capriccio

Which is exactly why I said a percentage, not all. Given that I am not a cruise line venue designer I wouldn't know. I just worry that the Princess designers don't know either.

I've seen some comments here on CC that the Lounge access is still restricted to the original 80 cabins in the Signature Collection but I haven't seen a direct quote on that. Having looked at the pictures of that lounge, I have my doubts that it was even big enough to old a sizeable percentage of the Signature Collection passengers.

Look at the old numbers of cabins that made up the Signature Collection: The Signature Collection Suites breakdown (total = 80) SO - Signature Sky Suite - 4 S2 - Signature Owner's Suite - 10 S4 - Signature Penthouse Suite - 36 S9 - Signature Suite - 30 (which have a mini-suite layout) and the new numbers making up the new and improved Sanctuary Collection (total = 219) : "The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types – Signature Collection Suites (80), Mini Suites (123), and Premium Deluxe Balconies (16)" Some reserve minis were "promoted".

For comparison purposes the MSC Meraviglia has about 100 cabins and the newer MSC Seascape has 131. Their pool sections also have a full bar, an expansive grill serving breakfast and lunch, and multiple hot tubs. Neither were busy the weeks we were on our 2 Caribbean cruises but I’ve heard they can be crowded, like all ships, during holiday periods.

From the Sun Princess thread, this is a quote from yesterday’s press release: The new Sanctuary Collection aboard Sun Princess includes three levels of stateroom types – Signature Collection Suites (80), Mini Suites (123), and Premium Deluxe Balconies (16) I think there are fewer than 20 S9 cabins so this seems more than a doubling of the number of cabins in the Sanctuary Collection.

Not yet.

Now there will be a daily race to get lounge chairs in the sun (since it seems like there is no shade).

Thank you. I noticed that which doesn't personally impact us on the upcoming cruise but does mean that we will not be reserving multiple Sanctuary cabins on Princess when traveling with our kids and granddaughters. Just one more plus in the MSC Yacht Club column (on our 2 cruises the few children in the YC were extremely well behaved).

The Sun Deck no longer exists as a separate venue on the new deck plans. The entire area is now the Sanctuary Club.

I can speak to a comparison with MSC’s Yacht Club and there is no comparison based on all my readings to date. All YC cabins have butlers and stewards, on their builds within the last 5 years or so all YC venues and cabins are co-located in a private area, plus their private island (designed from the ground up by them) is gorgeous and includes a dedicated YC area with a restaurant. Since this is a new class of ship you would think Princess might have sent secret shoppers/cruisers on other lines with the ship within a ship concept to report back on what works like cabin sizes, service-many have butlers, drink inclusions, lounge, pool, restaurants, etc. and, most importantly, fares and what doesn’t.

Wow. I guess I'm totally naive. That would never have occurred to me!

I don't understand why the YC wristband isn't required when visiting YC specific venues. That is an easy and unobtrusive form of identification.

Is that a current photo or a pre-launch mock up? At one time I read that only the Signature suites would have a coffee maker. After yesterday's announcement of the inclusion of many other cabins into the Sanctuary Collection who knows? I'm not sure even Princess corporate knows but I am sure customer service couldn't tell you.

Now there will be a daily race of many more people than there are lounges.

Lori - I see that I misled you because the Africa & Middle East forum is set up differently from others that are broken down by area and country or just country. I guess there aren't enough cruise ports in Africa to warrant that. You can obviously post questions there - just make sure you include the port's name in the title. If you want to research the entire forum: go to Search in the upper right corner of the page and enter each port's name individually. For example, I entered Cape Town and got this result: