dread_pirate

Some clarification - the various packages are for groups, the information below (one package) is only on Sapphire and Star and may become available on all ships in sping of 2014.

 

 

Princess Cruises has begun testing their “All Inclusive Beverage Package” on a ship wide basis aboard the Star Princess and the Sapphire Princess.

The newly available beverage package will cost guests $49 a day with gratuities not included.

Does this mean that you have to sign for each drink in order to pay the gratuity? One of the things that I loved about the Unlimited Soda & More package was not having to sign a slip for each drink I ordered.

Or is it $49/day + 15% of the $49, or $56.35 per day?

Hi,

 

We too just got off the Connie and have stayed in the aqua class rooms on deck 9 and 11. Our preference was deck 9 due to the 18 inch cover overhead on 11. Deck 9 has a 5 foot to 8 foot overhead depending on the room location. While it does give sun seekers more sun, it also meant things got soaked when it rained. As far as noise, deck 11 is quieter. On the Connie there are glass "port holes" facing straight down from the lido deck restaurant where it extends over the ship and when people drug their chairs over them when they slid forward to the table we could clearly hear this in our cabin. Though I have to say this was only a 1/2 dozen times or so and wasn't loud enough where it would have awakened us. Blu on the Connie was great and Alex the restaurant manager was friendly and accommodating. We'll be doing Aqua class again on the Connie's sister ship the Summit in April and we can't wait.

We're sailing in AQ on deck 9, so I'm very glad to hear it was quiet! I was worried, as we usually book with cabins above & below. I think we're under the spa area, so hoping it will stay quiet! Otherwise, since I don't need to hear an alarm clock, there are always earplugs! :p

First time Celebrity cruiser here, off the Dec. 7 Reflection trip, so I have no previous experience to compare it to - I don't know if it was "better" in the past. As previously noted, our buffet was on our San Juan day. We got there towards the tail end, and had no problem finding seats or finding wonderful food. We really enjoyed it and thought it was significantly nicer than the Oceanview. I would definitely go again, but not at opening (of course, I try to avoid any food venue on a ship at opening, due to the feeding frenzy mentality!).

This was true until they released the Kindle Paperwhite last year. The paperwhite is the way to go, and spend the extra to get 3G on it as well as the wifi it comes with. With 3G/4G you can download books nearly anywhere in the world without paying extra for internet. EM

You may not have to pay extra for internet, but to use the 3G/4G feature you have to put the paperwhite on your cell phone plan and pay for it every month. Better to load as many books as you like when you have internet (I always have at least 4 that I haven't read yet) and not bother with the 3G/4G.

I also carry at least one paperback with me when I travel, to use when I'm at a pool (don't want a kindle getting wet) or somewhere else that I might want to leave it unattended (don't want a kindle getting stolen, either). So I read that outside.

About how much is a cab to Nachi? And how long?

I did it about a month and a half ago (about a month before the cruise). No charge, no problem.

SHIP: Reflection

CABIN #: 7252

DECK #: 7

CLASS: Verandah 2A

AREA: Midships

BED NEAR: Bathroom

QUIET?: Yes

BALCONY VIEW: Unobstructed (but two decks above lifeboat; looking straight down, you view the top of the lifeboat)

BALCONY SIZE: Average

WIND A PROBLEM?: No

SOOT A PROBLEM?: No

PROBLEMS/COMMENTS: Very nice cabin, close to the coffee area in the Hideaway. Nice not to have to run to Cafe al Bacio or Oceanview for a cup of coffee. Large bathroom. Storage limited.

You literally skim them over the reader, so they're only mm's away from it. These type of transactions in the UK are currently limited to £20 max. Yes they can be read by illegal devices, but they've got to be very close and you're more likely to have your old 'swipe' cards illegally swiped by a shop or restaurant than get your card read illegally. Yes you can get shielded wallets for your cards.

This is called RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. If you want a shield, look for products labelled as RFID-blocking.

Under the new system, how are points earned?

Anyone know??

:confused:

My question, too. How many points do I get for my 7 night cruise?

We're doing the same thing, but renting a car at FLL and dropping it off near the Port of Miami, no extra charge. Then we'll use SAS to take us back from POM to FLL for our fiights home - $15 per person.

We did our 30th anniversary cruise (we're pretty young too!) to Alaska, but I do admit that it's always something I wanted to do. There is nothing like Glacier Bay - absolutely stunning, and I'm not a "nature person." We had a great time, and in August had absolutely perfect weather - clear and in the 70's. I'd do Alaska again in a heartbeat. (If you start or end in Anchorage, be sure to stop at the Anchorage Museum - it's like 4 museums in one, including a Native American section that was fascinating.) There was nothing boring about Alaska - read the Alaska Port of Call board here to get an idea of all there is to do and see.

My only fear is that when I think of ports in Europe like Provence, Barcelona, Rome, etc, I Immediately think of ALL there is to see and see that excites me...

And this is why, while I'm younger, I have little desire to cruise in the Mediterranean - there is SO MUCH to see and do. We spent a week in Rome and a week in Tuscany and still didn't see or do all that I wanted. A cruise, to me, would simply whet my appetite and not satisfy it. I don't want to have 8 hours in Paris - I want to be in Paris!

