JRice

October 6, 2023

We were fortunate to be invited to dine at 360, gratis, during a May 2023 cruise on the Enchanted.

We were not suite passengers, all 4 in our party were Club Class dining and the head waiter was well aware all of us were foodies.

It was an amazing dining experience.

It tickled all the senses .... including piped in aromas, videos were clear and on topic, images were projected on the tables, some were even interactive, drink pairings for each country were perfect, plenty of food but not excessive because portions were relatively small, Johann was our Dinner Moderator - he did it with such passion, videos also provided insight into the food regions, origins and production, food delivery was paced well, TWO servers per couple who were very focused on their diners.

As far as cost goes -

Here is my humble opinion that anyone is free to agree or disagree with.

-- If you live to eat rather than eat to live, $149 is a bargain. A prime steak with an appetizer, veg, potato, cocktail and glass of wine with tax and tip is at least $150 in any good steak house.

The variety, quality, delivery, visual and all sensory 2 hour experience is worth it.

Do I need to go each time I sail? Probably not. For me, it is not a "one and done" experience.

I would pay for it next cruise. We did the Captain's table twice.

-- Also, my opinion, do what floats your boat. If you would rather lose $150 in the casino - so be it.

If you would rather spend it in the spa, good for you. Some people spend $100's or $1000's for a ticket to a sports event or to a concert and get value from those prices - good for them - but not me.

I hope that in the future they expand the concept to include other regions of the world.

Mangia !

September 29, 2023

*** PEACE TREATY NEEDED ***

The smoking debate will continue as long as there is one smoker on the earth.

Cruises should be all things to all people. Part of the fun for me is watching other

people having fun and enjoying themselves. My attitude is "I be me ... they be them"

Cruise ships with 3000 passengers require all of us to be tolerant of most behavior and to be

non-sanctimonious. Your pleasures may be my sins and vice versa. Therefore, let's stop picking on the smokers. They should not be prohibited from smoking in an indoor enclosed lounge or in a few outdoor locations. You know, I know and they know smoking is not healthy - I am sure if it were easy to quit they would do so tomorrow.

If you find it necessary to pick on the smokers, then why not pick on other behaviors?
Should obese passengers be prohibited from eating more than the recommended daily caloric intake?

Should those with alcohol dependency be prohibited from purchasing the booze package or buy at a bar? Should those with gambling addictions or financial issues be prohibited from entering the casino?

Sunshine can cause skin cancer, should the lounge chairs be removed?

Hot tubs can spread disease, should they be closed too?

The answer to all these questions is an unequivocal 'NO".

Let each adult make their own decisions based upon the risks they want to endure and without interference.

If you want to "ban" something -- how about banning some of these rude or inconsiderate behaviors?

- Passengers who think it is ok to pass gas in public areas

- Passengers who cut into elevator, buffet or tender lines

- Passengers who eat in a buffet line

- Passengers who hog deck chairs

- Passengers who disregard formal night dress codes.

*** Let he who is without sin cast the first stone ***

September 27, 2023

Any cruise ship or airport exchange service will always be expensive because they take advantage of those who want currency "now".

Possession of a small amount of local currency is a good practice because some small vendors may not take credit cards and tips for waiters and hotel staff are sometimes not allowed to be added to a credit card.

You best bet is to use minimize the use of "cash" and to use a credit card that has no foreign exchange fees and uses the then current commercial exchange rate. Ask your credit card company about their policy. This has saved me 8-10% of the exchange rates offered at airports, hotels, cruise ships, etc.

Bank of America has consistently had the best exchange rates to obtain currency. Usually about 5% over the then commercial rate. I order currency on line, no service fee, pick up at my local branch.

Good luck.

September 24, 2023

On 8/24/2023 at 2:12 AM, lara h said:

First time river cruisers(to be) after about 15 ocean trips. Naturally we are very nervous about the differences, and we know there will be many!

We have decided Emerald is the best fit for our trip after considering so many options. I've tried to read as much as possible, and watch videos of various reviews to get some realistic expectations.

