ashley@cruisecritic

Hi guys. Here's the most updated info we've been able to gather on affected ports: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8067.

Hello Fellow Princess Cruisers,

 

We are deciding on two hotels in Vancouver for a pre cruise stay... The two hotels are the Fairmont Waterfront which Princess cruises offers with transfers from airport to hotel then to ship.... The other one is the Pan Pacific which Princess cruises does not offer hotel, transfers etc. This hotels seems pricey, but a lot of good reviews on trip advisor, so I thought we would ask those princess cruisers. I am looking for those who have actually stayed at either one of these hotels for some valuable information which will be much appreciated.

 

Thanks you very much....

I can't speak to the Fairmont, but I have stayed at the Pan Pacific and LOVED it. If your ship is docking there, it's super convenient, but if it's not, and shuttles aren't offered, it might not be worth it for you. (There are two docks in Vancouver. One is attached to the Pan Pacific, and the other is farther away.)

Hi guys. There are TONS of comments on this thread, so apologies if these have already been posted, but I thought I'd share Cruise Critic's coverage with you in case it's of interest.

Hurricane Irma Unprecedented for Cruise Industry: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8063

Hurricane Irma Prompts Cruise Itinerary Changes and Cancellations: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8046

Caribbean Cruise Ports Assess Damage From Hurricane Irma: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8055

Cruise Lines Assist With Hurricane Irma Evacuations: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8058

Florida Cruise Ports Shut Down for Hurricane Irma: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8062

Psssst. :) Cruise Critic has a comprehensive article about what the cruise lines are doing to help: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8058.

For additional Irma info, check out our main story here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8046.

Ok, so before anybody flames me for opening a new post on this topic, I did check the last one ... it's several pages long and doesn't really address my specific concerns. I've never cruised before (first cruise booked for November this year!) and I'm from a country where tipping is NOT the norm so it all seems a little weird to me and I just need some guidance.

 

I've been reading a bit on here about 'automatic gratuities'. I think I understand the concept, but the first thing I'd like to know is whether these were included in our fares or whether it's something that gets charged to our onboard 'account' ... ie over and above what we've already paid to travel?

 

Secondly, if it's charged to our onboard account, how much gets charged and when? Is it a percentage of our fare? Is it a set rate for everybody per day? How is it calculated?

 

And finally, I've read that some people have these charges 'removed' and elect to tip as they see fit. I'd like to know how one would go about having these charges removed? Is it something that you do online before you travel or do you need to go and see somebody about it once you've boarded?

 

Thanks in advance to anybody who can give me some answers! :)

Hi! Great questions, and I'm sure they've already been answered, thanks to our awesome members, but I did want to share Cruise Critic's comprehensive tipping guide in case it's of use to you: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1393. Enjoy your sailing!

Have there ever been any cases where someone has showed up to the pier, cruise fully paid for, but maybe with a guaranteed room, so no room assignment, and then told "whoops! We overbooked the cruise ship! There's no cabin available to you"?

Hi there,

Cruise ships do overbook sometimes. Passengers are usually notified in advance, but there are always exceptions. We have an article on times when you could be bumped from your sailing, and there's a whole section on overbooking: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=340. (Note: The piece is in need of an update, but generally the info is pretty evergreen.) Hope it's helpful!

in light of recent event there are tons of post and im seeing the terms travelers insurance, vacation protection etc used quite frequently.

RCL offers something.... is that what people are referring to? are their different levels of protection? are people getting insurance outside of RCL that covers ?

 

im seriously clueless and would love a wealth of responses to help me understand.

Hi there,

Cruise Critic has an article that will break it all down for you: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=274. Hope it's helpful!

It's funny this storm isn't the Armageddon that the lame stream media predicted. Jokes on the suckers watching all this garbage.

 

Are any of you geniuses climate scientists? Have you read any primary authorities on the issues? I highly doubt it, I personally don't have time. I'm a college professor and have terminal degrees in finance AND economics and know that the academic status quo has changed on lots of things in my career in the ivory tower. I certainly acknowledge that there is a climate change phenomenon that happens constantly, there's hard data to prove it. The fact that it is tied to fossil fuels, deforestation or whatever is beyond me. I seem to remember from American History that one of the reasons that we won the Revolutionary War was the North American Continent was going through what historians called a "mini-Ice Age." Similarly, the Italian Renaissance occurred at a time when weather was particularly good for crops. What caused these "climates" to "change" in order to effectuate these events? People weren't using electricity from coal powered plants or driving petrol consuming cars. MAYBE, just maybe it is a natural phenomenon and we shouldn't halt the march of human progress to try to fix something that isn't even an issue.

