LACruiser88

I started the below thread earlier this morning...

The 31 day voyage on the Sky sounds interesting...

May 15, 2023 9:30 AM EDT New Star Princess and Sun Princess Headline 2025 Europe Cruises & Cruisetours Season as Princess Cruises Celebrates 40th Anniversary Sailing in the Mediterranean SANTA CLARITA, Calif., May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- From the cruise line that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year, Princess Cruises is celebrating its 40th anniversary sailing the Mediterranean by featuring two of its newest and largest ships there in 2025 – Star Princess and Sun Princess. The 2025 cruises and cruisetours season offers travelers looking for the ultimate European adventure abundant natural beauty, history and traditions, combined with diverse cultures, all while enjoying a relaxed, stress-free travel experience on six beautiful Princess cruise ships: NEW! Star Princess and NEW! Sun Princess, plus Majestic Princess, Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Emerald Princess. Voyages aboard ships sailing out of Southampton UK (London) in 2025 - Sky Princess, Regal Princess and Emerald Princess - go on sale May 25, while sailings on Mediterranean-based ships - Star Princess (NEW), Sun Princess (NEW) and Majestic Princess go on sale June 1. Princess first set sail in the Mediterranean in 1985, and to celebrate the 40th anniversary the new Star Princess joins sister-ship Sun Princess in the Mediterranean for her debut season of cruising. Her maiden voyages depart August 4, 2025, sailing a nine-day Grand Mediterranean voyage to Italy and Greece roundtrip from Rome, followed by a variety of 10-day cruises, also roundtrip from Rome, that visit iconic destinations such as Florence, Barcelona and Mykonos. Sun Princess will sail a series of seven-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona, Rome or Athens, that will visit coveted destinations including Istanbul, Naples and Santorini. Both of the cruise line's newest ships offer next-generation features, host 4,300 guests, offer more than 1,500 balconies and 29 restaurants and bars throughout 21 decks. Their groundbreaking design centers on a glass sphere that infuses the Piazza with light and connects guests with dynamic views of the world. Another standout venue is The Dome, a cutting-edge top-deck entertainment space inspired by the tiered cliffs of Santorini. Highlights of the March through November 2025 Europe season include: Celebrate 40 Years in the Mediterranean: In addition to Star Princess and Sun Princess, Emerald Princess, Majestic Princess and Sky Princess join the line up for a wide range of seven- to 31-day Mediterranean sailings. Cruises depart from Rome (Civitavecchia), London (Southampton), Athens (Piraeus), Trieste (Venice) and Barcelona. Guests can choose from exploring the ruins of ancient Rome, Athens and Ephesus to immersing themselves in the art within the Vatican Museum, or the whimsical architecture of Barcelona. They can soak up the culture and cuisine of timeless cities such as Sicily, Marseille and Istanbul and admire the sandy splendor and breathtaking views of Santorini's Red Beach or visit the haunting ruins of Pompeii in Naples. New for 2025, a 31-day Mediterranean Marvel cruise on Sky Princess offers More Ashore late-nights in Mykonos, Santorini, and Jerusalem/Bethlehem (Ashdod). British Isles: Emerald Princess and Regal Princess offer heritage and hillside castles on 10- to 14-day cruises from London (Southampton). The rugged Scottish Highlands, welcoming pubs, a look at The Beatles' hometown of Liverpool, and the prehistoric wonder of Stonehenge are just some of the sites to see. And with late-night stays in Belfast, guests can experience the region's lively nightlife. Northern Europe: Emerald Princess and Sky Princess deliver the beauty of the Northern Europe on five- to 28-day voyages that visit Sweden, Norway, Denmark and more, with select voyages offering late-night calls in classic cities like Copenhagen and Berlin. Follow the footsteps of the ancient Viking explorers throughout Scandinavia and Iceland, guests go in search of the Northern Lights and sail to the top of the world during the Summer Solstice. Grand Adventures & Passages: All six ships sail between North America and Europe for the ultimate transatlantic crossing, offering 15- to 29-day voyages. Cruisetours: Combine the cruise with multiple days on land to experience more of the region. Guests can choose to sightsee in the cosmopolitan city of Madrid on the Highlights of Spain cruisetour, visit Florence and Rome on the Classic Italy cruisetour, explore Mediterranean treasures on the Best of Greece cruisetour or take in the spectacular landscapes of Ireland on the Ring of Kerry cruisetour. Princess offers convenient EZair travel to Europe so guests can enjoy customized air itinerary suggestions based on when and where they sail, low prices with flexible fares and the reassurance that Princess will get them to the ship.

