framer

The TV issue was strange I know the cabin next to ours was out.  Ours worked perfect, which I informed the room steward when asked.  Last night I get a letter saying how sorry they were for the TV issue and we got a $25 per person OBC or $50 combined.  I'm very happy...

On 1/24/2019 at 10:12 PM, hllwdcruiser said:

Thanks for the update. So happy to read that the food has been outstanding and service has been spot on. We were thinking about renting a cabana - how much was it for the day and did you have to book it on embarkation day?

 

 

No, but you take your chances.  Sea days it unlikely any will be open.  We prefer port days and they had a couple open if you walked in.    We do 1/2 day in the afternoons, $140.00 total for both of us.  You get 2 welcome drinks of your choice, mini bar setup 375ml bottle of booze or bottle of wine plus 6 water/mixers.  They'll bring you lunch, cool you off.  Short hop into the pool.  Tea at 3.  

We are not heavy drinkers so we get the bottle of wine send to MDR for dinner.  Extra water gets sent to our room. 

It's a flat out bargain to make the wife feel like a princess for a few hours.  

framer

Having done 20+ cruises I must say, "this has been a great cruise.".  Food has been outstanding, entertainment a nice mix, and no pushy sales.   Embarkation with us arriving at 11AM in FLL was 10 minutes from shuttle into ship.  Medallions seem to work well.  

I can get super fast WIFI everywhere I've tried it.  I'm in a front cabin and can get WIFI on the balcony,  works up in Sanctuary also.  I'm streaming Hulu and Netflix with no issues. 

Room service has done a great job every morning.

Service has been spot on.

Sitting in a Cabana as I write this...

framer

Use the histogram function and expose to the right for snow. 

framer

The water on a Princess ship is from reverse osmosis  is that not good enough?

framer

You can pre-order 350ml bottles of liquor before you sail and bring your own non alcohol mixers onboard and make your own.   That will save a lot on money over buying at the bars and bring them back to your room plus it's more convenient if you're sitting on your balcony.  

framer

I've used the cleaning service many times from Princess and have been pleased with the results.

framer

Nobody goes hungry.  Eat 24/7.  Don't forget my favorite, "room service", for lunch on your balcony if it's a nice day. 

framer

2 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Framer, I never considered decorating the balcony.  You have now inspired me for my next Christmas cruise!!!

Tip: take a small bottle of glass cleaner, think eyeglass cleaner size.  Clean the spots on the glass that you will tape the lights to,  the glass will have a film of salt and moisture from the sea that will effect the tape sticking good.

Use heavy duty clear packing tape.  Make sure to make a removal tab on the tape before you tape the wire on. 

Have fun.

framer

Our steward was ask from the bridge to check on our lights.  We had some on the balcony.  We showed him they were battery operated and he said he would tell the bridge and they should be OK.   He later came back and said the bridge approved battery operated lights. 

I had brought a couple of outdoor rated battery operated strings for use on the balcony.  We were the only one's that I saw with outside lights😁

You might get away with a plug in string if you unplug them when out of the room and not use them outside; however, you might be told by your room steward to take them down.  

framer

Magnets w/hooks work the best.  

Lights if used must be battery operated, they do not allow plug-in Christmas lights.  There are fabulous LED battery operated lights you can bring.  We even packed a 24" tree w/stand for the round table. 

Here's a photo of our room a couple years ago. 

Have fun,

framer

Love the forward cabins, forward views are the best.  Worst weather we've been in were 20' seas on the way to HI.  We were in the most forward inside cabin for that cruise.  Kinda like a carnival ride(pun intended).  You get rocked to sleep like a baby. 

If the price is right enjoy. 

framer

2 hours ago, voljeep said:

how did you get free internet on the SKY ?

The Caribbean Cruises for spring 2020 include free unlimited internet.

framer

I booked a cruise for a buck...

I'll give that new Sky Princess a go. 

3 for Free + free internet = 4 for free

framer

On 11/17/2018 at 10:51 PM, Re-tired said:

South America/Cape Horn is an incredible journey.  At fourteen days it would stretch your timeline, but well worth it.  The destinations are so varied that each day is a different adventure.  Buenos Aires is an incredibly modern city with great history and the trip just gets better from there.  We stopped in Uruguay and the Falklands before heading to Cape Horn and on, with a few stops, to Santiago, Chile.  An absolutely incredible journey.

 

That will have to wait to the wife retires. 

framer

On 11/17/2018 at 6:48 PM, Mr. Click said:

Framer, if you go way up Mt Etna when you are in Sicily don't forget to bring some warm jackets and hard shoes.  We made that mistake last month and by the time we got to the middle level and the cable car station to go to the top it was 40 degrees, raining and the wind was pushing 35 mph.  We were freezing and opted to skip the top. Oh, it was sunny and 70 in Messina when we left at 10am.

I had not even thought about that.  I will look into it, sounds like fun.

Thanks

framer

Tried it for the 1st time this last January.  Loved it.  I now have two future cruises booked in CC.

framer

On 11/16/2018 at 12:11 PM, Buck1949 said:

Framer - your photographs are awesome. Just curious what camera and lens you used for the eagle above the water shot?   Thanks for sharing these. 

1st I tried to send you a private message but this new system told me I was not allowed.

Nikon D810 w/70-200 AFS f/2.8 lens.  It was taken in Ketchican AK on the Deadliest Catch Tour.

Thanks for you comment.

framer

The very few forward facing mini suites on Royal Class ships go fast.  I've  been known to book 2 years in advance to get one of those cabins.  M108 is my 1st choice. 

framer

56 minutes ago, Daniel A said:

Great balcony!  We had a balcony on the bow of the Norwegian Epic and it was completely glass enclosed except for one small window due to the wind when under way.  How was this balcony when underway?  DW & I love to spend our afternoons on sea days on our balcony.  Do you think this suite would work for us?

 

Thank you.

If the winds from the stern wonderful, with a breeze from the bow OK for me.  In weather; fun, if you like to stand up on a motorcycle at 60mph 😁.  Seriously in port it's great, order lunch/dinner from room service and enjoy. 

This just a mini suite not a suite. 

framer

Run to sanctuary if you want to get a lounger for a day or whole cruise.  Once a line forms it goes real slowwwwwwwwww.....

framer

If you can book M107 or M108 do it.  L107 and L108 are great also. 

The photo is M107

I booked mine in September.  I want them to get the bugs out and the crew knowing the ship.  You want a vacation and not be a beta tester.

I once did a cruise the 2nd week out of dry dock on a major overhaul, never again. 

framer

2 hours ago, MauiLvrs said:

But where and how would you walk stern to bow ?

 

It still has those stupid platforms on deck 7! 🤮🤯

So ... we’ll pass on this one too...😞

I thought the same thing and refused to try a Royal Class until this last January.   They are different but better IMHO.  I will book any of there ships now.

framer

It looks like sanctuary is smaller?  I like the protected pool out of the wind.  I expect some seating like the old Grand Class ships which  I preferred.  I booked the window suite up front because of the pool location.

framer 

I thought is was a great location with a forward view and I'm hoping for a large side view.  The location from the retreat pool  is awesome.  

I got one book on the Enchanted Princess in about 2 years from now.

framer