arizonaperson

@Retired-N-Happy I was mainly trying to answer the OP/author and they didn’t give any indication of onboard credit. They were just asking how likely they’re going to be able to get a table at 5 pm or 530pm( I.e. early) in specialty dining,now with the new unlimited premier SD ,At least that’s what I understood that they were trying to say ,but I don’t know any other information. That’s why I was giving a very general broad answer . Nobody knows at this time.

But yes, I understand that Princess is not allowing onboard credit to be used except for excursions until one gets onboard. Very frustrating for you  & others I’m sure . Double edge sword, having a lot of onboard credit and not being able to use it until you get onboard to upgrade to your package, so therefore you can’t make specialty dining reservations without paying ahead of time.

But I don’t think that’s what the OP author was asking?

10 minutes ago, TomBaker said:

If I'm Elite and solo with the Premier+ package would it be wrong of me to book all my speciality restaurant bookings before I depart and take up a table for two when I will be dining alone?

Not at all wrong .Everyone is welcome to book SD,especially if it’s included in your package you purchased.

It is fine to reserve a table solo, minimum table size is for 2, doesn’t matter. Average table size is 4 in specialty,but they all differ.

No issues -go ahead & book.

Not sure if your cruise has to be paid in full or Platinum/Elite to book specialty dining? With the new included unlimited premier specialty dining, maybe too soon to know unless you’re more than four months out and don’t have your cruise paid in full under this package. Since all of this is just rolling out this coming Saturday .

So how many of you that have a cruise that is in January 2025 or forward and you have not paid your voyage in full  and you are not Platinum / Elite and you’ve been able to make specialty dining reservations under the Premier package?

or how many of you have the new premier package and you’ve been able to book specialty dining and you are not paid in full but you are platinum or elite?

I think this is probably the only way to see what’s possible in booking a SD reservations.

No definitive answer to that question. Too subjective. I think it will depend on what ship and how far out from your voyage that you make a reservation in specialty dining and I’m assuming for a few passengers like casino perks and other officers perks for passengers that they will always hold a few reservations open. But getting the exact time that you want Every evening that you want specialty -maybe -maybe not.

Too many variables in this type of question.
Do you have a cruise booked with the unlimited specialty dining ? and if you do -go ahead and book it ,that way you will find out if the time that you desire is available. And if you don’t have a cruise booked -then book it and then start booking your specialty reservations.

Until this unlimited specialty dining ( premier) starts rolling out, I don’t think you’ll really know what the answer is until people start posting that it’s not a problem or it is a problem, but have to give it time on that one.

So you are thinking of booking a reserve collection mini suite instead of regular mini suite .

No your friends can’t dine with you in reserve collection / club class DR…. Unless they have same type cabin or a full suite.

So if you plan on eating in that particular dining room often, then you would need to tell them( friends )you won’t be able to dine with them or they need to book the type of cabin you have.

or just stay in a regular mini suite and no problem, you can dine together in the main dining room, specialty dining, or casual dining altogether.

45 minutes ago, Sunseeker20 said:

Hello everyone!

 

I'm brand new to Princess, I'm about to book a sailing on the Coral Princess and have a couple cabin questions-

1) Does Coral have connecting inside cabins?

2) Where are the best inside cabins located on this ship? Is it best to be near the dining room on the front or more towards the back? We aren't usually picky but just wondering what others opinions are 🙂

Any tips or tricks for Coral Princess is appreciated!

Do you have a travel agent or somebody you can talk to that could answer a lot of these questions for you? I highly recommend one -they can go to “bat “for you, most good ones give you extra perks as well. But if you plan on doing it online or with somebody that you can’t actually talk to then -it makes it a little bit more difficult, but not impossible. And yes princess.com Has lots of frequently answered questions and definitely deck plans with what cabins have connecting doors. ( if there are any, the deck plan will tell you with the symbol.)

Only you can decide what cabin location is good for you or if it’s near the dining room, etc.

