Go-Bucks!

what is the steward like, does he/she only have those suites to look after?

Ours was not good and, no, they have other rooms beside the WS's.

Just wondering if the bed is a true king size bed or is it the 2 twins together?

The WS rooms are like other rooms on Princess ships - they have 2 smaller-than-twin sized beds that can be pushed together to form a queen sized bed.

Any idea if there's an iPod docking station in the cabin for listening to music?

No, they don't have that. But there is a DVD player and a bunch of DVD's that they'll loan you.

the smell from the cigar lounge was very strong out in the hallway by the suites. you might want to skip these cabins.

We stayed in a WS and 1) no smoke smell' date=' and 2) [i']no noise from above[/i]. Only noise we heard was from the stabalizers that were used during windy weather or rough seas. But it was not distracting. We loved this room and will get another one in a heartbeat.

Correct...Architectural designer. The idea of being payed to document other rooms is compelling,,,LOL

I guessed that too - my dad's an architect and I can tell that style of drawing and lettering anywhere!!

Thanks for your time and effort. We stayed in F311 last year and LOVED it!! :D

Here is how it really works.

 

You may redeem reward points in increments of 10,000 points which will be applied as a $100 OBC. You cannot redeem for partial credit, i.e. if you have 15,000 points you cannot redeem for $150 OBC. Obviously if you have 20,000 points you can redeem 2 lots for $200 OBC.

Actually, that's not how it really works. ;)

You can order $50 OBC for 5,000 points, $100 for 10,000 points, $250 for 25,000 points, and $500 for 40,000 points. You can order any combination, so if you want to cash in 15,000 points you do 2 transactions - one for 5,000 and another for 10,000. I've done this several times.

Should be an interesting season this fall.

There's the understatement of the century!!! :eek:

I always get alumni tickets, but I passed on it this year. It'll be painful enough just watching on TV. I bet they lose alot of money on tickets! But I still love 'em anyway!! :D

I liked the itinerary, too, but would have liked one more at sea day to break up the 4 port days in a row at the end of the cruise

That's why we really didn't mind missing Sydney - we heard it wasn't all that great and we LOVE sea days and wanted another one anyway. I also have fond memories of that lovely room. Too bad they can't put some WS's on all the ships.

Mr. Go-Bucks:

We live in the Columbus area and are big OSU fans. Are you also local?

Yes, and it's "Mrs." Go-Bucks! ;)

(I'm an alumni too)

as far as the room steward, we had a man named Rolan. Is that who you had?

 

Yes, he was our steward. He was nice, but just did the minimum. He rarely resupplied our toiletries and one time I had to hunt him down in the hallway before I could shower. Another time he threw away our formal night chocolates before we ate them. He admitted he did it, but offered no apology. Just told us to call room service to try to get some more.

 

We were in F309 - which cabin did you have?

 

We were in F311. Loved the total quiet and such a convenient location. I doubt I'll ever be in a gorgeous cabin like that unless we book a WS again. I loved being so close to the Thermal Suites, which we used everyday.

Liked the itinerary, but didn't make it to Sydney. Did you like it there?

Just had a WS on a cruise that ended yesterday. The day we arrived I could tell smokers had used the room - I have allergies & a sensitive nose. I could smell the stale smoky smell in the carpeting & fabric in the cabin, but I will say that as the week went on the smell dissipated. I don't believe the smell came from the cigar bar as the WS hallway smelled fine.

 

Odor aside, I would book another WS in a minute. I loved just lying on my bed, looking at all the space around me, something I'm not used to when cruising. And the suite perks made it worthwhile, especially since on my cruise the WS rate was on a par with a mini-suite which we had originally booked. I loved the double sinks, too.

 

Just Sabatini's breakfast, free internet, complimentary laundry & those addicting chocolate tuxedo strawberries made it worth booking!

MissJanet,

I want to thank you so much for posting back in March about switching from the mini to the WS cabin. After reading it, we did some quick research and did the very same thing. Boy, are we happy with that decision!! Definitely didn't miss the balcony on that chilly cruise. And the perks were fabulous - we used every one of them except afternoon tea in the suite. The only negatives were the smoke smell (which could happen in any cabin, but it was the first time for us) and the not-up-to-par cabin steward. Since you were on the cruise right after us, how was your service from the steward?

Does anyone have photos of one of these cabins on the Golden? Anyone staying in one that might be able to post a few photos for all to see?

I'll try to post some as soon as I can. The rooms are very nice and the perks are fabulous!! :D

I was in this cabin June 4-11....the cabin smelled of stale smoke

 

I have pictures, I will upload later today.....the BEST part of this cabin was the jacuzzi tub.....the worst part was the stinky stale smokey odor and the cabin steward was the WORST I have had in over 22 cruises

We were just on the Caribbean Princess in a WS room and had the same experience. The room smelled of stale smoke even though the steward denied that anyone smoked in there before us or that anyone on either side were smoking. But one time we saw a dirty ashtray sitting below his cleaning cart, so I think we had smoking neighbors. The smell wasn't cigars, so it wasn't from the cigar bar. I think people smoke in these rooms because they don't have a balcony and the smell stays in the carpet, furniture, and drapes.

