Grand Patters Alaska 2019 and more.

[Dani24]

41 minutes ago, masterty said:

The location is the best cabin location on the ship. IMHO. If not in a suite we would be on deck 5 mid-forward. Second best location on the ship IMHO. 

We have stayed in aft balconys before for great wake views but it is such a long way back there that it makes using the room arduous. Mid ship deck 8, 9, 10 are great spots but with M1's going for ridiculous fees and even BA's being overpriced we will usually opt for a interior and if we want buy the sanctuary and Crown Grill for the voyage and still have savings for the casino. The S7 is a treat to my wife as we are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary on this trip. I surprised her with the room. The escort at embarkation blew the surprise. A surprise none the less. 

As for Crown Grill we tried it twice. We both have the pbp so no benefit there. Surprised the Crown offeres only the same comfort food menu each day. My knowledge of the MDR breakfast is that it offers a different option each morning. So on day 4 we are going to the MDR to see which on we like more. I'll try to get a crown grill breakfast menu so you can see what I mean. 

 

We had looked at one of the aft balconies as well. We were also considering a mini suite (not Club Class though). The window suite popped up, and it was actually $1000 less than a Club Class Mini Suite, and almost the same price (within <$200) of the mini suite I was looking it. So I jumped on it. My husband gets motion sickness, so I'm hoping the low and somewhat mid-ship location will help with the first couple of days out of SF. Normally we wouldn't splurge on a suite, but I had $4300 in credit card points from our Princess Visa that we've been saving up for 9 years, and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge.

Do the menus they give you indicate what the special offering is in the Club Class MDR? Or do you have to go to find out? 

[masterty]

2 hours ago, Dani24 said:

 

We had looked at one of the aft balconies as well. We were also considering a mini suite (not Club Class though). The window suite popped up, and it was actually $1000 less than a Club Class Mini Suite, and almost the same price (within <$200) of the mini suite I was looking it. So I jumped on it. My husband gets motion sickness, so I'm hoping the low and somewhat mid-ship location will help with the first couple of days out of SF. Normally we wouldn't splurge on a suite, but I had $4300 in credit card points from our Princess Visa that we've been saving up for 9 years, and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to indulge.

Do the menus they give you indicate what the special offering is in the Club Class MDR? Or do you have to go to find out? 

You have to go to find out. I had the special the first night. It was 8 huge shrimp, potatoes, veggies. We have done Sabitinis 2 nights so not super familiar with all the specials in club class. Tonight we will be in club class. 

[aprilsp88]

3 hours ago, masterty said:

The S7 is a treat to my wife as we are celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary on this trip. I surprised her with the room. The escort at embarkation blew the surprise. A surprise none the less. 

As for Crown Grill we tried it twice. We both have the pbp so no benefit there. Surprised the Crown offeres only the same comfort food menu each day. My knowledge of the MDR breakfast is that it offers a different option each morning. So on day 4 we are going to the MDR to see which on we like more. I'll try to get a crown grill breakfast menu so you can see what I mean. 

Masterty,

 

Happy Anniversary! I'm sure your wife is very happy with the suite as a pleasant surprise.

 

I heard the suite breakfast is very good and special as it's cook to order. Would like to see the menu if you have one.

 

Do you like the music/entertainment at night? It seems to be much more fun than day time.

 

Thanks,

April

[masterty]

Relaxing day in the Sancturary today. Great weather for Hubbard Glacier. A bit too much ice to get close. Glacier day was $60pp came with lunch, ear muffs, and photo taken by ship photographer. Ignore the $3pp delivery charge. Our steward told is it did not apply today as part of the $60 glacier package. Attached is a photo my DW took and the menus. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 20, 2019 by masterty

[Katwoman007]

Thank you for sharing! I will be watching till we board on the 26th! 😄 However our itinerary is different than yours. 

[masterty]

Haines AK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bignickpsu]

Thanks for all of the info!

 

Did they repeat the menu from Day 2?  It looks almost exactly like the one you posted from earlier in your trip.

 

Did they mention if dining hours could be changed on port days?  On our Caribbean cruise last year, you were allowed to eat AnyTime on port days.  Thanks again!

[masterty]

17 minutes ago, Bignickpsu said:

Thanks for all of the info!

 

Did they repeat the menu from Day 2?  It looks almost exactly like the one you posted from earlier in your trip.

 

Did they mention if dining hours could be changed on port days?  On our Caribbean cruise last year, you were allowed to eat AnyTime on port days.  Thanks again!

 

I did not notice any menu repeating yet. I also have not compared menus. Too busy cruising 😁.

 

I have not heard any mention of traditional diners being allowed to eat anytime. I am sure if one was to ask the maître d' ones options they would be pleased. Of course some reading this will say "go for it we do it all the time" and others will say "dont do it. It messes up the seating for everyone else. I hope this Alaska patters discussion does not turn into a traditional dining using anytime discussion. I say just ask your maître d'.

Edited May 22, 2019 by masterty

[Bignickpsu]

1 hour ago, masterty said:

 

I did not notice any menu repeating yet. I also have not compared menus. Too busy cruising 😁.

 

I have not heard any mention of traditional diners being allowed to eat anytime. I am sure if one was to ask the maître d' ones options they would be pleased. Of course some reading this will say "go for it we do it all the time" and others will say "dont do it. It messes up the seating for everyone else. I hope this Alaska patters discussion does not turn into a traditional dining using anytime discussion. I say just ask your maître d'.

 

Thanks again! Enjoy the cruise!

 

I definitely dont want to start a debate about dining.  I have only been on one Princess cruise and the waiters were the ones that told me the traditional became Anytime on port days.  I just wasn’t sure if that was standard😀

[masterty]

Crown Grill menu. 

