seachelt

We are currently on the Epic. Ate in Moderno last night. The salad bar was fresh and extensive. After being served a variety of meats of various doneness, We were asked several times if we wanted any particular cuts brought to us, and they appeared quickly. Highly recommended.

seachelt

3 hours ago, OrcaGirl said:

Not sure about access via the casino? The line for lunch at Taste stretched past Starbucks and almost to the Atrium screen just before noon, but then quickly disappeared as soon as they opened.

 

Haven’t happened to walk by Shanghai’s in the evening yet.

We are on this cruise also. Long lineups at Shanghai’s every evening. We stood in line one night, about the third to get a pager, 40 minute wait. Food was quite good, service very quick.

seachelt

On 2/12/2024 at 6:17 AM, Laszlo said:

If you are looking for the best food you need to sail Oceania

From personal experience this is no longer the case. We were on the Island Princess August/September 2023 around Great Britain

and two weeks later NYC round trip to Bermuda on the Oceania Insignia.  The food was much better on Princess. Really! We were surprised because on several previous Oceania cruises the food  was reliably excellent.

Decline of food quality is happening everywhere.

seachelt

I have not entered any check-in information, but I have successfully booked 3 specialty meals. Our sailing date is 6 weeks away and I cannot see any shows available to book yet. 

Try booking your restaurants, it can't hurt to try!

Enjoy your cruise.

seachelt

We are booked on a TransAtlantic in April.  Our "free at sea" includes open bar (not premium) and 3 specialty meals.  The gratuities we have prepaid for 2 persons for these "free" offers is $784.92 CAD.

We also prepaid the daily service charge of $650.94 for 2 people.

This is our first time with NCL and we will try to figure out if this "free" offer is something we want on any future Norwegian cruise!

YMMV

seachelt

1 hour ago, Cruising1122 said:

Has anyone booked any cruise via this website. To me cruise search engine like a banner as once you select a cruise it will take to some other website and rates quoted initially are like bait.

 

I felt every time I wasted time trying to find a cruise via cruise critic.

I tried last night and when cc directed me to the other website I found that I couldn’t even get a rate because I am not a US resident. So it’s definitely a waste of time for me.

Our upcoming cruise is our first with NCL and I booked it directly from their website.

seachelt

We also will have a large balcony on the Epic in April. Are the loungers automatically there, or do we have to request them?

Thanks!

seachelt

Thanks for the helpful and interesting replies. Much appreciated. Happy New Year!

seachelt

Hi. We are new to Norwegian and have just booked a TA on the Epic in April. For our 3 included specialty restaurants I have booked Cagney's, Bistro, and Moderno. What are your favourite things to eat at those restaurants? Or what is a great meal at any of the complimentary dining options?

With the beverage package are our drinks included at the Specialty Restaurants?

Thanks for any input or advice!

Happy trails..

seachelt

4 hours ago, Gramgle said:

Currently on the Island Princess.  28 days Rome to Ft Lauderdale (11/23-12/21/2023.  I booked in December 2022 with the Plus Package. At the time of booking, there was no such thing as Casual Dining …. Alfredo’s ect were all included.  In mid 2023 they decided to create Casual Dining charging $15 per head.  If you book the Princess Plus Package recently you get 2 Casual dining options per head during the voyage. But if you booked early (before Casual Dining $15 per head) they won’t honor the 2 Casual dining options per voyage.  I think that is very low class of them.   I realize that Covid hit the cruise industry very hard.  However; being cheap is not the way to win customers.  I have been on a great many Princess Cruises including 3 this year totaling 60 days.  Princess becomes more like the Greyhound Bus Line of Cruising. 

Just to clarify, not all ships had all dining options. Island Princess never had Alfredo’s.

1 hour ago, Fishwife2016 said:

New to Princess, traveling on Island Princess December 2024 (over Christmas and New Year).  I've just read the above comments about lack of casual dining, what about the 2 premium desserts per day with the Plus package?  Anywhere on the Island to get these?  Thank you!

Yes, the desserts are readily available on the Island. (in the pool area)

We like the Island Princess.

Enjoy your holiday cruise!

Seachelt

4 minutes ago, calicakes said:

We're experiencing very rough seas.  They've closed all the outside decks.  They removed the cushions from the balcony furniture.   Both Julie and I are feeling sick to our stomach.  We're wearing the sea sickness patch, I wonder how much worse it would be if we didn't have those on.   The captain says the weather will be this way for the remainder of the cruise.  Uggggg. 

