sawtooth

I didn't see the Diamond on that list. Did I miss it!

We are sailing her on 3/30 so I'm thinking she won't be outfitted by then.

If you want exceptional service on the second leg, be sure and fill out your "cards" and name the folks that a made a difference... The rankings they get from those cards are worth more than you generally will tip them. Its time off for many and on the wait staff it can mean the difference between a station where they have 5 empty tables or 10 full tables effectively doubling or more their income and share of the auto tips for the week. For the bar staff it can effect their shift times and of course as a result their tips.

Wow, I know the cards are important but didn't realize to what extant.

This is an eye opener.

If you leave the auto tip in place you do not need to worry about it. If you want to tip extra, ask your cabin steward if he/she will have your cabin for the next leg. Ask the Maitre 'D if you are going to have the same table. EM

Yes, we always leave the auto tip on.

We are on a B2B cruise. Do you tip at the end of each leg or wait until the total end of the cruise?

We are not changing cabins.

I am reading your review with much interest.

Are you thinking of converting to Celebrity? Would love to see you in depth comparison with Princess.

I have priced this cruise line but Princess seems a little more affordable.

But, wow, this Celebrity ship really pops!!!

Reading your blog is fun but it's keeping me in a continuous state of hunger:)

I feel your pain.

The pendulum swings both ways.

We experienced the unfavorable exchange rate against the US dollar when we traveled to Canada 2 years ago and also when we visited Australia last time.

We are actually buying some foreign currency now to have for some upcoming trips.

You never know when the pendulum will swing the other way.

Wow, we did the SA cruise on the Star from Valparaiso to Rio in 2012. We experienced no problems either embarking or disembarking.

Actually, the boarding in Chile was one of the easiest we ever experienced.

We were booked on a Princess tour to Iguazzu Falls from Rio so that may have made our experience smoother

We sailed the Sapphire to Alaska and I really did like the ship. We are on her sister ship, Diamond, in March from Australia to SE Asia and I fear I will miss Alfredo's, Vines and especially the IC. Don't understand why they did not outfit them the same.

Isn't the diamond a sister ship and very much like the sapphire?

Tracie, enjoying your blog. We did this cruise on the Island before her retrofit, loved it.

Have fun celebrating the holiday on the ship. Merry Christmas

I for one, appreciate honest opinions on this board, good or bad.

Everyone has a right to tell their story

Sounds like the perfect solution is to ask for a top sheet if you would like one.

Otherwise, sleep wth the duvet. Something for everyone.

THAT is a great video. We had that exact cabin when we cruised in the Caribbean and it was just perfect. Hope we can go again.

We are booked in L107 this coming March. This will be our first Pricess cruise. Haas anyone been in this cabin or know anything more about its location? It is a front corner cabin.

We were in L107 on the Royal and loved everything about this cabin.

Great balcony which you can use when cruising if it's not too windy and is wonderful for arriving and departing ports.

Good closet space, bedroom seems like a private room. This cabin is almost like a suite without the benefits. We had no problem with excessive movement in the cabin. Quiet location with easy access to everything Lido.

Over the years I have stated that Coral is the favorite ship on which I have sailed, due in manly to its Universe Lounge, (I have never sailed on Island), I have never wished to sail on larger cruise ships.

My wife and I are nearing the end of our cruising lives, so, if Coral is altered, in the same way as Island, we may not cruise again.

 

john

Cruise as long as you can! I guess I would cruise in the Islsnd again if the journey was right, but really did like the old ship.

Wow. It sounds like the Pacific Princess went to hell in a handbasket in the 2.5 hours after we disembarked on Thursday and embarkation began for the 50th anniversary cruise. I'm sorry...I hate to question people stating negatives, because every cruise is different, but I have a hard time accepting that it got that bad that quickly.

 

I had the chicken breast many, many times over 67 days and never found it to have dark meat. DH always requests his beef without sauces, and, even when he would forget, the waiter would remind him by asking if he wanted it that way. And it was never served incorrectly.

 

 

 

And therein lies the problem. Frankly, the entire ship's company knew that this would be the case. I was getting emails from 50th anniversary passengers asking about special crew ("the best?") coming on board, additional crew coming on board (to handle laundry. Where would they sleep?), special menus, special production show cast, etc. The reality is that, to the people on the ship, with the exception of Sammi and some in the entertainment department, this is simply the cruise following the last cruise and before the next cruise. To imagine service should be better on this cruise implies that the crew was not doing their best on the cruises that we were on, and I promise you, that was not the case. They do their best all the time, whether they're serving Gavin MacLeod or a blue card cruiser. As for the food...I suppose Princess could have upped their game for this cruise, but that was never promised or implied.

 

The problem is that this was promised to be a cruise with special guests and entertainment, and the expectation became something much bigger than that.

 

As for the CC host having a sign on her desk with the MTP numbers...I'm so glad she did that. DH suggested that, knowing that she would get asked 100 times a day what the numbers were.

Well said! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I do, however, like to read everyone's unique and personal perspective of the cruise.

Hope your weather improves as you sail away to the Caribbean

We so enjoyed our Panama Canal cruise on the Island before the refit.

Loved the gym, promenade deck and back decks.

I would have to think hard about cruising on her again, especially if we could take the Coral.

Love that cruise. We did it on the Island before she got the big makeover.

Enjoy!

I have tagged along with you for the last couple of years.

Great tips and insight and trip descriptions.

Happy Holiidays and can't wait for your next cruise...I'll bet you can't either.

D

Star was the first ship we ever cruised on (and that was only 4 years ago). I really loved that ship.

So this is your 50th cruise. Wow. Is there something special offered for your next cruise?

Chris,

Thanks for taking us along on your cruise. Brought back a lot of good memories!

Hi Chris,

I am late to your "live" but have read through it and am enjoying reliving some of our time cruising the Caribbean, albeit, on your sister ship the Royal.

Great photos and commentary.

When is your next trip?

Deborah

We booked our SE Asia cruises for 2016 some time ago and got an amazing casino rate. This new offer of 10% or even 20% off a mini does not even come close to the great fare we have.

I am just so happy we booked when we did.