Ebony J

4 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Sounds as though you get lost easily. 

I do have problems with my vision, if that is what you mean.  As my DH does not know that I have booked a full suite, it would have been great to get an escort to add to the surprise - but also to lead the way....

13 hours ago, XBGuy said:

I can't help you on the escort at Brooklyn question.  Club Class lunch will be available on embarkation day.

 

Since you are on a Royal-class ship, let me mention what has become my favorite suite amenity--the Suite Concierge Lounge.  We availed ourselves of this on our Royal Princess cruise, last month.  In our suite there were keys that allowed us access to this lounge.  It is a quiet place to get away from the general hubbub of the rest of the ship.  They seem to have coffee and noshes--cheeses, sandwiches, sweets--available throughout the day.  On our cruise they were serving cocktails in the late afternoon.  That surprised, me, and it was, in fact, a test.  I thought it was very nice, and I hope that it was considered a success and is expanded to all cruises on all the Royal-class ships.  The concierge will offer to help with any question you may have.  We used him to make several dining reservations for us.

8 hours ago, Go-Bucks! said:

 

I'm on your cruise but currently on the previous one...we just sailed away 2 hrs ago. I'm in a Penthouse suite and there was NO escort. I've sailed in suites on Princess, Celebrity and Oceania...never had an escort (don't need one either). 

 

Leaving NYC while hanging out on my aft balcony (with many others on their balconies) was beautiful!!!🗽

Hi Go-Bucks - Is there cocktails in the Concierge Lounge that XBGuy mentioned? 

7 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

Interesting. We sailed the CB  right before you in August and 4 other times last year and did not experience the escort.  🤔
Another fleet disconnect. 🙄

If we get an escort I will post it. 😁

The email I got said that the medallion has been shipped by a company called Arc Best. When I put the tracking number in it does not recognize the number. Not to worry...I can access the app and see we have zumba at 9am!  Mimosa then zumba.....😁

Thanks for your responses. How can they tell from your medallion that you are in a suite?  Do you have,a special colour?  Funnily enough I got an email yesterday saying our medallions had been despatched but I did not think they would send to Scotland??  We leave on Tuesday so may not arrive on time!

We will be sailing from New York on the Regal Princess on 31st October - beyond excited!   DH does not know that I have booked a full suite!!!  I have read that on some ships, or at least from some ports, that you are escorted on to the ship.  Does anyone know if this happens at Brooklyn?  Also, does Club Class have a luncheon on embarkation day?  Many thanks for any replies.  

We were on the Sapphire Princess 7 day Norwegian Fjords cruise 10th to 17th August and were surprised that the wine package was available (Gold Package).😀  They had advertising leaflets placed on the tables in the Horizon Court when we embarked.  We signed up with our waiter in the evening in the Santa Fe dining room - however when we tried to order our wine, we were told they did not have this on board. We made a second choice, and were told this was not available either.  We cancelled the wine package and just paid for drinks as we went.  Hope this helps - you may want to check on the availability of your favourite wines before you order. 🙄

Thanks for the great review....... you summed up Glasgow (where I am from) perfectly. It really is a fabulous city and often over-shadowed by Edinburgh. All in all, you made me feel proud to be British. Haste ye back! <3<3<3

2 years ago we made our first trip to Alaska and had a dog sledding trip booked for the Mendanhall Glacier at Juneau. The first helicopter went to the glacier and the people who did it said it was fantastic. We were booked on the second helicopter, however the weather had deteriorated and our trip was cancelled. We were devastated. This year we went back to Alaska and we booked 2 dog sledding trips, the first one from Skagway to the Denver glacier and the second one in Juneau to the Mendanhall. This meant that if we got on the first trip we could cancel the second one..... We had glorious weather in all 3 ports. In Skagway we went to the glacier and the whole experience was so fantastic that we decided to do the one in Juneau too! We selected the early morning trip for both trips. We tipped the mushers $10. Hope this helps! :cool::cool:

We just got off the Golden Princess SB Alaska last week - the Marriage Match Game Show was on at 9pm in the Vista Lounge (not Explorers) - I can't remember what night,but it was not a formal night as far as I can remember. Enjoy!:D:D

