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wallis7219

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Posts posted by wallis7219

    First Time, Sky Princess.

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    On 3/26/2024 at 12:01 AM, jeromep said:

    You've been directed to some good YouTube resources, be sure to check out Cruise Tips TV.  Cheri has a lot of good content about cruise packing and preparation.  https://cruisetipstv.com/

     

    Do not think you have to do everything in port, or everything on the ship.  If so, you'll need a vacation from your vacation when your vacation has ended.  If your cruise is port intensive, choose a port day where you only meander a port on foot (assuming that the port is compatible with that, some ports calls, the port itself is very industrial, and you are miles from where the city actually lives).  If the port is not, then get passes for the hop on/off bus; find a cafe or little eatery, hang out, get back to the ship early.  Do some port research before you go.  The on board port guides used to be pretty good, at least for hitting the high points, but since they have done away with most of the paper newsletters and documentation and are pushing communications of all kinds to the Princess app, it is best to already have this information on hand before you cruise.  Any port research you do on your own is going to be better than anything the cruise line will provide.  Google maps is your friend, both while doing port research and when in port.  Don't be afraid to research distances to and from the ship and where you may want to go in port.

     

    Not all ports are worth visiting.  For example, on some Pacific coast cruises and cruises to Hawaii from the Pacific coast, there is a port stop in Ensenada to make the cruise "legal".  I'd have to go into a lot of detail about passenger shipping laws in the U.S., but Ensenada isn't an exceptional port town or experience.  The only reason the ship calls there is because it needs to hit a foreign port before returning to the U.S. to make the cruise "legal" and avoid breaking the law and financial penalties associated.  On Alaska cruises out of Seattle, Victoria, BC is used as the foreign port to make the sailing "legal".  The port stop is so short (4 to maybe 6 hours), and so late in the day (sometimes a late evening stop (7pm to Midnight), that it makes the port difficult to enjoy unless you choose an excursion that whisks you away from the port to some place or event, and then takes you directly back to the port.  Unlike Ensenada, Victoria is a great place to visit and deserves a lot more than 4 hours, but the whole reason for the port stop is less about featuring Victoria, and more about being legal with U.S. law and doing some ship provisioning before the ship heads for Seattle.

     

    I don't think there are such concerns as what I have detailed above in Europe, but it is always possible that a port on your itinerary isn't really all that wonderful, so do your research and determine if every port is worth an excursion or even getting off the ship.  If nothing else, keep your plans flexible and be willing to "sacrifice" a port day for rest and recuperation.  I do enjoy being on ship, at least for a couple of hours during a port day.  With most of the other pax off, you'll have a lot of venues to yourself, and a certain calm descends upon the ship.  It is also a good time to do any travel housekeeping, like dealing with on board billing issues with passenger services, doing laundry, having a spa day.  This is where your port research is essential in ranking ports and the things you are most interested in doing in those ports, then plan accordingly.

     

    Watch your on board account.  It is pretty easy to do this on the Princess app.  There isn't a cruise I've done, pre-Medallion or with the Medallion, where there hasn't been a least one mystery charge show up that I had to dispute.  I actually think it is easier for bar servers or specialty restaurant hosts to hit the wrong button and charge to an account something you didn't do, that somebody else was doing, than it used to be.  These are not intentional errors, they are pressing the wrong button errors.  On my last cruise, ever beverage I ordered was covered under Premier, however when I went up to a bar, they would acknowledge me, but then ask me to give them my cabin number.  From what I could tell, the various bartenders were being super careful to not attribute a beverage to the wrong passenger.  I did have a charge that I had to dispute, it was a cover charge for Crown Grill that was attached to my daughter, 8, and we never dined in the Crown Grill.  I did a chat through the app and they indicated they would reverse the charge.  It took a few hours to reflect, but they did reverse the charge.

