on the days that the ships have their excursions. I believe it is close to the Cruise Ship.... maybe walk over. There are YouTube videos as well. We were going to just taxi to a beach... but even though this is pricey, we might book.

Sounds like you had a great cruise... except for COVID of course... and some of the food. Are you the one who said that The Catch was not good??? Ouch... That is a full upcharge. If we do board the Enchanted soon, when looking at your photos, I hope they have a better Executive Chef and staff onboard... On our last cruise, (different ship) I have to say that most of the food was really good! Everything was top-notch by Princess standards.

"Didn't really care for the one show we say, it was a lady singing Queen songs, horrible. The bands in the Piazza were really good." Ohhhh man, back when the ships (party) band played all the time and really carried the cruise... I can remember Xcite bringing down the house!!!! I don't know if they still have the chance to do this... but just outstanding. "Hey Jude.... don't let me down... Na, na, na, Nah na nah na...."

SO fun to re-live a cruise / nice-vacation with the photos!!! Keep them coming!!! But, I agree... I can do canned beans at home... That was just WRONG!!!! it didn't look like some nice salad or side or soup that had beans... just a glop of canned beans!!! (Don't get me wrong, I have had my share of Bushes Original Baked Beans in the summer with things like burgers, BBQ sandwich, etc... But, with a nice steak entree???)

Those photos do not seem to able to be linked here any longer. Anyhow, I see photos of the last (aft) balcony on the sphere, 14438, that seem to show that about 1/3 of the balcony is the standard straight balcony, and then about 2/3 is actually angled out with the sphere. I wish I knew whether some of the balconies that are the first (FWD) balconies are like that... or if they are completely within the sphere. Which would make them slightly larger, and not have that angle with different glass right there on your deck. edited to add: I found a video that shows very clearly.... NO angle on the balcony we are looking at! The ones down on deck 10 and 11 seem to be the largest, and are totally within the sphere.

Ohhhh, a funny thought too. I think this venue has an identity problem. The venue is absolutely gorgeous. I imagine, in person, with those wake-view windows, better than in photos. The food is arguably special and fine-dining. But the whole concept, and artwork.. looks like a Childs coloring project!!!! Those yellow stripes remind me of construction caution tape!!! I believe Princess is re-thinking a lot of things right now!!!!

Sounds like Princess it doing a trial with the pricing here. To me, yes, $149.00 should be more 'experiential'. Maybe some table side preparation/mixology, or light entertainment.

OMG... I should NOT be looking at this thread when it is supper time and I am starving!!!! Thanks so much for posting all of this!

There is a good video of the experience at Love by Britto on you tube now. Just type in the restaurant name, sort by newest. It really shows a lot of detailed info and the experience.

Yes, thanks everybody. Seems like this can vary! At least I know that it should eventually show up.

Wow. I hate to hear these negatives. Catch usually gets great reviews! Can you describe more about your experience there? Not surprised with the Princess 'warm tubs'. The thing with the adult only pool, is that it is NOT adult only. I think that If the ship is full and there are any number of kids onboard, it is open to everyone. (shrieking kids running and jumping into the water is not a good thing in an enclosed area!) I am one who wishes they would change the front of the ship there in to a Sanctuary. A ship without an adult only area available to all adults is really a non-starter.

We are supposed to have some OBC, but they said it might not show up until we see it on the ship. Is this the way it is done sometimes? It isn't much, but I hope it does show up.

I so appreciate your posting!!!! I am glad that you were very thorough and truthful about the day at Istanbul. Beautiful? Your photos look incredible!!! Worth risking your health.. No. People with conditions and things like diabetes would not make it. And, that might include myself. Princess should not be offering such a demanding excursion, with no cool break or food.

NOTE: These cruises stop at Canada, as by law, cruises from the U.S. are required to also stop at at least one foreign port. I am not sure what the current situation and policy is with the U.S. and Canada.

For some reason, there must have been some catch, some situation... We arrived by train.. some years ago now.. but I do not remember any problems. There are more people if it is a larger ship, so I can see some lines at times. But, if there is some real problem and issues and delays at Whittier, I have never heard of this being an ongoing problem. If you are under the impression that the ship, Princess, has that much control over U.S. customs, that would be a mistake. They operate that customs check-point, as an office of the U.S. government. If arriving by the train (there are no 'trainloads) then your larger bags should have been pre-checked when you boarded that morning. If this has changed, then I a wrong. But this was always done in the past. In the past, most busses arrive well after the train. Perhaps Princess is offering some early bus departures, or the companies that offer this transfer?

I can remember these cabanas before they changed them up..... I think I liked them better!

