JABTPS

On 3/7/2023 at 4:33 PM, EDVM96 said:

id the situation improve after the SIN stop?

Not very much at all.  Yes, we got more supplies but some alcohol was out again just after 3 days and they still don't post the available wine for the drink package unless you complain.  Had meetings with Bar manager twice about the issues and only helps if you complain.  Some new speaker from Singapore that's not much for enrichment speaker and many of the musicians are still onboard.  We did get a Motown group and 2 new vocalists.  Food really hasn't improved.  It's so hit and miss.  Just last night they're trying to sell those small shot glass sets after the dinner in the dining room.  Really???

That said, the "Best of Phuket" tour was the best we've ever had on any cruise!  Fabulous.  On the other hand, Penang was not impressionable as it was not very clean city like Phuket.

4 hours ago, We_like_to_cruise said:

 

I honestly do not know the answer to that.  Perhaps the announcement came at a bad time when we just had a cancelled port in Australia (after three cancelled ports in NZ).  Frustrations levels are high.  We also do not have much coming up in the way of new entertainment as we were supposed to get new entertainers in Darwin.

 

Other more seasoned WC travelers perhaps had higher expectations?  It might be a case that we cannot compare this cruise to those past cruises. (We don't know what we are missing).

Well, we were on the 2020WC and now the Island Princess and this is no way close to the quality of cruise we were having in 2020.

Here are just some examples:  No enrichment speaker for  20 days until Auckland, Many wines that are part of drink package not available from day 1, ran out of some spirits after Hawaii, food quality is no way in comparison ( low quality beef, many repeat meals, lobster twice in 30 days, fish selection is corvina, barramundi, tilapia) same musicians have been on now for over 40 days- no changes to the bands.  Many excuses on why we don't have things on this cruise.  I personally would cancel the beverage package if I could as i would be dollars ahead when you are getting low quality drinks ( yellowtail as a premium wine??  really?).  I will say after the big crew shortage in LA, things have improved on service.  Since we just missed a big port for supplies, it will be tough until singapore.  This is NOT your Princess cruise you're accustom to.

Some additional comments on our trip as our opinions:   1.  Premium teas are hard to comeby. Almost all not available and they’re substituted just generic teas.    2.  Wines for plus package are poor and only low quality available.  They claim shipment to ship have not arrived. They are serving a yellowtail syrah that I wouldn’t serve at home.    3.  Laundry machines on deck 9 have 1/2 out of service and have a tag dated 12/8/22 for repairs.  No urgency to repair.  4.  Food has not matched our food on the 2020WC.  Very poor quality beef served except for tenderloin dishes.  5.  Many seats in theatre are in disrepair, many broken beverage tables.   For our first leg of trip to Sydney only 2 production shows. Too many juggling, comedy, and magician shows.  Have had a few good vocalists.   6.  Almost non existent enrichment talks. They claim first speaker hired lost passport and couldn’t board in LA.  2nd one was good but only on for 5 days.  7.  First week out of LA ship ran out of bourbon except for jim beam. No bullit or woodford.  8.  Service in dining room is still slow with breakfast taking 1-1/2 hrs at times and dinner At almost 2 hrs for many tables. Ship ended up with many assignments to tables to overcome the 1hr+ wait for a table. You had to request a permanent table as reservations are not honored at all.  9.  Still many cases of covid on board.  Deck 8 aft/port side is assigned area, but some in balconies are remaining in their cabins.  Recently more people are wearing masks around ship.  Staff is not wearing them. 

if it wasn’t for our FCC expiring in January and if we knew of the quality of princess now downgraded  on this cruise, we would have not traveled.  Definitely not worth the plus drink package with lack of wines, alcohols, and premium teas.  There are no smoothies fyi.  

7 hours ago, chubbypiggy said:

1.  Did you need to get local currency or can use credit card for all your purchases?

2.  You noticed any ATM by the cruise terminal?

We used the ATM right near the open market about a 5 minute walk from the ship.  It is a bank owned ATM just on the outside of the building with 2 units.  Currency is 1,000, 2,000, 4,000, and 6,000 FPC.  Exchange for 4,000 cost $36.46 and $0.36 foreign Exchange fee.

Very easy to get currency and some of the vendors in the market accept US cash.  We actually paid one vendor our remaining FPC and balance in US.

When we were here in 2020WC, the whole waterfront near the ship was a great park and lots of food trucks.  Now they are building a large parking structure and only 1/4 of the park is still there.  A lot less food trucks in the evening.  Off the ship tours around the whole island are available for $65/pp in a mini van style vehicle and lasts about 4 hours.  Recommend the tour!  The ships tours are in big buses.

more, sorry of the duplicate:

Here are a few menus:

I personally have not been impressed with this 2023WC cruise yet compared to 2020WC, which we expected an equal to or better.   Excuses for many things not available from Wines, Bourbons, Fresh squeeze juice now, out of mushrooms now, poor quality on some beef dishes, and no lobster in MDR since LA port.  One good item is entertainment has improved since Hawaii ports.  Sorry I'm complaining, but ya spend alot of money only to hear excuse after another from upper management.....   some examples of lower quality for Beef:  Striploin vs NY Strip steak;  Filet of sirloin steak;  We have had 1 beef Wellington, 1 filet of beef tenderloin, no prime rib but roast beef.   There have been plenty of shrimp/prawns and Sea Scallops.

