Luvmyrotti

Stunning photos. Thanks for sharing.

Can someone who uses a scooter go on the galley tour portion of the chef's table?

Just curious, but was does a simple doctor visit cost on the ship?

For us it was $95 for the initial visit with the doc and $80 for each of the follow ups. We were also charged for wound care with the nurse. There were also charges for the two blood tests they ran, for wound care supplies and for antibiotics. About $400 overall. Well worth it for piece of mind.

Will they take a fax? It may be worth asking.

I filed my original claim via fax and faxed all of the receipts. For some reason they want the originals.

Make sure you keep a copy for yourself. If you don't have access to a copier - take a photo of the document with your phone.

Absolutely, we have copies of everything. In addition to the onboard medical clinic, we also had to go to a "hospital" in Manzanillo, Mexico for an x-Ray, as the onboard x-ray machine was down. I just hate to give up original documents.

Okay, I pulled up the policy document and I think it supports that it is primary. The reason I was worried is that I filed a claim and then they asked me for our original receipts and I didn't want to send our original receipts to Travelex if we were then going to have to file with our health insurance.

Thanks for all the replies. I should have been more clear. Yes I aware that the bills will go on my onboard account and I will settle it up with my credit card. We have already done so. I was just trying to sort out the primary vs secondary issue.

I'm hoping someone who has had to use the onboard medical center and who had travel insurance can report their experience. Does the travel insurance require that you first submit the claim to your health insurance to determine if they will pay any portion of the bill? We have travelex insurance.

so ...you have to have a seat to get a drink, no bar you can just walk up to and order? :(

You can certainly get a drink at the bar during BOGO happy hour, after waiting in what is usually a long line. :D

ok, wind is good. It's too hot when the air is still. I don't think I would use the lounge as there are so many places to enjoy a snack. So other than those issues I think it's a win win.

 

Are those the only draw backs, because these cabin seem to be the best on the ship. Am I missing something other than wind and walking a greater distance to the pool etc..?

As a prior poster indicated, these suites have very narrow balconies (long, but narrow). The aft suites have much larger, deeper balconies.

ETA: Oh, and I assume you are talking about the Royal class ships.

It's a shame Princess can't bring back the 5 Hawaiian ports instead of only the 4. More time around the islands in fine with me. Ensenada who? LOL

Unfortunately, if they do a round trip from LA or San Francisco, they have to stop in Ensenada or another "distant" foreign port in order to not be in violation of the Jones Act. The Hawaii cruises that sail from Vancouver do not need to stop in Ensenada, since they don't originate in the US.

The biggest pro for us is that it's prime whale season.

It's a great itinerary if you like sea days. We had only one day of rough seas, leaving San Pedro. We loved it so much that we've booked another for February 2018.

Thank you. I read that some have experienced some negative odors on the balcony there. Any such experience such as that?

We typically sail in vistas on Caribe or Dolphin deck and have never experienced any odor. We just love the vistas for their aft location and generous amount of room, with the deep balconies.

Thanks for sharing some info. we board her two weeks from Sunday and can't wait to get aboard.

Thank you Doreen and Sharon, :)

You're welcome. Sometimes I just can't take it and have to call BS on the nonsense. :D

I'm not sure that many people would appreciate you putting either your dirty shoes or bare feet on a chair that someone else could come and sit down on after. I see the same on the Royal/Regal Princess sofas in the shade up on the pool deck. It's not hygenic and, in my opinion, just another form of chair-hogging.

Hygienic . . . really?? :rolleyes: It's not like the next person is going to come along naked and sit on the chair with a bare behind and pick something up. :eek: Also, those chairs are subject to sea spray and salt air, which are fairly decent disinfectants, so really there is not much to worry about in terms of passing on some sort of "bug". Also, it's not like people are slogging through a lot of "nasties" with their shoes or feet on a cruise ship. Overall, a pretty silly argument.

In terms of "chair hogging", so often, I see MANY of those chairs free and I personally couldn't care less if someone puts their feet up on a spare one. It's definitely not like chair hogging next to the pools.

Thanks for the review.

As the first Grand Class ship......

IMO its time for the Grand to go.

What makes you say that? It actually sounds like the OP experienced her being in pretty good shape, and of course she should get a nice sprucing up during her upcoming drydock.

We actually really enjoyed the Grand when we were on her a few years ago. We particularly enjoyed some of the changes that were made during her major refit when skywalkers was removed.

I have never been charged a corkage fee in the mdr or specialty restaurants, we only bring 2 bottles on a cruise. Just lucky I guess. I'm sure it will happen.

If you only bring two bottles (assuming you are double occupancy in your cabin), there would be no corkage fee, as each person of drinking age sailing gets to bring one bottle without charge of corkage.

Thanks for your review. We will be on the Grand in three and a half weeks and are happy to hear that you found her to be in reasonably good shape.

I found some menus from the Ruby with the regional things listed. I don't think this is a complete set, though. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2359690

Thanks for finding those Shredie.

I would think that the Alaska regional dishes will not be in place for the Mexico sailings, so I'll be interested to see what they substitute.

We were on the Grand in July of this year, the always available side of the menu listed

shrimp cocktail (with the red sauce)

Caesar salad

hazelnut crusted salmon with maple syrup glaze *a signature Alaskan dish of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

pan seared, corn fed chicken

Princess gourmet beef burger

 

This side of the menu did not change during the cruise. Fettuccini Alfredo was listed each evening under the other evening pasta course. There were a few nights when a Curtis Stone item appeared on the other side of the menu under the main courses.

Thanks for sharing. It's not what I wanted to hear, but at least I can prepare my husband for the lack of his favorites. That's a disappointing Always Available menu overall.

Every night??

 

DON

Most nights, yes. He's a VERY boring, picky eater. Crazy, right?:D

We are sailing in December on the Grand and I also hope that the original Always Available items are there! I will be incredibly disappointed if I can't get my fettucine alfredo every night, and my husband loves the caesar salad in the parmesan bowl. And what about the Love Boat Dream dessert?

From everything I've seen, the fettuccine alfredo is still firmly on the menu, as is the caesar salad, so I think you're all set. It's the former Always Available entrees that seem to be in question.

Really? No recent Grand cruisers with info?

My SIL has the same questions.

The most recent Grand menus I could find were from March and they are the old Always Available menus with no Curtis Stone. I'd love it if that's still the case.