Wishing on a star

I would def. go for the mini-suite. The deluxe balcony would have the berths for the teens right there in the same cabin area as the beds. These are only a few extra feet more than the standard balcony cabins. In a mini-suite at least the areas are divided. The extra beds are where the sofa is. I believe, for four with separate beds, the pull-down will come down over the sofa. And there is the curtain there, that at least provides some kind of division space. To bad Princess doesn't have cabins with the split bath like Disney, and some cabins on Carnival. Of course, one bathroom for the four guests. It is a slightly larger bath with a small tub, instead of just the small corner shower. I am assuming that you are not considering two cabins... Especially with the third and fourth guests Promo. If you can't spring for two cabins, go for at least a min-suite.

Okay, I looked again at that photo - which is not a good one! I see that the umbrella post are already set up for each of those pairs of chairs. Just no umbrella yet. Perhaps they set these up in sections... and then you pick one that is there, first come first served. We have a similar umbrella.. almost as big, but thicker nicer fabric. It is not that heavy. These look like thin fabric that does not fully block UV????? More like a big umbrella? And why did they not buy nicer ones that are the Royal Blue color!!!!

Is the language on the Princess web-site the same as on Carnival? It says these items are 'included'... like you would receive them... but no mention of setup. I would not want to think that Princess would have a 'you carry it... you set it up.. and what about 'bring it back? On our last visit to PC, We booked a cabana... our favorite location that we had already seen and picked out. We loved that! And, it was especially nice since rain came thru that morning.

Princess must be strictly prohibiting these cruise staff blogs... I know they are a big thing on a couple of then other lines. We will have to be PATIENT !!!!!!

I am not understanding this 'congestion' reason or excuse. These port, their port authorities, know how many berths they have... They know how many ships the island/country will allow. And the schedule can be set up months and even a year in advance? It would be interesting to know what is going on. The inaugural cruise, the SUN Princess next month, will have to skip Santorini, and call on Crete. I am not sure why they are announcing this weeks instead of months in advance? Did Santorini not contact any affected cruise companies before now, that they would be closing the cable-car lift? Perhaps inspection made them see the need to do maintenance and repair sooner than later... (Glad I didn't book that, because of the possibility of cold or unsettled weather. Santorini was one of a couple of stops that were truly on my bucket list!!!! To find this out well after final payment... I would not be happy!)

The value of any upgrades offered will probably depend on how many cabins Princess has available to upgrade, and unsold. If you are eligible to bid... decide on what amount of money you think would be a good deal, and make it worth the extra cost. Bid, and cross your fingers. Once you bid, and if your bid is accepted, you are pretty much locked in. Your cabin can be any available cabin in any location in that Category. The only possibility is, if you do not like the new cabin location, you can do an even switch to any other cabin that might show up as available.

Caligirl... When is your departure... When is, or was, final payment. If you are before final payment, you might be able to cancel your current booking, and re-book for three guests, under the current promo. If this is past final payment... I think you are pretty much locked in with your current booking, which does NOT have the current promo. I do not believe that they will simply 'add another guest for free'. If the fare now is higher, yes, you get the third person promo, but the total would be higher, And, as mentioned... each passenger is always required to pay the taxes/port charges. Yes, your total cost will go up. But, it should still be much less than having to pay for the third person.

Was this a Princess Agent? One who actually might be knowledgeable. On the new upcoming ships, there will be the separate Luxe, aft view section of the Sanctuary which is a special Signature Sun Deck for Signature Suite Guests. I am wondering if t his might be causing confusion and rumors? I, personally, would hope that Suites would not automatically get exclusive access to the Sanctuary. This was the one GOOD thing about Princess not having a true 'class system'... and anyone, especially any guests who might have priority boarding, had access to the Sanctuary. We have really appreciated that!

