truckmaker

We got a note today from Jenny Platt, Brand Manager, in Calabasas following up that we’re getting along okay. 
 

Customer care continues.

We were on the AmaVioLa, boarding August 5 in Budapest. Our cruise manager was Matija Markusic. Our itinerary was northwards, disembarking in Vilsohven then the post cruise extension in Prague. 
On August 9 we were on the “Highlights of Durnstein and Melk Abby” regular walking tour, when I slipped on an incline such that my left leg bent backwards towards my butt causing extreme pain. An ambulance was called and we were taken to hospital in Krems where, after X-ray and ultrasound, I was diagnosed with a torn petela tendon. They immobilized my knee with a cast. Since the ship had moved to Grien we were taken there in a patient transport type of ambulance.
Note that my wife was with me through all this and we both found it challenging to be in the situation where virtually no one spoke English. Use of Google translate abounds! In addition, we were fortunate to have copies of our passports on my phone. The doctor’s report we were given was in German and we did not know we would need a ‘Fit to Fly’ from the doctor at that time.
The ship had a wheelchair we were given to use. After reboarding the dinner menu was delivered to our stateroom and subsequently dinner. 
Upon our return to the dining room we were welcomed and the wait staff pushed the wheelchair. I’m not a little guy so it was a struggle for my wife on the carpet.
About this time fellow passengers told us we would need the “Fit to Fly” mentioned above. Mateja arranged for the tour manager on the AMA ship that was trailing the AmaViola to pick up the needed documentation from the hospital. This document from the hospital stated, in English, that a stretcher or first class seat was necessary. Debarking in Vilshoven, Matija our cruise manager made arrangements for a wheelchair at the hotel and a handicap accessible room. 
The next day for the Prague walking tour he had a private car with a tour guide for us.
Meanwhile we were in touch with Lufthansa to arrange a first class seat cause I couldn’t bend my leg plus special wheelchair assistance for our return to Canada. Our thinking was to appear with our “Fit to Fly” letter and be on our way.
We had to stay over an extra day because that was the first day a first class seat was available. Enroute to the airport Mateja called saying that Lufthansa needed the “Fit to Fly” in advance. Note that this was the day after the post extension and he was still working on our arrangements! Through his efforts we were able to continue, we were met by an AMA rep at the Prague airport and a nice young man with a wheelchair.

The reason for this story is to show a live demonstration of the services that Mateja Markusic and AMA provided. The onboard experience was something we will never forget - waiters, pursers, hotel manager, bar tender, everyone went above and beyond to help and attempt to make our situation better. Our fellow passengers were also fabulous. Of course they now all knew our story and wanted to comfort us and make comments - “wheels is back”. Not a good way to become a celebrity. 

In conclusion, if your cruise manager happens to be Matija Markusic he is wonderful. His arrangements, his genuine concern, his assistance supporting us during a stressful time. It was appreciated, and he has our ongoing gratitude.

We couldn’t have gotten home without the assistance from AMA and Matija.

On our first AMA cruise we had to leave the ship at 4:30 AM and take a cab to the airport to checkin in time for our flight across the Atlantic. We walked down the hall with our bags  shortly after 4 in order to call a cab. The cruise manage met us in the atrium. She had a cab waiting. She had a box breakfast. We got hugs. 
That said to us we had chosen the right river cruise line for us. 
BTW, her name was Debbie Albrecht who was pregnant at the time, subsequently worked in the AMA office and now still manages a trip from time to time.

Well I dunno know. We’re boarding September 9 and we just now did the health questionnaire. Still shows options other options than full vaccination. Not debating just reflecting today’s reality. 

We recently got our first shot of the Phyzer (sp?) vaccine and we were given a pretty official looking certificate that we have put in our passports ready to go. A second shot and another certificate coming in July. Our next cruise is a river cruise in France late August this year and we’re planning to go if it goes.

We feel cruising will survive but we may not recognize the product. Boarding requirements will likely become increasingly stringent with numbers denied boarding. Buffets will probably be not self serve.

Companies will survive but once again we may not recognize them.

At any rate like many others on these boards we’ll cruise again.

Our first cruise back in 1989 on the very old Carnival Festival we met and the feature entertainment in the theatre was Duke Daniels of the Platters (Smoke Gets In Your Eyes for the youngster). In addition, one day on a Royal Caribbean cruise I skied the guy following me through the buffet whether he was one of the Osmond Brothers. He was and all but Donnie were onboard and did a couple of shows.

This isn’t necessarily ‘mine is bigger than yours’ but just yesterday we saved well over $1K!

The Mississippi Queen does not have laundry machines nor do they provide any sort of cleaning service.

Worst?

Oasis of the Seas and others of the same class.

Was this query directed toward Princess ships? Sorry.

This Is really a nice thing for Princess to do. They don’t have to anything but they do and we should appreciate that for what it is. Clearly this can change at a moment’s notice but all the same it is nice. 

We cruise Princess all the time and are well on the way and w would continue to cruise with them whether they do this or not. We enjoy the product.

IMHO.

Thank you.

Just to be clear - flying in a day early, while discussed and recommended repeatedly, was not an option for our daughter. In addition, these were Princess EZ Air flights booked through Princess. Also, they were actually at the pier before departure. Finally, Princess knew they were there at the time since I was at the desk and communicating with the travellers.

My reason for posting was to make others aware that EZ Air is not what I, and many others, thought it was. 

This note was sent to President Jan Swartz Monday and this morning we got a call from Princess basically saying the same as the Customer Service team onboard the Crown Princess. They did apologize nicely but other than that they had done everything legally required and there was nothing else. So do not feel that since you booked EZ Air with Princess they will get you to the ship this, sadly, is no longer the case as our daughter and several other parties discovered on February 25.

