MixerDave

On 5/31/2022 at 3:06 PM, ROWSE said:

Cruise Day continued...

There is a place to walk along the wall near the Bargate.

This was really amazing to be on something from the 12 century!

 

 

View of the mall from the top of wall. 

 

 

 

We go back to room and have a quick nap!  So many naps the first couple days!!!

We were lucky enough to have Boarding Group A, which for this cruise was 11:00 to 12:00.

The hotel had this wonderful designated phone near the elevator to call a taxi.  It was quick

and so EASY.  I think the price was 5.80 pounds which came to about $8 on our credit card.

 

We handed over the suitcase and went on in.  Our Covid tests were recorded and our vaccine

cards shown and were all set.  We were guided to the Elite lounge and some snacks and drinks were waiting in here.  We received a special  letter letting us know there were several Covid cases so there would be a requirement to wear masks in all inside venues. Unless eating or drinking.  (Later, in the room another letter stated masks were recommended)  UGH!  Come on Princess make up your mind.  We followed the first letter but so many others followed the one in the room.

 

After SO long, and with tears in my eyes, we were stepping again onto a cruise.  

I notice I matched my luggage!!!  

 

Decided to do the buffet for our first meal, and it was served by staff the entire cruise.

I loved this!!!  Think they should keep this as so many people touching things in the buffet 

has never been my favorite thing!

 

We sat out back by the back pool and no one else was out there at all!

 

Our view of the terminal shows how they embrace solar energy.

 

 

And my first drink of a cruise is usually a Mud Slide....

 

 

It was time then to be able to head to the rooms.  We were in E702 obstructed ocean view.

This is a fantastic room and though there was a little vibration upon porting, the view was 

not really obstructed!

 

 

 

I turned my back for a moment and the first nap of the cruise happened.  You think that bed would have been a bit better.  LOL

 

 

I, on the other hand, try out my medallion AP for ordering drinks.  A mimosa arrived

soon after!  

 

 

The patters have our schedule for the cruise and we notice some port time "all boards" had changed a little bit to earlier than we booked at.   Also of note, Princess dropped our planned

stop in Glasgow and added Orkney Islands only about 2 weeks before sail date.  The sea day changed to the 15th instead of the 16th.  

 

 

You said when you boarded they handed you a letter saying they had several covid cases.  Surely this could not be passengers or they would have been denied boarding.  Was it the crew.  Please help me understand as We are due to board on 7/20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On 6/10/2022 at 2:06 PM, ProfMHC said:

Identical issues on 5/21 sailing. But no change in directives from the captain. No masks, stuffed lifts and tenders. Was it any wonder that multiple busses arrived at Radisson for folks to quarantine? Conference room was jammed — estimating 50-70 people with a like number of spouses and traveling companions jammed in another room. I tested + on the ship testing day and missed Normandy. Totally asymptomatic but it didn’t matter. DH stayed with me in hotel quarantine as he is my Prince. But we’ve sweated out his coming up + and my having to return alone while he would suffer alone through another10 day quarantine period. So THANK GOD for the change. WE WILL FLY BACK TOGETHER on Sunday! No test for him (not that he has any symptoms and I never developed any either.)

I do not understand I tested + on the ship testing day What is ship testing day.  And if you were asympom,atic why were you tested?

23 hours ago, insidecabin said:

They look at a piece of paper and if it look ok job done.

 

Never had the 3 cruise lines we have used check properly using the links/QR 

 

What QR code?

4 hours ago, nini said:

 

1. Yes, there were actually guests being quarantined on the Aloha deck. I actually knew a few, some of whom were on our very active Roll Call for the May 9-21 British Isles Cruise on the Emerald. There was no "wholesale testing". Our covid numbers were so o low that we were then able to be at a bar and coffee bar to order and sit on Day 7.

2. That has been the experience of the quarantined guests... "I am being removed from my spouse for a runny nose." However, positive is positive and the cruise line is abiding by their guidelines.

3. K95 masks were freely available on the ship and distributed to the cabins before arrival.

Where on Aloha was the quarantine area - I am currently booked on Aloha - Starboard side

On 6/9/2022 at 4:44 PM, PacnGoNow said:

I just got an answer from the IT dept.

 

He said it is supposed to be approved prior to boarding.  I don’t think this function is working yet.  JMHO
 

Don’t worry about it, you’ll show your

card at the port anyway.

Do they do a visual confirmation?

