Mary Ann 2

11 hours ago, TinaLee said:

Thanks so much for doing this! One tiny thing if you would check for me - Sur La Mer breakfast/brunch menu. I see it is open for those meals but have seen nothing about the menus for those times. I hope you have a wonderful cruise and please do check in and let us know how it is going! 

The menu was posted the first cruise.  I downloaded it so here it is:

3 minutes ago, UT-Volsfan said:

We were in Walkoff Group A this morning.  Left the ship at 07:20.  Grabbed a taxi to the airport and were sitting at the gate for our flight at 08:10.  We have TSA precheck so that made security a breeze.   Regular security has long lines.

That's great to hear.  Thanks for posting!

6 hours ago, Bgwest said:

We are also in TX and have been eager to try CLEAR but oddly enough, it's available only in Terminal E at DFW. Makes no sense whatsoever to me. 

https://www.clearme.com/where-we-are/dfw

 

I totally agree!  Since AA is the major airline at DFW and mainly flies out of A-C except for international flights, it should be in more terminals.  When we went to the airport to get set up to use CLEAR, I asked about it.  She claimed that they were working on expanding to other terminals.  I think we will cancel before our two free months are up and wait until they expand.

13 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

So, just to update this post as we were on the first Alaskan sailing on the Majestic.  This may not be the best example as it was only at 60% capacity but this was our experience.  

We signed up for the Port Valet ... your flight must be after 11 AM and only certain airlines do qualify for that service.  

Even though we booked EZ air, we booked our shuttle service (Seattle Express) for the return ride to the airport.  Not only was it less expensive than the Princess transfers but we actually got a private ride in the small shuttle van.  The driver was very courteous and he didn't want to make us wait any longer for any more passengers.  What is nice is that you don't even have to book a specific time for the pick up .. because, how is that even possible?  They start pick ups at 7:00 AM and go every 15 minutes or so.  

Did you happen to notice how long the taxi line was when you went to your shuttle?

Several of us on our Roll Call remember an Alaskan cruise where they put blankets in every room to use on the balcony or glacier day rather than the usual beach towel.  Did they do that for this August 1 cruise? Trying to decide whether to bring a down throw with me.

6 hours ago, trbarton said:

I’m reading that approximately 60 days before the cruise you could reserve things like boarding times, shows, etc. Could other people share their experience?

 

I'm on the first cruise on the Ruby, October 31 from dry dock, so it will be interesting to see how things are going & if they are still trying to figure some things out. 

 

Thanks to everyone for your responses!

 

Tom😀

Right now, it looks like about 10 days before embarkation, the MedallionClass app starts showing some activities.

52 minutes ago, sfkaren said:

Does anyone know if they are doing Ultimate Balcony Dinners?

 

They better be as it was available for purchase online so people (me too) will have already bought them and scheduled the day.  But I hope someone onboard or on the other sailing verifies this.

4 hours ago, Sprocket said:

We booked a shuttle or car service through our hotel and the only options for going to the airport on our return were 9 or 11 AM.  Having only cruised once before with Princess I wasn't sure and so of course chose 11 since our flight isn't until 3 PM.  

Can someone advise what the latest time is to disembark, I have a feeling I am going to have to call them and amend the time.  We are not Platinum or Elite so no special status.  TIA

someone posted this on the second day of the cruise:

3 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

The train takes you to N gates and the lounge has great signage. 

When I read the airport website, it said something about buses to N gates I thought.  So to hear there is a train is welcome news if our plane leaves from a N gate. Is the train underground?  Can you give me an estimate of how much time that adds to getting to your gate?

Thanks again for all your so helpful posts and taking time out to do them.  Hope you have a good flight home!

9 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

I went to the priority disembarkation lounge (vista lounge) at 8:30 barely sat down before being escorted off the ship for my 8:40 time slot. I saw they had beverages and pastries. 
we had to show passports at customs and that’s it. No lines anywhere. Breezed past the luggage as I used port valet and was put immediately onto a princess transfer. 8:55 am we are on our way. So 25 min from cabin to transfer driving away. 
not too shabby!  

Thanks for that info.  How long did it take to get to the airport?    For others who took a taxi, how long was the taxi line and wait for a taxi and what time you tried; what was an approximate cost of the taxi, and when did you get to the airport?

It looked like the disembarkation letter said that there would be random Custom inspections, so does that mean no waiting in line at customs before retrieving luggage.  Did you just hand someone your customs declaration or were there no forms?  Would someone address what getting off the ship tomorrow was like (after you get home or waiting at the airport)?  Any US Dept of Agriculture inspection?  How long after your disembarkation time did you get on a Princess transfer bus and then how long until you got to the airport?    If you took a taxi, how long was the taxi line and wait, an approximate cost of the taxi, and when you got to the airport.  Thanks all for your invaluable information for those who will follow!!

