happy cruzin

Just now, FLAlaska said:

I know , I meant to add comments and hit send. I was trying to say that this was the only confirmed change til now.

Thanks!!

Just now, FLAlaska said:

Thanks. But I was referring to the reference to some restaurants physically moving to different locations on the Sun Princess. 
 

Which now seems to have be unsubstantiated. 

1 hour ago, MacMadame said:

This was reported here on CC previously. Maybe a search to find the existing thread will give you the information you seek.

As I said in my original post - that thread has been removed. 

A couple of weeks ago there was a vlog published everywhere by a TA who had recently sailed the Sun Princess.  She shared that there were to be very specific changes shuffling many of the restaurant locations on the Sun Princess. Supposedly to be effective in October when she starts to sail the Caribbean. 

I have not been able to find anything else about it anywhere and the thread that was here has been removed. Was that all a rumor or misinformation??

1 minute ago, chill6x6 said:

Quick question!

 

My itinerary says Explora I arrives back to MIA at 7AM.  Any reason we couldn't be on our way to the airport by 8AM?

 

Thank you!

Maybe - but it totally depends on when the ship is released by customs.  Then and only then can they begin the disembarking process.

Has anyone seen a "real" menu for Love by Britto yet?

3 minutes ago, dog said:

Thanks- great summary 

Agreed!  Thanks dides for the visual!!

6 minutes ago, reiddg said:

Early in the thread, it was mentioned that there was a Princess webinar, for TAs I believe, to discuss the new Sanctuary Collection.  Anyone on here or following attend it?  I'm curious if any meaningful information came out of it.

My TA attended - it confirmed what we had already figured out. Not many questions or concerns were addressed, it seems. Princess stated that they feel this new plan is "better for the guests".

Not sure I agree - especially since the suites lost things that I feel were important to the suite experience they had promised when we booked.

2 hours ago, vjmatty said:

I think it was even more of a concern. If we assume as you seem to that everyone will be out there at once, that tiny area was not enough for 160 people. The thing about day passes with the old system, if someone buys it they’re almost 100% likely to use it. Less likely with permissive included access of the 215 cabins.  As I mentioned above, even Celebrity and MSC don’t have enough seating on their decks or restaurants for every passenger entitled to be there at the same time.

 

But hey, we’re both speculating. We won’t know who’s right until October. 

Nope - never made that assumption. 

1 hour ago, vjmatty said:

I don’t think we need it….the whole area is now exclusive, with exponentially more space and a lot less passengers than under the old system.  If you’re worried about the “lower class” type passenger, they’ll be priced out of the sanctuary club rooms anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️

Nope - not at all a “lower class” thing. 
 

I’m concerned about the possibility of 428 other people (215 cabins at double occupancy) impacting my ability to use the space and get suite-level service, that I paid for with my suite booking. 
 

With the dedicated suite space that was not a concern. 

Just now, keldaria said:

I’m fairly certain suites had access to both the sanctuary and the signature sun deck before. So they had access to the entire area but had a private suite only area within that area which has now disappeared.

Correct

3 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

That actually looks like a lot more room than suites originally had, like 4 times as much. The question is, do those additional Sanctuary Club cabins add up to more or less than the number of day passes that are being sold on sailings between now and October.  I personally don’t think the original Signature area was big enough for 80 suites. 

….but now there is NO dedicated suite space. 

44 minutes ago, vjmatty said:

What is the difference between Sanctuary access to select balcony cabins and Sanctuary day passes being sold to the winners of the embarking day marathon, as in the old way? Either way you’d be sharing with the hoi pollloi. 

There was a Signature Suite area in the Sanctuary which seems to have disappeared from the updated deck plans. 
 

Original deck plans:

UPDATED deck plan:

33 minutes ago, mrmarklin said:

No upgrade at all.  As a Suite passenger, I feel "screwed".  there is actually a dilution of benefits, in that more people will be eating in the Signature dining room, and our exclusive area on top of the ship in the Sanctuary portion is given over to hoi polloi as well.  The only thing left is the Signature Lounge.  Certainly don't want a bunch of peasant types in there.;-)

Seriously, it's a step back.  I'm sailing in May, hopefully, none of the changes will be made by then.  And they will honor the target date of October.  Yeah, they had the nerve to send me news about the (non) upgrade!!!!

 

Cunard, here I come.  (Queen's Grill)   Thank the Lord, the Class System is alive and well in the UK.  Our own Tea Lounge, too.

 

If you want to have a gripe session I'll be in cabin 15639 next to the Signature Lounge>:-)

I was going to say the same thing. This is a HUGE devalue of what was marketed as an exclusive dedicated suite experience. 
 

