Wishing on a star

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...

Did you put it on a lanyard or other 'holder'??? I once thought I had lost/misplaced a couple of necklaces that I take on cruises... One a silver flip-flop from a Hawaiian artist/maker. Another a whales tail from Alaska. I had hung them on the rack of robe/jacket hooks, where I also hand some scarves... They ended up totally hidden there! In any case, never fear... It is not some kind of powerful magical device. It just has a readable strip, that is picked up by the ships computer. They will just grab one, link it to your account/cabin, and you are good to go.

Does your TA that you found offer much of a discount? What I am seeing, looking at booking for next year, is no real discounts.. maybe some OBC. And, everybody here should beware of those that offer a small discount, but want a ridiculous high deposit. We are considering booking with a new TA or Princess Planner. But, we have a unique cabin, and are afraid we would lose it, as this already shows as RESERVE. I do not know if we would be able to re-book that same cabin... with the help of a good TA. If you could offer any info, I would be happy to hear from you.

Cruisedoctor, I think you are on the right track with your post about The Catch and Butcher's Block. That area would be good for putting up the banners/decor for these two pop-ups and not be right in the thick of the Buffet. That seems to be the way they have done Planks BBQ. If there are any who are able to book dining for an upcoming cruise, I wonder when it shows these to be offered? I am not thinking that there will be two areas, one for each pop-up..... I do not think that they will have both of these available on the same nights. I think it will be one of these areas, alternating. We have never tried Rudi's... but it always get rave reviews. That is def. on our agenda! If it is true that we can get Butcher's Block steak in Crown Grill, I think we would book CG... That just seems to 'fit' for us. I am not sure we need the entire Butcher's Block experience, and additional uncharge. Like everyone else here... We are so excited to be boarding the new Sun Princess!

We usually dine early, but alas, there are so many hours in a day, even on a cruise!!!! I hate the thought of being in my cabin at 4:00 in the afternoon, to get ready for supper. After a bad experience in Traditional Dining, we have done 'Anytime'. But, it might be really nice, on the Sun Princess when we sail, to have the Traditional experience. I think they might be planning to go all out, with this so-called more formal than casual approach.. Greeting you when the dining room opens, napkin on your lap, more time to explain and serve all of the multi-course menu. It will be so good to finally get some good input when the ship finally sails!!! Decisions! Decisions!

It is showing 5:00 for early Traditional... early!!!!!! Decisions.. Decisions!!!

Thanks Crystabel, I notice that the one Princess Planner that totally 'ghosted' us has a Facebook page... I did go thru dozens of these listings of planners, and I did see one that actually looks very good. A very engaged and interactive and positive Facebook page.

Usually, when you make a booking, a.Princess Vacation Planner. or the 'system' will contact you and offer you a Planner to help you and be your 'contact'. It really should be easy, easy, to switch to a cabin that is the exact same category as you have booked. Perhaps there are other details that are involved here???? I have no idea... but I would think that you could cancel your air and the insurance online on the Princess web-site???? PS: our Princess Planner was useless and went AWOL... We found a good TA with one of the major agencies... Now she has been promoted to a management position. I would give anything if somebody here could help out with tips to find a good TA or even a good Princess Planner.

My two cents... We are those who are waiting at the doors to get checked in and board at the first possible call, and go straight up to the Sanctuary to book a couple of days. We have loved it... especially on Regal. The newer Sanctuary areas just don't have the look/feel and nice common area. Nowhere to sit in an actual seating area and have breakfast/lunch etc. Just those chairs sitting out in the open in the sun.

Can anybody confirm the pricing on the cabanas??? Of course, it might be different on the Sun, or by the time we board the Sun.. But, just in case the loungers are all booked up, then we would consider a cabana. Same on the Enchanted we have booked... Back-2-Back cruisers might have the loungers in the Sanctuary almost all booked up. If cabanas are available for 1/2 day, that would be more budget friendly!

I understand that they really want to sell the weekly pass, or pass for the length of voyage. Single days can not be booked until after the first day, if they have availability. So, no guarantee. Thus the 'sell' on boarding day. I don't know if they really follow this, but I have heard of a max. number of Enclave passes per day. If the max limit are filled up with passes for the whole time, then daily passes might be hard to come by.