     

    You are fortunate to be sailing on Sky Princess.  Of the 6 Royal class ships, I think the last 3, Sky, Enchanted, and Discovery have the best execution.  They all have wake view "terrace pools", a Princess favorite for many years on older classes of ships, and the central pool on Lido is more pool focused and less deck focused.  The first three Royals, Royal, Regal and Majestic, all have the central pool that has the water and light show feature, but that really takes a big bite out of pool space.  All of these ships have the Sea Walk, a glass floored walkway over the side of the ship.  It was a unique feature when it was new, but you can only get so much marketing mileage and awe out of a glass floored walkway.  The last 3 Regals extended the deck out to this walkway, so that it is more enclosed and provides more deck space.  It is a neat thing to visit on a sea day, but that is about all it is.  Sky, Enchanted and Discovery are also nearly cookie cutter identical.  Whereas there are some significant differences between Royal, Regal, and especially Majestic.  Also keep in mind that the Royal class ships are very "inward looking" ships.  Without a wrap around promenade deck, like the older Grand class, or the Island class, there isn't a lot of deck space on lower decks.  You'll find two large "deck" areas on Deck 7, forward and aft, port and starboard, but they are not the same as a promenade deck that goes the full length of the ship, or that even goes around the stern and bow of the ship.  I was under the impression that the eateries located near those deck areas were supposed to use them for alfresco dining, but I've been on the wrong cruises as I've not seen that done.  If you are looking for fresh air and sun, you'll have to get it up on Lido, or your own balcony.  If you want to do some laps, you'll have to go up to the sports deck and use the walking track.

     

    Do try to use all your Plus benefits, have the fancy deserts, use the casual meals, drink some beverages, use room service.  All of these packages basically benefit Princess more than you and I.  Princess Plus does pencil out pretty well for us the cruiser, but it is important to remember that Princess wouldn't offer a package like this if they were loosing money on it.

     

    I agree with others, dining room lunch on embarkation day is the best way to slide into your cruise vacation.  Don't ask the staff where it is.  Once on board, drop off your carryons in your cabin, maybe put some clothing away so you aren't living out of suitcases.  Run the safety video on the television while you are unpacking (you have to watch it to satisfy the virtual muster, anyway), and then head down to the Piazza.  Look around, the dining room that has its doors open is the one that is serving lunch.  In my experience it is the dining room on deck 5 at the bottom of the Piazza that usually is open for lunch on embarkation day.  It can change, but my experience is that it has always been deck 5.  If not deck 5, then the dining room that is one level up on 6.  Operating hours are like 11 to 1:30 or noon to 1:30.  It is a very small window.

     

    Remain flexible in your travels, and you'll enjoy them more.


    Just want to say big thank you for all this excellent information, you provided and the time taken to type it out.

     

    Much appreciated 

    Cheers

    Gary

     

    World Club Membership Issues?

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    Thank everyone for your replies.

     

    Also the heads up about not going to the pursers desk, to be told to go to Onboard Voyages.

     

    Think my TA given up with them now, as they have changed it twice! 
    Perhaps booking direct is the way forward ! 
     

    Anyway not long to go before back on the seas again, it been along 19 months for us.

     

    Cheers

    Gary

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    World Club Membership Issues?

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    Hello

    Has anyone been experiencing issues with Cunard World Club Membership numbers.

     

    We booked a little 4 night cruise on QE

    Advised our current membership numbers and all was good. Then a few weeks back Cunard emailed me with some info and noticed that it was a new Club membership number.

    We got our TA to contact them and they seem to sort it out 

     

    Come to print our etickets off and now Cunard have issued us with New Numbers and think its our First time cruising with Cunard.

     

    Anyone experience anything similar recently?

     

    Kind Regards

    Gary

     

     

     

     

    Dress code

    in Cunard Line

    Posted

    We are on the 4 night cruise to Liverpool.

    Has 1 gala night the black and white ball. Which is showing in the planner 

    I was surprised it was not all smart Attire, will dig my tux out! 

    HSBC account included Travel insurance ?

    in UK Cruisers

    Posted

    Hello 

    We are due to go on a couple of Seacations in September .

    trying to get HSBC to confirm their travel Insurance aspects cover will cover the requirements that the Cruise lines are demanding currently, is proving to be somewhat tricky!

