Esjung1

1 hour ago, cookiersmom said:

Can anyone comment on earliest arrival at LHR and cost of Princess transfers? 

See post #3 for alternatives if departure times are important to you. National Express runs on a tight timetable. 

We recently sailed on the Regal and took the National Express bus from Southampton to Heathrow.  It was $16 one-way and we were able to choose our seats. There was a 7:30AM and 9:45 AM, it stops at all 3 Heathrow terminals (3,4, and 5).  Total travel time was 2 hrs 15 min if you were at the last stop (which we were at terminal 5).  If your flight leaves from 3 or 4 then you will arrive approx. 30 min earlier. 

I just got off the Regal a couple weeks ago, we had two Balcony Obstructed Deluxe cabins on deck 8. (E509 and E511).  The obstruction was minimal in my opinion, only the top of the tenders showing and we saved a lot of money booking this category. Also, the balconies were very warm for some reason, I think it was some sort of heat coming from below but they felt heated! Location was awesome because it was near the center stairs and elevator but not too close. 

For me it depends on the itinarary. I just came off the 10-day British Isles and it was pretty port intensive so there was minimal time to drink.  I'm glad that I didn't upgrade.  There was 4 of us who split the $200 WIFI package and we each brought one bottle of wine onboard.  Plus, one of us had a mini bar set-up in the cabin (we had two cabins).  I think each of us only spent an additonal $35 on drinks in 10-days because we didn't buy much outside of the wine we brought on board and mini-bar set-up one individual shared.  I did pre-order 4 cases of water for $28 to save money and we drank coffee/tea from the Horizon Court Buffet area or would buy an occasional coffee in port.  Worked out to our advantage this time around not to buy the package.  

14 hours ago, greymom3 said:

Thank you! I don’t think we have seen all of these! 

Sweet Soul Music was the 4th one, just remembered it! 

On 10/14/2023 at 5:45 PM, greymom3 said:

Speaking of Regal Princess, do you know which production shows are in the Princess Theater?  Will they likely be the same in January? 

Production shows as of last week:  Bravo, Fiera, Born to Dance, and there was a 4th one on the last night of our 10-day but I didn't save my patter and can't remember the name.  I have no idea if they will continue into January but based on the amount of work that goes into these I wouldn't be surprised if they are the same. 

2 hours ago, 5856 said:

Which dining room on the Regal serves breakfast, lunch and dinner? Thank you. 

I just got off the Regal and saved my patters.  It's the Concerto dining room that has breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Symphony and Allegro are only open for dinner.  Note: The concerto dining room is ONLY open for lunch on sea days. 

24 minutes ago, love to cruz said:

What hotel did you stay at?

https://www.noxhotels.co.uk/en/hotel-waterloo-in-waterloo/?partner=6734&utm_source=google&utm_medium=gmb&utm_campaign=web_link

Was very happy with it and the location.  Rooms are small but totally fine for 2 people.  We had 3 adults and 1 child so we booked two rooms with twin beds. 

21 minutes ago, Esjung1 said:

Hotel Nox, was very happy with it.  1/2 block from the Waterloo train station and had several restaurants, coffee shop, and convenience store right outside of it. Paid about $230 USD per night

https://www.noxhotels.co.uk/en/hotel-waterloo-in-waterloo/?partner=6734&utm_source=google&utm_medium=gmb&utm_campaign=web_link

1 minute ago, love to cruz said:

What hotel did you stay at?

Hotel Nox, was very happy with it.  1/2 block from the Waterloo train station and had several restaurants, coffee shop, and convenience store right outside of it. Paid about $230 USD per night

On 10/7/2023 at 12:38 AM, antsp said:

There is now a charge at this location 

Yep, just got off the Regal 4 days ago and never ate there.  Not paying for my pizza, the pizza on deck 16 right outside the buffet was actually quit good and they had 4-5 varieties everyday. 

Waterloo train was awesome, about $16pp and it took 1 hr 15 minutes to Southampton.  The train drops you about 1.5 miles from the cruise dock, we took a taxi as it was too far to walk with luggage. That cost an additional $10 for all 4 of us. We stayed in London 2 nights prior to getting on the Regal and our hotel was literally right outside the Waterloo train station so this was super convenient.  We also took the Elizabeth line/Northern Line from Heathrow into London and had no issues, much cheaper than an uber. 

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

You'll likely get many opinions on this...but the only one that counts is the one from Princess. Call or chat ASAP

We booked through someone other than Princess, who do we call? 

8 minutes ago, wallyj said:

Yes, you should be able to move the mother or actually any other adult into the cabin with the child. My understanding with Princess and many other cruise lines is at least one of the 2 original booked passengers need to STAY in cabin, so they allow you to swap out passenger 1 or 2 but not both. 
 

Do you have another friend or family member that can take Grandpa’s place, since the fare has been paid in full already?

 

Some cruise lines charge a fee to do this and some do not, the last time my sister needed to swap out a passenger last minute(within a few weeks is sailing), Princess did not charge, this was for adding a new passenger opposed to your case moving sister from your cabin to child’s cabin.

 

Do you have insurance? If not, then just have Grandpa be a no show, and once on board, move sister to child’s cabin .

Thank you, unfortunately we don't have anyone else at this late stage that can take 12 days off. (and neither of our spouses want to go)  We all have travel insurance and are noodling the fact that we technically could all cancel but grandpa really wants the rest of us to go without if he has to bail. 

