Wishing on a star

Princess rates are the same for GTY and for choosing your cabin. Not sure if that was different years ago. But, that is the way it has been for a long time. Other cruise lines might still have the GTY discount? I think most people choose GTY because they think that increases their chance for an upgrade. Or, because, as cabins book up, Princess will only offer that category as GTY. Lately, Princess has been picky about which cabins they offer to people traveling as a couple, and to people traveling with 3 or 4 in the cabin. If anyone sees that only GTY is offered for the two of them, but would like to see if any other cabins are available to choose, try to do a mock booking for 3 and see if any cabins show up.

LAcruiser, Minisuites do have a real table. Like that one. Standard Balcony cabins only have a small square, or round side or foot-stool table. I understand that cabins with larger balconies that are now called Premium Balconies or Premium Deluxe Balconies now also have the real table. One of the very very few things that I like that Princess has done!

Rudy, are you sailing with two or solo? Try pulling up the cruise to book with three, and see if any better balcony locations show up that way.

I have seen some that will show a few Deluxe available for two. But others will only show GTY. The sailings aren't heavily booked. Many available. I am going to be watching to see if any thing changes after final payment date.

Hey Captain, would you mind saying which sailing? Are you wanting a specific deck, high or mid or low? Is it for two, or more than that, or solo? Princess is rolling out the new Bidding For Upgrade system. With that, I would think that there would be fewer random upgrades. Never know! And, yes it could be any location.

After using the little white packets, then realizing that they were not sugar, and then realizing that who knows what is actually in them (packet not printed in English, or large enough to read) .... and not feeling well and getting headaches until I figured out what was going on. Also, asking and putting the staff thru time consuming tasks and waiting goodness knows how long to get them. I will be bringing my own true Sweet-N-Low if I sail again.

The issue, then, might be that in their implentation of this system, they have made NO deluxe balcony cabins available for two passengers.. That makes none of those wakeview cabins available to two passengers. I have never heard of couples not getting the wake views, until recently. I pulled up a Caribbean cruise that we are looking at, and I put in balcony cabins, not the deluxe balconies. They are showing different cabins, according to whether you are a party of two or not. But, at least a party of two CAN book a regular balcony. Not so with Deluxe Balcony. And that is just not okay. The two of us sailed on our last cruise in a Deluxe Balcony. Now, if I wanted that cabin again, I would have to... 1. Know and have researched what is going on. And know that these are available. 2. Start calling and doing the 'hokey pokey' to get that cabin. That just isn't okay. Any reasoning doesn't make this situation where two people can't book an entire category, which has TONS of cabins available. (so can't be a capacity issue) any more acceptable. This situation with Deluxe Balcony cabins is a problem. Now, I am wondering if the one poster here who kept getting booted out of their AFT inside cabin to a different location, for absolutely no conceivable reason, was moved because of this ridiculous cabin availability algorithm that they are using. (they did finally get, and keep, the cabin they wanted)

Here is mid-ship Marina deck... Notice the blue/purple lights on the bottom of the Sea Walk.

Here is a mini that is under the Sea Walk, where there is no opening between the Sea Walk and the ship. This is on Riveria Deck, on Sky Princess. Marina deck would be higher up under the Sea Walk.

It is not looking thru the glass openings in the floor that is the issue. It is on ships like the Regal where there is open space between the SeaWalk and ship.... Direct views.

SwimCarrie, because that is just how it works. Always has. Two people can book any category, including larger Minisuites, and Deluxe Balconies, which technically can ALL sleep more than two people, This situation with finding Deluxe Balconies for two is a recent thing. And doesn't seem to be a problem with booking Minis or any other category.

Tedferg, Sorry! I was reading where you said this, below... There are a lot of sailings and comments on here, and it can get confusing for sure! "Agree, I guessed at Caribbean Princess, in this case just Premium no Deluxe. On 14 day cruise in June" When I saw 14-day, I was thinking that this might be two 7 days, back to back, that are also sold as a 14 day. And, I am thinking that this is a situation where Princess might try to keep cabins open so that the 14 day bookings can find cabins available for the cruise. So, the '14 day' reminded me of that situation.

Standard actual exterior balcony size are the same on Balcony, Deluxe Balcony, and Minisuite categories. Balconies are the same no matter which category or size of interior. Do not confuse Standard balcony size, with the size or general use of the term 'balcony' for regular (not deluxe) balcony cabins. Larger actual exterior balcony size, as mentioned, are very very limited on Regal. - The mid-ship bump-out cabins... (all of those above categories) - The AFT cabins... larger on some decks than others. (category Premium Deluxe Balcony) - And there are a couple of cabins on Deck 8 Emerald deck, Forward, that have an extended area. I believe that these are Deluxe balcony interiors, with the little seating... but the regular balcony has an extension. Good luck with your cabin!!!!

I don't know if the milkshakes are available at Gelato, or also at the Swirls soft-serve counter. I am not sure if they are clearly or prominantly advertised or listed? I have always understood that they are not included with the soda or beverage package. I haven't read about the new Premier beverage package. Maybe shakes are included on that?

Malba, again, that just doesn't hold water, or explain why this is happening ONLY to Deluxe Balconies. No other category. Also, especially with staffing issues... If anything, they are limiting ship capacity on some sailings. There might be some strange reason that Princess can have for this. But, looking at it from every angle that I can imagine, it just makes no sense.

