Anyone just off Sea Princess?

[NickAndysMom]

Hoping to hear from someone who just returned to San Francisco today, July 12. How was your Alaska cruise? What were the seas like, and how was the weather? I've heard that it's been unseasonably cool in Alaska this year. Hoping the weather improved for your cruise!

 

I know that the cruise prior to this one was impacted by the Norovirus. Was there any sign of it on your cruise? If so, what was the impact? Hope that you weren't bothered by it.

 

We leave on the cruise after this one, July 22, so I'm anxious to hear about your experience!

 

I'd be happy to hear any helpful hints you might have for me. :-)

 

Thanks!

[I_heart_vaca]

I am not just off the Sea.....was on in mid-May, so can't speak to the illness. We didn't have any. But to weather, it was lovely in May. On the water it was, or felt cold, to me (and I am from NYC)....but once away from the water on inland adventures it was sunny and 60s, 70s....felt great.

 

It was my first cruise, so I will pass on a few things I noticed...may or may not be standard to cruising....

• Entertainment was cute, not broadway great but fun. I the theater - show up at least 20 minutes early for seats...it was crazy.
  
• Pizza (Cafe Corniche?) was really good. We had it a few times, even for room service. The pizza place was only open certain hours, so check the Patter - the list hours on last page.
  
• You can soft serve from Sundaes- on the far end of the pool deck. It closes by 7pm each evening..its pretty good.
  
• Burgers and dogs from the grill were good, but since it was outside - they got cold fast!
  
• Naturalist lectures were intereting, all other 'talks' were sales pitches for cruise services and products
  
• Wine and Vodka tasting were fun, but nothing special
  

Have a great trip! I miss it...already planning the next cruise.

[rdsqrl]

. . . Have a great trip! I miss it...already planning the next cruise.

We warned you you'd be hooked . . .

[ann66]

Just got off the sea princess 12th July. We had the most amazing time. Weather was great except we got rain in glacier bay and a little in Ketchikan. Not enough to spoil it for us. The rain in glacier bay was constant all day but got brilliant photos of the glacier anyway. As far as I know nobody was sick on this cruise. The sea princess is a great ship and all the staff on board were terrific. The food was excellent in the restaurant and the horizon court was good as well. We had staggered boarding which I didn't know about till we tried to board at 12.30 but this may of had to do with the virus. Overall we had a great holiday and I am sure you will too. We have 3 nights in San Francisco left then we are heading back to Australia.

[NickAndysMom]

Ann66, so glad to hear you had a nice cruise. Sounds like it was wonderful in every aspect! Also very happy to hear that you didn't notice anything out of the ordinary in terms of the norovirus. That is definitely good news!

 

We board on July 22 & have not yet received any info about staggered boarding, in fact the latest version of our boarding documents REMOVED the note that had previously been there stating "arrive after 1 PM for quicker boarding".

 

You might be right that your boarding was altered because of the virus. What time were you allowed to board? Did your ship leave on time at 4 PM?

 

I hope you enjoy your remaining time in San Francisco. You are getting to experience our "uniquely San Francisco" summer weather today, very typically cool & foggy this morning!

[improvman]

Just got off the sea princess 12th July. We had the most amazing time. Weather was great except we got rain in glacier bay and a little in Ketchikan. Not enough to spoil it for us. The rain in glacier bay was constant all day but got brilliant photos of the glacier anyway. As far as I know nobody was sick on this cruise. The sea princess is a great ship and all the staff on board were terrific. The food was excellent in the restaurant and the horizon court was good as well. We had staggered boarding which I didn't know about till we tried to board at 12.30 but this may of had to do with the virus. Overall we had a great holiday and I am sure you will too. We have 3 nights in San Francisco left then we are heading back to Australia.

 

Glad to hear you had a great time, especially after reading all the negative reviews. I hope the great weather continues until August!

[ann66]

A deck was a 2.30 boarding. We were on ship by 3 but had muster drill at 3.15 so it was a bit hectic. We left at 4pm. It was freezing and very windy going under the bridge. Front deck was closed the moment we passed the bridge due to wind.

 

We has anytime dining. If u want to eat early just line up at about 5 for the first few days so u don't have to get a buzzer.

 

My daughter was in the teen center. She has met some wonderful kids who I am sure she will keep in contact with.

 

Yes today in San Francisco is colder than any port day we had in Alaska. At night on the decks of the ship it did get cold. There was no muts for me.