Today I just said "surprise me". Let's see what the waiter picks for me. Photo to follow. 

And!!! Why on day 6 are they still asking for a cabin number???

 

 

 

[masterty]

Here is my surprise. No very creative. Good none the less. 

[milolii]

Thanks for the awesome pics the WS and the Sanctuary,  as well as the menus.  We booked the Grand next March  for the NW Pacific coast cruise. 

 

We are in the Royal later this year as well.  

[masterty]

Welcome to Ketchikan. Here is today's patter and dinner menu. 

 

 

 

 

 

[masterty]

I brought a number of ducks to hide on this trip. Everyone I have seen is enjoying finding them. This one lasted 30min before found.

 

Even the Cruise director is enjoying the cruising ducks.

 

#cruisingducks Check out the "Crusing Ducks" group on Facebook to learn more. The last cruise and the next cruise also had families hiding ducks.

 

Each duck has a passport hanging around its neck. They read. "You found a cruising duck. Keep it or hide it. The choice is yours. If you hide it, public spaces only. No stores, pools, or hot tubs. Please take a photo of the duck with or without you in it and post it to Cruising ducks of Facebook with the hashtag #cruisingducks."

 

Most will find it all to be silly, but the ships seem to not mind and the finders really like it. I hide many, low where children can find them and the rest in areas older pax congregate. The trick is to hide them where the cleaning crew wont find them. They take them all for themselves. 

 

 

Edited May 22, 2019 by masterty

[aprilsp88]

3 hours ago, masterty said:

 

 

Wow, these ducks are so cute, they sure bring joy to the whole cruise, including the CD! 🙂

[Gimer]

mastery, Did the Tlingit Totem Carver do his demonstration in the atrium?  Did you find more music venues?   Thanks

[masterty]

58 minutes ago, Gimer said:

mastery, Did the Tlingit Totem Carver do his demonstration in the atrium?  Did you find more music venues?   Thanks

Totem demonstration is at 2:30 today.

It is scheduled to last 2 hours. I'll check it out but do not plan on staying for the whole thing. The music on this trip is bad. There are basically 3 acts that are rotating. They are just horrible. I'll take drunk karaoke on a 3 day booze cruise over this. Also the comedians have also been terrible. I have seen 3 comedians now. One so so, but the other two are below amateur. I hope those in the next rotation serve the summer sailings better. Last night was the first time I have ever witnessed 1/5 of the audience leave during a set. We stayed but only because my DW said she didn't want to be rude. The guy last night was singing song samples with comedic rewrites. Each one was simply not funny, especially when rewriting songs the audience is not familiar with the original words or melody. I know who Oasis and Green Day are but suspect many last night did not. He came on in Juneau. One of the acts is a Princess employee. Name tag and all when he performs. His music is a bit too eclectic for my taste. The strings group is just too old school for me. Others may enjoy the orchestra more than i.

The good. The dancers and singers in the production shows have been good. Enthusiastic and on cue. The only bad is...if your capitan circle status is anything but blue you have seen them before. 

 

[masterty]

Day 8 sea day. Victoria tomarrow. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[masterty]

Totem demonstration today. 

[Belle]

Thanks again for posting everything for us who will be cruising on the Grand

to Alaska if even going to different ports.  Menu's stay the same and the Patter

will show the same things just maybe different days or times. Know (hope) the

entertainers will be different (sounds like that is a good thing) Yes for us who have

traveled many times on the Grand  know the productions shows well. Always have

to decide do we want to see them again this cruise.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise. Hope you had a good time so far. Had to love your room.

[masterty]

DW and I have had a great time. We bring our own joy onboard with us. The game shows on board are always entertaining. When playing Yes/No game show on  previous sailings I was able to make it the whole 3 minutes. This trip I made it only 22 seconds.  Marriage match game show is tonight. Always funny. I wish the crew would host more of these audience participation game shows. We are not ones who like lectures or sounds of the 40's and 50's. We like to laugh, joke and sing along. As much as we like most things Princess, we may be 20 years too early to enjoy their music choices. I am sure Santa Clarita can click a button, determine the average age of the pax for a given voyage and then use that number to spit out a list of avalible entertainers to bring on at a given port. 

Having fun? You betcha! Cruising is always fun. Anywhere, anytime!

[masterty]

Crown Grill Menu

 

 

 

 

 

[masterty]

Suite debarcation breakfast letter. 

[aprilsp88]

21 hours ago, masterty said:

The music on this trip is bad. There are basically 3 acts that are rotating. They are just horrible. I'll take drunk karaoke on a 3 day booze cruise over this.  One of the acts is a Princess employee. Name tag and all when he performs. His music is a bit too eclectic for my taste. The strings group is just too old school for me. Others may enjoy the orchestra more than i.

The good. The dancers and singers in the production shows have been good. Enthusiastic and on cue. The only bad is...if your capitan circle status is anything but blue you have seen them before. 

 

Oh, I'm so disappointed to hear this. I always like the music on Princess, but not as much last Christmas. I hope it is not the trend. The Princess Orchestra always play big band, not my favorite type of music but always good quality. I used to skip shows because I like some bands so much. But I guess not on this cruise.

[aprilsp88]

20 hours ago, Belle said:

Thanks again for posting everything for us who will be cruising on the Grand

to Alaska if even going to different ports.  Menu's stay the same and the Patter

will show the same things just maybe different days or times. Know (hope) the

entertainers will be different (sounds like that is a good thing) Yes for us who have

traveled many times on the Grand  know the productions shows well. Always have

to decide do we want to see them again this cruise.

 

Enjoy the rest of your cruise. Hope you had a good time so far. Had to love your room.

You said everything I want to say 🙂