brentlym

My favorite by far is the filet in Cagney's with any of the sauces (béarnaise, peppercorn, etc). The side dishes and desserts are also phenomenal. Moderno and Teppanyaki come in as a close 2nd. Our least favorite was Shanghai's Asian, which was a huge disappointment. Honestly, Asian night in the Garden Cafe was much better.

I use Zylast Antiseptic sanitizer that I carry in my pocket, and I also use the Zylast foaming soap in my stateroom. Both are available at zylastdirect.com.

Told tonight that there has been a increase in the number of reported cases of gastrointestinal illness which is strongly suggestive of Norovirus.

xyankee….assume you're onboard? Anymore details? Code Red?

I will be having an Isaac on the CB end of the month. I might even have two! :D

It's not a problem being above Club Fusion on the Emerald deck? Just curious.

Fortunately, no...not in my 2 experiences in those minis. I was leery about it, but no noise. The ones on the starboard side are farthest away from the dance floor and speakers, but either side has been fine. The balconies are fully covered as well.

My favorites on Caribbean, Ruby, Emerald, and Crown:

1. Emerald deck mini-suites in the aft (6 on port and 6 on starboard).

2. Any Caribe deck balcony cabin

All other balconies are fine, just not my favorites. The least desirable cabins (to me) are Lido deck balcony cabins forward of the grill/pizza/bar area. You'll hear dragging of deck chairs in many of them.

That's a tough call to make, but if you've found a fare with which you're comfortable…grab it. I've second guessed myself many times and always wished I had booked when I found a good fare but decided to wait for a better deal. You can always call NCL or your travel agent and request a fare reduction if the price goes down before final payment.

My rule of thumb is that any balcony cabin $100 or less per person/per day is a bargain. I'm willing to spend more, depending on circumstances, but I use that as a guide.

Hope that helps.

The things I love the most:

1. Cagney's…the filet is melt-in-your-mouth amazing. All of the side dishes!

2. Teppanyaki…typical Benihana type fare, but oh so good. The fried rice is the best!

3. Moderno…while the meats are abundant and flavorful, the salad bar is quite delicious. So many choices!

4. The Szechuan Chicken in Taste (MDR). Shocking to find an very well done Asian dish the main dining room, but it's fantastic.

Thank you very much, this is helpful! I really appreciate your reply. I'll be sure to report back with how things go next week on the Royal to pay it forward ;)

My pleasure. Enjoy your cruise....I know you will!! The Royal is a beautiful ship! We'll be boarding Norwegian Epic on Sunday morning. My first cruise over New Year's. Happy New Year and happy cruising!

Brent

Just to clarify...so, you *can* get one non-alcoholic and one alcoholic drink (bottle of water and a cocktail) at once if you have the all inclusive package, but you'll just have to sign two slips? Or, one drink will be included in the package but you'll have to pay for the other? I, too, like to supplement my cocktails with club soda or a bottle of water, and it'd be great to get both at once versus having to make two stops. I pre-purchased the all-inclusive package in advance of our cruise next week (just for me, not my husband), so thanks in advance for the tips/advice!

What I've experienced is that if you ask for a cocktail and a bottle of water, they'll need to swipe your card twice and you'll have 2 receipts to sign. Be aware that you *may* encounter inconsistencies in the way the orders are processed by different servers and bartenders. All 4 cruises I've taken on Princess this year where the drink card has been available it's been slightly different. In particular, on the Crown last month, I had one server tell me I had to wait at least 5 minutes between transactions, which is complete hogwash and not true. Just be prepared to go to a different server and ask for your bottle of water if you get hassled. That scenario was the exception rather than the rule. I hope that helps.

Correct. The wine dispensers aren't included in the UBP, but there's a bar right outside the garden cafe (and so many others), that would be happy to pour you a glass that's included. You won't have to search for long. ;)

The moment it's available, I'll be ready to book!!!! Let's go!

I, too, am a huge fan of the beverage package. When you include sodas, juices, mixers, along with most alcohol, it's totally worth it for me and my travel companion. While it's unfortunate that coffee drinks aren't included like other lines include, I still have no problems making it worth my money and I know exactly what my bill is going to be at the end of the cruise.

The bottom line is that NCL is going to make money off you whether you buy it or not. You just have to decide what works best for you. I like the freedom and flexibility, and I'm willing to pay for it.

I sure hope you're wrong on this. If I wanted NCL type of "freestyle cruising" I'd sail NCL. I also don't believe that enough of the majority like anytime. Enough of we traditionalist are still around to fill one dining room twice and another once a night, with a waiting list.

 

Maureen

You're right, Maureen. There are a ton of people that love the traditional dining times and that style of dining. It just seems that Princess has a real conundrum on their hands. And....I think it's one where the money will win out. They have to grow and change with the demands of their customers and what they like to do. Princess is currently trying to cater to both types of passengers, and it's not working. Time will tell, I suppose.

