Faircliff

They didn't have the Miso Salmon or the Arctic Char at Aqua Spa cafe on Century?

 

 

Not that we ever noticed... But they sure pushed the ( small) $5.50 smoothies and yogurt parfaits. I mean, why charge for some yogurt, a few berries and some granola, while people are taking platefuls of bacon and salmon in the buffet? And they only had two small containers of sad looking stewed fruit, where as I remember before they had quite a few more which were very interesting. One really picked up the vibe that they are trying to kill off the Aqua Spa Café, and certainly for us they have.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Just to follow up, they did have a Captain's Club gathering on Century to Alaska August 3-10, 2014. It was in, I believe the Crystal room, and the captain and top officers were there. There was a receiving line, and afterwords the captain spoke, the cruise director spoke, and then the senior officers mingled. It was very nice. There were appetizers that were brought around and each person was allowed an alcoholic drink.... Or several. The string quartet played in the background and it was lovely. I do miss the larger celebration, however there is so much food on the ship one hardly needs a separate food event. I would be happier if they did away with this event and returned the yogurt parfait's to the Aqua Spa café for free... And the salmon entrée!

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Well, we did it Aug 3-10, 2014 on Century to Alaska. It was $99 for the week plus 15% gratuity (US $ of course). It was great although we didn't get there every day given our dining time and it's closing time. Most of the time there wasn't an issue getting a bench, but my biggest complaint was that it was never policed. There were people who had obviously settled in there for the day and at one point there must have been six people waiting to get on to the benches and no one who had been there when I arrived was even thinking of moving. Of course, if there are others waiting, I always leave at the recommended 20 minutes to make room for others, but some people never even consider this! Perhaps the sign isn't big enough. We also found that for part of the trip, one of the benches was actually cold. We mentioned this to the staff but I never did find out if it was followed up on. And, given all the safety precautions with hand sanitizer, we also wondered if those benches are ever wiped down.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Oh my. I will quote what the ship's naturalist said over the intercom to passengers on my Alaskan cruise on the Century. "If you're sitting inside looking at this magnificent sight through the window then you may as well be watching TV."

 

Get out on deck and feel the chill and listen to the glacier crack and rumble. Take it all in without a dirty window in your way.

 

If you've seen Hubbard Glacier (or any other) so many times then by all means enjoy Murano.

 

 

The lunch didn't begin until we had left the glacier. 12 noon was the first sitting and we had just cleared the ice in the water and were in more "open" sea as we sat down.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Just returned from a lovely trip to Alaska and was wondering, who actually drives the tender boats? Also, we were speculating, do all of the crew have to have lessons in the event of an emergency where they may be required to operate the tender boats?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

I wouldn't count on getting off the ship quickly with a private tour at Icy Strait. We just returned from the seven-day trip to Alaska and that was our first port. We had to tender in of course. Ship arrived I believe at 3 PM and it was at least 4 PM before the first tours got off the ship and those were Celebrity sponsored excursions. We had tender number 12 and it was at least 5 PM before we headed to shore. There were tender numbers past number 30 and I don't know when they made it. Most of the people at our dinner table gave up and stayed on board the ship. Pity as it was a nice (small) place, despite the rain.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Thanks everyone for your input. I just thought I would let you all know that I have just returned from the seven-day round-trip from Vancouver on the Century and Murano's was open for lunch on two days. One day was the Hubbard glacier day and the other I believe was the last sea day. It was listed in the special insert in the dailies the night before. It was by no means full although we did book it before we boarded the ship when they had a special kiosk at Dock side. Cost was $30 per person and it was a special lunch, not as elegant as the evening options, but I had the lobster and my companion had the filet mignon. It was just perfect for us and it was nice to be able to see out the windows.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Does Princess offer a water package like some other cruise lines? I know the tap water is safe but I hate the thought of filling my bottle in the bathroom numerous times a day.

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Our very first ever cruise was on Celebrity Mercury. Been hooked on cruising ever since!

 

Ditto. Our first cruise ever. Got us hooked. Excellent service. Loved the champagne greeting, the ice cream, entertainment... everything!

 

Heading off today on Century to Alaska. Sailed her once before. This will be the last on her.

