PescadoAmarillo

I’ve been a member of Cruise Critic for over 20 years, and have learned which members post to offer helpful, critical information about cruising and cruise lines and ships and which ones only seem to come out of the woodwork to criticize other posters. I really appreciate comparisons between cruise lines, and, chances are, I’m going to see them most readily if they’re on the Princess board. I also appreciate the comparison more coming from a (mostly) Princess cruiser, as I can trust that I would probably feel the same. So before we censor conversations that compare other cruise lines, positively or negatively, to Princess, I guess I’d advocate that we not worry about the fact that some fellow CC members get their knickers in a twist and attack when something even remotely negative about their chosen line gets brought up. Ignore, scroll by, whatever it takes. And they have the ability to do the same.

I learned when we went around the world in 2018 (not all on a cruise) how little I could by with, and it’s remarkably little. Multiple climates, no laundry facilities…the secret is layers and quick drying fabrics. Toiletries are what mess me up, especially if I’m going to be gone for months. For a few weeks, I can even leave a lot of them behind.

I agree completely (but thought I was the only one who felt that way). People will argue that that kind of Aaron Spelling entertainment was simply what we used to watch, but, looking back decades later, I find it horrendous. When we know better, we do better, and I know now that the crew making light of Julie McCoy’s claim that she was being stalked and sexually harassed was not entertainment.

Yep, ever since they abandoned their Escape Completely tagline. I thought that one had universal appeal.

https://www.shoreexcursionsgroup.com/ has some nice port excursions for Hawaii cruises. DH did one just yesterday in Honolulu.

We’ve always simply gifted our duplicates (which, by now, are all of them) to a fellow passenger. I still like the crystals best (and I’m missing South America, by the way, so if anyone is looking to unload theirs…). I don’t think I kept even one of the wooden boxes.

I was on the third Royal Princess cruise ever, when it was the only Royal Class ship, and identified that using the Piazza the way they were was going to ruin Crooners. I guess that’s another reason we can tolerate the Majestic…they just removed Crooners altogether (though have a similar use of the lounge next to the casino).

Every time I read something about COVID on the Coral Princess, I think about that couple from Brisbane who were reported on several media sources to be living on the ship for two years. I thought at the time how optimistic they were to be doing this in the age of COVID. I hope they are cruising on, unscathed, and will remain healthy.

Thanks very much! I’m no longer actively sick (that lasted four months). I just get very frustrated that things I used to do easily now exhaust me. I’ve said it here before, but this is definitely not like a cold or flu. I would consider the toll to be more like a cancer treatment of unknown duration.

Yes, you’re right, it would, and so I’m not. In fact, my husband is on a few B2B cruises alone, right now. And I’m at home blowing leaves. I got long COVID from him thanks to the Ruby dropping their COVID protocols in the couple of weeks between booking and cruising in April. And still today I was given cause to wonder if I will ever fully recover. It’s fine for people to be flippant about it being time to drop all cautionary measures, but they still need to realize that every COVID case wandering around a cruise ship can have long term negative consequences.

I’m never sure if it’s the fact that the menus are so new to us or if the food is really that good that results in us loving our meals on HAL, because we sure do. The only drawbacks are the repetitive dining room lunch menu and the buffet closing periodically during the day. But, boy, is the HAL buffet amazing.

The Sanctuary is definitely not as popular on cruises Down Under, at least not on New Zealand (and Tasmania) cruises. The two days to and from Australia are often quite rough, windy and not conducive to spending time on deck. Once in New Zealand, the cruise is very port intensive and tiring. You might have one sea day between the North and South Islands, but usually don’t. And the only place to really do “scenic cruising” is in Fiordland National Park, and that day, weather permitting, you’re going to want to be up and all around the open decks, not taking photos from a single place through tinted glass.

That really depends on whether you want to do the right thing, and, at a minimum, try to avoid spreading COVID to someone else. Assuming a cruiser has brought test kits (which I highly recommend doing) and actually tests positive, quarantining in your cabin without notifying medical means no access to dining and specialty dining menus, even greater difficulty getting meal and drink orders, and subjecting your room steward to your germs. The standard room service menu gets old after about…one day. Five days of it? No thanks. If someone doesn’t care about exposing others, well then have at it. Unless they’re sick enough to actually want to stay down, it’s their cruise and they paid for it (#sarcasm).

911 on a Princess ship is simply the Guest Services Desk.

Meaningless, since I have no idea where you are going with this one.

You won’t. Nor will most of the people who have been subjected to the same treatment. That affected passengers have been reporting the same LACK OF COMMUNICATION, CARE AND FOLLOW UP for most of 2022 and nothing has been changed to improve the process indicates to anyone paying attention that Princess simply doesn’t care.

I agree. DH is on the Ruby right now. He has seen no indication that they are using “quarantine areas” any longer (maybe they are, but they’re not using the same ones they were using earlier in the year). However, he’s seen lots of tables set outside cabins, so many that he wonders if there are any left up on deck. The mask mandate for crew was dropped, and then almost immediately recommended again by the captain. They are on day 14 of a 15 day cruise. I sent him off with a slew of self tests and an admonition to not come home with COVID. So far so good (his exact words). Nope, that’s not for me. I can stay home, not mask at all when I go out and somehow manage to stay well.

I wish I could like this a hundred times.

I have a small macrame purse I carry on cruises that holds my sunglasses and cell phone. If I had to take a bathroom break, I take my phone out of it and place it predominately on the table next to the drink or food. I’m only gone for a couple of minutes, but it hasn’t failed me yet.

That’s okay. My husband, another good Southern boy, won’t eat shrimp. He said where he grew up they were called “bait”.

I’ve cruised a lot of New Years and have never seen it on a menu. It’s a must for us at home.

There is no other way to watch live TV. We even wait until 30 minutes or so into most sporting events to start watching (the Kentucky Derby excepted).

They do not currently have them on the Ruby Princess.

He was totally unaware they were late leaving Honolulu (if, in fact, they were) as it was scheduled for 11pm and he was already asleep. He’s met old friends on board and is having a great time.

We were lucky to get three milestones recognized. I would be quite happy with breakfast in Sabatini’s for the top three most traveled passengers in lieu of the milestone program.😆🍾🥂