Reservation Newbie Question

[bostonlass]

The most recent cruise that I've taken was on the Disney Wonder last week. Before that was sometime in 1988 on a very old Carnival cruise ship.

On the Wonder, one had to make a mad dash upon boarding the ship in order to secure reservations for such things as spa appointments, dinner at the alternative dining room Palo's, etc. Excursions were booked either before the cruise over the phone or on board the ship. Either way these things filled up very very quickly.

My newbie question is this.......I'm going on the Caribbean Princess in October and would love to use the Spa and dine in one of the alternative dining rooms.....do I have to get to the port super early to ensure that my mad dash works or does it work differently?

Many thanks!! http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

Princess Caribbean 10/16/04
Disney Wonder 04/18/04
Carnival Carnivale 05/88

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cynbar]

We have been on several Princess cruises, and I wouldn't say you have to make a mad dash.But we do find that the best plan is to make your reservations on the first afternoon, after you board. You can always cancel them if you change your mind, and you'll find Princess staff at the spa and outside one of the specialty restaurants to help you. I don't know if you've made your flight reservations yet, but we always fly down the day before. We enjoy the extra night, we don't have to worry about flight delays or lost luggage, and we get on the ship early on departure day. In addition, I agree ----- go Red
Sox!!!!!

[srphnx]

NO, you don't have to, but if it is that important why would you not do so just to be sure? We always get to the port as early as possible because that is part of the cruise, any time I could be on the ship and aren't is wasted.

Two open Princess bookings
<FONT color=red>Alaska</FONT>
Diamond Princess 05/04
Mercury 06/02
Rhapsody o.t. Seas 05/98
Legend o.t. Seas 09/95
<FONT color=red>Mexican Riviera</FONT>
Diamond Princess 04/04
Sea Princess 01/02
Vision o.t. Seas 04/02
Star Princess 12/02<FONT color=red>
West Coast-Baja Mexico</FONT>
Ecstacy 09/01
Vision o.t. Seas 10/02
<FONT color=red>Eastern Carribean</FONT>
Century 12/97
<FONT color=red>Western Carribean</FONT>
Century 9/96

[roohound]

I thought you could pre-book spa treatments on the Caribbean Princess? Or was that just the Diamond?

FWIW, I used to be a totally dedicated DCL fan and I know what you mean about the mad scramble. I didn't scramble for anything on my Grand Princess cruise...everything seemd much more laid back and I got the ressies I wanted http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

[nomie]

Lots of Boston area people on the Princess board! I agree " Go Red Sox"

[CaptData]

You can book your spa on line before you go or wait until just after you board. At the moment this is only available on the CP (Carbiean Princess).

I booked my spa appointments when I got on board. There were lots of spaces but they do fill quickly after.

Hopfully a Hawiian Cruise

http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=4169e1&cdt=2006;12;5;11;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500&nbsp;Until we sail away on the ocean blue



Navigator of the Seas Western Crib 08/03
Dawn Princess - Eastern Carb 01/03
Dawn Princess Panamal Canal 11/02

[tpmartin]

you can book your spa appoint,emts on the Caribbean Princess 60 days out on the cruise personalizer and you can also book your shore excursions that way also.
www.princess.com (http://www.princess.com)

Tom M

Chandris Brittanis & Gallileo
Celebrity Zenith
Carnival Destiny
Dolphin IV,Dolphin Seabreeze Dolphin Oceanbreeze
RCCL Song of Norway & Explorer of the Seas
Grand Princess & Dawn Princes


<FONT color=blue size=4>[i][b]Caribbean Princess here we come!!
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=00bfff&cdt=2004;5;8;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500
http://www.gifs.net/animate/hullamod.gif

<FONT color=blue size=4>[i][b] UNTIL PURE RELAXATION ON THE ISLAND PRINCESS IN HAWAII!!!
http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=228b22&cdt=2004;10;6;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800

[bostonlass]

We're getting married at 6:30pm the night before and then having a reception so we can't fly out until the morning of the cruise. HOpefully all will work out.

How do you handle the ressies for the specialty restaurants? The Italian one looks so good!!!!

Princess Caribbean 10/16/04
Disney Wonder 04/18/04
Carnival Carnivale 05/88

Go Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!