This 

7 minutes ago, doog442 said:

Hi...does everyone just take hard copies of their vaccination records to check in? I'm trying to upload them to the app but have lost the will to live just trying. I've converted them from pdf to jpeg but they only take one record and I have three. Cheers. 

  From what I have read, this can be done. 

How are these Vax records verified at check in?"  Is it a visual confirmation or some other method? 

I can't seem to find it - how long after uploading your Vax until it gets approve?  Currently shows pending.

17 hours ago, Tedferg said:

CNN had a ticker about Airlines and Travel Industry pleading with White House to rescind the test before flying into USA.

Not going to happen - it's all about control

I have Verizon cell service.  Can I set my phone to airplane mode, wi-fi calling and make calls at no extra expense?

6 hours ago, riffatsea said:

We used our masks on our 2 cruises 

We don't care what the protocols are as we think using them is what has kept us healthy!

We stayed away from crowded bars and other activities where many folks sat next to each other without masks

What type of masks did you use?

16 minutes ago, wowzz said:

You don't arrange anything. You will be tested when you arrive at the pier.

Does that mean I do not need a test before I leave the states?

3 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Because the Greek government demand that testing is done within 24 hours of the cruise departing, which obviously is problematic for thise flying in from the US,  Canada etc. 

How do you arange this with Princess?

3 hours ago, mrobinson said:

They conduct the tests onboard. I am on emerald princess now and we dock in Southampton tomorrow. They tested passengers this morning and some are still waiting for their e-mail results. We are staying in London for 6 nights so we are responsible for our own testing

Where will you get tested in London before returning to the States?  I will be in this situation in August and need all the advice I can get.

On 4/30/2022 at 8:57 AM, Knixuk said:

I used the port testing at Southampton and it was very easy and efficient. You have to wait an extra 20mins to get the result but it wasn’t that much of an issue for us.

 

We had taken a lateral flow test at home before setting off so were as sure as we could be that we would be negative at port.

 

It was also $25 rather than $60 as advertised, so that felt like a nice bonus! Not sure if that was a one off thing or is the new price going forward.

How did you arrange for the port testing?

4 hours ago, MelodytheBellady said:

Hi everyone. I am an American staying in London for 4 days before my cruise on the Emerald Princess, and I’m trying to figure out the best way to get a Covid test before boarding. There are 11 of us, which makes things a little more complicated. We’re all up to date with our shots. I saw the link Princess provided for getting the Antigen test kit with telehealth video consultation, but I’m concerned that the test won’t make it to our hotel, or that we won’t be able to schedule a telehealth consultation in time (for 11 people). Has anyone done this before? Or has anyone used the Covid testing provided by Princess at the terminal, and if so, was there a really long line? Was it a complete hassle?

 

Any help would be much appreciated!

While doing a google maps search I was looking at 8 buckingham palace road, and on the street view I saw this - a "fit to fly walk in PCR test" !  https://www.google.com/maps/place/8+Buckingham+Palace+Rd,+London+SW1W+0QP,+UK/@51.4979486,-0.1439707,3a,37.5y,279.38h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sxJSxq66Dy2yU5DDqKjHatA!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fpanoid%3DxJSxq66Dy2yU5DDqKjHatA%26cb_client%3Dsearch.gws-prod.gps%26w%3D86%26h%3D86%26yaw%3D279.37558%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i16384!8i8192!4m22!1m16!4m15!1m6!1m2!1s0x48760521aaebdc4d:0x5d364f36086cfd15!2sVictoria+Station,+Victoria+St,+London+SW1E+5ND,+United+Kingdom!2m2!1d-0.1438979!2d51.4952103!1m6!1m2!1s0x487605212189b9c3:0x5a46f3cd699ac4d5!2s8+Buckingham+Palace+Road,+London,+UK!2m2!1d-0.1441761!2d51.497951!3e2!3m4!1s0x487605212189b9c3:0x5a46f3cd699ac4d5!8m2!3d51.497951!4d-0.1441761

2 hours ago, pamwigs said:

Over the years numerous passengers have had nightmare stories. EZAir stinks. So you don't have to pay for your flight until 45 days out.  Then waiting only 45 days out,  it is always going to be an inflated fare. Not worth the hassel and their fares are not that great.

How is it a vaca if you have so many flight changes?