We booked a penthouse suite for November - with the Premier package - expecting a private area on the sundeck, a private suite only restaurant and lounge. 
 

With these changes we are now sharing all of those spaces with up to 428 other people (215 cabins at double occupancy) except the suite lounge. 
 

We can’t help but feel duped - these are BIG changes and not at all what we thought we paid for with our Signature Suite booking. 

1 hour ago, kitty2264 said:

In describing the new Sanctuary Collection the Princess website shows the following description for Penthouse Suites and Sky Suites. Description of other accommodations i.e. Mini-Suites does not include the part about the Signature Lounge, Signature Restaurant and Signature Sun Deck.

 

The Most Relaxing Accommodations at Sea

Surrounding you with deluxe accommodations, a spacious Signature Penthouse Suite with balcony includes all the amenities of our Signature Collection, including access to the Signature Restaurant, Signature Lounge and Signature Sun Deck, a private area of The Sanctuary. Enjoy more living space, a separate seating area with sofa bed, enhanced amenities that range from priority embarkation and disembarkation to a complimentary mini-bar setup in suite and so much more.

Interesting!
But on the new deck plans, I do not see any separation of the "Sanctuary Club" like before with the Signature Suite area that was identified as part the Sanctuary.  🤷‍♀️

New:

Old:

9 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

I could be reacting too quickly,  but the more I am seeing here with this new ship, I am seriously second guessing our booking.  No adult area,  No opportunity to book a Sanctuary.....   THESE are the things that we enjoy when cruising...  not all of the 'Screens' and glitz...    And a class system, that as many had complained, might seriously take away from our enjoyment of the cruise.  Seeing  " Sanctuary CLUB "  with the word CLUB could be the straw that seals the deal.

Not sure if we will keep this booking.

According to the press release…the “sanctuary club“ is still adult only - 16+

9 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

2 minutes ago, J18ktleo said:

In 2023 Princess changed the Premier pkg and it required an additional charge which offered more perks that are now standard.  It was very confusing and many, who didn't pay the upcharge, boarded thinking they had the entire pkg but they didn't since the name hadn't changed but, again, Princess 'adjusted' the program perks and there was really no way for passengers to know they did or didn't have the upgrade dpackage (since the name was the same🤪).

 

I just looked at my group booking and we all have Premier which was included in our booking back in February for the suites, whew, thankfully that's good!  But I don't recall there being an option to book a suite without the Premier pkg.

Yes when we booked you could book a signature suite with no package, Plus or Premier. Of course the pricing changed accordingly. 

1 minute ago, pool_lounger said:

I'm interested in finding out if suite guests will still have exclusive access to the Signature deck portion of the Sanctuary still? It was included as a perk before the release of the Sanctuary Club, but I haven't seen it referenced in the new material... Our email just confirmed we would still have access to the Sanctuary. Wondering if the designated suite area of the Sanctuary will still be there after Oct? 

Doesn’t look like it!  Seems to be one big space now  🥺

19 minutes ago, capriccio said:

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.

Thanks!

I'm new to Princess - never sailed with them before, but have done the Haven, MSC YC, and MSC Explora Journeys.  Curious how these 219 cabins having access to the Sanctuary compares to the total people in the Sanctuary on other ships where they sold day passes.

2 minutes ago, capriccio said:

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.

The 80 Signature Collection Suites breakdown:
SO - Signature Sky Suite - 4
S2 - Signature Owner's Suite - 10

S4 - Signature Penthouse Suite - 36

S9 - Signature Suite - 30

6 minutes ago, CalTexCruiser said:

 

Well said.

 

Princess just:

 

1) Provided an incredible gift to the D0 balcony cabins of private dining and sanctuary access (whoever said you can't get something for nothing have not met Princess management);

 

2) Provided a substantial gift of sanctuary access to those booked in Reserve Mini's; 

 

3) Shafted those in S9 suites which are basically the same as Reserve Mini's but who probably paid hundreds if not thousands more (versus the Reserve Mini's) just for access to the lounge; and

 

4) Degraded the experience of those in higher level suites who now have to deal with a much more crowded Sanctuary and private dining.

 

 

Do we know how many additional cabins now have access to the Sanctuary - in addition to the 80 that were Signature Suites?

1 minute ago, capriccio said:

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

Doesn’t that sound relaxing???!?!?!! 🙄

1 minute ago, dog said:

The exclusive dedicated space for Suite guests is the lounge.

True - but it used to be include the suite area on the Sanctuary deck too!  

2 minutes ago, capriccio said:

 

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

 

Grrrr……😡