Grand Princess Information..I'm Sailing On Her Now.

[Haboob]

On 10/23/2019 at 3:35 PM, strobellayjam said:

@snoozecrooze thank you so much!  This menu definitely differs from the one posted on the Princess website. I’ll share this with my DD tonight. Hope you had a fabulous cruise!

 

Some of Princess' fleet sail with "Sabatini's" and others with "Sabatini's Tratoria":

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/Onboard_Experience/Sabatinis-Menu-Sample.pdf

https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/sabatinis-trattoria/sabatinis-trattoria-main-menu.pdf

 

The Grand sails with "Sabatini's Tratoria"

[LSGDRG]

18 hours ago, 2old4this said:

Many, many thanks for the great response.  My guess the doors represent one extra attempt to give the 400s the feeling of a gated community.  Maybe they have them open since few have commented about them - - another guess of mine.

 

One final question, LSGDRG, did you leave the Grand feeling the cruise was worth it to you generally speaking - - overall?

To be honest, this was not my favorite cruise.  The ship missed the port that I really wanted to visit again.  The weather was a little cold to take advantage of the balcony and there were a lot of entitled passengers complaining in public areas.  With that said, customer service was great.  The staff was very attentive to my elderly mother.  The suite offered plenty of room/storage to be comfortable.  So for me, the cruise was worth it.

[Cruise Raider]

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

I'm in C-424.  Had it reserved since early spring.  Boarding on 18 November.  What purpose the doors in the hallway at both ends of the C-group?  
 

They are merely fire doors ... only closed when you first board and when there is an emergency, such as as a fire.  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 What dinner perks did your cabin C-cabin avail you? 
 

There are Caribe deck or C cabins that are just regular balcony cabins ... they do not share in the full suite benefits.  Being in a full suite gives you access to a specialty restaurant the first night (they may agree to make it on night two if you request it), access to club class dining, access to breakfast in the Crown Grill every morning and you can order room service off the dining room menu at any time, even on disembarkation day.  
So, the Crown Grill was amazing ... both in the morning and for our specialty dinner.  In the morning, you can order mimosas and specialty coffees and steak and eggs are even allowed ... you may have to request the steak the previous day, though.  We always had superb service from start to finish there. 
We loved the Club Class dining and the head waiter, Genel (sp?) spoiled us to death, as did our wait team, Alberto and Hari!  The food was spectacular, especially those treats prepared by Genel.  
We never ordered room service but, it’s always been great service In the past.  Even the last day, we were going to go to the CC dining in the MDR but decided to hit up the International Cafe instead and it just really hit the spot.  

Just of note, the CC dining area had no wait (we never waited) and there are special wine glasses and table cloths but, aside from that,  we valued the extra dish and personal service that was given to us ... and the no wait time is possibly the best feature of all. 
We went to lunch a couple of times in CC ... it was ok ... nothing spectacular!  

 

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

Was there a specific reserved area at dinner for C-cabins?
 

You will have a special entrance on the starboard side of the ship, just on the other side of the casino entrance.  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

Did you buy the unlimited WiFi and how did it go?

 

Don’t bother!  We’ve sailed on the Grand several times and I will rave about many aspects of my cruises on her ... the WiFi is not one of them!  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

  How formal were formal nights as best you could guess? 
 

People dress anywhere from very casual to very dressy ... we go somewhere in the middle.  We saw a woman show up in cut off jean shorts enter the dining room every night ... our travel mates dressed to the nines!  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

Was there a VIP boarding desk? 
 

 There is always a VIP line for check in only free you’ve gotten through security.  Sometimes the check in lines are just as long as for general boarding check in but once they know you are in a suite, they will escort (if you choose to wait for an escort) onto the ship. 

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

Were you satisfied with how you were helped departing the ship at SF? 
 

Disembarkation for suite guest was phenomenal.  They offer you a dedicated lounge (ours was in Crooners) You can choose when you want to disembark or stay in the lounge until the crowd dies down.  They come around and offer you coffee, water, OJ, pastries and such as you are seated.  Once you choose to disembark, though, you are on your own.  However, disembarkation was quick and easy ... we were off the ship in less than 3 minutes flat!  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

Did you feel you got anything special or different from your cabin steward? 
 

 The Grand is an old old girl .... so the room steward may have more challenges facing them.  For instance, our jetted tub spewed out some brown water.  I’d been in that room before and found out it wasn’t dangerous to my health, so dealt with it.  However, the poor room steward had to clean that brown ring from around the tub.  I tried to clean it up for her to no avail but she got it all sparkling clean again for the next time I used it.  
Our room steward was phenomenal ... very sweet and did such a great job but did visit our room rather late in the day.  It didn’t matter much to us but if you like your room cleaned by a certain hour, be sure to let your steward know.  

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

Did you use the laundry services everyday or occasionally.  Was shoeshining something you requested?  What about the morning fruit? . . . how did that go?
 

