GreenValleyDogWalker

We are "Elite" with Princess - just seemed like Princess had the itineraries that we were looking for - HOWEVER - have recently (last few years) really started to like NCL (must admit - only been on the NCL Dawn - booked it originally because we wanted to golf in Bermuda, and liked the idea of the ship being "docked" for 3 days - allowing us to come and go) - anyway - now that we are "senior citizens" - our main reasons for selecting a cruise is the specialty dining and the itinerary - we LOVE all of the specialty restaurants on the NCL Dawn - we purchase the "Ultimate Dining Package" and go to a different specialty restaurant each night (and never even set foot in the MDR or the buffet)

I guess everyone has a different reason for a "favorite" cruise line.

P.S. - Will NEVER cruise with Carnival again - too many things to mention !!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all !!

OK - Am now looking at The Revere Hotel (recommend by someone on the Boston Forum on Trip Advisor)

Looks like we can get two connecting rooms (each with 2 beds) within our budget.

Hotel is supposed to be near a Green Line stop - across from Boston Common and near an indoor food court (?)

Can anyone comment on that hotel/location/etc. ?

The problem is that realistically it is going to be hard to find two rooms within your budget. Even a one bedroom suite would have only one bathroom.

 

We just did a weekend in Jersey City with my husband and I, our two adult children, and an infant. We managed to get an oversized room with two queens and a sofa bed with plenty of room for a crib. It worked out just fine - I had all happy campers.

FYI - Found the "enVision Hotel" - which has a 2 bed - 2 bath King suite

(King bed in each - so the boys have to "share" - but that's OK - at least there is plenty of room for everyone - everyone is "together" - and there are 2 bathrooms !)

Cost of only $359 per night - a little farther away - but right near a Green Line stop - has good reviews on Trip Adviser....

Is sharing a room with two queen beds a possibility? The Westin offers rooms with two queens. One advantage to the Westin in Copley place is that you have inside access to Copley Place and the Prudential Center in case of bad weather. It has convenient access to the "T" and the hop on hop off trolley stops there.

Hmmm.... Let me look into that - yes - great location - and isn't there a Food Court in the Prudential Center (for teenage boys to eat ?) I guess that would work - problem may be the need for 4 people having to share the one bathroom

Thanks - let me know if you think of anything else !!

Looking for a hotel in Boston - for Grandma and Grandpa and 2 teenage boys -want to be close to a "T" stop and/or Trolley stop -

Maybe someplace that offers adjoining/connecting rooms ? - Or maybe something with 2 bedrooms/2 baths ?

Dates are April 4 - 9, 2015 - Budget is (hopefully) about $500-$550 per night

Can you help ?

My friend and I are booked for the jan 31st sailing on the Caribbean princess for what this thread is calling the "super bowl sailing" aside from playing it on the screen by the pool, I wonder if princess will celebrate it any other way. I am not a big football person, but I do like a good them party. Maybe ill bring my cheerleader costume? lol

We were on the Grand Princess January-February 2011 - They had a GREAT Super Bowl Party in the Vista Lounge - buckets of beer for sale and lots and lots of free "snacks" (popcorn, chicken wings, pizza, etc.)

Great Fun !

We just used the Princess transfer to the Los Angeles Airport at the end of our

Coastal Cruise in September

Yes - must pick up your luggage yourself in the correct "color coded" area

(no big deal)

Yes - you lug it yourself to one of the waiting buses (several waiting - someone will tell you which one, based on the airline that you are traveling on)

Yes - you wait until the bus "fills up" (all of 5 whole minutes for us)

The bus took us DIRECTLY to the correct airline (curb-side) airline check-in -

no problem

We have used Princess transfers several times - have never had a problem

Does anyone know if NCL's "BAGS" (Baggage Airline Guest Services) Program is available in NOLA ?

(I've seen many posts talking about it in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale -

available only in those ports ?

Disembarking from the NCL Dawn - would love to not have to hassle luggage to the MSY airport

Thanks

We've not had experience using NCL Transfers (used Princess many times - they seem to work OK for us - don't mind sitting on the bus until it fills up)

Returning on the NCL Dawn to NOLA on January 18, 2015 - wondering about taking a NCL transfer from the port - or just hiring a taxi to get to the MSY airport

(Return flight doesn't leave until 2:00 PM)

THANKS

My list is from March and shows Jan James 661 284 4452 jjames@princesscruises.com as the coordinator for the Golden. I think that is what OP is on.

