Question about The Sanctuary

[talkorpi]

Good evening y’all. Looking forward to my first Princess cruise in just 19 days. This might be a really dumb question but since I’m new to PCL I figured I would ask anyways.

 

I’m not planning on purchasing a pass to the Sanctuary as I simply wouldn’t use the space and it isn’t worth the extra cost to me. Plus, I’m not in the first boarding group so by the time I got to the top deck it would likely be gone anyways. However, I was interested in peeping in the space for just a minute to get a quick forward view and at least see what the space looks like. My question is - would that be allowed? Do you have to pay to even ENTER the space, or is it just a “pay to use the loungers for half the day but if you want to pass through that’s okay?”

 

I hope this question makes sense. 

[jaycruising]

You can go tour on embarkation day. 

[wowzz]

29 minutes ago, talkorpi said:

but if you want to pass through that’s okay?”

 

You can't really pass through,  as it is a dead end. You will be stopped at the entrance. 

[sirclean]

"You can't really pass through,  as it is a dead end. You will be stopped at the entrance.  "

 

I was on Discovery in November (Thanksgiving week).  I asked a lot of questions at the desk about it, and they let me walk around it, so while you can not 'pass through' (meaning 'enter one end and exit the other' you can visit).

[wowzz]

3 minutes ago, sirclean said:

"You can't really pass through,  as it is a dead end. You will be stopped at the entrance.  "

 

I was on Discovery in November (Thanksgiving week).  I asked a lot of questions at the desk about it, and they let me walk around it, so while you can not 'pass through' (meaning 'enter one end and exit the other' you can visit).

That's probably a better answer than mine !

What is clear though,  is that whilst you may be able to have an "escorted " visit, you cannot just randomly walk through the area.

[Carla3]

You can ask for a tour almost anytime. I have found the staff very friendly and accommodating. If you are not on a very hot weather itinerary they will probably be a lot of availability. I have many times taking just one day here and there on Mexican and Hawaiian itineraries with no problem 

[sirclean]

"What is clear though,  is that whilst you may be able to have an "escorted " visit, you cannot just randomly walk through the area. "

 

I wasnt escorted.  But it is not like there were a lot of places to get lost!  It was the top deck, outside area.  It wasnt a busy time of day, and I asked a lot of questions about the place.... I was looking to see if that was a place to be in Alaska when the ship goes to Glacier Bay.  

 

(And off the topic, Discovery wont be a ship I will choose to take on an Alaska Glacier Bay itinerary.  I want to be outside where I can see the glaciers calving without watching it through colored glass, and while you are outside, it is surrounded by thick, green tinted glass.  So perhaps after asking a lot of specific questions, they let me walk around the deck.  It didnt take 5 minutes, but no one walked with me.... again, only one way in or out, so it wasnt like I could stow away up there!)  . 

[TracieABD]

You can always ask for a tour.

 

On a side note, even if you are not in a priority boarding group, often there are half-day slots available. It costs $20 for the half day- and given my druthers, I would pick the afternoon vs. the morning.

 

In the afternoon, they serve "Afternoon Tea" at your lounger. It is delightful!

[ghgeckos]

On the Royal Class ships their are Cabana’s by the Adult pool that are serviced by the Sanctuary. On the Regal last year we enjoyed on poolside on sea days. They have two loungers and can be rented whole day or half day. It was a wonderful way to hang out poolside.

[cruisingcasual]

1 hour ago, ghgeckos said:

On the Royal Class ships their are Cabana’s by the Adult pool that are serviced by the Sanctuary. On the Regal last year we enjoyed on poolside on sea days. They have two loungers and can be rented whole day or half day. It was a wonderful way to hang out poolside.

 

Do you recall the price on these?  We are sailing on Regal soon and this looks like something we might try.

[caribill]

7 hours ago, jaycruising said:

You can go tour on embarkation day. 

 

This is the best answer.

 

You can walk through unescorted that afternoon.

[Buckeye10640]

12 hours ago, talkorpi said:

Good evening y’all. Looking forward to my first Princess cruise in just 19 days. This might be a really dumb question but since I’m new to PCL I figured I would ask anyways.

 

I’m not planning on purchasing a pass to the Sanctuary as I simply wouldn’t use the space and it isn’t worth the extra cost to me. Plus, I’m not in the first boarding group so by the time I got to the top deck it would likely be gone anyways. However, I was interested in peeping in the space for just a minute to get a quick forward view and at least see what the space looks like. My question is - would that be allowed? Do you have to pay to even ENTER the space, or is it just a “pay to use the loungers for half the day but if you want to pass through that’s okay?”

 

I hope this question makes sense. 

I walked up as soon as I got on board in an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a couple days (all were booked and this was around 11am on Embarkation day!).  We asked if we could take a walk thru just to see it and were told that we could. If you want do do this I would suggest  embarkation day. 

[dides]

9 hours ago, cruisingcasual said:

 

Do you recall the price on these?  We are sailing on Regal soon and this looks like something we might try.

Retreat Cabanas are $50 for a Half Day, $80 for a Full Day Rental 

 

[cruisingcasual]

58 minutes ago, dides said:

Retreat Cabanas are $50 for a Half Day, $80 for a Full Day Rental 

 

 

Thank you!

[Froufie]

Would it be worth it to use the Sanctuary on a panama canal partial transit day?  Would there be good views from there?  Or best to try to find a spot at the front of the ship?

