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That seems wrong, trying to turn a steward into a waiter. Our steward on Princess last week worked both mornings and evenings, and was amazed when I asked him if he had any other duties.

I'd agree with that. On Princess last week, tables were being cleared the moment you left them. And it is nice having tea, coffee, juice, omlettes etc delivered to your table in the buffet at breakfast.

Just to wind up this thread. We were due to disembark at 9:20 am on Saturday. We went to Soleil MDR at 8:15 (had to be out of our cabin by 8:30) to wait. Quite lengthy delays of 30 minutes at that point. Seems many pax had decided to ignore disembarkation times, and had left the ship early, only to find that the luggage had not been sorted in the arrival hall, and consequently there was considerable congestion. There seemed to be no checks by staff as to your actual scheduled time when you left the ship - if you were issued with extra colour coded luggage tags, (the same ones that you put on your cases) Princess staff could more easily control who gets off and when. In the end we finally left the ship about 10 minutes late at 9:30. Luggage was well sign posted and we got our cases and were outside the terminal at 9:45. I walked to the short stay car park, picked up my car, and returned to collect my wife and cases. Excellent traffic stewards made the process simple, and we were listening to the 10am news in the car as we drove away. Final impressions. Ship was in pretty good condition - no complaints. Staff were excellent throughout, even when under pressure. Food was very average in the first week, better in the second. Perhaps because the US supplies were being replaced by European product ? We don't really do entertainment, but to only have three production shows in two weeks is poor. We will be back on Sky in July, going to the Baltics, so will do a similar thread then. In the interim, feel free to ask any other questions. Oh, and a bit late now, but to the poster who asked about Sky models. I looked, and couldn't see any. Fridge magnets are available, but I guess they are no substitute?

Decided to go to the PI in Winchester for £82 !

Yes free shuttle buses in both. The ship docks at least 25 minutes away from the respective towns. Sorry, can't answer about SD.

Walmart have withdrawn from the UK market, as they could not make their operation profitable !

I think they should change their title. I suddenly realised yesterday that I needed to book a hotel before our next cruise, as my driving route takes me past Silverstone, and it is the FI GP weekend. Quoted cost for one night, two people - £117 ! That to me is not a budget price.

Far to early for any strikes to be planned for then. Your best bet is to ask again four weeks before you travel.

There are lots of retailers and restaurant chains in the US that are unheard of in the EU, or indeed anywhere else in the world !

Thanks. I guess that wouid be the route we would have to take. With a one stop pit strategy, I reckon five hours should do it, so leaving at 7:30 am should get me to the port, hopefully around 13:00. On a related note, we drove down for the first time in the new car. Put the post code details in the sat nav, for Mayflower and we ended up in a cul de sac, well away from the terminal ! I wondered where we were going ! Anyone else experience the same issue ?

The point still remains - if there is no seating available in Vines, and you order a drink, which is poured into a Riedel glass, can they reall stop you taking it into the adjoining Gelato bar to sit and drink it ? They certainly weren't stopping anyone over the last couple of weeks on Sky. Given the small size of Vines (150 seats? ) it is unrealistic for Princess to try and enforce a glass policy in the venue. The bar was rammed solid every night from 18:30 to 20:00 on our cruise.

Exactly right. For a couple, spending $80 in the CG is silly, if one diner is a vegetarian. Go to the MDR of your choice, and your partner can have a steak for $20.

Whilst I know that the US makes some decent wine, Princess seems to have just about ignored the rest of the wine producing world in this selection.

Absolutely. So, things have moved on, so no point posting out of date information.

We had a Reserve Minisuite in June last year, and a ordinary minisuite in a cruise ending today. The room service selection does not alter.

Makes no difference whatsoever if you are in a minisuite or a reserve minisuite. The selection remains exactly the same as for an inside cabin.

Driving home from Southampton today, I saw two AA patrolmen on motor bikes. Talk about a blast from the past ! Anyone else seen them, or are they actually quite common, and I need to get out more ? As an aside, I realised today that the next time I drive to Southampton it will be the British Grand Prix, so the area around Silverstone will be a no go area ! My options therefore seem to be limited to using the A1 or M1, and then M25 M3. Anyone got any other ideas? For the first time ever I was considering driving down on the Saturday of departure, as Southampton hotel prices have gone silly, but I might now need to reconsider.

No it's not. The constant movement of people in the buffet does not give a peaceful ambience.

I'm with Selbourne. I want to be waited on, have a relaxed, civilized meal, hopefully with pleasant company. The idea of walking up and down, tray in hand every meal time is my idea of hell. I don't cruise to eat in a canteen.

This was a last minute booze cruise added before dry dock. I guess no one bothered about shore excursion details!

I note that no one has challenged my response !

Right - I was in Vines tonight. Riedel glasses being used, and no one cared what you did with them. Taking them into the MDR was no issue. Interestingly when we had drinks later in the Crown Grill bar, wine was also served there in Riedel glasses. Don't tell anyone, but I am posting this from our cabin, sipping wine from a Riedel glass !

I thought my answer was correct ? Not complete, but certainly not incorrect.

In the UK they tend to enforce the 3 month rule. ie you cannot apply more than three months in advance of your cruise date.

Some nights are better than others. That was a pretty poor choice, imho.