Tall Valley Cruiser

Hope you feel better soon.  I agree with MSoCalCruiser. I think it would be a courtesy to the hard working crew you were in close contact with like your room steward or dining staff if you informed Princess. We were on the Discovery a few months ago and staff were still wearing masks.  Are the staff wearing masks?  They live in very close quarters and perhaps they would appreciate knowing.

Suggestion- do not let proctor rush you through the process. If you are unsure at any point ask for clarification. Be careful with keeping the specimen card flat and do not move and as mentioned be careful with swab and with drops on specimen card. Good luck.

Although we downloaded the Navica app, on an iPhone X we could not access the test process through the app without first logging on to another website on a computer or iPad. Once we logged into this site we did not attempt to go back to the phone and just used the iPad for the entire process.  Be aware that we needed the forward facing camera for some parts of the test process and the rear camera for other parts. Also be very careful not to drop or touch the swab during the test (we did not) and to keep the card that you put the drops in and the rotate the swab on, very still. They are finicky about the card staying very flat.  Unfortunately for us it was not a stress free experience the first time, but was much easier when the spouse did it.  After the initial part of the test is completed, and the 15 minutes have passed, you let them know you are ready to continue and the process of receiving your results comes rapidly. If they go to fast for you, keep asking questions.  Good luck!

Thanks all for your responses. I agree the track is not ideal, and certainly not of much use except on port days. I remember the Royal had the same issue, including the movie screen sound system, by some miracle they were actually playing a classical concert so it was pleasant.  If there was an action movie, or rock concert, not so much.  Interesting that there was nothing on the track on the Princess website, but the cruisedeck.com site was helpful (thanks again EM).

Essiesmon, thank you so much, this has information not on the Princess website. Appreciate the helpful and rapid response.  Hope Ida does not created too much trouble for you. Stay safe!

The Royal class ships eliminated the walk around Promenade deck that many of us used for exercise on the older ships.
As a substitute, they added a jogging/walking  track up on deck 18 outside. My wife and I enjoyed using it on the Royal Princess. We are sailing on the Majestic soon. I do not see a jogging track indicated on the deck plan unlike all the other Royal class ships. We do not want to use the treadmills in the fitness center inside at this time of COVID.
Can anyone who is on the Majestic now or who has been on it recently answer my question? Thank you very much.

We have been following your adventures on the cruise. Out of the entire Princess fleet the Majestic is the only ship without an updated Bridge Cam image, it still shows the ship in Seattle on July 22.  Please let the passenger desk know. It is a confidence builder seeing an updated image.  We will be sailing on the Majestic soon. Thanks!! :)

😊

51 minutes ago, dfish said:

With the premium package I was able to conduct a Zoom meeting while at sea.   Just make sure you're not doing something else at the same time like uploading pictures.

Wow, a Zoom meeting, that is impressive. Thanks for your response.

53 minutes ago, kazu said:

 

Wifi depends on where you are, but overall it is usually pretty decent IMO.

 

It’s not high speed.  It’s regular wifi by satellite.

 

Here are the rates when you board based on the sailings pre-covid.

 

 I can’t guarantee that it is the same now, but it’s a good guideline.

 

Also, if you have booked, you can check the cost for the premium package it is discounted if you buy it on line.

While the premium does allow streaming we did not find it worked well.  

 

 

Thanks for taking the time to post this. Much appreciated.

Having cruised Princess more recently, have gotten used to excellent wifi reliability and speed. Due to status, we have enough minutes to handle our needs at no additional charge. Having cruised HAL less recently/frequently we were curious how good the wifi on the Konigsdam is?  Also, I realize if I drilled far enough into the HAL website I could unearth the info, but the internet cookie trail creates added emails from HAL.  Could someone give us an idea of what the deals are for just wifi?  I am aware of the drinks+wifi+specialty restaurant+$100 excursion credit package, but not much of a drinker any more.  Thoughts? Thanks all.

