First time cruiser. Just some questions/concerns.

[fishmaniac]

My wife and I are going on our first cruise in Sept to the Mexican Riviera for 7 days on the Golden Princess.

 

I have a few questions and concerns:

 

1. I believe there are 3 dining rooms at the Golden. One for set-time dining and 2 for anytime dining. For whatever reason, we are on the waiting list for set-time dining. Why are there fewer seats for set-time dining? I feel left out. Am I getting bothered for no reason?

 

1a. Do they serve the same menu in the Anytime dining section for both formal and informal nights? If so, what's the point of set-time dining? I'm guessing to have a "banquet-like" experience?

 

2. At what time do the major nightly shows and events start? I imagine it varies but what's the usual times?

 

3. Are they STRICT with the return times when docked? Will we 'miss the boat' if we're late?

 

4. The tips that are charged don't cover every employee right? So who will we encounter that will need some tippage?

 

5. Is there any sort ventilation in the inside cabins with or w/o windows? Like a vent that brings in air and/or one that sucks it out.

 

6. Are the duty-free shops nice and large like the ones at major airports?

 

7. How large are the in-room safes? Is there a charge? Are the cabins safe enough to leave a laptop out in the open? What about in a case, on the bed? If not, will it fit in the safe? What should I do?

 

8. Same concerns as in #7 but with a camcorder, a digital SLR w/ lenses & tripods, 2 compact digital cameras and all the stuff that comes with them.

 

Sorry for all the questions and for such a long first post.

[dforeigner]

My wife and I are going on our first cruise in Sept to the Mexican Riviera for 7 days on the Golden Princess.

 

I have a few questions and concerns:

 

1. I believe there are 3 dining rooms at the Golden. One for set-time dining and 2 for anytime dining. For whatever reason, we are on the waiting list for set-time dining. Why are there fewer seats for set-time dining? I feel left out. Am I getting bothered for no reason? The dinning guidelines for traditional and anytime dinning are the same.

 

1a. Do they serve the same menu in the Anytime dining section for both formal and informal nights? If so, what's the point of set-time dining? I'm guessing to have a "banquet-like" experience? Yes they have the same menu. If you want a banquet-like experience, go to the Horizon Court.

 

2. At what time do the major nightly shows and events start? I imagine it varies but what's the usual times? They usually have two shows per night and vary throughout the week.

 

3. Are they STRICT with the return times when docked? Will we 'miss the boat' if we're late? Yes they are. Yes they will. Usually, the only time they wait is if a cruise sponsored excursion is running late back to the ship.

 

4. The tips that are charged don't cover every employee right? So who will we encounter that will need some tippage?

I believe Room Service may not be included. If you want to give extra, you can. If you want to reduce the auto tips, the staff has to pool it. The rest comes from the Princess' WEB Site.

During your cruise, you will meet many members of our staff in a variety of locations as they provide you with excellent service. Additionally, many more crew behind the scenes support those who serve you directly. For your convenience a Hotel and Dining charge of $10 per passenger per day (including children) will be automatically added to your shipboard account on a daily basis. The Hotel and Dining charge will be shared amongst those staff who help provide and support your cruise experience, including the wait staff, stateroom stewards and accommodations staff, buffet stewards, galley staff, laundry staff and others.

 

Casino dealers and Lotus Spa personnel do not share in the Hotel and Dining charge as not all passengers utilize these services.

 

A 15% charge is automatically added to your bar charges and dining room wine account. This is shared amongst the beverage staff and their support staff, including cleaners and utility staff.

5. Is there any sort ventilation in the inside cabins with or w/o windows? Like a vent that brings in air and/or one that sucks it out. Each room has their own A/C. If you have a balcony or above category, you can open the door to the balcony. If you have an outside room, the windows do not open.

 

6. Are the duty-free shops nice and large like the ones at major airports?

 

Yes

 

7. How large are the in-room safes? Is there a charge? Are the cabins safe enough to leave a laptop out in the open? What about in a case, on the bed? If not, will it fit in the safe? What should I do?

 

Your laptop will not fit inside a safe. Your laptop may fit inside a drawer and should be safe.

 

8. Same concerns as in #7 but with a camcorder, a digital SLR w/ lenses & tripods, 2 compact digital cameras and all the stuff that comes with them.

 

No need to worry. You can always store it inside your luggage.

Sorry for all the questions and for such a long first post.

 

I hope all this helps.

[Capt Mano]

15th cruise for use. We sail on Saturday.

 

On your question #2 I would add, that the menu is different every night. One night the theme is Italian, another French, etc, so you have something different every night on the menu. There are some basics on the menus every night. I understand the menu is the same whether you do the set time seating of anytime. Enjoy. It will all make sence the second day on the ship.

 

The shows are after dinner.

