Live feed from the Grand Princess 9/25 and 9/30 cruises

[Cruise Raider]

31 minutes ago, BrandiGreg said:

On board currently, and no one cares if you don't sip and slip, really.  This is all new for the cruise lines and staff and passengers, so I feel most passengers are going to be nice and cut them some slack on inconsistencies.  I think you will find on board that 90% are compliant without complaint or unhappiness. And that's a setting for a pretty good atmosphere.  Just be reasonable. Relax. Do what you feel is the right thing, and don't worry about what others may choose to do.  Just like when you see a tshirt on formal night... You are in control of your own cruise enjoyment.  

So well said! 
 

[Cruise Raider]

54 minutes ago, memoak said:

I know of no place in America where sip and cover or bite and cover is in effect. Here in Oregon we have some of the most stringent COVID’s rules but once you are seated at you table the mask can come off as long as you ate st the table

The sip and cover signs seem to be posted only in places where the seating is fixed.  
There are absolutely no bite and cover signs posted and it is not expected.
Out of respect for the crew that has to stay onboard and wear masks continuously throughout the day, we do raise our masks when we are ordering.  It’s really not all that difficult .. if you feel it is, it might be best to wait until this pandemic is somewhat under control.  

[BrandiGreg]

41 minutes ago, AF-1 said:

What time do you guys dock in SanPedro tomorrow morning

I assume as scheduled, but will try to remember to post when actual time is.  B2B guests are to meet in the Crown Grill at 0910 to be escorted into the terminal.  No word yet on when covid testing will be.  Last leg it was on day 2 and 3.

[Cruise Raider]

10 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Its not a problem at all … will check as soon as they are open.  

I checked the photos and didn’t see any with names of the ports on them.  I asked one of the photo staff if they were taking photos when guests got off in port and he said they weren’t doing it at this time.  

[Cruise Raider]

Tonight, we decided to order dinner out on our balcony but decided at the last minute to eat in the dining room and say our goodbyes to the wonderful staff we’ve met onboard that have made our trip so pleasurable.  We handed out our thank you notes and extra gratuities yesterday just in case we decided to lay low in our cabin today, which we almost did.  

I’m glad we made our way downstairs to say our final goodbyes.  
It’s been such a wonderful trip, much better than we expected it to be!  
It’s a bittersweet day for us tomorrow … we are ready to go home.  We like 9-10 day cruises but I wouldn’t mind staying a no there few days.  
We have been instructed to vacate our cabins by 8:30 AM tomorrow.  That works out perfectly as I believe our disembarkation time is 8:40 AM.  We will plan on having breakfast in our cabin.  
 

[cruzrbachoua]

6 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

I checked the photos and didn’t see any with names of the ports on them.  I asked one of the photo staff if they were taking photos when guests got off in port and he said they weren’t doing it at this time.  

Ok thanks for asking...I will figure something out for my little memory book I do...guess it is bingo and shopping to spend the obc..oh what a shame..lol

[mellon1]

Thank you soooo very much for taking time out of your trip to post and keep us all informed.  We appreciate it so much.

[dskenn]

8 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Tonight, we decided to order dinner out on our balcony but decided at the last minute to eat in the dining room and say our goodbyes to the wonderful staff we’ve met onboard that have made our trip so pleasurable.  We handed out our thank you notes and extra gratuities yesterday just in case we decided to lay low in our cabin today, which we almost did.  

I’m glad we made our way downstairs to say our final goodbyes.  
It’s been such a wonderful trip, much better than we expected it to be!  
It’s a bittersweet day for us tomorrow … we are ready to go home.  We like 9-10 day cruises but I wouldn’t mind staying a no there few days.  
We have been instructed to vacate our cabins by 8:30 AM tomorrow.  That works out perfectly as I believe our disembarkation time is 8:40 AM.  We will plan on having breakfast in our cabin.  
 

Thank you for all your wonderful posts.  I have one last question.  I alway give extra to room steward, dining staff, and bar staff,  but have never given extra to cruise director staff.  Is this something that people do?  Anyone else feel free to chime in. 

[azbirdmom]

2 hours ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Ok thanks for asking...I will figure something out for my little memory book I do...guess it is bingo and shopping to spend the obc..oh what a shame..lol

 

They may not have the specific ones taken of you in the ports but I am guessing that they may have the port templates and should be able to print a photo that you've taken around the ship with a port background.  They are taking pictures on green screens so you should be able to pick something that will work for you at the photo center.  And it sounded to me like not taking embarkation or port photos may be a temporary policy due to Covid so they will likely be back.  If it's a money making opportunity for Princess, no doubt they will be back!

[infoteknerd]

Sorry if it was already provided, but did anyone get the main dining menus for this leg. 
 

I’m on later this month and trying to determine when to use my complementary specialty dining. 

[BrandiGreg]

14 hours ago, AF-1 said:

What time do you guys dock in SanPedro tomorrow morning

Well, I got up at 7am and we were docked.  I'm currently (0820) in the International cafe at the window looking up at the passenger gangway, and don't see anyone leaving.  The forklifts are busy loading lounge chairs however.