Having been on several inaugural cruises, we now wait awhile before sailing on a new ship. We are very curious to hear reviews from the Sun once she starts sailing. We also like to see Princess reuse familiar ship names.

Here is the Carnival Corp Press Release: May 12, 2023 1:00 PM EDT A Star is Born - Princess Cruises Names Second Sphere Class Ship STAR PRINCESS Newest Princess Ship from Princess is a Cruise Lover's Dream, Sails Inaugural 2025 Mediterranean Season SANTA CLARITA, Calif., May 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, the most iconic cruise line in the world, today revealed the name of its second, sensational Sphere Class cruise ship – Star Princess, which will sail an inaugural season of Mediterranean voyages when she debuts in August 2025. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, Star Princess joins Sun Princess as the largest ships ever built for Princess at 175,500 tons and carrying 4,300 guests. The new ship is built on a platform that is distinctly different and unique to Princess, designed to simultaneously embrace the Princess heritage while celebrating the romance of the sea by offering more dynamic, outward views. While 20 percent larger than any of the line's existing ships, Star Princess design retains the more intimate settings Princess is known for, with a number of new and incredibly ground-breaking spaces such as: The Dome, a transformational entertainment venue inspired by the terraces of Santorini; the next-level Piazza featuring a glass sphere the "see it to believe it" Princess Arena, a configurable, technologically-advanced main theater that allows Princess to produce a variety of innovative entertainment concepts; and a majestic dining room positioned aft of the ship to deliver unforgettable wake views. This second Sphere Class ship will also offer a number of spectacular features with an array of exciting new food and beverage concepts; a magnificent, expanded casino; a two-story Lotus Spa; and mesmerizing entertainment headlined by Cirque Éloize. Guests also will love the expanded accommodations options with luxurious staterooms and suites, including the new Reserve and Signature Collections. Star Princess also will showcase the exclusive Princess Medallion service that extends Princess' leadership position in delivering exceptional personalized experiences. The new ship will be the second in the Princess fleet to be powered by LNG fuel technology and also is being built with the most advanced sustainable innovations available. Star Princess debuts August 4, 2025, sailing a nine-day Inaugural Italy & Greece roundtrip voyage from Rome (Civitavecchia), featuring the destinations of Corfu, Kotor, Mykonos, Santorini and Naples (for Capri and Pompeii), followed by a variety of 9- and 10-day cruises sailing from Rome, Athens or Trieste (Venice) that visit idyllic coastal ports. Star Princess cruises go on sale with the larger Europe 2025 program release on June 1, 2023. "There's much to be admired about Star Princess - her sleek, eye-catching design, spacious interiors, and of course, the remarkable views of the sea and sky, just like the features found on Sun Princess that have prompted cruise lovers to snap up inaugural year bookings," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "We've carefully designed these ships to feel familiar to our guests yet significantly advanced with lots of exceptional new and expanded experiences to embrace and explore." Princess' first Star Princess ship initially launched in 1988 as Sitmar Fair Majesty. With the merger of Sitmar Cruises into Princess, she then entered service as Star Princess in 1989, and was christened by legendary actress and humanitarian Audrey Hepburn. The second Star Princess launched in 2002, as the third Grand-Class vessel playing an instrumental role in the evolution of the brand with popular offerings like Anytime Dining, the only dining program in the industry at the time to give guests freedom to dine where, when and with whom they wish.

We also use the 25lb hooks on the ceiling to hang clothes for drying.

If cabins are still available to book, bidding for an upgrade should be available. On our upcoming July 6th Hawaii cruise on the Emerald, the ship is sold out.

Most of the Princess ships now have the light sensors in the closet area in front of the bathroom, at the base of the nightstands and the base of the refrigerator cabinet. I was told recently by a HGM that they are being installed fleetwide.

We use the electrical tape to cover the cabin light sensors. And it has come in handy for other "MacGyver" repairs.

We thought the same thing, they choose wisely!

If the cruise is overbooked you might not be offered a chance to bid for an upgrade. Many cruises are now sailing at capacity.

We always travel with a roll of black electrical tape.

Here is another item we always bring on a cruise.

For the bathroom we really like the below night lights. They plug into the bathroom "shaver" outlet just right.

These hooks work great for us. From Amazon.

