rocklinmom

Thank you so much! This is really helpful. Funny the Princess website still shows it as run by Impark.

Hi SactoSteve, How did you book the 80 Francisco Street garage? I can't get their webpage to work. Do you recall which web address you used? And is it still run by Impark or someone else?

Ooh we live in Monterey now and it would be awesome to go to lunch at the wharf and see a Princess ship docked there! And yes it will definitely be a tender port, there's no way a ship is docking there.

We are elite so are supposed to get the Wifi at half off (so $5 per day vs. $10) but I read somewhere that you get that discount as half back onboard as OBC. Is this accurate? Or can you get the half off discount when purchasing it pre cruise?

Yah! I always need a triple cabin and a double cabin next to it. Not always easy and especially if I'm not seeing all of the truly available triples.

So for a family of five, does it make a difference to book 5 individual $10 a day plans (so $50 a day) or to book a 4 device plan and a separate individual plan for the fifth person (so would be only $30 a day)? That would save quite a bit of money but wondering if the actual implementation and ease of use would be worth it. Or if Princess has already figured out the math like me and it isn't possible to do.

Never know, and yes could always request it. If not they will have plenty of great food.

At this point if we choose to cruise we are aware of the risks. If someone is leery of being around unmasked people they should wait to be on a cruise ship IMHO. You could still catch the flu or a stomach bug on a cruise ship (remember the days of Norovirus alerts onboard?). It's part of the risk of any travel.

That sounds amazing! Do they have traditional Christmas dinner menus too?

We are considering the Christmas/NYE cruise this December and wondering how they do the holidays from someone who has done it? Is it festive? I know I love the idea of not having to cook and bake and shop.

The Internet Cafe is absolutely still needed. Many print their flight boarding passes or their Travel Summary if needed to clarify something with Customer Service. Many do not use smartphones, especially on Princess. My parents still don't and won't so they need the Internet cafe to send emails, check in with their cat sitter, etc. Or there could be something happening during a cruise that requires an actual computer not a smartphone to type something, enter in credit card details in a more secure way, etc. My daughter once had her college registration for classes happening during a cruise and there was no way she could do it on her iPhone. I think Princess realizes that there is still a need for computer access, much like the business center in hotels.

Oh I hope they don't get rid of the daily Patters! I always enjoy finding them under the door and reading them before bed to plan our next day. I get the whole "eco-friendly" thing but it's such a tradition and some of us don't want to be on our phones constantly while on vacation. I'd hate to have to use my phone to check everything.

Thanks again for this fabulous review! I have a question, I noticed in your photo of the Santa Barbara port info that masks are required indoors ashore and that you need to take proof of Covid vaccination with you? Is this in every port on your cruise? I didn't realize they are still requiring those things or maybe it's just the CA ports.

They have liquid hand soap now? Yay no more bar soap! Always hated those.

Thank you Navy Veteran, I appreciate you checking on those. We actually live only 2 hours from San Fran so would sail from there, easier and cheaper to drive.

We are considering booking this cruise as well. Are the shore excursions really that full already? Do you recall which ones are fully booked? That could make me book sooner than later. And the advice given above is spot on for the "water shuttles" (I liked it better when they called them tenders).

Oh that's good, hadn't thought of the benefits, was thinking more of possible music above at night.

Wow this is good to know, thanks! I was looking at some Lido deck cabins underneath there.

Thank you! Nothing against smokers, I just don't want smoke above my balcony if possible.

Omigosh thank you so much for the cabin door photos! I was thinking they wouldn't be together and you confirmed for me, thanks! And also thank you for the smoking area confirmation. I really appreciate it! 🙂

Thank you! I am looking at Marina deck cabins right below that outdoor area (port side) so wondering if we would have a smoking area right above our balconies. Usually one side is smoking and the other isn't. It would be nice to be one deck below to run up to the buffet, just trying to cover all my bases.

If you have a chance, could you please confirm if the port side outside eating area for Horizon Court is for smokers? Where you walk out of the buffet to the outside eating tables, near the Outrigger Bar. Walking out the doors next to the public restrooms. I am looking at cabins right below that area on Marina deck (cabins M706 and M704 specifically) and wondering if there would be an outdoor smoking area above them. And if you happened to walk past those cabin numbers and see if they have doors together or not...wink wink...if you're bored...thank you so much, only if you are able to. 🙂

Hi again! One more question, you posted this as the outdoor smoking area at the back of Lido deck. Do you recall if there were also smokers allowed in the Horizon Court outdoor eating area? I am looking at some aft Marina deck cabins right below that (where you walk outside from the buffet) on the port side and want to avoid the smoking side.

Yes! It is the anxiety about staying healthy for pre-cruise testing that concerns me. Or one of us testing positive at the pier without knowing we even had it and being denied boarding.

Thank you! I am looking at the first two cabins coming into your Lido cabin section from the Trident Grill/pool area. They are right across from the forward stairs and near the forward elevators, and can walk right outside to the pool deck. I imagine you guys walked by them many times (L301 and L235). I was just wondering if there would be a lot of noise and/or commotion being right there.