I would assume it is... but which night they offer it could vary. IN SHORT: ask about the menus when you get onboard.... I have seen some variations on menus shown on trip reports here on CC. When we were on Regal, instead of the first night as it often had been, it was on the last night. I think that Princess has been playing around with different menu options. I know that last Summer, it seemed that the menus on the Ruby in Alaska were quite a bit different??? PS: the Prime Rib we had was very good.... but it was the absolute thinnest slices I have ever seen. The medallions might have been just as good or better. We wanted to move along with our evening, and did not want to seem 'demanding', but I recommend that you do not be shy about asking for more if the portions are as limited as ours was!!! ( I know our waiter was good and would have happily obliged! ) I do not know If you would have the same Executive Chef and head of dining onboard REGAL as we did last year... But the food was good onboard!

First, I am so sorry that you are finding that the Princess 'help' or call center is NOT always helpful. Many here should be more familiar with the Princess bus transfers to the ship. Do they not offer a pre-cruise hotel and transfer package. With this, yes, the coach would pick you up right at your hotel, and there should be assistance available. They will generally pick up after late-morning or after noon. (So, no early boarding) I am thinking that their busses have picked up departures and are bringing them back to Anchorage that morning. I do hope that some of the trusted posters here can offer you some good info and recommendations!

I would shy away from Emerald, after seeing reviews from the last few years... Perhaps that is why the one person posted that one comment???? But, IT SHOULD NOT MATTER.... All ships should be freshly restored and in good working order. All ships should have some consistency when it comes to basic dining and service. I am not a Princess cheerleader. I was on one cruise with BAD food and dining, where we joked that maybe we should jump off and start swimming home!!!! Consistency, or INCONSISTANCY, is a big issue. I will say that the comments about staffing make me wonder if the difficulties and staffing shortages... along with MANY now over on the SUN Princess, preparing for her inaugural... have really had a huge and negative impact on staffing. Our last cruise, on REGAL, was great!!!! ( a couple of 'princess shortcoming/embarrasments ). but really good overall !!! We are looking forward to being on the new ship later this year.

Princess does not offer this as a pre-cruise excursion because this means they would be expected to provide the transfers... And, their busses leave Whittier with departing cruisers that morning, and can not pick up people and get them back to Whittier in time to take this boat cruise. That is the reason. I do not believe that this is a 'gamble'. I am not familiar with the Kenai trip... I believe it sounds amazing and the scenery and wildlife are the bit thing? Whereas, this one is all about being on the water and the Glaciers.

NOPE.... not quite... That photo is beautiful and amazing!!!!! (wish we had seen that sunshine and weather on our cruise!!!) But, consider being in that special double hulled cat/boat... cutting thru the water and chunks of ice... hearing the hull strike and cut thru the ice... feeling that cold air that comes off of the glacier/ice. Of course, for many, seeing this from Princess is wonderful and more than good enough!!!! But, for anybody who is on the fence, or who does not understand the different experience... then this is a good thread. Then everyone can make the most excellent decision, based on what truly appeals!

There is something to say about that more up-close and personal experience. And... weather... OMG... It is Alaska... you never know... When we arrived by train, it was raining and dark... We were like.. 'I don't know if I want to get on that boat'... We actually went thru the Princess check-in... Then, we said... we paid for this.. let's go ahead... and hustled over... the last to board the boat. When we were pulling out, it was like a dark comedy... the guy who was narrating was like.. we are going thru this pass, and there is this and such on the left... but, well, we can't see it...." But, the clouds lifted... and even in cloudy sometimes misty weather, it was great!

Yes, everyone here is correct... Princess, the Glacier Cruise, and the railway, are all in this together. It is all seamless. The railway collects your luggage, tagged with your princess tags.. And will make sure it gets onboard. There is absolutely no issue with a time-crunch, or with a major Port Authority... Princess will make every effort to insure that everyone is onboard. They only have a short way to go to the next day. NO worries!!!!

Thank You!!! And we wish a very happy and wonderful cruising new year you too! Looking forward to 20204 seeing us on the new Sun Princess.

Nini... HAHAHAHA!!!! someone was always hanging down and twirling. Better than Virgin, where there seems to be a lot of 'twerking'.

