Second seating on Princess, What is it like?

[Solstice23]

Hello Princess fans

 

We are sailing on the Caribbean Princess this August, Canada New England. We have a wedding to go in NYC to and wanted to take a cruise this summer so we looked at sailings from NYC, but no Celebrity ship there this year. We found this one, we are excited, but please keep in mind we LOVE CELEBRITY, But like Princess like RCCL. With all this being said, could someone please help us with the following info

 

1. What is dinner seating like if we have second seating? are we given dinner partners? and do people go in and out whenever if they are on anytime schedule?

2. What is dress code like? one of the reasons we choose celebrity is the dress code is more accepted, and when its formal night its formal night

3. does the Caribbean have a specific spot for good Martinis?

4. Tipping how does the tipping work?

5. The coffee bar is it extra?

6. is sorbet and ice cream bar extra charge?

7. what is the bedding like? we have an aft facing wake balcony. we usually like suites but not good suites with butler on Princess like Celebrity, so we choose aft facing, and looking forward to it

8. if you would like Creme brule or a side of asparagus, something every night will the waiter try to get it for you?

 

 

These are just some of our questions, could someone please help

 

Thanks

[paul929207]

1. With Traditional Dining, you will have an assigned table, table mates and waitstaff. Anytime Dining will be in a different dining room, so you will not have people parading in and out all evening.

4. Princess adds $10.50 ($11.00 for suites) per person per day to your onboard account to cover tips to your cabin steward and waitstaff.

5. The coffee bar is extra. Coffee is free 24 hours a day.

[cruzendude]

Hello Princess fans

 

We are sailing on the Caribbean Princess this August, Canada New England. We have a wedding to go in NYC to and wanted to take a cruise this summer so we looked at sailings from NYC, but no Celebrity ship there this year. We found this one, we are excited, but please keep in mind we LOVE CELEBRITY, But like Princess like RCCL. With all this being said, could someone please help us with the following info

 

1. What is dinner seating like if we have second seating? are we given dinner partners? and do people go in and out whenever if they are on anytime schedule?

2. What is dress code like? one of the reasons we choose celebrity is the dress code is more accepted, and when its formal night its formal night

3. does the Caribbean have a specific spot for good Martinis?

4. Tipping how does the tipping work?

5. The coffee bar is it extra?

6. is sorbet and ice cream bar extra charge?

7. what is the bedding like? we have an aft facing wake balcony. we usually like suites but not good suites with butler on Princess like Celebrity, so we choose aft facing, and looking forward to it

8. if you would like Creme brule or a side of asparagus, something every night will the waiter try to get it for you?

 

 

These are just some of our questions, could someone please help

 

Thanks

 

1.If you choose traditional dining it will be exactly as X...anytime dining has its own seperate dining room.

 

2. Dress code is followed more closely in traditional than anytime and you should be happy with the results.

 

3. Don't know

 

4. you can tip as is traditional or you can use auto-tip...if you want to tip traditionally you will have to go to pursers and remove auto tip

 

5. yes its extra but coffee cards are available

 

6. This is a changing as we speak situation..Princess USED tohave a pay ice cream station that has recently switched to free soft serve with free icew cream and sourbets being offered in the buffet for a couple hours in the afternoon but with the free soft serve I'm not sure the "good" stuff is still offered free in the buffet but ic cream is served with dinner but not NEARLY as good as X's all home made ice creams.

 

7. Bedding fair....not horrible but far from good, ask for an "eggcrate" topper for your bed

 

8. If you are in traditional and Im sure you will be you can talk to your waiter the first night for special requests from that night onward...you will prolly get it but not quite as excitedly as on X.

[cruzendude]

As a followup....we prefer X but cruise Princess just as much due to being on the West Coast....we really like Princess too but just realize its a bit different....more alike than different though.....

 

One thing that kind of took me back though.....you are used to seeing your waiters on X in tuxes and white gloves on regular nights and white dinner jackets on formal night (though I think this is changing on X too) but you will find Princess waiters in these god awful turquise jackets and vests....the waitstaff is very good but I SURE wish Princess would can those turquise items!

 

Aft balconies on Princess are very large as on some X afts....BUT the one thing you will miss the most is the awesome X breakfast menu on CC cabins and above and menu ordering room service during meal hours...Princess only has a VERY limited room service menu that frankly is hardly worth the effort....I usually go grab breakfast in the buffet and bring it to the room if we want breakfast on the balcony...

 

BUT Princess has the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast and Ultimate Balcony Dinner you can order at an additional fee that are both VERY good!

[BalconyGal]

Crooner's is the martini bar and they make a mean one...we had a stormy day sailing back to Galveston a few years ago, so we sat at Crooner's for a few martini's. I woke up UNDERNEATH the bed! So don't have 4 like I did! :p

[caribill]

Hello Princess fans

 

We are sailing on the Caribbean Princess this August, Canada New England. We have a wedding to go in NYC to and wanted to take a cruise this summer so we looked at sailings from NYC, but no Celebrity ship there this year. We found this one, we are excited, but please keep in mind we LOVE CELEBRITY, But like Princess like RCCL. With all this being said, could someone please help us with the following info

 

1. What is dinner seating like if we have second seating? are we given dinner partners? and do people go in and out whenever if they are on anytime schedule? The fixed seating dining room is different from the two anytime dining rooms. The fixed seating one is located aft on deck 6. The only way to get there is by using the rear elevator or stairway. If you are on deck 5 or 6 in the atrium or the front of the ship, you need to go to deck 7, walk towards the rear, and then go down one flight. Yes, unless you requested (and received) a table for two, you will be assigned to a table with dinner partners. You keep this table assignment, these partners, and your waiter and assistant waiter for the entire cruise. Since the anytime diners are not in your restaurant, they will not be going in and out there. By the way, the first evening it is very crowded at the restaurant entrance as entry is slow since each person is escorted to the assigned table. Avoid being crowded by going there that night about 10 minutes after it opens. You will not be late.