And our cabin steward wasn't very good. He didn't resupply our bathroom toiletries unless asked and he threw away our formal night canapes before we ate them. When asked if he threw them away, he said "yes" but offered no apology and told us to just call room service and try to get some more. I expected really good service in a suite after reading on CC that they put the best stewards in suites. Not so!

Yes, you could DIY tour of the mansions; and no, traffic is not a problem unless there is some type of special event scheduled in Newport center the day of your visit.

 

The furthest mansion from the tender dock is only 2.5 miles away, All others are closer. The Breakers is only 2.1 miles away. The bus route (#67) that serves the mansions runs every 20 minutes, weekdays. The only way you would miss your cruise ship departure is if you overstayed your visit.

 

Since the mansions are located in the same general area (Bellevue Ave area), I would try to do them in sequence. The problem is, is that there are no fast food eateries in that area so you'll be wasting precious time & travel looking for a place to eat. 2 of the mansions have sandwich shops.

 

The mansions will take a tour group first and walkup guests second. You could purchase your tickets in advance that would save some time. Figure each tour lasts about 60 minutes. If you want to go to the head of any line at the mansions, purchase a Preservation Society membership; see info at link below

 

The bus schedules are here: http://www.ripta.com/schedules/schedules.php

The mansions web site is here: http://www.newportmansions.org/

 

 

SBtS

Thanks so much. I think we'll tour 2 or 3 mansions first, then go have lunch and do a little town sightseeing before heading back to the ship. I did download the map of Newport which should help us do it in a logical way as you mentioned.

We'll be in Newport from 10a-6p in June. Would like to see some mansions, but have heard that we might have a hard time making it back to the ship on time if we do these on our own vs. ship tour. We would like to do them on our own, if possible.

Questions:

1) If we do this tour independently, would it be reasonable to do one tour in the morning, then lunch, then one in the afternoon or is it feasible to see more?

2) If we take the public bus, is traffic likely to be heavy in early evening when we need to return to the ship?

There are no organized shore excursions because there is really nowhere to go! A couple of locals have a couple of six seater vans and do private "tours" for a few bucks but they don't go outside the small town itself because there are no roads out.

Actually, that's not true. Here's what I've found about tours/excursions in Greenland. There are others I've seen, but didn't save the websites. Do some research on the Internet and you'll find things.

1) http://www.qaq.gl/index.php?id=10&L=2. This website lists some tours on land and by boat. They have a City Tour for 1.5 hrs. ($27), tour of a fur tanning and processing facility for 1 hr. ($15), Stone and Man tour for 1.5 hrs. ($27), Cultural Entertainment, Eating a meal with a local family for a few hours ($45), and Having cakes and coffee in the home of a local family while looking at local dress for 1.5 hrs. ($23). They also have boat tours going to swim in a hot spring, touring ruins of an historic church, a trip to walk on the ice cap, fishing trips, or whale watching. Looks like you can book a tour/activity right on the website.

2) Another good website is http://www.southgreenland.gl/english/introduktion.aspx.

Well, this should help people to start to learn a bit about the country and get an idea of what there is to do.

I'm going to be on a TA from London to NYC in Sept. There were one-way tickets from NYC to London for $350 (included taxes/fees) on Icelandair, but by the time I got one it was $429. Still a great price and you can stop and stay over in Iceland for up to several days at no additional fee if you like. They fly into several US cities and all over Europe. All the other major airlines had one-way tickets starting at $1,000.

The funny thing about the 1As on Carnival is that they are larger than some of the oceanviews on RCCL

. . . . or on Princess too! I was shocked when I took my first Princess cruise and was in a balcony room. The room size was smaller than an inside on Carnival and the bathroom was 1/2 the size!! I really enjoy Princess, but now get minisuites to have enough room.

Specific questions:

We are in Rome 3 days before and 1 day after cruise. Of course, we plan to spend most of the time in Rome but would it be possible to get to Florence/Pisa during that time? Best way to do this? Or if you were in Italy only once, would you do something else?

A friend and I recently spent 3 days in Rome and saw most everything we wanted to plus spent relaxing time eating lunch in Piazza Navonna and gelato everywhere. :eek: We organized the days as: one day at St. Peter's and Vatican museum; one day in the Roman Ruins; and one day at the Borghese Gallery, Trevi fountain, Pantheon, and Spanish steps. That gave us plenty of time to just wander and relax. To plan properly, go to <www.ricksteves.com> and go to the Helpline. Also, read Rick's travel guides on Italy, Rome, and Florence/Tuscany.

Yes, you can do a day in Florence. The train from Rome Termini station to Florence SMN just takes 1.5 hrs. Leave early in the morning and you'll be in Florence by the time things are opening up. Be sure you reserve tickets in advance for Accademia, Uffizi, Bargello, and other museums. You can do it over the Internet. The Duomo cathedral is always open. Florence is compact and everything is walkable. I really enjoyed the Mercato Centrale, a lovely indoor food market next to the outdoor flea market.