[Folkfan13]

For those in a suite (we have the Window Suite), were you offered a free specialty restaurant the first night?

[cruzmore99]

On 10/2/2021 at 2:41 PM, Steelers36 said:

Thanks.  BTW, we prefer the mid-ship DR as well and the one on Deck 6 was always Early TD.

We also prefer the mid-ship DR and Early TD.  We were in the Boticelli once and it was so difficult getting on an elevator after dining because the second seating people were there waiting. It would be even more difficult for me now that I am using a walker. 

[CAZephyr]

Thank you to those who posted your experiences.  Lots of new stuff for cruisers post-onslaught of The Rona.  We are thankful that you took the time to tell us.

[dskenn]

34 minutes ago, Folkfan13 said:

For those in a suite (we have the Window Suite), were you offered a free specialty restaurant the first night?

A five day cruise  in a suite is not entitled to a free specialty restaurant unless it is a special offer or a gift.

[Folkfan13]

dskenn,   thanks for the answer.    We're in a 4 + 5 B2B.     I guess we'll have to pay for our Crown Grill.

[LACruiser88]

2 hours ago, dskenn said:

 I alway give extra to room steward, dining staff, and bar staff,  but have never given extra to cruise director staff.  Is this something that people do?  Anyone else feel free to chime in. 

We are very free with our extra tipping to dining staff, bartenders and Room Stewards.  We have never tipped Cruise Director Staff.  But, we really do not participate in most of their activities. 

[mellon1]

15 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

We are very free with our extra tipping to dining staff, bartenders and Room Stewards.  We have never tipped Cruise Director Staff.  But, we really do not participate in most of their activities. 

Ditto.  The staff and officers get paid a lot more than the crew.

[dskenn]

@LACruiser88 and @mellon1  Thank you both!

[JF - retired RRT]

On 10/2/2021 at 7:53 PM, Mary Ann 2 said:

They don't want people getting their own drinks especially in a reusable mug in the buffet for COVID reasons.  But they are more than happy to bring you whatever you want to the table and you can pour it into your mug there.

You weren't supposed to fill reusable mugs pre-covid, either. That didn't stop many.

[Steelers36]

29 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

You weren't supposed to fill reusable mugs pre-covid, either. That didn't stop many.

It's not a problem as long as don't stick the vessel up and touch the nozzles

[MarkBearSF]

2 hours ago, cruzmore99 said:

We also prefer the mid-ship DR and Early TD.  We were in the Boticelli once and it was so difficult getting on an elevator after dining because the second seating people were there waiting. It would be even more difficult for me now that I am using a walker. 

It's especially bad on the Grand (and old Star and Golden) because there are only two aft elevators that go down to Deck 6. On our 10 day Mexico cruise, we had one of the Oceanview cabins near the "art" gallery off the Piazza. Unfortunately, my husband has mobility issues and difficulties with stairs so we had to take the elevators from 5 to 7, walk aft, and then back down from 7 to 6. Heading to dinner, the elevators were usually already filled, and with a dinnertime crowd milling in the lobby on 7 waiting to go down. It often took over five minutes to  catch an elevator before or after dinner (late seating).

As a result, although we prefer traditional dining, when on the Grand or her departed sisters, we've chosen Anytime Dining to avoid Botticelli.

Of course, now it's changed - and the new ship home-porting in SF will be the Ruby - which has all four elevators go to Deck 6. 

Edited October 4, 2021 by MarkBearSF

[Cruise Raider]

8 hours ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Ok thanks for asking...I will figure something out for my little memory book I do...guess it is bingo and shopping to spend the obc..oh what a shame..lol

They still have photos and do show the embarkation date … so, there is that.  We got a good one from the sail away party.  We always try to get the embarkation photos from our cruises… see how we’ve aged in the last three decades.  

[Cruise Raider]

6 hours ago, dskenn said:

Thank you for all your wonderful posts.  I have one last question.  I alway give extra to room steward, dining staff, and bar staff,  but have never given extra to cruise director staff.  Is this something that people do?  Anyone else feel free to chime in. 

Not exactly an answer to your question but related …   They no longer have envelopes at the front desk so, this time, we brought thank you cards.  We filled them with various amounts based on the service that went above and beyond.  
Tipping the CD?  I’ve never thought of that .. this last one, Gary Golden and his side kick, Stef, we’re so good!  I hope someone does chime in. 

[Cruise Raider]

5 hours ago, infoteknerd said:

Sorry if it was already provided, but did anyone get the main dining menus for this leg. 
 

I’m on later this month and trying to determine when to use my complementary specialty dining. 

The five day cruise was unusual in that they had one formal night and it was the second night of the cruise.  Oddly enough, they didn’t serve lobster that night.  However, they did serve it on the fourth night of the cruise.  
There was no formal night (and no lobster served) on the four day leg of the cruise unless you went to a specialty restaurant.