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

[quote name='Thrak']YES!!! I would love to have some cruises to Vancouver and Victoria that are round trip from SF. My problem is that the cruises there only go one way. If there were round trip cruises I'd be really happy. I love sea days and both Vancouver and Victoria are great places to visit.

As for the folks from Vancouver visiting the U.S. I spoke with some folks there who loved to come to the U.S. even if it was only to have the chance to purchase booze at roughly half the price they pay at home. ;)[/QUOTE]


Our trip in September that is RT from Vancouver on GrNd Princess is excellent for west coasters. It goes from Vancouver to Victoria, then to San Francisco, then to Santa Barbara, Catalina Island, Los Angeles, and returns to Vancouver. Unfortunately, it is a one-off and will not be repeated until the following year in April and September.


Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Best of luck to you both! Please post how things turn out.

 

 

Well, we are still hoping. She is still non-weight-bearing but will see the surgeon again in a months time. He was a bit ambivalent but not negative so we are assuming she will be able to hobble on to the ship and sit in a deck chair for the entire cruise. I will be the one treating her like royalty. ;-).

 

I will update everyone to let you know the actual ramifications if Princess is involved.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

There was a woman recovering from ankle surgery on our PP cruise last winter. She had a sort of scooter/walker that she knelt the bad leg on, so she was resting on her knee and shin, and pushed herself along with the other leg. One of the waiters would carry her food tray in the buffet, and the scooter was light enough to easily go in the tenders for port days.

 

If your friend is healthy enough to bear weight on her knee, this might be an option.

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

 

Actually, my friend is using a knee walker at the moment. They are a godsend… I used one for eight months when I broke my ankles. Saved the day. However I am not really too sure how we would get it from our home to the ship as there is travelling involved. We might be able to get it on the tender but I don't think we could get HER on the tender (she's not a spring chicken).

 

Someone also mentioned about downgrading to a smaller cabin. I've looked into this but the cruise is 99% sold out and I think the only inside left is in the nose of the ship. How long that one will even remain is a question and we haven't had any word from the doctors or surgeons yet.

 

Thank you to everyone who is giving their information. We are still very much up in the air but I do appreciate hearing all the different scenarios and possibilities. Once we do have something definitive from the surgeon we will have our TA and Princess in the loop as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Nothing is mentioned about the passenger with the non-injury. Do you go have your own insurance? Your insurance should cover you in this case (you will be able to keep the cabin as a solo, if both if you have insurance).

 

I traveled ONCE, without insurance and my cabin mate needed surgery. Neither of us had insurance. She didn't want to be a no show, even though her entire fare was no longer refundable. I had to be refared as a solo with a supplement.

 

Try replacing your cabin mate as a back up.

 

 

 

Yes, I have insurance as well but don't want to cancel out of the cruise as we are going with other friends in another cabin. Given the cost of cruises finding another single person could be hard. Paying twice the cost isn't really an option for me - I was already at my max.

 

As soon as we hear anything I will see what the TA can figure out.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

We will be boarding Century to go to Alaska on August 3. I am wondering which days the main dining room and Murano's are open for lunch....particularly the Hubbard glacier day. Is it the same menu and price in Murano's for lunch as for dinner? And, are good quality jeans allowed in the main dining room for lunch? I know they're not for dinner.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

I may be off base, but when was the break? I'm guessing it was bad enough to require surgery, or is it so recent she hasn't been able to see the orthopedic surgeon yet? I'm asking because I broke my ankle about 1 1/2 weeks before our British Isles cruise, but I admit it wasn't a really bad break. My doc put me in a boot, and we borrowed a wheelchair. We also took my crutches with us. I did tell my doc about the planned vacation and he went with the least restrictive, but safe, course of action.

 

 

The break was just this past Monday, and currently she can't see the orthopedic surgeon until the 24th (even in Canada!). She has been in hospital until today and they have been looking at it but no one seems to know if it will be require a pin or not. Seems strange to me that she has to wait that long to see the guy. Current thoughts from the ER doctor, house Dr., and nurses is that even if she doesn't have a pin in it she will have to stay nonweightbearing for eight weeks... And cannot use crutches.