On a couple of our recent cruises I saw them turn down old coffee cards. They no longer hold any value.

Has anyone ever seen a Cirque Eloize show??? Are they as good as Cirque du Soleil?

We have had tables for 8 and 10 on multiple cruises. Make sure to link all of your companions on the app and make reservations for the group on the app. Once onboard, I always have a conversation with the restaurant manager to confirm our group table prior to our dining time.

May 11, 2023 9:30 AM EDT Mesmerizing Cirque Éloize Performances to Headline Entertainment Aboard New Sun Princess Cruise Ship Princess Collaborating with Renowned Entertainment Group to Create Three Uplifting, Playful and Colorful Performances in Ship's Transformational Entertainment Venue - The Dome SANTA CLARITA, Calif., May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The incredible artistry of one of the biggest names in entertainment – the renowned Cirque Éloize - will be on full display aboard the newest ship from Princess Cruises when Sun Princess debuts early next year. The iconic Love Boat and Cirque Éloize today announced a creative collaboration that will bring three spectacular, original contemporary circus performances to the cruise line's newest and largest ship. The immersive, mesmerizing performances are being specially created for The Dome, a new top-deck, multi-level entertainment venue debuting for the first time onboard Sun Princess. The stunning venue combined with the magnificent performances will deliver emotion, color, and music to create world-class and unforgettable entertainment. The Dome embraces amazing natural sky views both day and night, and utilizes state-of-the-art lighting effects and a hidden stage with state-of-the-art technical capabilities to deliver the perfect setting for three shows that will feature eight brilliant acrobatic and aerial performers. A driving force in Montreal's cultural scene for 30 years and seen by more than 5 million spectators, Cirque Éloize creates, produces, and stages content that enchants audiences worldwide. Cirque Éloize weds the circus arts with music, dance, technology and theater to enthrall audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. "The Dome is a transformational space that creates a stunning vista with sweeping views of the ocean and creates an unprecedented setting to stage avant-garde spectaculars that will absolutely fascinate our guests," said Francois Leroux, Princess Senior Vice President, Creative Design and Entertainment. "We're thrilled to bring this collaboration with Cirque Éloize to life with three original shows, created specifically for this innovative and spectacular space on our next-generation Sun Princess." Three, spectacular 20- to 30-minute shows will rotate onboard Sun Princess in The Dome. With disciplines of aerial hoops, aerial pole, bungee, Cyr wheel, silks, mind-bending contortion and more, guests will be enthralled with: BLUE – Poetic, Universal, Uplifting: A journey into the magical space between ocean and sky where the spirit of love leads the artists through time and space highlighting both the real and the surreal bringing them to realize that no matter how far they go, the spirit of love is always with them. COME FLY AWAY – Playful, Musical, Interactive: This performance evokes notions of the 1950's era Rat Pack and the vibrancy of love. A whimsical retro spectacle in which the bandleader – aided and abetted by his ensemble of misfits – falls head over heels for an audience member. It's a celebration of the lost art of the chase in which all are willing participants. ARTBEAT – Uplifting, Colorful, Positive. This upbeat show celebrates the beauty and joy of living life in full color. A kaleidoscope of characters work together in perfect harmony, each contributing their talents to create a truly beautiful masterpiece, reflective of the vibrant heartbeat of the performers and the audience alike. Cirque Éloize performances will be complimentary and available to Sun Princess guests on a first come, first serve basis. Currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the 175,500-ton, 4,300-guest Sun Princess will offer an array of exciting new culinary, entertainment and activity offerings, as well as luxurious staterooms and suites across a broad spectrum of categories. Sun Princess will also feature the exclusive Princess Medallion that will extend Princess' leadership position in delivering exceptional personalized experiences typical of small ships while enjoying only the best large ship amenities. With the most balconies on any Princess ship, guests can take in the sunshine and crystal-clear waters of the Mediterranean and Caribbean from the comfort of their stateroom. Inaugural 2024 Sun Princess cruises to the Mediterranean, Europe and Caribbean are on sale now. More ship information and images can be found at www.princess.com/sunprincess. Additional information about Princess Cruises is available through a professional travel advisor, by calling 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237) or by visiting the company's website at www.princess.com. About Princess Cruises Princess Cruises is The Love Boat, the world's most iconic cruise brand that delivers dream vacations to millions of guests every year in the most sought-after destinations on the largest ships that offer elite service personalization and simplicity customary of small, yacht-class ships. Well-appointed staterooms, world class dining, grand performances, award-winning casinos and entertainment, luxurious spas, imaginative experiences and boundless activities blend with exclusive Princess MedallionClass service to create meaningful connections and unforgettable moments in the most incredible settings in the world - the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Mexican Riviera, Europe, South America, Australia/New Zealand, the South Pacific, Hawaii, Asia, Canada/New England, Antarctica, and World Cruises. The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:CCL; NYSE:CUK). About Cirque Éloize A driving force in Quebec's cultural scene since 1993, Cirque Éloize creates, produces, and stages content that enchants audiences. A recognized leader in the contemporary circus arts, Cirque Éloize weds the circus arts with music, dance, technology and theatre to enthrall audiences seeking meaningful entertainment. Its creations – including Rain, iD, Cirkopolis, Saloon, HOTEL, and Serge Fiori, Seul Ensemble – have been acclaimed by more than 5 million spectators in over 580 cities around the world. In its mission to offer a wide range of cultural experiences, in summer 2021 Cirque Éloize launched its first immersive exhibition, Below the Ice with Mario Cyr, a critically acclaimed hit that was seen by over 50,000 visitors.