 

Have a great cruise, will u post a review when u get back. I will post mine when I get back home and catch up on all my washing!!

[boom op]

A deck was a 2.30 boarding. We were on ship by 3 but had muster drill at 3.15 so it was a bit hectic. We left at 4pm. It was freezing and very windy going under the bridge. Front deck was closed the moment we passed the bridge due to wind.

 

 

I noticed you said you arrived at 12:30 for boarding and then found out about the later boarding time. Were you able to drop bags off and head down to pier 39?

[improvman]

Do you recall if decks were boarded from top to bottom or bottom to top?

 

Also, how long was your wait for dinner if you got in line by 5?

 

Thanks. Enjoy the rest of your time in the city!

[ann66]

We dropped off our bags with the porters then walked around pier 35. I don't know the exact order of boarding but we were one of the last on a deck and there was one after that which may of been d deck. I know it wasn't in deck order.

 

If u were in line at 5 for anytime dining you were let into restaurant about 5.20. The first night we arrived at 5.30 there was a huge line. When we got to door they were handing out buzzers. We were eventually seated about 6.15.

The following night we were there early.

Later in the night around 8 there is no wait at all. It's only the first couple of nights it was really busy and formal nights.

[frisbee dog fan]

I just got off of this cruise too! Waiters were working hard the first three days as they kept passengers from touching anything that might spread the Norovirus. The waiter would ask if you wanted a butter pat, a bread roll, etc. and then serve it to you. By day 4, we were able to get our butter pats for ourselves. The service on the ship continued to be excellent. This seems to be a really happy crew.

Don't miss the production show "British Invasion", it was really fun and high energy. I also liked the comedian, Chipper Lowell. Try to avoid bingo on the night of the Captain's Circle cocktail party. They work hard to get the bingo players out of the Vista Lounge in time. I would say bingo on that particular night was the only bad experience I had on the ship. You are not able to do laundry for several days once you get to the ports and Glacier Bay. One of the dryers on Baja Deck did not work. Be prepared for some laundry issues...or just pack some extra underwear. : ) I loved the trip and hope you do too.

[improvman]

Were the shows performed twice nightly, or just once?

[boom op]

I just got off of this cruise too! Waiters were working hard the first three days as they kept passengers from touching anything that might spread the Norovirus. The waiter would ask if you wanted a butter pat, a bread roll, etc. and then serve it to you. By day 4, we were able to get our butter pats for ourselves. The service on the ship continued to be excellent. This seems to be a really happy crew.

Don't miss the production show "British Invasion", it was really fun and high energy. I also liked the comedian, Chipper Lowell. Try to avoid bingo on the night of the Captain's Circle cocktail party. They work hard to get the bingo players out of the Vista Lounge in time. I would say bingo on that particular night was the only bad experience I had on the ship. You are not able to do laundry for several days once you get to the ports and Glacier Bay. One of the dryers on Baja Deck did not work. Be prepared for some laundry issues...or just pack some extra underwear. : ) I loved the trip and hope you do too.

Were you able to use cash for Bingo or did you have to use ship board account?

[ann66]

Shows were performed twice a night.

 

I didnt play bingo but I think you would charge it to you shipboard account. The only time you can use cash is in casino. Just pay the cash off your shipboard account at the customers service desk.

[frisbee dog fan]

The production shows ran twice. We always went to the earlier show, but a second one was performed at 10:00. I never saw any empty seats at the early show. Bingo was charged to your cruise card. One square for four games cost $10.00, three cards each for four games cost $20.00, and six cards for the four games ran $30.00. I bought a coffee card for this cruise, and would usually have hot chocolate during the games. Brewed coffee and hot chocolate are free as long as you haven't used up all the punches on the coffee card. I thought the coffee card was a good deal.

[Peng You]

I was on the Sea tour you are talking about. The only bad day was rain during the Glacier Bay part, but I stayed on the Promenade Deck (covered) and could still view everything. The rest of the trip was fine. Cloudy many of the days, but I never needed more than a pullover sweater and a golf shirt. Sometime, like the helicopter and glacier hike, I wore thermals. Actually, when I read of the following trip, they are not having nearly as good a time as I had.

[cellyml12]

How rough is the water coming out of San Fran.? I've heard from somebody else that the waters are rough the first couple of days on the way up, is this true?