I'm hoping to read here as well from those that have sailed on Emerald. I think "Star" is the vessel for our journey which is Budapest to Munich, mid Aug 2024.

A few questions if I can please:

Understand drinks outside mealtimes are additional cost. Does anyone have a "menu" of drinks and associated prices?

Is there a "better" side for cabins for scenic purposes sailing the journey we are taking?

The Active program is one that enticed us to select the line, so how "active" are the excursions?

Does the daily program include pool exercises, or anything else that gets the blood pumping of a morning(or whenever)

What would be the best area to have a cabin, (looking at Panorama Balcony class) in relation to noise/

Many thanks and open to ANY other information you may care to share regarding this cruise line.

Lynn

I wrote this in 2017 after our 1st Emerald cruise. We liked it so much we did another one in 2019 from Arles to Lyon.

I would avoid the lower level of cabins due to possible noise/vibration from the engines.

We did not do the active excursions - try one out -- if you like it continue.

Ask the cruise director about them, s/he will be very informative and can tell you about the activity.

Wine and beer outside lunch and dinner was very reasonably priced. Mixed drinks were priced ok too.

Both sides of the ship are equal for views.

The best views are from the glassed in lounge, dining room and open forward deck.

If weather permits the roof is open with chairs and lounges.

I highly recommend that you spend a few nights at your embarkation and disembarkation ports and if possible do the 14 day cruise. Also, Prague is a day train ride from Budapest - it was a great city to visit too.

JG

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This was our first river cruise after many ocean cruises because we wanted to visit central Europe and to experience the difference of a river cruise. The cruise was 14 nights from Amsterdam to Budapest.

We flew to Amsterdam to tour for 2 days prior to the cruise and I would recommend others to arrive at the embarkation city a few days in advance to adjust to jet lag as well as to enjoy the city.

We chose Emerald because of their full itinerary.

The embarkation process was as easy as could be, it took no more then 3 minutes to get our room keys. We choose Emerald because their ships are at most 2 years old, they visited all the towns we wanted to see, their pricing was significantly less than their competitors, they had an included excursion at every port, all staff gratuities were included as well as airport or hotel transfers.

The ship's interior was very contemporary, lots of glass and chrome decor and wrap around windows in the lounge and dining room making it easy to have an uninterrupted view of the scenery. Our cabin was well designed with plenty of storage in the cabin and bathroom. The exterior wall was all glass to maximize viewing whereby you could lower the top half of the glass wall when weather permitted.

Dining:

Breakfast was always a large, varied buffet accompanied with made to order eggs and omelets. There was every sort of cereal, yogurt, deli meats and cheeses, breakfast meats and baked goods. Everything was of high quality and tasty.

Lunch was also always a large, varied buffet and once again everything was of high quality and very tasty. Many lunch items were regionally oriented.

Dinner was sit down served by waiters with a different menu every day and comprised of a choice of appetizers, a delicious soup of the day, choice of 3 entrees and 2 desserts.

Overall the dinners were more creative than found on ocean cruise ships and it was plated with an artist's eye for color and flair.

Included daily excursions were conducted by professional local guides that spoke perfect English, were well worth the time and were informative.

On board extra activities included local talent and demonstrations - ie. a glass blower, an Ompha band, zither player, dancers, etc.

Our cruise director Jana was a GEM! She was as pleasant as could be and arranged for a MD to come aboard to treat a few of us for colds. She even went to the pharmacy in port to pick up the prescriptions the MD ordered. NOW, that is service!

The rest of the staff did their best to please the passengers.

We can strongly recommend Emerald to anyone who wants to experience a river cruise.

Jerome Giambalvo
jerrygiam@verizon.net

September 21, 2023

On 6/14/2023 at 6:53 PM, Shaporama said:

We are thinking of doing the same thing in early February 2024. Did you manage to squeeze in a short London visit before your flight home?

Our ship (Viking Venus) docks in Tilbury in the early morning. I am wondering if its doable to debark the ship at 8 am then transfer to our hotel (Hilton Garden at Terminal 2), drop our bags and take the Express train or tube into London for a days tour and meals.