Princess is joining the aerial 'Cirque' type acts bandwagon. Starting with the Sun Princess. It might be a good thing to some that all the current ships probably could not be fitted with all of the trappings and special effects. Just personally... NOT a fan of these hyped up over-done productions. Okay... I will echo one comment from just above. Yes, Princess feels like 'home' to us, as a cruise line. Everyone who is considering cruising ANY line should be aware that every experience will be different, especially based on the ship... the current staff and management... and other factors. I notice the one cruise mentioned above, where they did not seem to be able to do turndown service, was just after the pandemic, and almost every cruise ship was severely understaffed.. I think that this kind of experience was not unheard of. I have been on Princess cruises with so-so food... (Ruby, Caribbean years ago... uggghhh) and some with very good food! (Even with the newer cut-back menus, the Regal on our last cruise had some good dining.) I have been on Princess cruises with GREAT! entertainment, and some with some so-so entertainment. But, what I remember most is the two Princess cruises where everything was good, and ALL of the staff we encountered were GREAT!!!! Including our last cruise.... I even made sure to write corporate, because I never seemed to get a feed-back form or email. And I was able to mention quite a few people by their specific position, and even their name!

We always travel with black electrical tape!!! Twice, with all of the walking you do on a cruise ship, I disembarked with shoes. (thankfully black ones!) that were literally held together with that black tape!!!! It really is one of those things.. don't leave home without it!

1. There should be NO problem enjoying this glacier cruise before boarding for departure! 2. Yes, you can get there early, board the ship... then go over and board the Glacier Cruise. The Princess transfers and other busses might NOT get you to Whittier early enough. We took the railway, which leaves in the morning, and a it worked out perfectly. The rail train is basically there FOR these Princess cruisers... They accept all your luggage, with the Princess tags... no problem. 3. We were boarding Southbound, not doing the Northbound itinerary, which does see some of this area, as mentioned. However, it is a whole different experience on this smaller boat... up close and personal.. You do get to see more. If this is like it was a few years ago when we did this, I recommend! The Princess ship does this every week... this is seamless and they are set up this way. The dining on this embarkation is 'Open Dining'... (Which most people are doing Dine My Way anyhow). And any attire, within reason, is accepted. When they see latecomers walking onboard, and the dining rooms are opening.. they will smile and welcome you to go right to dinner, if you wish.

We will be on that Oct. US inaugural 5 night... And we are not worried at all about booking the 'specialty' restaurants. Especially this early. I know that they have upgraded the app, and everyone was worried about possible glitches. But, if this seems to be related to the new Sun Princess.. I hope that doesn't foreshadow more new-ship inaugural glitches, for those sailing soon!!! I CAN NOT WAIT TO BEGIN SEEING PHOTOS AND FEEDBACK ON THIS NEW SHIP!

I have not seen Royal Tea in a long time... So, this could be wrong? But, last time I did.. if you are thinking 'Princess'... the Royal Tea is the thing. They really went all out to set it up.. white tablecloths, roses on the table, tea cup and plate set up... full personalized service. Is not the regular tea more like another offering in one of the midship main dining rooms?

Thanks! I had mentioned the singer/band onboard when we last sailed... It seems that Take Five is more what used to be called 'middle of the road' Sounds like the band will be great for NEW YEARS EVE!

We have loved the Sanctuary. most frequently on Regal. One of my favorites.. With the nice open cabana type sitting area, as well as your reserved loungers... Breakfast and lunch there! (not as fond of the clinical minimalistic look of newer ones) Yes, it is booked ASAP upon boarding. Those who have any early priority boarding will get there first, and the bookings fill up fast. NOTE: you might also be able to select a shaded cabana at the Adult Retreat Pool... Not full service and exclusive... But your own shaded nice padded loungers. The Sanctuary probably fills up faster than these do. You select your loungers, and they are set up and waiting for you. Most of the time the staff are excellent... They will great you by name, reach out to take any 'stuff' you are carrying in, and make sure you are all set up at your loungers. The Sanctuary layout can be different on each ship We have a favorite place on the Royal Class ships... A double lounger that is not up front. (most sun) But is backed up to the wall, facing forward. This often provides shade! And these loungers are not set as close together as some others. You don't get that up-front view... but the shade and the space are priceless!

Can anyone tell us who the Princess 'party' Band is onboard? That first meal looks pretty good! (they have changed the menus up a bit, first night menu was not the greatest when we last cruised Regal.. that is one night we skipped the MDR!) We love the Regal, and I am looking forward to reading your updates!