On that day our daughter and her partner were left waving to us on the dock as we sailed away! Their air travel and transfers were booked through Princess.  They arrived at the Fort Lauderdale airport at approximately 15:25, almost one hour before we sailed. The airport is 3 miles from the pier where the Crown Princess was docked. They were met by Princess Personnel who told them they had missed the boat and the gangplank was closed and that there were no more shuttles to the port. This was also the message on the Princess phone line. At that point in time we were in contact with our daughter by text message and I actually witnessed people still boarding and being scanned for their cruise cards using the gangplank. I explained what was happening to the Customer Service Agent onboard the ship who, even though I was very upset at the moment, I believe, that he said as long as they get here they can board. That was not allowed to happen.     

On February 27 we spoke to the Customer Service Manager, in his office on the ship. His explanation was that Customs and Border Services require a list of passengers one half hour before the ship sails. He stated that lately they do not allow any other passenger names to be added even if the ship requests. This did not answer the question of why Princess personnel submitted the list so early and did not delay when they knew they had several guests already at the airport. This is what we would expect from Princess and have witnessed it happen on more than one occasion.  We have a long history with Princess Cruises and have seen them go the extra mile many times. The published log of this cruise states that “At 16:00 with all crew and passengers onboard … we were ready to sail”. This is not accurate.  Princess knew at the time that our daughter and a group of other passengers were left at the airport and were told to make their own way to St Thomas.  In fact the ship did not depart until 16:18. There was not even an APOLOGY from the Customer Service Manager!      

They left our daughter stranded and only provided help booking flights to catch up three days later in St Thomas. On short notice they had to find land transport, hotel accommodations, etc. all at their own expense. 

Note that our daughter was actually at the pier before we moved away. They waved!

All the other Princess staff on the Crown Princess were absolutely wonderful. We enjoyed our room steward for Mini-suite Dolphin 310 and our waiter and assistant waiter at table 42 in the Botticelli dining room. They worked hard and were extremely efficient and considerate. This is what we have grown accustomed to on cruises with Princess.     

We have done nearly 35 cruises since 1992 on the old Dawn Princess and are saddened by the fact that this may be our last one, even though we have another one already booked for April 2020       

We are deeply disappointed with the Customer Service Manager in this case and feel that refunding “unused” onboard days, a bottle of wine, and some strawberries in the cabin when our daughter’s party finally boarded is an insult as far as trying to make up for the heartbreak caused by the way our family was treated.  The protocols being followed in this case have resulted in our deep disappointment and should be reconsidered so that others don’t go through the same heartbreak and disappointment. In addition, some form of formal apology seems to us to be a very reasonable request even at this date.

Thank you and good luck with Princess. We have a 35 day trip currently booked and are seriously questioning whether we want to go.

1992 on the original Dawn Princess.

This is the best cruise review I have seen in a loooong time.

well done and thank you!

Yes! Captain Justin Lawes onboard the little Royal Princess had breakfast daily with guests in the buffet. Now that was in 07. We also met his wife and son. A nice family.

If you REALLY want to visit Easter Island I would recommend flying rather than hoping for favorable tendering conditions. One surprise I had when there was that Easter was once an alternate landing site for the Space Shuttle and has a superb airport with regular service to Santiago and to New Zealand. If you really want to combine it with a cruise perhaps you could fly to Easter Island, stay a few days and continue to New Zealand together with a cruise back home.

 

 

Roy

Roy, that IS an intriguing suggestion. We might just do that.

Thank you.

we haven’t looked at all 143 pages but we read many. Our question is whether Holland America stop at Easter Island? One of us has this on our bucket list but we’re not able to get there with our usual cruise lines.

Thank you for any response.

Our first invitation was on a Baltic cruise a few years ago and we were still PLATINUM at the time. We had never even heard of the MTP thing before that.

Hi LauraS

I cannot get this to work. We are In Canada and some of us can blame the metric system for many things but I don’t think this is one.

Thank you.

On our recent turnaround in Southampton we did an independent walking tour. It turned out to be tour of historic Titanic sites and was simply fabulous. I don’t know the guy’s name but do recall that he was waiting for us at the gate he said he would be. We docked at a different place and took a cab to get to him.

If I were you I would check toursbylocalsdotcom.

Welcome to CC, and enjoy!

I just disembarked from the Pacific Princess in Venice 2 days ago, and had a lovely experience.

I was fortunate to be invited to the MTP luncheon during the first leg of a 23 day cruise, and, as usual, it was an elegant event.

I received an invitation to the MTP Cocktail party during the 2nd leg, but it ended up being cancelled at the last moment due to the unexpected death onboard earlier that day of one of the staff members.

 

About 4 PM, there was a knock on the cabin door. and when I opened it, Room Service was standing there with a tray. We had not ordered anything from room service, and that's what I said to the delivery person. I was shocked when he said it was being given in lieu of the cocktail party, and was with compliments of the CC host and the ship's Captain. On the tray were two splits of champagne on ice, and a platter of 12 lovely fancy canapés (MUCH nicer than those available to Elite guests on formal nights).

 

To me, that's going above and beyond, and was much appreciated!!

Thank you, Princess!

That’s great! In reality there was no obligation to do anything.

I don't have shopping recommendations just a cautionary note. We stayed at a hotel on the square in Arles which is also the setting for Van Goughs painting - the yellow cafe. The caution is while the cafe is scenic, do not eat there. We were advised strongly against this on numerous occasions at our hotel.

Arles and Nice are both very enjoyable. We did both on our own a couple of years ago. Enjoy.

Looks ... interesting.

Thanks for the review. It sounds like you have a gat time!