Not as bad as predicted? As someone who has literally spent 16 hours updating Irma content this weekend, I'm curious to know your basis for that statement. The U.S. Coast Guard (a "primary authority" on port conditions) forced Miami, Port Everglades, Port Canaveral, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and Palm Beach to close. The National Hurricane Center (a "primary authority" on hurricanes) recorded winds of nearly 200 miles per hour, and the storm was a Category 5 for nearly a week. I can tell you from the reports we've gotten directly from the Caribbean Tourism Organization (a "primary authority" on Caribbean ports) that, for some of the islands hit, it's about as close to Armageddon as you can get without it actually BEING Armageddon: dozens of people dead, 95 percent of buildings damaged, 90 percent of electrical infrastructure wiped out, flooding, no potable water. I can also assure you that there is no "joke" in this situation, regardless of where you get your news. In terms of the number of devastated ports (13) and canceled/altered itineraries (more than 50), this is the worst hurricane the cruise industry has ever seen, according to Cruise Critic (a "primary authority" on the cruise industry).

Hi all,

A full rundown of how cruise lines are helping can be found here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8058.

I suspect the reason Carnival's efforts didn't get as much media attention is because, to my knowledge, the only place they were announced was John Heald's Facebook page Sunday afternoon. One of the other lines sent out a press release Saturday, and one of them featured the information in its regular itinerary updates.

At any rate, it's heartening to see how companies that have so much are stepping in to help those who now have so little.

For additional Irma info, our mother-of-all-updates article is here: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=8046.

I am a carnival lover (been on 13) but we are looking at liberty of the seas for an October sailing. (We waited too long and carnival is pretty picked over from Galveston)

 

I am curious if anyone has done both lines and can compare them. I am worried about food quality of royal. The pictures don't look that appealing. And also availability too see the shows. I keep reading something about having to get tickets. Carnival is just easier to understand. It will be myself, husband and two kiddos ( 4 and 6)

 

Thank you in advance

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Cruising is so subjective, but maybe this article will help: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1780.

Hi guys! Just curious if anyone ended up buying one of these. I tried to, out of curiosity, and I just had to file a dispute with eBay because I paid for it but never received it and couldn't get the seller to reply to any of my inquiries regarding its whereabouts. Buyer beware! If any of you did purchase one, I'd love to chat with you about what it includes.

i was just on Royal Caribbean FB page and someone was complaining that you now have to pay $10 to see the Ice Show on Voyager of the seas. Has anyone else heard this? Not good if it is true.

I've reached out to Royal's PR team, and I'm told the $10 charge is only on Voyager of the Seas and only when it's sailing in China. Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Over on the Australian Board someone has posted that RCI is charging $10 to see the ice show. :eek:

 

Can anyone confirm or deny?

I've reached out to Royal's PR team, and I'm told the $10 charge is only on Voyager of the Seas and only when it's sailing in China. Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Hi there. I'm working on an article for Cruise Critic about foods to avoid at the buffet, and I figured I'd ask our awesome members for some input. Are there items you avoid? If so, what are they, and why do you avoid them? Thanks in advance!

We are a couple (early 60's) new to Disney Cruising but seasoned RCCL & Celebrity cruisers. Usually enjoy the specialty restaurants. We will be on a 4 night Bahama cruise on Dream in January 2018. Should we go to both Remy and Palo? If yes... Which main dining restaurant would you give up to do both? Also what about pirate night menu... ok to skip that experience? would probably chose Palo that night and finish in time for the fireworks.

I think it depends on what you prefer. If you like a more refined, kid-free experience, definitely go for both Remy and Palo. In terms of which of the main eateries to skip, that also depends. The Enchanted Garden is a neat concept that makes you feel like you're eating in a garden while special effects slowly take you from "sunrise" to "sunset." Animator's Palate is the most high-tech and interactive, but it's also the most loud, colorful and kid-friendly. (If you're eating at the later dining time, these things might be less of an issue.) Royal Palace has a royal theme and a French-inspired menu. In comparison to the other two, it's a little boring, but it's also a bit more "adult." Here's some additional info:

Remy: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2293

Palo: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2289

Royal Palace: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2291

Enchanted Garden: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2390

Animator's Palate: https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2292

Oh, just realized you needed a horizontal photo... Sorry!

No problem! It's a tall drink, so it warrants a tall photo. :) Thanks for your help!

I was just told that NCL Sun will be decomisioned and the Jewel will take over in May 2018.....

Not sure if someone already mentioned it, but Norwegian Sun will be undergoing a 2.5-week Project Edge upgrade in Victoria in April 2018 before repositioning to Port Canaveral. It will be offering Cuba and Bahamas itineraries, and it will be beverage-inclusive like Norwegian Sky currently is. Here's the story we wrote yesterday: https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7939. Below is the full press release the cruise line sent to Cruise Critic (minus photos).