I love the MDRs on Princess, but I really believe their dining concepts are quickly becoming outdated. I know there are people that love traditional dining times, but it seems the majority of people like the anytime concept, and even more so, an NCL type of "Freestyle Cruising". I believe Princess is going to have to have a paradigm shift where dining is concerned. I suppose time will tell and customer demand will drive the action they take.

I was on the delayed Mex Riviera cruise just after the ship returned from the S. Pacific. It was my 13th Princess cruise and 1st as Elite, and wow, what a disappointment. Had it been my first cruise and not known what a Princess cruise was really like, the chances I'd return would be slim. Clearly, noro and other technical glitches really knocked the wind out of their sails (pun intended). At least I'm hoping that was the problem and not more cost cutting.

Luckily, there were several friends along for the trip, and we had a ton of fun regardless of the lack of service (ex. International Cafe running out of food and not replenishing it later in the evening, phones not being answered for room service and restaurant reservations, MUTS screen needing to be replaced, sound system in Skywalkers not working, and bar servers were scarce and stretched thin to support demand).

I'll be back, but it'll be a while….maybe. :confused:

Being priority means you are Elite or Platinum. There are special areas in the terminal set up as your gathering point.. once Elite is called, platinum is next and You'll be on in no time. That being said, the earliest I've ever experienced a ship boarding process to begin sat San Pedro is 1130-12 noon. I'd get there as early as you can, But.v be prepared for the wait to get the best seats for your priority boarding group. Regardless, You'll have a Great time!

We just disembarked the Crown this morning from the "abbreviated" Mexican Riviera cruise that left last Sunday evening. The ship was super clean, but the Capt reported 39 additional cases during the week and we were down to five passengers that were confined to their staterooms as of yesterday. Obviously, we were in code red all week. It was somewhat of a pain....especially being served in the Horizon Court. That aside, there seemed to be some audio visual equipment problems in various locations onboard. Food was top notch. We made the best of a challenging situation.

Then it really isn't a per diem as I understand the term but rather a partial refund.

Bingo! There is no such thing as "compensation" or "per diem" here. It's a refund of 1/7 cruise fare and the port taxes for PV. Additionally, the 20% is an incentive to get you to come back. Those of us who sail frequently will certainly benefit. Others won't. Clearly, their choice of wording in their email was poor.

I suppose I should quit while I'm ahead based on previous posts.

I'm not a sailor, but I fully expect the schedule to be impacted (we're on the cruise next week too). It takes a full sea day at least just to reach Cabo from LA. I'd recommend being prepared for it.

I'd sail out of Houston in a heartbeat. Although I live in Dallas, the drive is very easy and can be easily done same day. I wouldn't hesitate flying into Hobby, if needed, and cabbing it to a hotel nearby the port and again he next morning. While Houston has its drawbacks to some, I wouldn't hesitate going again. I, like some others, am just happy to be boarding a ship no matter where it goes (or doesn't as some experienced last season). :D

When I am on a cruise, I do not expect to pay extra for entertainment.

 

However, that should reduce the size of the crowd at any show.

Caribill... I completely understand and get what you're saying. Princess may have a difficult time doing the paid entertainment thing like NCL. I was a little shocked that I fell for it, but enjoyed every moment of it. I paid for Wine Lovers, The Musical... included lunch and 7 tastes of wine and champagne. The main shows were included in cruise the cruise fare.

Originally Posted by scottamiller View Post

 

I've noticed most cruise lines not using all venues simultaneously on many venues. There are fewer live entertainers, more Karakoke and more trivia in general. These decisions come from corporate. Cruise directors are given a selection of approved activities/options for programming.

 

Cruise lines want to drive passengers into casinos and shops as much as possible. Why do you think the main theaters are used less and have shorter shows? Why do you think there is less live entertainment?

While I'm not a huge fan of the Island and Coral, I did enjoy the On the Bayou show. It was very well done. That said….Princess has some work to do entertainment-wise. I think they could take some lessons from NCL on their newest ships to get an idea of how to utilize their spaces and generate revenue a the same time. While I AM a huge fan of Princess overall (I'm now Elite), NCL has mastered the art of paid entertainment, IMO. I know they cater to a slightly different demographic, but there's a way to fully utilize your public spaces and maintain a revenue stream. Hopefully, they'll figure it out.

If u have the pkg and say order a beer, can you also order a bottle of water? I understand that you couldn't get two beers but I always try to drink water w my alcohol!

They'll need to ring up the bottle of water as a second beverage and you'll need to sign for them both. If you're asking for water with a drink, ask for an ice water in a glass with your drink. If you want a bottle, they'll need to ring them up separately, and you'll need to sign for them separately.

We plan to purchase the drink package on the Emerald next week. Does anyone know if it covers the drinks they stock in the fridge in your state room?

Unfortunately, no. The items in the fridge must be paid for on your shipboard account, even if you've paid for the beverage package. However…..I have consumed items from the fridge and replaced them with canned sodas or bottled water from the bar using my beverage package. No issues.