Rosethorn40

My parents are doing this cruise in a couple of weeks. Looks like they will have a great time. We are sailing on our first Viking cruise in December and I can't wait (Well, I can wait for winter, but still excited for this cruise).

I'm really enjoying your review and photos. Thank you for sharing. Your comments about early, early sunrises and late, late sunsets make me SUPER happy that I booked an interior room for next year. I have heard that the Baltics can be very expensive and I had to save money somewhere. Booking an interior is one cost saving move I don't think I'll regret.

I think that the difference is that one ends at Fort Lauderdale airport and the other at Miami.

I concur with you.

To OP if you sign up make sure you get on the right bus, so you end up at the correct airport. It's a good way to pass the time. Over the years we have done it twice. The last time they had a baby that you could hold and have your picture taken holding said baby alligator.

Last year there were some really great deals on Viking for the Heart of Germany Christmas Market cruises. I think the price was about the same I had been seeing all year, but they were offering free airfare. This year I was hoping that the same would be offered, but all the Heart of Germany cruises that are also Christmas Markets appeared to have sold out.

We did sign up for Romantic Danube for this holiday season, but I think the price was about what is always is. The lower priced cabins appeared to have either sold out, or are selling out quickly.

However, $695 for R/T airfare to Europe IS a great deal, so I am happy with the price paid.

Thank you for sharing your perspective. We love cruising, so I feel fairly confident we will enjoy our experience on our Viking cruise in December. As this is our first time on the Continent we need our hand held just a bit, so I like the included tours. However, in Nuremburg I have no desire to see the **** parade ground, so we will venture out on our own to see the train museum which I understand is pretty good.

I don't know that all 40 spots were sold out and I saw walk through showings on day 2. We booked by 1 pm after boarding at noon. Not elite. When available, they might sell by the day and that might be $39.

 

The water beds look like flat lounge chairs but are filled with water, not a lot of movement.

 

They swear by the cool beds as being better for you after being in the heated rooms. They were popular.

 

I would book the enclave again. It's uncrowded, relaxing, and a very nice place to get away from it all after a rugged port day or a day at sea. Some spend on the Sanctuary and casinos, but my guilty pleasure is the Enclave.

Thanks for the info. I am going to plan on booking as soon as we board, and I won't tell DH about the cool beds until after. The problem for him is that he doesn't use the steam rooms or saunas, so no need to cool off. He can however, use the Hydrotherapy pool, which he likes almost as much as the heated tile beds. I agree, that after a long day of cramming in sightseeing a nice place to relax, and get some relief for tired, aching muscles is wonderful.

I love the thermal suites, but I love the Sanctuary too. Wasn't going to book it on our last cruise on the Emerald because they had just raised the price, but I couldn't help myself-booked the thermal suite too. Just never told DH our final bill. Ignorance is bliss.

More, more, more!

I have read too much information on these threads relating to The Enclave on the Royal Princess and wanted to share my experience from my July 6 eleven day Baltic itinerary.

 

PRICING - $239 for the voyage, consistent with 7-day $199 pricing.

 

FACILITIES - Hydrotherapy pool varied from warm to very warm, two water beds, eight stone cool beds (they said they wanted to move away from hot beds for people's bodies to cool down after pool, steam, and sauna rooms), aromatic steam room, Turkish steam room, sauna.

 

ENVIRONMENT - Never crowded or long waits to use anything as each voyage is limited to 40 participants. The pool's capacity is 50. I rarely saw more than five in the pool at a time. Water beds are popular and in full use over 50% of the time I was there.

 

OTHER - Nice robes provided, cold refrigerated face towels always available.

 

We didn't use on only two days (first night in St Petersburg and Berlin day) and found it a great way to relax after long days in port. Also great to have on days at sea and Aarhus morning. For us, it was worth it and I would sign up for it on other cruises. Of the many changes in this class of ship, there are many duds. This was not a dud. The expanded piazza, Enclave, and Alfredo's were the winners in this ship design.

What is a water bed? I am conjuring up visions of an ex-boyfriend's water bed & Lava Lamp (Ugh!). And what are stone cool beds? My DH is going to be sorely disappointed not to be able to have a heated bed. They give relief to his always aching back and legs.

How early did you board? Since you said many were turned away I assume you are either Elite and/or suite guest, or got to port very early.

Thanks for the information as we are doing this cruise next year on the Regal.

We will be sailing on our first river cruise this December. It's the Romantic Danube, but it was marketed as a Christmas Market's cruise as well. I was wondering if Viking decorates their boats with Christmas decorations for the Christmas Market cruises. We've sailed on a couple of large cruise ships in December and they had at least some decorations. I enjoy it as it helps keep me in the holiday mood.

