rowingmachine

Whoops!  UK price for Premier is £65 pppd.

On 4/2/2024 at 2:28 AM, Retired-N-Happy said:

Even if you eliminate the new additional stuff you don't want, after factoring out gratuities and wifi, the 60 is reduced to 29.  If you can't consume 29 worth of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks on a daily basis, stick with the no frills fare.  We never had the 50, just the 40 and the 60.  

Currently think the 60 is the best value at sea.  You basically get wifi and gratuities for free as far as we're concerned since most cruise lines charge over 60 per day for their drinks package. And the two casual visits is nice as well.

Very much agree.  We were bumped up to  Premier package from Plus on a special offer, but I think we would have chosen Premier anyway for our first time Princess cruise.  I do think there's a substantial  difference between your first trip on a cruise line and subesequent ones

My first ever cruise was on Costa and for that one we bought a really cheap drinks packagein ignorance.  We had to abandon the cruise with 3 nights to go as DW’s back seized – she couldn’t lie down.  However,  adding up the paper receipts afterwards we were well in credit for 7/10 of a cruise.

Since then, first time on a new cruise line we have taken whatever  package is available.but not always for the next one. For this first 14 day cruise,  I should not like to be spending my days envying those with more or less unlimited options whist I had to count everything up and make so many decisions.  I don't know how we shall spend our oceans of  time, but for us the package worth comes in at:

Wi Fi  £12 pppd –  for one device between us, but lovely to be able to take 8 devices

?

Gratuities £16 pppd

Two speciality restaurants £4.50 pppd  Would never try them if I had to pay hard cash so n/a

Casual dining £4.50 pppd.  Likewise. so n/a

Princess Prizes with the door. £0  Would never normally  touch it. But a fun enhancement for free.

Reserved seating for shows. £0 Would not normally go to a show because we always get rotten seats. Glastonbury was terrible last year.   A  possibly useful  enhancement

The much maligned Princess deserts  £0– but I’m dying to try one, the full Monty.  I would never pay for one though.

The fitness classes.  £1 pppd.  I do use the gym, but baulk at joining in with others  to loud music.  I shall give it a go on this cruise and who knows ... a potentially life changing experience?

The delivery options. £1pppd.  Never ever had anything delivered when I could walk, but DW may use the Breakfast in cabin option, she is less embarrassed than I .

Water bottles £7 pppd

Nice coffee £5 pppd

Juices etc £2 pppd

Alcohol/drinks.  Here's where it gets silly.  I have no idea really.  The fizzy bottled American or European beer bloats me up, so I dare not drink much although I do like it.  Let's say 5 x £15 expensive wines. DW likes cocktail experiments.  With the package £75 pppd, without the package £30 pppd.

So that equals £74 pppd for us, pretty close to the £75 premier package charge.  We shall see.

For a Princess newbie I would recommend wholheartedly taking the premier package and seeing how it goes.  You will at least have tried most things.

18 hours ago, tonit964 said:

Another way of looking at it is you may definitely be wanting a 16oz at 19:10 on 4 Nov. 😉

Have a great cruise!

Absolutely right.  It's a balancing act.  On the one hand prepare and enjoy the anticipation, fondle your fireworks; the other leave some bits to chance and approach them unscripted.  I do like a crossword where I can't access the answers.

Thanks, that's all I was concerned about really.  It just seems so far off to book a night out.  Actually makes the Princess booking system seem impressive. Perhaps it's good marketing; the more involved you are the less likely you are to back out when it's time to pay up.  I have the Premier package, so no risk as it says nil against the card. 

We have never booked a cruise so far ahead (November '24) on Sky.. We have been invited to book our 'free' speciality dinners and excursions and thus downloaded the app and booked our dinners.  The excursions did not appeal.  Is this not somewhat far ahead to be doing this? Is it easy to cancel or rearrange.  I know I'll be on the cruise ship but really no idea how much I'll feel like a 16 oz steak at 19:10 on 4 Nov, but DW as lead passenger got the reminder email and thought we might miss out! Surely these venues are not that sought after.

Our first Princess coming up too.  Promotion gave us Premier for the same price as Plus. I just can't figure out why you wouldn't opt for the more expensive fare - £47.50 x 14 comes to £1330 for the both of us and includes lots of non drinks related value and includes inescapable costs.  My problem on a cruise is that so much of the day is taken up with drinks related activities.  The obvious one is meals, but many of the places to sit are bars or places where waiters hover.  I feel uncomfortable without a drink.  My problem.  I go to a pub and have a drink, that's what happens if I'm not driving.  The Princess offering appears to kick the opposition from our experience into touch - Costa, NCL, Celebrity, MSC.  I hope I'm not disappointed.

Phew! I'm somewhat breathless after reading all that.  For most of the script I thought you were writing in real time and marvelled.

