Quencups

6 minutes ago, Shellbelle28 said:

There is a 2024 thread, it might have the info you want. 

 

Thank you!!!...LOL...totally not paying attention today 😄

Anyone know who the concierge is on the Pearl?

3 minutes ago, Quencups said:

Thats sounds good as well....Please let me know after your trip if you would be so kind 🙂

On 7/12/2024 at 9:04 PM, SSAtlantic said:

We are booking a transfer to Southampton with a stop at Stonehenge with Radio Taxis ( formerly West Quay Cars)

We will purchase our entrance tickets separately but for 5 of us, it is cheaper than International Friends. We can control our timing and leave Stonehenge when we want instead of waiting for a full coach. They are also willing to let us change our plans and go straight to Southampton if the weather is awful with a reduction in fare. Our trip is in October so I will report back. 

Thats sounds good as well....Please let me know after your trip is you would be so kind 🙂

16 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

I would be looking at any of the several transport companies mentioned here daily, like Rome in Limo, with a huge thread just down the board.

 

If you are going in the busy season,  I would be booking in January. 

Thanks for the reply!

We are a party of seven and our cruise ends in Civitavecchia.  Any suggestions for the best transfer to book to Rome?..and how far in advance do you need to book it?.....Thanks in advance 🙂

12 hours ago, John Bull said:

I think you'll find that there's just one operator who offers this 

https://www.internationalfriends.co.uk/london-heathrow-to-southampton-via-stonehenge.html

They're a long-established & reputable London coach tour operator, and they added this and other cruise tour-transfers about 6 years ago.

You'll find plenty of Cruise Critic members who've happily used this & their other cruise tour-transfers, and nobody has missed a sailing - like reputable independent operators worldwide they know that their reputation would be in shreds if that happened.

They quote arrival at the cruise terminals 1.30 - 2.00pm, but generally arrive around 1.00pm

 

Many CC members recommend flying in at least the day before and, as well as central London hotels, International Friends' pick-ups include Heathrow area hotels but not airport terminals - they're aware that flight arrival times and the time taken to clear airport formalities are too unreliable.

But there's absolutely no need to travel from London to Southampton the day before your sailing - the norm is for folk to do so on the morning of their sailing, whether that's by car, by van, by train, by a scheduled bus, or by tour-transfer.

 

International Friends are promoted by tour agents, which might have led @MagnoliaBlossom to believe that several coach operators offer this service.

 

JB 🙂

 

Thank you so much for taking the time to provide this info....We will be using this tour 🙂

Thank you all for your responses! much appreciated!! 🙂

Hi everyone.....Anyone taken this?....any info is appreciated 🙂

On 6/15/2023 at 11:03 PM, ChiefMateJRK said:

 

The only bad thing about losing Six and Footloose is that the people who would be in the theatre watching them will instead be crowding whatever place I'm in enjoying real entertainment.

We thought Footloose was awful

13 hours ago, curlstravel said:

I loved Los Lobos when I was on the Prima.  We didn’t expect it go be so good.

I second that!...Los Lobos was by far our favorite dining experience!!...We also didn't expect it to be so good 🙂

We were in one of the Deluxe Owner Suites on this cruise and I really agree with what most are saying...Storage is abysmal....I really don't know where they expect six people to put all their clothes.  I know to some it sounds like we are knit-picking and complaining, but when you pay a ridiculous amount of money for luxury, you really shouldn't have to live out of a suitcase.  I believe the cabin design is flawed.  For example four people could shower in the master bathroom shower, but there is no storage space for toiletries.

The Haven bar was exceptional. Rommel, Martin and Jefferson made our week!  The restaurant was good, but they need to change the menu during the week...we enjoyed the main dining room for lunch over the haven restaurant.  I did not care for the design of the ship and the creaking was just crazy.  We had to wear earplugs a couple of nights. My favorite amenity was the Haven elevator....that was wonderful! 

Overall we had a wonderful cruise....Bermuda is our absolute favorite

and NEVER disappoints.  Would I go on the Prima again?...no...not that its not a beautiful ship, just not my cup of tea.  

24 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

Please do! There are quite a few "Haveners" on our FB group page. Are you on that? We should all get together for a drink or two. Also, there is a plan developing to have lunch in the Haven after the M&G. Can't wait to meet everyone! 

 

BTW - I grew up in Pennington, NJ. 😁

I think DD is on the FB group - she was talking about the pub crawl...LOL...can't wait to just Reeeelaaaaaxxxxx

19 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

I know right? 😂 Yeh I will NOT be wearing any of them outside of the Haven. My DH would be hurt if I did not at least wear one of them. Perhaps just on our balcony. 

LOL...We are on that cruise in the Haven too....if I see you with your hat I will say hello.....:)

Yes its very well covered.....no worries

12 hours ago, HBCcruiser said:

Imma need one of those! April 30th can’t come soon enough! 

We are on the Prima 4/30 as well 😊

Wonderful review Bird, as always :)...Do you know what restaurants are available for using Platinum vouchers on Prima?

Following!!!....Thanks for the great review, Bird....have a wonderful time!!!

On 9/26/2022 at 2:51 PM, dexddd said:

More about the room compared to other ships, same category.  No special Bose radio or like to hook up phone or play music.  Things like QTips, puff, shower keep hair dry deal thing yes, lotions, yes.  Shower/bath is in one area behind one door, DW keeps saying it’s the biggest she’s seen – shower & bath combined that is.  Wow it is great, I’m a bit worried it causes extra work for steward to clean/swipe off water that gets splashed around. 

