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Pacific Princess  Information and Photo Album

My mom and I sailed on the Pacific Princess June 11, 2009 for 14 days.

The information provided below was gathered from Princess Patters and handouts provided to us throughout our cruise, along with a few in depth conversations with crew members along the way.

As we all know everything is subject to change at anytime for any reason.

Port Information, including embarkation and debarkation will be provided in another report, which is coming soon.

Let's begin....

When and Where you can eat

Sabatinis 20 per person, check patter hours
Sterlings 15 per person check patter hours

Pool BBQ 11am-6pm…they have veggie burgers and chicken burgers along
With the usually hot dog,wurts, burger options (see menu picture in photo album)

Panorama Buffet
Continental Breakfast 4am-630am
Breakfast Buffet 630-11
Luncheon Buffet 11:30-2
Sandwich Bar 2-530pm
Dinner Buffet 530pm-9pm
Bistro 9pm-12:30am

The Chefs Table

75.00 per person. You will begin with French Champagne and Hors d’oeuvres in the galley during “rush” hour, followed by a multi-course tasting menu at the VIP Chef’s Table in the dining room! The price also includes a copy of the Princess Cookbook.

Hot Chocolate and Bouillon are served on Deck 9 at the Hamburger Grill from 10am-11am

Limoncello was served on Italian night and in Sabatini's

A video on how Princess make their Limocello

Deck Blankets are available to be checked out daily or the duration of the cruise on Deck 9 forward starboard side from 10:30am-11:00am and 2:30pm-3:00pm. Otherwise, you will need to ask the pool steward. They are to be returned on Victoria day between 9am-12noon to avoid being charged!

Grand Casino Specials…onboard there were tournaments, opportunities to win T-shirts and various other goodies! There were complimentary gaming lesson and some days if you were in the casino playing the just the penny slots there were complimentary Blood Mary’s and Mimosa’s!

Please see my picture of the Casino Activities Schedule in my photo album.

I spoke with the Casino manager and he provided the following information

Your gaming options...

Roulette

2 Blackjack tables

Three Card Poker

5 card stud poker

Fun 21 and Face up Blackjack..(are special games offered periodically)

Slots

6 for 1.00

17 for 25 cents

13 for 1 cent

I asked him this question…what would you say is the biggest difference people will find with a casino on a small ship. He said while we don’t have as many games and options, what we do have is the personalized service, we have and take the time to visit even more than the big ships do, we really enjoy being able to do that.

Medical Center…The entrance is across from 4022. See my photo album for visit costs.

Laundry Room on deck 7 entrance is in front of cabin 7076, I didn’t see any laundry bag flat rate specials on our cruise.

Dress Code as printed in the patter for the Alaska season.

Formal: A dinner jacket or dark business suit for gentlemen and a dress, skirt And blouse or trouser suit for ladies

Smart Casual An open-neck shirt and slacks for gentlemen and a dress, skirt And blouse or trouser suit outfit for ladies

We kindly advise our passengers that short pants and slippers are not allowed in the dining room at dinner time.

In actuality...the majority followed these guidelines, but I did see jeans and t-shirts consistently from
4 gentlemen. There were some nights that I thought…whoa..John wouldn’t even wear that to clean the garage! However, they were allowed in, this isn’t a call that the Maitre D and headwaiters are allowed to make anymore, as much as they would like to. It is dictated to the ship by the head office.

Internet Specials…

If you purchase a package or sign up for your Platinum/Elite complimentary internet minutes the day of arrival, you will receive 30 extra minutes. It is not retroactive. There was also a 50% of special about mid way through the cruise. Prices Have remained the same, since I photographed them during my Star Princess Cruise, please check those photo albums for details.

Speed and connection…

The Pacific Princess is in the process of being wired for Wifi throughout. However, they weren’t able to give me an exact day. WIFI …official wifi locations are Atrium, Casino Bar, Internet Café, Card Room, Panorama Buffet, Sterling Steakhouse and Sabatinis…

I had access in cabin 7111. I know a fellow cruiser had access in 4041, I was told that it is not official that suites have WIFI BUT it usually does work. remember to turn of the anti fishing and pop up blocker

Several days before our arrival in Victoria everyone was being advised either through a sign in the Internet Café, info in the patter or word of mouth. That between 9am-2pm expect your internet connection to be spotty if at all. After 2pm expect the connection to be completely down. This has to do with the location of the ship. Now, at 2:15pm I was able to get on to print our boarding passes, but I heard that it went down shortly afterwards. My advice if you need to make sure you do an online check in, is have a trusted family member or friend at home, check you into your flight..

(especially important if flying with Southwest) and then at the airport get your boarding pass.

