cruisinfamily7609

Thanks so much for the tips, I appreciate it!

This is perfect information - thanks! I could see that the airport was really pretty close to the port so I figured we wouldn’t need to rush. We might just stop and grab a bite somewhere in the airport since we will have been flying all night - but I don’t know, we also will be on west coast time and might not be be hungry until much later. And, as you mentioned, the chances of actually getting from SFO (San Francisco) to FLL on time...well, I’ll just say I’m not betting on it, but we’re at least on a non-stop flight. 😄 Coffee though...that’s going to be a must that morning, at minimum! Red eye isn’t my preferred way of flying, but in this case, it actually makes the most sense. We’ll take our time getting to the cruise terminal, after all, we’ll already be on vacation! Thanks so much for your help! We’ve never been on Princess, and I think it’s been about 10 years since we cruised out of Florida (too long, really).

This is great information. My husband and I are flying from the west coast on a red eye the night before our cruise, so we’ll land at about 7:30 in FLL and then head to the ship. We won’t be in a huge hurry but at the same time, it is nice knowing that arriving early to the port won’t be a problem. We’re not in a suite but we aren’t expecting to do anything than wait around at the port until we can go through security and board anyway. I take it, based on the info shared above, that Princess does not assign embarkation “appointments” like Carnival and Norwegian? As for disembarking, we are flying home much later in the day - I want to say our flight leaves at 7pm. We don’t mind this, as we can take the day to relax and look around since we won’t have time pre-cruise. We are flying home on United. Does anyone happen to know by chance if that is one of the airlines that does EZ Check? It would be far easier than lugging the bags around all day, that is for sure.

Does anyone know how much I should plan to spend per load (just to wash/dry, I’ll bring my own detergent and softener)? Thanks!!

this is more like what I was expecting, given that we are allowed to book shore excursions in Fort Lauderdale...and since we booked this as one single 14 day cruise as opposed to two 7 day cruises back-to-back, I did kind of think they’d have some sort of different way to approach this. Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.

thanks! We are cruising from Fort Lauderdale this time so your experience is relatable. Thanks a bunch - now I have an idea of what to expect for sure. 🙂

Our cruise in June is this way - we booked it as a 14-day and then realized it was really two 7-day cruises. I’ve always wanted to try a B2B... I have a question though - because for us this is a 14 day, does anyone with experience doing this know how that disembarkation day will go?

They’re definitely not planning to do anything about that parking lot. It’s been like that for decades now, with no signs of doing anything with it beyond what there is now. I really think that if they were going to do a multi-level garage it would cause so many MORE problems because where would anyone park in the meantime? Ugh. We’d all end up having to park elsewhere and have a tram bring us in like they did in Long Beach for a while. The problem is that in San Pedro, I’m not sure there’s any other areas for parking that would suffice. That lot not only serves the cruise ships but also the other vessel(s) that are docked there for tourist tours, like the USS Iowa. There’s a ton of space IN the lot, but the problem is when there’s more than one ship (they try to avoid that), and when everyone wants to offload passengers and luggage before parking. It gets messy, but truly - it’s nothing compared to the parking situation for the Carnival ships just across the bridge in Long Beach. That’s a NIGHTMARE - you’ll sit in your car and actually have to wait in true stop and go traffic just to get to the parking area, much less the insanity while dropping luggage - especially if the ship is late getting back and so there's crossover between cruises. It’s a nicer, cleaner looking lot, but it’s still a mess to get in and out of.

First of all, back when I started cruising...there was no such thing as specialty dining. My first cruise was in 1995. That’s 29 years ago, and my first cruise was not on Princess, it was Royal Caribbean. I mean, this was back just prior to the time that Grand Princess first sailed, and was the largest cruise ship in the world (at the time). People went to one of the dining rooms and had high quality meals with fantastic service without paying extra. I’ve said numerous times on other threads, though, at that time, cruising was more expensive across the board. People paid more to be on the ship. There weren’t nearly the types of discounts or sales then that are offered now. Then, as an attempt to attract more people to cruising in the very late 90’s, lines began slashing cruise rates, and offering deep discounts. At that same time they began changing menus, and offering alternative restaurants on newer ships, and began charging for the alternative (or what is now called Speciality) dining. I was on this board back when that started (and the board itself was a part of AOL, well before it had its own website) and the uproar from angry cruisers was something to behold. Over time, people have gotten used to the changes though, and many like it this way. I never said anything about the beverage packages...bottom line for me is that I would prefer to pay one price, get it all, and not be nickeled and dimed. That’s really all I was saying. You obviously prefer to pay for what things you want and feel like you’re saving money by doing so. It’s very different from when I first started, and it’s okay that I feel that way. On the other hand, your experiences are also completely valid. We see things differently. That’s the way of the world.

