Wishing on a star

Seriously, I'll bet this Captain and CD and Bartender are showing up for a matter of minutes, filming their part, and then off they go. It just seemed so obvious. And, yes this is the new Princess. But don't kvetch and complain too soon. This is still not Princess gone 'Carnival'. I really like their new commercials, which are a definite take on the 'neon' Carnival ships, that show the striking colors of the sea, the sunset, etc... and says Princess REAL, not neon. I think Princess still has a ways to go as it 'evolves', But, for me, I am not pining for the past. The Dome, on the new Sun Princess, is described as having a Miami South Beach vibe, for adults, at night. I think that is a perfect example of what Princess is moving towards. CCL and Princess know their target audiences for these lines. Very well. And, yes, as one person said, you don't want to see the demise of your business and profits because all your older customers are no more.

I watched, as I was just SO enjoying seeing those wonderful areas of the REGAL that I have enjoyed, and hope to be back onboard. A lot of this first episode was filmed at the Sanctuary and Retreat Pool. They sure brought in the potted plants for the set in the Sanctuary! Yes, usual reality dating stupidity.... But I loved watching the Regal. That is what this show is for. Making the Princess ship look enticing. Looks like a lot of the upcoming episodes will be onshore 'dates'.

When you go online and go as far as to pull up a cruise and look at staterooms, I think this gets into the Princess PVP system and the assigned PVP will then send you an email. I think that is what I am remembering. We have the SAME problem. ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM OUR PVP. This seems common and is just not acceptable. Maybe Princess is seeing these threads and comments? I know that Princess is having the same staffing issues that all other businesses seem to be experiencing. At one point our PVP had an answering machine saying something to the affect of "volume of business, unable to reply right away, etc..." Then still, deafening silence since then. Anyhow, once there is an actual booking, I think that the Princess CHAT has been helpful. One person reported being told on the phone with Princess that the rep. could/would not help them, as they had to work thru their assigned PVP. I believe they 'demanded' that somebody take care of their business. Your options are to try CHAT, to call the Princess number, or to go as far as to email some of the powers-that-be. OR, find your own independent travel agent that might be more accessible. We can't recommend travel agents here at all. But I will say that if you do not know one, we had contacted a lady (and her husband) agent that tends to specialize in Princess, with videos posted to YouTube. So, Youtube could actually be an option for finding a TA. There are a lot out there!

Great! You found all six cabins together. A great ship. And a great Northbound itinerary. ENJOY! The time at Juneau, from 8:00am to 9:00pm is remarkable!!! Plenty of time for any excursions and site seeing you want to do. This time might even allow you to do the Adventure Bound boat tour into Tracy Arm Fjord, if any in your group are interested. (I would def.love that) PS: Everyone take binoculars!!! Even if the ship isn't super close, when you put those up to your face is like being immersed in an incredible National Geographic type presentation. If those six adjoining cabins are more important than upgrades to better cabins, and if it is still possible to request that they are marked NO UPGRADE, then make sure they are marked, and keep checking your cabins. especially as it gets closer to final payment and departure. They are implementing the new Bidding For Upgrade system, but I think we are hearing about random gratuitous upgrades from the lower cabin categories.

I have been in a nearby cabin on Regal... Should be great with the larger balcony and not-obstructed view! Enjoy!

How much would the HAL music venues mean to you? Assuming you are checking them out. That might be a big difference between Princess and HAL. Neither are known for 'nightlife' for sure! Princess has the ships band, the ships orchestra, the Piazza with maybe one music entertainment event one night (other than the ships party band), and Club 6 small nightclub type venue with DJ. Lighter music entertainment duos or solos or jazz at some times at places like the Piazza and the bar at the steakhouse (Crown Grill). I am not familiar, but have always heard that for the dining and additional specialty dining, Celebrity is the better cruise line.

Do they usually release the following years itineraries at about this time of year? That is what I was thinking. Hoping sooner than later!

Yes, but which ports on each itinerary is what is important. I would not expect Princess to be considering smaller 'boutique' ports. As a person who has not cruised the Mediterranean. to get Rome, and Athens together, along with ports like Santorini, Messina, Naples, etc... That is excellent! (not necessarily 'new' ports) But, somehow, I think those itineraries on the inaugural cruises will be one-time. and will be the usual itineraries that Princess has had. I don't think Princess will have the port availability to keep running these itineraries once the season starts.

