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

[Cruise Raider]

5 hours ago, BrandiGreg said:

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.

We got up early and finished showering and packing up the loose ends this morning and ordered room service for out on our balcony.  The food and specialty coffees were there in no time.  We were ready to go and decided to vacate or cabin by 8:00 AM to give the room stewards a head start.  We carried our luggage off so the staff said we didn’t even have to go to our designated waiting spot, we could just disembark.  We were off the ship and out of the terminal in no time flat.  We requested an Uber by 8:15 AM and to LAX by a little after 9:00 AM.  
now, we are dealing with multiple flight delays but are waiting it out in the Alaska Lounge.  I told my DH, who is losing patience quickly, to just pretend we are sitting in our favorite spot in Crooners.  At least the food and drinks are plentiful here.  
 

Edited October 4, 2021 by Cruise Raider

[Cruise Raider]

4 hours ago, Folkfan13 said:

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

Although, it is not offered as a perk on sailings of 5 nights or less, we overheard some people stating they did get a free specialty dinner for being in a suite, at least on the first sailing (5 days).  Not entirely sure if it was also offered on the 4 night sailing.  

Edited October 4, 2021 by Cruise Raider

[Cruise Raider]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

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

But, that’s the problem … many do!  It’s always been a rule on cruises to not fill your own container or to refill a glass that’s already been used.  
If the CDC was onboard and saw that being done, it would surely count as a violation … now and in the past!  

[mellon1]

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

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

Just not sanitary...get a glass and pour in your cup

[ednmargo]

28 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

We got up early and finished showering and packing up the loose ends this morning and ordered room service for out on our balcony.  The food and specialty coffees were there in no time.  We were ready to go and decided to vacate or cabin by 8:00 AM to give the room stewards a head start.  We carried our luggage off so the staff said we didn’t even have to go to our designated waiting spot, we could just disembark.  We were off the ship and out of the terminal in no time flat.  We requested an Uber by 8:15 AM and to LAX by a little after 9:00 AM.  
now, we are dealing with multiple flight delays but are waiting it out in the Alaska Lounge.  I told my DH, who is losing patience quickly, to just pretend we are sitting in our favorite spot in Crooners.  At least the food and drinks are plentiful here.  
 

Thanks for all the posts.  If you have time. Just curious about the specialty coffees.  Are they an extra charge if you have the beverage package? I know in the past they were extra because of room service. Cheers!

[snoodqueen]

2 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

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

I agree.  Not everyone is a dirty germ carrier people are making thermal mug users out to be.  Mine is washed with soap and hot water in my cabin before going to the buffet, as are my hands once I get to the washing stations.  In 20 years no one has ever said they were not allowed and I have asked buffet stewards, managers and officers if it was okay to use refillable thermal mugs.  Things might be different right now but pre-covid it was just fine.  Think how many hands touched the ceramic cups, riffled through the sugar packets, handled the coffee/water taps, got ice and then dumped the scooper back in the ice bucket.  My spotless mug was not an issue.  Enough said on this topic.

[Magellan321]

59 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

We got up early and finished showering and packing up the loose ends this morning and ordered room service for out on our balcony.  The food and specialty coffees were there in no time.  We were ready to go and decided to vacate or cabin by 8:00 AM to give the room stewards a head start.  We carried our luggage off so the staff said we didn’t even have to go to our designated waiting spot, we could just disembark.  We were off the ship and out of the terminal in no time flat.  We requested an Uber by 8:15 AM and to LAX by a little after 9:00 AM.  
now, we are dealing with multiple flight delays but are waiting it out in the Alaska Lounge.  I told my DH, who is losing patience quickly, to just pretend we are sitting in our favorite spot in Crooners.  At least the food and drinks are plentiful here.  
 

