HikaruTsuki

We had Plus for our 11-day cruise to Alaska. We absolutely for our money's worth as we both enjoy speciality coffees, beer and cocktails. It was especially nice to order things we've never tried before, because it wasn't a big deal if we didn't like them! However we did feel a "need" to drink lots to get our money's worth. But even without that mindset, we still got great value from the package. We initially agreed not to get Plus on our next cruise except... the Canadian on Par deal also applied to Plus! So for $60 Canadian, how could we not get Plus again?! LOL

Well we had one night recently where my husband forgot he was wearing sweatpants when we arrived at the MDR and were seated without issue. LOL (He was so embarrassed when he realized it, but we got a chuckle out of it anyways haha)

That naturalist was terrible. I watched her talk on Alaska wildlife in our cabin and couldn't believe how much misinformation she spouted off. "There are no dolphins in Alaska," WHAT LOL. Then she goes on to say orcas are monogamous (100% false, I think she meant to say matrilineal, but still hilariously wrong). Her constant coughing was also super gross. She shouldn't have been there. My only complaints from this cruise were the naturalist, one of the comedians (the older guy who thought his crowd was all 80+?) and the hot tub temperatures. Aside from those minor things, it was the best cruise we've had. The weather was fantastic. Food was mostly great (MDR was awesome at 5pm, but quality declined the later we ate). Service was top-notch. Lots of wildlife! Loved it so much. What a great trip!

Thanks everyone--I read somewhere that "all" inside cabins accommodate 3-4 people, which I can see now isn't true. So this is great, thanks!

I'm not certain this is true? I've seen inside cabins with the ceiling bunks in other parts of the ship?

After much Googling I am seeking your expertise. I am looking to book an inside cabin on the Discovery Princess, preferably a higher deck midship or mid-aft. It appears all inside cabins in these areas are for up to four passengers. I absolutely do not want the cabin to have fold-down bunks off the side of the wall. However, I can't seem to determine a way to know which cabins have the fold-down bunks VS the ceiling bunks (which we're fine with as they won't impede our space). If anyone knows how to tell (as there are few cabin reviews to rely on), please let me know!

Looking forward to reading your perspective! My husband I (39M and 36F) are also on this cruise, maybe we'll bump into you! 🙂

I haven't cruised since 2018. I always found Princess' pillows to be terribly lumpy (no matter the filling type), so I usually would bring my own. I will be sailing on the Sapphire Princess in a couple weeks and wondering if Princess has improved their pillows since 2018, or if I should plan on bringing mine again?

I can't recommend Vessi shoes enough. They're waterproof sneakers from a company in Vancouver, Canada. As a BC resident, I've found mine to be perfect on rainy walks and comfy and lightweight like slip-on Skechers. I am definitely bringing my Vessis with me to Alaska! (I've previously owned waterproof hiking boots, but I found them too heavy and quite uncomfortable. I have many inflammation issues that cause a lot of pains in my feet, ankles and hips. But I never experience pain in my Vessi Stormburst sneakers.)

Thank you for this! Really great info and photos! Question regarding Vines on Sapphire: do they still serve food with the purchase on wine? If yes, what is it? My last cruise on the Ruby included a small serving of sushi with wine. Curious what it's like these days. Thank you!

Thank you!! My husband and I have been no-sugar/low-carb for the last FOUR YEARS, but will allow ourselves to eat whatever we want for this trip (first cruise in five years). He will be VERY happy to know these cakes will be available on the Sapphire!

Can you tell me if the Plus Package dessert cakes and gelato is being offered on the Sapphire? I've seen them offered at Gelatos on other ships but understand there is no Gelatos on Sapphire. Curious where to find these desserts, or if Sapphire's Plus Package desserts are limited to just the crazy ice cream sundaes. Thanks!

I'm excited about the gelato and cakes, but wonder where or if these will be available on older Grand class ships that don't have gelatos?

I 100% agree. In the end, Princess will play movies that draw the crowd! It's also more than just what movies draw people in, but a lot of the evening entertainment is centred around older music, so it's a good balance to play high-energy blockbuster movies like Marvel to cater to the other side of the crowd. 🙂

A person can feel fine for a few days before they become ill, and it rushes up very unexpectedly. One minute you're fine, the next you're vomiting in a public setting. This is just of the reason norovirus spreads so badly.

This looks good but I wish there was an option to substitute the veal with a different meat.

Someone posted a photo of multi-tiered cakes earlier in this thread and said they were part of the Premium Desserts (check previous pages). Looked like there was a black forest cake, a red velvet cake and a chocolate cake.

You can buy these either with alcohol or without. So if you buy with alcohol, you'll get the mini bottle added.

That video was so cringe. LOL It's a new offering, of course there's going to be demand! And her rambling about the time investment is really premature when this is brand new. Of course it will initially take longer as the employees get into their new groove. I would not be surprised to be the toppings change over time, but it's new and the best thing passengers can do is be patient and understanding.

Am I the only one excited about those cakes?! Nice unexpected surprise, especially since so many of our favorite desserts have gone away or have been reduced in quality.

I consider myself the type of person who very highly values a balcony in Alaska. I'm a total whale nerd (worked on whale watching boats for years), avid photographer of all wildlife and scenery, love the rush of the pacific wind of the west coast. Yet, based on cost, I will still book inside cabins for Alaska. It really comes down to the price. I know that even with an inside cabin, I can still go out and see wildlife and enjoy all the things I want. A balcony is absolutely my preference, but only if I feel the balcony is a good value for the dollar. It's very subjective. 🙂 You can do what I did too--book an inside and watch prices like a hawk. We were extremely lucky and upgraded to a balcony for just $300 more for 11 days. It was a no-brainer!

I'd call Princess directly to confirm this isn't a scam.

My embarkation drink has always been a Long Island Iced Tea. Can't wait for my upcoming one in April! First one since 2018!

I checked the minimum bid to upgrade from my balcony to a mini-suite. It was $200pp, yet the price difference between our balcony and a mini-suite (prices have not changed since we booked), is $300 total. So to bid for an upgrade is $100 more than if I just phoned my Princess rep to straight-up pay for it. 🤷‍♀️

The option to purchase Plus on-board is not available until the 20th, so this will not be available on your sailing.