If someone books a long cruise in one segment - is it possible to get invited to the MTP luncheon/cocktail party more than once, if the cruise is available to be booked in smaller segments? . e.g. - Cruise is booked as a 28 day trip, but can also be booked 2 x 14 days.:confused::confused:

I was told by Princess in Southampton and by a staff member on board (1st week in January 2018) there was no staff. I was very disappointed, I was looking forward to nice wines and tapas. Vines is advertised in the Princess brochure. Felt we had been mislead.

ok - so you will like this! We also like the wines by the glass in Vines. On the first day of our cruise we both bought the drinks package. When we then found out that Vines was not going to open we asked if it was possible to get the wines by the glass at another bar. We were "advised" to buy the wines that we wanted by the bottle (using our 25% discount of course) to ensure we got the wines we wanted!

Being Scottish - you can guess our reply!;p

Oh no we have booked a suite for the first time this coming September on Sapphire. We have done other Princess cruises on ships of the same class as Sapphire but have not been on Sapphire herself. To hear your experience is a bit worrying. So far we are booked in for traditional late sitting, mainly because when we booked we did not know about Club Class. But I have been planning to switch to Club Class because of the supposed advantages including the extra "specials" offered, but I see by your later post you did not get any.

 

A second point you made 'When we went to the enclave to try it out, we were told we would have to book it in advance and we could use it once only.' Again worrying to me. I enjoy the steam/sauna rooms and make daily use of the free one's on board so was looking forward to using the more up-scale Thermal Spa ones. So with the Suite perk of 'Complimentary Lotus Spa Thermal Suite access on select ships' - this to me implied use for the whole cruise. I presume it was the Spa reception that told you you needed to book in advance and could only use once?

This was our first time in a suite so I had nothing to compare it to other than the terrific reviews from others. I think - and this is my very humble opinion - that the ship had been so long on the Asian market, that it was finding it hard to make the transition back. We have sailed on the Sapphire (once) and the Diamond (twice) before and loved them both. There is a book in the suite which gives details of all the amenities and it is very cleverly worded re the Spa. We received a yellow (I think it was yellow) to take to the spa. (I thought I had brought it home, but cant find it) - but anyway it read something like "Complimentary access to the thermal spa". We were told to bring the yellow card with us and hand it over when we wanted to use our booking. It was the Spa reception that told us to book in advance, bring the card, and it would be once only. We queried it with another person in the spa and were told the same thing. But the wording on the card does not say once nor does it say multiple uses - so there was nothing we could do but accept what we were told.

I did mention the Club Class experience, because again I compared to what I read and experienced. My personal experience working in a restaurant gives me the opportunity to see things from both sides easily. I rarely complain, but when I do...........

What I would add is, that with the volume of complaints that they must have had in general, by the time September comes you will be sorted;p

This was our 30th cruise with Princess, although we also use other lines, so I know that our experiences are not par for the course. Hope this helps........

Could you please tell us what went wrong with Club Class dining?

There was a very small section of the Sante Fe dining room set up for Club Class dining (we did not dine there on the first night as we went to the Crown Grill). The tables were mostly for 2 persons, and each time we went in we were seated immediately next to other couples - which is fine if the area is busy - but it never was, so instead of giving a bit of privacy there was a cluster of people in one corner and very little going on elsewhere. On the 3rd night, we asked if we could sit at the window which were tables set up for 4 persons, and were advised the tables were reserved?? The window tables were occupied by by the same couples every night who arrived later than us.

One night we ordered a nice bottle of red wine as a special treat, and asked if we could have red wine glasses. The waitress was less than happy at our request:(

There was a hair on my plate of cheese and biscuits.

There were no meals prepared freshly at the table and no "specials" offered.

Every time we went to the door, we were asked for our stateroom details by the same girl who always said "I can never remember your name" , this got a bit wearing after the 10th time.

After reading all the good things about Club Class dining I think my expectations were higher (I have worked in a restaurant for 23 years myself). We changed to any time dining, and it was perfect!