     

    Has anyone sailed with any Cunard, Princess P and O with HSBC included account insurance? 
     

    Really don’t want to get to the port and they say it does not cover the requirement.

    just looking for a bit of peace of mind, as I think it does but, but trying to get someone from HSBC to confirm this is beyond me currently? 
     

    Just looking for any confirmation of other people’s experience with insurance requirements ?

     

    Thanks

    Gary
     

    Corfu airport.

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    It’s not great.

    Arrival was fine.

     

    Departures is not good.

    If you are first flight out or last flight out you may have a much better experience.

    But  if your flight is about 15:00 be prepared! 

    Take water, food and a book, as you will stand and wait and wait and wait.

    Took 2 and a Half hours from being dropped off at airport to get checked in, you do not have to double handle your luggage so once checked in they put the luggage on the belt and it’s taken away., this is one of the things that holds up check in, as once the belt is full, the check in staff have to stop as they physically cannot get anymore luggage on the belt and the systems won’t let them move on, until the bags move on!

    Once through security it was straight onto the plane, which took off 45 min late due to the back log of passengers at the airport

     

    Just be prepared!!

    Its not the best end to your cruise, but it is what it is.

    The ship is fantastic so just think of the happy times as your about to lose it at the airport 😀

     

     

    Olden - Loen Skylift

    in Northern Europe & Baltic Sea

    Posted

    Thinking of going to the Loen Skylift near Olden

     

    Anyone have experience of this?

    The cost of approx £47 pp for an return trip is putting us off a little. I note there is a restaurant at the top, I hate to think how much food will be up there if that’s the cost of the just to,get up there!

     

    Would like to hear from people who have used the lift and experienced it, and if you thought it was value for money.

     

    I know Norway is expensive at the best of times, and I guess the weather would dictate the value, IE if it’s very cloudy / foggy etc probably not worth going up!

     

    Look forward to hearing from you.

     

    Cheers

    Gary

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Venetian Vistas Marella Celebration

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Hello

    We are Joining this cruise on the 28th June 2018

     

    Just wondering when formal nights will be on board?

    It’s port intensive and no seadays, so just wondering when formal nights would be?

     

    Also wondering if it’s worth packing the Tux for any formal nights or if smart casual would suffice? We don’t mind getting dressed up for dinner, just with it being so port intensive they may change how many formal nights they have on the 7 night cruise?

     

    Would like to hear from anyone who has just done this portion of the cruise recently, and thought or tips for ports of call.

     

    Cheers

     

    Gary

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Marella Celebration Wine Packages?

    in Marella Cruises (formerly Thomson)

    Posted

    Hello

     

    We will be sailing on the Marella Celebration on 28th June 2018

     

    We don’t have the all inclusive pkg, as the itinerary is very port intensive.

     

    But we do like a bottle of wine with evening meals.

     

    Just wondered if Marella did something like a 6 or 7 bottle wine package with a bit of discount, or is it just buy as you go?

     

    Many thanks in advance

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums

    Refreshment package on sale

    in Royal Caribbean International

    Posted

    Yes looks like mine is on 30% at the moment, but its not highlighted in the planner.

    Mine is for Navigator of the seas 6th November Transatlantic

     

    They currently have Ultimate dining Pkg and Delux Drinks Package for £55.54pp per night! A little expensive for a 13 night cruise but decent value if you like to dine specialty each night and want the drinks Pkg too.

    Guarantee Cabin Assignment Question

    in Cunard Line

    Posted · Edited by wallis7219

    Bruce you have my Sympathies, Our QM2 Room was not allocated until 5 days before the cruise! They do seem to be leaving it later and later to allocate the rooms.

     

    I used to think once you had done all the online checkin etc, that might nudge the computer to do its allocation and it had worked in the past. BUT not the last one! I ended up ringing Cunard and they put me through to Inventory, who said I would be allocated a room in the next few days! (I lived in the hope of an upgrade! Suffice to say it did not happen)

     

    Hope its allocated soon.

    Cheers

    Gary

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