Canuker

Great to read this, OP. Excellent news for someone who will aboard her in August.

With cruise lines eager to find new ways to separate passengers from their money, expansion of the casino at the expense of the Take 5 lounge seems almost inevitable. As a jazz lover who sails the Enchanted Princess in August, I just hope the takeover hasn't happened by then. It would not need a dry-docking to do it.

Another perennial issue has been tobacco smoke drifting from the casino into the lounge. From Princess' perspective, they are killing two birds with one stone. The only people disappointed are the minority of live jazz music lovers.

Smoking gamblers 1, jazz fans 0. It's a no-brainer.

I just hope Princess chooses to continue with live jazz, at another venue. That would suit me fine. It would suit the onboard musicians too, who use the jazz sessions to unwind, improvise and escape from the structured music of the theatre shows, dances, etc.

As with all crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster) the colder the water the better and fuller the flavour. Maine lobster over rock lobster every time. Icelandic shrimp over buffet style farmed 'rings' any day. And the higher the price, of course.

Cruiser: "Waiter, do you serve crabs?"

Waiter: "We serve everyone, sir".

17 minutes ago, zitsky said:

Do I just Google “port name” schedule?  Is it that simple?

zitsky: Try it.

I just googled "cruise port schedule San Juan" (San Juan being the Caribbean's busiest cruise port). Here's the first 3 listings:

Cruise Mapper: "San Juan (Puerto Rico) cruise port schedule".

Cruise Timetables: "San Juan Cruise Ship Schedule".

San Juan Cruise Port Terminal (the port's own website): "San Juan Cruise Port Schedule By Year and Month".

There were others listed by google too.

But here's why it's best to check more than one third party source: the ship I'll be on in that port in August showed up on only 2 of the 3 websites. San Juan's own site (the third one) does NOT show my ship in port the day she's there. The reason: she's not scheduled to dock at the usual "Cruise Port Terminal" but will tie up at another cruise ship dock nearby.

So it's not always straightforward, which is why it's a good idea to visit more than one site. Don't use these a gospel - use them to check against what your cruise line (the cruise line, not just the TA) is saying.

And finally, zitzky, despite all the research, it still may not happen. The final decision is that of the captain (along with the port authority); there are a number of reasons why a change may happen close to the planned docking time. One is to switch the vessel to another dock or terminal. Southampton, UK, for example, has no less that four cruise ship terminals, up to 1.5 miles apart. I have been on a cruise there that switched terminals.

In addition to a cruise line's own itinerary, it might be helpful to 'cross-reference' that with the cruise traffic schedule of each particular port.

The ports can also provide additional information, e.g. which particular dock is scheduled to be used, whether you can 'walk off' the dock area or not, shuttle buses, etc.

Keep an eye out for ports which will involve tendering, too.

Check on which other ships, if any, are docking that morning.

Any more that just yours will tend to stretch the C&I and shoreside resources.

OTBE, the sooner you step onto the gangway, given the 'all clear' the better.

Take all your own baggage of the ship yourself.

Give me crab over lobster any day.

A simply steamed crab, on a plate, unadorned, with shell crackers.

Yum.

Oh, and a good beer to wash it down.

OP here.

I'm very grateful for all these responses.

Seem that

1. I was indeed banging my head against a brick wall!

2. I'm not alone in my preferences

3. Princess is listening, because...

4....traditional style dining will be available to choose and book online come June 17 (hooray!), but...

5....that's only for cruises starting from September (boo...mine leaves August 10).

Well, at least I now know, re my sailing, that there's no way I can pre-book what I'm looking for. So I'll see what the guys at the MDR front desk can do for us after we board.

Opinion: a table for two wedged in between other tables for two seems to defeat the object of the sought after privacy and intimacy of the dining experience - no-one wins; maybe it's a generational thing. But I'm still glad that Princess has decided to restore the 'traditional' option, albeit too late for me.

Thanks again to everyone for the informative material.

Canuker.

PS I've just realized that I've received nothing from Princess about this new dining choice option. Presumably because I'm sailing before September. Had I done so, the wall wouldn't have had so many dents in it!

Computers versus humans

Am I banging my head against a brick wall?

We are a couple (just 2 people) who enjoy MDR dining, at a table for 6 or 8 people*.

We enjoy the same dining time each evening*, in the same MDR*, with the same group of people*. It's a great way to make new friendships, chat about the day's adventures and enjoy the company of people we've come to know.