It has been a while since I have been on Regal, and things can change on Princess quickly. I believe that they are similar to the loungers in the Sanctuary... (which might not always be full shaded) And they were renting for $40.00 per day per lounger. Discounted if you book for the entire cruise. We have really enjoyed the Regal, especially because of its spacious and beautiful Sanctuary area. We like to rent loungers that are behind the first rows, that back up to the nice tile mosaic wall. because of that position, these are often shaded. If you are a new Princess cruiser, then you might not know that all of these are first-come first-served on boarding day. Back-to-Back cruisers who boarded the leg before you will be able to book in advance.. cruisers with level Platinum/Elite will have priority boarding... As well as Suite guests who are in suites. You will want to be at the port and board as early as you can. Waiting up front for them to call boarding after Suites, Elite, and Platinum passengers. Go immediately to the forward elevators and head for the Sanctuary as quickly as possible. Loungers in the Sanctuary can all be booked really quickly... But I think you have a good chance at getting one of the nice pool cabanas

cruise mapper can be helpful for most destinations. Yes, SIX cruise ships.... Ohhh My!!!!

To me, anything, any natural light and fresh air would be better than an interior. But, If you can budget it at all, big for a standard balcony. As somebody has said, if you have a regular interior cabin, unless for some reason you appreciate the dark when wanted.... any balcony is better than an interior. If you want an interior that seems to be a bit more spacious, perhaps you can move to one of the inside cabins that is laid out 'sideways', perpendicular with the hallway.

We have really enjoyed the Regal! Of course you might know that these balconies are on Deck 8. Most of them will be obstructed. If there is a lifeboat right in front of the balcony, it will come up about even with the balcony railing. There are a few of these that many people book because they are not really obstructed. Look at the ones mid-ship, on the angled/curved bump-out. These are not really obstructed, it is just that there is that open deck just below. This is an excellent video, which is on a 'sister ship', which will be like Regal. It is a standard. (small, not Deluxe) balcony, and shows a full view of what these are like. The balconies are the same in both standard and Deluxe. The Deluxe Balcony has a slight larger interior, with a little two-seat sofa. When bidding, you can get ANY one of this category balcony. Odds are you would have the lifeboat . Small chance that somebody in one that is not really obstructed moves or bids to get an upgrade. I would not count on getting one of those. Those particular cabins are ones that you book when you see them available, and usually hang on to them.

That is what I am thinking. The new dining reservations needs some work!!! Looks like we need to decide ASAP, and whatever the system does... deal with that later if we need to. I think I am ready to go ahead and upgrade to Premier. (which can make sense, with the amount per day on shorter cruises)

Olay, I am now in this boat, or on this ship.... (pun intended!!!) I wonder if I should start a new thread???? Because I have more than one question. We probably will want to book a Specialty Restaurant on the first night. I believe that the menu in the MDR is not the best. (Prime Rib now on last night) Right now we have PLUS... So for sure we would have to pay up front to reserve. 1. If we cancel before departure, will this, for sure, be a credit to our card? 2. I assume that, even if we decide to upgrade our package to Premier, any cancellation that is not before departure would be refunded as OBC. I don't know if we would have any use for more OBC!!! 3. For Suite guests, (and how many guests would that be on SUN!!!) do they also get a complimentary Specialty Dining on the first night? We might want a fairly early reservation (do not like to dine too late) to avoid any busy time. On our last short cruise, when boarding, when we saw the menu in the MDR, immediately went to move our reservation for Crown Grill up to that evening. They were able to get us in, but Crown Grill was packed, and it did not turn out to be a good experience. Do we want to book now, and then have to deal with refundable OBC??? Wait until onboard... maybe upgrade to Premier. Upgrade to Premier now???

Yes, the layout is a big personal preference. Either way!!! We have not taken the longer cruises with tons of sea days... We find that we spend very very little time on the sofa. I like the feel of the cabin opening up out towards the balcony, and not feeling more closed in... as the room is more narrow where the sofa is at. DH is usually the early riser... He can pull open the drapes, and I can already be able to look out and see what the weather and port situation is for the day, just by sitting up in bed!!!

As the prev. post mentions, there should be no problem with any number of 'extra people' on the Cabana Decks'.. I do not think they are adult only, so it seems that any children who are in these cabins could also be on the Cabana Decks. Hopefully not a big problem. Also, the bed/sofa configuration is alternating... This makes the cabins fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Every other one will be 'bed by the entry' and every other one will be 'sofa by the entry'. I would choose a sofa by the entry. The bed will be inset in the widest part of the layout. This way, the cabin seems more open at the sliding door. The closets. sofa, and counters would all be together. It is easy to see when looking at deck plans. And, there are a lot of photos. You can also tell whether the bed faces forward or backward when sailing, by where the inset is the widest in the cabin. That will be the 'headboard'.

I am picky... I bring travel bottles of mine, that I know will work with my hair. Bar soap too... I can't use the cheap waxy stuff, or soap with fragrance, etc.