Even so I still marvel.  You have done me such a service.  All my questions have Been answered at least tangentially.

We are due to cruise in November, 14 days on Sky first time Princess and have gone through all the sums. Finished up with mini suite and Premier package. Came at the same price as Plus so no contest!

Found the sums hypnotically fascinating.  I think we may drink (alcohol ) a little more than than you, but the clincher  for us are the bottles of water . We can easily get through 10 a day equals £40 per day. Silly prices, but DW irrationally will not drink ship's tap water Would have a struggle to hit 15 alcoholic drinks a day each, though we do drink too much.

Hope to do Regal next year round UK. and shall reread your excellent description and advice.

20 hours ago, SCX22 said:

think this should be prefaced by saying that these interior suites are part of the Yacht Club and they're only slightly larger (I think a couple of sq meters, but not by much) than a regular interior cabin.  People don't want larger cabins but the perks of the Yacht Club on a budget

Absolutely, but you can get it wrong.  Last year we chose a last minute MSC Virtuosa 14 day cruise.  A day or so after paying, we received a bid up offer; well I received, presumably as main passenger.  I scanned the options in an idle moment and put in a silly low bid for a Yacht Club inside cabin. Couldn’t afford even the lowest bid for a Yacht Club Suite Didn’t tell the DW and forgot about it,. Wouldn’t you know, it won.

Without reading too the email too closely, I skipped up to the DW and told her the good news.  She went ballistic. Why didn’t you ask me, she spluttered sort of. I replied I thought it would be a nice surprise.  I had not realised just how much she could not stomach the idea of an enclosed space for 14 days.

It was only when reading the details, it appeared the auction had given us a full blown Yacht Club Suite for the silly bid.  I kept quiet with MSC and didn’t really believe our good fortune  until we were actually in the cabin with our welcome champagne.

We had of course a fantastic experience, and I did poke my head into an inside  cabin on the last morning. It was very pokey, but I think the trade off for Yacht Club perks would have more than made up for it.

So I got away with it and if I am to persuade the DW to go inside I think it would be more appropriate to try  a 3/5 day taster cruise if possible when the financial difference is great between balcony and inside

Thanks everybody. Nuances there I had not considered being ever overly concerned with price rather than personal value for which I am constantly castigated by DW.  As with Snaxmuppet my better half would not countenance an inside  or oceanview cabin; she would like a way out if it sinks.  I am sure we shall enjoy immensely - we always do.

I have never been on a Princess Cruise before, but recently booked a Sky Princess 14 day cruise for November this year.  I was amazed at how cheap it was compared to the cruise lines I have booked before.  What especially surprised me was the closeness in price of Inside cabins to Mini Balconies.  On the Cruise in question (no flight) the prices are £970 inside, £1096 cheapest balcony, £1367 cheapest mini suite. The Sky suite was admittedly a tad more at £12,500 or so. Our very first cruise in 2013 with Costa in Balcony without drinks   cost £950 for 11 nights cruise hotel and flight. All prices per person We thought that was good value.  Add on the Premier offer at the moment for less than £50 pppn inc everything, it does seem like a pleasant way to spend half of November

Yes, I hadn't read it properly when I posted previously and assumed it was carte blanche.  Have gone for the cheap champagne as I never drink expensive champagne and so won't be disappointed.

We are due to sail on 3 June from Southampton and received the message today.  Not sure whether the message needs to be replied to twice as we are a couple.

. We are going to request Strega (well they are an Italian cruise line but it will test them) or Ricard Pastis or failing that a red wine. Also a small fan for DW.  Not bothered about the pillows.  Very impressed to receive such an email at all.

I presume that this is where I comment/view MSC posts.  We haven't cruised in a while, but at the start of May I thought I'm not going to get affordable Travel Insurance soon, so booked a cruise on 3 June MSC Virtuosa without any research except taking the precaution to book a couple of seats on the coach down (the last two and it turns out there's another rail strike on the 3rd)! - and finding someone to look after the dog.

Mixed messages about Virtuosa, but our favorite cruise line was the cheap and exuberant Italian line Costa, so we should cope and the itinerary is attractive.

The site seems to have changed somewhat.  How do you access your old posts and reviews @ 5 years plus ago? 

No other questions really, just trying to get our heads round what to pack for the English Channel, the Scottish Isles, Iceland, Norway and the North Sea in June.  Guess I shall have to accede to DW's suggestion that we take more than 2 suitcases.

Sorry if this is posted in the wrong place.

Thanks for all that Jim_Iain.  I have not read all of it but got the taste and you answered quite a few of my questions without even knowing it.  Quite exciting here as we are packing for our Baltic Silhouette cruise on Sunday and delving into weather forecasts, average temperatures etc.  Also hovering  is a nearly forgotten Move up bid or two.  If I can access internet I shall attempt a few meagre posts.  First time Celebrity and really looking forward. 