If you want history in a truly accessible city, you can't beat Boston on a New England cruise. The ship docks very close to the center of the city, and it's totally walkable. Quebec City is also beautiful.

Whichever you select, I congratulate you on your 25th and I'm sure you'll be happy wherever your travels take you!

I doubt that you'd be allowed to bring the CO2 cartridges (required for the machine) on board. Probably best to leave the SodaStream at home and just buy regular sodas.

Or bring your own - Princess allows you to bring an unlimited amount of non-alcoholic beverages on board.

I think you know what I meant by "drink" an alcoholic drink. To each his own...if alcohol affects a family in a negative way it has an affect that's to be remembered. Many people can drink alcohol who aren't alcoholics but I'm just saying that a bit of consideration to those that are alcoholics and have quit would be nice in my opinion. Just like an alcoholic I don't think should work in a bar, it'd be nice if they could cruise without having it constantly in their face. Of course my brother and his wife (both functioning alcoholics) love it in their face so they wouldn't have a problem. Can't stand to be around someone who can't go a day without getting a buzz or getting drunk...and I'm not talking about a vacation, I'm talking about in every day life. Oh I guess I forgot to mention it has my female cousin in a wheel chair...yep good ole alcoholism runs in my family. It's why I don't.

 

Edited to add, how about a button or something that a guest could wear that let the servers know not to offer alcoholic drinks to them. Just a small pin on or something that would alert them (note I put the burden on the alcoholics and not the "drinkers". Just a thought.

 

I will say though that "merely because some are alcoholics" is, to me, trivializing but perhaps that's not how you meant it. So sorry if it's not but it's not "merely an alcoholic" it's a terrible thing.

But when a server comes around asking if you want a drink, you can order anything you want. They don't ask if you want an alcoholic drink. Do you mean that servers should only distribute non-alcoholic drinks?

No, I don't mean to trivialize alcoholism. But there are alcoholics in every bar, in every restaurant, in every club, at every resort, at (almost) every family gathering. That doesn't mean that these places should be dry, or that it should be difficult for others to get alcohol if they desire.

(And do you really think that alcoholics would wear that button you posit? Not if they want to drink, they won't. And if they don't want to drink, they don't need the button. Every cruise has a Friends of Bill W meeting).

so I find it offensive that they constantly ask you if you want a "drink".

Note that you put the quotes around the word "drink." On my last cruise, I had a non-alcoholic package, and I loved having them come around asking me if I wanted a drink. Virgin cocktails, soda water, sodas, juices -- these are all "drinks."

Don't penalize the people who want drinks, alcoholic or not, merely because some people may be alcoholics.

Post on your roll call thread here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1821304

If you're talking about during your Thanksgiving cruise, be aware that DTD is under construction - they're building what they're calling "Disney Springs." While a lot of the stores & restaurants are still open, it has wreaked havoc on the parking situation.

Forewarned is forearmed!

And let's not forget that many people are in debt, and take vacations they cannot actually afford. (Not saying that's anyone on this thread, or even on these boards, but it is true in the US generally.)

See, I'm the opposite. I like to do things I normally don't/cant do at home. I live in NJ so Atlantic City and 15+ casinos are a car ride away, that means no casino for me, but I never play bingo at home so I want to try my luck this cruise. We do specialty restaurants often in NYC so we will use the money we save on the steakhouse to get an authentic Puerto Rican dinner in Puerto Rico. I skimp on the room since I am only in it from 1-2am to 6-7am. After that I'm up on deck! I may get a spa treatment on this upcoming cruise as it is leaving from NYC and the first two and last two days may be a bit cold- this ship has a nice spa area I could spend a few hours in.

I'm with you - I do things that are rare to do at home. In fact, just laying around at the pool is something I can't do at home! :D Just as I order things at a restaurant that I can't make better myself, I do different stuff on vacation than I do at home. I do have to admit that I like the fact that when I drink in the evenings, I don't have to worry about who's the designated driver!

On Princess, we got chocolates every night at turn down. Do they do that on Celebrity? I'm assuming no, or the chocolates wouldn't be such a big hit!

Check out the Florida Departures board:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=495

Lots of answers to that question there! (It would also help if you tell us where you need the transportation from!)

Coral Princess, B423. Fabulous cabin, lovely balcony. Near elevators, very quiet.

I just wish all lines would call it a daily service charge, which cannot be removed, and stop calling it a tip or gratuities. Anything that a person decided to give over and above the DSC would then be an actual tip.

And I just wish all lines would simply add all fees to the fare, so that you know exactly how much you're paying before you book, and don't have to calculate, "I'm paying 1000 per person for my cabin, and then 11.50*7 nights, so I'm really paying 1080.50 per person for my cabin." If it can't be removed, it should be added in.

I've never heard of it. Tripadvisor will give you more information.

ACK! That doesn't sound good, since you're the Font of All Wisdom when it comes to Ft. Lauderdale!:D

They say they're between the W and the Ritz Carlton. Trip Advisor says 2 1/2 stars or so, which also concerns me, but it's the #4 B&B in Lauderdale.

I think I might just keep looking. Thanks.

I find it interesting that they gave you the cash. After all, how could they be sure that you were in fact going to leave it as tips? I thought that was the whole purpose of auto-tipping.