I personally don’t care how close to the dining room I am .I like mid ship to aft, but that doesn’t mean you do. I also like a balcony cabin, never cruised in an inside cabin. I also like a cabin above my head ,not a public space.
So with that being said, look at your local area or ask family and friends and get yourself a great travel agent that is experienced in cruises. 

there is so much to probably learn and yes, Cruise critic is a great resource, but you have to do your research too.

and then there’s decisions on dining and then there’s decisions on-Do you want a cruise package that includes Wi-Fi ,crew tips, and drinks and all that or do you want standard fare?…..but that’s a whole other topic and you probably just need to really do some research or a great travel agent would tell you all this. 
You didn’t say if you’ve cruised before ,I’m assuming you have ,just not on Princess.

11 hours ago, Crustyrabbit said:

Hope someone can answer this query 🤔  My husband and I are off very soon on a Mediterranean Cruise and, if possible, we would like to be able to bring home some of the local cheeses and cold meats (we will have a mini fridge in our cabin).  Is there any restriction on bringing food items back on board?  Also, my understanding is that any alcohol we might buy whilst ashore will be taken from us when we return to the Ship and returned to us at the end of the Cruise.  How and when would we collect this?  Thank you in advance

I would look at your Princess patter a.k.a. newsletter and see if there are restrictions in the port where you plan on buying your meat and cheeses and do you plan on consuming those items onboard? or taking them back home to England? You’ll have to check what the requirements are to get back into England as well.
I know US customs when you fill out the form it says no meats, fruits, etc. And if none of that works, ask the security people when you get off the ship if it’s allowed to be brought back on the ship and take a picture of their name tag if they tell you, yes. 
As far as the alcohol that you buy, ashore/ in port ,it may be taken from you when you come back onboard or it might not be. And yes, they tag it with your name on it give you a receipt and then they deliver it to you on the last night of the cruise.

Solid cheese might be ok as long as no meat in it,like bacon? I would think it would have to be in some sort of a sealed package.( example vacuum sealed)

I would say meat,no. I don’t know what is allowed in UK after getting off a cruise.

@Lady Arwen I am enjoying following along on your Sanctuary experience. Love the number of children you have onboard 🤣 with your voyage.

The rest of the children are in the Phoenix area and they started school about a month ago here- so schools are all over the place with how they start & stop. Still quite a few home schooled children too.

@suech1970 here the “ new dining information “ for you on Princess.( starts 9-15-24.)

Traditional dining seems to be 5 PM and 7:30 PM with a few variations.

The reservable (Flexible is Princesses new term) a.k.a. dine my way starts at 5 PM and there are slots available every 20 minutes.

Open seating (Princesses new term) AKA walk-in is just that. 

You may try & make reservations for dinner on app or web version prior to cruise. Some say doesn’t matter if paid in full or your first cruise with Princess they have been able to book.

Caribbean Princess -2024 & 2025

Island dining room( mid deck 5) is traditional 5 PM and 7:30 PM( choice of shared table or private table, subject to availability ) May 2025 voyage at  7:30 pm -private table only as of 7-24-24.

Palm dining room( aft deck 6)-reservable starting at 5 pm every 20 minute reservations (choice of shared or private table after choosing the time-subject to availability)

Coral dining room (mid deck 6)is walk-in( enter on port side)  & Reserve collection dining room- entrance on starboard 

Speciality dining one may also make reservations on app or web version.($ fee based) Price is changing currently,if interested,price will show on app.

Just look a Princess.com for FAQ’s Or deck plans ,etc.

Princess has a good mix of trivia & “ game shows”. Marriage game, yes/no game,themed trivia. I would not say rock music necessarily plays in any venue.

check if someone has posted recent Patters/ Princess ( Caribbean Princess) newsletters ,it will give you an idea of what time and what type of shows are offered.

@Need-a-vacation not all onboard credit is refundable,check the specifics on what you have.

OP/ author is asking about Sky Princess.

7 hours ago, nasus2 said:

We board sky princess next week. We have 2 free casual dining options. Do I book these in advance, when I board or just turn up ? Like to be organised 

Just ask once onboard if you may reserve- I don’t think so or look at Patter aka newsletter for hours of casual dining operation. I believe you will just turn up for casual dining.( example: Alfredo’s,Ocean Terrace, & Vines.) Definitely no reservations on app prior to your voyage.

