HotRoot

2 hours ago, Kay S said:

If it works, great.  We never got the staff to agree to this.  It depends on who is in charge in which dining room on which ship.  If Princess is serious in restoring traditional fixed dining, it will be less of an issue.  It's possible in fixed dining to get a table for two if that's important.

Currently on the Majestic.  Many people have secured the same table for the entire cruise.  Most of our section is "reserved".  This also previously worked on the Caribbean and Discovery.  Which ships did it not work on? 

2 hours ago, memoak said:

What the heck is the Mirage ?  Is this some mystery Princess ship from a different dimension ?

Early morning typo.  How about the Majestic?

4 minutes ago, DonEllen said:

OK. If my excursion ends are 8:30 & I get back on board at about 8:45 is there another way to get dinner? (Grand Princess)

 

Currently on Mirage.  MDR all close at 9:30 pm.  Buffet closes at 10 pm.  Alfredo's closes at 11 pm.  International cafe is open all night.  I believe room service also goes all night.

Another vote for renting a car.  Enterprise is across the street from the dock.

4 hours ago, rbelshaw said:

I'm on the Crown mid- June. Yesterday I tried to select a traditional, fixed dining time - as I have done on all the other lines. Based on what I've read here, seems that Princess no longer offers fixed seatings, but plans to resume the tradition in September. Am I right?

Would it be fruitful to speak to a MD once on board and try to arrange a fixed table/time/ and server through the reservation system?

Make reservations in the same MDR at the same time each evening before you sail.  During your first meal in the MDR, whether lunch or dinner, ask the Head Waiter if you can have that table for your entire cruise.  

Checked our bill today.  $63 in erroneous bar charges.  You might want to check yours.

1 hour ago, HotRoot said:

Assume this should read cruises starting after September 1.  We board August 11 and disembark September 5.  I would hate for this to go into effect mid cruise.

Just found the answer.  It is effective September 14, not September 1.  Does not affect us.

Assume this should read cruises starting after September 1.  We board August 11 and disembark September 5.  I would hate for this to go into effect mid cruise.

Brought a bottle of wine back on board with us.  No questions asked.

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

At boarding, we had 6 bottles in one of our carry-on bags.  Nothing was said about them going through security.

 

There was no mention of a corkage last night at dinner and nothing on our folio.  🤷‍♂️ 🍷

By chance do you have the plus or premium package?  I believe the corkage is waived if you have a package.  

2 hours ago, Btimmer said:

While were instructed to not show up until 7pm, we joined the queue in the terminal at 5:30pm and it took an hour to complete the process including the border exit and security screening.  The security screening was the tightest we've experienced and I had to take off my belt and my legal extension cord was scrutinized but cleared.  We visited our muster station and watched the safety video and met David, our stateroom attendant. Here's our evening balcony view and the refueling ship left around 7:15pm.

 

 

We're enjoying Lido buffet dinner and plan to attend the comedian's show at 9:30pm.  We're a bit tired after walking over 15k steps and climbing 200 stairs to the top of the bridge tower.  But it's good to be on our way.

We arrived at 6:15 and were on the ship 20 minutes later.  Dinner in the MDR.  Love that pork tenderloin.  Secured our table for the entire cruise.  Not sure our cabin steward knows we are on the ship.  No turn down.  No shore excursion tickets.  No invite to the Platinum/Elite Cocktail Hour.  Two suitcases unpacked and we need about 30 more hangers.  There is always tomorrow.

Live thread was started on March 27.  You might want to use that one instead of starting a new one.  Lots of information there.

51 minutes ago, Pickels said:

Ok, but if you can’t find a menu selection that you like or can eat in the MDR, what are you going to do?  Skip a meal?

I have ordered all of the vegetables from the main entrees.  No protein, just vegetables.  It works.

4 minutes ago, 555 said:

I honestly don't need or even desire the internet when on a cruise ship. I can very easily do without reading the irritating news every day hours on end. I don't play online games, so that's out.

The internet is the most cost effective way for me to communicate with my children, grand-children, and my 94 year old Mother.  

1 hour ago, sandy.w said:

We are sailing for the first time with Princess in July, Alaska!