We were also on board Sapphire last month - I totally agree about the shore excursion staff, I was taken aback at how I was spoken to by one of them. Our shore excursion had been cancelled, and I wanted to ask about a change or refund but got an earful. The situation was dealt with, but I had to go through formal channels and when I am on vacation, I don't like having to spend my time complaining. Also, Vines was not opened for the entire trip and the list of drinks they did not have on board at one point was almost as big as the list of the ones they did have. It was our first time in a suite which we were so looking forward to, but it will be our last. When we went to the enclave to try it out, we were told we would have to book it in advance and we could use it once only. Our "flower arrangement" was an orchid in a pot. The strawberries in the fruit basket developed mould and we asked them to be taken away - only to be returned, but this time dipped in chocolate! Club class dining was also the polar opposite of the experiences of other people posting in CC (and not in a good way) . And yes, if this had been our first Princess cruise, it would have been our last too. :(

We were on the Sapphire last month and the Outrigger Bar wasn't posted in the Patter for the whole 15 days - from memory, it only opened once during the day on a sea day. At night it opened around 6 pm and we were told it was to tie in with the opening hours for the Crown Grill. Also, you will note Vines is not mentioned, this did not open for our entire voyage. No-one could tell us why!

Oh no! We board on Saturday in Singapore:eek: Keep us posted ........ Has Vines been closed for the duration of your cruise? :loudcry:

I had no problem. Carnival are quoted .on the UK stock exchange. Signed up with a dealer, in my case Hargreaves Lansdown, and bought 100 shares in ten minutes. Mind you they at £33 when purchased last year, now at £51.50 a share.

Oh No! That is a terrible thing to say to a Scotsman :D I wont sleep tonight now haha! Seriously though...... is there ever a "good" time. We intended doing this almost 30 months ago ........ wish we had now! We now have some future cruises lined up and thought we might as well........:evilsmile:

Hi everyone! Thanks for the great advice. We finally seem to be getting somewhere...... now the stockbrokers are saying we dont get the share certificate but that they can email Princess confirmation for no charge. Does that sound par for the course?

We are trying to buy Carnival shares (we live n the UK ) but finding it difficult to get any advice or information. :') It seems to be complicated by the fact Carnival is an American company and are going round in circles . Has anyone had any success and if so, what were the timescales involved? Any help would be appreciated.

I'm wondering about the stop in Staunton. It looks on the itinerary as just a stop for an overnight stay..nothing mentioned about a tour in that area. Is that correct? Or are you there early enough to wander on your own?

Hi Jeanne

From memory, we arrived in Staunton about 3.30-4pm. It is a beautiful little town with some lovely little gift shops. We were able to get a bus, which took you round the town for about $1 then went into a pizzeria and back to the hotel for Happy Hour;) Just prior to this stop, we went to Tredegar Iron Works, which was absolutely fascinating..... they showed you inside a cannonball - sets you up nicely for Gettysburg (everything on this trip is done for a reason). Nice breakfast at this hotel.

The following night, we stayed at the Wyndham. I think we got there about 4.30-5pm. This hotel sits in the middle of nowhere, but right next to a multiplex cinema and a restaurant both of which we visited.

Christine

We are going to book this cruise/land tour Monday. We took the land tour in Alaska several years ago, and loved it. Princess did an excellent job of everything. No worries.

 

Questions for the Washington DC land tour: Do they give you luggage tags the first day that say "meet me at the ship", "be in my hotel room tonight",etc?

 

Christine, I believe you said that most days started fairly early, "luggage outside your door by 7 a.m." Does that mean that after 7 you can have breakfast, then start the day like at 8 or so? Just wondering.

 

Are all admissions included? I ask this, because in Alaska there were "extra" tours offered as well as the package.

 

Thanks in advance for any information. We are very excited about this trip!

Hi Carolyn&Phil

Yes, just as you say, luggage for the ship did not go to your hotel room - it was tagged in Washington DC and just stayed on the coach until we reached the port in New York and it was then passed to the porters.

We put our landtour luggage outside the hotel room each day then went for breakfast. Once we finished breakfast, back to the room to pick up our jackets, camera bag and hand luggage and off we went.