All the ships stop at all the main ports from Seattle or Vancouver to Anchorage (Whittier) All ships can visit Glacier Bay. The prevailing conditions can be what will determine exactly how close the ship can get to specific sites or Glaciers. The inside passage is great for Vancouver departures. Seattle departures sail on the west side, along the 'Inside Passage" The more protected waters of the Inside Passage can mean calmer waters/sailing. To get even closer to Glaciers, two options can be a boat tour from Whittier like the 27 Glacier tour. Or, on itineraries that allow, there can be a small boat tour that tenders right off the ship in the fjord, and goes up into Endicott Arm or Tracy Arm Fjord. Check for the available excursions on the sailing for that. It can sell out very fast. While everyone mentions Glacier Bay, These other two boat tour options are another great way to get out on the water and see Glaciers.

Nothing but the Inaugural new Sun Princess last I looked. Didn't Alaska just come out? (oooops, NO, I thought I had seen something, but it was not 2024) I am curious to see if there are any better Med iteneraries with the new ship there.

Yes, I agree that a Vancouver departure is nice! I had thought about mentioning that. Too bad, for me, it is a choice between the ship and the route.

Great! Enjoy that nice mini and balcony!!!

Here is what I am seeing on the Princess website. I am more familiar with the Royal Class ships, so I looked at those. Here are some of those mid-ship not-really-obstructed extended balcony cabins. Majestic - Has a row of mid-ship extended cabins, deck 8, E437 - E421. Might have shade-tarps over restaurant seating below you on the Port side. D227 (standard balcony with large balcony but without the 'premium' fare) Discovery - E436 - E432. Again, might have shade-tarps below you on Port (or on both) sides???) Royal - E433 and E437

Again, if enjoying time on your balcony is important, then you might want to have, at least for yourself, an UN-obstructed balcony. Doesn't matter if you get a standard or a deluxe balcony, especially on the newer Royal Class ships. These balconies are small. (plenty of room tours on youtube). A deluxe balcony will have a slightly larger inside cabin area. Allows for the small two-seat sofa. But, this does not mean the balcony is any bigger. Just the cabin interior. If there are mid-ship so-called Obstructed Balconies along that mid-ship bump-out still available. Look at those. Many of these, in the middle area, will have larger extended balconies. These are the Obstructed pricing, but do not have obstruction. No lifeboats. just that open deck area below. If you book Obstructed, deck 8, then be aware of what is just below you. You are fine if you are not above a loud entertainment venue, like Crooners. Most all other balcony cabins, deluxe or not, have the standard balcony size for that ship. Again, look closely at deck plans. There are a few exceptions. But these will be booked up quickly. Look at Dolphin, deck 9, mid forward.

R407, for the most part, is a great mid-ship location. It is on a higher deck, so convenient to run up two decks to the Buffet and everything up on Lido. But, maybe more motion. Being mid-ship should be less motion than a high deck that is forward. Did that once. It has the small balcony, close to the extended mid-ship larger angled bump out balconies. But doesn't have that advantage. What it does have is a location just beneath the SeaWalk. So, privacy could be an issue. There are many videos of the sea walk and how upper mid-ship balconies are visible to people who are on the sea walk. There are also lights there that will shine some light on that balcony/stateroom as well. That location, just the second deck down from SeaWalk might be the only drawback. There should be no noise, as nothing but staterooms directly above and below. NOTE: I am thinking that once you have your upgrade to the new category, MA, you can do an easy switch to other MA category mini-suite that might still be available.

I am looking, out of curiosity, at the Rome, round trip. I am seeing that the OV cabins on deck six, mid forward, the starboard side is booking, but not the Port side. Wonder why no bookings on the Port side. Any guesses?