Looing forward to reading your review and seeing your photos. We are doing a Baltic's cruise next year on the Regal and would love to know what to expect, and the must see's in port.

Yes, I got a call, but I am glad I spoke to the young man because they had a special promotion that I wasn't aware of, and not only am I booked on the Epic next fall, I got some nice perks that if I had waited to book would not have been available.

Carnival does it too, but I have never gotten a call from Princess, HAL, or RCCL.

Thanks for the review. We are sailing on the Epic next September (Barcelona to Southampton, England), and I'm hoping with most kids back in school the pools won't be as packed. This it why I refuse to do a Med cruise in July/August-the hordes of children.

I'm wondering if there is a way to print pics from a digital camera on a ship. I do travel journals while on trips, and would like to print out pics as I go, if possible, and add to my journal. Does anybody know if there is a kiosk where this can be done?? I'm considering buying one of these instant mini cameras if not, just to be able to have some pics right away. I've heard they aren't too good of quality, so if anyone knows anything about those & would like to share info, that would also be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!!

I have one of those cameras, bought for the same reason you are considering buying one; I do travel journal's and scrapbooks. The picture quality is fine, but the photos are small, and the film is pricey about $10 a pack for 10 pictures, okay, maybe it's not that pricey but it seems expensive to me. My main problem with the camera is that it's bulky and doesn't fit in a standard camera case. You can buy them at Wal-Mart, and I noticed that Michaels Craft Stores sell them too. They are about $65 +/-

The ones at Michaels come in colors like pink and yellow. I have yet to actually take my instant camera on a trip. I've had it about 6/7 months.

I haven't sailed on the Royal, but I have done the 10-day Caribbean 3 times. You will find an older crowd (Younger than HAL, but still mature) and probably not many children. Mostly couples, but some families.

As far as dining we like Princess best because you can always find something to eat. The buffet is opened late, and after 11 they open another section with light fare. My DH likes that because he sometimes wants a cookie or two and some fruit just before bedtime. If you like pizza, they have the best pizza at sea IMO.

You will not find rock climbing walls or ziplines like RCCL, it's more laid back than RCCL or NCL as far it doesn't feel as frenetic as I experienced on those two lines. It is more lively than HAL.

For what it's worth, we started on Princess, and then tried HAL (Loved it), NCL (Liked it), RCCL (Not a fan), and Carnival (Surprised in a good way), but we keep coming back to Princess. I guess it's just a good fit for us.

Don't take a sponsored tour-the daily bus/ferry pass is the easiest and cheapest way to get around. I don't know the cost right now, but it was only $7 pp per day back in 2009. We took the express bus to St. George and walked around a bit. It's very lovely, and then walked to Tobacco Bay. It is up hill, but you can catch a taxi which was $4 pp each way (Again that was in 2009, prices may have gone up a little). At Tobacco Bay you can rent a sun umbrella, beach chairs and snorkel equipment.

To quote Quasimodo "Sanctuary!"

It is my favorite spot on a warm weather cruise.

Did HOHO in both Dublin & Edinburgh. Dublin was easy, took the free shuttle to downtown Dublin that dropped us off less than 1/2 a block from one of the HOHO sites. They gave us a map that told you where each of the major stops were. Could get off, and when ready to get back on waited at the bus stop for the next bus.

Edinburgh was a bit more difficult, but still easy enough. Took the not so free shuttle ($16pp R/T) to train station, bought train ticket. Followed everyone else. Caught the express train and three stops later walked out of train station and right across the street were the buses. Edinburgh's route was a little more compact, so whole tour was quicker. Here we rode once around, and then stayed on to get off at stops we wanted (Like Greyfriers Bobby statue, and to eat some haggis). When ready to catch a bus you just can't wait at the stop, you need to flag down the driver or they will go right by you.

We are doing a Baltics cruise next year and plan on HOHO or self guided walking tours at least half the stops. Personally I love the HOHO buses-you get to see what you want to see. Ideal when in a city for such a short time.

That's wonderful! After our trip in April I had nothing planned, but DH left me alone too many weekends (He was working so he has a good excuse), with nothing but a computer, a phone, and credit card to keep me company. I now have 4 planned for the next 14 months, and I'm already thinking about 2016!

It's always nice to have something to look forward to.

Ship looked comparable to the Ruby we sailed on last year. So very nice but we are not ones to notice slight wear and tear. The panoramic lifts were out of service the whole sailing. The crowd was much younger than our previous sailing which was during spring break 2013. Lots of first time cruisers but also a lot of frequent cruisers, a good mix. I would say the newbies hang out on lido by the pool all day and enjoy those bars and the frequent cruisers enjoyed crooners and explorers more. Of course this is subjective. We ourselves are younger cruisers (late 20s) and felt Skywalkers and the lido deck were too busy for our tastes but loved Crooners. Hope this gives you a good idea.