I have no idea whether or not the prices will increase soon, but I do know that when I booked my specialty dining on Enchanted sailing in mid-June, I paid $39pp. I booked both CG and Sabatini’s. I was surprised by the prices because they were less than I had anticipated, and definitely less than I paid for specialty dining on Norwegian in February, which in my opinion, isn’t something I’d do again. Hoping for better (across the board) on Princess. As for the potential for prices increasing, *whispers* I’m shocked they haven’t as of yet. I can remember back when Norwegian was the first line to really push extra dining costs and so forth, and they seem to set the trend (for pricing, at least). What I see as someone who has been an occasional cruiser since the mid-90’s is that the ships are becoming more and more like just hotels on the ocean - nothing is included in the base price you pay except your room. People seem to like that, although I would not count myself in that category. I like the no-hassle way of just paying a bit more and having everything included. Alas, times have changed, and I’m adjusting. 🙂

Thanks for the info. I appreciate that there are people, such as yourself, who learn and remember these details. Thanks!

Okay, I’ll play along. This is our very first time on Princess (Enchanted), and while we didn’t set out to book a guarantee - we DID set out to book a midship DE cabin, *checks booking again to be sure* and at some point late in the booking process we realized that they didn’t have cabins in that category anywhere (midship, aft, forward, etc.) to assign us, so we decided to go with a guarantee and see what happens. I’ve since made final payment, and now we wait to see what they give us. I’m sure some people are grasping at their pearls in horror at the idea, but the truth is - for my husband and I, it’s not going to matter. While yes, we did want a balcony because this cruise is a 14-day Caribbean adventure for the two of us and we thought MAYBE we’d actually use it this time, the bottom line is that we’re really only going to use the cabin for sleeping unless we get put somewhere super amazing (which we won’t, and we KNOW we won’t). We probably could have just changed our booking to a category that had cabins available, but you know - we’re risk takers that way. Bring on the obstructed view. It’s fine. I’ll come back when I find out where they put us! We’re going to be in the Caribbean on a cruise ship. I can think of worse things. 😄

Perfect, thank you!

So…is PB more or less “lively” than Sanchos? My husband and I are in our early-mid 50s, no kids with us this time. Just looking for a nice day, doesn’t have to be super quiet…but also don’t want it to be crazy either. ???