On other cruise lines this has been easily arranged. On Enchanted Princess, currently, not so much.

I tried their online dining booking - no go. And, evidently we have to enter a booking separately for each day of the cruise? In our case, 14 days.

So I phoned Princess, not wanting to wade through all that.

It seems to me that there is one word that telecom customer service employees must never say. It's the word "No". After at least 20 minutes on the phone, she was getting nowhere either. When, eventually I asked her if the table selection I wanted (see * above) was available at all, she went to great pains to avoid saying "No". After dancing around the bush again, she suggested I should call back next day to see if a suitable table had become available.

I'm not blaming the rep in the slightest - just doing her job. But i.m.v., Princess needs to re-examine this whole convoluted dinner reservation computer (not human) system. We've gone from straight forward to so overly complicated that it, apparently, can't be done. 

Right.

Is there, in fact, a way to do this before we board?. Or would a chat with the Maître d'hôtel (a human!) yield better results, once on board?

Or - am I indeed banging my head against a brick wall?

About when (days ahead of sail date) are unsold cabins released that were previously block-reserved by TAs?

Are there any general rules that apply here?

I ask because knowing when these unsold cabins 'flood' back on tho the market may be an advantage (price-wise) for someone considering a cruise.

Nervous.

On 5/20/2024 at 6:37 PM, Pirateskigirl said:

 

There is not much to do in Holyhead besides a pub, 1.5 mile fishing jetty and the Maritime Museum. If you want to see Northern Wales book a ship excursion because the others are currently limited.

 

Seen better days - long ago.

OP: I expect you're glad you used you time for the Ffestniog Railway excursion. As you say, not much of interest in Holyhead. It exists almost solely because of the relatively short ferry journey distance between Wales and Ireland. Most people who go there merely head straight through to/from the ferry. I can't really understand why a cruise company would select Holyhead on a cruise itinerary. The town isn't geared to cruise ship visitors. And it terms of Belfast (previous day) and Glasgow (next day) it's well of the beaten track. A 'filler' day, really.  At least folk can say they went to Wales.

This is a perennial topic.

I've never understood the widespread resistance to getting / using a passport when outside one's own country.

Are they the classic 'bath-tub' yellow ones?

If yellow, they must be quite hard to hide.

Or is the idea to allow people to find them fairly easily?

Do children get involved?

You'll find a good picture, taken recently by a passenger, from a ship's high deck, of Southampton's port, showing the cruise ship berths. 

It's on this website, at:

It's part of post #2 (picture 3 of 3), by the OP. It gives a fine view of Southampton's cruise area for anyone seeking such information; a different perspective than a map.

As one who's both lived in and cruised to/from Southampton, I've added a description of what's in the picture in post #19 in that same thread.

I've added a description of what can be seen in the photograph (both cruise port and immediate surrounding area).

One of the nice things about Southampton for the cruise traveler is that the docks are right next to the main town. Handy for inbound or outbound land travel and for exploring while in port without the need to make arrangements. 

Aruba.

Any of the three ABC islands is terrific for scuba or snorkel.

OP: the two, despite both being 'British' are quite different.

As one who has used both, Cunard is certainly more 'elegant' than P&O.

P&O markets almost exclusively to UK residents, while Cunard is much more international.

If you enjoy fine dining, dancing and cocktail receptions, pick Cunard.

If you like bingo, deck and pub sing-songs and a much more casual atmosphere, take P&O.

Given that the scenery is a vital part of any fjords cruise, an itinerary that visits the places you want to see may be an overriding factor when it comes to choosing a ship.

When on a P&O cruise, I remember encountering an older lady who was categorical that she would never cruise with Cunard. When I asked her why not, she replied indignantly that "On Cunard they charge you in US dollars!"

On 5/15/2024 at 6:19 PM, Pirateskigirl said:

A few more pictures. 
 

Pirateskigirl (OP): this is a very useful photograph for anyone who may not be familiar with the layout of the port of Southampton.

The picture is looking north west, up the River Test. Southampton Water and the open sea is directly behind you. The three cruise ships are docked in the Western Docks (aka the New Docks), where the berths are numbered  1xx; you were fortunate to be docked in the Eastern Docks (aka Old Docks), away from all that turnaround traffic. I'm guessing your were at the Ocean Terminal, berth 46.

