leck57

Yes I agree, It seems to me that most cruise lines are very deceptive when it comes to sales. We get different Princess sales here but often get the up to 35% off launch fares. Most times it is 5% off and there is one cruise with the 35% off. Plus the free upgrade, but with the fine print that the upgrade is within the same cabin category, not an inside to a balcony etc. Celebrity are just as bad. Recently I received an email from them stating 75% off the second guest in a room. When I looked into one cruise the fares for a balcony for about 10 days was about $9,000 per person and with discount the fares were still way higher than what you would normally pay. I stay away from sales and just book a cruise I like if the price is right.

All I can say is that after many Princess cruises, we have recently booked a HAL cruise for February next year. I have been checking in and making bookings, shore excursions on their system and it is an absolute breeze and pleasure after using the Princess IT crap for recent cruises.

On Majestic about 3 weeks ago we had one hanging in the closet with the laundry charges sheet next to it.

That is also what we did. I often found that the upcharge difference didn't make it on to my account. For $3 or $4 I got the impression the waiters often didn't bother as I had Plus anyway. My last cruise account had 4 wine upcharges but I upgraded many more times that that.

We are on Westerdam from 3 Feb and only booked about 2 weeks ago. Before we booked the cruise was showing as sold out then it had a few cabins. I've checked a few times since and half the time it is sold out , next day heaps of cabins available. I doubt it is sold out so I'd keep checking.

We are also on that cruise and I have received a written confirmation from HAL (via my TA) that a visa is not required to embark. The confirmation was written by the same bloke that responded to alaskasweetie. We have decided not to reward India for their inflexibility, nor wish to pay over $400 for a one day stop, so we will stay on board. HAL are not even offering any tours here so why bothher going there. I'd much rather another port or longer in one of the others.

I think that's the best advice. On a very recent cruise around Southern Australia (Majestic), a couple of times my watch showed a crazy time and had Alaska as the location on screen. I assume that had something to do with the ships system but I have no real idea. My watched always synced but it seemed when we were way out at sea I saw these hugely inaccurate locations appear. When we were near the coast or in port all was fine. Fortunately the ships wake up call system works well, because with my watch changing time and zones in the night, I might have missed a few things if I relied on my watch alarm.

Usually if someone is in quarantine there is a small table placed outside the cabin door and delivered meals are left on that. Due to Covid I found that more people were eating in their cabins in order to lessen risk of catching it.

I'm similar to you. Tested positive the day we finished a Majestic cruise 2 weeks ago. Haven't felt too bad but can't shake the chesty cough and if I sit down it's snooze time. Lasting longer than the usual cold.

Strange about people not wearing the masks. I was on Majestic two weeks ago and there was almost 100% compliance with the mask wearing requirement. Didn't stop me catching the dreaded though.

We tried it recently on Majestic so there may be slight differences due to different chefs etc, however it was the best of the three specialty restaurants we dined at. The lobster bisque was outstanding as was the meringue desert.

No you don't use coins. You get tokens from a dispenser by placing your Medallion on a reader and the costs are charged to your room. From memory a wash is $3 a dry is $3 and a small packet of washing powder is less. There are also irons in the laundries, no cost to use.

Despite me telling my wife that there are other sweet wines besides Moscato, nothing other than Moscato is right for her. On our recent Majestic cruise the only Moscato on the wine lists was at Vines, however we soon learned it was available at all bars. We only had the Plus package but the generic Moscato provided was Brown Brothers which is not a cheap paint thinners wine, so the wife was happy.

Oh no - don't start this one again.😁

I think the ship was pretty full, probably about 80-90%. We went to dinner from around 6.30pm to 7.15pm. I am aware that this is the busy time but what my concern is, is that the staff on the whole had no idea how to manage the system. I have no issue with being given a pager (like previous times), however on this latest trip we just stood around the entrance while 3-4 staff worked out whether there was a table. As I mentioned, once inside there were tables everywhere and not used during our time in the room. Personally, I think one or two DR's should be walk up at all times and you just take your luck. At least this way all tables would be occupied. I thought one of the reasons that the Traditional Dining time system was removed was because there were be plenty of no shows and the tables sat empty. This current booking system doesn't seem to have changed that in any way.

My comments about dining room procedures for two cruises we have completed since May: May UK cruise Emerald Princess - friends we travelled with had booked the same time and number of guests for every night. No issues in being seated and service good....but not the way we prefer to dine as we prefer flexibility with times. Majestic Princess - We were on Majestic last week and we prefer dining when we want and not book. We turned up to any of the three DR's and the staff take ages to find a table if you haven't booked. There were often 4 staff looking like stunned mullets pouring over a floor plan trying to work something out. Then when you go inside the DR there are empty tables everywhere and many were not occupied the entire time we were there and we take our time. I would prefer the old system where Anytime was an easy option and if nothing was available, then just take a pager and wait - not be made stand at the doorway while the staff fumble their way through this system that has been thrown at them. I recall reading many comments about this newer system that it would reduce the number of tables sitting empty as in the past people that had Traditional Dining times would not show up. Well, I'm seeing far more vacant tables with this new system.

Impossible to say and it depends on many factors. Recently I boarded in about 30 minutes in Sydney, other times it has been over an hour. Depends on staff competence, Government regulations etc etc which are different at every port. I always take the first boarding group as I always arrive at the departure port the day before (as I have to fly in) and don't want to hang around waiting to board.

I am on the Majestic now and he is certainly not the captain.

We are on the Majestic now and Kevin Tugwell is the CD

At the pier we received a letter advising masks were mandatory indoors (except your own cabin) unless eating or drinking. Looked like close to 100% compliance tonight, although we Aussies are known for obeying direction.🙄

We are due to board Majestic later today. Our embarkation has been delayed 4 hours.

Maybe more than just certain restaurants in London. I was there for 2 weeks recently and ate out every night. Without exception all added a 10% gratuity to the bill. I think most had wording that it was discretionary but you'd have to especially ask as it was just automatically added. Surprised me because I'd been led to believe the UK was tip free unless I decided to tip. Not really the case.

I could be totally wrong but I thought I read some time back that customising the Medallion was only available in the US. One of the worst things about Princess IT is it never gives you an on screen message that what you are trying is not available/permitted etc - you just get a blank.

No it doesn't and we just paid our guide at the end of the land tour. I can't recall how much we gave her but I thought there was a suggested rate per day in the paperwork we received from Princess pre trip. Otherwise just pay whatever you are comfortable with and what you thought of the service.

In May we had one put placed under the door every evening, without having to ask. Seems different every ship.