No Thanks

I disagree with your "inflated fare"  I am booked thru EZAir - R/T Miami - London Non stop for a July cruise - total fare thru Princess is $297.22 for 2.  Booking direct is $2298.34.  Does not sound inflated.  And no, the EZAir rate is not a typo.

Visit cruisedeckplans.com  There is a wealth of information there, especially about 1140.  Pictures are available.

On 5/8/2020 at 10:56 AM, cheone said:

Only essential travel is allowed in our state until Mid June.  My county has had 36  Coronavirus cases.  Our Governor Inslee on Tuesday, May 5th  did allow members of the household to be in our cars (Prior to that, only  the driver}.  Golfing, fishing, Landscaping, Car Washers with stringent restrictions are  now allowed. No other busineses including all Professionals, including doctors and Dentists are not allowed to open.   Even though Washington State has had a steady drop in Coronavirus since April 1st, Gov Inslee is keeping essential travel and businesses  closed.  He did order that all prisoners over 55 years old, including a serial killer that had 49 murder convictions, to be released from prison.  Luckily, the Supreme court ruled against Gov. Inslee.  Gov Inslee has said that there is a Silver lining with this is that there has been a 70%  reduction in  usage of Carbon-based fuel.

Look at the states that are on lock down - all Demoncrat governors.  Let the prisoners out.  In San FranCisco  the homeless now are housed in motels and are supplied alcohol and drugs!

10 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

I miss the live whole Maine lobsters and 12 oz tails in the Crown Grill for that first year or so.

The other posters were referring to the MDR - not the Crown Grill.

1 hour ago, Coral said:

I have a trip to Europe planned this summer.

 

When I logged in to check air today - it said Air Fare Sale save $400. I then re-fared my air and it was around the same price as I last booked it at and saved $400 more. I then logged into a friend's booking that I have access to (have helped her) for a European cruise later in the summer. They had booked under a $200 air special. Their booking said $200 Air Sale.

 

Maybe worth checking your airfare. I checked a cruise for a later date (not Europe) and later this year and there was no air sale on this sailing. I hope this helps someone. I can't find anything that indicates an air sale going on.

I did not see your post - I probably was booking it before you posted ( I had to verify date / time ) and by the time I did, you had posted, so I just started my post.  

My original flight was 8/17, but when I went to re-fare it was changed to 8/16 - glad my wife caught it.  I simply entered 8/18, and it was changed to 8/17, the date I wanted.  Go figure.

So anyone re-faring should be cautious of the date.

Just checked my flights Miami top London - 8/17 with return 9/1.  I had what I considered a great fare of $359 p/p.  Just re-booked for $299 p/p.

On 2/25/2020 at 12:59 AM, Gwendy said:

Saw a man order 6 lobsters one night.  Seriously!

I don't quite understand when people refer to it as lobster.  They do not serve a lobster - just the tail!

1 hour ago, Hlitner said:

My comments are not just about Princess but also applies to most other mass market lines.  If I was to judge ship food by restaurant standards I would not visit any restaurant that served Princess quality or mass market cruise food.  What Princess serves as Prime rib would not pass muster in most Diners much less a decent restaurant.   Yes, I eat it when on Princess ships, but it is not something I would ever accept in a shoreside restaurant.  And that also goes for most cruise line warm water lobster tail...which is of such low quality that they would likely not sell it in our local Supermarket.

 

As to the corn, it is simply awful and has sat in water much too long.  In fact I prefer to microwave corn (when wrapped in wax paper) so it is steamed...rather letting hot water leach out the flavor....not to mention leaving a soggy product. On the other hand, cruise ships cannot give us really fresh corn which is hard to beat. 

 

Hank

Microwave - but leave it in the husks 

On 1/19/2020 at 4:27 PM, sillygirl399 said:

I thought about this but we are sailing from LA so we’re flying, and I get nervous packing wine in a checked bag

Go on Amazon and look for "Jet Bag" They protect the bottle, and have an insert that can absorb 750 ML if the bottle were to break.  Also useful for other liquids.

On 1/19/2020 at 4:33 PM, jennybenny said:

Yes, he can. We usually get the PBP but bring on our own wine when driving to port because we prefer our wines. So we pay the upfront corkage for those upon boarding (one per adult free of charge, do be consumed in cabin). The bottles you pay corkage on you can consume in any venue. They give you stickers for those 

On a recent cruise to Hawaii we brought 2 bottles on board, and then at each port we bought 2 more - never charged corkage, and they were aware we had them.