Glad you made it to the airport... ah, the AK lounge... a little spot of bliss! Catch you when messenger decides to pop back up! 😉

[wallyj]

7 hours ago, dskenn said:

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

@AF-1, who just started a thread for Oct 4, Grand Princess, has stated he is in a Window suite and this 5 day sailing was told he is entitled to a specialty dinner being in suite for first night.

[dskenn]

52 minutes ago, wallyj said:

@AF-1, who just started a thread for Oct 4, Grand Princess, has stated he is in a Window suite and this 5 day sailing was told he is entitled to a specialty dinner being in suite for first night.

I apologize .  I read on the Princess web site for Suite guests.  It stated 6 nights or more for first night specially dinning.  I guess I read it wrong.

[Lucky TGO]

Thanks for sharing.

Tony

[donswife]

3 hours ago, dskenn said:

I apologize .  I read on the Princess web site for Suite guests.  It stated 6 nights or more for first night specially dinning.  I guess I read it wrong.

The info on the website is usually how it is.  They may be giving them for shorter cruises due to low passenger load, giving the crew practice?

[caribill]

Did they place chocolates on the bed each evening?

 

They did not on the Majestic for the Alaska cruises.

[JF - retired RRT]

15 hours ago, snoodqueen said:

In 20 years no one has ever said they were not allowed and I have asked buffet stewards, managers and officers if it was okay to use refillable thermal mugs.  Things might be different right now but pre-covid it was just fine.  

I've seen signs posted at the water/coffee station..."do not refill your cup/mug" (or words to that effect).

[chamima]

17 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

We got up early and finished showering and packing up the loose ends this morning and ordered room service for out on our balcony.  The food and specialty coffees were there in no time.  We were ready to go and decided to vacate or cabin by 8:00 AM to give the room stewards a head start.  We carried our luggage off so the staff said we didn’t even have to go to our designated waiting spot, we could just disembark.  We were off the ship and out of the terminal in no time flat.  We requested an Uber by 8:15 AM and to LAX by a little after 9:00 AM.  
now, we are dealing with multiple flight delays but are waiting it out in the Alaska Lounge.  I told my DH, who is losing patience quickly, to just pretend we are sitting in our favorite spot in Crooners.  At least the food and drinks are plentiful here.  
 

 

 

I may have mixed up which cabin you said you were in but I thought you said balcony aft. I was under the impression that only suites could get room service on disembarkation morning . Has that changed? Also, I'm repeating the same question about getting specialty coffees from room service- I thought that wasn't possible........

I have so many questions about new sailing protocols, thank you for answering many of them!

[srpilo]

2 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I've seen signs posted at the water/coffee station..."do not refill your cup/mug" (or words to that effect).

 

+1

[infoteknerd]

19 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Although, it is not offered as a perk on sailings of 5 nights or less, we overheard some people stating they did get a free specialty dinner for being in a suite, at least on the first sailing (5 days).  Not entirely sure if it was also offered on the 4 night sailing.  

Not sure if it was a fluke, but I seemed to have gotten one for my 4-day later this month. When scheduling my specialty both nights one and two were comped. I expected one from the promotion, but the second had a credit and didn’t charge the card either. 

[BrandiGreg]

To answer some of the questions above, 1. No chocolates on pillow, 2.  Unlimited specialty coffees with drink package, 3.  And formal night is 2nd night of the 5 day itinerary (first sea day) and menu attached.  Lobster and escargot are on 4th night, but not formal night.  We are on 3rd leg of our 4 b2b's.   Covid testing was this morning at 0900 in One5 lounge. Much more efficient than 1st time.  You didn't need to wait around for the results.

[HBCcruiser]

@BrandiGreg Can you please let me know how late the tenders run overnight in Cabo? We have dinner reservations on shore and might not be done until 10PM. Thanks and hope you are having a blast! 

 

[Cruise Raider]

22 hours ago, ednmargo said:

Thanks for all the posts.  If you have time. Just curious about the specialty coffees.  Are they an extra charge if you have the beverage package? I know in the past they were extra because of room service. Cheers!

