Blue and Green

This time, we booked a mini-suite, not a full suite, for our cruise on the Regal. Is the Concierge Lounge available to us as Platinum level cruisers? On the Princess website it says access to the "Platinum and Elite Lounge" and I am assuming this is the Concierge Lounge. 

In the past, we haven't really used it because it was not near our stateroom, but we will be closer this time.

Thank you--we will definitely book one of the Southampton cars. After I wrote the original post, I remembered we once had a Blackberry car show up a half hour late to take us to the airport. That trip, it was ok because I had plenty of time built in for that type of issue (still a little anxiety-provoking).

This is the tightest timeline we've been on, but there was a significant price difference between a Thursday flight and a Friday or Saturday flight so I couldn't resist.  Thanks for the feedback and fingers crossed we will get home as planned!

On 11/5/2023 at 4:39 PM, Shiba_Lover said:

How much time do you need to pad the car service pick yup time for Heathrow?  Let's say your flight arrives at 10:30 AM (on a Saturday in summer - so I expect it to be busy).  Would a noon pick up time be OK?  We are coming direct from US, so will need to go through passport control.

We usually just give the car service our flight information and let them estimate the time. Usually they watch the flight for delays as well. It's never been a problem with a car service yet.

We have always stayed a couple days post-cruise when cruising out of Southampton but this time.... hoping to make a flight leaving Heathrow at 12:50 on a Thursday when our cruise docks at 7:00am in Southampton.   We will probably book a Blackberry car or similar, unless it is better time-wise to reserve transport through Princess?   Hoping someone in this well-traveled group can confirm they have made a flight this close to disembarking, or advise the best way to not miss our flight to the US!

On 9/10/2023 at 3:06 PM, suramom said:

yes, there is an elevator, and the crew will take you there.  it can take one or two people and then you are on the level of the tender.  I can not say if they can get you into the tender, though, or what awaits when you get to shore.  They generally are helpful and we have been able to use them with our walkers, especially if you can walk a bit.  there is usally a step into the seats once you are on a tender, but there are helpers.

This was our experience on the Caribbean Princess as well (this was about 5 years ago).  Mr. Blue was in his manual foldable wheelchair in the elevator and right up until the ramp getting on to the tender. At that point, a couple of crew members assisted him on to the tender (Mr. Blue can walk short distances) and then we were seated very near the entrance to the tender.  They loaded the chair in for us after everyone else was on the tender. We were last on and first off. It worked quite well.

Really appreciate this review with so much port information. You were an excellent reporter, Paula MacFan!

Hoping someone on the second version of this itinerary will also do a review of their experience and ports!

4 hours ago, Gardyloo said:

Don't know where you've cruised or plan to go in the future (or non-cruise travel for what it's worth) but if you're planning that far out and want to fly in the pointy end, and especially if you're interested in global cruising and not just Europe/Caribbean, then you might want to do a little research on round-the-world (RTW) plane tickets.  I'm a broken record on the subject (those that know my shtick are groaning at the moment) but there might be some benefit in investigating this approach to flight planning.

 

Basically, these are tickets that allow up to 16 flight segments (takeoffs and landings) over the course of 12 months.  You have to cross both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans one time each, and in the same direction, and end in the same country from which the first flight departed.  Aside from that main rule, however, the tickets can be quite flexible.  Within the ticket's limitations (either the total miles flown or how many continents you touch) you can zigzag and backtrack (not over the oceans) fairly easily.  

 

The feature that makes them potentially interesting to those who like to fly in premium cabins is that they can be excellent value depending on where the travel begins and ends, NOT depending on where you live.  The tickets are priced VERY differently depending on the "country of origin," meaning where the first flight departs.  For example, a three continent RTW ticket using Oneworld carriers (British Airways, American, Iberia, Alaska, Qantas, Japan et al) in business class has a base price of $10,426 if travel begins and ends in the USA.  However, the same ticket with travel starting and ending in Norway costs $4875; in Japan $4423.  (Note these are base prices; taxes and airline fees will usually add 10% - 20% to that total.)  

 

For that you'd get up to 16 flights, with a maximum of 4 flights in Europe, 4 in Asia, and up to 6 in North America, which includes Central America and the Caribbean.  (You'd also have to fly 3 intercontinental flights, so with a limit of 16 some continent would get shorted by one.)  