 

We’ve managed to get all 7 jets working – 4 as body hits, the one from top, shower wand belly button level but removable, and one from bath tub side body shot.  Top does not have much water when running the other 5 on same console.  One of the best setups we’ve seen.

One thing I was questioning before hand, made one post, no replies on CC was about the OS drink options like in the past.  Is unlimited in room water and soda included in the room plus the 3 bottles of booze, plus the Champagne?  I requested that via Miami Concierge (who I have not had good luck over the years but have acknowledged how good they have been the last four trips).  They sent an email that said only H1-H3.  Well, Prima OS got downgraded to H5 due to the newer, bigger suites.  There are 13 H5 on this ship.  Have gratefully found those benefits still included (sans Champagne but we did get a Prosecco – not complaining in any way – just reporting the news).  Great job keeping things as they should be.  Have not seen Latitudes wine unless the CDC is restricting that as well.

 

Out last 5 sailings have been MSC YC in three classes all made by Finicatari (I know I spelled wrong) as where Prima made.  I’m used to Meyer Werft on NCL and DCL.  I’d say overall it is like a Ferrari vs. Porsche with the Porsche clearly we’ll better engineered and functional with the Ferrari more glitzy.  I’ll get some specifics later with some pictures.

One thing I’d be worried about is the plumbing fixtures.  The ones in the Haven look very much like what we’ve seen in MSC YC and we’ve been on 3 MSC over 5 ships, some very new, where the handles don’t work well and the temperatures are not very controllable.

The doors are extra thick,like 3” maybe 1/2” more than normal we’ve ever seen – fire protection or some other reason? 

 

Had dinner in Haven and again, excellent, not too crowded.  Walked around, then watched NFL games in room – around ½ time ordered quesadilla and pepperoni pizza from RS and it was quick and very good.  We don’t normally get to stay up late and enjoy not having to do anything all day and then get drinks and RS to watch NFL, that was super relaxing.  We watched the whole game.

We’ve been eyeing menu in Commordore Room especially the crab wontons for weeks.  We decided to go today and got two of those, one ribs (basically the pork belly you see elsewhere on the ship), and DW got artichoke dip.  All enjoyed by the three of us.

 

For mains, DW got Ahi Tuna salad (she said was tough – the tuna that is), DD got the steak thingy with the sauce which she enjoyed, I got the advertised 8 oz cheeseburger that as advertised says it comes with pickle and choice of cheese – American, Cheddar, Swiss.  In reality it was overcooked burger about the size of 2/3 of the circumference of the bun with onions and no pickle (I’m o.k. with no pickle but if I had noticed it said onions, I would have declined those).  Fries were soggy, greasy, and cold.

 

The Commordore Room is beautiful and bright with an fairly large menu (for lunch and dinner that we’ve seen and the service was good overall).  So maybe on a different day things would have been better.  Pictures to follow.

 

We walked around a bit then finally ventured up to the vast sports area, darts, mini golf, slides, and go karts.  It was fairly cool out – 50 degrees – but DW and DD did the Rush Slide and then DD did the Drop so all were working despite one report of the demise of one of the slides.  I’ll do later.  Staff bundled up and not many takers but I do appreciate that they kept opened for use.  FYI – mini golf also been reported that it was a charge.  Maybe it was, will be, but large sign saying – complimentary – just ask for ball.  I will show picture of that for those who doubt I’m telling the truth.

They had a German themed buffet until 3.  They had German pizza which is a brown pretzel as crust – I thought that was funny bud did not try.

 

Later went to Haven lounge, always busy in cool weather.  Able to go to Observation Lounge to grab Monopoly to play – concierge did have playing cards.

Dinner, up in the air.  We did see what appear to be FR open for lunch despite Daily saying start 5:30.

 

Quencups - saw your thread, but the dialup internet on the ship was so slow it was burning my minutes up.  We wanted to book a DOS or better but they were already sold out.  Go to YT and Harr has some videos.

Thanks Dexddd....I saw harr travels video...Hope you are having a great time!!! Prima looks/sounds great...sailing on her in April.....Have a wonderful time!!   following along 🙂

15 hours ago, bookbabe said:

There’s some good YouTube videos that walk you through the Prima cabins, posted by a very tall travel agent.  Search by the ship name and cabin type and they should pop up easily.

Thanks

Just curious as to the actual (not deck plans) layout of the master bedroom on a Prima DOS....thanks in advance!!!

11 minutes ago, bluesea777 said:

Hi from Bermuda ….. the worst has already passed and the sun has come out. It’s still windy but dying down, and it’s dry outside. 
 

Great Sound sea is still curdling with white caps. 
 

Fiona’s eye passed about 100 miles west of us so we didn’t receive hurricane force winds but some tropical ones. We didn’t lose power but our cable/internet and phone are out. 
 

We’re good. 
 

 

VERY happy to hear that!!

6 minutes ago, cruiserbear55 said:

Bluesea 777 is from Bermuda, as seen in post above. Bermudabound is from Michigan and Maui, if memory serves me correctly.

Yes!...thank you.....its Bluesea777....

Just checking in on poster Bermudabound I think who lives in Bermuda....hope everyone is ok as the webcam appears to be down.  I LOVE the people of Bermuda and hope the damage wasn't too severe and that no lives were lost... 

We have had some great butlers, some ok butlers and some not so great butlers and they get tipped accordingly.  Have never not given any tip as I feel that they all work hard.  Some are just better than others.