To the original poster here. I now that you said that spending time on your own balcony is a big thing. Again, you can look for Premium Balcony cabins, or Premium Deluxe Balcony cabins (on Royal class newer ships) to have a larger than standard balcony. I am not readily aware of any 'Premium' cabin that does not have a larger than standard balcony. (there are exceptions of some cabins with larger balconies that do not come with the Premium category upgrade). Fully go over deck plans! I truly hate to continue to derail this valid and wonderful poster's thread here with confusion, disagreement, and argument. But, there can be misleading stuff about this. I have seen it said that 'Premium is based on a preferred location". When they can be forward, aft, different decks, etc. They have larger balconies... and I am guessing from some recent info and photos that these that are the category 'premium' balconies are being furnished with a real table instead of the little side-table footstool. Quoting my earlier question..... Which should actually be another thread. " I would love it somebody could give me an example of a stateroom that is 'premium' balcony that does NOT have a balcony that is larger than standard." Without looking at every cabin, I have not seen any. And, to note, this, quoted below, is not answering that question. Quite the opposite. "Here you go. Some examples of balcony cabins that are not 'premium' that have large balconies. There are other examples....." From what I have seen, the 'premium balcony', or also 'Premium Deluxe Balcony ' (which 'deluxe' cabins are on the Royal class newer ships,) will have a larger balcony than standard balconies on that ship.

I will also say that smaller is a preference, that might not be the preference of this family. In this case, smaller also equals older, and limited inside open space, and perhaps lessor/smaller other amenities. We cruised Alaska on CORAL. and we loved it. But, would choose a larger and newer ship now, for sure. The buffet was limited in choices and in food quality. (Main Dining Rooms were great!). When everyone was out at peak times like dinner and shows... good luck navigating thru the crowds in those areas. No large Piazza. etc. Just be aware that people have different. expectations and preferences. I am quite sure that this poster can look at the options and decide on what is best for their family group cruise.

Okay, I will bite. There is too much confusion for 'premium'.... I would love it somebody could give me an example of a stateroom that is 'premium' balcony that does not have a balcony that is larger than standard. And, yes, there might be some balconies, premium or not, are larger than others in the category. So, looking over the deck plans is a must.

For me, Majestic. Easy decision. Discovery as a second - But would def. recommend Glacier Bay as a first Alaskan cruise. We would do the other Fjord and try to book the small boat excursion that actually gets to the glacier on a future Alaska cruise. (check the excursions for that, it would actually tender onto the smaller boat right here in the Fjord. You would be going with the right choice with Princess. Princess does Alaska well. There will be a naturalist onboard as well as other presentations/ I think with your preferences and the fact that Majestic is a larger ship (and newer) you will have more of everything you want, but can choose to avoid/not partake in the things that you do! With as many as 4 in the one cabin, and with three Tweens, if they would all get along great, would def. consider an additional inside or adjoining cabin for them. NOTE: the standard balconies on these ships are small. Look for the larger 'premium' balconies, as I notice that your cabin and balcony are a priority for you!

Do those deck plans show exactly where the International Cafe is? Or might be proposed to be? I am not sure it is near the large AFT dining room? I was thinking it was forward of the large main Piazza? Thinking that two deck round area there might have a food court type set-up? They mention so many dining options in the promo stuff.

To me, hoping for sunny and somewhat warm weather, yes! We appreciate the experience and getting away from the crowds. (in hot weather, it can get hot up there) If it is just too chilly and cloudy/drizzly, I don't think it is any problem to cancel.

You will see a decrease in things like lobster, the seafood on embarkation, etc... (went from crab legs to crab knuckles to really no crab at all. Still great! But like everything else, just isn't the way it used to be. Same with the level of Formal attire and ambiance. I think especially so on some Caribbean cruises. If you are one of the newer Royal Class ships, you will see how they are bigger and grander, huge buffet, the Piazza, etc.

I am not sure that a more central dining wouldn't work out well. It almost makes sense to me. While people have loved having the Buffett up high, for the view, etc... It seems that for me, it was always a hike, and not near other food options. Just the pool deck. I am seeing how that would work out well on Port days, when many people won't be needing to hit those elevators to go all the way up, and then all the way back down. I am hoping that the traffic area will not be as busy and congested as feared. Too bad about the whole aft facing area of the Sanctuary being special access. But, I would still appreciate a Sanctuary either way. Nothing compares to it being where it is on the Royal Class!

It appears that it will be The Dome, with the indoor outdoor pool. But, who knows how 'adult' it will be. We will have to wait and see! I don't know if they will make that large of an area, a covered area, restricted from families. Maybe at night. They do mention changing this area/venue at night to a Miami South Beach type of atmosphere. That would definitely bring Princess into the 21st Century non-geriatric demographic!