 

Capt Mano

[Jstringers]

I bring extra tip money for the airport and taxi's as well as the porters who will get your luggage on the ship.

 

It sounds as if you travel with all the electrical goodies and toys I do. I have had no problems leaving my toys in the room. I have heard no stories on board or on these boards with any lack of integrity from the cabin steward staff.

 

most of all, DON'T WORRY!!!:) Have fun that's what cruising is all about!

[Princess Chatterer]

1. I believe there are 3 dining rooms at the Golden. One for set-time dining and 2 for anytime dining. For whatever reason, we are on the waiting list for set-time dining. Why are there fewer seats for set-time dining? I feel left out. Am I getting bothered for no reason?

 

That is a great question about the rationing of fixed seating. Only Princess knows the answer and isn't telling.

 

1a. Do they serve the same menu in the Anytime dining section for both formal and informal nights? If so, what's the point of set-time dining? I'm guessing to have a "banquet-like" experience?

 

Different menu every night. Anytime and Fixed use the same menu.

 

2. At what time do the major nightly shows and events start? I imagine it varies but what's the usual times?

 

First show at 7 pm or at 8:30 pm. Who knows why?

 

 

3. Are they STRICT with the return times when docked? Will we 'miss the boat' if we're late?

 

Yes they are very strict. Only late arriving Princess sponsored excursions will hold up departure

4. The tips that are charged don't cover every employee right? So who will we encounter that will need some tippage?

 

The $10 pp per day tip pool and the mandatory bar tips cover those employees who Princess has determined need tips.

5. Is there any sort ventilation in the inside cabins with or w/o windows? Like a vent that brings in air and/or one that sucks it out.

 

The exhaust vent is in the ceiling. You'll have plenty of fresh air in your inside cabin.

6. Are the duty-free shops nice and large like the ones at major airports?

 

No they are not.

7. How large are the in-room safes? Is there a charge? Are the cabins safe enough to leave a laptop out in the open? What about in a case, on the bed? If not, will it fit in the safe? What should I do?

 

Small. Free. Yes. No. Your laptop will be safe anywhere in your cabin.

8. Same concerns as in #7 but with a camcorder, a digital SLR w/ lenses & tripods, 2 compact digital cameras and all the stuff that comes with them.

 

Lock small valuable items and money in the safe. Don't sweat the larger stuff.

[CalTravelers]

I hope all this helps.

Depends upon your definition of "banquet"! If a banquet means getting served multiple courses then stay away from the Horizon Court. This is definitely a buffet experience where you shuffle your plate around to food stations and search for a seat! While the food is good - the whole experience in the dining room is quite different. We prefer to be served and eat leisurely when we are on a cruise. We have had some breakfast/lunch meals there but definitely prefer the dining rooms. If you have days when you sail around noon you will find the Horizon Court to be jam-packed with people.

[fishmaniac]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for all your input and help.

 

Yes, by banquet, I meant being served various course meals while being dressed to the T. Do the Anytime dining rooms have the same procedures and atmosphere? If so, then I guess I don't feel so left out. :) If not, then I'm still bummin'.

 

Thanks,

[gambit57]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for all your input and help.

 

Yes, by banquet, I meant being served various course meals while being dressed to the T. Do the Anytime dining rooms have the same procedures and atmosphere? If so, then I guess I don't feel so left out. :) If not, then I'm still bummin'.

 

Thanks,

 

Yes, traditional and anytime both fit your definition of banquet dining.

 

No one seems to have answered your question about what's the point of traditional. Kinda strange. Anyways, I'll try and give you a basic rundown of the "benefits" of traditional set time dining.

 

Basically, it boils down to service and the night time entertainment.

 

With traditional, you have your assigned table and dining time which is the same every day for the whole cruise. This also means you have the same wait staff. Since they see you every day, they get to know your tendencies and also know that if they do a good job, they have the possibility of being rewarded with extra tips. So, the traditional dining fans feel you get better service than at anytime, where the waiters might not try as hard b/c they know they won't ever see you again and are unlikely to get anything extra (and have no fear of you deleting their tips).

 

Also, the big shows usually have 2 showings. At least one the big ships. They're timed so that they start shortly after people in traditional finish their meals. As far as I can remember, I have late traditional dining. I always eat, and then stroll over to the theater just in time to grab a seat before it fills up and the show starts. Excellent timing if you have a traditional dining time.

[In-the-Glade]

How far down on the waiting list are you? My BIL and SIL started at 65 on the list and after the final payment was due they came up quickly to be included in tradional. Our TA explained that people book but then don't commit with the full payment which frees up all those places.

 

Stay on the wait list and see what happens, you might be pleasantly surprised.

[MercedMike]

My wife and I are going on our first cruise in Sept to the Mexican Riviera for 7 days on the Golden Princess.