Thank you for the info. DH & I are mid 50's (Well, I'm not quite mid 50's yet, but soon enough). Our last Princess Cruise this past Feb/Mar was a 10-day, and while I expected an older crowd we were babies compared to most of our fellow PAX. I will expect a slightly younger crowd. I do think that with a lot of kids already back in school the last week in August (At least on the east coast), or just about to go back there may not be too many kids. It's probably the reason there are still a large number of cabins available for this sailing.

You may want to consider booking the Sanctuary for the entire cruise when doing the 14-day Hawaii. Now granted, things may have changed since I did it back in 2010, but I would have had no trouble wandering in at 10 or 11 am and getting a chair. The first two sea days are often windy and cool, as are the last two. Depending on what you plan on doing in each port you may not even use the Sanctuary every port day.

When we went they were offering a package for the first 6-days, and then it was individual days after that. Day one was sunny but very cool. I used 3 blankets and was sitting in the sun. Day two was too cool and overcast to use it. The next two sea days were just find. We barely used it the first two port days, and just skipped it the next two port days. On the return journey home we booked afternoons only on sea days 5 & 6 (The Sanctuary Stewards didn't mind if we showed up early because it was so little used, and we had tipped them well). I don't think we used it the last two sea days because of weather, but did use it the day in Ensenada, which we treated as a sea day, and had lovely weather.

I can understand any reluctance to leave availability to chance. I love the Sanctuary myself. Maybe others who have done the Hawaiian cruise more often can chime in with their thoughts.

Sounds like you had a good time, which is great to hear because we sail in 45 days. How does the ship look? The only time we sailed on the CP was in 2009 on a Canada/New England cruise and we hit a Nor'easter that did a lot of damage to the upper decks (Yes, I am sure 5-years later it's all been repaired, but just wondering how the old girl was holding up).

Do you have any information on the other PAX? Were there a lot of first time cruisers or first time on Princess? Or did it seem there were a lot of Elites and Platinum's on board? Were there lots of kids? And if so, for the most part well-behaved?

Last year on our United Kingdom/Ireland cruise we received a move-over offer. We were booked in an interior and the offer was if we took a later sailing they would refund us one cruise fare back in the form of OBC (We had gotten a great deal, paying only about $800 ea for the cabin), and upgrade us "Up to a mini suite based on availability" My TA told me that meant we could end up back in an interior. We had purchased E-Z Air so that was all covered. We turned it down because the later sailings meant I would miss my father's visit, and my husband, who is in commission sales wasn't about to lose working Labor Day Weekend, but the biggest problem was that our Tattoo tickets would have gone to waste, and that was our #1 reason for going. In 11 Princess cruises that was only our 2nd move over offer.

We are doing this cruise next year on the Regal. I don't know how I will ever get through the next 11-months, 3-weeks waiting. Thanks for the warning about how expensive it is. I had heard to expect high prices, but 6 euros for an ice cream cone? $70 for pizza-Wow! I expect we will be eating hearty breakfasts on board to save funds.

Does Aarhus have a HOHO bus? I would not have expected that based on the little information I have read so far about the port. Right now the plan is to do HOHO in some ports, independent arranged tours in a few other places, and maybe 1 or 2 ship tours (Husband wants to do the train ride in Helsinki).

If you think of anything else please share.

One question. Did you use the Enclave or talked with anyone that did? Do you know the price for cruise duration, and if it was difficult to get the passes?

I think each type of cruise (River or Ocean) has it's advantages & disadvantages. I am no expert on River Cruising as I booked my first Viking Cruise (Romantic Danube). I don't expect or need a big production show each evening, nor any kind of wild night life, which is good because I don't think I will find it on a European River Cruise. I love the idea that in the course of a week I will get to experience Buda & Pest and Vienna as well as some smaller towns, and travel in a moving hotel. We did a river cruise this past Spring on the Mississippi and I loved just watching the passing scenery going by. As we are traveling in December I won't miss the pool. I might feel differently if it was a summer trip.

Going to Europe at least once a year going forward is a priority for DH & I and I think it will be a mix of large ships, smaller ships, and River Cruising.

On my one NCL cruise we ate at Endless Summer (Which I don't think they have any more), and Ginza which was Asian inspired. Both were really good. Our experience was that the non-fee evening dining wasn't as good as Princess because I think they really try to push you to the specialty restaurants on NCL. On Princess I really enjoyed Sabatini's. The Bayou Café (Only offered on the Island & the Coral I think) was so long ago I don't remember it.

From what I have read on these boards many people enjoy the steakhouse, and the French Restaurant on NCL

You are 100% correct in food being subjective, but in our case the Specialty dining was worth the upcharge.