Kennykat

I guess my title was "wrong". This new format is way messed up! Let us find our roll calls with the last post!!!! Why, oh why do you have to make things sooo complicated?

They're probably just jacking up the price of the existing mini suites. The ship's too small to actually add cabins.

Thanks for sharing, Rick. That was awesome.

 

Janet & Paul

Rick, thanks the second link worked perfectly. Love the bells ringing!!!

Claudia

Well everyone that was on the excursion to Rouen has remarked about the bells ringing at noon at the church that I thought maybe I should post a video that I took as we walked by the church. I could not resist taking a video. I madly took out my camera and clicked on the video button and got most of the bells. Here is the link to the file on our Microsoft's OneDrive, then just click the picture to open the video file.

 

https://onedrive.live.com/?id=7AFC87CDF2F6DCA%2124816&cid=07AFC87CDF2F6DCA

It was something pretty special.

 

Rick

Hi Rick, for some reason I don't see a picture to click on?

Thanks, Claudia

Wasn't that something, Claudia?

 

 

 

 

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Yes, it was fabulous! Didn't mean to post in the middle of Paris pics.

Claudia

:)

Speaking of food...we ate every night in the Lido and enjoyed the food. We didn't really think there was too much garlic on any of the dishes we ate but we don't have issues with garlic. We enjoyed the dishes/choices for dinner each night.

For those of you going on the Rotterdam in the future, I enjoyed the art tour on the ship. You simply ask to checkout the iPod at the front desk and just simply follow the directions on what to listen to on the iPod and it will take you around the ship and point out the artwork. It will take about and hour. ( Kazu told me about this art walk on the ship.)

This was our second cruise on a HAL ship and enjoyed the Rotterdam. We had booked the wrap around balcony at the very end of the ship and enjoyed the extra deck space. The staff were very attentive and really made our cruise a wonderful experience. We enjoyed the Promenade deck for walking on sea days. All in all it was a great cruise.

Maggie and John, sorry we weren't able to see you to say goodbye. We enjoyed seeing you in town shopping or at a cafe. So glad you had a wonderful time on the Rotterdam hotel!

Claudia

Continuing on our walk...

 

 

 

Can you see the gargoyles???

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Loved walking down the streets and by the Cathedral with the church bells ringing!

Have a great time in Amsterdam you two!. I envy you tiptoeing through the tulips!

 

Thanks for a great time on board and on tours.

 

 

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Jacque, thanks...we have had a wonderful time both while on the ship, tours with you and Amsterdam....heading home tomorrow after a fabulous time! Enjoy Paris! Thanks for everything, we truly appreciate it!

Claudia and Ken

HI Jacqui, Thanks for taking the time to do your live on the cruise....we are enjoying every minute of it! So glad your luggage arrived, and early! Sounds like your hotel and Paris are fabulous. We are enjoying Amsterdam and tiptoed through the tulips today! Thanks for everything!

Claudia and Ken

I wasn't looking at the webcam - was looking out our window / Balcony at Embassy Suites ;). Different view from there ;)

 

 

 

Thanks. I will most likely see her on board then and say hi :). (CAC = Culinary Arts Hostess I think).

Hi Jacqui, was thinking of you when we drove past Embassy Suites yesterday....we are at the Westin Beach Resort....see you this afternoon!

Claudia

Well that is a risk of cruising and it happens on every line on occasion. Sorry you missed the ports but unless you have other reasons, I would reflect on whether that is the best decision. We have missed ports on HAL, Princess and Celebrity.

Totally understand that sometimes on a cruise you will miss ports. Was just saying we were disappointed as we flew a long way to see New Zealand. We wanted to try HAL as we are elite on other cruise lines and thought it would be fun to try a different cruise line. There were many things we enjoyed on HAL. However, we have other vacations lined up next year so won't be able to use the credit we were given on HAL for the missed ports.

And, hey, we ended up with two days in beautiful Napier, which is something that many of us appreciated - that place is gorgeous - and a nice little credit to be used for a future cruise. Got to take the Pollyanna viewpoint on issues such as this.

Unfortunately, we missed two ports due to this malfunction. We missed Auckland and Bay of Islands. We were very disappointed and probably won't be back on HAL again...so giving us the credit for a future cruise doesn't work for us.

I see a note attached stating this has sailing has been moved but can't find where it was moved to??? Can someone help with finding the new location.

Thanks, C

Have had no wait for anytime dining except The 1st cruise day beause of the open seating late departure & muster

I was on the Panama Canal cruise & everything seems the same, well organized

So all you naysayers either get on the train or get off and pick another ship

When I get home I will give you a full report

Frankly I don't think 2000 + passenger give a rat's A-- about the new design

Oohh, yesterday I didn't know what a metaphor was, now I can mix them...nice to see civility isn't dead.

I think the Panama Canal cruises is one of the areas where the new design will be felt. The aft catwalks were a great place to watch the locks work and were used by a LOT of people when we were on her in January this year. This great view is going to be greatly limited. The view from Dolphin deck at the lock level was truly spectacular as we could watch the locks fill and empty. K

For me, the best feature of the ship was the teak wrap around Promenade deck, and moving the gym to a dungeon like location for a regular user is a deal breaker. Those who don't walk, run or work out will not notice; but, for me...another ship. K

Just looked at what used to be the promenade deck. Wow! I wonder how Princess will explain this. On the Royal, I was told it was for "safety reasons"....I guess this will be the ever popular "operational reasons" K

Also added 13 oceanview cabins where part of the casiuno used to be.