 

I have a few questions and concerns:

 

1. I believe there are 3 dining rooms at the Golden. One for set-time dining and 2 for anytime dining. For whatever reason, we are on the waiting list for set-time dining. Why are there fewer seats for set-time dining? I feel left out. Am I getting bothered for no reason?

 

Don't worry. Anytime dining works great. Traditional dining has the advantage of the same waiter and the same table mates for the whole cruise. But anytime dining has the advanatage of flexibility. You will enjoy it.

 

1a. Do they serve the same menu in the Anytime dining section for both formal and informal nights? If so, what's the point of set-time dining? I'm guessing to have a "banquet-like" experience?

 

Same menu exactly.

 

2. At what time do the major nightly shows and events start? I imagine it varies but what's the usual times?

 

The shows are usually after dinner. We found on the Grand (twin to the Golden) that you had to get to the theater 20-30 minutes early to get a seat.

3. Are they STRICT with the return times when docked? Will we 'miss the boat' if we're late?

 

YES and YES!!

 

4. The tips that are charged don't cover every employee right? So who will we encounter that will need some tippage?

 

The "automatic" tips cover the dining room and cabin steward. Bar tips are added to the tab. That pretty much covers tips aboard, unless you use the beauty shop or something. Ashore you tip your driver/guide a couple of bucks on bus tours, more on private tours. And of course porters are tipped at emabarkation and disembarkation.

 

5. Is there any sort ventilation in the inside cabins with or w/o windows? Like a vent that brings in air and/or one that sucks it out.

 

They are well ventilated, and air conditioned.

 

6. Are the duty-free shops nice and large like the ones at major airports?

 

Nice but small.

 

7. How large are the in-room safes? Is there a charge? Are the cabins safe enough to leave a laptop out in the open? What about in a case, on the bed? If not, will it fit in the safe? What should I do?

 

8. Same concerns as in #7 but with a camcorder, a digital SLR w/ lenses & tripods, 2 compact digital cameras and all the stuff that comes with them.

 

Safes are smaller than a breadbox (remember that show??;)). We leave cameras and laptops in the cabin all the time. Personally I think it is safer than a hotel room.

 

Have a GREAT cruise!

[Pam in CA]

Just a couple of comments to add to the others:

 

With Anytime dining, unless you eat early, chances are pretty good that you will have a wait to be seated. You can get a reservation for the same table and same waitstaff every night except from between 6:00 - 8:00PM. (We had a reservation every night for 8PM and had waits of between 5 - 45 minutes for "our" table.) With Anytime dining, you have the option of showing up and being seated by yourselves or at a table with others. Yes, it's flexible but I like knowing that I can plan my day and entertainment around being able to walk into the dining room at a set time every night and have my iced tea by my plate as soon as I sit down. :)

 

Let me also just add that the ship is VERY strict about the time to return. They have a time slot to leave from most ports and have a lot to do to prepare to depart. In some cases, if the ship delays its departure, they delay other ships from leaving if there are other ships in port. When we were leaving Montevideo, we were delayed about 45 minutes by another ship that was leaving late. It was a good thing for some passengers who, as the Captain said in his announcement, "couldn't tell time." At least six people arrived in taxis after we were scheduled to leave and were relieved to see that we hadn't left yet. Two people arrived just as they were taking the gangway onboard. They would have missed the ship and had to try to catch up in The Falklands several days later, not something easy to do. Always plan on arriving back at the ship an hour before departure time. That way, you have some leaway if something goes wrong (a taxi or bus has a flat tire, for instance -- known to happen.) Missing a ship is no one's fault but your own.

 

 

Here's a photo of the safe and the closet:

 

[nomars_girl]

Hi all,

 

Thanks for all your input and help.

 

Yes, by banquet, I meant being served various course meals while being dressed to the T. Do the Anytime dining rooms have the same procedures and atmosphere? If so, then I guess I don't feel so left out. :) If not, then I'm still bummin'.

 

Thanks,

 

In Traditional Dining, it is like a banquet where every table is being served their soup at the same time and every table is being served their salad at the same time. You will sit at the same table each night with the same people and be served by the same staff. That continuity is important to many and that is why they enjoy traditional dining. Some think they get better service in Traditional because the wait staff gets to learn their preferences.

 

Anytime has exactly the same menus, but since people are seated at different times, one table might be having dessert while another is just sitting down to order - so it is like a restaurant. You can choose to get a table for just your party, or you can opt to share a table and will be seated with others. For table sharing, they will fill the table before taking orders so that you don't have one couple having their main course while another is eating their appetizer. You may have to wait for a table, but it is usually brief. It offers the flexibility to eat when you are hungry rather than when it is "dinner time" and the opportunity to arrange your own dining companions if you meet people on the ship you would like to eat with, or to sit by yourselves if you are tired and not in the mood for chat.

 

In any case, you get a great meal in elegant surroundings. And there is no "right" or "wrong" choice.