mtnesterz

A community in Arizona, roughly between Phoenix to the south and Sedona to the northeast.

Best time of year? It's tropical so mostly always hot. Spring is better we think, but just avoid spring break and summer when school is out. I wouldn't sail September on any line even if it was offered and I doubt any are. Eastern and southern islands are more cultural and Dutch influenced as I recall. Western Caribbean ports tend to have more active excursions, Mayan archeologic sites... There is more to do on the bigger ships, but some like the older Caribbean Princess. Comparing Princess to Carnival, there is less energy onboard, which we prefer. Decor is more understated too. Since you are new here and with Princess, once you select your cruise, join your Roll Call here. It's a great way to learn from those with more experience. The Plus package is nice if you drink a lot, we don't drink and find it doesn't make sense for us.

Looking at Cruisedeckplans.com E410 has a couple of small obstructions, I don't know what to call them. E412 has less in the way of obstructions, but there is some overhead walkway or something if you wanted to look up at the sky. We find OV cabins a good value and I'd take either over looking at an orange tender/lifeboat. I suppose someone might say that 412 is directly opposite the central elevator lobby, but really, you're literally talking next door.

I have the receipt, the ship's transaction record, and ship's counter video to prove the product was not received at purchase time. I can remove a charge if not delivered. But as a vacation destination, they leave me wanting more.

"Oh, you don't have a bag? Send it to my cabin. Thank you!" Walk away. Enough of that from passengers and bags will appear.

Without knowing your stage of recovery, do please be sure you don't have an interaction with any pain medications and alcohol you may be taking at the time of your cruise. May I suggest, my fellow gin enthusiast, since you like lemon in your gin drinks, and prefer a tall glass, instead of a G&T, have you ever tried a French 75? It should be served in a flute. They'd always have a bottle of champagne open. Just a thought.

Haven't stayed in that cabin. We prefer forward cabins FWIW. Hoping to post a link to cabin pix. Sorry if the link doesn't work. https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/ships/stateroom-details.php?ship=Emerald-Princess&cabin=B201

https://www.princess.com/en-us/plan/princess-vacation-protection Scroll down to select Standard or Platinium.

I'd say look over at the Ports Of Call, Asia board. There are several threads about Viet Nam on page one. If you cannot find the answer there by reading, then post there. Yes, Princess does this different, and why you posted here, but it will likely get moved anyway. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/43-asia/ I had a problem with figuring out the Japan entry and posted. I had my answer in a few minutes.

Hope you enjoy your first cruise! And welcome to Cruise Critic. Be sure to join your Roll Call here: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2961574-discovery-princess-7-day-classic-california-coast-october-5-2024/#comment-66041807

Also to @IndyKid. Last couple of cruises, it's the crowds from the table hogs not eating or drinking, buy playing table games; cards and dominoes. That is throughout the day. The crew does nothing. If sitting next to a card playing table, I've thought about calling out cards in their hand, to get them to move, but didn't do it.

The dine line on the ship gets things done when all else fails. It's OK to wait until on the ship to reserve. Last two cruises, few are eating in the Specialty or Casual venues. Prices are too high. But first, forget the App. Use the web based version. Now, where you log in, don't use the top part, it will not link you to your booking number. As Steelers36 mentioned, they should just get rid of that. Scroll to the bottom, log in with your booking number. Dining reservations, meaning daily, not specialty, is time consuming but you'll figure it out and get through it..

The International Cafe is my go-to as I am an early riser. It's counter service, nobody waits on you, as is your preference. On one cruise, it was mentioned in the Roll Call that early risers meet daily in the adjacent Good Spirits At Sea. The bar is closed, but it was fun to chat over coffee daily.

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Answers to your three questions are no, no and no. It sounds great taking a mother and daughter vacation. You surely don't want to begin on a disagreement, which could fester during the trip. If you care to state what this is about, we may be able to help. By not being specific, workarounds we offer are shots in the dark.

What does 2 free casual dining meals mean? This means that you may dine twice at any one of the casual dining venues. It is important to note the offering is not à la carte, but prix fixe; a set meal. On a third visit, it is $14.99. What are casual dining restaurants? A casual dining restaurant is one where it is either not a burger, hot dog or pizza on deck, nor the Main Dining Room where they hold formal nights. The MDR venue, as with the buffet is included in your fare. If you meant which restaurants are offered as casual, then have a look at them with descriptions and pictures here: https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ships/xp-discovery-princess/

The meat of the question here is that you don't know how to find out where you will berth and you don't tell us which date you will be here to tell you. If you knew how to find out, you wouldn't need to ask. For future reference, this is a handy link to have and most ports post their schedule online. https://www.portsamerica.com/operations/cruise-los-angeles-terminal-schedule First, you'll need to know which 7 day Crown California Coast sailings you will be on. Then know which date you will be in LA. Find which berth you will be. @skynight is correct, on Nov 1st, you will be at berth 92, which is the Palos Verdes address BTW. but know for your sailing if different. The address on Swinford is 93. When you make reservations, at least with Opoli, the company we use, just tell them the LA cruise terminal and berth. When you get outside, you'll see people waiting for rides, that's the place. Do not walk out to Harbor Blvd. Funny, we live in LA and enjoy the Arts, but have never been to the Getty. Can't help with that part. Enjoy!

And let some genius at Princess handle it? But you may well be right. There is likely a protocol for such things.

Great to hear it! Thanks for getting back to us. The Crown will be in San Francisco on the 29th, San Diego on the 27th. Probably ship from one of those ports.

We have stayed in Singapore and found the quickest and most effective way to get around is the MRT. The Holiday Inn there advertizes it is a 7 minute walk to Clarke Quay MRT station, but the connections to Changi Airport, well, you'd need to change trains. The hotel can advise on which to take. Also once you get to the airport, you'd have to get to your specific terminal, but perhaps @agape01 can advise. If you do take a Grab car, (think Lyft or Uber in this country) there is no tipping.

Since, oh, I guess about the first of the year maybe, it's been called the Princess Event Listings. Good luck in your search.

FWIW: I lost my tablet the other day. I was sure it was gone. As I went to look for it a guy saw me looking and gave it to me. He said he was going to turn it in. My best hopes for you that someone will be kind to you too. Good luck!

We were on the Emerald in August. Lots of green beans and ham. They seemed to work their way into nightly offerings in the MDR. Of course, August and September is the season for beans. You see the problem with posting a menu. By your February cruise, what is in season will change. Also, the chefs will be off contract, switched ships or maybe have come back. As a general, beef dishes in the MDR were tough, either they've lowered the grade or not cooking adequately. Be prepared to return a beef dish if selected. Also by then, where they source the beef will change. Steak tartare was not served (that I saw) and with the perceived lowering of beef grade I was OK with that. Escargot seems like a tradition with Princess and I either missed it or it wasn't served either. The 14 night is actually 2, 7 night loops, but no, the menu did not repeat for us.

How is your French, Spanish, Italian and Arabic? Are you the Rick Steves type that can go just about anywhere and make your way or would you be anxious about being in a strange country, should you get lost? Twice in our 20+ cruises, (strangely both at Puerto Vallarta.) we've seen pier runners. The ship does not come back. Do not let that happen to you.

And if you haven't done so already, do join us in the Roll Call, it's been kind of quiet there.

I have no horse in this race, but seems to me the Grand was build in 1998. Only one year newer than the P&OPAU Pacific Explorer, a Sun Class, that it would replace. Both ships must be getting increasingly expensive to maintain.