bandp407

4 hours ago, MarcsSharon said:

Just got off this morning. This cruise was one of the best we’ve been on. Service, entertainment and food were all fantastic. I feel Princess has turned it up a notch. Enjoy!!!

So happy to hear how much you enjoyed it & reasons why. DH & I board in 27 days. It will be our 41st cruise , but first with Princess! Your comments made our day! Thank you!! 

5 hours ago, Grego said:

Car is loaded and will be leaving at 7:00 to drive down. Another lovely day in south Florida.

Will be following. We sail her in 4 weeks ! 
 

Have a fabulous cruise! 🥂🥂

39 minutes ago, jeromep said:

A full entertainment schedule is only fully available when on board.  Music and entertainment is everywhere throughout the day.  Music and activities in the Piazza most of the day and into the evening.  You'll have music in Take 5 in the evening.  Also piano singer in Crooners.  There will be at least a couple of shows each evening in the Vista Lounge, along with a couple of production shows or larger band and singer acts in the theater, also every evening.  Game shows and television productions will be done in Princes Live a number of times each day.  Up on Lido at the central pool you have both live band entertainment along with music videos and Moves Under The Stars in the evening.  I'm sure I missed something.  There is activity going on all the time on board.  You will not be without entertainment options.

WOW & WOW & WOW!! Thank you so much for detailing all of this! It’s what we expected and a huge reason for trying Princess. 

1 minute ago, jean-lynd said:

It will be awhile before they load all of the entertainment. In fact, some things may not show up until you are on board. I hope this helps!

Thank you! Yes, I did a bit of research & that seems to be the case. Actually someone who is currently onboard, references the music events. Thank goodness! I just couldn’t imagine! 
 

Happy Cruising! 

Well guess what - my perseverance paid off!! Apparently the “ tech” support that the agent reached out to corrected the problem. The app for both sailings is working! The web version that jean-lynd suggested is great too! 
 

HOWEVER - in reading the daily ship schedule I don’t see any LIVE MUSIC, PARTY BANDS, ETC… The only thing it shows is the DJ at 11:00pm. Is this possible?? All I ever heard is that there is lots of live music on the Princess ships, namely the Enchanted. I may create another post asking for input from those who have recently sailed on her. If this is correct, we will be canceling our Aug 3rd sailing. I have a short window to do so. 
 

many thanks in advance. 

5 hours ago, jean-lynd said:

I have had much better luck using the "web version" of the app that is in cruise personalizer on the Princess website. I have been able to do everything in there when nothing worked in the app. i don't plan to log into the app again until I get on the ship. I have attached a screen shot that shows how to get to the "web version" if you want to give it a try. I hope this helps!

Thank you very much for this! Yes, it works!! Please read below.

10 hours ago, TxChick51 said:

Prior to our Alaska cruise last year, I found some things easier to navigate by going to the Princess website and logging into my cruise account. The closer it got to the cruise, it seemed like more was available on the app, but I understand your frustration.  This was our first cruise in 25 years, first ever on Princess. Despite the hiccups, we had a great experience on the ship & app worked really well.  I’m ready to go again!

Despite all the issues we are looking forward to our upcoming cruises on Princess! Before even experiencing Princess , we booked a May & Aug on Enchanted & end January on the SUN. I am optimistic! 
 

Go ahead and book it!

1 minute ago, WisCruiser2 said:

@bandp407 if you booked a "Deluxe Balcony" apparently those are all Guarantee rooms for some reason. You said you booked through a big box agency - if you wanted a "non-Deluxe" stateroom, you should have been able to choose it. We were on Enchanted in February for a B2B - had booked a regular balcony initially the year before. When we decided to add the other leg last fall (due to cancellation of another cruise) the only available option was Deluxe Guaranteed (with a good fare) so we took it. Ended up for that leg with a Deluxe on Dolphin deck, with the bigger balcony! 

I hear you , but their system is quite frustrating! 