2. What is dress code like? one of the reasons we choose celebrity is the dress code is more accepted, and when its formal night its formal night On smart casual nights, no shorts or sleeveless shirts are permitted. On formal nights, the minimum acceptable is tie and jacket for men and a dress or fancy pants suit for women. to these standards.

3. does the Caribbean have a specific spot for good Martinis?

4. Tipping how does the tipping work? There is a $10.50 ($11.00 for suits and mini-suites) "hotel charge" per person put on your account each day. This covers tips for your wait staff, your cabin attendant, room service, and others who serve you in restaurants and behind the scenes. If you get extra good service, feel free to give cash at the end of the voyage to your waitstaff or cabin attendant. The $10.50 amount may be adjusted up or down if you wish, but if it is down, then any extra money you give your waitstaff or cabin attendant will go into the pool. When you buy anything at a bar, there is an automatic 15% service charge added. If you use spa services or the children's program, any tip is extra.

5. The coffee bar is it extra? Yes. For about $26 including the 15% tip, you can buy a coffee card that includes 15 specialty coffees and unlimited fresh brewed coffee (until the last specialty coffee punch is made).

6. is sorbet and ice cream bar extra charge? Ice cream is free in the dining rooms at lunch and dinner. It is also free for an hour (starting about 3:30 PM) in the buffet area. Others have posted that soft-serve is now free at the ice cream station near the pools. If they have added gelato to the International Café, the cost is $1.50 for 3 scoops.

7. what is the bedding like? we have an aft facing wake balcony. we usually like suites but not good suites with butler on Princess like Celebrity, so we choose aft facing, and looking forward to it Bedding is very subjective. Some people find it just right. Others comment that the mattresses are hard.

8. if you would like Creme brule or a side of asparagus, something every night will the waiter try to get it for you? A vegetable such as asparagus is available nightly and you can ask your waiter for it. A dessert not on the menu that night would only be available if on the previous evening you speak to the headwaiter and request it.

 

 

These are just some of our questions, could someone please help

 

Thanks

 

See above in red.

[Solstice23]

Thanks for the advice so far anyone else got some more?

 

Yes we like X we sailed on the Grand a few years back and did not like it much. I find the ship design blah and my wife hates brass, We are on the Solstice with our group in March again, so this cruise should be good.

 

I do have a question though, why do the rooms bedding and decor look so "Golden Girls"? We are looking forward to the Crowne Grill, how does it compare to X specialty Restaurant?

[cruzendude]

Thanks for the advice so far anyone else got some more?

 

Yes we like X we sailed on the Grand a few years back and did not like it much. I find the ship design blah and my wife hates brass, We are on the Solstice with our group in March again, so this cruise should be good.

 

I do have a question though, why do the rooms bedding and decor look so "Golden Girls"? We are looking forward to the Crowne Grill, how does it compare to X specialty Restaurant?

 

CAREFUL NOW....don't get the Princess cheerleaders panties all in a bunch....you must be gentle here when criticizing Princess...MUCH like the X board as well! :p

 

Princess color scheme is a bit bland in the cabins...EVEN the suites are very plain...and yes there is a bunch of brass on Princess....

[Solstice23]

LOL thanks

 

I am not trying to insult princess...We both love design, and very picky when it comes to retail and commercial or residential spaces. Everyone has a taste they like, But looking at the pics of the Caribbean ummm well thats all we will say.....

 

I like all the info everyone is giving us though, we are looking forward to this cruise

[Colo Cruiser]

CAREFUL NOW....don't get the Princess cheerleaders panties all in a bunch....you must be gentle here when criticizing Princess...MUCH like the X board as well! :p

 

 

By golly theres one (Chameleon) now! Deflect Deflect Deflect :eek:

[Pam in CA]

I am not trying to insult princess...We both love design, and very picky when it comes to retail and commercial or residential spaces. Everyone has a taste they like, But looking at the pics of the Caribbean ummm well thats all we will say.....

The CB was originally designed, including decor, for cruising in the Caribbean. Not all Princess ships are as bland; some are very elegant.

[kimchee1212]

Haha, I'm a Celebrity lover too, and I do second seating on every line, so I hope I can help you.

 

1. What is dinner seating like if we have second seating? are we given dinner partners? and do people go in and out whenever if they are on anytime schedule?

It's quite nice, same as on other lines. You make a request when booking the request, as to table size, and I've never had my request denied.

The dining room in which first and second seating occurs is blocked off to Anytime diners.

 

2. What is dress code like? one of the reasons we choose celebrity is the dress code is more accepted, and when its formal night its formal night

If someone blatantly disrupts the dress code, as I've seen people trying to walk in, I've seen them turned away firmly.

 

3. does the Caribbean have a specific spot for good Martinis?

Don't know :D

 

4. Tipping how does the tipping work?

$10.50/pp/day for regular stateroom $11/pp/day for minisuite or suite

 

5. The coffee bar is it extra?

International Cafe is extra, but they have a coffee card.

 

6. is sorbet and ice cream bar extra charge?

Not anymore :D

 

7. what is the bedding like? we have an aft facing wake balcony. we usually like suites but not good suites with butler on Princess like Celebrity, so we choose aft facing, and looking forward to it

Comfortable linen, mattresses are firm though. Ask for an egg crate if it is too hard.

 

8. if you would like Creme brule or a side of asparagus, something every night will the waiter try to get it for you?

 

Why of course. I love both of those dishes, by the way.