FraudBroad

The two hour cocktail party every evening is very nice. Each night has a different appetizer served (chips and salsa/guacamole...steak tartar...sushi...they always have cheese and crackers). There is a list of "special" drinks for the week...you can order any of those drinks, any night of the cruise, during the cocktail hour, for $5 each. I believe some of the drinks are: Margarita, Port Wine, Chairman of the Board, and Cosmopolitan. I believe there are a few others but I can't remember right now. You'll enjoy it!

having sailed on carnival for 16 cruises,we are sailing on the royal princess in march 2017. what can we expect as a season cruiser?

Exceptional service....wonderful food...great entertainment and a beautiful ship. Royal is one of my personal favorites!

I've only sailed Carnival once and for me it wasn't the cruise line...never again...but Princess is my favorite. IMHO there's a level of service with Princess that you don't normally see. I think you will be very impressed!

Normally we sail on NCL and we want to do a Panama Canal cruise this spring. We are looking at the NCL Pearl but we sailed her a couple of years ago and she was getting long in the tooth then and is probably more worn now. Princess seems to have more sailings and their balconies are about $200 cheaper as of now. I don't know anything about the Princess ships that sail the PC. We really love the freestyle cruising on NCL but are considering Princess for this cruise. For those who have sailed both, how do they compare....ship condition, food, entertainment, and hassle free (freestyle) cruising ?

I've sailed the Pearl twice and done the Panama Canal on the NCL Star. It was probably one of my favorite cruises of all time.

When it comes to comparison, imho....Princess has NCL beat hands down. There is a level of service on Princess that you just don't find on NCL.

I'm Platinum with NCL and have sailed quite a few times with them but to be honest, I'm pretty much done. I don't like the changes NCL has made and am doubtful that I will be back again.

You will LOVE Princess. The ships are beautiful, the service is amazing....if you want a "Freestyle" experience then chose "Anytime Dining" and you won't be disappointing. The food on Princess is about 100 times better than the free restaurants on NCL. You can't go wrong!

Good luck making your decision. You will love sailing through the canal. It's an amazing experience!

... And yet another update!

 

 

 

I have been moved (by my fabulous TA) to a room for two.

 

 

 

Whew! I have avoided the curse of the headbanger. Now, if I can learn to negotiate that shower!

Repeat after me..."I love the shower curtain...I love the shower curtain...I love the shower curtain."

You can do it :)

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I did the same and had the same experience. And I cancelled for the same reason. I'm done with the up charges, price increases and lowered level of service. When I had to wait 8 weeks for a refund for my March cruise and got screwed over by the spa (yes, I wrote to NCL and they said it wasn't their problem and I'd have to contact the company that runs the spa...only took them 8 weeks to respond) I decided I'd had enough.

To each his own but NCL is no longer for me!

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The Med is on my bucket list as I just did the Baltic (lengthy review posted) and we freaking loved it.

The Baltic was simply amazing. We spent two days pre cruise in Copenhagen. I can't say enough about what a lovely, charming city it truly is.

We did the big long trip into Berlin. It was a wonderful city.

We loved Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki as well and were surprised at how much we really loved them.

Tallinn is fascinating and lovely...really a nice surprise.

At St. Petersbug....well I never thought I'd set foot on Russian soil and I did. And our tour of the Hermitage was about 2 hours long and we were the only ones there. And you don't stop and listen to "lectures" you're walking the entire time and trying to take it all in. And I, for one, am not an art person.

The two days in St Petersbug can be overwhelming and exhausting. We went full force the first day from 7 in the morning until after 10 at night. We were back at it the next day for another 8 hours. And the sights truly are amazing.

It rained on us in Oslo, Berlin, Tallinn and day 2 in St Petersburg. And the weather did suck. But we say so much and did so much...the lousy weather didn't color my opinion of the trip. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

I will go back to the Baltic again... but only after I've done the Med.

Good luck with your decision!

Grief is a lifelong process...it just doesn't end...I know...I lost my husband six years ago and he's still the first thing I think of every morning and the last thing I think of every night....

But since he's passed away I've begun to travel more and more...cruise more and more...and we just finished our first Baltic cruise...which btw...was amazing.