Also, we are responsible for our own transfers, any suggestions on the most efficient method of travel from Tilbury to Heathrow would be helpful. We would be more interested in saving time, instead of saving money.

Thanks much!

We stayed at the LHR Hilton Garden Inn at Terminal 2/3 recently ..... it was very convenient after our overnight flight.

August 18, 2023

Why bring back any food from shore ?

Do you expect a shortage on board?

August 15, 2023

Ridiculous !!!!

Why should I be thrilled with paying for something I used to get for free?

Princess, please think this through. It is not a good way to treat customers.

August 15, 2023

2 hours ago, canadarocks said:

I know a lot of people have been complaining that they haven't received any official notice.... I just received this:

We’ve recently introduced several new enhancements at no additional cost for guests like you who have the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package. Here are the key additions:

If you have the Princess Plus package, you’ll receive two complimentary casual dining meals during your voyage. If you have the Princess Premier package, you’ll enjoy unlimited casual dining meals, in addition to two specialty dining meals.

Expanded casual dining options: Delicious prix fixe menus have been added to casual dining restaurants like Planks, Steamers, Alfredo's, Gigi's by Alfredo, Ocean Terrace and Kai Sushi. They’re available for a nominal cover charge of $14.99.

This fee is waived if you have a Princess Plus or Princess Premier package.

OceanNow® delivery: To ensure you can have whatever you need during your cruise delivered directly to you, a nominal access fee of $14.99 per guest per voyage will now apply to OceanNow delivery.

This fee is waived for if you have a Princess Plus and Princess Premier package, as it is included at no extra charge.

Room service fee: A $5 delivery fee will be charged for all room service orders (except complimentary stateroom breakfast orders).

These enhancements reflect our commitment to providing you with an effortless cruise experience that pleases a variety of preferences.

We hope you enjoy these expanded options and look forward to welcoming you on board soon.

LEARN MORE

November 8, 2022

Thank you.

Yes, my wife and I did remain healthy during the trip and the 2 subsequent quarantines courtesy of the Japanese government and the US government. After 2 vaccines shots and one booster I acquired a mild case of COVID in Jan of this year.

We have since cruised with Princess and will continue to do so.

They treated us wonderfully .... even though one of their ships was first to have COVID on board, it could have been any cruise line, especially those that had stops in Asian ports.

Travel safely.

Jerry

October 30, 2022

On 10/25/2022 at 6:48 PM, Oakman58 said:

The Diamond Princess had the misfortune to be the first cruise ship affected by the Corona Virus (Covid 19). She was quarantined in Yokohama in Feb 2020 for a month with 3700 passengers and crew onboard. Since this was a new virus, medical authorities didn't handle the outbreak very well. When they finally allowed passengers to disembark 700 people had been infected. For some reason the number that died from the virus can't be confirmed and depending on what you read the number ranges from 9 to 14. There is an HBO special titled, The Last Cruise, and documents the Covid 19 outbreak on the Diamond.

I will be cruising on the Diamond on Jan 6th for 16 days to Hawaii.

My wife and I were passengers on that ill fated cruise and endured the 2 week quarantine on the ship and a 13 hour cargo plane ride return to the USA, Lackland AFB for another 2 week quarantine.

One of people in our travel group wrote about her experience, from arriving in Tokyo for a pre cruise stay until she and her husband returned to their home after the 2 quarantines. If you have not read her book, QUARANTINE! How I Survived the Diamond Princess Coronavirus Crises, by Gay Courter, you should do so. It is available on Amazon in ebook and soft cover. To be 100% transparent, I am an (unpaid) contributor to the book. My review is on Amazon.

April 9, 2020

On 4/7/2020 at 4:00 AM, Roberto256 said:

I don't know what the reason is, but with the number of princess ships involved, it has to be way more than bad luck.

Understanding the cause, I think, would make people more comfortable to return to cruising.

Carnival which included Princess and other brands hauled 42% of the global cruise passengers last year and I assume this year too. This puts them at more risk than other cruise lines. I would assume that the US and UK passengers and probably the Asian passenges on the Princess SE Asia and Japan itineraries are older than the general population. All of the data related to COVID 19 deaths show that over age 60 patients have a much higher death rate than under age 60. Princess has been dealt a bad hand of cards in this situation.