Yes - thanks to everyone for the responses - I have been in contact with Jan James - just wondering if anyone knew of a precedent that had been set with a prior group.

Try asking if there is a scaled down version? If that's possible, ask for an upgrade to drinkable champagne.

 

:D

Oh yes, obviously, we would be asking for a "scaled down" version - good idea to ask for an upgrade in the champagne ! -

So - I guess nobody has every heard of it being done before ?

Has anyone every heard of - or experienced - Princess offering to provide (for a cost, I am sure !) a Champagne Fountain for a Private Party ?

(We are having a 50-Year High-School Reunion on-board and are just wondering about that possibility)

Any information would be great !

THANKS

We are stopping in Santa Barbara for the day, we are not really interested in doing a formal tour thru the ship or on land but want to walk around and see some of the sights.

 

Are there sights to see easily from the port?

 

Any recommendations?

 

Any recommendations for restaurants?

The Zoo is just the right size. Ask at the trolley stop which ones goes to the Zoo..easy trip

Your TA should be giving you your options.

 

How many amenity points are availble for your use? Our group 3day in November on the Golden has 4 points available. More can be purchased at least 6 mos before sailing @$6.50/point.

 

Looking at the official list you can get --

 

One point- Guaranteed dining, canapes in cabin, chocolate covered strawberries in cabin (100pax max), 6x8 photo coupon (1/cabin), $10/OBC.

 

Two points-$25/OBC, Drinks only cocktail party (32 pax minimum), 1 bottle of wine/cabin delivered at dinner, Princess travel mug (2/cabin), tour conductor credit 1 for 14 (TC would get the free berth money at 14 berths sold), Bonus commission for TA ($12.50/pp)

 

Three points- Cocktail party with hot/cold appetizers (32 pax minimum)

 

Four points- tour conductor credit 1 for 12 (TC would get the free berth money at 12 berths sold), Bonus commission for TA ($25/pp)

 

***

For our four points we will probably choose the bottle of wine, the Photo Coupon and $10/OBC.

We have no idea how many points we will have available - we did not all use the same TA - most booked directly via Princess Group Vacation Planner (a few booked via TA's - and referenced our "Group ID" - so that they would be counted.) - Sounds like we need to ask our Vacation Planner ....

Our trip is, of course, some time away - just trying to figure out what we will have available to us - as of now (8 months out !) we have 32 cabins actually booked and officially included in our group) - lots of others have indicated plans to attend....

When, exactly, is this and on which ship?

The Golden Princess - R/T out of LA - March 31, 2015 - April 3, 2015

Hi

We are part of a large "group" - we anticipate 52 cabins - and approx. 100 passengers. (3 day get-way-cruise - R/T LA - (Class Reunion) We have been assigned a "group ID" from Princess - and will be working with the (Princess) Group Coordinator as soon as final payment is made and we know the EXACT number we end up in our group. We have all the info on credits for each 8 cabins booked, etc. - and info on the ships photographer - but are wondering if there is anyone out there that has actually been part of a group - that can tell us what type of amenities Princess offered for groups of this size ? - We hope to have a cocktail party (possibly up in Skywalkers (?) - does anyone know if we can get a bar-tender or DJ - and have the room sometime the afternoon that we are at sea - What is the cost ? Any other information that you can provide would be great !

THANK YOU !!

It's been 10 years since we've cruised on RCI - and back then we were not in suites -

The last 15 cruises or so have been in suites on either Princess or NCL. (Once in a suite, we never went back !) One of the favorite "suite perks" on both has been breakfast in one of the specialty restaurants (where you can sit down in a nice, quiet place, and order just about anything for breakfast - service is wonderful, etc. etc. etc.)

We are thinking about taking a short cruise on RCI (San Diego to Vancouver) because we like the itinerary (love Catalina Island) and in San Diego it is so easy to get from airport to cruise-port.

Anyway - looking at booking a GS on the Jewel - my question is:

As a GS passenger, what is the "suite perk" breakfast situation on the Jewel ?

(I have read many, many posts regarding breakfast in Chops - and it seems to vary considerably from ship to ship !)

THANK YOU !

What does the wave height say on the information channel?

The information channel shows "ROUGH" - Seas at 7 to 12 feet...

Hi - headed back to Boston - very rough seas - was rough all day yesterday - same all day today..

