Just off Sky Princess

[CyberVenus]

I will say, I’m enjoying the entertainment and activities. So, while there are some things minority bothersome compared to past experiences, overall I’m enjoying things and so is the rest of the group, so while I am disappointed with some aspects compared to the other cruises I’ve gone on, it is nice to finally get back to a cruise after several years without. 

[CynCyn]

1 hour ago, CyberVenus said:

So I’ve noticed some additional things, unfortunately I have to say they’re both a minor degradation of the overall experience. 
 

despite additional restaurants, it seems no place has drinks anywhere until the bars open at 7:00 AM. So, not looking for alcohol that early, but soda isn’t available anywhere either. After being directed around to various parts of the ship and then being eventually told the only way to get soda before the bars open is to essentially order room service, which I can do to any place on the ship, but having to pay for that seems like it makes the “soda package” sort of useless during certain times of the day. In the past on the Regal and Royal Princess the bar located at the back of the ship behind the buffet, I forget what the bar was called, was open 24 hours so the early morning soda was easily accessible. After being directed by different staff around to different locations and ending up at that bar 3 times, the bartender there did eventually go grab one, guess he felt bad for the literal runaround of the ship in search of a soda. 
 

also, the motion activated lights that can’t be completely turned off, in the staterooms, is really bothersome getting up in the middle of night. The bedside table lights are low to the floor and easy to block, but the light on the ceiling near the bathroom is bothersome. I’ve tried sticking different things to cover the sensor, but everything I stick up there keeps falling off. 

Is there not an International Cafe?  They are usually open 24/7.

[Kmkub]

4 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

Is there not an International Cafe?  They are usually open 24/7.

You can’t get soda from IC.

[CyberVenus]

12 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

Is there not an International Cafe?  They are usually open 24/7.

Yes, that is one of the places I checked, they don’t do soda apparently. Which seems odd, but I guess if they don’t have the stuff for it right there then they can’t do it. 
 

unfortunately the reason for checking there was because I was directed to by someone at a bar. It does seem like not many staff anywhere know much about how things work outside of their little area. At least not those people, some of the higher staff may, and it’s possible there are some issues with understanding due to language differences, but that’s the impression I’m under, just that not very many people are actually fully aware of everything beyond their space. 

Edited December 11, 2023 by CyberVenus

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, CyberVenus said:

So I’ve noticed some additional things, unfortunately I have to say they’re both a minor degradation of the overall experience. 
 

despite additional restaurants, it seems no place has drinks anywhere until the bars open at 7:00 AM. So, not looking for alcohol that early, but soda isn’t available anywhere either. After being directed around to various parts of the ship and then being eventually told the only way to get soda before the bars open is to essentially order room service, which I can do to any place on the ship, but having to pay for that seems like it makes the “soda package” sort of useless during certain times of the day. In the past on the Regal and Royal Princess the bar located at the back of the ship behind the buffet, I forget what the bar was called, was open 24 hours so the early morning soda was easily accessible. After being directed by different staff around to different locations and ending up at that bar 3 times, the bartender there did eventually go grab one, guess he felt bad for the literal runaround of the ship in search of a soda. 
 

also, the motion activated lights that can’t be completely turned off, in the staterooms, is really bothersome getting up in the middle of night. The bedside table lights are low to the floor and easy to block, but the light on the ceiling near the bathroom is bothersome. I’ve tried sticking different things to cover the sensor, but everything I stick up there keeps falling off. 

On the Enchanted the guy at the IC used to get soda for me in the early mornings before the bar was open.

[CyberVenus]

47 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

On the Enchanted the guy at the IC used to get soda for me in the early mornings before the bar was open.

That guy directed me back to the bar behind the buffet upstairs, who then went and got a drink, I guess he took pity on me at that point as it had been my third stop at that bar on my “search for soda in the Sky”. 

[kywildcatfanone]

1 hour ago, CyberVenus said:

Yes, that is one of the places I checked, they don’t do soda apparently. Which seems odd, but I guess if they don’t have the stuff for it right there then they can’t do it. 
 

unfortunately the reason for checking there was because I was directed to by someone at a bar. It does seem like not many staff anywhere know much about how things work outside of their little area. At least not those people, some of the higher staff may, and it’s possible there are some issues with understanding due to language differences, but that’s the impression I’m under, just that not very many people are actually fully aware of everything beyond their space. 

If you have a soda package, get you a couple the night before and take to your room for your next morning.

