juliet

Thank you so much.

Large demonstrations and roads closed.

The suite breakfast is offered only to suite passengers as far as I know.  You must be referring to the lunch in the same place for the most traveled.

When tipping the waiters, do you tip their assistants?  

On 3/21/2023 at 6:07 PM, amypete said:

Oh where to begin! Love the SPACE inside and out. Including the big bathroom! 

 

Sabatini's for breakfast

 

Club Class Dining

 

Laundry for the hubs. I don't send mine because I for sure pack enough and I don't want anythign to shrink! ESPECIALLY on a cruise, LOL

 

Champagne the first day, even with the beverage packages. It's just a nice touch.

 

Bottled water is almost unlimited

 

Great room service!

 

(Our last cruise before....was a suite. Our last cruise was in January and we were with friends on balconies on Caribe. I love my friends but I sure did miss my suite! Next one up in October! ) 

 

Crown Grill the first night! It's like a welcome home. 

 

 

What do you give the room attendant at the end of a cruise in a suite?  Also besides the waiter in Sabatini’s where we’ve been having breakfast every morning.  How much a day (tipping at the end) would you suggest.

On our last Princess cruise last year, our travel agent spoke to someone at Princess to make sure our balcony was covered or even partially covered.  They assured her it was.  Of course it wasn't.  No covering whatsoever.  I emailed the Chief Executive about it as my husband has MS and needs not to be in direct sun.  Never got a reply.

I assume reserve class dining is in all three of the main dining rooms?

My husband uses a wheelchair onboard and I push him.  I figure the more I push the more exercise I get and the more I can eat : ).  

6 hours ago, J13C85 said:

Take 5 is on Deck 6 (instinct says it should be on 5, LOL). Adjacent to the Casino. When we sailed, on first Gala night they held a reception for Suite Guests (drinks and snacks) where we met the Captain and other senior officers (this event was neat). As you are in a suite, please take full advantage of the Concierge Lounge (Deck 14, right by cabin R610). Lounge is a wonderful perk.

Thank you : )

15 minutes ago, NavyVeteran said:

The embarkation night dinner will be in whatever specialty restaurant you select. Call the DINE line or go by a specialty restaurant as soon as you board to reserve your time. The app doesn't seem to recognize the first night complimentary specialty restaurant dinner for suites, so you will probably need to do it onboard. There shouldn't be a problem, as they hold some spaces back for suites.

Thank you for your reply.

On 9/3/2023 at 1:05 PM, J13C85 said:

Embarkation Day is our favorite day of the cruise, so much excitement and the thought of the adventure in front of us is exhilarating. For us, the joys of embarkation day start before we board.

 

First, we stay in embarkation city 1-2 days pre cruise. When we do this, one of the bags we pack is just for the embarkation city and the other 1-2 is for the cruise (this comes into play later). 

 

On embarkation day, we start off with a light room service breakfast, enjoy it on our hotel balcony and take in the sights. After breakfast, it's time to head to the port.  We typically arrive around 10. The last few times we sailed in a suite and this actually impacts our routine. At the port, after check in and security, we are typically directed to a suite, elite waiting area. Usually there are some snacks as well as juices and iced tea. Last time we sailed on Sky (as we are doing this year), and in the waiting area they gave us tickets so we could leave our carry on at "Take 5" lounge where they were held and watched by Princess staff (this was a very nice suite perk). 

 

Once we board, our first stop is "Take 5" to drop the carry on bag and then it is off to find a spot to sit (we will use Vines this year). Once we pick a seat, I walk around the corner to Sabatini's to confirm or make our Embarkation Night dinner (suite perk). We will also sign up or get waitlisted for Chef's table. Once that is done it is back to Vines were I rejoin DW and we enjoy the first of, for me, will be many cocktails (I'll start with Dirty Banana and she will probably go with Milky Way Martini). At this point, we relax, people watch and just bask in the thought that we are on the ship.

 

During this time before lunch we like to explore the ship (but as this year we are returning to Sky that will be brief) get Muster done and we then head to Reserve Class (Club Class) for lunch. We try and get a window seat and take in the sights while we eat. After lunch,  it is back to "Take 5" to collect our carry on and head to our cabin.

 

First thing we do when we get to the cabin is take photos and video while it is pristine (I swear, the cabin never looks as good as it does on Embarkation Day). We will snack on Chocolate Covered Strawberries and cheese tray we bought while we wait for luggage to arrive and take in sights from the cabin/balcony. Once luggage arrives we take everything from the embarkation city bag, put it in a laundry bag and give to steward to get laundered (free laundry is another suite perk). I unpack luggage as soon as possible, load all my stresses and worries into the bags and slide them under the bed where they remain until the end of the cruise. Sometimes as I unpack DW will take a short nap or she will supervise me, lol.

 

For sailaway, we take it in on our balcony (how we love sailaway on the balcony). I like to sit on the balcony until dark for this. Our evening is based around dinner and whatever the spirit (or should I say spirits) direct us to do.

 

I'm glad you mentioned being in a suite.  We've always been in mini-suites, but have a full suite this time.  Where is the Take 5 area to leave our bags?  Didn't know where the embarkation night dinner was, but I assumed there'd be a note in our room about it.  Thanks for the info.