13 minutes ago, Alaska05 said:

You said they made dining reservations for you but you can’t see them.

 

I couldn’t find mine either until someone pointed out how to do it.

 

once you are on the app, click on the “Book Dining” tab underneath the number of days until embarkation. Then in the upper right hand corner there should be a calendar icon with a red heart. Click on that.  See if your reservations show.

 

I know lots of people report having problems with the app, but for us it has always worked fine. Guess we are lucky.

Thank you very much - it worked!!! Now, they just need to figure out why my account doesn’t show final payment on my end and I needed to call. I am done with this ! Thanks much for your help! 

3 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

It sounds like you are calling the call center. This is not what you want. Most feedback here is they are nearly useless.

You're looking to speak with an Ocean Navigator for your App concerns. 

If you decide Princess is for you. Then in the future, book through a Princess Cruise Vacation Planner (CVP), or a pro TA. That way, if issues come up, they.are your direct liason to the system.

For your dining, when aboard, call the Dine Line, a number you can get onboard.

You can select your own cabin by number, if available, and choose if you are willing to accept upgrade or not.  Unless that cabin catagory is near sold out.

I'm sure there are are things to learn for dealing with issues for any cruise line, for first timers. 

Thank you for your suggestions. Yes, I am aware dinner reservations are not necessary. We just find it easier to set in advance. 
 

perhaps booking directly with a CVP would eliminate these issues. On the other hand I would not receive my big box agency perk. 

8 hours ago, DrSea said:

My most helpful tip is to just give up on app. It never works. One step forward and 10 steps back. 

👍👍

10 hours ago, walkingsoon said:

Welcome to MedallionClass cruising </sarc>

 

Not exactly sure what you mean by a "dedicated desk", but you might try calling Princess and ask, as a seasoned cruiser considering shifting allegiance, for your own personal CVP (cruise vacation planner). That person should be able to see (and assign) a specific room that might not be available to you if you are booking by yourself online. Before you call, perhaps do some room availability research by doing a mock booking in which you plug in "3" or "4" as the "number of guests". 

 

If you can't (or you've simply maxed out the time you're willing to try to) get the dining reservations you want, realize that you can simply show up at the ship and wander to one of the MDRs on your own schedule. You don't need reservations, you don't need the app. You might even find life more relaxing ignoring both.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

Walkingsoon

Thank you for your welcoming and suggestions. As to the dedicated desk, it’s often the loyalty desk for the respective cruise lines. I’ve called and asked for the Ocean Ready line and have not had much better luck. I generally book with the big box agency, so establishing with a CVP won’t really work , unless I book and release. 

Thank you for the suggestion to do the mock booking. As I am sure you can understand it’s very frustrating not to be able to search for “Real” Availability. 
 

yes

Fellow Cruisers, 

We are seasoned cruisers , but our first with Princess in May & August on the Enchanted. I have had nothing but issues with the app attempting to book dining . Several here have noted they were able to book their dining prior to final payment. I was not able to do so. Even after final payment, the app has told me I have not made final payment!! This was for the August cruise. I tried signing out and it then says my info not recognized. I try a password reset & get they are having technical difficulties. I could get in by using my booking number & did our check-in. I am Ocean Ready!! Still can’t view my dining that their rep had to book. 
 

i have phoned Princess numerous times and end up overseas. The majority have had no clue & claim they will report it. . I finally got an agent at Ocean Ready to make the dinner reservations. Now I am unable to see them. This has been so frustrating for both bookings. I can honestly say that my experience with their app & customer service has left much to be desired. 
 

my other peeve is that even when booking well in advance, the system shows no cabins available- basically all are a “ guarantee” . It’s not my preferred way of booking- never take a guarantee. Is this how Princess operates? 

I would be most appreciative of any feedback you can provide. What am I doing wrong? Also, I am accustomed to having a dedicated desk at Celebrity, HAL , RCCL for special services. Does this exist at Princess? 

Many thanks! 