Thanks everyone.  I just saw a video with the person I believe who was the head designer for the ship, she appears very petite. Reminds me of general seating at Disney Hall in Los Angeles, also designed by someone who has never come close to having their knees touch the seat in front of them in coach on an airplane! 😊

We have enjoyed being on the Oosterdam, and Noordam in Verandah staterooms. We were interested in looking at a cruise on the Koningsdam, but were watching a video made by a tall passenger with a Verandah stateroom on YouTube.  He appeared fairly tall, and when he walked into the bathroom the layout looked problematic for the toilet in relation to the shower. I am 6'7" and my wife is 6'2". Just wondering if any tall cruisers out there who have been on the Konnigsdam have had any issues with this diagonal position that would require my knee to go through the shower door? :) Thanks

Yes, I understand the "leper" example.  The point is, not concerned about vaccinated folks getting sick. The issue is unvaccinated passengers getting COVID and having the cruise terminated and the resulting inconvenience that arises with that, per the statement on Holland America, and Princess (not sure if it stands for Carnival as well). It has little to do with the vaccinated who are well protected 90-95%, but the unvaccinated who are 0% protected falling ill and having the cruise terminated. 

An individual passenger having a heart attack does not mean the cruise is terminated and returns to point of origin. I remember years ago, being awakened by an announcement at 6pm in our state room that a helicopter evacuation was taking place and not to go out on deck.

Someone unvaccinated spreading pathogen virus to other unvaccinated may well end the cruise, delays, etc.  Agree, it will be interesting to see what a "threshold" is.  So far the only comments I have heard is the situation is "fluid".   I believe this all may become a moot point based on latest CDC guidance tonight.  Stay tuned.

I saw this fine print on the Holland America and Princess sites. Anyone know if it is on the Carnival one as well? "If a threshold of COVID-19 is detected on board the ship, the voyage will be ended, the ship will return to the port of embarkation, and your subsequent travel home may be restricted or delayed."

So, if you are vaccinated and not concerned about catching COVID, you might get a bit concerned that the unvaccinated that slip past the testing (test negative but have COVID, but the viral load does not pick it up for a few days) could get sick on the cruise.

Could make you anxious every time someone sneezes or coughs on the elevator, or at the buffet that the cruise could be terminated. Vaccination not 100% of course but better than starting from 0% and hoping for the best.

Thanks Pushka!

Any word from David and Sally Abel on the Diamond? Have not heard anything from them on YouTube in a few days. I like their positive, plucky attitude. Hope they are ok. Seems to be less individual YouTubes coming from passengers and fewer updates. Could be WiFi overload, hopefully no throttling.

Thanks again everyone. This is why I really like cc and the folks on it!!

Thanks for the information everyone. What is the difference with the Premium package? Is it just number of minutes or is the WiFi faster..or both. Princess has adopted a unlimited minutes category.

Have not cruised on the Oosterdam for many years. Have been very pleased with new wifi on Princess on our recent cruises. After booking Mexican Riviera cruise for next month I noticed statement in our booking information about "do not expect wifi reception in every stateroom". Not a fanatic about wifi, but curious if anyone can give us an idea of what to expect. Speed of access on Princess was exceptional. However, I prefer not to invest in wifi with a "no refunds" and discover that it is non-existent or virtually useless from our stateroom Upper Verandah Deck 6 aft (verandah stateroom). Really appreciate any input you can supply. Thanks

Thanks!! This is an important tip.

Thanks, cute dog.

Steve

Hi Clay,

Thanks for the information. Ducking the exit signs is standard for me, as is walking through doorways that seem built to 78" or 76" instead of the usual 80" clearance on most homes in the states. Did you notice any headroom difference deck to deck on river vessel? Fellow passengers sometimes look in amusement when my wife discretely calls out "duck". Think some are looking for web footed friends. 

Thank you for your quick response.  I just hate getting nailed by a dangling sprinker head.

I am 6'7" tall and concerned that the height of stateroom ceiling might be problematic. Even if I could clear the ceiling itself, if lighting, vents, sprinklers are sticking down I could be bumping into them. Anybody have any experience with this? Would not be relaxing if I was constantly having to worry about banging my head. Yes, I am accustomed to ducking through most doorways. I have spoken to people that are 6'3", but the extra 4" makes a big difference.  :)  Are the bed sizes similar to a mini-suite on a Princess ship? Thanks!