[jagoffee]

18 hours ago, Hlitner said:

We have been going to the Crown 

Grill Bar.  But there is no substitute for the missing Crooners.

Glad to hear the Enchanted has a Crooners.  Usually our favorite place due to the piano player.

Edited December 11, 2023 by jagoffee

[Rick&Jeannie]

On 12/10/2023 at 6:51 AM, MISTER 67 said:

I agree with you as they replaced Crooners with the seafood restaurant on the port side of deck 7, it actually interfered with passenger flow as I was stopped and told to go around the Atrium on the starboard side. I had no problem with Alfredo’s also on deck 7 as it did not block passenger the passenger flow.

Agree 100%...though The Catch is REALLY good.

[CynCyn]

8 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Agree 100%...though The Catch is REALLY good.

I’m excited about the Catch next week.  I may eat there every night-lol!  I already have 2 reservations.

[Rick&Jeannie]

10 minutes ago, CynCyn said:

I’m excited about the Catch next week.  I may eat there every night-lol!  I already have 2 reservations.

I feel certain that you will like it if you like seafood.  In my opinion...the only downside is the fact that it is "open" to the Piazza.  Depending on whatever activity is taking place at the time, you could have quite a bit of noise.  It's not exactly "serene & relaxing".

[CynCyn]

Just now, Rick&Jeannie said:

I feel certain that you will like it if you like seafood.  In my opinion...the only downside is the fact that it is "open" to the Piazza.  Depending on whatever activity is taking place at the time, you could have quite a bit of noise.  It's not exactly "serene & relaxing".

I noticed that with the Bistro.  Wish they had a better location.

[CyberVenus]

2 hours ago, CynCyn said:

I noticed that with the Bistro.  Wish they had a better location.

That sort of plays into my thoughts that the only reason it’s there is because either (or both) someone was lazy and couldn’t be bothered to redesign the layout, instead just copying the past couple of ships when building it, or because the restaurant being there at all was sort of an afterthought, like someone thought “how can we generate a bit more revenue in the same space” so they squished another restaurant in. It’s clearly not a restaurant designed area, it feels kind of weird being there, that and Alfredo’s, just really doesn’t feel like it should be a restaurant space. Maybe a corner counter that serves food and there’s a lounge space where guests can sit, but a full table-service restaurant feels out of place in my opinion. 

[Hlitner]

I find the early morning soda issue somewhat interesting.  If we wanted a soda that time of the day we do keep some in our cabin.  But Imstarted to think about other cruise lines (we have been on 16 lines) and I do not recall any line where one could get soda/bar service before 7 am.  In fact, many lines do not have bar service until around 9.  I thing for the rare person looking for soda at odd hours it does make sense to stock a few cans in the cabin fridge.
 

I have always liked that Princess does have the IC open 24/7.  This is also rare as most cruise lines only have room service at early morning hours.  The bar next to the IC does open at 7am which we think is a nice thing for an early mimosa or Bloody Mary.

 

Hank

[CyberVenus]

19 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

I find the early morning soda issue somewhat interesting.  If we wanted a soda that time of the day we do keep some in our cabin.  But Imstarted to think about other cruise lines (we have been on 16 lines) and I do not recall any line where one could get soda/bar service before 7 am.  In fact, many lines do not have bar service until around 9.  I thing for the rare person looking for soda at odd hours it does make sense to stock a few cans in the cabin fridge.
 

I have always liked that Princess does have the IC open 24/7.  This is also rare as most cruise lines only have room service at early morning hours.  The bar next to the IC does open at 7am which we think is a nice thing for an early mimosa or Bloody Mary.

 

Hank

The idea of keeping a couple cans in the cabin makes sense, I’ll be doing that from here on, but I did like knowing there was a 24 hour bar available for that sort of thing at the early hours. I guess I don’t recall specifically the others, I’ve only been on Princess and Norwegian and Carnival, of which Carnival was incredibly subpar (but it was also a much older ship, which apparently means it’s also where the new staff most often do training before moving to newer, bigger ships). 
 

Princess is by far superior in my opinion, Norwegian I think had more kid oriented aspects, better for a family with kids probably, but as that’s not me or anyone in my immediate family, Princess is my preference usually. Though I am thinking I want to try Royal Caribbean next time. 

[Rick&Jeannie]

17 hours ago, CyberVenus said:

The idea of keeping a couple cans in the cabin makes sense, I’ll be doing that from here on, but I did like knowing there was a 24 hour bar available for that sort of thing at the early hours. I guess I don’t recall specifically the others, I’ve only been on Princess and Norwegian and Carnival, of which Carnival was incredibly subpar (but it was also a much older ship, which apparently means it’s also where the new staff most often do training before moving to newer, bigger ships). 
 