I notice a gigantic difference in cruising since my very first cruise on Royal Caribbean Majesty of the Seas in 1995. I can’t say I’ve got hundreds of cruises under my belt or anything like that, but we’ve done several over the nearly thirty years I’ve been married. Enough to where I can truly see the trajectory of what WAS, versus what IS, and yeah - the differences are enormous. Meals were fancy. Service was top notch no matter what line you cruised on. Dress codes were a thing. People were very much discouraged from wearing jeans or shorts in the dining room. Formal nights meant formal. That said, I first cruised during a time when paying $1300 a passenger for an inside cabin was common, and not just during high season - in fact my first cruise was off season and that’s why we got such a “great” rate for an inside cabin! Sky was the limit for the rest of the ship. It wasn’t until after my first cruise when the major lines started really discounting, the thing to do was NOT use a travel agent and just do it yourself online...(as opposed to now where things are beginning to swing back the other way) and not long after those discounts started, lines started making cuts. Let me also just say that back in those days - ships weren’t bringing Broadway-style entertainment to their theaters at all. Sure, we had production shows, comedians, musicians, and that sort of thing - but it just depended on the cruise line. I didn’t notice a difference. Then, the lines began instituting alternative dining. (I can remember the heated debates about those charges right here on these boards, back in the days when a poster with the user name of Parnami was all over these message boards. Those of us who have been around since the days of AOL might recall his name, but most will not.) From there, it’s been a whirlwind of building small cities on the ships, complete with water slides, roller coasters, ice rinks, etc. More and more people cruise, and most of those people - at least those on the very large ships and major lines, don’t mind the cuts. They don’t notice them because they don’t KNOW they’re cuts. Cruise lines like NCL, Royal Caribbean and Carnival appeal to the first time cruisers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. They don’t know the difference, and they’re happy to please. I think it’s far more difficult for the cruise line loyalists (or just cruising loyalists altogether), because they see the cost-cutting decisions being made each year, or even each quarter. Still others don’t mind the cuts because in turn for those, they have all of those activities, water slides, ice rinks, bowling alleys, surfing...and whatever else. Here’s the thing, at least for me: I love being on the ships. That alone is relaxing. I’m a veteran stay-at-home mom, and now I’m a caregiver to my own mother. I need the break, and being on a cruise is still wonderful. I still love only having to pack and unpack once, and feeling just a little bit spoiled for a week. I don’t even do all the spa treatments or things like that...but being on the ship and not having to plan and schedule my life for a change? I’ll take it!! On the other hand though, I very much struggle with the idea that I’m paying very similar costs to what I did back in 1995, particularly when I sit back and figure out how much I’ve spent for the dining, drink packages, and extra stuff before I even get on the darn ship; yet for that price, the food is becoming far more like a mediocre chain restaurant (as it was last year for us on Carnival). The service isn’t quite what it was when we first cruised, but overall, I think it’s still amazingly good. My kids (and they’re not really children - two of mine are adults and one is a teen) loved the food on our last Carnival cruise though - and that’s probably the point. <winces> I might not be the demographic these lines are after, anymore, and chances are, it’s time I move up to the luxury or ultra-luxury lines. Someone please let my bank account know.

Very true. Food is a big deal though, so it’ll be interesting to see how I feel post-cruise. We cruised Carnival last year, and I was very unimpressed with the food and service, to be honest. I suspect this will be similar. I’ve heard NCL is better, but by how much - who knows? On the other hand, I have a cruise booked on Princess for summer, and looking at a Celebrity one next year. Haven’t cruised on Royal since...gosh it’s probably been ten years? I’m not too interested in the massive behemoth ships. Too people-y for me. I loved the size of Majesty of the Seas back when Royal had it, so I’m hesitant to book one of those city-sized ships they love to build!

Ah, Wilmington. Unfortunately Wilmington, Harbor City, and other nearby areas aren’t great, but some areas are better than others, to be sure. They all butt up to Torrance, which is better...and perhaps someone here will jump out to tell me that Wilmington and Harbor City are safe. I’d laugh, but that’s okay. 😄 I’d love to leave my car at my daughter’s, but parking is an issue there - as in, we’re not allowed to park on the street, and at least (if there’s a bright side to paying for parking at the port), I’ll be able to jump in my car and head back north quickly as we disembark. I suppose I’m paying for that flexibility, which....after paying for the cruise and all...it’s fine. I’m not going to complain too much. It was either that or fly, and flying from the central coast down here is stupid. One has to fly from San Luis Obispo to Phoenix or Vegas and then come back, and pay $400 for the privilege. (I’m generalizing but that’s the gist of it) With that in mind, driving and parking almost seems cheap! LOL

That's terrible! I’m so sorry to hear that about your mom, and your cruise... My mom is 80. I worry about that sort of thing with her. She isn’t that sturdy on her feet, so we have a walker we’re taking with us, and learning to go at her speed. This is a good kick in the pants and cautionary tale, unfortunately. I hope your mom heals quickly.

I really dislike replies like this. It infers that somehow the GUEST is the problem for expecting decent food and service. Truth be told, this is my first time on NCL and if it doesn’t measure up, I won’t be back. I have no doubt there are thousands of others who feel similar. That’s how it works - you try it, and if you don’t like it, don’t come back. It’s the people who go on the line and are thoroughly disappointed and then return that make me scratch my head in wonder.