My question, as we recently had a horrible experience with a different cruise line with open dining and extremely long waits in the main dining room. 

Is it best to reserve a time fixed time for the entire cruise or go with the Dine My Way?

Any advice is greatly appreciated. 

If you reserve a fixed time, you have to do that through the Dine My Way.  We always reserve the same dining room at the same time.  Easier for us to remember when and where we are scheduled to eat.  If something happens to prevent us from being available to eat at that time, we just cancel the reservation.

9 minutes ago, Saelicv said:

Has anyone had any experience with the new App not saving your Dining Preferences? My cruise is still 89 days out, so maybe this is a timing issue. When I go into Profile and Dining Preferences, I completed the Allergens and Diet checkboxes and saved both. When I go back in, my allergens are not saved and it looks like I have no allergens or dietary preferences. Do I need to wait until closer to sailing? I'm worried that my food allergies will be an issue on the boat.

For the last year they have always fallen off.  No one will contact you on the ship.  You need to meet with a head waiter once you board the ship.  They will then take care of it.  Your food allergies will NOT be an issue on the boat.  Just meet with a head waiter.

26 minutes ago, Grace61 said:

New to Princess and cruising.  We will be on the Royal Princess in June.  We have the premier fare, so are going to use the speciality dining perk. I've made our dining reservations at the specialty restaurants for our 1st and last nights of our cruise 

So - what is included with premiere-

I'm does it include appetizer/entree/dessert?

Or just specific menu items?

Do the gratuities paid with the package include the waiters in those dining areas? ( of course I know I can tip more for great service, and will - but if I  am tipping a bit extra on a already paid tip, or tipping from zero matters in figuring amount)

 

I see a note of 18% service charge- 18% of what amount, if it's included with my fare?

 

 

 

Which restaurants?  Your package includes the 18% gratuity.  Multiple appetizers, sides, desserts.  Only one entree.  Some restaurants show an additional charge for "upgraded" entrees.  Your package does not include the additional charge nor the 18% gratuity for those items.

55 minutes ago, johng75370 said:

We've got an upcoming Ovation booking, and here is what is posted in the Source app for today's Solis menu.  Solis_menu_day_3.pdf

Thank you!  I am looking forward to dining there.  

I am not sold.  We took a luxury yacht cruise shore excursion when we were there.  We could have been anywhere in the world.  The beaches could have been anywhere in the world.  Walked around town.  Everything was expensive but then I am not a shopper.  Loved the sail in and sail out in that narrow channel.  Can't do cave as I am very claustophobic.  Recently tried to do the salt mines in Bogota.  Could not do it.  

Not sailing for a year but would love to see a Solis menu.  Cannot find it on line.  Could anyone post it?

4 hours ago, Torfamm said:

I think it’s worth a try. We booked one for the first time on a cruise where that was the only option left if we wanted to go to Greenland. It was fine even though it’s an itinerary where the scenery was important to me. The icebergs waited for me until I got outside 😉

We used to do insides.  Loved the last minute $100 each for a 7 night cruise.  But, as I have grown older, I have become claustrophobic.  In a plane I have to sit next to the window.  Don't even suggest I pull down the shade.  There is nothing wrong with an inside cabin if you are not claustrophobic.  Crusing now means we need a window.  

What did we miss in Bermuda.  Been there.  Have no interest in going back.  What did we miss?  Why do you all want to go there?  Love sea days.  Actually spent our second day in Bermuda on the ship.  We could not find a reason to get off.  

22 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

That’s us, too!  Occasionally, for lunch or breakfast.  In the specialty restaurants you are seated immediately, you get very nice service and really good food.  And, it costs less than Reserve Class in the MDR!  Love it!

We are on the other side of the issue.  We never eat in the buffet for any meal.  We do not eat in buffets at home.  We have seen too many serving utensils dropped on the floor, picked up, and stuck back in the dish.  We only eat at specialty restaurants if they are comped.  We have never had a meal there that we thought was worth the price.  We have never eaten a casual meal.  We do MDR three meals a day.    

Noted you do not do shows but do you have any idea what the production shows are on the Majestic?

If you do it, keep the TV on all the time on the bridge camera.  That will become your window.