Links for further info on internet and cell phone usage

http://princess.icservices.mtnsat.com/video.html

http://www.mcp.com/princess/

Soda Package…broke down to $4.25 per day plus 15% gratuity. You will receive a souvenir tumbler and unlimited fountain sodas. If you were to purchase 1 can of soda it is $1.95 plus 15% gratuity. You can do the math, regarding what works best for you.

Coffee Card was $24.95 for 15 punches. I took pictures of the Coffee Menu in the dining room bar on deck 5. There is so no standardized way that Princess requires the bartenders to make a latte, so you will want give them specific instructions regarding your preferences! There were no syrups or flavored creamers.

Mini bar costs….

Coke products ..cans..1.95
Bottled water small…2.00
Perrier 2.65
Booze min bottles
Beefeater Gin 4.95
Canadian Club Whisky 4.95
Smirnoff Vodka 4.95

Lemonade was available all the time.

Complimentary Ice Cream was available at 3:30, the Pacific Princess does not have
a Scoops Ice Cream Bar

Photo Department

Alaska Souvenir Photos- choose any 20 and a 4x6 album for $25.00.

Photo Printing is 15 cents per photo

Stock CD with 60 pictures (see my photo album for you to preview) $24.95

Burn a disk of your photos $9.95

They have a cool option of created your very own BOOK…I’ve seen these on Kodak gallery and Snapfish…but this is relatively new to Princesss in the last 6 months…they will add your and PRINCESS taken pictures or give you the set up and password to do it at home The special is 49.95 if you buy 5 pictures…so you might want to scope out how much It costs to diy versus onboard if this is something you are interested in To give you an idea of camera costs onboard they are selling a Canon FE340 5x zoom and 8mp for 189.00USD

DVD’s several onboard all from Photo Dept. are 39.95 by 3 for 79.95

Princess Reflection

Heart of Alaska

Wild Alaska

Reindeer Chili and Rockfish Chowder..were offered on a sea day at the Hamburger Grill from 2-4pm…Many seemed to enjoy it the chili! I, personally stood in support of Rudolph!

Pub Lunch…they offered this 2 times and everyone seemed to enjoy it. Unfortunately, the times we tried to attend was the same time that the incessantly crying baby that was teething was attending with its oblivious parents and grandparents. Our friends at 1^st seating, said we got off easy only missing Pub Lunch…they had started to eat at the buffet to avoid the same scenario each night in the dining room.

Shops…
Ammolite is huge onboard and in port…if you are wondering about this Stone..I would suggest to your research before boarding.

Loose Gems were discounted heavily as they are switching to another vendor, on the flip side their stock is very limited.
The Clearance Sale on the last sea day had Asia, South America, Panama Canal merchandise.

On Deck for the Cure..was done on the sea day after Icy Strait Point. It was a 5k Walk at 3:30pm for $15.00 registration fee. Over $400.00 was raised!

Bathrobes….They are now available upon request to your cabin steward. If you would like to purchase the waffle style is $45.00 and terry cloth is $90.00. Of course, If the robe somehow makes it into your suitcase…you will be billed after you depart the ship!

Champagne Breakfast for 2 available in your stateroom ~ 32.00 for 2 people

The Menu....
Headpiece monopole Champagne-chilled ½ bottles

Oven Fresh Pastries

Cold Smoked Salmon with Dill Cream Cheese and Toasted Lemon Brioche

Medley of Fresh Fruits and Forest Berries served with Clover Honey and Chantilly Cream

Alaska King Crab Quiche and Tomato and Fontana Cheese Gratin

Scholarship at Sea…

Culinary Arts…

Fruit and Vegetable Carving, Ice Carving, Martini Demo, Wine Tasting and Wine Club

Wine Tasting Info

Just got back from wine tasting, they have very nice literature handout and the dessert wine keeper glass is white frosted with Princess emblem in pewter on it…it’s a nicer shot glass…I always liked the little colored ones. I’ve used those A LOT when entertaining.

Anyway the wine we tasted and cost to purchase bottle on ship.

Kendall Jackson chardonnay Vintners Reserve 30

Nobile Sauvignon blanc...yuck didn’t like didn’t get price

La Crema Pinot Noir 36

Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon 34

Errazuriz – the dessert wine…YUMMY!!!! 21

They also did a 2 drawings at the winetasting The prize was canapés and sparkling wine delivered to your stateroom this afternoon.The day of wine tasting, afternoon tea is moved to Sabatini’s

Fruit and Veggie Carving…

check out my photo album to view some of the displays!

Entertainment

Dance Classs included Line Dancing and Ballroom Dancing,

Art and Crafts included Scrapbooking, Quilling and Box Making.