My favorite large city was Venice. But it's a 4 hour train ride from Rome, so I wouldn't do it that way. Another nice place to visit near Rome is Ostia Antica. About a 45 min. train ride away (by the coast), it's an excavated ancient Roman port town.

 

FINALLY - what are the top things you would spend the extra money/time doing; what things are really not worth it? (I know this is probably too broad but just a couple of items would be appreciated)

I wouldn't want to miss St. Peter's, Vatican museum and Sistine Chapel, the Roman Ruins with the Colosseum, Borghese Gallery, Piazza Navonna, and the Pantheon. Since you'll be there for several days, get the RomaPass to save money on admission to sites and free transportation on subways and buses. Be sure to wander around, eat at small local places, get gelato everyday (you can have whipped cream on the scoops if you like), and relax with a latte. Frankly, I thought the Spanish Steps were not much to see. Have a great time!!

..............

My parents are world travelers and have been for about 40+ years. But a few years ago, when they were in their mid-70's, they took their first cruise, but didn't enjoy it. Dad said he was bored and didn't like being in a country for such a short time. Mom was scared of the rolling motion of the ship and also bored. Since my parents are very active and young for their ages, they weren't happy that most of the passengers were in their 80's and 90's, in wheelchairs or scooters, and many were on oxygen. They described it as a "floating nursing home."

But I think they weren't happy because they didn't take any shore excursions; they didn't get involved in any ship activity except the golf simulator; they just sat by the pool all day reading books; they didn't go to any shows or evening entertainment; and they took too long of a cruise for the first one (14 days). I've tried to convince them to let me plan a cruise for all of us and it will be fun. But they refuse. Oh well; to each his own. :cool:

My father and I were on the Coral Princess in November/December for the Acapulco to Fort Lauderdale transit of the Panama Canal. It was our first time on her and we were very impressed with the ship. We requested the bathrobes, but found them to be a bit skimpy (i.e., not the most generous to wrap around plus size bodies). Loved our balcony room (had a great steward), and our favorite bar was the Wheelhouse. If I can answer any further questions, just let me know.

I also found the robes to be "skimpy", but they have larger ones up in the Lotus Spa changing room. Just ask any of the Lotus Spa workers and they'll get you a larger robe. They are also in the lockers, which you can open with a key they will give you at the desk. I took the robe back to my cabin and used it during the cruise. BTW, the Thermal Suite was so nice. I used it nearly everyday, along with the hot tub, after I did my daily treadmill walk. What a great way to start the day. :)

I would not pay for any of the listed items, but. . . .

I would pay extra for room service if they offered a full, hot breakfast with eggs, bacon/sausage, and all the trimmings for all cabin types. I occasionally get breakfast from the buffet and take it back to the balcony, but by the time I get there it's lukewarm (even with a plate on top).

In case anyone's looking to snag one of the well-sought-after 1A rooms with the 2 big windows and a sofa . . . . room 2445 on the Triumph is available for the Western Caribbean on 4/10/2010. :D

<begin rant>

More generally, I would almost rather pay a little more $$ for my cruise on a truly all inclusive cruise line than spend the entire cruise feeling that the cruise line is trying to maximize its revenue from me with bogus bingo games, art auctions, jewelry sales, shore excursions (aka more jewelry sales), internet charges, etc... I fear that cruising will eventually turn into the vacation equivalent of a 10 day "time share" sales pitch.

</ end rant>

You would probably be more suited for a luxury cruiseline. I suggest you look into them.

That said, just because you don't enjoy Bingo doesn't mean it shouldn't be available. I don't drink alcohol, smoke, or gamble; but I wouldn't suggest the cruiseline should sell only non-alcoholic beverages, close down all the lounges, cigar bars, and casinos just because I don't use or like them. Frankly, they keep the base cruise price more affordable for me!! ;)

Just attend whatever activities you like and let others partake of the ones they like. Not too hard to do, really.

I have some questions on this topic too:

1) The pictures I've seen of the Thermal Sanctuary show 3 or 4 heated chairs. If there are more people than that who want to use them, is there a time limit for each person?

2) I see that the price of the Thermal Sanctuary pass is $75 for a single person for a week. If you're on a 14 day cruise, do they double the price? I would like to just buy the week-long pass and use it for the sea days we will have (7).

3) There is a "couple's pass" that cost $115. Can that be used by 2 friends instead of just a married couple?

Thanks for any help.

What exactly are the thermal beds? What do they do for you?

Can you go anytime and stay for as long as you like or do you need to make reservations?

Does the shower with oils in it feel nice as a final thing to do or does it make you greasy?

Finally, did you like the aromatherapy? I've never tried it, but heard it's relaxing.

Thanks!!

Anybody like to share their thoughts on the "thermal sanctuary" (or thermal suites - I've seen it called both) that is in the spa area.

What services does it provide? Did you like them? What is the cost? Did you feel it was worth the cost?

Our next cruise will have 6 sea days and I like the spa, so was wondering if this would be a nice way to spend part of the sea days.

Thanks!