HMSDingy

12 hours ago, deadzone1003 said:

Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is my go to cheap wine for dinner.  By itself, it leaves something to be desired.  But somehow it goes with food.  By itself, have to get higher end Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.  I don't think Princess have it by the glass, maybe by the bottle.  It is finding a white wine by the glass to your taste that is the hunt in futility.

Let me add a bit of clarification. Montepulciano d'Abruzzo in itself is not a cheap wine. The bottler I buy it from has a slightly weaker version. There are many Montepulciano's far more pricier and a better vintage. Similar to an earlier post on this thread that the Chardonnay that Princess carries, in his opinion, is terrible. But its still a Chardonnay.

I appreciate everyone's responses as diverse as they are. My best bet is just to try whatever is on the Plus package and if I don't like the choices, I can try ones on the regular price list and even pay the extra bucks if needed. Wine like food is also relative to different likes and palates. DW and I like a Montepulciano d'Abruzzo priced at $10 CAD or about $7.50 US that's sold in what the locals call, the cheapie rotgut shelf, that we both love. 

On 5/2/2024 at 1:44 PM, dreaminofcruisin said:

I should also add for white wine drinkers, the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio included on the Plus package is Canyon Road for cruises from North America. That is really swill and undrinkable for me (and nope not a high end wine drinker).

 

For cruises from Europe, on the Plus package, they were offering Adesso Chardonnay and Tini Pinot Grigio and I found those much more palatable.

Canyon Road is sold in most of Canada but not in Montreal (my neck of the woods) at $12. The liquor board in Ontario, the LCBO gives the Chardonnay a fair review and I've also seen similar reviews on most sites for both the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio that I searched and they've been by wine drinkers. May be swill for you but I'll try it anyway. 

9 hours ago, suzyed said:

You can choose from the regular wine list...no problem.  DH drank quite a bit of the Silverado and though I am not usually a rose drinker, I got hooked on Whispering Angel which I found to be quite nice.
For our anniversary in June we will carry on a bottle of Caymus cab from home.

Thanks I figured that and I've been told that there are wines by the glass at less than $15 on the regular wine list.

35 minutes ago, deadzone1003 said:

The wine list for Princess is quite decent, but the selections for the Plus package is quite poor.  The whites are terrible.  The Premier whites were just a tad better.  I had the plus package on a Panama Canal cruise and I found the Malbec and Carmenere drinkable thought it is unlikely I would ever buy them at home.  I started buying premier wines by the glass and paying the difference, but I found I was not happy with their choices unless I was picking the really higher priced premier wines.  I ended buying 3 bottles from their wine list which were good but expensive.  In the future I bring my own wines and pay the corkage or buy them at the ports or pick from their regular wine list.  No plus/premier package for me.  If you are a regular wine drinker at home, you are not going to be happy with their plus package choices.   

Can you choose glasses on the regular wine list or does it have to be only on the Plus selections. 

1 minute ago, dreaminofcruisin said:

 

Where have you seen this list that has Attems Pinot Grigio?

I haven't seen that on a ship in a long time....

 

I found what was described as a 2024 Princess wine list. I'll have to do some more research.

10 hours ago, suzyed said:

They do have a dedicated wine list for Plus and that will most likely be the one they show you when they know you have it. But you just ask for the regular wine list and tell them you will pay the difference if you want to choose a higher priced wine.

Ok but the wines on that 2024 list that I found have many wines that are sold here in Montreal. For example the list has an Attems Pinot Grigio at $11 per glass. That wine sells here for $20 and there's also a Mionetto Prosecco sold here for $18 also at $11 per glass. I've had the prosecco before and it's not too bad. 

I'm rather confused that everyone is stating that the wines on the Plus package aren't very good. I came across a 2024 wine list for Princess and the selection of wines isn't too shabby. Unless they have a different wine list for the Plus package, I don't think I'll have any problems finding a decent glass of wine. I've also searched our state run alcohol outlets here in Montreal for some of the wines on that list and the prices displayed aren't exactly your grocery type ones. But our cruise is 3 months off so I can try those on the list that are sold here. BTW not a wine snob but I make my own cabernet sauvignon.

On 4/29/2024 at 7:21 PM, LACruiser88 said:

We have been cruising Princess for years, we have never seen this before!

I agree and I too found that statement rather confusing. We've always had to wait at the front desk for a table even after sitting at the same table for most of the cruise. Even land based restaurants wont allow you to walk in and choose a table if they have someone greeting you at the door..

6 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Was that savings CAD or USD?  😁 ............. I'm just fooling around here. 

 

(I know many guests save a lot with the packages and others do it for convenience or pleasure.  But there are those of us who wouldn't get the value and that's okay too).

I did it for both, Of course it's great to save but this way I can order drinks and stuff without getting a large bill at the end our cruise.

4 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

True but the package also costs 35% more in CAD.  It's all relative.

Wow, you really know how to burst someone's bubble. I did factor in the exchange rate and I paid my cruise in CAD dollars so, yes, it may be all relative but bottom line is that I saved over $1000 and that's what's important to me.  

I read somewhere that taking a cab from your hotel to the port in Barcelona the driver requests a charge to get into the port area. Is this true?

DW and I are Italian and we not only make our own wine. but usually have a bottle every night with dinner. We also enjoy an occasional pre-dinner cocktail. Besides the cocktails, I like the occasional beer at lunch and we DO love our cappuccino in the mornings. I decided to take the Plus package for our European cruise this summer because we will definitely be saving. Our cruise is for 20 days and if you factor in just the gratuities, wine with our meals and cocktails, my calculations gives me at least a $1000 savings. That's not including the wifi and casual restaurants. The cost of my Plus package is in CAD and had I not taken it, the same costs would be onboard in US.  