 

We will live and hope that it is a simple break although at this point they say it is unstable. She did get very expensive insurance, not from Princess, but from our travel agency so hopefully it would cover her cost.

 

I really feel for her and I can't complain because last summer I fell and broke both my ankles in three places (!!!) weeks before a Bermuda cruise I was taking with my sister. In that case we both canceled and cancellation insurance was used for both parties. If nothing else this proves the point that one should always get cancellation and medical insurance when one goes on a cruise!

 

I appreciate hearing that people have still gone on the cruise without their partner/sister/friend and it has worked out. We are cruising with other friends so I would not be alone, and the thought of a balcony cabin all to myself is kind of appealing. ;-)

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Could anyone tell me what happens if my roommate cannot travel after final payment? She has broken an ankle and at this point is not even in a cast and cannot put weight on the foot. With only eight weeks to go till the cruise, we do not even know if they will put her in a walking cast at that point.

 

What does this mean for me? Will her cancellation insurance cover the cost for her but I can still have the room to myself? Or does Princess allow us to substitute another person (if we can even find one)? I certainly hope they do not make me pay full price for the room!!

 

We will check with our TA once we have a bit more information from the doctors but I'm looking for opinions now on how to handle this.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

I'm salivating just thinking about it...will be over-indulging in it's amazingness in 2 weeks.

 

All you can eat Alderwood Smoked Salmon over an open flame with all-you-can-eat fixins!

 

DON'T MISS! :p :p :p :p

 

Just goes to show... we all have different experiences. Gold Creek Salmon Bake in Juneau was one of the worst meals I've ever had. I suspect weather has a great deal to do with it. For me, it was cold - drizzling and then turned to rain. The food was mostly cold and/or the trays hadn't been refilled. The place also looked like it needed a good cleaning. I couldn't wait to get out of there... but alas... the lineups to get back on the (school) buses was LONG. Not a great experience. :eek:

Can anyone who has been on Century to Alaska this year tell me if there are any nights when the Traditional Dining becomes Anytime Dining due to late departure from a port? This was the case on one of my last cruises. I like the Early Traditional but may have to work a shore excursion around it one night.

I would vote no to the canned music. When we were at Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm, we really appreciated the quiet on deck. We were constantly straining our ears to hear the sound of the cracking which would announce calving. And yes there was the screech of the seabirds and other peaceful sounds of nature. The naturalist piping in occasionally was appreciated but overall the sense of awe and wonder was the overriding force.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

While the plates are big, they do not hold as much as the trays did. If you are getting several different plates/bowls plus beverage, it will be tough

 

 

Okay, thanks everyone for your replies. This is why these forums are so helpful. I guess like others I will pop down to the dollar store and find a tray to take along.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Was just over on the Celebrity Forums – I'm cruising with them in August – and there's a discussion about Celebrity having done away with trays in the buffet. Can anyone tell me if this is the same on Princess – especially the Grand – as I will be sailing on her in September? We will have a veranda cabin and I have always in the past enjoyed getting food, either for breakfast or lunch, in the buffet and taking it back to eat on the balcony. Those on Celebrity seem to be taking their own trays and I was wondering if this is something I should consider.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

A shame you missed our lovely city but actually the weather was not that fantastic last night. Cool with a bit of rain. Today is supposed to rain as well which we actually need very badly as we have not had much of late. I feel for the passengers with those short evenings stays of just a few hours. Not only in Victoria but in some other locations where they do the same thing. How is anyone supposed to see anything of the city?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Heading to Alaska in less than a month on Celebrity Century… A very last-minute decision. The last time we were on Century was in the Mediterranean and I remember being invited to a fantastic Captain's Club brunch one sea day. Are they still doing these?

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Actually, according to the port schedules the Grand Princess docks in San Pedro. Nothing near the ports really interests me and part of the reason for going on this cruise is to actually see the destinations we are going to. Princess is making this rather difficult at the moment. If it is their assumption that people taking this cruise have actually seen each of the destinations before hand, they are grossly mistaken.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app

Los Angeles is just a stop....then we return to Vancouver.

 

In Santa Barbara they only list three possible excursions and all of them are out of town (wine, etc). I certainly hope they will add more but I won't hold my breath.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Cruise Critic Forums mobile app