And tucked in between them is the fitness center (***!). We were on her in January and this ship is in desperate need of a dry dock, but to move the fitness center to deck 6 behind Explorers is a head scratcher. I remember when the gyms were in deck 4 and were like a dungeon and this looks like the same as there will be no outside light. Definitely a deal breaker for me. Ken

I have searched the threads about these forward cabins and have seen discussion on the full forward fronting ones but not much specifically on the corner minis.

I understand that the deck is much larger and won't be locked.

I am confused on the configuration of the cabin itself. It's not just 1 long room with a curtain separation. Is it more like a suite with 2 separate rooms?

Any pictures available. Is the storage adequate.

We paid a premium for this room so I think I need to be reassured.

Also we have always stayed on Dolphin deck so this is up pretty high up on the ship for us. Should I be concerned?

M108 is the size of a suite minus the wet bar. Separate sitting area and bedroom lots of room and storage. Would do it again in a heart beat. Great for sail away parties. In it now. Ken

Wife and I have cruised with many different cruise lines (Holland America, RCL, Seabourne, Tauck river cruises, etc. Although we are platinum members, it has been some time since we have cruised on a Princess cruise ship (like the old Royal and Regal). My wife, however, discovered an itinerary in April of 2015 which is appealing; i.e., 26 day TA from Miami and then cruising British Isles. Thus, I have placed a down payment for an owner's suite for this cruise on the Royal Princess. After reading the comments about less then prompt laundry service and, especially, daily soot on balconies of owner's suites (aft), I am pondering as to whether we should return to Princess. We always attempt to book a large suite, and it appears that the larger suites are owner's suites in the aft section. One of the attractions of the owner's suites are the large wrap around balconies; however, if there is really a daily renewal of soot thus making the balconies useable, what is the advantage? Also, we have never cruised on a ship larger than 1200 passengers (will be on Celebrity back2back cruises next month on ship with 2000 capacity). Reading about 3 day service wait for laundry, toilet problems, soot. Am I overly concerned or are these problems which will not be resolved in the near future? Would appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

We too have a balcony C743 that we are currently in (September 7, 2014 )we get oily soot on our balcony. We are not happy as Princess knew that this was and continues to be a problem and hide it from their customers! We are really upset about this as we have a balcony we can't use. We are requesting a new cabin and they said we might get one when we dock in Copenhagen....not good customer service. So be warned don't book any cabins in the back as you will not be able to enjoy the balcony you paid extra for.....claudia

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You can easily see Copenhagen on your own. I do not think Dave does a shorter tour, but I believe he has another tour guide that does a shorter walking tour. Contact him on his website and tell him Gwen from TX said hello!

Gwen, thanks for your information. Love this live thread...it is informative and wonderful! Also thanks IECalCruiser too....will send you an email. Will contact Dave to see if a shorter tour is available. Thanks to you both! Claudia

Hope so too - I am planning on line dancing the final sea day! Come join me - I am usually the only Caucasian woman in the group! LOL we have a lot of fun and is good exercise!

 

 

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Gwen, thanks for a fabulous account of your cruise in the Baltics. Have enjoyed reading all of your posts. In Copenhagen would you recommend a tour or can you see it on your own? Also in Waramunde (sp?) does Dave do a three hour tour as we won't be at the ship until about 1pm and wanted to do a tour before we set sail? Is that doable? Thanks again for your informative posts and enjoy your line dancing! When we were on the Royal we enjoyed the the Zumba classes! Claudia

Hey --

What is hanging on your steel fridge:confused:;)

Magnets of course, as there is a difference between steel and stainless steel which is technically an alloy and by the way we were in D412 mid ship and our WIFI sucked. Ken

I agree with you guys 100% (including Jackie.) Did I like everything in the buffet? Nope. I rarely eat much beef so I got a slice of beef Wellington only once. I love Asian food and salad so I was in 7th heaven with those. The tubs of cooked shrimp with three different sauces to take that were there several times and the fish dishes were excellent. The pastas were delicious. I usually take a bit of a number of different things and finish only what's really good. I finished most everything (and still lost 2-lb.) I didn't discover the hibachi grill area of the Bistro until a couple of days before disembarking. Darn!

Agree! We ate at the HC almost every day for lunch and always found something to like (cioppino, chili, salads of all stripes, the Tex Mex grill etc) and always enjoyed eating out on the Outrigger at the back of the ship. I also enjoyed the pizza. The whole HC layout is a big winner in my opinion. The wine and food pairing was a bargain as compared to the Chef's table and terrific. The Elite-Platinum cocktail hour was a disappointment as it felt to me like a cafeteria table was set up at the stage of a high school auditorium, not to mention any place with "vista" as part of the name should have; oh, I don't know...a vista or some windows or some kind of view! I really missed Skywalkers and as a result only went twice. Ken