And each and every single time I do travel I remember Matt and I smile and I think to myself "he would have loved this."

If you go, go for you...not for your sweet mamma and what would have been...go because that's what your heart is telling you to do. And when you do go...you'll think of her often...more with smiles than with tears.

Only you can make the decision for what is right for you. We can all give you our opinions but only YOU know what is in your heart. And your wallet for that matter...it's a long expensive trip!!!

You've got a fan club here kiddo. We all love your reviews! I am 100% positive you will meet someone and have an amazing trip. Even with your "man cold" on the Royal a few years ago you had a great time. You can do it again!

Regards,

Natalie

So, let me understand this correctly....

I will still be inundated with worthless flyers about how I need to purchase Tanzanite before the prices sky rockets, the "MUST ATTEND" art auction and the latest salon "Special"...not to mention the endless flyers they hand to me about the hottest "Shopping" spots in port while I'm disembarking the ship for some much needed beach time....but I'm not going to get my Princess Patter each night at bed time?

You already don't give me a towel animal unless I ask and now you want to take away my Patter?

Are you taking away the chocolate on my pillow too?

Is this some kind of crazy conspiracy? Seriously? Has someone at corporate lost their ever loving mind?

I live in Chicago and every single day on the news I hear about how someone else has been shot....I watch the national news and another riot has occurred....I watch international news and there's been another terrorist attack...so no, in the grand scheme of things in this life this is the LEAST of my problems....

BUT...

The freaking Princess Patters make me happy and if they take them away....that's just wrong...

If you want to cut back in the name "environmental friendliness" then get rid of all of the other crap you deliver to my cabin on a daily basis.

Don't touch my damned Princess Patters.

Hi Nancy!

I sailed in a "sideways" inside on Royal last year. Can I just say it's one of my favorite cabins ever?

One wall is the bed with two night stands on either side. The other wall is a long desk/dresser combo with mirror and the TV.

Behind that are wide, deep shelves plus the normal cabinet with shelves and the safe.

Across from that is the closet, divided into two sections.

We actually had MORE storage space in our inside cabin than my mother had in her balcony.

The bathroom was just the same as the one in her balcony.

IMHO...sideways cabins rock :)

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My TA recently sent mine in for me....not only for my more recent cruise but for all of the cruises I had booked. I received an email back from Princess telling me to re-submit all of them no sooner than 90 days prior to sail date. I'd only recently purchased the stock and was 7 days prior to sailing and they applied the credit that day. Easy peasy....

Enjoyed reading your trip account immensely. You will always look back on this trip as one 0f a kind. We're on Regal Sept 10 for the T/A. I may have missed it, but what did you think of the obstructed veranda staterooms on Emerald deck? We're booked in E326 which, I believe, is beside one of your rooms.

 

Appreciate your comments, Steve

Hi Steve,

The room is perfectly fine! Honestly, we had so much rain and the Baltic is rather cool temperature wise anyway we didn't really use the balcony a whole lot. I would have booked an inside cabin for this cruise, and that's what the plan was, until my aunt decided to join us...and she just couldn't/wouldn't/refused to stay in an inside cabin. Too bad though, I had an inside on the Royal last January that was on my favorite cabins of all time. Actually had more usable storage space than this balcony did.

The one day I would have liked to have been out there was when we were sailing from Stockholm but my aunt was napping, so no dice. Go figure...that was pretty much my luck for this cruise.

The obstruction is looking down, not out. The lifeboat is right below the balcony so you can't look straight down. But the view straight out is just fine.

All of our cabins were E6 something so I don't believe we were close to where you will be located.

But you will LOVE Regal...she's such a beautiful ship...one of my favorites and I can't wait to sail her again, and again, and again....

Thanks so much!

For my DH is there a cigar lounge on the Royal and can you bring your own cigars or do you have to buy from them (if they have them) to use in the lounge?

Yes, Churchill's on deck 6 forward is the cigar lounge. You may bring your own or purchase.

