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I gave up trying to book first night suite dinner. Never have been successful. I am early to board. I just stop off at the Crown Grill and request a dining time. Rarely more than a handful of passengers dining at 5 PM. Or even at 6:30 when we leave. I would guess the same for Sabatini's. ONCE, I was called as soon as I entered the room. Dine line wanted to know what time I wanted reservations.

Most often, last call is by 9:30 AM. Sometimes they are much quicker and other times, disembarkation is delayed. They want to be zero'd out by 10 AM. I have been on ships that they are asking everyone to leave by 9.

OP is getting the plus package. No need to pre-order and pay for water. Every time you pass a bar, pick up a couple of bottles Specialty coffees are covered. Prosecco is included. Yes, you can order specialty coffees in the MDR. You can even have coffee with a shot of Baileys.

I didn't think the OP was confused. I knew from the get go that they were looking at standard fare to buying Princess Plus on the ship. It's Princess that chooses to confuse everyone with all of their meaningless and confusing names that do not represent the actual item (I won't go into all of the misnomers). I knew about the $642 Princess Plus added to fare ($60 x 10 days plus insurance) since I got sucked into that one. I am confused about the $540 for seemingly purchasing Princess Plus onboard the first day. I am also confused why the OP was given the option of an upgrade price of $540 (instead of $642). I'm not a gambler...and wouldn't take the risk to upgrade at $540 for a $600 package. Is this really a 10 day cruise ($600) or a 9 day cruise ($540)?

Using the OPs prices ($540 and $600), and PLUS.... OPs was not considering Premier. But looking at the "other beverage package", the numbers still would not add up to $540. https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/beverages/ (drinks ONLY) I was just trying to let the buyer beware. Don't get sucked into their drink only packages. $60 a day = $600 if purchased on board FOR PRINCESS PLUS $60 a day + insurance = $642 if purchased with fare FOR PRINCESS PLUS Don't see anywhere where $540 would even calculate out correctly. Princess Premier does not factor into this equation at all.

Yes, I sat by the door. There was a Reserved Dining sign. But after 2 weeks, you’d think they would “know” by then. Almost as entertaining as watching newbies trying to find the aft dining room.

There are 2 different beverage packages. Be careful to NOT select just the drinks (without wifi and crew incentive).

If you are looking at inside cabins, I would recommend Plaza Deck 300s. Much better location. Avoid the quad cabins. Do a mock booking with 3 passengers, make note of cabin numbers, and avoid them.

The host/hostess will scan your medallion on the first couple of nights. It never ceases to amaze me, that after 13 days, people still walk up to this door….and very politely “guided” to the other MDR.

I had plenty of time to get to Narita. Ship arrived on time. Took the transfer and got to the airport by 11 AM. Flight back to LAX was at 5 PM. What time are you looking for? Disembarkation was easy. Did have to go through customs. No clear line....mass of people. You have to claim your luggage before customs. Check in at the airport had some long lines (not for us) at Narita. You have to clear security. It is difficult to predict if the Diamond will encounter any unexpected delays. If you are doing a international flight, give yourself some room to breathe.

95% of the time, I have been able to get the same table. 100% of the time, I’ve had the same waiter. Even when “someone was at MY table” I was seated in another section and MY waiter served me. On the Grand, the Reserve Dining Room (it will always be Club Class Dining…ugh) is on the Starboard (ship’s right) side. But yes, as you face the dining rooms….it is on the physical “left” of you.

Availability depends on the voyage. I was shocked that the Diamond in Japan didn't start getting passengers until well after 6:30. It was empty. Most of my cruises have been with "early" diners. Can't speak for Europe. The general patterns seem to follow: 1. Doors open between 4:45 and 5 PM for dinner. 2. The "first wave" takes anywhere from 60 - 90 minutes. If you "miss" the first seating, there may be a short wait if you come between 6 and 6:30. 3. There are "invisible" walls that separate the MDR from Reserved Dining; meaning, if more tables are needed they just replace the table cloths and it magically becomes Reserved Dining. 4. Unless you really require front row of window tables, you can just walk in at any time. They have no hesitations to place a couple at a table for 4. 5. If you have to leave for an event, you can always return for coffee and desert after it. Last seating is by 8:30 - 9 PM. 6. Most Reserved Dining rooms are on Deck 6. All that I have been in have been Starboard. I have heard of a few others being port.

