CruzeQueen2

I agree with rangerusa. Inside temp is fine - dining room, public areas, piazza, all good. No drafts, not too warm. Enjoy!

@CanadianBurger Thanks for so much information with photos! 

I saw that you posted a pick from the buffet with the sign- The Catch by Rudi. Are they serving selections there that are the same as in The Catch the restaurant? Is The Catch restaurant on your ship as well? TIA

@pryce_tag Don't think anyone has mentioned this point here. The Reserve Collection benefit is also one where you don't usually have to wait too long to be seated in that part of the dining room.  No lining up for getting into the dining area, usually, when you have the Reserve Collection booking. With a five year old - that may be worth having for your 33 days. IMHO

I sailed on Majestic in October 2023 and the Reserve Collection staff was wonderful. I was very grateful to be in that dining area for 17 days.

That lunch menu is pretty much the same one that I encountered in February this year on Regal. That same menu is offered for lunch on sea days and doesn't change; no feature dish that is different. However, it must have happened on a day that I wasn't paying attention...there was a vegetable korma - and I missed it!

Enjoy! @CanadianBurger Is the food quality and presentation about the same as usual?  It looks to be that. Thanks again.

@CanadianBurger  Thanks for all the photos and great commentary. Happy to have this to follow along with you. Bon voyage! 

Too bad you missed Captain Gavin. He was very personable, as were his main officers. 

In fact, all crew I encountered were attentive, friendly, helpful and happy to help. Great ship, great cruise- for me!

Here is the officer board from Feb 4-18. Hope this helps. @beshears

They were all very visible on my two weeks. Very friendly, lots of interactions. 

@tbarton My bid was accepted at 23 days before sailing. Bid for a mini-suite from an obstructed balcony on Regal. Placed the bid at 45 days prior to sail date.

@Crookshanks Thank you for setting up your "live" thread. Thanks for all the back-story details. I have also placed bids for my cruise on Regal in February. Waiting to see what happens...

I look forward to hearing your reports.

1 hour ago, AnyMajorCruiseDude said:

Yes!  It was a fabulous ending to a great event!

@AnyMajorCruiseDude Given what we have been seeing in the last few months, with increased pricing for chef's table and such... the lunch menu that we had in August, with full-sized courses and full glasses of wine was "super" for me.

Delightful venue, company, food and service. Best wishes to M for more super sailings in the new year!

A delicious, memorable dessert!

Here's a menu from August 2023 on Crown. It was served at lunchtime in Sabatini. I enjoyed every bite and every pour. It was not a Tuscan dinner, but it was $60 and worthwhile. About twenty people attended.

18 minutes ago, bethfelk said:

We are onboard at 11:20. Process was extremely smooth

@bethfelk and @HelloKittysMum Bon voyage to you all! Thanks for taking us along. 

31 minutes ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Tuesday December 12 - Bay of Islands Part 3

 

We walked out onto the Paihia Dock.

 

 

The propeller of the HMNZS Canterbury which was commissioned in 1971, decommissioned in 2005 and sunk in 2007 at Deepwater Cove, Point Brett in the Bay of Islands is in the gardens next to the Paihia dock. 

 

 

We also liked the old telephone boxes one of which was being used as the Paihia Free Little Library.

 

 

 

At 12.40pm we walked along the seafront to Waitangi. From the footpath along the seafront we had a good view of Royal Princess.

 

 

It took us 15 minutes to get to the tender dock. We got on a tender at 12.55pm and left five minutes later. We were back on the ship at 1.20pm.

 

We had lunch at the International Cafe and then spent the rest of the afternoon on our balcony in the sunshine. While we were sitting there reading and watching the tenders come and go, a few dolphins swam by that were very close to the ship. At 4.10pm we watched some of the tenders being raised.

 

 

At 4.40pm the last tender arrived at the ship with dolphins swimming in its wake. The tenders were raised and we departed at 5.20pm. We had dinner at the Concerto Dining Room followed by a quiet night watching a movie. While we were watching the movie all of a sudden I saw a beautiful rainbow over the ocean.

 

 

 

Today's Princess Patter

 

 

 

BOTH ends of the rainbow-  WOW!!!

37 minutes ago, PurpleTraveller said:

Monday December 11 - Auckland by DH

 

While I was enjoying myself in Devonport my DH went to MOTAT the Museum of Transport and Technology. On his HOP card we had loaded NZD8.00 to cover the NZD3.78 fare each way. You can not pay public bus fares with cash and must have a HOP card. He got the #18 bus from Bus Stop #1004 on Little Albert Street. He got the 9.00am bus and it took 20 minutes to get to MOTAT. MOTAT opened at 10.00am and the entry cost NZD19.00.

 

He got a tram from the front gate to the Aviation Hall. The tram is free and it is 2km from the front gate and Technology Section to the Aviation Hall.

 

 

 

 

He enjoyed seeing the planes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He then got the tram back to the Technology Section. There he saw cars, tram and car workshops, steam pump engines, fire engines, tractors and a small village of timber buildings.

 

 

 

 

There is a cafeteria for food and drink.

 

MOTAT is also on the Hop On Hop Off bus route. If you want to go to the Auckland Zoo from the city you can also catch the #18 bus as the stop after MOTAT is the stop for the zoo.

 

He got the 1.20pm #18 bus to the city and he returned to the ship at 1.50pm.

 

@PurpleTraveller Thank you for the fabulous photos and including so much detail for each port. I am enjoying your adventures and reporting style!

@trinitygirl Thanks so much for taking the time to report! I hope your travel experiences continue to meet your expectations. Enjoy, everything!

Suite travel is so special, but so are exotic destinations. It has been so great to hear about your tours and excursions. The time you take to share your thoughts is much appreciated. 

On 11/21/2023 at 6:21 PM, Sprocket said:

 

The only notification I received was from Princess, and our medallions arrived a couple days later.  Here in BC I was unable to track them through UPS which is ok since they arrived by Canada Post.

@Sprocket When do you set sail?

@TxTeach79 Looks great there! Did you purchase your day pass on-line ahead of time? $45 US? Just wanting to clarify the best way to get to this location. How long was the walk? TIA

Also good...black n blue onion soup.

@TxTeach79 Try something other than steak at CG. Sea bass is my choice!

@Pirateskigirl Thank you for taking questions and taking us along! I would like to know what the specific hours are for the half days in the Sanctuary. I'm wondering about the PM portion - afternoons.

TIA I hope you are enjoying your activities and dining options so far!

Just now, CruzeQueen2 said:

@TxTeach79 Would love to see your pics of the lunch at OT. No pressure!

THANK YOU!!!

2 minutes ago, TxTeach79 said:

 

@TxTeach79 Would love to see your pics of the lunch at OT. No pressure!

@TxTeach79 I hear you. I avoid those busy decks when I go from aft to forward as much as I can. Here's my preferred/alternative route. 

From your cabin on deck 14, you can walk all the way forward on that deck to the forward or mid-ship stairs. By walking the full length of the ship on your deck (or deck15) that has only cabins, you will avoid all those crowds. Once you get to the forward stairs, head up to deck 17 and you will be right at the RETREAT pool.

Works for me! 

Oops, my friend Lito is in a different bar. Never mind! LOL