Art History

A class developed in conjunction with Dr. Sedari, Professor of Art History for New York University.
The description states it's a educational and entertaining look at the last 500 years of art history.

Navigation at Sea…A lecture about the history of Navigation. Information Will be given about the Pacific Princess’ bridge. On this sailing there No tour specifically of the bridge. Though I have toured the bridge of the Pacific Princess by invitation from Captain Lupo on another sailing. You might want to inquire at the pursers desk

Don’t forget to check out the Navigation map of your sailing near the pool bar forward, starboard side.

Computers at sea is taught by Herman Henze, they are still 25.00 per class

I have done this before for photoshop and movie making…

I would actually suggest that you do a private class so you are working at your speed one on one..
you will accomplish so much more

There’s a Bridge Director onboard her name is Patty Hench..I know nothing about bridge, so I can’t help you…gin rummy is my game.

Naturalist and Lecturer is Alan Cortash this is his 12^th year in Alaska, it looks like for 8 days he will be having some sort of lecture/talk going on.

Libby Riddles is Juneau day at 1pm, I found her slide show and lecture very interesting

Leonard Maltin movie club is beginning onboard..Slum Dog Millionaire, Frost and Nixon, Quantum of Solace, Changeling, Marley and Me.

TV in your stateroom…take the time to look at your television guide at the beginning of your cruise, there was some excellent programming with many movie options, educational shows that will enhance your knowledge of Alaska, along with Art History and so much more!

INDOOR smoking…designated section of Casino and Pacific lounge ONLY. The Casino does host non-smoking nights, just check your Patter.

Electrical outlets…there are 2 north American outlets and 2 European outlets if you want to expand your plug usage bring your converter. I’ve heard a few people having extension cord issues and my mom is having problems with her heating pad keeping from auto shut off on each plug option.

One of our Cruisecritc members had her night light surge and go kaput…..

The gym… it is open 7:00am-9:30pm

I spoke with Ryan the Fitness Manager, prior to this ship He was with the Island and Caribbean. He will be here for the whole Alaska season, at least that’s the plan.

So to walk around the deck ….13 laps equals 1 mile

The gym has the following equipment….

1 step machine

5 treadmills

4 seated bikes

2elliptical machines

Free weights …light and heavy

Cybex machines

Exercise Balls..Equipment for spinning class and step classes

The scale is in pounds and kilos…

Classes~ they are now 12per person for Yoga, Tai Chi and Pilates.

He does offer packages for 3 for 30 or the whole cruise for I believe 160.00 all other classes are free.

Personal Fitness Training is 85 per session and 209 for 3 sessions

Metabolism Test and Body Composition Analysis is 35

Fellow CruiseCritic members took his classes for Tai Chi, Yoga and Pilates classes

said Ryan was excellent and gave an incredible class experience!

The Spa…

The hidden gem here is the Lotus Private Deck…perfect for Glacier and wildlife viewing if you have an inside cabin. It is at the very front outside of Spa.

A day pass is 15.00 and Cruise Pass 140. I took pictures of this area, along with spa pricing, so check out the photo album below.

My mom had won 50% off a massage on embarkation day. She was quite excited to use this on the last day (Victoria day) and had been told verbally it was good throughout the cruise. She put the certificate in the safe and didn’t look at it until our last sea day. When we went to the spa to make an appt. to redeem it, the spa manager Cris Erasmus pointed out the fine handwritten print that it had expired 3 days after embarkation. I calmly mentioned we had been told it was good throughout

the cruise, but she wasn’t about to budge on her hard line by the book stance, which was unfortunate for all. Based on her negative energy we decided at that time not to book the additional spa treatments for both of us totaling over $600.00. I have included in my photo album, spa price lists for your onboard relaxation plans…

The Suite Breakfast..

Hours that it is available in Sabatinis…

Sea days 730am-1030am

Port days 730am-930pm

I took pictures of the menus, so please check out the photo album

If you want something that isn’t on the menu, with 24 hours notice they will make you whatever you want. You are also allowed to order off of the breakfast menu from the dining room.

The Ultimate Ships tour is offered for 150.00 per person for 12 people

that will be chosen through a raffle…included in the tour Galley, Engine Room, the ships laundry Room, Backstage in the lounges and THE Bridge

Stay tuned..

My personal Port & Shopping Information and Pictures will be added in the next 2 days!

In the meantime, here's a photo album pertaining to everything Pacific Princess!
I personally took each of these.

In the port section (coming soon) I will give credit to the photographers that graciously sent me wildlife and glaciar photos that my camera couldn't capture.


If you would like to see additional ship photos, check out the Tahiti page some of those are stock photos from Princess cruises!

If you have any questions, please send me an email!