wallyj

Princess on most ships have changed to a ‘new’ standard sea day lunch menu. A few items (maybe 3) change, but the majority is the same. An example is in the currentl live thread on the Emerald. There is no ‘brunch’ section as the new menu is separated by Appetizer and Mains. JB French toast is not listed but possibly may be requested?

With the $80 Premier package, you can have unlimited ‘Virgin’ drinks and or soda. If you are not a big alcohol drinker, does it make sense to have the $80 premier instead of the $60 Plus? Will you get enough value paying $20/day more? Yes, with Premier you get the 2 specialty Dinners so for short cruises it usually makes sense if you were planning on going to Specialty dining. Do you think you will order many alcohol drinks over the $15 limit for plus? There is the possibility of winning a Princess prize having Premier, but you can decide if this is an amenity of value. I believe the photo studio on Royal class ships (I believe you will be on the Regal? )no longer print photos for viewing. You can view your photos thru the Medallion APP on your own device or go to the photo studio and use one of the monitors there to view your photos. You can also do some customization like cropping, rotating, different filters, etc. ask one of the photographers to show you the various options. There is no charge for customizing. You can then select 3 pictures to be printed as part of the package and of course have additional photos printed for a fee. You will also be able to get a digital download of every photo. Some ships will supply a flash/usb drive and some ships will ask you to purchase a flash drive. You can also download to a phone or tablet which is what most of the ship’s photographers will suggest, on the Discovery and Emerald last year, they provided a complimentary flash drive. Last month on the Sapphire, I was told if I wanted my pictures downloaded to a flash drive, I would need to purchase one, I had the premier package in all of these cases.

Review the ships deck plans. Regal is a Royal class ship and on deck 5 midship you will find the Gelato bar next to Vines. Gelato and Ice Cream are similar but google what is the difference between Gelato and Ice Cream for more detailed info.

Yes, the respective dining room will be listed on the event listing/patter. Go to Guest services to ask for copy as usually you do not have access to your cabin yet or your steward has not delivered yet. Many Royal class ships and the Sapphire, uses the dining room on deck 6 aft for Embarkation/sea day lunch and breakfast. Some crew when asked, will tell you no dining room open for Embarkation lunch, just check the patter/event listing. There have been a few rare cases where embarkation lunch was not being offered in a dining room.

This was how the Royal class cabins were originally setup , with using your cruise card to be inserted in the associated slot to activate the lights, etc. The slot is still there, but the cabins were revised so a card insertion is no longer required. My last MSC ship required your key card to activate the cabin, on some cruiselines, you used to be able to insert ‘any’ card or even heavy paper into the slot. MSC’s cards have a chip, so any other card like from another Cruiseline will not work.

No 18% charge for ‘free’/included meals, example the 2 SD meals that come with Premier pkg. I also was gifted a SD from my travel agent and again no 18% charge. This was on Sapphire after December 1, when the 18% went into effect.

On the Emerald and Discovery last year and the photo department gave me a complimentary usb/flash drive with all my photos, last month on the Sapphire with the premier package, the photo department said if I wanted a flash drive, I would have to purchase one. So they are not being consistent.

Yes, see my post #9, your cruise is ONE segment as you can also verify in your cruise history, unless you are sailing in a suite or solo, which would give you additional cruise credits. So only 1 elite mini bar set up and only 2 casual dining credits for the whole 54 days.

No, crab shack is not considered casual dining option.

When u use your 2 casual meals with plus, you do not have to order all 3 courses. You will not be charged any ‘service(18%)’ fees. Your specialty dining at Sabatini’s will incur an 18% service charge if booked after Dec 1, 2023.

Yes, the embarkation lunch menu is still offered. The ‘new’ lunch menu does have a few items that change, but mostly the same. I much prefer the old rotating lunch menus where each menu was totally different from the previous.

Yes, on Discovery earlier, Oct 2023, could get unlimited any flavor gelato at the Gelato bar. On Emerald in August and told no, only included gelato available was on lido deck where they made the Premium Sundaes. So it depends on ship.