Has anyone experience this before... I'll try and clearly set the situation... We are a party of 4 with two cabins.  Two adults in one cabins (sisters) and one adult (grandpa) and one child (grandson) in the second cabin. We are less than two weeks out from our cruise and there is likely a high chance that grandpa in cabin #2 will need to cancel for health issues. The other two adults plus child would still be potentially going. How would princess handle this?  Can one adult be shifted into cabin #2 so the minor isn't alone? We've clearly paid in full for two cabins and know a minor can't be listed in a cabin by themselves.  Just trying to understand what might happen.  The adult that we would want moved into cabin #2 is the mother of the child. Any insight would be appreciated! TY! 

On 9/12/2023 at 10:12 AM, Steelers36 said:

I would say NO.  FCC's would have been applied to the cruise fare.  This is a look at an add-on option after the fact.  Also, the amount is a specific even number.

Correct, no FCC's used. 

9 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@Esjung1 Still doesn't account for dollar differences.  So did you bite?  and make the $540 payment...or wait to make purchase onboard? Is this US or UK value?  Please let us know when you solve this mysery.

This is US Dollars and I'm not going to bite right now, will wait until 9/29 when I board so my onboard credit can be applied (even if it costs me $120 more per cabin). 

4 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

We might get a bit more insight if a CC Member reading this thread has a 10-night booking with Standard Fare and checks the cost of upgrading to Plus in the Personalizer.  Hopefully a different ship and voyage than the OP.  @Esjung1, do mind sharing your ship and departure date?  Perhaps a CC Member with a 7-nighter or 14-nighter at Standard Fare could also check and see what they would be charged if looking to upgrade.  I would expect any guest waiting until embarkation day will be charged $60/pp/day, less a flat $10 (Medallion shipping credit).

 

Sure thing, Regal Princesss 9/29-10/9 (10 night)

3 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Just curious about this pricing anomaly.  If you choose the Premier option, does it also give you a 1 day discount?  I.E. $720/pp instead of $800/pp? 

Sure does! 

6 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I didn't think the OP was confused.  I knew from the get go that they were looking at standard fare to buying Princess Plus on the ship.

 

It's Princess that chooses to confuse everyone with all of their meaningless and confusing names that do not represent the actual item (I won't go into all of the misnomers).  

 

I knew about the $642 Princess Plus added to fare ($60 x 10 days plus insurance) since I got sucked into that one.  

 

I am confused about the $540 for seemingly purchasing Princess Plus onboard the first day.  I am also confused why the OP was given the option of an upgrade price of $540 (instead of $642).  I'm not a gambler...and wouldn't take the risk to upgrade at $540 for a $600 package.  Is this really a 10 day cruise ($600) or a 9 day cruise ($540)?

Yes, confirming this is a 10-day cruise (That's what the itinarary shows anyway) 🙂

8 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Just exactly *how* are you seeing this magic pricing?  You may very well be about to purchase something you did not intend!  Princess should be ashamed of their "naming practices" which are SO CONFUSING!

8 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Just exactly *how* are you seeing this magic pricing?  You may very well be about to purchase something you did not intend!  Princess should be ashamed of their "naming practices" which are SO CONFUSING!

Update for those interested in HOW I'm seeing this price.

1) There's a big button in my cruise personalizer that shows "upgrade now".  Once I click on that, I do get the option for Princess Plus for $60 a day.  Once I click on that, the total comes to $1080 for two passengers which is $540 each.  And YES, both passengers in the cabin would be upgrading. 

6 hours ago, Bojeanne said:

If anyone has cruised Princess lately, could you take a minute to answer a few questions about the drinks package included in Princess Plus? We drink lots of bottled water. Can we order large quantities through room service, say 6 or 10 bottles at a time? A coffee drinker in my group wants to be certain that espresso and cappuccino are included. Also, Prosecco. Finally, will we be able to self-serve at the buffet, or are the ships still doing waiter-serve? Thanks in advance for any info.

Definitely found Prosecco, that was my go-to on the Enchanted.  Found it at the bar where the sushi was everynight and it fit within the plus package pricing.. 

I'm planning to upgrade my standard package to plus once on-board but strangely enough my upgrade price is $540 now and not $600 for 10-days.  Has anyone experienced a lower price than the $60 per day in the US? I would just buy it now but I have lots of on-board credit to use so I need to wait... I'm just wondering if this lower price is a fluke or what....

On 7/3/2023 at 7:56 PM, southwestgal said:

We purchased the Princess Plus package on the first day of our California Coastal cruise on the Emerald Princess in May 2023. We purchased it from one of the crew while enjoying a slice of pizza on the deck. It was the same price as purchasing pre cruise - $60 per person per day. It instantly activated and included all of the benefits.  We were given a flyer with all the benefits listed. For us, there was no difference purchasing pre cruise vs onboard.  The crew member was stocked with flyers and proactively told us about it when we ordered drinks from him and he saw we didn’t have a package. 
 

Forgot to mention that you have to buy it the first day.   After that it is no longer available.  

I would love to do this on day 1 but for some reason my cruise personalizer is showing $540 for 10-days right now instead of $600 to purchase princess plus so I'm afraid the price will go up once I'm on-board.  I have several hundred dollards of shipboard credit or I would just do it now at the lower price so I guess it will be a risk I have to take and wait and see...