rjack22

I ran into this same problem while booking a 2025 cruise. I wanted a Deluxe Balcony and only guaranteed cabins were showing up. I found that by looking for a cabin with 3 guests the cabins showed up. I had heard about the trick of booking for 3 and then dropping the 3rd person later but I didn't do that. Instead I called Princess and asked for the Deluxe Balcony I wanted and they were gracious enough to honor my request. The problem is that there are no Deluxe Balconies for only 2 people. All have love seats that turn into a 3rd bed. It doesn't seem fair to me that couples can't book a Deluxe Balcony. Princess should reserve some for 3 people and some for couples. Thats my opinion.

Yes embarkation lunch in the MDR is available. No restrictions.

I bought the bangle bracelet while onboard. I love that. I just wish they didn't run so small. I have a large wrist and bought the large. It fits but doesn't move around any. Maybe thats a good thing. Anyway a large is the biggest size they offer. Wish there was a XL. I would definetely wait to buy it onboard so you can try it on before purchase.

The is always the possibility that the cost off the Plus Cruise Fare will go up before you sail. That is why I buy mine when I book. Since I booked just under two years out that is very possible. This way I am locked in in case it goes up in that time period. But then I don't have any OBC to use so that makes a difference too.

Same thing happened to me but I had better results. This was about 4-6 weeks ago. Tried booking a Deluxe Balcony for two guests and none available. Made it 3 guests and all kinds of Deluxe Balconies showed up. So I called Princess. My luck was better than yours. My representative was able to get me it. I would suggest you keep trying until a representative can help you. Also I have heard that another work-around is to actually book for 3 guests and then later drop the 3rd passenger. Good luck and keep trying!

On board credit is a great idea, but maybe not for all of the $600. Won't they need some cash spending money in ports? What if they want to take independent tours instead of a ship tour? Ship credit is only good for on the ship.

How about Lunar Princess?

I have been on the Coral, Caribbean, Royal and Sky. I think I liked the Coral the best because it was smaller. Next favorite would be Sky.

You didn't mention the date. Is it during the spring break season, roughly March? If so then there would most likely be a lot of children. As to sailing full, probably.

It was chilly on the Sky Princess last Feb. I wore a sweater.

I always have hard copies of everything with me. Travel summary, tours, hotels, etc. I think it is risky to rely on your phone entirely. What if something happens to your phone and it isn't useable? I had a phone "blow up" on me recently. The battery swelled and popped the case wide open. If that had happened on a cruise I wouldn't have had any documentation with me. I always have backup. If I don't need it I don't need it.

Anything can happen. With flights being booked full it can be difficult to "take a later flight". In February we had a flight booked leaving Detroit to Ft Lauderdale at 10:00 am. Know what time we took off? 6:30 pm! 8.5 hours late! Fortunately we flew the day before the cruise because otherwise we would have missed it. Finally arrived at our hotel about 10:00 pm and were exhausted. But we made the cruise. My problem with flying in more than one night is the cost of the hotels during peak season! $400 a night or more is awful.

Now I prefer the aft dining room myself. It is surrounded by windows on three sides and because it is harder to get to I don't think it is as busy. I could be wrong. If you have a cabin in mid-aft or aft it might be more convenient for you to use the aft dining room. On the other hand if your cabin is more forward then the mid-ship dining rooms make more sense. In the end it personal preference. But you don't have to choose just one. You can try them all!

We are currently booked in a Deluxe Balcony on the Sky Princess. A couple of months ago we were on the Sky Princess and in a mini suite with an angled balcony. It was very very nice! I'm spoiled. But when I booked our next cruise it was a $500 difference per person to get the mini suite so we will make do with the Deluxe Balcony. It at least has a love seat. I'm going to miss the bigger bathroom with a tub the most. To me it wasn't worth spending $1000 more just to get a mini suite. You could do a lot of things with that $1000.

The first show was at 7:30 on our Sky Princess cruise in February. It was a Caribbean cruise. But you really need to get there early. We tried to be there at 7:00 so that does make it hard to dine in the MDR before the show.

Thats nothing! On my Princess app it says 669 day (I know it far out) and my countdown widget on my computer says 643! That is NOT a difference of a day or two.

I agree. Lower deck and mid-ship is best. I always book Caribe deck 10 myself. Keep in mind also that except for sea days you are moving mainly at night. I also tend to get motion sick. And like others have said it really depends on the weather and there is no predicting that. I would opt for mid-aft if I couldn't get mid-ship.

yes

One of our ports of call us San Juan. I am really hoping that we dock at Old San Juan. Is this usually where Princess docks?

Yes,deck 6 mid ship. I can confirm.

I have had a similar experience. Last week I booked a regular balcony cabin for two because I was not able to book a deluxe balcony. Every deck, every section for deluxe balconies were guarantees only. Every one! I called Princess and I still couldn't get a deluxe balcony. He tried to tell me they were all taken. And this cruise isn't until March 2025!!!! I wasn't buying it. Upon reading this thread today I instead searched for a cabin for 3 people and lo and behold there were lots of them available! So today (one week later) I called Princess again. This time I told them the cabin I wanted showed available for 3 but not for 2 and could they do anything. And this time she was able to move my booking to a deluxe balcony of my choice. I know they would rather book 3 in a cabin as opposed to 2 but that isn't fair if you don't have any available for 2 people at all. What they should do is make some available for 2 now and later, depending on sales, release more for 2 people if they haven't booked them for 3. That's only my opinion. I am glad to learn of the booking for 3 and then dropping one trick. Might come in useful in the future.

If I book Delta with EZAir and select either Comfort Plus or Main cabin will I be able to use my Skymiiles to upgrade to First Class?

While I won't be on a cruise, I will be in the path of totality for the 2024 eclipse here at home in Ohio.

Always fly in at least one day ahead! Don't risk it. On our recent cruise our flight from Detroit to Ft Lauderdale was 8 hours late departing!!! Instead of getting in at 1:00 pm it was 9:00 pm! Multiple reasons. Had it been the day of the ship would have left without us.

When typically do bookings for the spring of 2025 open up?