2 minutes ago, whitecap said:

We just got the email as well (sailing Jan 2024)however, there is a contradiction between the email and the Princess website. 

Website, under FAQ states that the $5 room service fee only applies to room service orders "placed by stateroom phone". 

The email states:  OceanNow delivery:  To ensure you can have whatever you need during your cruise delivered directly to you, a nominal access fee of $14.99 per guest per voyage will now apply to OceanNow deliver." 

Next paragraph:  Room service fee:  "A $5 delivery fee will be charged for all room service orders (except complimentary stateroom breakfast orders)." 

No where does it exempt those that have paid the OceanNow fee.   

Am I confused or is this just another poorly written message from them.

I'm confused as well.

34 minutes ago, Ski Mom said:

Believe me! This is all new to me and I appreciate any feedback I can get! I have a girlfriend from my MS group that went to Italy, but she went from Rome, France and Barcelona, so she can only give me information on those destinations and we also have different things we are interested in doing and seeing. She gave me a recommendation on a hotel in Rome and a tour operator but she was there five years ago and things may have changed. That’s why I posted my question and I really appreciate your response. I’m now researching for accessible private tours and reading all I can on this board. I just hope I’m not being too naive to think I can do this!

Here are some sites I found, and there are lots more online.  Hope some of it helps.  

And, Ski Mom, I KNOW you can do it!!

https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/trip-planning/travelers-with-disabilities

https://wheelchairtravel.org/europe/

https://wheelchairtraveling.com/europe-wheelchair-travel/

Got it.  I assumed you were aware of it all, but not sure.  Again, have a wonderful time!

13 hours ago, skynight said:

What cabin?

It was a few years ago.  I don't remember.  Sorry.

My husband has to have a covered or at least a partially covered balcony.  My travel agent called Princess to confirm that the room we were considering was covered and they said it was.  Surprise!! It wasn't covered at all.  My husband who likes to sit on the balcony couldn't use it very often, unfortunately.  I wish there was a site online that had all ship information as far as covered or open balconies.  BTW, I wrote to Princess and never got a reply.  

Ski Mom, I'm curious if you've spoken to people about all the little bridges that go over the canals with steps up and down each one.  We were there many years ago.  My husband has MS too and at that time he could walk, but it was hard for him with all the steps.  He's now in a transport chair if we travel.  I'm just wondering how it can be done with a scooter or wheelchair. 

Good for you that you're traveling.  I wish we had the nerve, but he's afraid to go traveling other than on a cruise.

I'll be living vicariously through you.  Have a wonderful time.

I read that suites can get more items on the room service menu.  Especially for breakfast.  Does anyone have any information on that?  Thanks

Just got off the Enchanted this morning.  We embarked on deck 6.  Disembarkation was on 5 and 6.  Easier for wheelchairs on 5.

14 hours ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Good for you!  You are doing your research and not just depending on others to do your work for you!  

 

I know that you are not the only one that has concerns about being in the Sun too long/too much.  (Me too!)  I am unsure what else to suggest.

 

Maybe if you can narrow your choice of ships to those you are considering and post your question on the Message Board for the cruise line that operates those ships.  Perhaps, that will help you.  I simply don't know of a web site that might have the information you are seeking.  

Thanks again.  Maybe I should start one : )

25 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Thank you.  I understand your concern.  The Grand Class ships of Princess has balconies arranged in a stairstep arrangement on the sides of the ship and the lowest level of the balcony decks, the balconies are totally uncovered.  

 

Perhaps, studying the deck plans of the ships in which you are interested and trying to see photos of the exteriors of those ships will help you.  

 

Are you working with a cruise experienced travel agent?  If not, I strongly suggest that you consider doing so.  The agent ought to be able to provide you with the information you are seeking and, maybe, even better photos of the ships than you will find on the internet.  

Thanks once again.  I've done it all.  Study deck plans, look at different sites, go on YouTube,but but there's very little information surprisingly.  There should be somewhere people can check all the cruise ships as far as balconies.  I do work with a travel agent and she always check for me when I decide on a cruise.  I'm just looking for a site I can check myself before even getting her involved.  I can't be the only one interested in this??

6 minutes ago, rkacruiser said:

 

Could you be  more specific in what you wish to learn?   The majority of balconies are covered, but, because the ship may change direction in relation to the Sun's position in the sky, it is likely that there will be parts of a day when the balcony will not be shaded.  

Thanks for your reply.  I'm aware that the sun will change depending on where you are, but some ships balconies are pretty much covered and some are completely with no covering whatsoever.  That's what I am searching for.  

Is there any topic or posts about covered or open balconies for any of the cruise lines?  It's pretty important to us, as one of us always needs a covered balcony due to health issues.  Thanks in advance.

My husband is in his early 80's and needs his walker 24/7.  On the cruises we've been on we've taken his foldable wheelchair, as walking from our stateroom to anywhere on the ship would be exhausting for him.  He can walk a bit when he's in the room so we fold the wheelchair and put it in the closet when not in use.  We've never had an accessible room yet.  

Have a great time on your cruise and relish every minute you have with your parents.  I lost both of mine when I was in my early 40's.

Is there any particular way or site to find if a certain cabin has a covered or partially covered balcony as far as Princess ships?  I wish they'd have it on their website when you want to book a trip.  Thanks in advance.