In the past 12 months, we have been on the Emerald, Regal, Discovery and Sapphire. In July, we will sail again on the Emerald and the Enchanted in November. Of the older ships, we like the Emerald and Ruby. Of the newer ships we like the Royal and Regal.

Any ship that I'm onboard! 😀

Enjoy! Will be following along. 🙂

Same here...

Yes, Economy seats are the lowest level of seats. They rarely include any free checked bags or any other amenities.

May 9, 2023 10:00 AM EDT Princess Cruises to Homeport Caribbean Princess in Port Canaveral Starting Late November 2024 Iconic "Love Boat" Cruise Line Now Serving Central Florida with Voyages to the Eastern and Western Caribbean PORT CANAVERAL, Fla., May 9,2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time ever, Princess Cruises will homeport in Central Florida. The iconic "Love Boat" brand will re-position its Caribbean Princess ship in late November 2024 to sail eastern and western Caribbean itineraries out of Port Canaveral for its winter season. Starting November 27, 2024, the 3,140-passenger ship will sail four to 14-day cruises out of Port Canaveral. Itinerary highlights include: One departure of a 4-day Turks & Caicos Getaway over Thanksgiving holiday Five departures of our 8-day Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas sailing to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, San Juan and Grand Turk Five departures of our 8-day Western Caribbean with Mexico sailing to Cozumel, Costa Maya, Belize City and Roatan (Mahogany Bay) Nine departures of our 6-day Eastern Caribbean with Turks & Caicos including Nassau, Grand Turk and either Amber Cove or San Juan Combine any of the 8-day and 6-day itineraries for a 14-day vacation Princess takes pride in being considered the #1 Large Ship Cruise Line by USA Today due to world-class dining and Broadway-inspired entertainment, all delivered with amazing service and at an exceptional value. Caribbean Princess cruises from Port Canaveral go on sale May 24. "The combination of a vibrant Central Florida community, exceptional flight options into Orlando International Airport and great pre-cruise and post-cruise experience options makes Port Canaveral an easy choice," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "Princess is unique in its ability to deliver incredible cruise ship amenities typical of the largest ships in the world, while delivering personalized service found on the industry's smallest ships." The exclusive Princess Medallion powers a personalized, customized and simplified experience for each and every guest. The connected guest experience maximizes guests' vacation time by delivering a host of onboard conveniences including contactless payment for anything on board as well as in select shops and restaurants in ports; expedited embarkation; keyless stateroom entry; muster anywhere; friends and family locator; and ordering food, drinks, retail items or requesting service from their smart phone or stateroom TV and having their order delivered directly to them…even if they are moving. Establishing Port Canaveral as a homeport is part of the expansion of Princess Cruises' North America presence to offer exciting new voyage options that guests can conveniently access from major drive markets like Central Florida. "Our collaboration with Princess Cruises marks an exciting milestone for us," stated Capt. John Murray, Port CEO. "The fleet of ships homeported at Port Canaveral continues to grow with next year's arrival of Caribbean Princess. We're looking forward to providing a high-quality experience for our new cruise partners and their cruise guests." Caribbean Princess features 1,571 staterooms and a total capacity of 3,140 guests and 1,200 crew. It has 19 decks, including 15 passenger decks, and encompasses 112,894 gross tons. It launched in 2004.