It's an industrial port, and the town of San Pedro in general is older...not the worst in SoCal, but not necessarily a tourist hot spot, either. To be blunt, I’m driving in the day before and staying near my daughter’s home in Fountain Valley (I used to live in So Cal but escaped that mess and moved to the central coast about four blessed hours north). It’s good enough for me, but I have a car that I’ll have to park (and pay dearly) to leave for a week. Torrance is about as safe as you’re going to get in South Bay, for sure. Redondo Beach, Palos Verdes, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach are nice areas as well, but they are a little farther from the port.

Maybe I am misunderstanding - are you saying that since the quality of the food has gone down on all cruise lines, and apparently service as well…that we should all come to accept and expect it? I hope not. The fact is the matter is, we all want quality on our vacations. It is okay to EXPECT reasonable quality, and I think it is also okay to share our experiences, whether or not they validate or in fact differ from one another. Personally, I appreciate hearing these reviews because my husband and I will be going on Enchanted in June and it’s possible that we might rethink our dining options…so thank you to those who care to share!

Okay…I understand that earlier doesn’t mean better, that makes sense. I don’t think I am being clear about what I’m asking, so let me try again. When checking in online for NCL, do they assign times for port arrival? I will be driving to the port from my daughters place, and had no intention on getting to the port so early we’d have to wait to embark. That’s a waste of time, but to be honest I also hadn’t quite figured out when is the best time for us in this situation. You make good points about my mom though, and really she is my primary concern on this trip. I think I’d rather just take our time and not feel rushed, if that’s even possible! 😂🤷‍♀️

So, I’m cruising in February. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve gotten from NCL practically BEGGING us to bid on an upgraded cabin. It’s probably at least four, and likely six emails since I booked (and I think I booked this upcoming cruise in November). I just thought it seemed a bit much, but if they’ve oversold our category maybe they need some of us to upgrade. Gosh, those days of being upgraded for pennies or free were good times.... 😄 After saying “no way” several times (we already have a club balcony), my sister and I decided to try bidding - figuring we were already happy with our cabin, but if we were upgraded - it’s bonus room that we weren’t expecting. Who knows?

The last time I cruised recently was on Carnival, and if I remember right, I had to jump online as soon as we were allowed to check-in so that we could get a “decent” arrival/embarkation appointment time at the port. Is NCL the same way, in that once the check-in window opens prior to our cruise, and the faster I get online, the “better” arrival/embarkation appointment time at the port? Honestly, it doesn’t really matter to ME as long as we board before the ship leaves. 😄 I’m just trying to understand what to expect so I can plan. This is a girls’ only trip with my 80 year old mom who uses a walker-thing, my sister, and my two daughters, and I just want to try and make the embarkation as smooth as I’m able.

I've never cruised NCL. My first one is coming up in February. I am taking my mom in celebration of turning 80. My sister is coming along, and my two girls (one adult, one teen) are in another cabin, but also on a cruise as what I’m calling a “Girls Only” trip. My mom is beginning to show the early signs of dementia, and I am fairly sure this will be her last big trip. She’s in a cabin with both my sister and I. Luckily, her dementia is not at a point where I’m fearful of taking her (In fact she is very excited about going and still remembers what cruises are like, and is joyful that all of the girls in the family are going together) - I’m just fearful of allowing her to roam the ship alone, so she won’t be out of my sight. I’m just looking forward to trying a new cruise line, hanging out with my girls, and hopefully enjoying some time with my mom before she really begins to forget and struggle. I don’t think any cruise I’ve ever been on has been completely perfect, but then again - I’m on vacation, and pretty much anything will be a good time. I really do believe a lot of this is in the attitude of the cruiser. I mean, there ARE good reasons a vacation goes poorly - like a rogue wave, or being hit with a cruise-wide virus. Then there’s a whole litany of picky things, and I just don’t want those things to overshadow what is likely a great vacation. After all, I can remember a good many road trips taken with my three kids in the back of our truck while we were towing a trailer to go camping for two weeks. Camping with kids=doing all the same things I have to do while at home, but in a LOT less space with even less privacy, and a lot more dirt. Yet, I have great memories from those trips too. 😄 I don’t think there is a single cruise line on this board that doesn’t have at least one complaint thread (unless no one has posted at all). Even lines like Seabourn...people are picky and they want perfection.