mtnesterz

Only one I know from experience, Valentine's Day no. US based cruises will show the Super Bowl on MUTS. SE Asia, probably not. Nobody there cares. Might find it on one of the sports channels on TV. Lunar New Year, probably, given your itinerary.

Right now it's about 4AM here. I can answer about excursions in general with the Diamond in Japan this year, but more completely to your questions in a few hours after I can speak with someone with more directly related experience. The main thing about the Diamond circle Japan cruise excursions was that the English speaking tour guides barely spoke English. Fortunately, someone sitting next to us on the bus was able to get through the heavy accent, misused and mispronounced words. Language ability was not like watching a reporter on NHK World. Someone posted on CC was that interpreters are in short supply and the better paying companies got better interpreters. If you understand Japanese and this is a non issue, sorry. The Japanese reputation for timeliness was brought to the front. It was important that the tour operators arrived back to the ship on time. It is not important that you actually get to see what you paid to see. If there is traffic, you're paying for little more than a bus ride. Bottom line is this, we opted for Princess excursions, but in this case, if someone gives you a referral for a private company outside Princess with a good reputation, I'd go for it.

Saying folks are near the end was an unkind thing to post. The Love Boat has it's own channel, on Pluto TV, 24/7.

True for those venues you mentioned, but lousy for swimming. Iceland in June and July, when these cruises run, is 50-55F. Covered pool would be nice, also, that area is often used as overflow for Horizon Court seating, so instead people keep packing inside an already crowded buffet. I know people love the CB, but got to take the climate into account.

Someone told me this recently when I was indecisive and needed to make a choice and it worked for me. It may for you too. It works because it jolts you out of focusing on the details, instead contentment with the big picture. You know more details about the cabins than you could possibly relate to us, so relating them isn't needed. Take a coin, heads, the MiniSuite, tails the Cabana. Flip the coin. Are you happy with the toss? If not, pick the other. No? Well, it works for me.

I would suggest you request your question be moved to the Ports Of Call, Europe board. Because you're getting answersfrom all cruisers, not just us Princess folk. I had a question and after posting there had my answer in about five minutes.

If you're looking for a cruise line that specializes in intensive one-country itineraries, that company has to be Azamara and they do an Iceland itinerary. Best however, is a value judgement. As to the Caribbean Princess, it currently has the distinction of the least space per passenger in the fleet and does not have a covered pool deck, which I'd want cruising that region.

We got a call too. Caller ID said Princess so we picked up, but we said no to the pitch. They did know many things specific to our cruise history.

Also retired age group. Every evening we take highlighers to the next days Events Planner and often we find the things we want to do overlap and have to choose. The days fly by as there's almost always something interesting to do even on full sea days. Tastes vary of course. Be open to trying something new.

Do you remember where you read/heard about this?

I saw this on our most recent cruise. It wasn't ours, I found someone's phone in the planter at the Piazza. Sure I could have just left it there and it could have been found, but since we were so close to Passenger Services, I brought it there. So I have no idea if the idea worked, but the person did lose both. Something to weigh out.

The first thing we do after deposit is log in to Princess and view excursions offered. There are no more videos posted as in the old days, but Youtube is your friend for those. Might be a different cruise line, but still the same shore excursion. We put them in the Wishlist. When we decide from them, click to buy them, a box will come up with your names, the price and how many places are still available. If you start to see that number move, buy. But for us, after final payment is our marching orders.

Then your choice is easy. The buffet on the Enchanted, is awesome for size. Caribbean Princess has the least amount of space per passenger of any ship in the Princess line. This is important for someone in a wheelchair. BTW, space will be worse on the new Sun and Star. Kids? Late March and early April will be spring break. Colleges will end spring break by late April. I think Easter is the 31st. Go early March or Late April.

I see on Cruisemapper you are in Ensenada today. I've been reading other Princess reviews, a lot of them negative lately. I hope you enjoy your day ashore and the remaining portion of your cruise in more enjoyable!

In the three cruises we've done in the past year, you could make a reservation by walking up to either Sabatini's or Crown Grill during any day you plan to dine. Especially as prices have gone up, few people seem to be eating at the pay venues unless part of a purchased package. We had great steaks at Crown Grill a year ago, but recent posters have not been impressed. Bottom line, I wouldn't worry about reservations. Talk to recent diners on the ship before you book.

From post #88 in your linked thread, looks like @PrincessLuver was correct, less than 19 days.

I used to run a sleep lab. You are right, the ship's movement, noise, strange bedding, more alcohol than you might at home, an exciting late night show, combine to mess up your sleep. You may have travelled to a different time zone, which also affects your sleep pattern. One secret the entertainers onboard do, who travel constantly, is keep the same schedule regardless of what the clock says. In Europe, You might see an American entertainer reading in the buffet or IC at 2 in the morning. Here is a link to some sleep hygiene tips. Truth is, I know all these tips and still have trouble sleeping on the ship. So what do I do? Often I find other guys start to gather about 4 or 5 in the buffet and chat. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene

I find the review threads say more about the reviewer than the cruise line. The OP tells us some personal things. If in the same situation, I'd be trying Oceania, food being the priority and solo cabins available. To each their own.

That's not been our experience. We've had four cruises since restart using the Medallion. I get emails from Princess about the latest sale, but they're generic and I could stop them if I want. Also emails from our CVP a day before everyone else gets an email because we're Elite. He knows what we like because we tell him, but his emails are form emails, generic. I call him, he doesn't call me. Surprise, they also know what TV shows and movies you watch in your cabin, because you're signed in to your stateroom TV. If you have Roku, Peacock or whatever at home, same thing. "Gee, the senior passengers all watched Jerry and Marge Go Large. Hmm, interesting." That kind of thing. Who cares. I'd politely suggest not to overthink this, but if it really bothers you, you do have options.

I checked Metrolink as you suggest. We can catch one early enough to Union Station to be able to catch the earlier train to San Diego, arriving in plenty of time. Thanks again to all of you who responded. Will check out the overnight across the street as @OlsSalt mentions.

Thank you all for your input. We'll try to make another arrangement. Maybe arrive the night before. Has been a long time since traveled by rail, but Amtrak was really late both times. The walk we can handle. Responding to @Bruinboy20 and @FlaMarinerThat is why I emphasized stations north of LA. True, there is an earlier train that starts in LA Union Station and points south, but no early service from near the Ventura County line to Union Station.

Posting here instead of West Coast Departures as my question is specific to HAL. HAL has the earliest departures, usually at 3PM, out of San Diego. The earliest scheduled arrival is 1PM for Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner (on trains originating north of Los Angeles.) Has anyone taken the train to San Diego and walked to the pier? Was the train late? If you arrived around 1 and sailed at 3, did you have enough time to board or were you cutting things too close for comfort? TIA!

I'm still curious if this was a question or a statement.

Yes, you can, or at least used to be able to, ask for a cruise card at Passenger Services instead of the Medallion. If you feel that you are being watched, then the reason for that is to know how many people are at the events, the ones you like to attend, so the more that go, they will offer more of that. It would seem to work in your favor to be, "seen." Also, some of the wall panels, or the app, can be used to find cabin mates, which is handy. That can't happen with the cards. You can keep the Medallion in something metal like a foil tea ball, mint case, pill box or Faraday card sleve and your Medallion can't be read. To each their own. Personally, I'm not concerned except in the ways it benefits me.

Oh, the journey part of the App. I first thought you meant the ship name. LOL.