AGE CRUISER

It is true as of now - it's on Princess Website Island Princess ship description -- when on in December I was told by a senior officer it's happening and in Italy. Like you I'm looking forward to seeing her spiffed up on my December sailing!! Enjoy your October!

Coral has put tiny IC by the casino when good Spirits installed. Unfortunately on Island they took out La Patisserie (International cafe) a few years ago and instead have the Good Spirits in the space.. In the morning you can get all the usual coffees etc at the bar and they have a case with morning pastries etc but not the same for sure. In buffet have some of the same "food" grab and go you'd find at IC as well you'll find Amuletto for the IC coffee, teas. But not the same. Can also get coffees on pool deck "scoops" and sit outside. The main thing of course if the missing food items we love from IC. But there is a work around like with everything. You have a big decision to make!

Island is scheduled for drydock in September this year in Italy - I have no details on what is being done. I love the Island as I love the smaller ships for actual cruising and different unique ports they can get to. Recent sailings on her were 3 times last year (last one Dec/Jan), also on her in 2021 and 2022 and pre-covid. There are a few odd things you see around which need updating/usual wear and tear but I saw nothing major they've done a good job with replacing carpets etc. There have been problems off and on with the air con/heating system as she's gone between different climates (had no heat in my cabin but quickly fixed but that was at restart and nothing since for me) and heard about odd toilet issues onboard on most recent cruise but happens on all ships. Booked on her again for December/January this year. I had comfy bed, cabin good as were all the venues - food, service etc top notch compared to my personal experience on other ships last couple of years. If it's someone who likes to sail with all the new bells and whistles, things like the International Cafe and having a wider choice of venues is important to your cruise experience then I would say the Island not the ship for you. I agree with previous poster the gym area is tiny, usually crowded and inside unfortunately - dungeon a good descriptor. I just pick a more off time to work-out and focus on outdoors instead for my personal solution for gym but agree it's downside. I enjoy this ship for the actual cruise experience, nice wide proper promenade deck which doesn't go all the way around anymore with the changes so you just cut through the ship to other side to make circuit, lots of open deck space up and down for viewing, relaxing, nice wide corridors doesn't feel crowded, there's indoor covered pool area if needed. Buffet is forward not aft so views amazing sailing along you can see what's coming I prefer it to aft settings. The officers and crew have been consistently good in my experience and many want to stay with the ship for their contracts which is nice. The odd time an issue but gets looked after. Familiar faces - have some new inexperienced staff as on all the ships but do well to maintain good service standard throughout and any issues quickly addressed. Nothing is perfect. As the atrium smaller it is crowded when there are events and more limited seating area. I don't understand the many complaints I've read about the ship as my experience is opposite. i can only guess perhaps those folks had expectations of the Island it couldn't deliver on because of what it is - a smaller unique ship. If you choose to go enjoy!! What an experience it would be!

No nothing from Canada Post and of course they have their own tracking number which we have no way of knowing. Guess we need to provide feedback on our post-cruise survey so they can learn as newer process for Princess mailing to Canada. Not that it would change!

I just got my medallion today - notification Nov 27 with USPS tracking number that never worked - arrived Dec 7 - it was shipped by Canada Post Xpresspost from Mississauga, Ont so suspect for Canada they ship from US in a batch to USPS then batch sent on to Mississauga "Ocean Medallion Fulfillment" location and put in Canada Post. Lots of time in advance as I leave December 19th. Reassuring. Confusing with the USPS tracking code but I think maybe it's part of the bigger batch sent out so won't track as individual item. Only a guess. We will learn as this is new for us Canadians.

I'm also in Canada - Nov 27 e-mail shipped and still getting no status message like you. I leave Dec 19 sail 21st.

Yes you can no problem at all have done it many times! Especially handy when on those cruises with large number of Elites so laundry return takes several days.