Silly me! 

3 minutes ago, FlorenceItaly said:

Your credit card number is requested when you provide your bid.  

Silly me!

Wondering how the Move up email recipients are chosen.  I can't see how Celebrity can charge your credit card if you have not given them it.  We booked through a mass market travel agent and paid them.  They will have paid Celebrity. I did however purchase a Drinks Upgrade and had to ring Celebrity direct back in December as it was not possible to do it online. Obviously paid by credit  card, so Celebrity has  my credit card number.  I did receive the upgrade offer yet to be accepted or refused. 

Just now, rowingmachine said:

The weather for Ayrshire, Scotland is not looking as nice with temperatures forecast mid-30 to 50 for our visit after the cruise ends.   

Hey, you will love it. Son and self just back from a coach tour to the Highlands where the weather was warmer and calmer than anywhere else in UK.  Met several travellers carrying their hiking gear and wearing the rest, expecting dreek Scottish weather.  Great time to visit.  No midges, but not much water in the falls.  Enjoy the quickly changing weather varieties. 

6 minutes ago, Jim_Iain said:

Really looking forward to our tour.   In the past we have just toured Lisbon and were really interested to learn more about some close by towns.   I'll make sure to get as much information as I can.

 

 

 

Thanks for the recommendation.   This is our first time dealing with Spain Day Tours.   I initially tried to book a tour in the Azores but unfortunately was too late and they were fully booked and I booked the Lisbon tour instead.   They have been excellent communicating.   It appears that they have at least 2 bus tours as ours is listed as Bus #1. 

 

We have really been lucky with the weather and crossing.   Forecasts for the remainder of the cruise are currently showing clear skies and temperatures in the 80's and 90's.   The weather for Ayrshire, Scotland is not looking as nice with temperatures forecast mid-30 to 50 for our visit after the cruise ends.   

Thanks everybody, that's all I wanted to know.  Last cruise I seemed to spend ages trying to change a note or two in foreign banks in an unfamiliar language.

I have just looked at the wallet of holiday currency I ordered for next month's holiday and realise that they are in too high denominations (dollars and euros) for tipping etc.  How accommodating is Celebrity at changing them, if I ask nicely?  I have only previous experience of Costa and they were not helpful.  I can go back to the bank I suppose but would rather not!

UK booking. First time Celebrity. It's a bid of fun if you bid cheap.  Like Premium Bonds you don't lose your stake (unless you win) and like a bet on the Grand National (UK horse race) nobody really knows which one is going to win.  Adds of touch of piquancy  to the last few weeks before a cruise.  I like it.

I always worry about the weather – can’t do anything about it.

Always worry about getting to the port on time – can’t do anything about it.

Always worry about the house, cats, dogs, children.  Can’t  do anything about it.

Always worried on the cruise about losing documents.

I do not worry about getting ill, sinking, disasters or anything global, so I’m pretty lucky really.  Expectations are not cruise or company specific so I know I shall enjoy lots of things I was not expecting to.  Hence, keep planning to a minimum .  I do enjoy reading CC on a quiet evening however for a few tips.

We have been obsessive savers and investors for over 30 years. We did without and made conscious choices in order to have the funds to travel extensively in our retirement. As I always say to my kids, "It's not my job to leave you an inheritance. It's my job to set a good example of thrifty living and wise money management, so you don't need one." 

Oh dear, Hank,  I wish I wish.  One of our offspring spends nothing, but will probably never go on a cruise because It's too expensive.  The other will never go on a cruise because he's spent up.  Life style examples to follow  are strangely elusive.  Think I should sub them both for a surprise cruise and see what happens. Whatever else neither of them would want to go with us! 

We really love cruises, but have not done many primarily because of the cost,  but also because we enjoy more unscripted holidays. Cruise Critic is great, but it does tend to push you towards booking this and that and the other way before time because it may be a pound or two less if you cotton on to the latest Flash Sale or deal. For goodness sake, I don't know if I/We are going to want to go to Murano on Day 8 of our cruise for a slap up meal.  Past experience says I will probably be full up by then. Every minute booked is a frightful weight on me to fulfill the schedule.  Best holiday is with the bus pass and the railcard and only the bare bones prebooked,  but that does entail its own worries along with the excitement of course.  A cruise is fantastic because you pay for it all beforehand, put your wallet away,  sit back and let it happen;  you meet far more people than on other holidays.  So we are coming up to our first ever 14 days holiday, first ever Celebrity and I'm very much looking forward.  Just have to slap my  wrists when I go into 'Manage My Booking'.  Thought provoking topic though.

We are also hoping there are boiling facilities on aboard.  Lots of rich food and drink = dodgy tummy = hot water bottle = relief =  start again tomorrow.