Mulgagirl

And their Beverage Packge page on their website specifically states that the packages are not available for the Melbourne Cup and State of Origin Cruises.  It's important to read everything....

https://www.pocruises.com.au/plan/know-before-you-go/life-onboard/beverage-packages?utm_source=pocruises&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=premiumdrinks&TCCN=8577505707

I believe that the T&C's say that the Melbourne Cup cruises they were offering the alternative of Onboard Spending Money.  It is common (understandably) to not include drinks packages to cruises that are linked to a lot of boozing (ie Melb Cup, State of Origin etc). 

"Onboard Spending Money is per room in AUD and applies to cruises 6 nights or less and the 7 and 8 night Melbourne Cup sailings –i250, i350, v359, v247).

• Ship:  Constellation
• Length of Cruise: 15
• Cruise Sail Date: December 18, 2019
• Date email offer received: October 20, 2019
• Captain’s Club Tier [“PREVIEW” = first Celebrity Cruise]: Preview
• Booked through Celebrity Direct OR via TA: Originally direct, transferred to TA
• Current Cabin: Concierge 8195
• Bid?  Yes/No: Yes

If YES -  Bidding Details:

• Cabin Category: Royal Suite 6133
• Bid Offer: $2870pp (minimum bid)
• Notification Date: October 31, 2019
• Accepted / Rejected:  Accepted

General Comments (offer details, etc.):   Made minimum bids on all categories, never expecting any of them to be accepted, LOL.  Bids:  Aqua $220pp (current price $5830pp) , Sky Suite $1310pp (current price $11,705pp), Celebrity Suite $2100pp (sold out), Royal Suite current price $24,245pp.  We are extremely excited, to say the least!  There's no way we'd have been able to afford that kind of price, even if we wanted to (barring winning a huge lottery anyway)!

1 hour ago, rabbit1971 said:

Hi Mulgagirl,

 I am on the majestic in a couple of weeks, I don't suppose you noticed if they ran the winemakers dinner as well?

Thanks for the info on chefs table, its my birthday while we are away and I think it would be a great way to celebrate. We did one for my husbands birthday on carnival a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it.

cheers maree

Hi Maree,

I don't recall seeing a Winemakers dinner.  They did have a wine tasting thing (no meal, $13) that the wait staff were promoting heavily.  I'd ask at the service desk when you put your name down for Chef's Table (as soon as you board, don't hesitate, LOL).  

Meryl

1 hour ago, victory2020 said:

Which day do they usually do it? Also, what time? Can you ask the chef questions about menu/food prep on the ship?

The Chef's Tables are usually conducted on a sea day, but the actual day can vary.  Yes, you can ask whatever questions you'd like of both the Executive Chef and/or Maître d'Hôtel during the evening.

Tom, you might need to budget a tiny bit more than $115 each.  Just off the Majestic (Sunday), and we did the Chef's Table on 22nd Dec.  Cost $125 each.  Was brilliant, and we'd thoroughly recommend you head straight to a phone, dial 138 and put your name down on the list as soon as you board.  There were 3 Chef's Tables conducted during our 12 night cruise.  Very popular.  Before people start making negative comments about the cost, how about you try it first?  Must admit that when we did our first, it was $95 each, and has steadily increased in price since then, but it's not just the food (and free-flowing wines), it's also a really special experience.  Won't spoil the surprise, but the Majestic takes the experience level up another notch!  Have attached the menu fyi.

3 minutes ago, jlp20 said:

If you watch video again, about 60 seconds in the chef introduces himself. He is the Master Chef for entire fleet. He happened to be on board doing yearly inspection and was enjoying the entire meal. His sous chef for the meal was the head chef of the ship. For the 12 dinning; three chefs, four servers and a wine steward. All involved doing their best to impress us AND the Master Chef. The second time I can't recall who the host chef was, other than we seamed to be an annoyance to his day. Again the 12 at the table had; two chefs, two servers and a wine steward.  It just felt everyone involved were going through the motions. No flare and as though they couldn't wait for us to leave. Although a year apart, the menu was exactly the same.

That's a shame.

1 hour ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

We’ve done the Chef’s table 3 times, a 100% success rate of trying to and getting to. We called the dine line upon embarkation and put our name on the list.  We then visit the Maitre d’hotel  in the afternoon during the posted hours in the patter.   We follow up personally every evening when we see the Maitre D’hotel at dinner to see how the table is filling.  

Once we had to rustle up a few folks to sign up 

I’d say it’s worth the effort even though once out of three times for us it was a bit less than. 

Same.  Get in early, and keep checking.

7 hours ago, Bubbs33 said:

What are the chances of getting a spot at the Chef Table if you ate not Elite or in a suite. It seems those with priority boarding are better able to get on the list first. Enquiring minds would like to know.

We aren't Elite or Suite (have only just risen to the giddy heights of Platinum) and we've always managed to be successful with the list.  It's first come, first served, or a ballot.  Neither of which will be influenced by your status.

On 12/5/2018 at 3:05 PM, jlp20 said:

The trick is knowing ahead of time how to sign up. Waiting for the DINE number to be active vs finding someone with a sign up sheet is major. 4-5 cruises before you go, find people for your ship in role calls and ask them their experience. We have done it twice. The first was outstanding (see video) and the second was a letdown.  

 

What made your second Chef's Table a let down?  We've done 4 with Princess and 1 with P&O and have been very happy with them all.  Just curious.

