FancyPants21

Thought I'd do a report from on board. Embarkation at Southampton was quick and easy for us. Boarding started about 10.30 and we were one of the first on. I did hear that there were waits of up to an hour for those that arrived later. Once on we did the normal stuff... got a drink, visited our muster station and watched the video. I went to book some speciality dining by visiting each restaurant. Then to the room to see if we could drop off the bags there instead of using the allocated MDR. To our surprise the room was ready so we moved in. A PH suite on Riviera. The general feel on the ship is familiar and hasn't changed much but what has changed is the level of service. It isn't bad , just different. Where the bars were mainly waiter/ess served now you mainly need to line up at the bar. That simple change means they have less waiting staff but it has changed how the bars work... not for the better IMO. There are still waiting staff around just very few and if you waited to get one to place your order it would have been much quicker to just line up. Apart from that it is pretty much the same. The MDR service is excellent (Reserve Collection) as is the food. We have eaten once in Crown Grill and I have to say that it was the very best rib-eye steak I have ever had... and I have had a few! However, the biggest disappointment so far for me has been the standard of entertainment around the ship. It is not good IMO. Princess has never been one for doing great entertainment in the piazza or bars but on this trip it has hit a low. Having said that the main theatre entertainment has been superb. To be honest, it isn't a problem for us. The first port in Norway, Haugesund, was cancelled due to high winds so we had a day of scenic cruising around the fjords. Actually, we didn't really mind as Haugesund was not a place we particularly wanted to see. Weather has been mostly cloudy with the odd shower and the odd sunny spell so it made for a relaxing day. We are in port now in Aalesund... oour first chance to get off. More later

Fair enough... that is you and that is fine. But they are great value for me and remember, it isn't just about tangible value... there is value to many (me included) in having a fixed price cruise. If you see it as a financial battle between you and the cruise line then that must detract from the cruise experience IMO.

Then don't count. Once you have made the decision to get the package then forget numbers and just go and do whatever you want knowing you have a fixed price. It isn't about "making it up" or making sure you drink enough drinks. It is about not having to count anything... you pay a fixed price and that is what it costs regardless of what you do. Just go and enjoy yourself. I really don't understand it... people go on a cruise, costing thousands usually, and then spend time worrying and stressing over the cost of a few drinks. To me that isn't why I go on a cruise. I do that at home... on a cruise I want to know I can do what I want and to know how much it is costing me up front. So I will always get a package and NEVER count drinks. If after the cruise I feel that I didn't get the value from the package that I expected then may be I don't get it next time but even then... I wouldn't count drinks. That is not the point of cruising IMO.

LOL! Sorry to mention that but I just wanted to clarify what it was so newcomers understood. BTW I have serious trouble with autocorrect so I know what you mean! 🙂

Clearly you are having a bit of a typing nightmare so this is not a criticism of that but I did want to clarify for others... you mean FCD, Future Cruise Deposit... not FDC.

You can still book them in advance. Just pay for them and get a OBC credit when on board after you have purchased the package. 🙂

If you book the cruise through a TA then sometimes you can get offers from the TA if you book in advance but it really is a swings and roundabouts kind of thing. Do it whichever way you prefer.

Sometimes they do an offer but not normally nowadays. We always book through a TA but you can book on board if they are doing an offer and then transfer the booking to your TA when you get home. The $100 is a Future Cruise Deposit. It is different from a FCC as it is refundable if not used after 2 years IIRC. It is also a refundable deposit for most cruises even when the normal deposit is larger. Personally, we prefer to take our time and pick the right cruise, cabin etc and do it at home 🙂

Oh... OK. 🙂 I suppose it isn't much different to one person having drinks for both package holders put onto the same account... bar staff do that all the time 🙂

Some people say they don't mind the delay if it means that everything is working on the ship. Be realistic... it is an inaugural sailing. It is 100% certain that whenever it is delivered it won't have everything 100% working. That is just how it is. Personally, I see no attraction at all to sailing on inaugural cruises or any cruise within 3 months of them. Better to let things settle down and bed in and get the teething issues sorted. Rest assured that this delay is not to get the teething troubles sorted. It is quite likely that it is because of delays at the shipyard and very little to do with Princess. I wouldn't be surprised to see further delays and further cruise cancellations of the early cruises.

What a scary story! Glad it was at least partially sorted. We only ever use a TA now... get better prices too as well as someone who speaks English when we need them.

Officially I think that is true because you cannot share meals included on the package but ask nicely and it seems they are more flexible and allow it.

I am on a Norway cruise on Sky next week and all the tours are just plain ridiculously expensive. We have booked none. However, we are on Sky again this November to the Canaries and almost all the tours look very sensibly priced. I expect to pay a bit more if I book through the cruise line so I don't have an issue with a bit more but Norway is often 3 times the price of the same tour booked privately.

... and you are happy to return to the lounge from where ever you are on the ship just to get a drink? Crickey!

But that isn't relevant to the OP question IMO. That would apply whether you are in a mini-suite or a suite or any cabin tbh.