If you are noticing the video from the Iona, this ship is a British ship... thus the tea kettle.

I am so looking forward to Rudi on the Sun.... We haven't had to opportunity to dine there! Will probably try Crown Grill if they are offering steaks by the Butchers Block. I think Sabatini's will be one of our last choices. If there is one thing that I have been noticing, by reviews, photos, etc... Dining on Princess, like other things, is not always consistant! I am hoping that, surely, the new ship will have one of their best Executive Chefs and staff. That has seemed to make a huge difference, between good food that we enjoyed.. or WTH???

Menus and food quality can vary, from ship to ship, and from sailing to sailing, depending on a lot of factors. Menus and foodie pics are always good! If there are any changes in the top staff onboard for any reason.( Cruise Director, Ex. Chef, Captain, etc...). Those who will be sailing after you might be interested. I do hope your bid for upgrade works out, especially for the party with the third person - as the extra beds do not pull down from the ceiling, and take up space and are a bit of a issue hanging there on the walls. Enjoy!!!!

These are crossing my mind. What about the other perks, like the TWO visits to casual dining included with Plus? And, other perks, like Elite or Suite? Are all of these per-voyage? Would booking each leg as a separate sailing make a difference there.

For me, the newer ship wins. Caribbean is showing it's age. All other differences can be worked around. Being familiar with Princess helps! At certain times, the Piazza can be more active/loud... they do have sets of entertainment, with the ships band... etc.. but that can be avoided. No problem. Always other places to be. Have they cruised before? Will they want to cruise during the Summer, Holiday??? Do they want things to be more upscale and 'new'? (an older ship might not impress as a first time experience) What type of cabin will they be booking? Many bemoan the lack of a full promenade. But, something tells me that this couple are not ones to want to get their walking miles in. The should be able to find some areas to sit and watch the sea go by. NOTE: Deck 7 Aft, deck areas on both Port and Aft of Vista Lounge. Perhaps the deck areas on both sides of the Piazza. I don't think that is always closed off for those who are dining. The wake-view area, Aft on Lido, is not always an 'active' place. and they should be able to find a nice spot there. Or the upper level overlooking that, on the Sun deck. And, the deck overlooking the adult Retreat pool area might work, if the weather is calm and not windy.

Do you have to check two different listings for the two different Ports at St Thomas. Looking at our cruise, I think I only saw our one ship listed.

have you looked for reviews and photos on Trip Advisor? That might help.

We are booked for SUN Princess for October. About one comment above... And, I would not say that there will not be as many kids onboard. FALL BREAK is huge... Brand new Princess Ship, also huge. Do not be surprised or underestimate. There will be enough others in that age group to befriend this posters kids. While it is my preference that the ship not be 'overrun' with kids, We are booked for this cruise, as we wanted the shorter cruise and are waiting for the SUN Princess to be here in the U.S.

Skylight... When you book online, and you do not have an associated Planner, I think that you can/will get these messages. If you have a PVP associated with your booking, then any messages should come directly from them.

As far as any other advantages... I don't think that there are as many good discounts thru agencies right now. For our next cruise, I have found, maybe a couple hundred bucks.. but they want an ridiculous deposit. Princess has been offering reduced, $100.00 deposit per person... And I would not want to go with any agency who wants two three times that of my money... If you book thru Princess, you can call or chat directly with Princess at any time. No waiting for your TA to get back to you when they can. Again, whether or not you are connected with a good rep, or a useless rep, is up to chance.

The issue is finding a good TA, whether they are a Princess PVP or not. We were completely disrespected and ignored and ghosted by our last Princess planner, while still getting annoying auto-messages... BOOK YOUR NEXT CRUISE NOW!! CONTACT ME TODAY!!! Ugggghhhh. We are in the same situation as you... finally found a TA we could work with, and she got promoted into a more management position. So, once again, NO decent TA to help us out. I would give my eye-teeth if I could find some good tips on finding a good cruise TA.