disgirl

We are supposed to depart on the AMA Mora on Monday (Basel to Amsterdam).  Thank you for all of the updates.  It is greatly appreciated and I have shared with my friends going along.  I am giving myself grace to be prepared for a bus tour of Europe.  I know a lot can happen in 4 days though so I am putting out positive vibes for the safety of the locals and the rain to stop.

They could be blocked in group space.  If they dont sell, they will be released and open up again. 

16 minutes ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

Congratulations on showing how you personally can knock back 15 drinks per day.  But do you really need to cruise on another line such as Celebrity because they have an unlimited amount of drinks. (At a 10.00 ceiling with standard bar choices)

I never once said that was MY drinking itinerary, I just laid out what a day at sea could look like and how easy it is to use up 15.  Obviously people do max it out (as stated here by others and as I have in the past).  I have cruised on many different lines, but mostly Celebrity and Princess.  

Have a nice day.

1 hour ago, swjumbo said:

Erm…. last few weeks….many times!!!

Glad we arent the only ones!  We joke 15-18 by noon!  haha

11 hours ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

When's the last time you consumed 15 drinks on Princess?

The OP said they like drink packages.  I believe that is a big note to point out a difference between the 2 lines.  It isnt hard to do....

Based on a Sea day - 

Wake up and get a baileys and coffee (maybe 2) from the coffee bar

Have a mimosa at breakfast (or bloody mary if you like those)

10am - pool (or wherever you are)  beer or beverage

11am - pool (or wherever you are)  beer or beverage

1230pm - 1 or 2 with lunch

2pm - pool (or wherever you are)  beer or beverage

3pm - pool (or wherever you are)  beer or beverage

A pre dinner drink in the Piazza or Vines

630pm - 1 or 2 with supper

That is going to leave you 4-5 to have at the disco over the course of the evening or at the casino or in the theater while watching the show, or at the piano bar, or wherever you are.

😄

We loved Catalina when we were there.  We did the Catalina food tour (not booked through the ship).  It was 2.5 hrs long and we had an amazing local guide.  The history and stories they shared were great.  The whole thing was 5/5!

Princess caps their beverage packages at 15 alcoholic beverages per day.  Celebrity doesn't.

I find Princess to have more shellfish/seafood options in the MDR than Celebrity.

Food taste is subjective - I enjoy it on both lines.

Entertainment is subjective - I don't like the evening production shows on either line.

I like that Celebrity has traditional dining - although Princess is bringing it back this fall (YAY!)

I find the cabin sizes on Princess larger, but I find the bathroom sizes on Celebrity larger.

We are finding (this year and last) airport hotels $300-400 CAD per night.  Downtown hotels $600-900 CAD per night.  This is all dynamic and depends on what is going on locally and days of travel.  They know when the ships depart.  They know when school is out.  They know people will pay it to visit.

1 hour ago, memoak said:

With one ship in port earlier this month check in was downstairs and there were no customs kiosks you saw an actual officer. We checked in just before 2 I believe and total check in time was about 15 minutes 

Interesting.  I apologize.  I cruised a couple times out of Vancouver last year, the last in Sept, and it was still check in upstairs and they had the kiosks to 'speed things up' they said.

Be patient, be kind, be flexible.  That is what I say to everyone cruising now.  

2 hours ago, davy jones said:

How crowded is it with 2 ships.

Peak time  is 12 to 2pm.  Each line has their own hall upstairs for check in.  It will be busy downstairs w 2 as there is only the 1 security and customs area.  At least the US customs is the kiosk now so tends to be quick.  Once through those, follow the signs for your ship.

Ive cruised from Vancouver multiple times.  I like to check in early.  Their busiest time when multiple ships are in port is 12 - 2pm.  With only 1 ship in, it shouldn't be too bad.  

I have used Viator, Shore Excursions Group and local companies (after lots of research here on the port boards and online).