 

18 minutes ago, Ipeeinthepools said:

Bring back the two piano players.  The one piano player isn’t cutter.  Here’s a picture from the Rotterdam tonight.  

Oh boy- not exciting! Any music in the Ocean Bar around dinner time?How about piped in music around the aft pool during the day? 
 

Enjoy your cruise!

6 minutes ago, horseymike said:

As of March 17 2024 the BB King All Stars were performing most nights on the Rotterdam. We cruised from March 8 - March 18 , 2024.

Hope this helps. 

Thanks much! Hope you enjoyed your cruise!

Our last HAL was the NS IN 2019 & we enjoyed it very much. We have primarily sailed with Celebrity since, due to our hesitation with the lack of good live music ( other than BB KING) & the entertainment. 

3 minutes ago, ajgobucks said:

Was on NS March 17-24 and the entertainment/activity options were abysmal.  No welcome aboard presentation, no EXC talks and very limited use of the World Stage. Cruise Director Stephane said that World Stage was closed for new production rehearsals for 3 weeks.  Unfortunately, those new productions "Song & Dance" and "All That" were not good. Besides the 2 musical shows, there was a comedian (two nights) and another comedian/magician once.  At least 3 of the 7 nights offered no poolside movie.  The Rolling Stone musicians were not charismatic (or good) and the Billboard pianists were so-so.  The BB King All Star band was the exception - they were fantastic and gave us something we looked forward to each night. Holland excels in many areas - their entertainment/activity programming is not one of them.

COMPLETELY AGREE! That is the reason we shy away from booking with them. 

1 hour ago, 0106 said:

BB Kings is still available on the Rotterdam, Koningsdam and NS.  It was the best venue on the NS for the first two weeks in March.  The Billboard piano players couldn’t sing and the Rolling Stone band had no charisma.  Unfortunately, BBs is gone from all the other ships.

Thanks much for the info. BB King is in our opinion the best entertainment onboard. It’s a beautiful venue, fun to dance and almost always have great musicians in their groups. 
 

if HAL removes BB KING, from the Pinnacle class, we will move on. Unfortunately we like many book far in advance and who knows what HAL will do next. 

I am not sure , but did I read that HAL has done away with the BB King Blues Club Band? We are contemplating the NS or ROTTERDAM, and that would be a deal breaker. Where does the Steal Drum Calypso play? Sounds great! 

thank you in advance for clarifying! 

DH & I were on the Reflection both end of November & early February. Arjam was the house band on both sailings. We truly enjoyed them. The live music for us is very important as well. They play a good mix of dance music. The lead singer is Belinda . She is very upbeat. Camila is on the drums and does a few songs-very good voice. Nice people too!  
 

The other band was C’Est’Si Bon- they were good as well. Music, like food , is sometimes subjective. For us, both bands kept the party going. Our only opportunity to dance is when we cruise. 
 

enjoy the cruise! 

Truly looking forward - thank you for taking us along! Have a fabulous cruise! 

1 hour ago, 555 said:

If your referring to Don on YouTube, I believe he was talking about not having live production shows at this time. 

They do have live music performers. Still, I would be disappointed not seeing the new production shows. 

No, it was Panyo&PoolShark. However, it doesn’t matter, the question has been answered a few times here. I really couldn’t imagine no music!

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

Ignore them. 

What I thought - sounded nuts! 

Find it hard to believe, but just heard on utube that there is no live music on the Sun Princess!! 

Find this hard to believe, but just heard this from a utuber. There is no live music onboard! Can anyone onboard comment? 
 

many thanks & enjoy the cruise! 

1 hour ago, MaryBethV said:

I did a trip report on our 2020 Sky Princess cruise (link in my signature) if you need to do some pre-cruise research - the Enchanted will be very similar to the Sky. We've been watching videos on the Sun Princess. It looks like such an interesting ship & half the fun for me is having a new ship to explore, so that might be in our future!

Agreed & thank you again! Happy Cruising!