@Astro Flyer no I don’t know for sure ,but read it was held in Crown Grill - The Caymus wine dinner.

The Caymus wine dinner is $140./ person, +18% -you reserve once onboard. They take 12 passengers for the dinner. Depending on length of voyage it could be offered 2-3 times per voyage,depending on demand. Probably if not enough passengers sign up, it would be not held.

It is on Princess.com with more specifics. Should be offered fleetwide.

This is the current deck plan on Princess.com for Sapphire Princess. Brazilian restaurant Also on The Diamond P. Since maybe last summer debut?

Yes Sterling Steakhouse is now Brazilian churrascaria.

 A few threads on it out there.

@mikemincruise Princess sells Heineken zero. So maybe you can bring onboard? Maybe not?

@Silverspringcruiser no it’s not wrong if you wish to have 2 premium desserts per day on your cruise. Most passengers are one & done that I have seen post about it ,especially with the “ sundaes”. Some have enjoyed the ginormous cake slices ( 3 flavors),but I have NOt heard that most passengers can’t wait to have any of them or are craving these desserts.

Well, I would say to the OP/author if you really want to cruise during that time you should.
I don’t honestly think there is any way to find out before final payment how many kids/ children or extended families traveling together ….will be on any particular cruise.
If children bother you that much then ,obviously I wouldn’t book it at all ,but to miss out on a vacation/ cruise  because it fits your schedule and you would enjoy the holiday decorations, etc. etc. you should just go for it.

Life is short .

@YVRteacher I am so glad I stumbled upon your Live from NCL, I have only been on 1 NCL cruise-I enjoyed it, but I was a tagalong for a friend of mine on a comp. casino cruise.

Absolutely enjoying your postings and sorry that this ship is not very good with Wi-Fi - vs. Princess.

This was from someone’s post on the Island Princess recently ,I know not the ship that you’re ( to Op/ author) going on but… I would think the dining room could accommodate your request if done it in advance.

@Beamafar here is a Princess Patter a.k.a. the newsletter from day one on somebody’s cruise.  A little difficult to read in the dark blue section at the bottom, but it basically says you can do it on your app or with a crew member once onboard .

37 minutes ago, Iamcruzin said:

If the price is the same on board where are they discounting the original price from?  Are they taking a page from Royal Caribbean'a and Celebrity's made up prices. Princess is more creative as the most I ever saved on either of those lines was 40% off of the fake price.

 

Princess Premier        Princess Plus

$310 now $90.            $153 now $60

save 71%                    Save 61%

 

I think  what Princess is advertising is if you were to purchase all of the things included separately and add it up -that would be what their discounting is based on. My opinion. I haven’t actually added it up per se.

@gah_cruise without actually seeing a dessert menu on The Sky here is just one example. The cheese offerings might change in the main dining room nightly ?? One example in the main dining room is Brie and Gouda cheese with dried apricots & port wine reduction.

Perhaps when you order your dinner, you can ask for a dessert menu and if you don’t see a particular cheese that you like maybe at that time they could get exactly what kind of cheese that you desire as long as you place your order well before the dessert comes for the rest of the table??

I think just ask and you’ll never know otherwise, talk to your waiter or the headwaiter or whatever their title is and see if you can get something that’s more interesting to your palate.

As far as the quality of the cheese, I think that’s probably very subjective. Or go to the buffet before you go to the main dining room and secure the cheese you want if it’s better quality for you. 

I have definitely heard that it’s extremely easy once you’re onboard ( have to use the credit card that you have secured as your onboard charges to your folio )the ship to add the plus or premier cruise package and it’s pretty instantaneously and you can grab your first beverage if you so desire as soon as that is done or get on the Internet right away, etc. etc.

I have heard from other passengers that it’s super easy to do once onboard ,no real delay. I do believe you can do it right on your app all  by yourself or you can enlist the help one of the crew members stationed about the ship that is offering this.

There might be some sort of online items that are not available up to let’s just say three days prior to your cruise. I’m not sure on the timing, but some items are not able to be done within a 1 to 5 day window prior to your cruise?? ( not sure on this,others chime in)