2 hours ago, greenumbrella said:

I’m amazed you were able to make dining reservations so far out!  For our upcoming May 24 cruise, I tried repeatedly to make reservations but it wouldn’t accept anything until about 60 days out.  The help desk on our previous cruise said we could book as soon as we got off that ship.  Not so!  And of course there’s no help desk after you disembark.  Easy way to pass on a problem.  Hope the new Princess app is better than the old one!

I have dining booked for my March 2025 sailing with my friends.  I was told that Elite and suites can book dining times as soon as the booking is make.  Everyone else is after final payment has been made.  

I always look at the cost difference and subtract

Example  a 7 nt cruise I am looking at -  Standard vs Plus is apx $550 CAD difference

Gratuties are apx $180 CAD

WIFI is apx $150 CAD

Medallion deliver is apx $15 CAD

2 casual dining are apx $40 CAD

That leaves apx $165 /7 days = apx $23 a day for beverages.

I budget $25 for 2 (alcoholic) beverages a day.  Its a no brainer for me to get the Plus package and get more beverages, sparkling water, pop, bottled water, juice, etc.

18 hours ago, 555 said:

There's nothing wrong with dine my way. You still have the option to select a fixed dining time each evening. I can't understand people who can't accept the change. It's the best of both ways. 

It isnt about accepting change.  It is about the service - all of my cruises on My Time dining feel chaotic and rushed and the waiters are running around trying to keep up.  Guests are coming and going.  We find traditional dining a bit calmer with everyone in and seated at once, not a group here and a group there.  

I havent been able to be accommodated with the same server/same table every night on my past cruises when I asked.  I like to get to know my dining staff and them to get to know me (I like lemon with my water, I don't eat fish - and have been saved a few times when ordering).  I dont want to have to repeat things every night.  And when we book reservations, it only allows us an option for 2, not a shared table (unless we want to eat at 5pm or 830pm)...we enjoy sitting with others.

Celebrity, Holland America, Oceania, Royal Caribbean can do it...Princess can go back to it too.  

Oh PLEASE return to all of the ships!  We prefer the traditional fixed dining (I know, probably a unpopular preference lol).  Every cruise I have been on since they changed to mytime I have put this on the comment cards.

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

Nope...unless you upgrade the Unlimited Beverage Package Or Open Bar or whatever to Premium Plus. 

Duly noted!  Thanks.  Princess and Celebrity which I have cruise with 16 times do include it so I just assumed everyone did.  

Sorry if this is a stupid question but isnt bottle water included in the beverage package?  (asked by someone who hasnt been on NCL in 25 years).   I may have assumed incorrectly as it is with all the other cruises i have done with packages.  

The cabana cabins remind me of the Lanais on Holland America ships.  You have your own loungers outside of the balcony door on the Promenade deck where everyone is walking by.   

Your TA can also do a TWID (Travel With ID) that can be entered on all bookings to link them.

Dang.  That sucks that they dont get the option for refundable deposits!

Thanks for the info - I am unfamiliar with UK rules.  

If you booked a refundable deposit rate, can't you cancel and rebook the lower fare?

43 minutes ago, Al2863 said:

Having now gathered that we probably won’t get availability in the Santuary, how is the Retreat area.  Is it the usual chair hogs who put the towel down and disappear usually 🤯

We didnt have an issue on the Discovery last year.  

1 hour ago, lx200gps said:

We're also Elite and make a point of being literally among the very first to board, just to try and snag decent Sanctuary seating. Sadly, the last few times we tried we were shut out. We only wanted sea days  and can only take full shade loungers, which are in the minority on the newer big ships. Those constraints, as well as the fact that B2Bers get to board first and so are able to get upstairs before any of us newly arriving passengers, mean that we are finding it increasingly difficult to book our favorite location on the ship.  On one of our last sailings, on the Sky last fall, the B2bers on the previous trip were given the option of booking the Sanctuary on the NEXT sailing, which was ours. Since there were literally hundreds of them, the Sanctuary was completely full and sold out before any of us newly arriving passengers even boarded.

That is very disappointing.