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April 13, 2024 2:30 PM EDT Princess Cruises Rolls Out Fleetwide Dining Revolution: Traditional, Reservable, Open Seating, and Anywhere Service Now Available for Every Guest Preference New Options Follow Successful Debut Aboard New Sun Princess FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises today announced it is making a significant enhancement to the main dining options found across its fleet, designed to give guests the ultimate in flexibility and choice when it comes to their dining experience by offering three table service options – Traditional, Reservable, or Walk-in Anytime - coupled with the brand's industry exclusive OceanNow location-based "anywhere" service. (PRNewsfoto/Princess Cruises) With a dedication to personal preference and individualized service, Princess will designate separate dining rooms aboard every ship in the fleet* to the three table service options – one dedicated to traditional dining offering an early and a late seating every evening; one offering reservable dining times; and a third with open seating to support walk-ins anytime. The three table service options integrate with the line's unparalleled OceanNow, which provides guests the convenience of ordering anything, anytime, and receiving it anywhere onboard, making Princess uniquely positioned to accommodate all guest dining preferences. Making all dining formats available fleetwide follows the resounding success of this new approach already implemented aboard the new Sun Princess. With the stunning introduction of the new next level Love Boat came the debut of three-story dining room with one floor dedicated to traditional dining, another serving guests with a flexible reservation and a third for anytime walk-ins. "Our guests have been delighted with the dining flexibility aboard Sun Princess and we're pleased to extend the concept to all the other ships in our fleet," said Sami Kohen, Princess Cruises vice president of food and beverage. "Now whether guests prefer an early seating every evening, or change things up every night, or even change their mind, these flexible dining options ensure that their dining preference is effortlessly accommodated." Starting on April 15, 2024, the new approach will launch on Princess voyages departing September 14, 2024 and beyond. To support these changes and the transition to the new system, main dining reservations that already have been made for voyages sailing September 14 and beyond for any ship except Sun Princess will be cancelled. Main dining reservations for guests sailing through September 13 will not be affected. Starting June 17, booked guests will be able to use the app ahead of their voyage to opt for traditional seating in a dedicated dining room with the same waiter, same table and same time each night, or flexible dining, allowing them to enjoy dinner at any available time and table size of their choosing in either the Reservable or Open Seating dining rooms. This change does not affect guests booked in specialty dining restaurants or suite or reserve collection accommodations, who enjoy a dedicated dining room on Princess ships, where no reservations are required.

Tonight we attended the Chef's Table. All I can say is OMG!!! The appetizers were served in the Crown Grill Bar and then we did the galley tour during dinner service before sitting for dinner. They adjusted the menu for our pescatarian diet. I missed taking a photo of the first appetizer, oops! The restaurant service bar. Servers waiting at the meat station to pickup orders. And then it was food coma time!!!

Tomorrow's forecast for our first New Zealand port.

He was FANTASTIC!

We are really enjoying the new lunch menu (new to us). There are 4 items that change daily, the other items are the same everyday. Today, the rotating items were the Soup, Hot Chili Dog, Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and the Fish Curry. Today we shared a Salmon Poke Bowl, which was very good. I had the Fish Street Tacos, two of them, the regular order is only one. ¡Muy Rico! Note: The Cholula not included, that was from my personal travel kit. 🤣 Debbie had the Grilled Cheese Sandwich, sorry I forgot the photo. The ice cream choices today were Strawberry and Pecan. We passed on dessert as we are going to the Chef's Table tonight.

We will be visiting Cloudy Bay winery tomorrow while in Picton!

Enjoy your cruise! We really enjoyed the Enchanted and Nicola is the best Maitre'd (DRO) in the Princess fleet!

We live in the Los Angeles area so we prefer going from Sydney to the west coast. This way we get the long flight out of the way at the beginning of our trip. We are currently on the Majestic Princess going from Sydney to Seattle.

We are currently on the Majestic Princess heading to New Zealand from Sydney. We have been drinking the Silverado Cab, $18 per glass, and the Caymus Cab, $28 per glass. 🍷 For this voyage, we feel they are the best red wines available by the glass.

I forgot to post today's Event Listings last night, or was it too much vino???

This morning, while at breakfast at the Harmony Restaurant on Deck 5, the waves were smashing above the windows! The staff were joking that the windows were in need of a good washing! 🤣 🌊🌊🌊

We have the Plus Package...

Wow! It was an "E" ticket ride last night!!! At one point Debbie started laughing as she almost bounced out of bed! Another dreary start to the day! We have met some very nice and friendly folks so far, having a great time!

At boarding, we had 6 bottles in one of our carry-on bags. Nothing was said about them going through security. There was no mention of a corkage last night at dinner and nothing on our folio. 🤷‍♂️ 🍷

Tonight our Portuguese Restaurant Manager (formerly called Head Waiter), José, prepared an appetizer that he makes every Sunday night when he is home, Shrimp in white wine and garlic. It was delicioso!!! Tonight we had one of the wines we purchased in Sydney. We rated it 88 points. It was overly tannic and had a slight metallic aftertaste.

The cut-off for the MTG Luncheon is 550 days. The most traveled on this voyage is 1,085 days. We are #6 on the list.

Our present location below, circled in red. Can you tell I'm a bit bored this afternoon? Swells are quite large today and the ship is a'rockin!

Btw, I like your new font color! 🙂

New Zealand warnings started showing up on the video displays on the ship today.

For our fellow non-meat eaters, I tried a new item on the lunch menu today, Plant-based Schnitzel. It was excellent! A definite re-do! I cut a piece off to show the inside.

Chef's Table tomorrow night! Forms were folded in an envelope, so a little wrinkled.

My second favorite breakfast, the French Toast! Debbie decided to have her coffee in bed this morning, so I was solo for breakfast. 😒 Now, off to the Fitness Center!

Friday, 8:00 am: Cloudy, cool and choppy start to another sea day.