So sorry the rough seas are sick making for you.🤢 Good you have your patches.  Luckily for us that we love the ship’s rock and roll.

Take care.

seachelt

15 hours ago, ToxM said:

As I said earlier i am sorry you are having an unfortunate time with the food. I hope you have or will mention something on the midcruise comment card. 

Today is day 7 and I haven’t seen any comment cards. I’ll go to guest services and ask for one. Many of us have been having an unfortunate time with food. However we had excellent meals last night in the Grand dining room, more like what we were expecting from Oceania. My pad Thai and salad were delicious, and husband enjoyed his lobster bisque and beef Wellington. 

seachelt

57 minutes ago, calicakes said:

Thank you.  Where have you been eating? 

We have eaten at Polo, Toscana, MDR, Terrace. Waves for Humphrey Slocum…it is delicious! Afternoon tea was also very nice but we only went once.

seachelt

Happy 10th ladies, nice milestone! We are also onboard Insignia now, and 100% agree about the food. We’re very disappointed with the soups and sauces, thin and bland. Bread excellent, breakfast at the Terrace is varied and tasty. This is our fourth Oceania cruise, food on the other 3 was superb. This cruise is a long way from the finest cuisine at sea.🙁 Insignia is our first small ship and we like it despite the tiny shower.

Take care and happy trails.

seachelt

We are on the Island Princess now. No sign of any Alfredo’s in Sabatinis. We have been here for over a week, and nothing!

anyone else on this sailing have other information?

thanks.

seachelt

38 minutes ago, mcgratru said:

Any more info about medallion shipping outside of US. Originally saw something that mentioned changes on Aug 1 but nothing yet?

 

Not a huge deal but it does seem odd that we have a Plus 60 perk listed that doesn’t actually exist for those outside US.

Another Canadian here. We board the Island Princess on Friday. Just got an email from Princess that our Medallions have been "shipped to the port, Southampton."  So that's shipping outside the US at present.😃😃

seachelt

2 hours ago, Jancruz said:

Interesting question let me check on Monday..

By the way here in Ventura county (LA) we are expecting our first Hurricane ever on Sunday..since we are on the beach moving to our daughters further inland..

Jancruz1

Stay safe, scary weather everywhere!🌎

And thanks for all the information over the years.

All best wishes.

seachelt

2 minutes ago, camper49 said:

Can one book at the standard rate and add the Plus at a later time? 

Yes you can.

seachelt

Hi wallyworld. It is the plus package for which we paid $60. per day per person. The "top of the line" plus package as opposed to the Plus package which was sold for $50. per day per person.😄

seachelt

3 minutes ago, sultan_sfo said:

 

Sailed many-a-days in 2023 on IslandP. Never had any Crab Shack.

But Sabatinis had quite a few pop-ups lunches labeled as Alfredos.

There were also pub lunches in the Regular MDR -- speculation on Cruise Critic has been Pub Lunches will also become Casual Dininig

Thank you very much🙂  

seachelt

5 minutes ago, reedprincess said:

Island has Crab Shack as a pop-up in the buffet at times..

Otherwise, no Vines, Planks, Steamers, O'Malley's, Salty Dog Gastropub, Alfredo's or Gigi's.    

Exactly! Hence my question as to whether anyone who recently sailed on the Island was able to somehow get casual dining as a popup. Note that the Plus60 package includes 2 casual dining meals.

Thanks again.

seachelt

Anybody with recent experience on the Island Princess....are there any "pop up" casual dining opportunities? We have the Plus60 package which entitles us to 2 casual dining meals. The Island does not have Alfredo's. etc etc etc. We sail on August 25th and I'm wondering if we will somehow get any casual dining benefit.

Thanks!!

seachelt

We are Canadian, so not eligible for shipping. Shipping to Canada and UK "coming soon" although not in time for our cruise. Yesterday our status went from Green Lane to Blue Lane, and later in the day back to Green Lane. Today our status is back to Blue Lane. 🤨

Pick up at the port is really no hassle, but why does Princess need to make a big deal of Medallion Shipping to those of us who are not USA residents?? The Plus 60 package on my app continues to show "Medallion Shipping".

Happy  Trails!

seachelt

3 hours ago, phabric said:

Island and Coral do not have any casual dining.

Exactly! Also, living in Canada we are not eligible for medallion shipping. We’ll be on the Island in less than a month with the plus package. I don’t see any incentive to upgrade to a new plus!

seachelt