Thank you for this wonderful review! My kids are 18, 16, and 12 and we have done five cruises with them so far - they would have been exactly like your kids and said the same things. I laughed my butt off reading about them because it is so true when traveling with teens. I love that you had your parents along as well. We just did an Alaskan cruise with my parents (and aunts, uncles, and cousins) and it reminds me of your experience, although far less exciting locations. I have been considering a Baltic cruise and you have given me great insight. And good to know about the possible issues with SAS airlines, as they are an option to Copenhagen for us. So thank you again for such an entertaining and informative read!

Thank YOU so much for following along and all of your nice comments! Yes, traveling with teens can be an experience!

We actually did Alaska with my parents two years ago when they took all of us for their 50th anniversary. A LOT less stressful than Europe that's for sure!

Most definitely do the Baltic. It's an amazing cruise and the sites are just spectacular. It's a once in a lifetime experience!

Happy sailing!

Hi

 

It is some time since we have been on Princess and never before with a child :eek:! Previously we have had OBC per cabin but this time we have OBC per person and wondered how a 4 year old can spend it and on what. It is OBC given on a promotion by Princess, not by a TA.

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.

 

Brenda

Since you'll all have the same onboard account, whatever credit is left at the end of the cruise will come off the total bill. It really doesn't matter who the OBC is "assigned" to...since you'll be on the same "account" it all goes into the same pot!

FraudBroad- great review and play by play of your cruise experience . My husband and I did the Baltic cruise a few years ago on the Star Princess and we to ran into "bad" weather as well,but it didn't stop us from seeing everything we wanted to see. (Can't travel worrying about weather)

We also took SAS,but from Washington DC and we had no problems at all. I feel for you on the luggage situation .I've only had my luggage delayed one time for quite a few days (not on a cruise)and now I travel with everything and anything in my carry-on that I want to see again. I know this is not the way to really travel ,but unfortunately once you've had your luggage mis-placed you look at things a little differently.

Loved reading about the Regal as I have not been on the ship before and I'm going in November (carribbean itin.),so thanks for the review also on the ship.

Julie

Thank you so much for following along and all of your nice comments...trust me...I will pack totally different going forward....NEVER AGAIN is my new motto!

We are on this one too. I hope we don`t get the same amount of rain. :eek:

This review is wonderful. I hope you can get it all.

Don't let the rain bother you....even with the rain this itinerary is spectacular! Hope you have an amazing trip!

Thank you so much for the link to the thread, all the pages came up. I had 7 early and with you link 11, so all was there. I loved your great storytelling of your great adventure. Thanks for sharing.

So so so glad you were able to read the review in its entirety! And thank you for your nice words!

I'm trying on the Regal on July 28th. I just stumbled across your incredible review of your cruise in June. I want to finish reading all your posts, but I can't.

 

 

 

I've gone through the thread two times, but I'm missing most of the cruise days. I got Copenhagen, Tallin, and day 2 of St. Petersburg. How do I get all your reviews???

 

 

 

It is like an unfinished book with a great ending. I can't finish!!

 

 

 

Martha

 

Texas

Try this link...it might help!

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/printthread.php?t=2372686

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I'm trying on the Regal on July 28th. I just stumbled across your incredible review of your cruise in June. I want to finish reading all your posts, but I can't.

 

 

 

I've gone through the thread two times, but I'm missing most of the cruise days. I got Copenhagen, Tallin, and day 2 of St. Petersburg. How do I get all your reviews???

 

 

 

It is like an unfinished book with a great ending. I can't finish!!

 

 

 

Martha

 

Texas

Oh no!!! That's awful!!!

The entire review is 11 pages long. I'd suggest if you're on your computer closing out your browser and going back in.

If you're on a smart phone scroll back up to the top and hit next page. I know for myself sometimes on my iPhone I can't get it to advance!

I'm so sorry...I hope it will work for you! Sometimes the cruise critic boards are little fickle. When that happens I go back later and it's just fine!

Do let me know how it goes!

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If you've been happy with Princess in the past you will be happy with Princess in the future...there's a level of service there that most lines can't compete with. You want something different? Something changed? Speak up...someone is always willing to listen and make the change.

We will be on the Royal in 10 days. Wondering if currency in casino is in US dollars?

Our Baltic cruise last month was all USD.

Hope that helps!

Great review; thank you so much for posting! One quick question: Would you please let me about the passenger mix on the ship; i.e., American, European, Russian, Asian? Thanks.

