black_velvet

6 hours ago, nomad098 said:

 

I agree no way they can advertise themselves as a family cruise line this year when they have set themselves up as selective adult only cruise line based on the science of facebook, tik tok, whatsapp and cruisecritic.

 

More worryingly this only applies to this new batch of UK only cruises according to Princess

" All other Princess Cruises holidays currently on sale do not require guests to be vaccinated."

 

As it stands it looks like because the UK have done well with it's vaccination program they can afford to discriminate based on age, comorbidities or profession, but in areas not doing well with the vaccination like Europe anyone is welcome 

 

Was looking at Princess UK cruise this year as we expect our RCL cruise in the Med to be cancelled.

Will be fully vaccinated by the end of May but with the rules they have in place they quite obviously do not want or need my families holiday £££'s. 

 

Of course Princess want and need families. But at the moment the need for stringent vaccination requirements takes precedence.

If you book by end of April, you can cancel up to a month before sailing and get what you've paid as FCC. we're planning to book 2 on Wednesday, in early August and late September. If the first one makes us decide to wait longer, we'll cancel the second one.

I'd like to add my thanks - we're thinking about doing this trip next year, and this is useful information.

Thank you for a well-considered, balanced review. We had similar feelings after our one (shakedown) cruise of Royal. We're also Elite on Princess, and while there's much to love on the new ships (especially the wonderful atrium area), we'd sooner cruise on a pre-Royal one as long as the itinerary works for us - we certainly don't think the new ships are worth the premium.

Thank you. I have a 12 and 13 year old with us so looks like we might not be doing it.

My adult son and I did it last April, and thought it was excellent, great fun. There were about 10 of us if I remember correctly, including a girl who must have been about 12. Not only was she old enough, she enjoyed it, and contributed to the overall effort.

It's all about teamwork, and there are so many types of puzzle involved that anyone can spot or work out something that nobody else has seen yet. There may be a minimum age limit, but I'd say a reasonably sensible 12 year old is definitely old enough.

I only heard about the refit today, so I'm way behind on the news. I've sailed on Island twice before, and it was my favourite ship. I agree with you that 'unmitigated disaster' is probably too strong, but I know it will be far from a non-event for me if I ever cruise on it again. Two of the things which made it my favourite ship were the wraparound promenade deck on one level, and the high-ceilinged Universe Lounge, which allowed some really big shows in two different venues.

For me, any further cruises on the ship will have the reminders of what used to be, and has been lost. I'm sure I'd enjoy another cruise on Island: it's hard to imagine when I wouldn't enjoy a cruise - but the enjoyment would be tempered by the knowledge of the things which are no longer there. As you say, that's unlikely to be an issue for passengers who have not cruised on her before.

I can understand your thinking many people have overreacted, but will it really be a non-event for you? Will you not miss walking round the aft or sitting in the Universe Lounge at all?

Regards

Rod

I still think that for everyone except from the relatively small, but highly 'vocal', group of perhaps less than 20, who insist on telling us this will be an unmitigated disaster, for the rest of us it will be a non-event.

 

We like Island very much and don't expect to be disappointed when we next cruise on her this Christmas.

 

Unfortunately there will be some folks who have never cruised on Island who will be put off by all the doom and gloom in this thread. That will be sad as they will miss out on a wonderful experience.

Tom Franek is wonderful! He was on our Island cruise two years ago, and we're looking out for chance to be on a cruise with him again. He posts his schedule at http://www.tomfranek.com/

We just got back from the Diamond, where they had someone called Craig something, I think. Good pianist and singer, but not what I'd call an entertainer; more like background music at Crooners, whereas Tom really puts on a show.

Mind you, Noelia, the bartender at Crooners, had a hell of an act...