Although I like the Sapphire (have been on the Diamond), I am much more familiar with th Grand. Have done many, many, many cruises on the Grand. In all honesty, you can't go wrong with either. Both have great features. I don't need to ever use the middle staircase on the Grand. I rarely go up to One5 on the Grand

Depending on the length of your cruise. For a 7 day cruise, there will be 2 (and sometimes 3) production shows and some kind of entertainment every night in both theaters. Comedians, vocalist, magicians, etc. If it is a full ship, not everyone can be accommodated by the 2 performances each evening. 45 - 30 minutes if you have a desired location. I usually go around 32 minutes before the second show. I read, recently, that the CB did a "matinee" show on a sea day. Have yet to experience that.

We had breakfast on the CB on disembarkation morning. First time EVER on any ship (that I have been on ... lol...only other suites were on the Grand Princess).

All ships need a bigger theater. When they built the Royal Class ships, they took away public venues (like Club Fusion, Explorers Lounge, Wheelhouse, Promenaded Deck, etc) AND did not increase the size of the Princess Theater. What were they thinking? (rhetorical question/aka Sheldon Cooper).

The CB is too big to port. All tenders take you into the middle of the town. Lots and lots of youtube videos on this. Is your excursion one by the ship or on your own? If on your own, do you have Elite Status? We skipped Newport on my voyage because the Captain deemed it too dangerous to tender. I did tender in Bar Harbor. I am elite and it still took me a little less than an hour from checking in to getting off the tender with a 20 minute ride. We had priority boarding. Took our group before all the others. Someone had told me they had waited in the dining room for a little over 90 minutes. I gave myself plenty of time to get to my independent tour. Left the cabin at 9 AM for an 11 AM tour. If you are on a ship's excursion, they will gather you in a location and you will have priority boarding on either one of the outgoing tenders or one just for your group.

Is it my imagination or is your cruise whizzing back? Glad you have been able to enjoy all ports.

Sapphire really isn't an identical sister ship to the CB. Sapphire: 2670 passengers ...sister ships: Diamond (and more similar to the Grand Princess) Caribbean: 3140 passengers (1 extra deck) ...sister ships: Ruby, Crown, Emerald. Same size Princess Theater trying to accommodate 500 extra passengers.

Recently off the CB. On sea days, LOTS of people milling around with no place to go. But you would find that on any ship. Just where do you expect 3000 to 5000 passengers to go? Air Conditioning in the MDR was downright cold. Needed a sweater/wrap every meal. There were hit and miss cabins that had AC issues. Only one elevator that needed a repair. That's better than most ships. Food can vary by passengers. I thought it was good for me. Rarely visited the Buffet. Love the Crown Grill. The new menu in Sabatini's is better than the old. Tendering is a huge problem. But is the same for every ship. Bottom Line: I did not see any major issues on the CB. With packed ships across the fleet, you are going to run into issues with any Princess ship you choose to cruise on.

The only issue I now have is that FCDs are only good for a year. Yes, you may be able to request an extension. Princess expects you to cruise more often than once every 12 months…yes, you can apply them to a cruise 2 years down the line. During the shut down, all of mine expired before I could get on a ship to purchase more. I sailed several voyages without FCD OBC.

The only “advantage” for applying a FCD after booking a cruise is if is going to expire. It’s already paid for so why not reduce final payment instead of a refund. No OBC. I have tried to apply FCD after the fact and never received OBC.

I don’t “bother” her unless it is an emergency. I do all the research and email it to her. Over the years, we have developed quite a nice friendship.

She does, but is still available 24/7 via text or phone call.

Not enough to get me on a Royal Class ship. But the 360 is tempting.