HUNKY

From what I understand, unless you are onboard first, as the Elite tier are, the Sanctuary and Chef's Table will be booked already...

Since I'm in a guaranteed inside, with only one other Princess cruise, I might have to try the BVE to get onboard first.

Corfe...The way Disney does it first priority goes to those guests who have paid in full, booked in concierge or suite cabins. These are the most expensive accommodations. Lower priced cabin guests with little cruise history have the lowest priority and as such, are pretty much unable to obtain cabanas or paid dining reservations at preferred times.

Pam...again first priority goes to those guests that are paid in full in the most expensive cabins (Elite tier status does not come into play at this point). Onshore concierge will make the reservations based upon earliest full payment date and time. Any leftovers can be made online at midnight based upon the guests' various priority. Do a search for getting reservations at Disney World's most popular restaurants.

Carnival Corporate would LOVE to have their guests paid in full 180 days prior to cruising!

As the stern of the Royal/Regal is stepped, the balcony is not 100% covered.

I have no idea why the Caribe and Dolphin decks have many cabins available.

Regarding soot, is the cheaper fuel burned during a TA, outside the Emission Control Zone, more likely to cause soot? Maybe someone who has been on the Royal TA could tell us.

Yes you can take the aft staircase or elevators up three decks to the Horizon Court/Bistro buffet, and main pool deck. Or go up four decks to the aft deck pool!

Early prebooking would have no cost to Princess, but a decided value for suite guests and those that are frequent cruisers.

I will not find it relaxing to have to run to the Sanctuary to make my cabana or lounger reservations, while the other half calls the dine line to hopefully make Chef's Table and other reservations.

Heck, Princess could team up with Open Table to handle the reservations! Allow reservations for suite/frequent guests at 180 days out, others at 120 or 90 days. Close online booking a week or two prior to sailing so that the reservations could be transmitted to the ship.

Any rumors on when Princess will begin precruise online reservations for the Sanctuary, Specialty restaurants, Chef's Table and Winemaker's dinners?

It was great to be able to reserve dining on Disney and Royal!

A "South Miami" vibe - do they mean like Little Havana?

I think they may have meant South Beach...Guess the drinks start at $19 and of course there will be a doorman to keep the wrong people out! You know, the ones wearing sneakers and the wrong jeans.

Bruce - I'm somewhat surprised by item 6. Unless playing bridge takes hours upon hours, I would have thought that players would have automatic social contacts. As such, going on tours together, pre-dinner cocktails and dining in the specialty restaurants.

I'm pretty cheap myself, but that is so I can splurge on vacation!

A quick search noted NO Hyatt branded hotels in Brooklyn.

They are all in Manhattan.

Any corporation that does not have a social media officer or manager is certainly behind the times.

On the Princess forum, Princess Cruises responds directly.

I've not cruised on Cunard, but on other lines I almost always tip more for drinks.

Why? Because I tip more at home, one dollar for a beer, two or three dollars for two cocktails.

Surprise! On board ship, the bartenders quickly learn that I liked to be served promptly and guess what - I get quick service, even if the bar is crowded!

I've not taken the train from that far north, but a 17 hour cushion will hopefully be enough. They should take the train to Hollywood, it is a bit closer to the hotel and the port.

On the Amtrak site you can check the status of their train. For the past few days, the Silver Star train 91 has arrived between one hour early to well over four hours late.

Hopefully they will have a roomette on the train, it makes the trip so much nicer, and meals are included!

I don't think it would be fair to your regular travel agent if you did not give them the chance to beat your best offer from the other travel agents. After the first round I would send a second request stating your best offer to see if that can be topped.

I'm still surprised that cruise lines book via TAs. I would imagine their shareholders would like to retain those commissions. When was the last time anyone used a TA to book a hotel or flight?

DM Thanks for the link to pic of the glass wall on Regal!

Would think Princess could of saved a ton of money by expanding the curtains the full width on each side.

UH OH!

The curtains don't look like they close! What's the point?

That will be a deal breaker.

Does someone have a picture of the Regal Retreat Pool cabana walls?

Thanks to "cruise time tables" it starts to get busy next month September.

For our non-US cruisers, chicken tenders are most often strips of chicken breast which are breaded and fried. They are usually a frozen food product. Often served with ranch or honey mustard salad dressing, or ketchup.

When traveling solo, a cruise line transfer is often a good choice.

I'm also a fan of Uber - so much nicer than a cab, and less expensive than a limo!

Ship gets in at 7AM, flight out is at 1120AM. I was thinking of taking a cab or limo, but was wondering if a Princess transfer would be easier?

I don't want to do self disembark, and I understand that EZ Check is for flights at 1130AM or later, so that will not work.

Since the flight is a touch early, would we be in the first group off the ship, and then on the first transfer bus out?

Time for Port Everglades and FLL to take a leap forward and have a light rail connection! $35 million per mile x 2.4 miles = $84 million. With 3.6 million passengers a year, a $25 "port access fee" would pay for the construction in ONE YEAR!

Guy here - you can find the price list under your Cruise Personalizer. However, a basic manicure is $29, pedicure $45 on a sea day. $26 and $41 respectively on a port day.

I don't know about gel, but a shellac manicure is $41 in port, $45 at sea.

Thank you for keeping your nails looking great! Nothing worse than a woman with bad nails.

Mexicobob - I have to admit, I felt weird ironing my tuxedo shirt on my last Princess cruise. I wasn't the only one in the laundry room either!

Not much information on them, other than $50 per half day. Reserve them at the Sanctuary desk. I believe that multiple days can be booked in advance - but I'm not 100% sure on that.

You can NOT book online, or otherwise in advance. The Retreat Pool Cabanas are unfortunately very basic, no ceiling fan, no cooler chest of drinks or TV.

Hopefully, they will be upgraded in the future, along with online advance booking.

Even so, I hope to book one for our sea days.

So our 11:20 AM flight out of FLL is on a Sunday with six ships in port and I'm comfortable with that departure time.

I have the My TSA app which shows crowd sourced wait times, but it seems that not many people participate. I could not find a phone number on the FLL site, nor do I know of any site which lists current wait times.

My question is, on our departure day, how can I find out what the "real time" security wait times are for FLL?

Is there a distinct, separate loading area for prearranged limos?

I have a fairly early flight (11:20), and will not do self carry.

We like to use Budget, along with their free frequent renter program known as Fastbreak. (Little or no line at pickup.) They have a shuttle between your ship and the rental office.

Be sure to use the valet $40 at Universal, time is money. Likewise, if you are going during busy season, you can prepurchase Express Pass. This provides head of line access to many attractions, but not all.

BTW - great price on the park tickets! Does that include BOTH parks, park-to-park?