They are still laying new carpet in (it appears) all of the public areas - caused a little bit of a traffic jam this morning where the area is roped off - everyone is INSIDE - too cold and windy to be outside

I must take back what I said about our Concierge - John - he noticed that we had reservations at the Japanese restaurant (our favourite ) again - for the last night of the cruise - and came to find us - to tell us that there was a large family group with children - booked for the same time ! - Did we want him to try to change our reservations to a later sitting ? - yes yes yes !! (which he was able to do)

Room is really "rocking" now - Captain just came on intercom - almost apologized for the rough seas - announced that the outside air temperature is 64 degrees (brrr.....) - (we are from Arizona)

Lots and lots of people standing in line at the Customer services desk - I guess to settle accounts ? -

Darn - have to pack our bags tonight and get ready to leave the ship tomorrow morning - a little surprised that priority debarkation is not until 9:00 AM - great - time for one last breakfast at Cagney's !

Just curious if anyone has heard if any of the onboard cruise director’s staff has a creative whim to update their closing skit on the last night’s show.

 

Every staff, on every NCL ship, has been doing their version of ‘The Fountains’ to ENYA’s Only Time for over 10 years now.

 

Granted it is amusing, but it would be nice to be surprised with something new and creative.

I have to agree with those that still enjoy it ! - saw it yesterday afternoon on the Dawn - what a hoot !!

Are there extra ferries going to St. George? Last time we went to Bermuda we went to St. George on Monday and the line for the ferry was long. How much are the bus passes this year? Looking at the web cam this week, the weather in Bermuda looked beautiful. We'll be going a week from Friday and are hoping for sunshine and blue skies. Was it very humid?

 

Thanks for the info.

 

~~Maun

Yes - there was an extra ferry to St. George when we went on Monday -not sure about the other days - yes the line seemed really, really long - BUT - as soon as they started to load us on to the ferry - it moved very quickly - and we all were able to board ! So - if you see a long line - don't let it bother you - be sure you get in the correct one, however - the one to Hamilton is on the lft side - you need to go around to the right to get the ferry to St. George - be sure to buy your tokens from the lady at the Information table inside of the terminal - so much easier then fighting the crowds out at the ferry loading place

No - doesn't seem to be too humid - just enough of a breeze....

Has any info been posted on the ship or in Bermuda regarding the warning issued in March that the South Shore Beaches tested for contamination?

WOW !! - no = haven't seen anything ! - We are not beach people, however (well - we live on the beach in California for years - guess we've had our fill)..

I'll look around the shore excursion desk tonight...

Seems like there were a lot of people that went to the beach yesterday and today...

Not even joking here but I sailed 2 weeks ago and John (concierge) also gave us bad ferry information and caused us to miss the first ferry over to St. George. I chalked it up to it being the first week of the itinerary but I guess not! Was an awesome trip regardless.

OMG ! - well, at least I know now that it wasn't just us !!

He wasn't at breakfast (at Cagney's) this morning - (like he promised he would be EVERY day !) - so no chance to tell him that the ferry was running just fine, thank you, even with an EXTRA ferry... so really not a big deal - just kind of disappointed in the "service" - last time we did this trip we had a really wonderful concierge - can't remember her name (!) - Victoria, maybe ??

Loved those "little" islands - are you using ship's satellite internet? Or, are you using Dockyard's WiFi with the day pass? Others reported that it was fine to connect but nearly impossible to connect to sites & load web pages - not sure if that's speed and/or bandwidth, or both ??

 

Much obliged for posting & sharing your joy. Cheers !

Using ship's Wi-Fi - seems to be pretty quick right now - was a little slow last night - (but not as bad as I expected !)

Thanks for posting your live report. Such a great trip and loved the Dawn, we had an aft balcony which was awesome for me, haven't tried the suite life yet :p

 

Golfing at Port Royal was the highlight of our trip and our actual destination. We booked thru Golf Now, took a cab there and came back via bus.

 

I guess the only negative I found was the limited bus/ferry service on Sunday and most places being closed. (We made it a beach day) Was anything special going on for Bermuda day?

 

Enjoy!! :)

There was supposed to be a BIG parade in Hamilton on Bermuda Day (yesterday) -- we went to St. George instead

Took the ferry to Hamilton today (piece of cake - certainly the way to go) Shopped for a couple of hours - then took ferry back

Had a nice, quiet, quick lunch at the Blue Lagoon - that place still sort of an "unknown" to a lot of people - seems to always be quiet (especially at breakfast)

Dinner at Le Bistro tonight....