 

Imagine you had two European, one or two Caribbean or other North American cruises, and one Asian cruise planned over a 12 month period.  (I'm just making this up.)  Say you make your way to, say, London for the first cruise, on your own nickel.  You cruise the Mediterranean or the Baltic, whatever, then when the cruise is over, you fly to Oslo for cheap, and start the RTW that you've already bought.  You fly home, in business class.

 

Some months later, you use the same ticket to fly to Florida (or wherever) for a Caribbean cruise, or use it to fly to California for a Mexican one, or to Vancouver for an Alaska cruise.  Maybe two.  Then back home again.

 

Then it's time to shoot over the Pacific for an Asian cruise.  Hong Kong to Singapore?  Whatever.  Then you fly back to Europe, maybe for a fjords cruise, or Greece...   You end back in Oslo before 12 months have elapsed from the first flight.  In the meantime you've had up to 16 flights in the front end, with an average cost of around $350 - $400 per flight.  Not bad for business class from Detroit to Miami; pretty terrific for Chicago to Hong Kong or Rome to Dallas.  For $500 or so more up front, you could get a 4-continent ticket (also 16 flights) that could include Australia, Africa or South America.  

 

I'll stop here, but if this sounds appealing, let me point you to a thread I posted on Fodor's a few years ago that covers the subject in more depth.  Maybe for nought, but worth a thought.  

 

 

Sounds wonderful....we have some friends who used  RTW tickets. Unfortunately, my work is going to get in the way of this much travel for me right now. Thanks for your response..maybe someday!

2 hours ago, Ashland said:

Our first class DL One seats LAX-AMS last year were booked in September for our July dates and they only went up .... really high....going forward. Glad I booked when i did.

This is what I was thinking might happen....

Now that we are sometimes scheduling cruises 1 or 2 years out, I am wondering when is the best time to book the flights from US to London? We have travel insurance for the estimated cost of the entire trip, and Mr. Blue wants to fly business class or first class.  Will we be better off booking as soon as the flights become available, or waiting and watching? (This is my least favorite part of the planning process.)

Thank you so much for posting this information!  We are interested in this itinerary and look forward to reading more about your trip.

The CC boards are a valuable tool and our trips benefit from the research and experiences of others. Thank you, we appreciate it and contribute when possible.

That said, sometimes these pinned topics become a little unwieldy.  800+ posts, and  pre-pandemic information that is no longer relevant in post-pandemic travel (businesses that have closed, prices have changed significantly, etc.). Does someone edit these pinned posts or is it time for a fresh start?

Wondering the same--our previous two (pre-pandemic) trips we used Smiths car service and were very happy with them. Evidently they are no longer in business. 

Wondering about West Quay cars or Mason and Green? Or what other car services might be similar to Smiths?

Just now, Rick&Jeannie said:

I did a "Live From" thread for the Oktoberfest cruise...here's the link:

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2884490-live-island-princess-oktoberfest-cruise-sept-27-oct-7/

Wonderful! Thank you so much!  

1 hour ago, mrmarklin said:

I ride German trains all the time, and if he can board by himself, it will be allowed to take a folding wheelchair. 
 

You realize that Oktoberfest only takes place in Munich, right?  Anything else is only a reflection.        

Thank you for your response. I was hoping someone could confirm that we can carry on his folded wheelchair and store it while on the train. 

Oktoberfest European Capitals is just the name Princess assigned to the cruise. We don't expect to attend Oktoberfest. We are pleased with this cruise itinerary though!

This cruise is at the top of our list, but Mr. Blue uses a folding manual wheelchair for distances. All of the excursions to Berlin from Hamburg include a train ride that says it is not wheelchair accessible. Does this mean we cannot fold the wheelchair and bring it on the train? Mr. Blue can walk the steps to get on a train and to his seat. Everything else on the tour says it is wheelchair accessible (looking at a coach ride for city highlights followed by time on our own before returning to Hamburg). Has anyone taken the Princess chartered train from Hamburg to Berlin? Is it possible to carry on a folded wheelchair?

This is not our first European cruise, and we have traveled (and managed well) with the wheelchair even during "Moderate Activity" walking tours.

Princess is not offering any "Wheelchair Accessible" tours for this port that I can see.