 

Also I understand the pool below the Sanctuary is free for all to use?  Is that correct?

[wowzz]

3 minutes ago, Froufie said:

Also I understand the pool below the Sanctuary is free for all to use?  Is that correct?

Yes, free, but adults only. 

[pmallen]

12 hours ago, Froufie said:

Would it be worth it to use the Sanctuary on a panama canal partial transit day?  Would there be good views from there?  Or best to try to find a spot at the front of the ship?

 

Also I understand the pool below the Sanctuary is free for all to use?  Is that correct?

We had the Sanctuary on our recent full transit. In the morning when we entered we got up early and went on top of the bridge. Then, in the afternoon when the sun was hot, we used the Sanctuary. Benefit of the Sanctuary is shade and a guaranteed spot. Also,  no need to get up at 0-dark-30. On Canal day, the Sanctuary opened at 6:30am.

[AZjohn]

21 hours ago, caribill said:

 

This is the best answer.

 

You can walk through unescorted that afternoon.

That must have been the day we walked inside it on the Enchanted I guess.

We were just checking the ship out one afternoon and found the sanctuary area and just walked in and around. Nobody was at the entrance and didn’t think twice about going in to just check it out. Nobody chased us out but we didn’t stay inside more than 5 min.

 

This was on a NE/Canada cruise and it was cold and nobody was in any of the loungers or cabanas at the time.

[trbarton]

13 hours ago, Froufie said:

Would it be worth it to use the Sanctuary on a panama canal partial transit day?  Would there be good views from there?  Or best to try to find a spot at the front of the ship?

 

Also I understand the pool below the Sanctuary is free for all to use?  Is that correct?

Using the Sanctuary on the Canal day was the best $ I’ve ever spent. 
 

Here’s some of my photos. I can’t imagine being down below & trying to shoot photos over everyone’s heads. 
 

My mistake is not going there ASAP, once on the ship as some of the best ones, were already taken. 
 

I received a free photo & since it was warm they periodically came by with misters. 

Tom😀

 

[caribill]

15 minutes ago, AZjohn said:

That must have been the day we walked inside it on the Enchanted I guess.

We were just checking the ship out one afternoon and found the sanctuary area and just walked in and around. Nobody was at the entrance and didn’t think twice about going in to just check it out. Nobody chased us out but we didn’t stay inside more than 5 min.

 

This was on a NE/Canada cruise and it was cold and nobody was in any of the loungers or cabanas at the time.

 

On embarkation day there will be staff there to show interested people around and make the reservations.

 

Chances are when you visited it was an afternoon nobody had booked space there due to the weather so staff did not have to be there.

[cjpj]

19 hours ago, Froufie said:

Would it be worth it to use the Sanctuary on a panama canal partial transit day?  Would there be good views from there?  Or best to try to find a spot at the front of the ship?

 

Also I understand the pool below the Sanctuary is free for all to use?  Is that correct?

For the transit we did there was a "celebration" in Sanctuart. Mimosas in the morning (early opening as previously mentioned). I believe we had continental breakfast items and there was a photo. 

[Froufie]

8 hours ago, trbarton said:

8 hours ago, trbarton said:

Using the Sanctuary on the Canal day was the best $ I’ve ever spent. 
 

Here’s some of my photos. I can’t imagine being down below & trying to shoot photos over everyone’s heads. 
 

My mistake is not going there ASAP, once on the ship as some of the best ones, were already taken. 
 

I received a free photo & since it was warm they periodically came by with misters. 

Tom😀

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for the info and great pics by the way!

What did you mean by 'my mistake not going there ASAP, once on the ship as some of the 'best ones' were already taken'?

 

Do you mean spots?  Loungers?  When you 'reserve' the Sanctuary do you need to pick a lounger/spot?  or can you  wander about and/or pick and choose where you want to sit/stand once there?

8 hours ago, trbarton said:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Froufie]

2 hours ago, cjpj said:

For the transit we did there was a "celebration" in Sanctuart. Mimosas in the morning (early opening as previously mentioned). I believe we had continental breakfast items and there was a photo. 

As asked above can you wander about freely during the transit and take pics wherever?  Did you book for morning only?  (can you?) or better to do all day?

[LACruiser88]

Our favorite place on the ship!  This is from the Regal on the Nov TA.

[lx200gps]

32 minutes ago, Froufie said:

What did you mean by 'my mistake not going there ASAP, once on the ship as some of the 'best ones' were already taken'?

 

Do you mean spots?  Loungers?  When you 'reserve' the Sanctuary do you need to pick a lounger/spot?  or can you  wander about and/or pick and choose where you want to sit/stand once there?

 

The Sanctuary is usually booked IMMEDIATELY upon boarding, and the best loungers are snapped up very quickly. Yes, you actually reserve your specific lounger for the period you are reserving, and it's yours, no one else can use it while you have it booked. IOW it's not a free-for-all like the pool deck.  When booking, you will "...wander about.." as the Sanctuary manager shows you the remaining available loungers from his/her list.

 

On our last few trips, to warm-weather destinations, getting decent Sanctuary loungers has been almost impossible, at least for sea days, despite our being Elite status and being among the very first to board. On the Sky a month ago, the Sanctuary was completely sold out even before arriving passengers even boarded, as the B2B folks from the previous sailing were allowed to book loungers on the preceding trip.