July 25, 2021 Live From Majestic Princess Alaska sailing

[wallyj]

1 hour ago, AF-1 said:

Is the Enclave like the Sanctuary?

@AF-1, Since this is a ‘live’ thread from the Majestic, do you understand this ‘Royal Class’ ship does NOT have a Sanctuary area. This area on the Majestic is the Hollywood Pool and Conservatory which is  not a paid or reserve space like the Sanctuary on other Royal class ships.

 

The ‘Enclave’ is located in the spa and very similar on all Royal class ships. Most people would relate the Enclave as an upscale Thermal Suite found on Grand Class ships. The Enclave has a therapy pool whereas the Thermal Suites on Grand class primary consists of heated stone loungers, some steam, sauna rooms and a couple of unique showers like a rain shower, but no pool.

[barrykel]

3 hours ago, travlngar said:

The Bridge Cam is now working and thank you all for these postings and informative thread as we travel along with you.

 

Well, sort of. It's still showing a Glacier Bay still from just over 3 hours ago; which, of course is a vast improvement over the 7/22 photo of the Magnolia Bridge in Seattle that we've been looking at for the last 5 days, but still not updating every 5 minutes as advertised. Looks like, out of the 14 cams on the page, only 6 are fully operational and up-to-date: Sky, Ruby, Royal, Regal, Grand, and Emerald.

 

Edited July 30, 2021 by barrykel

[ChangeOrder]

53 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

We sailed 2 weeks in E436 on Royal Princess & there was no obstruction when looking outward & only when looking down on the open outside Promenade deck or when looking aft.

 

Yes those are accurate. I’ll add that when you are sitting in a chair you can’t see anything below unless you lean forward. No one can see up to you either. The view from the Seaview walk above is only to the railing, and you are protected overhead. Plenty of privacy. 
 

Here was our schedule today in Glacier Bay. The Rangers set up shop in the Conservatory and sell a few things, along with the talks and question answering. I highly recommend the stuffed grizzly - he’s very soft!

[Glaciers]

35 minutes ago, barrykel said:

Well, sort of. It's still showing a Glacier Bay still from just over 3 hours ago; which, of course is a vast improvement over the 7/22 photo of the Magnolia Bridge in Seattle that we've been looking at for the last 5 days, but still not updating every 5 minutes as advertised.

 

 Vessel tracker is currently showing the ship just south of Hoonah/ISP. This is a hot spot for humpback whale sightings. Hopefully folks are on deck.

[ChangeOrder]

11 minutes ago, CarelessAndConfused said:

Can anyone comment on if they have watched the classical musicians play, probably in the Grown Grill bar since there is no Crooners. 

 

Also, anyone order a hot dog on the Majestic?  Where?  Any good?

Classical musicians have been in the Piazza/Atrium. Along with several other music types. 
 

I had a hot dog today. It was - ok. Not a fan of the buns. But the fries there at the Lobster and Burger grill are pretty good. 
 

I vote skip it and walk next door to the Noodle bar and get whatever they have ready. The broth is fantastic. 

[travlngar]

36 minutes ago, barrykel said:

Well, sort of. It's still showing a Glacier Bay still from just over 3 hours ago; which, of course is a vast improvement over the 7/22 photo of the Magnolia Bridge in Seattle that we've been looking at for the last 5 days, but still not updating every 5 minutes as advertised. Looks like, out of the 14 cams on the page, only 6 are fully operational and up-to-date: Sky, Ruby, Royal, Regal, Grand, and Emerald.

 

Yes, sadly I watched for awhile and saw that it wasn't refreshing the current location. Was happy for a rew moments. 

[ChangeOrder]

Just now, Glaciers said:

 Vessel tracker is currently showing the ship just south of Hoonah/ISP. This is a hot spot for humpback whale sightings. Hopefully folks are on deck.

I saw a group of three about an hour ago playing off starboard side. They put on the whole show for us with tail whacks, side fin waving, and jumps.

[barrykel]

3 hours ago, Jeter02 said:

The enclave is a magical place on the royal class ships. 

Is it adults only?