@cruzrbachouahave you gone to the next step like @_rusty_shacklefordhas reported at check out the price corrects to the current rates, so the initial price shown is most likely an error? Currently the new APP does not show all bookings and access is only via booking number for now to see you other bookings.

@reedprincessand @jagoffee, there is the 51 day So America Adventure on Majestic Princess LA to FLL on Dec 1, 2024 and the 54 Roundtrip LA So Pacific , Australia and New Zealand, March 13, 2026. Island Princess. Sorry, the Majestic is sold in segments, but the Island is not and for 54 days.

There is a thread started Dec 27? Titled ‘Captain Circle Tiers’, someone posted loyalty program changes to be announced within the month. Of course, this could be just ‘talk’, which is why I said ‘rumor’.

Personally, I prefer one of the mid ship dining rooms because usually less motion and vibration. The Deck6 aft dining room is the largest and on some Royal class ships, it is now the designated dining room for breakfast, and sea day lunch and only accessible via stairs from deck 7 aft or aft elevators. Reserve class will usually remain at mid ship dining room. Depending on where your stateroom is located may also factor into which dining room is most convenient for you.

$7.50/day for one device if you are purchasing for whole cruise, else platinum/elite rate is $10/day for any 24hr period.

Unlimited. Subject to changes in program as rumor has it changes to be announced within the month? Also subject to turnaround processing. My last 18 day sailing, last day to submit laundry was morning of 3 days before end of cruise.

@etphonehome24, I just got off the Sapphire and was on the Sapphire last June for a roundtrip Vancouver Alaska sailing. For Alaska, the photographers will also roam the decks during Glacier viewing days to snap photos of passengers with the scenery in the background. Inside they will have various ‘backgrounds’ setup on Deck 7, by Crooners, across from Explorers lounge, across from the Internet cafe by the photo studio desk and the Elevator lobby of the midship elevators. They will also use the elevator lobby of mid ship elevators on deck 6 and the staircase in the Piazza on formal nights. They will also be taking photos of those pouring onto the Champagne tower on Captains welcome formal night. Usually all background location will be setup on the first formal night. Other nights some locations may not be used and or closed as the photographer is roaming the dining rooms or on a break.

The ships photo studio will have different backgrounds setup usually every evening. There will be setups at each port usually at arrival times and they will also take photos in the dining room during formal nights, so there will be many opportunities to ‘pose’ for pictures. The portrait studio known as the Platinum Studio is a separate studio for Black and white and is a separate package. You have to setup a reservation for a sitting at the Platinum Studio, no fee and no obligation to purchase, examples of Platinum studio pictures will be on display. Platinum studio will produce a slide show of pictures taken for you to choose and prints are done off site and mailed to you in a few weeks.

@Ken the cruiser, Princess used to have a price match and the 26 Glacier tour was one I remember past passengers would use. No more price match. I would book direct to save some $.

As long as you have booked ‘flexible’ rate fare. 45 days is calculated by flight date or cruise sail date, which ever is sooner/earlier as many passengers elect to fly in many days before sail date.

IIRC, Celebrity tried this a few years ago and all their fares included a drinks package, etc. Even though we have heard a large percentage of passengers elect to get at least the Plus package, Celebrity had to bring back ‘standard’ fares, so it would surprise me if Princess drops the option for a ‘no frills’ fare. It appears that percentage of passengers who would not use all the included amenities, was a large enough group for Celebrity to not want to lose, so no frills fares were again offered.

Yes, to both questions. IIRC, in the changing rooms on most Royal class ships, there are 2 showers, one for accessibility needs. I believe the lockers work by keyless self set combination locks. I have not seen key on a wristband on Princess for many years, especially on Royal class, since fitness center is not by Spa, so no reception to get a locker key.

There is an earlier thread titled ‘Is upgrading to Reserve Collection mini suite worth the additional charges?’ Currently on page 3 that you should probably review.