I had thought that maybe Princess was trying to go as far as to count and limit the number of people in each stewards cabin area. (Staffing issues can be the big scapegoat sometimes). But, it should definitely be by number of cabins, not number of people. And effectively 'forcing' more people into the Deluxe Balconies would be just the opposite of that. You might have hit on something when you mention back to back cruises. I think I have heard on cruises that are popular as back-to-back there are cabins that are held back for these bookings. But, nope, that doesn't make sense either. Number one, bookings that are past Final Payment are doing this. And also, this seems to only be an issue or glitch with the Deluxe Balcony cabins. Not other categories. I don't know what Princess is thinking, or what the glitch is, or the crazy algorithm in the system, but I feel sorry for those who do not do their research, like here on CC, or have a really good TA who is aware of this and ready to work around it. We sail in Deluxe balconies, and if we weren't planning to sail on a budget next time, I would go thru whatever it took to get the cabin I wanted, knowing it was sitting there available.

Tedferg, VERY confusing! It appears that Deluxe Balcony cabins are showing for two guests. But no rhyme or reason on why some are showing, like on certain decks, and some are not. On Caribbean cruises that I have looked at, it will not show anything but GTY unless you put in three or more. That is it. If I were wanting to book on of the desired AFT wake view cabins, and this 'system' is keeping me from doing that, when I can SEE that half of them are available... Not happy... I don't know what the Princess system or 'algorithms' . might be doing, but it is confounding for sure!!! Some have wondered if it were because of staffing and regulation issues. But that doesn't hold water. If you do get ready to book, and it only shows GTY, but you can see that the cabin is actually available, I would call and do whatever 'hokey pokey' it would take to get the cabin I needed.

Tedferg, you say that the big box online site show Deluxe balconies. Are they actually showing balconies that can be booked, when booking for two guests? Would you give us the sailing that is showing these balconies.. That is another thing that is so confusing. I have seen a few sailings that do show these deluxe balconies available for two guest. But, I think many if not most, do not. And, I can't see any rhyme or reason why the difference. The biggest issue I have here with Princess is the lack of truth and transparency. We shouldn't have to be here on a chatboard trying to figure out and work around their policies or system. Princess does not have my respect lately.

I always thought that milkshakes are not covered in the package??? But, yes all coffee, specialty coffees, bottled waters, juice... all covered. And, spirits covered by your PLUS or PREMIUM package are covered. We love to get iced mochas! I have heard of paying for the gelato, and then adding the spirits to make an affragato(sp?).

Deb. I am 'thinking' that a third person can be removed, before final payment, with no problem? I believe that no changes can be made to the two first passengers? I would not make any assumptions with things like this on Princess. I would suggest that people call, in person, and verify.... Take whatever steps are necessary right there in the one phone call with the TA or Princess. Either by having them book GTY and then making a cabin assignment. (check availability by pulling up a mock booking for three) Or by having them book a so-called third passenger, then a cancellation on the third.

It should be FCFS... Anybody who thinks anything should be reserved for, applied to/or not applied to, themselves.. That is, indeed, the very definition of the word entitlement.

Yes, there is a lot of confusion. That is one thing that is great about coming here on CC, you can get information that many won't know. I don't know why this situation is happening. I don't know if Princess is working on changing it. I don't know why, even some TA's, including some of the 'less than stellar' Princess Planners, do not even know how or why this is, or that they can work around it. I have heard, book the GTY, then make phone calls to get the assignment. In this one persons case, they are already past Final Payment, so changing their booking from one category to the Deluxe balcony might pose some problems. They could try to tell this person that they would have to totally precancel and re-book, and charge cancellation fees. But, actually, there should be no problem with upgrading on the same sailing. In a perfect world.

What a nice thought! I would try that... If there is a separate number then I don't think I have ever heard of it. Does anybody know if they would be there before they board and first get to their cabin? If you don't want your wife to see it on the booking. I think it might show up there if she were to look closely. Maybe you could print off all the info before calling, and tell her you have done that so she has it all ready to go.

Good luck! If, for sure, the only thing right now is Guarantee, then you could get the standard size balcony, and it is small. If your sailing is a long ways out, then you can keep checking. Both while logged in, and not logged in. Maybe some of these will open up.

Good luck, Sunset, in calling Princess, or having your TA call Princess and getting re-booked. I think it would have worked if you had tried booking on the phone, or thru a TA, and had them book the GTY and then assign you the specific cabin. I think I have read that this is how some have handled this. That just isn't how it works to only make ALL cabins in one whole cabin category available only to larger parties. It just isn't. Couples or parties of two book minisuites, or even suites, all the time. Cruise lines are in the business of selling cabins! Also, I don't believe the ships capacity would support having all third and fourth berths occupied. Right now the two of us can book a Mini, but not a Deluxe.... That is just, well, not right. Makes no sense. Inside cabins can sleep up to 4, but I have not heard of them holding. those cabins back. The two of us have booked Deluxe balconies before, no problem! If what I have noticed is correct, this issue started fairly recently. I don't know what the problem is with booking these Deluxe Balconies... But, by. now they have to know that this issue is happening. If it is some strange 'policy', it would be very misguided.