The dog-leg jetty across the middle of your picture is the Town Quay. Here a regular small ferry links the City to Hythe a village on the SW shore of Southampton Water. If you go, Hythe Pier is 700 yards (640m.) long. The good news is you can take the world's oldest continuously running electric pier railway, now over century old.

The vessel at the Town Quay is a Red Funnel high-speed ferry. The main dock for Red Funnel is just out of view on the far side of Town Quay. Both high speed and regular ferries link Southampton with Cowes on the Isle of Wight, which you will have circled on your way out into the English Channel. From the picture, it appears there is no ferry docked there, but I'm sure you would pass one as you head down Southampton water; they are quite frequent. A day out on the IoW is quite doable, while in port.

The deep-water container terminal in the distance also looks quiet.

For those looking for a handy place to stay, pre- or post- cruise, the rectangular high rise just to the right of the Mayflower Park greenspace on the far right, is The Holiday Inn Southampton. The town centre is off the picture to the right. Shopping, museums, nice pubs!. In that direction is also the main railway station, Southampton Central (for trains to London, Gatwick Airport and the North) as is the bus ("Coach") station for long distance buses, including Heathrow and London, each about 2km (1.25 miles) from where you're standing.

Speaking of pubs, across the street from the Town Quay, not quite in the picture (next to that dazzling white building, is The Dancing Man, a brewpub I can certainly recommend, with a nice patio overlooking the harbour. They do good trade in wedding parties, too.

Unlike ports elsewhere, the dock gates are quite open, with no restrictions if you choose to walk.

Lastly, just a little past the Dancing Man is the Mayflower Memorial, from where the Pilgrim Fathers (ancestors to many who visit Southampton) set sail for the New World. All around this area are the remains of the old town which date back to Roman times; you are free to clamber and explore these walls and battlements. The nice part of this area is that, conveniently close to the cruise ships, it's a fine are to explore and discover - especially on a day like yours, OP, in the sunshine.

From someone who used to live in Southampton, many moons ago, when many ocean liners departed for all corners of the globe

Best,

Canuker.

17 hours ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

It depends on the port. I purchased a large clam chowder at a restaurant, near the end of the pier in Monterey, CA and took the tender to the ship. Once I stepped off the tender, they asked me what I had and when I said soup, they basically said no soup for you… and took my large piping hot clam chowder. It wasn’t cheap and I bet you anything someone ate it. 

Interesting. So you can bring food on the tender but not the mother ship...

I clicked this topic thinking it was about a card game.

Darn.

OP: I'd suggest a dialogue with Jill, not a fruitless one on here.

Sharing binoculars can be an issue, too, as everyone has different vision.

Refocusing each time the pair are handed back to you can be a little annoying, especially if what you want to view is fleeting (e.g. a whale or a bird). Ideally, each person should have their own pair...

JimmyVwine is right about getting binos that allow for independent focusing for each eyepiece.

Frankly, poor quality binoculars can be a real disappointment in several ways. You get what you pay for. A good test is to focus on a planet at night. Is the image sharp? Is there a double image?

Having said that, on something like an Alaskan cruise or a Panama Canal transit, where the shoreline is nearby, a good pair will show you things and detail others do not see. Is that a rock or a bear? Is that a log or a crocodile? In the open sea, that pod of dolphins or that breaching whale come a lot closer. Watching a calving glacier through binoculars is stunning.

Good binoculars are not cheap binoculars; always use the neck strap. Housing such delicate, precision optics, after they hit the floor just once they will never be the same.

Lastly, I pack a mono-pod and a mounting bracket on cruises. It greatly helps to steady the binos, as the ship rocks. Good for photos with a camera or phone, too. Get one that extends far enough to allow you to have the binoculars at eye level when standing upright.

Be sure to take your washcloths with you to those 20 bars. You never know, they might spill some.

If they have a fancy dress party, see if you can colour them green. Then go as Adam & Eve.

Assuming you use them for washing, they'd be damp when you put them into the airtight safe, wouldn't they? So what are they like when you take them out again to use?

Lastly, try this

20 minutes ago, walkingsoon said:

My choice for balcony would be a DW-deluxe balcony obstructed, L101-104 or M-101-104. Huge balconies, fun to stand on leaving port. Solid rail instead of see through earns the obstructed designation, but still a nice choice and the price break is nice as well. My opinion? The obstruction is a non issue, try to get L101 or L102.

 

 

Note on Princess' website re these cabins:

"Special Notes: Part Obstructed View Non-glass Balc Rail/ Balcony Access When In Port Only.