March 5, 2020

I can speak with authority on this subject because I just returned home from a wonderful cruise on the Diamond, followed by 12 days of quarantine on the Diamond (and an additional 14 at Lackland AFB) getting daily updates from our Captain Arma. A captain has a duty to his/her passengers to care for their health and safety regardless of a disaster whether that disaster affects the ship (as in sinking) or its passengers health (as in the Corona virus situation). Schettino failed miserably. Caprtain Arma's integrity, fortitude, levity, calming voice and leadership kept passengers and crew from staging a mutiny and storming the exits. He is the Hero in this unfortunate tragedy which was exacerbated by the inept management of the quarantine by the Japanese government. Captain Arma's nightmare lasted 23 days and he valiantly stayed with his ship to the very end.

March 5, 2020

Amen.

I was on the ship.

He performed incredibly.

He is a true leader.

Without his soothing announcements the Japanese would have experienced another Iwo Jima.

June 30, 2019

14 hours ago, mringenoldus said:

Hello,

We are on the mid-October Liberte sailing from Arles to Lyon. When I booked Emerald they were so new that there were few reviews. I am very happy with what I have read so far. Thank you for being willing to answer questions.

I was pleased to read that it is permissible to bring your our beer or wine onboard from the ports. Where there glasses in the cabin in order to drink any purchases?

My BIL was wondering how dressed he would need to be for dinner. Would decent jeans be considered acceptable?

The weather is generally predicted to be in the upper 50's. Did you find the need for more than a light jacket? Were there umbrellas onboard in case on rain?

Maureen

We found the Liberte to be very comfortable. It was a little shorter than the Dawn and held about 40 fewer passengers. The decor was very similar to the Dawn.

Even though you can bring you own beer or wine it is not necessary because both are included with lunch and dinner. You can buy both by the drink or purchase an all you can drink beer and wine package for about 11 Euro per day. Included wines change almost daily - the included beer is Bitburger draft.

Dress is casual ... nice jeans or casual slacks and collared shirt or V-neck sweater will be appropriate for dinner.

As others have mentioned, layering clothes is optimal with a light jacket being the heaviest outerwear needed.

Enjoy your trip.

June 24, 2019

On 6/22/2019 at 2:28 AM, Moo_Cruiser said:

Hi Everyone

We are from Australia and just booked our first river cruise on Emerald Destiny Budapest to Amsterdam on 24 May 2020.

We're very excited and really keen for any tips re Emerald in general and pre and post cruise hotels.

Keen to know did anyone book the hotels through Emerald or did you find your own? If you do your own thing, are transfers included with Emerald?

Also re drinks onboard, after dinner can you take drinks from the dining table to the lounge area; are they strict with the cut off time for the free drinks with dinner? And can you bring your own duty free alcohol or wine from a port and drink it on the deck?

Thanks everyone for your help. Would love ideas for hotels too!

Cheers

Amanda

Amanda

Answers to some of your questions

1. Red and white wine and draft beer are served while seated during lunch and dinner. You can take a glass with you when you leave the dining room.

2. No problem bringing your own on board.

3. We stayed at the Prestige Hotel in Budapest after our cruise - it is close to many walkable tourist spots. I highly recommend pre-purchasing tickets to visit the Hungarian Parliament building which is within walking distance of the Prestige. It is an amazing building - it gives the Vatican a run for its money.

4. Emerald does not provide transfers unless you use their hotels. But, taxi's and car services are not expensive.

Tips-

1. Emerald has on board laundry wash, dry, fold services. I forgot what we paid, about 15 Euro per bag. Bags were the standard size found in hotels.

2. The only paid tour we took was to Chesky Krumlov - it was well worth it.

3. Wear comfortable walking shoes.

Following is a copy of the review I wrote when we returned in 2017.

We liked the cruise so much we took the Rhone River Arles to Lyon cruise in May.
Also awesome.

Have fun.