 We never use the laundry services ... I’m sure they do a great job but, we just prefer to do our own laundry.  We’ve attained elect stays many cruises back and still never use it.
we also don’t request shoe shine and as far as the fruit, they bring a bowl of fruit on your first day onboard and replace it as needed.  We picked at it occasionally but, found ourselves eating more outside of the cabin.   

On 10/28/2019 at 9:14 PM, 2old4this said:

 

I know my questions are many and you have better things to do . . .I really look forward to your recall, however, as I am wanting to have a superb 15 day vacation and eager to leave all this inquiry politics and the fires in my home area, central Califonia, behind me.  Thanks for offering LSGDRG!

We were also just on the Grand a few weeks ago in a full suite so may be able to give you another point of view.  
see above ...

[2old4this]

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

They are merely fire doors ... only closed when you first board and when there is an emergency, such as as a fire.  

There are Caribe deck or C cabins that are just regular balcony cabins ... they do not share in the full suite benefits.  Being in a full suite gives you access to a specialty restaurant the first night (they may agree to make it on night two if you request it), access to club class dining, access to breakfast in the Crown Grill every morning and you can order room service off the dining room menu at any time, even on disembarkation day.  
So, the Crown Grill was amazing ... both in the morning and for our specialty dinner.  In the morning, you can order mimosas and specialty coffees and steak and eggs are even allowed ... you may have to request the steak the previous day, though.  We always had superb service from start to finish there. 
We loved the Club Class dining and the head waiter, Genel (sp?) spoiled us to death, as did our wait team, Alberto and Hari!  The food was spectacular, especially those treats prepared by Genel.  
We never ordered room service but, it’s always been great service In the past.  Even the last day, we were going to go to the CC dining in the MDR but decided to hit up the International Cafe instead and it just really hit the spot.  

Just of note, the CC dining area had no wait (we never waited) and there are special wine glasses and table cloths but, aside from that,  we valued the extra dish and personal service that was given to us ... and the no wait time is possibly the best feature of all. 
We went to lunch a couple of times in CC ... it was ok ... nothing spectacular!  

 

You will have a special entrance on the starboard side of the ship, just on the other side of the casino entrance.  

 

Don’t bother!  We’ve sailed on the Grand several times and I will rave about many aspects of my cruises on her ... the WiFi is not one of them!  

People dress anywhere from very casual to very dressy ... we go somewhere in the middle.  We saw a woman show up in cut off jean shorts enter the dining room every night ... our travel mates dressed to the nines!  

 There is always a VIP line for check in only free you’ve gotten through security.  Sometimes the check in lines are just as long as for general boarding check in but once they know you are in a suite, they will escort (if you choose to wait for an escort) onto the ship. 

Disembarkation for suite guest was phenomenal.  They offer you a dedicated lounge (ours was in Crooners) You can choose when you want to disembark or stay in the lounge until the crowd dies down.  They come around and offer you coffee, water, OJ, pastries and such as you are seated.  Once you choose to disembark, though, you are on your own.  However, disembarkation was quick and easy ... we were off the ship in less than 3 minutes flat!  

 The Grand is an old old girl .... so the room steward may have more challenges facing them.  For instance, our jetted tub spewed out some brown water.  I’d been in that room before and found out it wasn’t dangerous to my health, so dealt with it.  However, the poor room steward had to clean that brown ring from around the tub.  I tried to clean it up for her to no avail but she got it all sparkling clean again for the next time I used it.  
Our room steward was phenomenal ... very sweet and did such a great job but did visit our room rather late in the day.  It didn’t matter much to us but if you like your room cleaned by a certain hour, be sure to let your steward know.  

 We never use the laundry services ... I’m sure they do a great job but, we just prefer to do our own laundry.  We’ve attained elect stays many cruises back and still never use it.
we also don’t request shoe shine and as far as the fruit, they bring a bowl of fruit on your first day onboard and replace it as needed.  We picked at it occasionally but, found ourselves eating more outside of the cabin.   

We were also just on the Grand a few weeks ago in a full suite so may be able to give you another point of view.  
see above ...

Thank you LSGDRG.  Wish we were traveling together.  Your responses make everything clear for me.  You'll be happy to read that I have run out of questions.  Given you ride Princess so often, my guess is that you're already booked again and waiting to go.  Enjoy your travels.  Jack

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, 2old4this said:

Thank you LSGDRG.  Wish we were traveling together.  Your responses make everything clear for me.  You'll be happy to read that I have run out of questions.  Given you ride Princess so often, my guess is that you're already booked again and waiting to go.  Enjoy your travels.  Jack

Jack...  it’s Cruise Raider but answered just to give you another point of view.  Glad to be of help!  We are actually booked on the Grand again for January.  
As mentioned, the ship itself is a little beat up, but you’d be hard pressed to find a better staff on any ship.  That’s probably more important in the long run!