FancyPants21

We have sailed in both but on Sky Princess so a bit different but even so, we loved the space of the Window Suite (and the suite benefits) but for Alaska I'd be tempted to want a balcony so I'd stick with the MS.

How do you know that? Or is that just your opinion... you don't make that clear. If you have a source for that info then please quote it.

Staffing is clearly an issue as we all have said. My point is that it might not be the only issue. You make those statements about how the app works and yet I bet that is just your opinion. You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but IMO you don't actually know the facts of where orders are routed or how the app works. I bet that the app does not take any account of staffing levels at each bar. So if you can corroborate your statement then it would be helpful otherwise please don't state your opinions as if they are facts because it is misleading.

I haven't seen anyone suggesting that they should do that. There should be enough staff to mean that OceanNow orders can be satisfied in a sensible timeframe. As to whether it is an app problem or not... I don't think we can say one way or the other without knowing how the app works. From my experience it looks like the way the app sends the OceanNow orders to the bars does not mean that the bar nearest you will get the order so perhaps that could be improved... who knows. 🙂

Yet again... you have it wrong. I don't understand what is so confusing. I did order drinks... just not through a water and not on the app... I stood in line at the bar.

No you don't have that right... no wait staff so I queue up at the bar along with everyone else! I didn't ever use OceanNow from a bar and only used it a few of times before we gave up... once by the pool (didn't turn up), once by the pool and did turn up and once from in my cabin (didn't turn up but was delivered to the Wakeview Bar). I would never use OceanNow if I was already in a bar... that would be silly!

Not always... we ordered 2 cocktails through OceanNow from our cabin, we selected "In your cabin #" as delivery location, waited 45 mins... checked on the app and it said delivered - to the Wakeview Bar! A complete waste of time.

Fair enough... but you said ... and my point is that I don't have a large balcony so that is why someone might like the Sanctuary so perhaps you might now "get it" 🙂

Just off Sky... OceanNow was taking 45mins - 1hr to deliver so pointless even if you could. After day 2 we gave up using OceanNow. Drinks either didn't arrive at all, were delivered to the wrong location or taking so long that it was simply pointless. IMO OceanNow is a great idea but staffing levels at the moment means it just isn't fit for purpose.

We don't book far in advance... usually only 6 months max. Again, don't assume everyone wants to do things the way you do.

No... you mean YOU need to book them. We hate those aft suites. Yes they have an enormous balcony but they are right at the back and far away from everything and often near noisy parts of the ship. Don't make the mistake in thinking that everyone likes what you like.

Good for you! It is only the aft PH suites and Owners suites that have huge balconies like that... most of the suites are not like that.

Our Penthouse suite on Sky (R616) had a double width balcony but it was the same depth as all the balcony and mini-suite cabins either side and too narrow to even sit facing the ocean and having to have the seat at an angle.

We just returned from 8 days on Sky to Norway. The weather was unexpectedly warm and sunny and on one day the Retreat pool area was 100% occupied... and I mean 100% with not a spare bed. The hot tub was rammed with people at times. In The Sanctuary it was only 50% occupied and even at 100% it would have been heaven compared to the bun fights for beds outside and the hot tub was mostly empty. For the price of roughly $40pp/pd it was so worth it. Also, the personal service in the Sanctuary is second to none and not at all comparable to the almost zero service outside. All I can say is that if you think it isn't worth it then that is something I really don't understand.

One final thought... OceanNow... It is a total waste of time. I so wanted it to work and to use it but after we tried a few times we just gave up and never used it again. Drinks would either not turn up at all indicating they were delivered when they were not or delivered to the wrong location, or the wait was up to an hour. That is not a viable service IMO and again, IMO, this service should be totally withdrawn until they can find a way to make it work consistently. I have heard others have a better experience but if they can't make it work most of the time then the service shouldn't be offered at all IMO.

Nearly home. Disembark tomorrow morning. A few thoughts... Sky Princess in in great shape IMO and it is obvious that the crew keep her that way. I have done 5 cruises now with my first just prior to covid and since then I have noticed no deterioration in her condition. The crew of this ship are just excellent and what makes it so special IMO. Nothing is too much trouble and always with a smile. The food is some of the best I have had at sea. There is a lot of chat on this forum about dress code and IMO it is all just waffle. People dressed as they wanted with most in smart casual and no one that I saw was dressed in anything that could be offensive or distasteful. On formal night about 50% dressed up and the rest were quite smart casual. It all worked very well and without all the fuss that people make out on the forum. Personally, I can see no reason to have these "dress code" discussions as it is a total non-issue on board. If there is a weak point then it is the bars IMO. The numbers of staff is significantly reduced and while the ones that are there do their best they are run off their feet and the level of service suffers. Also, there have been a few occasions when the ingredients for a particular drink was not available. I still enjoy the bars but the ambiance has changed and not for the better IMO. The biggest improvement I saw was in showtime in the main theatre. We have seen all the shows this week and there wasn't a weak one there. A huge improvement on even our last cruise a year ago. I hope that trend continues. So, all in all, a huge success IMO and well done to Princess.

There is a kettle and tea/coffee in every cabin when sailing from the UK but I think they remove them when sailing from elsewhere.