2 minutes ago, christodan said:

 

I got the offer too. I took it. Was going on a 4 day cruise on Sun Princess  on Jan 5, now going on 10 day cruise on the Majestic with upgrade to balcony and price of cruise with refundable OBC. Didn't really care if I didn't go on this cruise as it was the cruise you have when you're not having  cruise - just a little jaunt up to Moreton Island.

Couldn't be happier.

SCORE!!!

Can you copy the actual address that you're using from your address bar in your browser, after you are re-directed?

Can you post the link that you're using?  We can try it too, to see if we have the same issue.

2 hours ago, MicCanberra said:

A couple observations from the video and I know I am just being picky, but so many of the people in the footage (and if that represents embarkation day, they got that totally wrong) are dressed in suits. hardly Queensland embarkation clothing. I  have cruised QM2 and there were less suits on formal night.

LOL, that was my first thought  too.  Way overdressed for Queensland. 😅

21 minutes ago, Mulgagirl said:

Another one for InsureandGo, and as Sinbad mentioned above discount codes are easily found. I picked up 20% off.  Also, they have specific cruise insurance.  I don't trust insurance companies when a travel policy is silent in a particular (but extremely popular) activity.  Way too easy for them to get out of a claim.  

Remembered that code:  Groupon20

Another one for InsureandGo, and as Sinbad mentioned above discount codes are easily found. I picked up 20% off.  Also, they have specific cruise insurance.  I don't trust insurance companies when a travel policy is silent in a particular (but extremely popular) activity.  Way too easy for them to get out of a claim.  

On 10/18/2018 at 12:48 PM, rabbit1971 said:

  ... " twinnings english breakfast teabags in the buffet at breakfast(i'm rather partial to this tea type as I don't drink coffee), also the adult kids wanted to know if they are running an escape room on this cruise?

 

Not 100% on the tea bags (I'm a tea drinker myself, no coffee), and I bring my own Dilmah.  What on earth is an escape room?  To get away from kids?

Must be having too much fun to post! 😁

I don't believe they charge an additional conversion fee, plus the conversion rate is quite competitive too.

Anyone have photos of stateroom E505 on the Majestic? If you have been in this stateroom what was the obstruction? I’ve been on the web site with obstructed stateroom photos but non for this stateroom.

Thanks!

Tom😎

Don't know what site you used, but on this website scroll down to the photos (click on the second photo ) and you will see E505 clearly marked. Looks like little obstruction at all.

https://sites.google.com/site/royalregalprincess/home/8-emerald

The other option we were considering was the chefs table, do you know of anyone who had tried it on the majestic? we have done one on carnival and it was amazing.

 

Hey Maree, you must have been reading my mind! Chez, have you heard anything of a Chef's Table? We've done them on our last few cruises and always enjoy the evening.

What date do you dock in Brissie? Might try to get out to the port to have a close-up look before our cruise on 18th Dec.

Thanks

Meryl

We could transfer our booking to the same cruise itin. one week later, but at a $400 cost, and a redo of our planned itin. Should we transfer?

Appreciate your insights and opinions,

If you aren't dedicated NRL fans, definitely choose another cruise (at any cost, LOL). It is full on rugby league, with loads of yobbos that, if I had a 16yo daughter, I would NOT like her being around.

Well, it looks like the mattress condition varies depending on which cabin you have. Maybe getting a mini-suite you are paying for a good bed and those other cabin....well...not paying to have a good bed. This is appalling!! The person who went in March...bad bed....the person in April with the mini-suite a great bed. Huh...wonder what I will sleep on. I better start planning now and request a topper. I have not been on Princess since 2010...the bed was fine then....well no renovating since then I guess. Norwegian beds were terrible on my cruise last year, the topper just made it worst.

What do you guys do when you take those 25+ cruises with mattresses that are "old" "worn" and "abused"? Hum?

Thanks

Appalling? Before you even get on the ship?

Spent time with a lot of people from all cabin classes, and I didn't hear one complaint about beds. Entertainment yes, beds, no.

Does anyone know whether the Diamond Princess has been outfitted with the new mattresses yet?

Don't know if mattresses have been replaced or not (no past experience to compare it to), but we were on the Diamond 11 - 25 April in a mini-suite, and our bed was lovely. Pillows a wee bit soft for me, but not a deal breaker, that's for sure!

Hi everyone,

 

We were wondering, since the Diamond was overhauled and reconfigured last spring for the Asian market, if the Chef's Table has also changed? Specifically, do the menu offerings also reflect this trend to appeal to the Asian clientele?

 

We've been fortunate to attend other Chef's Tables on the Emerald and the Royal during European cruises and while they were quite good, they were very similar. It would be interesting to experience something a bit different.... perhaps with an Asian flare. That is why I'm asking for some feedback concerning the "new" Diamond Princess.

 

Mike

Hi Mike,

We were lucky enough to take part in the Chef's Table on 14 April (Diamond cruise Singapore to Yokohama).

Executive Chef was Nilo Palma. The food was divine! No discernable Asian or Japanese slant on the food style - more French inspired. Here's a sample of the menu:

Cream of chilled vichyssoise with lobster tail & keta

Confit of pheasant scented with anise & finished with horseradish mascarpone

Parmesan & sesame tuile with asparagus & tomato

Warm escargot brochette

Chilean king scallops seared with spicy chorizo with flavours of apple, truffle & pomegranate

Wild strawberry & black pepper sorbet

A symphony of furred and feathered, surf & turf

Angels on horseback

Crunchy chocolate & coffee bar with mocha cream

Petit fours

+ 4 different wines

Of course, the menu might well change with the current changeover to a more Japanese passenger oriented ship.