[HaveDogWillTravel]

 

To all CC members on board. Our meeting with Jan is at 5 pm tomorrow Friday in the VIP gaming lounge. It is deck 6  forward port side right outside the princess theater heading aft. Casino is starboard vip gaming vip gaming is port. If you are on the roll call your name is on the list. If I have your room number I’m trying to get invites from duke for you. 
if you are cc but not on our roll call get me your handle , your name and your room so I can add you to the list. I’m in R734 leave a note or voice message. 
 

meeting with Jan 

5 pm Friday

VIP gaming deck 6 forward 

Edited July 30, 2021 by HaveDogWillTravel

[Jeter02]

4 minutes ago, barrykel said:

Is it adults only?

Yes!

[Glaciers]

Princess usually has top notch naturalists on their Alaska trips but I've not seen much regarding them this year. Is there a naturalist on board?

[RJAM3]

4 hours ago, Jeter02 said:

I don't even bother wasting my time with those statuses it actually was yellow yesterday so orange is a level down. So I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

4 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

Yes, this is the menu for the second formal night. I'm going to have a hard time choosing when I sail in four weeks. 

I agree with you about those statutes!

Edited July 30, 2021 by RJAM3
spelling

[Jeter02]

1 minute ago, Glaciers said:

Princess usually has top notch naturalists on their Alaska trips but I've not seen much regarding them this year. Is there a naturalist on board?

According to my journey view for the next upcoming cruise this weekend it is listed on that there will be a naturalist on board giving a presentation.

[ctipton55]

10 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

The Express walk off times are 7:15 - 7:30 and then every fifteen minute interval after through the next hour.  
if you are using Seattle Express, you do not need to give them a time.  They start pick ups at 7:00 AM and run shuttles constantly throughout the morning.  

Ours is from our hometown and they need a time frame.  We said 9:30 but is that too late?

 

[Eaglecw]

4 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

According to my journey view for the next upcoming cruise this weekend it is listed on that there will be a naturalist on board giving a presentation.

I was just going ask if anyone had been to any of the presentations of the ships naturalist Michael Modzelewski. I saw in the Patter that he give a presentation in the theater the other day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ghrDIKu84k

[cruisindanx]

Spotted about half a dozen orcas from my balcony about an hour and a half ago. Highlight of the cruise so far!

[ChangeOrder]

29 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

According to my journey view for the next upcoming cruise this weekend it is listed on that there will be a naturalist on board giving a presentation.

We have a gentleman onboard that lives part of the year alone on an island off Ketchikan. He has a great speaking voice and wonderful stories to tell. 

[ChangeOrder]

24 minutes ago, Eaglecw said:

I was just going ask if anyone had been to any of the presentations of the ships naturalist Michael Modzelewski. I saw in the Patter that he give a presentation in the theater the other day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ghrDIKu84k

I just responded on another post, but I have and I’ve enjoyed them. 

[Steelers36]

6 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

@sheena5427   @ChangeOrderand all CC members on board. Our meeting with Jan is at 5 pm tomorrow Friday in the VIP gaming lounge. It is deck forward port side right outside the princess theater heading aft. Casino is starboard vip gaming vip gaming is port. If you are on the roll call your name is on the list. If I have your room number I’m trying to get invites from duke for you. 
if you are cc but not on our roll call get me your handle , your name sand your room so I can add you yo the lust. 
 

meeting with Jan 

5 pm Friday

VIP gaming deck 6 forward 

This is a rare and amazing opportunity.  No doubt Princess is hoping you guys will become ambassadors of a sort to bring good messages back and help spread word on how great the cruise was.

 

That said, we all know there are some serious issues hanging around as the elephants in the room.  Forget about Cruise Personalizer - that ship has literally sailed and besides what was moved to MC App, a lot of new functionality was added that the Personalizer didn't have. 

 

If I can set aside the technical glitches and bugs for both Apple and Android, there are a couple of important FUNCTIONAL issues that I believe need repeating to Princess and what a chance to hear what Jan Swartz has to say in response as to where Princess is going.

 

I am going to mention two key things and hope resonates with at least one of you who might ask of her. 

 

1) DineMyWay.  They have to include a table-size selection criteria, along with party size, prior to searching for a res.  The options coming back should be for that size table if available in the time slot.  If not, offer other table sizes that will fit the dining party, or offer the next earliest or latest timeslot if have the desired table size available.  DMW should be looking at and offering multiple DR's.  I have seen one report I think where someone with a near-term cruise got multiple DR's back (or was it someone on your current voyage).  I'd like to know when and how Princess is going to address this in DMW because the TD experience is not complete without it.  We know they are generally keeping to cabinmate only for dining on the early cruises, but when will this change?  BTW, AT diners also want to select table size as they may wish to dine with others or dine alone. 