All admissions are included - you do not pay for anything at all - with the exception of Williamsburg. You are given a pass which allows you access to the whole town - however they put on extra events which you could pay for. We went to the witch trial which was on at 7.30 pm (or 9pm) and cost $18 per person. However there was so much to do in that town, I am amazed we managed to fit that in! The programme changes every day though - so there may be other things on offer that you may want to do, but looking at our programme there were only 5 events that you had to pay for and over 20 were included.

To be honest, there is not a lot of "free" time on the trip. In Philadelphia, after we had seen the Liberty Bell and checked into the hotel (which is very very nice) we went to the "Rocky" steps and went around on the sightseeing bus for an hour or so.

We are going on our first trip to Alaska in May and really looking forward to it. This has been on our bucket list for years. :D

Christine

John and I haven't been yet but it's definitely on our list of places to see. We want to rent a car and spend a few weeks touring around so won't do it by ship. Whereabouts do you guys live?

We live mid-way between Glasgow and Edinburgh - best of both worlds!

Jeanne, I think it was just after 11am when we arrived at the ship and it was very busy at that time. I know we had boarded and were sitting in the dining room for 1pm ordering lunch. :D

Have you and Barb been to Scotland?

We stayed in the Doubletree Rhode Island Avenue.

Christine:)

Hello Again!

Our tour guide organised us slightly differently. On the first morning we all met at breakfast and were given a table number to sit at, where your name card was. There were 10 people at our table - 6 people travelling together + another couple (so the tour guide knows if you are travelling as part of a group). On your name card you had a colour - we had yellow at our table and there were 3 colours for the entire party- so approx. 15 people in each colour group. Each day the guide let a different colour board the coach first, so you got to sit wherever you wanted as you boarded. We were given water every day on the coach and he also gave us little snacks, but to be honest the route was so well planned out that you did not spend lots of time just stuck on the coach. The driver stays with the coach all the time, so you can leave anything on it safely. Every evening when you got to your hotel room, your case was waiting on you already.

Prior to going on this trip, I posted on CC to see if anyone else had done it, and got zero response, so I went on to the Roll Call for the cruise part and met up with 2 other couples travelling together who were looking for another couple to make their group up to 6 - and we shared all the land tours with them. They too were fabulous!

Halifax - We had a hire car from Alamo which we picked up near the port and drove to Peggy's Cove. On the way there we stopped at Ryder's lobster shack and ordered lobster and stopped on the way back to eat it. Fabulous!

Saint John - The only day it poured with rain, and my oh my - it poured almost as bad as Scotland:eek: We still had a great time doing a trip with Dave's Taxi Tours for approx. 6 hours / Reversing Rapids, St Martins etc and stopped at The Caves for fish and chips. Our driver was great - as were the fish and chips.

Bar Harbour - The weather was beautiful - don't miss Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park. This was all included in a four hour tour with At your Service Taxi Co.

Boston - we got the bus into town from the port and a taxi back. We started with morning coffee and cannolis at Mike's Pastry Shop then went to see Cheers etc.

Newport - An unexpected treasure - we got a bus from the Visitor Centre to the start of the Cliff Walk which took us about 3 hours to do, but was absolutely spectacular.

Although the land tour was a hard act to follow, we still loved the cruise. We met 4 more wonderful people we now call our friends and with whom I am sure we will have more adventures one day and to add to it, we had met more than 40 other great people before we had even sailed.

Christine

Hi Zelker (Barb)

That made me smile....... I would say to your husband we thought exactly the same as him - however - we are both in our mid fifties, and were not the youngest on the trip! I would say the average age was around 60. Tell him I said he will love it.

Hi again Gracie 115

The Doubletree is within walking distance of the Whitehouse etc. We arrived in Washington DC a day early, walked to the Whitehouse (about 20 minutes) and then went on to The Smithsonian (about another 30 minutes) to meet friends who live nearby. We went for lunch in a beautiful restaurant near the Whitehouse called Old Ebbits Grill. The Doubletree is very close to numerous wonderful restaurants and shops and they have a great Happy Hour in their bar. The staff at the hotel were fantastic with advice and maps etc. I would however point out that the trip of Washington DC with Princess includes a visit to these landmarks, so you really don't have to do them yourself and the night time visit to the monuments is just wonderful.

Any other questions? I would be happy to answer.

Christine