On 7/23/2023 at 3:57 PM, Steelers36 said:

The ones in Canadian airports may as well have a gun and stick you up.  I wouldn't buy currency in an airport.  That said, it seems to me that some small foreign place we were once was okay at one location and I had read about it (a DR airport, perhaps??).  Best idea is a local bank to exchange funds.  It may have been in the DR, but I mainly used a bank in downtown Las Terrenas with the best rate.

 

I agree, the exchange booths at Trudeau Airport in Montreal not only charge ridiculous rates but they tag on an obscene fee as well. I get my euros through my son who works for RBC and he gets a preferred rate with no fee. But I will check out the ATM's during our European cruise this summer. I was going to bring a large amount of euros but have been advised not too and use cc's as much as possible.

19 hours ago, edinburgher said:

Pound sterling notes are also made of plastic/polymer

 

Be aware that while Gibraltar issued  notes and coins  are worth the same as pounds sterling, they are ONLY valid in Gibraltar, so try to use only plastic there to avoid being left with any local coins or notes which would have no value anywhere else..

Thanks. We've booked an excursion in Gibraltar for which I will pay the exact amount with no change coming my way and will do any sort of shopping in plastic. 

2 hours ago, edinburgher said:

Which to bring largely depends on which countries you will visit and you give no clue.  If several have the euro as their legal tender, it would be convenient to have a small amount for  really small purchases from traders such as ice cream vendors, or for use in some public toilets or on public transport which do not accept debit or credit cards, otherwise credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

 

if you will visit any UK ports, the legal currency here is the £ sterling, not the euro, and again, a small amount could be useful.

Sorry for being so vague. We will be visiting mostly European countries that have euros as their currency except for Gibraltar where I know to being pounds sterling. I have been advised by others that credit cards seem to be taken mostly in lieu of cash. Nonetheless, I do understand that some merchants do not accept any sort of plastic, which means I'll leave our Canadian currency at home since it is indeed made of plastic 😆. 

19 minutes ago, marazul said:

I am not taking exception and you do not need to apologize.  I was only pointing out that you are not going to get any new info on this topic with multiple posts.      

I understand and I'll be careful next time.

2 hours ago, marazul said:

You are posting this in every forum. The answer is the same for all euro countries 

Not that easy to delete once posted here on CC and I apologize for the multiple posts. But you're the only one who seems to have taken exception, One of the reasons I try not to ask too many questions here.

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

Euros and credit cards. CC first.

Thanks ands I apologize to all for posting the same question in multiple forums.

We are a Canadian couple taking a European cruise onboard the Island Princess this August and are wondering what form of currency should we bring. I know the onboard payments are done in US but what about when ashore? Would it be better in cash being the local currency, or a credit card?  

We are a Canadian couple taking a European cruise onboard the Island Princess this August and are wondering what form of currency should we bring. I know the onboard payments are done in US but what about when ashore? Would it be better in cash being the local currency, or a credit card?  

We are a Canadian couple taking a European cruise onboard the Island Princess this August and are wondering what form of currency should we bring. I know the onboard payments are done in US but what about when ashore? Would it be better in cash being the local currency, or a credit card?  

41 minutes ago, alserrod said:

 

 

Hi

 

I am not sure if I have understood your question.

In Barcelona (in all Spain) you can ask taxi driver to stop and get off in any corner providing it is not forbidden to stop there.

Nevertheles if you go to the port, do not worry, taxi driver will know where to stop for you. 

There are five terminals in Barcelona. It is not easy to know where your ship will be parked but do not worry because they are lined. Coming from the city you arrive to the Terminal A, later B, later C.... so as soon as you arrive to the port you will see your ship.

 

 

Regarding Las Ramblas, if your hotel is in the street near Plaza Cataluña, faster and cheaper way to go from the airport is by suburban, not by taxi. A direct train from Airport to Plaza Cataluña with few stops and no transfer

Ir your hotel is near the port (Plaza Colon) you can go to take T3 bus to the Terminal. It just costs 3 euro per person (instead of a taxi)

 

 

If you need more information about Barcelona I have written here something (they start with "One day in Barcelona")

Sorry. if i may have confused you but what I meant was how far will the taxi driver drop us off from the pier. I know that for some ports, drivers can't go past the entrance to the port.

22 hours ago, alserrod said:

********************

Anyone recently taken a taxi from BCN airport to the hotels ( H10 Madison )  and from hotels to cruise port ? Debating between booking private transfer or just taking a cab. Any idea of costs would be much appreciated also! 

*******************

 

 

Taxi: 

Airport - Hotel, 25-28 euro (depending on traffic)

Hotel - Port 15-18 euro (depending on traffic)

 

Always considering weekdays before 20:00, about 3-5 euro more on weekends

 

ALL supplements INCLUDED

 

 

Thank you for all of the great information. We will be in Barcelona in August for our cruise and staying at a hotel on Las Ramblas for 2 days. Where exactly do the taxis leave you at the port? Is it a long walk to the pier and embarkation?  We have been to Barcelona but that was many years ago and really don't remember how we did it.

On 3/14/2024 at 5:19 PM, negn said:

We are currently on the Ruby.   Months ago we reserved a table for 2 at 6 pm.   Have yet to not have to share.  Most tables are for 6-8.  There are barely any 2 tops in the dining room.  I’ve never had this on previous ships.   I’m not antisocial, my DH and I just wanted this as it’s our 25 anniversary

We've never had problems getting a table for 2. My advice is to book a later time as the later you reserve the better chance you have.