 

2) Arrival Groups.  There seems to be problems in making this available to all and folks calling in trying to get into a Group are getting various responses from no help, refusal (just show up in afternoon according to your deck, to getting a group assigned.  The arbitrary slotting by the deck you happened to book a cabin on is unfair.  Going forward, what is going to be the policy for opening up Arrival Groups?  I.E. number of days prior to sail date.  Also, Princess needs to open this up to Suites & Elites a day ahead of Platinums and for them a day ahead of everyone else.  Otherwise, we effectively do not have priority check-in and boarding as doing it within an Arrival Group doesn't satisfy the situation. 

 

I think once they fix bugs and address key functional short-comings like the above, we can get the experience we were used to and it will be cool to have it all in our hands with MC App on our smart devices. 

 

Thanks for any consideration in bringing up these topics if any of you are also interested.  Hopefully, Jan has some answers from the 1,000 foot level as to what guest experience they expect to deliver.

 

[Steelers36]

6 hours ago, IEHL said:

Anyone in an aft cabin on deck 8? Wondering if there is excess noise from the Vista Lounge.

Thank you.

Last Royal Class cruise we were on, they hardly used the Vista Lounge and had plugged so many things into the Piazza. 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

@Jeter02

they are seating any one who wants to sit together at the same table. They will also put those who wish to visit at side by side 2 tops as well.  As the head waiter knows I do like to “share” he now sits me near others. I sat between 2 lovely couples today at lunch… one together 53 years and the other 1.5 years on their pandemic postponed honeymoon. 
We all had a grand time chatting it up. I really wouldn’t stress about what dining you pick beforehand. Just try to get the time if you can and the rest is easily taken care of onboard. 
 

I am not sure how the event is going to go so if there’s a chance to talk about arrival times I will. I do want to ask her which way the wind is blowing on continuing the vaccine mandate into 2022 if I can. 
 

now if you would be so kind to answer a question for me I’d appreciate it. I know you’ve followed along reasonably closely. Do you know if the full wine list has been shared?  If not I have it. 
 

[Jeter02]

3 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

@Jeter02

they are seating any one who wants to sit together at the same table. They will also put those who wish to visit at side by side 2 tops as well.  As the head waiter knows I do like to “share” he now sits me near others. I sat between 2 lovely couples today at lunch… one together 53 years and the other 1.5 years on their pandemic postponed honeymoon. 
We all had a grand time chatting it up. I really wouldn’t stress about what dining you pick beforehand. Just try to get the time if you can and the rest is easily taken care of onboard. 
 

I am not sure how the event is going to go so if there’s a chance to talk about arrival times I will. I do want to ask her which way the wind is blowing on continuing the vaccine mandate into 2022 if I can. 
 

now if you would be so kind to answer a question for me I’d appreciate it. I know you’ve followed along reasonably closely. Do you know if the full wine list has been shared?  If not I have it. 
 

So glad to hear you're having a lovely time. 95% of the time I am a Solo traveler especially on the cruises I typically get a table for two but I do enjoy the company of the tables of two beside me, as I love having conversations with all sorts of people throughout the country and world and exchanging stories.

[Steelers36]

6 minutes ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

now if you would be so kind to answer a question for me I’d appreciate it. I know you’ve followed along reasonably closely. Do you know if the full wine list has been shared?  If not I have it. 

No, I have not seen that posted.  I know it is several pages long.  I can wait until you are back home after the cruise and then you could post or I could ping you to remind you.  Wonderful that you have it.  

 

I want to update my master spreadsheet where I analyze the Princess price, plus 18%, versus buying it and bringing on-board (subject to corkage fee).  Wondering where things stand with pricing and the new $20 fee. 

 

Thanks again.

 

ETA - I will share the spreadsheet on Princess thread when I get it updated.  I have done this 2-3 years ago as well.

Edited July 30, 2021 by Steelers36

[Steelers36]

10 hours ago, Mary Ann 2 said:

Someone posted earlier that disembarkation started at 7am.  Are you saying it's 7:15?

IIRC, Princess usually schedules the first disembark time as 15 mins after arrival time.  But they may let people off sooner.  The ships are back to home port well ahead of the posted time on turnaround day (normally).  So, disembark gets going pretty early (normally).

 

[HaveDogWillTravel]

@Steelers36

Well let’s see if these post. The connection seems good right now. 
And on an aside the lobster tonight was excellent.