Thanks so much for your kind words....

There are more Americans, Canadians, Brits and Australians than other nationalities...BUT on our sailing...there were almost 600 Asians. Most all tours were being offered in Mandarin.

I did meet a couple of Russians, but I don't know how many actual Russian's boarded the ship in St Petersburg.

Hope that was helpful!

Hi, FraudBroad.

 

Wonderful review. I tend to avoid reviews on this board, but you hooked me with your first post. Loved it all. We have two DDs that were 3 and 6 when my parents (in their 50's) took us on our first cruise on The Big Red Boat. That's when we caught the cruise bug. Since then we have taken many cruises together until my parents finally had to hang up their sailing hats several years ago in their late 70's due to their health. Daughters are in their 20's now and none of us would trade any of our many family cruises with "Nana and Pappy" for anything.

 

We still cruise and my parents are still anxious to hear our sea tales. Baltics is on our list for next year, so we appreciated your insight. We have two cruises scheduled on the Regal this year. She and the Royal are our faves. Amen to your comment on the central stairs already!!

 

One question as I am the one who responded to your casino credit thread that never was answered. Are the pre-purchased casino credits still delivered as vouchers in your cabin? That's what I prefer, as well. I love that 3 Card poker table and that is where we will meet if ever on a cruise together!

 

Thanks again and Safe Journeys. Paul

Hi Paul!

Thanks so much for your kind comments!

I do hope you get to go to the Baltic next year...simply amazing!!!

YES!!! They are still delivered to your room and you just take them to the cashier in the casino to get the cash. Super duper easy!!!

And YES!!! I'm meet you at the 3 card poker table!!!

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We did this cruise in 2014 on the Royal. We too got to do the canal boat trip in the pouring p...ssing rain with fogged windows.

 

All of us wanted to skip it but were told "that is the itinerary and can't be changed"

 

Likewise we were all (with the exception of 2 ) tired and wanted to go back to the ship instead of seeing tombs at Peter and Paul. But the 2 people that wanted to go (they both were wearing jackets with the logo of a funeral home) won the day.....because they had paid to see it so the other 14 of us stayed on the bus.

 

But seriously, your review is one of my all time favourites. I hope that there will be many more in the future.

 

Thanks for all the time and effort.

That doesn't surprise me one bit that they didn't let you change the itinerary...I found Russia to feel very "controlled" the entire time...or that may have been just me with my pre-conceived notions of how it would be! None the less...not shocked by this!

And OMG...LMAO...that is the FUNNIEST thing I've ever heard! Seriously? Funeral home jackets? THAT'S EPIC!!!!

And thank you for taking the time to read the review and leave such nice comments. I so appreciate the kind words from everyone!

Thanks for taking us along on your journey. As one cc said, we could

see, smell and taste your journey. It was a wonderful review and with your

outlook on life I am sure that there will be many more to come. To Trevor, we enjoyed reading about your issues and how they were solved. We have know people that have lost passports, and credit cards and money on their

journeys, and have always wondered if they had problems and how they solved them. You, truly have a travel angel with you, keep traveling.

Again, thanks to all for a wonderful writing, travel journey.

Thanks so much...appreciate all of you kind words! I can't wait to cruise with Trevor again...He's the man...the main dude...we LOVE Trevor!

Spent the evening watching TV, reading this thread, laughing, pausing the TV to read parts to my husband's ailing prostate and then laughing some more. We are on this cruise in August, the 5th or 6th cruise of a lifetime for us. For as you well know, nothing changes your perspective more than the words Stage 4 coming from a doctor's mouth. Live your life. live your life. And keep on cruising!

 

No...the words "stage 4" suck like no other.

 

I'm glad I was able to laugh...and I WILL keep on cruising!

 

You will have an amazing trip! The Baltic is spectacular!

 

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Thank you for the review. We'll be on this cruise in a few weeks with our 2 elementary age children and while our styles of travel are a bit different, reading what you did was helpful. I'm definitely adding a couple of umbrellas to our luggage!

Yes! Don't forget the umbrellas...and waterproof jackets! Enjoy your trip and thanks for following along!