35 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Ours was the first chef table in the fleet. Neville said he will be doing them moving forward if your roll call has discussed it. 
 

That's so good to hear!  I had been disappointed to not have the chance at this.  Happy now!!

5 minutes ago, CSloan said:

Can't this be done on the website before leaving home?

No, the Cruise Personalizer online at Princess.com no longer has places to enter all this information.  This is all that is on the Check-In page now:

and the guest information is only your name!

The webcam in Ketchikan looks like the Majestic is docked as far away as I've ever seen - out past the tunnel.  Anyone know why when there are no other ships there today?

Is there a shuttle to the downtown area?  Wouldn't you have to walk through the tunnel to get to town?

15 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

No specials by the pool in Juneau or Skagway. I love those pop ups.  I hope they come back for later sailings. Yes to all your other questions except the pictures at night question as I don’t know what it means. 
the north to Alaska program is alive and well!  

Thanks!  I just meant the pictures they take most nights in the atrium.  I love the on deck pictures with the glacier in the background, so happy to hear they did that.  But no port pictures or embarkation, right?  Something said they wouldn't be doing those.

Has there been any Alaskan food specials up near the pool?  Did anyone come onboard in Skagway or Juneau (or coming today) as a special speaker about Alaska or with the dogs (I know Princess advertised special presentations for Alaska)?  

Are they really just taking pictures at night on the ship?  Was there a photographer out yesterday at the glacier?  Did they have hot drinks around the top decks out yesterday?

Thanks for all your time to answer our questions!

21 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

The Express walk off times are 7:15 - 7:30 and then every fifteen minute interval after through the next hour.  
if you are using Seattle Express, you do not need to give them a time.  They start pick ups at 7:00 AM and run shuttles constantly throughout the morning.  

Someone posted earlier that disembarkation started at 7am.  Are you saying it's 7:15?

45 minutes ago, Eaglecw said:

Mary Ann your no bother. Now I understand, by doing the EZ air you have to use the Princess shuttle. I think I'd still be one of the first to walk off and get on the shuttle.

Yes, we will definitely be waiting at 7am to disembark!

5 hours ago, Eaglecw said:

Mary Ann I can’t recall anyone fretting as much as you are about catching your flight 10:15am. Here’s what you need to do. At 6:45am be in line to walk off the ship with your luggage so you can be one of the first off the ship. Have your Passport handy in case they want to see it. Go out the front of the terminal, cross the driveway and look to your left, you’ll see a line of hungry cab drivers who will gladly take you out to the airport. About 30-40 minutes should be at Sea-Tac airport. Being there that early you should beat a lot of the other cruise ship people who will be flying out. You should be able to make your flight. If you miss the 10:15 flight when is the next flight?

 

I'm just an over-planner and like to know what to expect.  Earlier in this thread, I mentioned that I do think walking off and taking a cab would work better, but according to someone I spoke to at Princess, the only way to get the EZ Air Late Arrival Protection is to take the shuttle.  If the shuttle gets us there too late, they are on the hook to rebook us.  I'm just trying to access what the chances are that will happen.  Sorry to bother you...

12 hours ago, caribill said:

 

No flights before 11 AM per disembarkation information post.

Saw that too 😞.  But very happy that disembarkation starts 20 minutes earlier than I thought it would.

I'm surprised to not see any special guests in Juneau this evening in the Patter.  Maybe in Skagway or Ketchikan...

Cruise Raider just posted that disembarkation starts at 7am.  😃  Hoping to hear back about what flights qualify for Luggage Valet.  And ultimately from someone about when the first bus left the port for the airport.

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

Yet, I’m still no able to choose an arrival time for my Sept sailing.  Nor have I been able to choose a disembarkation time for this sailing on the app.  My room steward just dropped off our disembarkation papers, though … so hopefully, it’s all taken care of off.  The earliest walk off time is 7:00 AM.  

Thanks so much for this info.  Do the disembarkation papers mention what time your flight has to leave from SEA to qualify for Luggage Valet program (where they take your luggage to the airport and you don't see it until arriving at home airport)?

1 hour ago, ChangeOrder said:

They are already paperless by default, but your steward asks what you prefer. The new printed Patter is very nice and compact - no pages of sales ads!

 

Thanks so much for posting the Patter.  It will help those after you decide on dining times.