We are due to arrive at 5:00pm on a Friday evening--Royal Naval Dockyard. We would like to have dinner off the ship that evening, and maybe walk a bit, but wondering if this is realistic. I read on here that taxis are not easily available at night. Is Uber or Lyft available? What restaurants would be interesting? Will there be shops open anywhere on Friday evening? Should add that spouse uses a wheelchair (collapsible) for distances, but we usually have no issues getting it in the trunk of a cab.

On 3/28/2023 at 4:32 PM, tenmile said:

I am sailing in a Prime Concierge category on the Infinity June 10 and received the Move Up Offer email yesterday. Minimum bids have been set high--$800 for Aqua and $2700 for Sky Suite. Now there is a category offer called "common.offer.upgrade.type.IN2.MINI_SUITE_LARGE." Minimum bid is $100. Has anyone seen this in a Move Up offer before? I called Celebrity today and asked what it was for and  the rep told me it was for a Sky Suite bid. That makes no sense to me since Sky Suite has its own category bid. Anyone have any idea what I would be bidding for in this category? Is this just a software glitch?

About a week or so ago,  I saw the "common.offer.upgrade.type...."  on the Move up offers for the Summit sailing in May. Then, the next time I looked it was gone. It didn't make any sense to me, and then when it disappered, I assumed it was some kind of a glitch in their system. 

On 4/5/2023 at 9:42 PM, princeton123211 said:

If you're looking for nightlife, and not the very limited bit that's in the Dockyard, you'll need to head to Hamilton mainly on Front Street. There are a bunch of bars there open late that are frequented by both locals and crew. Also you'll have more upscale options at hotels like the Hamilton Princess that always has a fun bar into the later hours. Same with headed over towards St Georges-- the bars at the hotels like the Rosewood and St Regis are open later but that's a trek back to the Dockyard without the ferry. Just know that you'll be dependent on taxis to get you back later in the evening. 

Are taxis readily available at the Dockyard and on Front Street (or at other venues)? 

Thanks for everyones responses!  It just showed up in my app--under Loyalty & Suites. "Celebrity Concierge Class Exclusive Lunch, " Deck 4   12:00-1:30.

Looking forward to our first cruise with Celebrity!

5 hours ago, emmas gran said:

Can I ask about Air Tags please--don't have Apple Iphone so do they work with any mobile mine is Samsung? I'm not tech minded!!

Thanks 

I believe Air tags only work within the Apple system. Samsung has "Galaxy Smart tags."   Guessing they are similar, but have only used Apple.  If you google "Air Tag alternatives for Samsung" you can find a few good articles explaining the function of smart tags. 

It is not showing up in my app...maybe I just need to check closer to sail date (May)

Either way, I'm sure we won't starve 😉 

We are looking forward to our first cruise with Celebrity (following many Princess Cruises and a couple NCL). We will be on the Summit and have a boarding time of 12:30-1:00. Since we are in a Concierge Class stateroom, we were hoping to take advantage of lunch in the MDR. On Princess, we always enjoyed  a quiet embarkation lunch in the MDR and avoiding the crowded cafe. However, I thought I read somewhere that the embarkation lunch in the MDR on Celebrity is only available 11:00-1:00. Now, I can't find where I read that, or if it is accurate. Does anyone know if we will be too late for lunch if we don't arrive before 1:00?

I know this is not a big deal, just wanting to plan accordingly.

Driving in the day before cruise departs from Cape Liberty, and thinking about staying at a hotel in Bridgewater NJ. Looks like it is about an hour away from the cruise terminal.  Is this a good area? We will want a restaurant  for dinner, maybe a little shopping? From the midwest, we've cruised out of Red Hook before, but never Cape Liberty. 

Thank you all for your replies. We do seek out and enjoy the quiet spaces on a cruise.

Taking our first transatlantic in April on Regal Princess. Seems like it will be an excellent way to get to Europe!  Questions though---

Will Wifi be available the entire cruise, or is it spotty?

What about in-cabin TV...can we access news channels, etc?

Our longest cruise so far has been 12 days total...with only 2 consecutive sea days. I think we will be fine, but am also a little anxious about being so isolated (from land access) for such a long period of time (6 consecutive days). Any words of advice? Anything you would recommend specific to a cruise this length? Maybe something you found helpful to have packed that you would not normally bring on a shorter cruise?