Cruise Critic Sailing Aboard Sun Princess This Week

[nasa1974]

There's a new thread for Sanctuary questions.

 

 

[CruiseCriticAaron]

8 hours ago, dides said:

Great info thanks!  Any updates on when Love by Britto will be operational?

None, I'm afraid. I hear it's undergoing a complete decor changeover, so I wouldn't expect it to be done anytime soon.

[CruiseCriticAaron]

13 hours ago, DELLA1955 said:

Is disembarkation at ports quick?  I see that the area is larger but wonder if they have more staff checking medallions when you get off.

I've found it to be very fast and efficient, even for shore excursions. They typically open the forward and midship gangways, which are oversized compared to the typical cruise ship. There are typically two or three lines scanning medallions, and two lines doing security checks on the way back onboard.

[dides]

2 minutes ago, CruiseCriticAaron said:

None, I'm afraid. I hear it's undergoing a complete decor changeover, so I wouldn't expect it to be done anytime soon.

No way! lol.  Too much pink maybe...thanks for the info

[CruiseCriticAaron]

FYI for those re: the Sanctuary and other areas. Princess is still determining some of the features onboard -- such as where the dedicated seating will be in The Arena for Princess Premier guests, for example. I'd expect that things like pricing on the first few voyages will be highly subject to change until Princess finds the "sweet spot".

[CruiseCriticAaron]

19 hours ago, Flower27 said:

Thank you for all the information. I enjoyed your article!

 

If you have time, can you please provide more detailed pictures of

1) free weights section of the Fitness Center?   I’m interested in the equipment available.  Was able to find videos of the cardio and exercise machine section but I haven’t found good looks of the free weights 

2) picture of part of the walking track area

3) Fitness Studio shown on the deck level 18 map.   I’m guessing that’s where fitness classes will be held. 
 

 What’s the longest continuous section of the stairways?  Can we climb all the way from deck 4 to 21 in a straight shot?  My Fitbit wants to know 😀

 

 

Here's one shot of the Fitness Center and the jogging track, which runs around the Park19 area on Deck 19 (it's the red-colored area on the decking). I'll try to snap some of the free weights and Fitness Studio. You are correct - classes will be held there.

[CruiseCriticAaron]

8 hours ago, nasa1974 said:

There's a new thread for Sanctuary questions.

 

 

This is the most complete information I've seen so far. As I say, though, this will probably be highly subject to change.

[WonderMan3]

20 minutes ago, CruiseCriticAaron said:

FYI for those re: the Sanctuary and other areas. Princess is still determining some of the features onboard -- such as where the dedicated seating will be in The Arena for Princess Premier guests, for example. I'd expect that things like pricing on the first few voyages will be highly subject to change until Princess finds the "sweet spot".

Thank you. We keep getting different answers from different folks so this makes sense. Nothing is “gospel” until Princess puts it in writing somewhere so until they do we will have to expect change.

[CruiseCriticAaron]

2 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Thank you. We keep getting different answers from different folks so this makes sense. Nothing is “gospel” until Princess puts it in writing somewhere so until they do we will have to expect change.

Precisely. Always good to be flexible. It's possible that, like The Enclave thermal suite within the Lotus Spa, pricing for other features could be dynamic and dependent upon the length of the voyage. We'll just have to see.

[Globaler]

Can you weigh in on drink service in the casino? It seems to me that without a bar in the casino that options are limited. 

[WonderMan3]

25 minutes ago, Globaler said:

Can you weigh in on drink service in the casino? It seems to me that without a bar in the casino that options are limited. 

Crooners is just around the corner 

[Steelers36]

2 hours ago, WonderMan3 said:

Thank you. We keep getting different answers from different folks so this makes sense. Nothing is “gospel” until Princess puts it in writing somewhere so until they do we will have to expect change.

GL finding everything about Princess policy & procedures in writing.

[Globaler]

43 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Crooners is just around the corner 

That’s great but if you are playing then you have to leave your machine if you can’t find a waiter.

[WonderMan3]

13 minutes ago, Globaler said:

That’s great but if you are playing then you have to leave your machine if you can’t find a waiter.

Of course. But you would also have to leave your machine if there was a bar in the casino. Not clear what the issue is here. You don’t want to leave your seat while getting a drink. So a server will bring you one then just as they always have.

[Globaler]

8 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

Of course. But you would also have to leave your machine if there was a bar in the casino. Not clear what the issue is here. You don’t want to leave your seat while getting a drink. So a server will bring you one then just as they always have.

When the bar is in the casino - the casino mgr looks after his or her regulars 😉

Edited March 13 by Globaler

[WonderMan3]

2 minutes ago, Globaler said:

When the bar is in the casino - the casino mgr looks after his or her regulars 😉

If they were would they not be having a regular stream of servers visiting you at your machine to keep you fresh with drinks? I’m a regular in the casino on any cruise I take. Once I order a drink and tip the server they are on me like glue for the rest of the night. Never have to worry about going empty.

[Globaler]

Just now, WonderMan3 said:

If they were would they not be having a regular stream of servers visiting you at your machine to keep you fresh with drinks? I’m a regular in the casino on any cruise I take. Once I order a drink and tip the server they are on me like glue for the rest of the night. Never have to worry about going empty.

I do tip tip well but on several cruises I have been on there seemed to be a lack of servers and I was able to leave he crap table and run to the bar.

[WonderMan3]

4 minutes ago, Globaler said:

I do tip tip well but on several cruises I have been on there seemed to be a lack of servers and I was able to leave he crap table and run to the bar.

I’ve run into that from time to time on certain nights. A word to the casino host fixed that pronto. Remember that their goal is to keep you at that machine (or table) and spending that money. Doesn’t behoove them to have you drifting off to a bar somewhere and not spending. 

[Globaler]

3 minutes ago, WonderMan3 said:

I’ve run into that from time to time on certain nights. A word to the casino host fixed that pronto. Remember that their goal is to keep you at that machine (or table) and spending that money. Doesn’t behoove them to have you drifting off to a bar somewhere and not spending. 

Good advice

[CruiseCrabs]

40 minutes ago, Globaler said:

That’s great but if you are playing then you have to leave your machine if you can’t find a waiter.

The Medallion enables you to summon a drink when you need one, virtually wherever you are.

[Globaler]

50 minutes ago, CruiseCrabs said:

The Medallion enables you to summon a drink when you need one, virtually wherever you are.

Indeed and I will do that. However; I can’t tell you how many posts I have read that said they ordered it never came etc. 

[marden1970]

1 hour ago, CruiseCrabs said:

The Medallion enables you to summon a drink when you need one, virtually wherever you are.

You would need to have your phone with you to do that.  I don't carry mine around so I order from a waiter but on our last few cruises that has been very difficult.  There weren't enough of them and those that were there mostly just walked around trying not to look anyone in the eye.  They never asked you, you had to flag them down.

[DELLA1955]

7 hours ago, CruiseCriticAaron said:

Here's one shot of the Fitness Center and the jogging track, which runs around the Park19 area on Deck 19 (it's the red-colored area on the decking). I'll try to snap some of the free weights and Fitness Studio. You are correct - classes will be held there.

Nice that fitness is facing outside!!  I was on Sky Princess (I think that was the cruise) and fitness was on lower deck - no windows, very dark/gloomy and smaller.

[Flower27]

Thank you very much for your time and the info!

[CruiseCriticAaron]

Here's my latest missive from the ship:

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles/is-sun-princess-the-future-of-princess-cruises

 

We were able to road-test Spellbound last night in its basic form. It will open for reservations on March 19 and debut on April 8. Overall, a really fascinating experience.