Just back from the theatre and I had to post... The show was 5-Skies. It is a high-tech, musical show about a person playing a computer game. The object is to pass through the levels to the final goal... to save the Sky Princess. I have been longing for Princess to do shows that had a story and weren't just reviews and with this they have answered my prayers. It is original, it is well done, it is fun and enjoyable. If I were to be critical then some of the songs are a little repetitive but it is a small point. I loved it and this for me marks a new beginning for Princess shows. Let's hope it continues...

Skjolden is a quiet place (300 inhabitants!) with little actually near the ship but there is still lots to do and see if you are happy taking excursions or walking/hiking. Food continues to be good but we had a hiccup with the in cabin breakfast. They don't understand always what we put on the card... we asked for 1 weetabix (they normally come in packs of 2 biscuits... yes, we got 1 biscuit. We asked for 2 milk (there are 2 of us) and we got 4 glasses of milk. The toast was shown the toaster and was really just bread. Apart from that it was OK. Today it has been 22C in Stavanger and so we stayed on the ship and booked The Sanctuary. Crickey! Quiet and peaceful while the rest of the ship decks were heaving with people trying to find a sunbed. Excellent service in there and well worth the $40 each for the day. Tonight we eat in Sabattini's. The weather is looking cloudy bat with calm seas for our sail back tomorrow. Regarding the question of Dr Pepper... I could not find Dr Pepper in the bars I asked at but they do have a root beer in cans that isn't Dr Pepper. It isn't diet.

All continues to go well. Just arrived in Skjolden. Boy! This is a small place. Nothing here and a population of just 200-300! And then 3,500 of us arrive! Weather is superb.... warmish and sunny. No wind. I just wanted to comment on the show last night. It was a vocalist Nik Page. He has played Jean val Jean in Les Mis in London so I knew he was going to be good but what a singer... what an entertainer and great drummer too. Loved the show. If you ever get the chance to see him then grab it. We have decided to spend this afternoon in The Sanctuary. Quite surprised that there are still places 4 days into the cruise. Thanks for reading. PS I'll find out about Dr Pepper 🙂

Aalesund was a nice town but a lot of the shops didn't open until later in the day. We have been to two shows now... one was sang the soul diva (her words!) classics and the show Spotlight Bar. Both were excellent. The Spotlight Bar was a particular favorite with excellent performances all round. Well worth seeing IMO. Today is in Olden... the place of the Briksdal Glacier and the Loen Skylift. We didn't do either instead opting for the open-top bus tour to a glacier photo point. Not really near the glacier but excellent 1 hour bus trip nevertheless. The musical entertainment in the Piazza are the same performers each day so we tend to avoid the Piazza when they are performing. Apart from that there isn't much to report. Service remains as it was at the start and food and drink just as good. The weather is being very kind to us and so we are very much enjoying the cruise with no complaints. We do love Sky Princess. Another report if anything crops up or on Friday.

Thought I'd do a report from on board. Embarkation at Southampton was quick and easy for us. Boarding started about 10.30 and we were one of the first on. I did hear that there were waits of up to an hour for those that arrived later. Once on we did the normal stuff... got a drink, visited our muster station and watched the video. I went to book some speciality dining by visiting each restaurant. Then to the room to see if we could drop off the bags there instead of using the allocated MDR. To our surprise the room was ready so we moved in. A PH suite on Riviera. The general feel on the ship is familiar and hasn't changed much but what has changed is the level of service. It isn't bad , just different. Where the bars were mainly waiter/ess served now you mainly need to line up at the bar. That simple change means they have less waiting staff but it has changed how the bars work... not for the better IMO. There are still waiting staff around just very few and if you waited to get one to place your order it would have been much quicker to just line up. Apart from that it is pretty much the same. The MDR service is excellent (Reserve Collection) as is the food. We have eaten once in Crown Grill and I have to say that it was the very best rib-eye steak I have ever had... and I have had a few! However, the biggest disappointment so far for me has been the standard of entertainment around the ship. It is not good IMO. Princess has never been one for doing great entertainment in the piazza or bars but on this trip it has hit a low. Having said that the main theatre entertainment has been superb. To be honest, it isn't a problem for us. The first port in Norway, Haugesund, was cancelled due to high winds so we had a day of scenic cruising around the fjords. Actually, we didn't really mind as Haugesund was not a place we particularly wanted to see. Weather has been mostly cloudy with the odd shower and the odd sunny spell so it made for a relaxing day. We are in port now in Aalesund... oour first chance to get off. More later

Fair enough... that is you and that is fine. But they are great value for me and remember, it isn't just about tangible value... there is value to many (me included) in having a fixed price cruise. If you see it as a financial battle between you and the cruise line then that must detract from the cruise experience IMO.

Then don't count. Once you have made the decision to get the package then forget numbers and just go and do whatever you want knowing you have a fixed price. It isn't about "making it up" or making sure you drink enough drinks. It is about not having to count anything... you pay a fixed price and that is what it costs regardless of what you do. Just go and enjoy yourself. I really don't understand it... people go on a cruise, costing thousands usually, and then spend time worrying and stressing over the cost of a few drinks. To me that isn't why I go on a cruise. I do that at home... on a cruise I want to know I can do what I want and to know how much it is costing me up front. So I will always get a package and NEVER count drinks. If after the cruise I feel that I didn't get the value from the package that I expected then may be I don't get it next time but even then... I wouldn't count drinks. That is not the point of cruising IMO.

LOL! Sorry to mention that but I just wanted to clarify what it was so newcomers understood. BTW I have serious trouble with autocorrect so I know what you mean! 🙂