 

The special coffees are all included in the beverage package and don't count against the 15 drink limit if there is no alcohol in them.  Now, you can order the specialty coffees via room service and there is no extra charge.  But, if you order two of them, either call on the phone or order separately via the app.  

You no longer have any paperwork to sign when they bring your order to your room (or elsewhere), thus there is also no place to write a tip.  We just made sure we had a lot of small bills out for when we ordered room service.  

[Cruise Raider]

14 hours ago, caribill said:

Did they place chocolates on the bed each evening?

 

They did not on the Majestic for the Alaska cruises.

 

No chocolates due to CoVid. 

[Cruise Raider]

7 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

I've seen signs posted at the water/coffee station..."do not refill your cup/mug" (or words to that effect).

 

You are correct ... I've seen these signs posted numerous times, even prior to CoVid. 

[cruzsnooze]

I just got off the Grand yesterday. Here are things I think are noteworthy............

 

I did not use the App or medallion. At check in at the pier I answered the brief question about not feeling ill regarding covid. I was issued a medallion to board. It took less then 5 minutes. I went to guest services and got a regular cruise card which worked fine. You tap the cruise card at your cabin door vs it unlocking as you get close to the door. You tap the card when disembarking and coming back , no different then the medallion. It worked in the shops and casino.

 

I walked off in both ports to do my own excursions. In San Diego I walked to seaport village and did the harbor seal tour $41.80. In Ensenada I did the Bufadora tour $17 independantly.  It is offered on the shuttle you take into town from the pier.

 

I was invited to a specialty dinner for the first although it is listed as an amenity to cruises of 6 nights or longer for full suites. We did Sabitini and it was delightful.

 

Breakfast was at Crown Grill and the service was superior

 

Club class has more sharing tables then I experienced before. We shared a table of 6 most lunches and dinners. One night to my surprise was Cruise Raider at our shared table. The service in club class was over the top exceptional. 

 

There were appx. 900 passengers on board so it was wonderful in many regards. The show room was barely 1/4 full. Come in 5 minutes before showtime and have seats anywhere. Elite/suite happy hour had no lines at the nibbles table and seats were abundant.

 

It was an enjoyable easement back to cruising

[Cruise Raider]

5 hours ago, chamima said:

 

 

I may have mixed up which cabin you said you were in but I thought you said balcony aft. I was under the impression that only suites could get room service on disembarkation morning . Has that changed? Also, I'm repeating the same question about getting specialty coffees from room service- I thought that wasn't possible........

I have so many questions about new sailing protocols, thank you for answering many of them!

 

I was surprised as well but, the disembarkation paper stated that room service was available to all guests the last morning before disembarking.  And, it was there very quickly, too.  

Not only specialty coffees but wine, beer, sodas, cocktails, juices, etc. could be ordered via the app or your stateroom tv and there was no charge if you had the beverage package.  You could have your items via the room service menu delivered anywhere on the ship.  Some would order it via the app while sitting in Crooners, the Explorers Lounge, Vines, etc.  As stated, though, you could not order two drinks at the same time unless calling via the phone or through a waiter taking your order.  They may fix this in the future but if you and your cabin mate both have the beverage package and you are going to each order a drink, you have to order them each on your own device or order one and switch user on the app.  It sounds like a hassle but, it really isn't.  I'd simply order my coffee via the app, which was signed in under my name and my DH would order his via the TV and choose his name.  

 

 

 

[cruzrbachoua]

Hi don't believe I saw this asked anywhere...for afternoon tea, do you have to dress as you would for dinner in the MDR or can we go in tank or tee and shorts?

[JF - retired RRT]

1 minute ago, cruzrbachoua said:

Hi don't believe I saw this asked anywhere...for afternoon tea, do you have to dress as you would for dinner in the MDR or can we go in tank or tee and shorts?

No bathing suits...otherwise whatever you want.