It's a real thing. I had the same thing happen to me when booking a cruise in January - new this year in my experience all these years and first time my TA has ever seen but a couple of her colleagues had run into it as well in 2023 and with other cruise lines. Princess online will let you mock book but once at the actual final step to book it won't let you actually book the single you get error message. Single as well as Plus and Premiere are now "capacity controlled". I waited a couple of weeks and single capacity became available again so my TA grabbed it fast you just have to keep checking. Or has been suggested book as two people then have one no show but I'm not personally comfortable with that particularly for travel trip cancellation insurance etc. I also wanted to book Plus on a different cruise but I couldn't do so "capacity was met" for that particular cruise and it didn't open up again for Plus fare but you could upgrade to the Plus drinks package only. I agree so frustrating as in most cases we are paying 200% of fare but the concern seems to be the our onboard spend they figure we spend less than 2 in a cabin but I would disagree with that but they must have the metrics to support the decision - one would hope!

I was on a week ago and there were quite a few books not as many or were they as current as in the past - did leave some donations!

As free laundry is an Elite benefit, if you wish to do your own instead you see Guest Services and tell them you'd like to do your own and ask for tokens. I've done this a few times when there are a lot of Elite onboard so laundry turnaround is 3-4 days or more and just did my own. No charge for the tokens but you have to ask for them and say why.

Just ask at Crooners most of their bar staff know how to make the martinis that have long since vanished from the current menus - had great luck with that on the Island in June! Enjoy!

In my experience it usually means either Sold Out (as we know all ships have to put aside a block of COVID isolation cabins so full capacity not the same thing) or they are actioning the guaranteed cabins bookings not necessarily assigning cabins but looking at what they have etc and see what needs doing. They may open again for bookings - or not - no way to know for certain that I'm aware of what is going on the specific cruise. A few days ago I booked on a Sept cruise that for 2 weeks showed unavailable then a few cabins opened up for booking and were gone within a few short hours glad my TA was on it right away or would have missed out. The Vancouver return sailings are getting sold out as for many it means no flights so wouldn't be surprised if the Oct 18th is sold out for determined capacity or close to it.

Sorry Steelers36 thought I had copied and updated the latest one......not expecting you to do it. This is from #374 with my previous update added to Island....thanks... HIP CAPTAIN CRUISE DIRECTOR ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR DIR, RESTAURANT OP's Caribbean Princess Steve Holland Kristoff Greyling Martyn Moss (on leave?) George Drugan Coral Princess Kevin Tugwell Crown Princess Tony Ruggero Jody Miles Kelvin Joy Mariusz Caermemnazowicz (sp?) Diamond Princess Not In Service Not In Service Not In Service Discovery Princess Marcus Prince Juanta Frenchie Desbuquois Emerald Princess Fernando Cunha Enchanted Princess Mario Ciruzzi Matt Barnard Marissa Wurms Silvio Zampieri Grand Princess Corinne Steel Island Princess Andi Sanders Daniele Rosafio (until Sept 11) Majestic Princess Michele Tuvo (#1) Armando Merin Ben Powney Francisco Patricio Regal Princess Andrea Spinardi Dan France Neil Rose Nicola Furlan (#1) Royal Princess Natalie Costa Ron Goodman Ruby Princess Mikka Reitano Tim Donovan Sapphire Princess Not In Service Not In Service Not In Service Sky Princess Marco Fortezze Paul Chandler-Burns Matt Thompson Francesco

SHIP CAPTAIN CRUISE DIRECTOR ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR DIR, RESTAURANT OP's Caribbean Princess Steve Holland Kristoff Greyling Martyn Moss (on leave?) George ? Coral Princess Kevin Tugwell Crown Princess Tony Ruggero Jody Miles Kelvin Joy Mariusz Caermemnazowicz (sp?) Diamond Princess Not In Service Not In Service Not In Service Discovery Princess Marcus Prince Juanta Frenchie Desbuquois Emerald Princess Fernando Cunha Enchanted Princess Mario Ciruzzi Matt Barnard Marissa Wurms Silvio Zampieri Grand Princess Corinne Steel Island Princess Andi Sanders Daniele Rosafio (until Sept 11) Majestic Princess Michele Tuvo (#1) Aaron Mac Ben Powney Francisco Patricio Regal Princess Andrea Spinardi Dan France Neil Rose Nicola Furlan (#1) Royal Princess Natalie Costa Ron Goodman Ruby Princess Tim Donovan Sapphire Princess Not In Service Not In Service Not In Service Sky Princess Marco Fortezze Paul Chandler-Burns Matt Thompson Francesco Clorfito