9 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

OP....I apologize if I missed it, but is the ship offering any World Cruise T-shirts?

Well, the claim that the shipment didnt arrive at LA port, so only have seen one style for women.  I see a few 2023WC caps, but they have none now in the store.  Must have been available in Fort Lauderdale and sold out.   2020WC had several types available, sadly none as of yet. 

Scheduled for an emergency EVAC from ship this afternoon, probably from medical emergency yesterday morning.  We are being diverted slightly to a close island airport for helicopter evac at 4:30pm.  Prayers that they have a safe evac to a proper medical facility.

Just adding some additional information to this live blog:   It was reported on 1/24 that there are 28 cabins with tables out in front.  Not sure if both passengers have it (Covid), but they are restricting both in cabin if one has it for 7 days.

Laundry note in state room says 3 days turnaround and we just experienced that. 

Still short staff and was told approx 50 more crew were to join in Honolulu.  All venues are still short.  Dining is getting better, but still has long wait times.  Almost back to 2 seatings (old traditional) with many requesting same table to shorten their wait time.  Meals for breakfast and Dinner are taking almost 2 hours.

As of LAX, the dining room has only served 1 good beef meal (my opinion).  No prime rib after 6 days, no good steak other than a beef tenderloin meal on day 4 (formal).  Very bad Strip loin served day 5.  Seems like dining meals are not up to past experience with Princess.  No Vegan menu available and usually only 1 Vegetarian meal ( per our table guest).  Shrimp cocktail is still free and available on board at dinner.

Internet has been slow, but does seem to work.

Difficult to get good mixed drinks with so many inexperienced bar tenders.

Most evening venues are full in all lounges.  Some trivia having to get there 30-45 mins ahead to get a seat ( standing room crowded)

This just doesn't compare to the 2020WC quality we experienced

For Cruises out of Southampton,  Princess was originally offering testing at the ship for $60/pp  ( up until mid June) but that has now changed on their website and now it no longer says anything about testing by Princess, unless the results from your pre cruise test at your choosing do not arrive on time.  Then they will assist in a no charge test.   I would not go on the assumption they are offering tests, nor that is will be dropped in the next couple of weeks.

I just checked and Princess out of Southampton is no longer offering an "at embarkation" test option of $60 pp like they previously had in their Health and safety.  So now you have to test prior to arriving.  No long can we opt to test at the dock.  Figures they would change it. 

Don't count on the evening appetizers.  out of 7 days we only received two evenings worth.  now real upgrade on bathroom soaps, balcony is tiny compared to other lines.  Only nice thing is the shower and bathroom size.

Since it only takes one full day to cruise to Bermuda, I would bet that NCL plans to arrive the afternoon before our planned arrival 10/13 and begin testing by Bermuda to be able to release passengers by the regular schedule morning.

19 minutes ago, Miaminice said:

We are booked on the same cruise. Just found out that for now independent tours are not possible in Israel… a no go for us. 😢

A lot can change in the course of 3 months.  We are thinking positive and excited.  We had independent tours and also booked ship excursions as backups.

We are booked on the Sept 16th cruise and have confidence it will happen.  There's still a lot of time to see thru rest of June, July, and August for a crew staffing, training, and reposition to Mediterranean.  All ships have to eventually start up and the bookings on our cruise are nearly 70%, based on looking at available cabins from performing a fake booking.   Look how far we've come from March to get cruises started.  I'm sure Celebrity is anxious to get ships back into service.

Properly wearing a mask sign and training is a high priority!! 😜

So glad all of my booked cruises are not in USA ports.  I expect some restrictions and those for Europe sound reasonable for the interm until cruises start documenting their results. 

Don’t count on the orders expiring. They’ll get extended again. 

7 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

What changed after Dr. Walensky made this statement on several TV interviews

Impeding doom for all of us !  We will all suffer because we are not following the letter of the order

Every year 2 million people on average are injured in auto accidents and 32,000 killed.  So should we tolerate the NTSB to stop all driving of vehicles and require everyone to ride in predetermined  safety buses so that we can eliminate all accidents?  Put that into perspective of the CDC orders.

  Then the NTSB allows you to drive if you take another safe driving course, only allow vehicles with air bags, or better yet, only autonomous cars.  I don't think we would put up with that.

I also have not seen anything presented that tells us when all this Covid restrictions will be lifted.  They prepared steps for easing restrictions, but where's the "no mask" level of covid reporting?  do we have to wait until no hospitalizations?

It's a known fact that cigar smoke kills the Covid-19 virus.  That will be the safest room on the ship! 😁

Remember these CSO conditions only apply if the ship sails from a USA port.  If it leaves from say Europe, they won't apply.

Sorry, the level 1 was a recommendation.

So if I read this all correctly, if cruise line goes the route of restricting vaccine requirements to crew and passengers, all these requirements are out and can continue as a normal cruise.

I find it a joke that their excursion requirement for the test sails says " only countries with level 1"!  They sure made it impractical as they quickly changed most countries prior to the release of this document.