MIAMI – July 10, 2017- Norwegian Cruise Line today announced updates to the their summer 2018 deployment, featuring exciting new opportunities for guests to set sail to their dream destinations, while unpacking just once and enjoying the most free and flexible cruising experience at sea. New for 2018, Norwegian Sun will reposition to Port Canaveral and offer all-inclusive four day cruises to Havana, Cuba and Key West, and three-day cruises to the Bahamas. Norwegian Jewel will rejoin the youngest fleet sailing to Alaska in summer 2018, with a multitude of exciting itineraries including seven- and nine-day sailings from Seattle, Seward and Vancouver.

“Alaska continues to be one of the most popular destinations we sail to around the world. We are thrilled to be significantly increasing capacity in the region in summer 2018 with the redeployment of Norwegian Jewel and the inaugural season for Norwegian Bliss, providing more opportunities for our guests to experience a vacation of a lifetime in this incredible pristine destination,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer for Norwegian Cruise Line. “Our all-inclusive model aboard Norwegian Sky has been very well-received and as we evaluated the opportunity to expand upon that concept, we felt that Port Canaveral was the ideal location to offer our guests a value-rich on board experience and exciting action-packed ports-of-call, including an overnight call in Havana, Cuba.

Following her fall/winter season in South America and a dry dock enhancement, Norwegian Sun will spend her summer 2018 season sailing all-inclusive cruises from Port Canaveral, offering four-day itineraries that call on Key West and Havana, Cuba, along with three-day cruises to the Bahamas. Norwegian Sun accommodates 1,936 guests, providing freedom, flexibility and superior guest service with 16 dining options, 12 bars and lounges, entertainment options for all ages and more. All guests sailing aboard one of Norwegian Sun’s Cuba or Bahamas cruises from Port Canaveral will also enjoy unlimited complimentary beverages included in their cruise fare as a part of the ship’s all-inclusive program. Norwegian Sun’s new itineraries include the following:

· Norwegian Sun will undergo a two-and-a-half week dry dock in Victoria, British Columbia as a part of the Norwegian Edge™, the brand’s revitalization program encompassing the entire guest experience, and re-enter service on April 19, 2018 where she will begin her journey to the east coast with a 17-day Panama Canal cruise departing from Seattle.

· Norwegian Sun’s four-day cruises to Cuba will depart Port Canaveral each Monday, beginning May 7, 2018, and feature a call on Key West, Florida and an overnight stay in Havana, returning to Port Canaveral each Friday. Norwegian Sun will transport guests to the heart of the action in both Key West and Havana, calling in Key West’s Old Town district and Havana Harbor, located in the heart of Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Norwegian Sun will offer guests the opportunity to experience the wonderful culture and incredible history of Cuba, along with the warmth and friendliness of the Cuban people during OFAC-compliant* shore excursions.

· Norwegian Sun’s three-day cruises to the Bahamas will feature calls in Nassau** and Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian’s popular private island beach paradise that was recently enhanced with new food and beverage outlets, expanded Cabanas for daily rental and a new underwater snorkeling garden.

Following her winter 2017/2018 season sailing in Australia and Asia, Norwegian Jewel will journey from Tokyo (Yokohama) to Seattle and will replace Norwegian Sun as Norwegian’s third ship sailing in Alaska in summer 2018. As the namesake of Norwegian’s "Jewel Class" ships, the 2376-passenger Norwegian Jewel is a guest favorite and thrills with a myriad of dining and entertainment offerings. Featuring 16 dining options including Norwegian’s signature specialty restaurants Cagney’s, La Cucina and Le Bistro; along with 15 bars and nightclubs, Norwegian Jewel is a perfect ship to explore the stunning beauty of Alaska. Her wide variety of accommodations includes some of the largest suites at sea in The Haven® by Norwegian, the ship’s exclusive suite complex. The famous three-bedroom Garden Villa boasts nearly 5000 square feet of luxury and is located at the top of the ship, with an expansive 2314 square foot balcony that comes complete with a hot tub and private sundeck. The ship’s onboard activities and entertainment include shows Le Cirque Bijou and Band on the Run, a sports deck for basketball, volleyball, tennis and much more. Norwegian Jewel’s new summer 2018 itineraries include the following itineraries:

· Beginning May 26, 2018, Norwegian Jewel will reposition from Seattle to Vancouver with a nine-day Alaska cruise. This scenic itinerary will visit the region’s best destinations, with calls in Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Sitka and Ketchikan.