Princess is by far superior in my opinion, Norwegian I think had more kid oriented aspects, better for a family with kids probably, but as that’s not me or anyone in my immediate family, Princess is my preference usually. Though I am thinking I want to try Royal Caribbean next time. 

Welcome to Cruise Critic!

[CyberVenus]

So today, at Mahahual, Mexico / Costa Maya, Mexico I noted the Patter (which isn’t actually labeled “Princess Patter” anywhere anymore, and is now shrunk down to just one single double-sided page) did indicate the Wake View Bar, behind the buffet at the back of the ship, opened at 6:00 AM. Which  helps the early morning drink desires, but I’m confused why today is 6:00 AM, when it’s been 7:00 AM up until now on this cruise. Wonder if it’s possible the Patter just has a mistyped time on it, there’s other bits that are misspelled. 
 

The schedule on the stateroom TVs matches, so either they get times from the same system automatically or it’s not a mistake. Hm… 

[CyberVenus]

Who’s on the ship today? Anyone see 5-Skies? I thought it was fantastic! ✨ I’ve always been pretty well impressed with Princess’ shows, especially considering the limited space, logistical challenges, and physical circumstances (unstable floor mainly as we’re at sea) of being on a cruise ship. 
 

worth noting I can’t give a good comparison to other cruise lines, I’ve heard good things about Royal Caribbean, especially the Oasis class, and Disney, with regards to their shows. But I haven’t actually seen them in person (or at all) to compare. 
 

also, anyone else see the guy being escorted back by a ship’s officer an hour after all-aboard time? 😂 people up on our deck and the adjacent Carnival Dream were cheering him on as he came down the pier 😂

 

Side note, I’ve decided one potential tech advancement Princess could use in their new app launching in January, a semi-public chat system for the entire ship. So onboard guests can anonymously chat with each other, instead of just with specific individuals. Probs have some preset collection of “channels” for different topics, and some sort of banned word filtering to keep it family friendly. But I think it’s a good idea. 

[Tedferg]

On 12/10/2023 at 2:11 PM, Snaxmuppet said:

Before we do Good Spirits at Sea (if we can get a seat), after we do Take 5.

I don't see Good Spirits on Sky deck plan,

[Guest Snaxmuppet]

Deck 6...

 

[Tedferg]

1 hour ago, Snaxmuppet said:

Deck 6...

 

Sneaky, thanks, I was looking over near International Cafe wher I think it is on Royal & Regal.

[pynnkar]

On 12/9/2023 at 4:00 PM, voljeep said:

5 days before a cruise - fell and broke the tibia and fibula near the ankle ... now how bad was that ship and cruise? 🦄

Yikes, I had the same injury a few years back and cannot imagine being on a ship 5 days later!  Just maneuvering the splint would be near impossible!  

[pynnkar]

On 12/13/2023 at 12:39 PM, CyberVenus said:

So today, at Mahahual, Mexico / Costa Maya, Mexico I noted the Patter (which isn’t actually labeled “Princess Patter” anywhere anymore, and is now shrunk down to just one single double-sided page) did indicate the Wake View Bar, behind the buffet at the back of the ship, opened at 6:00 AM. Which  helps the early morning drink desires, but I’m confused why today is 6:00 AM, when it’s been 7:00 AM up until now on this cruise. Wonder if it’s possible the Patter just has a mistyped time on it, there’s other bits that are misspelled. 
 

The schedule on the stateroom TVs matches, so either they get times from the same system automatically or it’s not a mistake. Hm… 

Time change??

[pynnkar]

For those that have sailed on Sky Princess… have you found any aha! areas or hidden gems?  For example, on one ship we sailed on, we found one coffee machine that freshly ground the beans for every cup… all other machines were just dispensing pre-brewed.  The freshly ground machine took a few extra seconds and most people avoided it - not us!  Looking for your tips!!

[voljeep]

43 minutes ago, pynnkar said:

Yikes, I had the same injury a few years back and cannot imagine being on a ship 5 days later!  Just maneuvering the splint would be near impossible!  

We obviously cancelled ... Good news, I go to the surgeon on Thurs for my 8 week follow-up. Currently on 'as tolerated' weight bearing, with the boot, and a walker. Hope x-rays show I can have full weight bearing, and wean off the boot gradually.