· Norwegian Jewel will sail a seven-day roundtrip cruise from Vancouver to Alaska departing on June 4, 2018 with calls on Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.

· Beginning June 11, 2018 from Vancouver, Norwegian will offer guests the freedom and flexibility to enjoy alternating embarkation ports in Vancouver and Seward. From Vancouver, Norwegian Jewel will sail seven-day Glacier Bay cruises calling on Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and disembarking in Seward. From Seward, Norwegian Jewel will feature seven-day Inside Passage Alaska cruises calling on Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and disembarking in Vancouver. Both itineraries will include a sail past the breathtaking Hubbard Glacier.

To book a cruise aboard one of these exciting new itineraries on Norwegian Jewel or the all-inclusive Norwegian Sun, contact a travel professional, call Norwegian at 866-NCL-CRUISE (625-2784), or visit http://www.ncl.com.

*Norwegian Cruise Line is currently authorized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to offer carrier services to authorized travelers between the United States and Cuba under the travel guidelines for US citizen travel to Cuba. Norwegian Cruise Line will continue to work with the administrations in both Cuba and the US to comply with any policy changes and regulations so that the brand may provide guests with educational and culturally rich experiences in Cuba, with all sailings subject to potential changes due to governmental relations.

** Selected dates to include calls on Freeport and Great Stirrup Cay.

We have been on 3 Boston to Bermuda cruises in the past 8 years on the Dawn. We are big sports fans and thought having a drink in the ship bars and watching the games with other passengers would be a lot of fun. To our disappointment only recorded soccer games were repeated over and over. Do any of the other NCL ships (especially the Breakaway and Gem) show live sports games (NFL, NBA, MLB) on their TVs?

 

thanks

They do show football, but they don't broadcast baseball:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1943

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2850

Hi there! This article might help: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1884.

Hi guys. Just a shameless plug for the obvious: Why not review them on Cruise Critic? (We're owned by TripAdvisor.)

In addition to your ship and overall experience, you can also review ports, excursions and even individual cabins here: http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/.

I've done four sailings with Carnival and just took my first Princess cruise in January on Grand Princess. I don't necessarily think it's fair to say one of the lines is universally "better" than the other, especially considering it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. Cruising is extremely subjective, and the line(s) you prefer will depend on what your enjoy and what's important to you, which obviously could be totally different from what's ideal for someone else.

That said, here's an article that might help with practical comparisons between things like dining, cabins, pricing, activities, family options, etc.: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1934. Hope it's useful!

I just got back from a 4 night Royal Caribbean cruise with a friend of mine. I was on this exact same cruise with my husband in 2013 and I must say I was sorely disappointed this time. So many things were discontinued this cruise - the silent club with the headphones on Deck 10, the 70s Dance Party (although they showed it on the on-room TV - what?) The last night buffet/cookout. My friend had never been on a cruise before and thought it was great but I thought a lot was missing and it just seems like Royal Caribbean has gone downhill. My husband and I are thinking of going on a cruise in the fall and we are considering Cuba. What about Norwegian? We would like to go on a cruise line that is less geared towards kids/young people and more toward mature adults. We wouldn't have to go to Cuba, anywhere in that general area would be great. Any suggestions?

Hi! Maybe this will help with the comparison: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=1884.

We have never sailed HAL. We have sailed many others, but we have liked Celebrity the best. However we are thinking of trying HAL because we are wondering about the food, entertainment, service... The service is great on Celebrity, but we are not as happy with so much sea food and lamb & pork on Celebrity. Also the entertainment is not as good as it used to be. We like clean comedy and classical music or Band music , real talent. Can anyone tell me if HAL could be right for us?

Hi there! This might help: http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=2238.

The NCL website shows the shows which are what I saw in January.

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruise-ship/jade/whats-on-board/Entertainment

Yep, these were offered on the 4/16 sailing as well. They also had a magician (Sander and Alison's Magika: http://www.magikauniverse.com/) and a comedian (David Nastor: https://naster.com/) who did a couple of shows and a great segment on bullying. He isn't one of those raunchy comedians, either; he uses wit instead.

Have a great cruise!

Everyone has already given great suggestions. Some other things I noticed in Europe:

Smoking: It's a lot more prevalent in Europe than in the States.

Language: Even if you don't speak the local language, learn a few important phrases. In my experience, people are more friendly and more likely to help you if you make the effort.

Dining/Drinks: Apart from tipping and service, which have already been discussed, note that in some places, it's not customary to provide free glasses of water at the table; if you want it with your meal, you might have to pay for it. Carbonated water seems to be more of a staple there, as well, and in some locations, ice isn't as widely used in drinks as it is here. A handful of places serve certain types of beer warm.

Have a great trip!