pjrockman

OMG! I was trying to suggest a way to reduce the amount of people at the Passenger Service desk for the first couple of days to get a card punched. The PSd has other more important thing to do than punch a card hole.

 

Now, we are all upset because we don't want a hole in our card. LOL

 

What would have happened if they initially had a hole in them from day one?

 

 

 

If I don't get my card without the hole

 

or

 

If I get a hole in my card!

 

 

 

I will never cruise Princess again.

 

 

 

LOL

 

 

!!! Just like a typical thread here! However, I will add that I personally didn't know that it was a problem, because I am a NO lanyard person! To alleviate a hole punch problem, I know that they routinely ask in the Casino to punch your card for a lanyard so that you don't forget to take your card out of the machines. I suggest going there for a hole. They sometimes put a hole in my pocket, too..... Hope that helps.

 

Thank you for your thoughts. It was presented in a non confrontational way.

 

Safe Journeys, Paul

We did decide on Porto Marie, and it's $100 round trip for 4 passengers. It's extra for more after that but I'm not sure how much. I'm ready to go today!

 

 

Thanks, Jey01. Compared to what I have been reading, that appears to be a good price.

 

Have fun! I will search for her contact information.

 

Safe Journeys. Paul

I'm sorry but we found someone and have booked a ride already! We did use Natasha Gibbs. Looked her up on TA and sent them an email. It's going to be great

 

 

Jey01,

 

Did you decide on Porto Mari? If so, how much is the quoted fare from Natasha?

 

Thanks, Paul

Yup.....:):):)

 

 

 

Bob

 

 

Yup, here as well!!

And how long before you want yet another level over that.

 

 

 

I just don't understand the fixation in levels.

 

 

Ditto.

 

Paul

Although no official assistant cabin stewards, I have found the other stewards in the immediate area very helpful if you need something when your steward isn't available. Good teamwork.

 

http://www.ehow.com/about_6563143_cabin-steward-job-description.html

 

Paul

Love the stock and customer service. My best time was last month: faxed at 4:13 p.m. EST, OBC in my online account at 4:26 p.m. EST same day. 13 minutes. Thanks, Princess!

 

Paul

I must live in the wrong area. I know that Princess factors a wholesale price into each cruise per person for meals. But, from a retail standpoint, their dinners well exceed 30-40 dollars per person.

 

Bugsy's live thread (around post 350) shows pictures from His Italian night meal. Here is what he showed (all looks delicious and I have ordered nearly the exact same meal with the addition of a Penne Arriabiatta pasta course. I have also added a conservative retail price from several local restaurants:

 

Ice tea: $3.00

Beef Carpaccio 11.00

Lentil Soup 6.00

Chicken Saltimbocca 25.00

Desert 7.00

Total $52.00. ($62.00 with my extra pasta course)

 

These aren't the prices from a four or five star restaurant which you could add more.

 

If you do it for the formal night, it would be more like:

Ice Tea. $3

Escargot $10

Caesar Salad $8

French Onion Soup $8

Alfredo Pasta Course $9

Beef Wellington $30

Fancy Norman Love Desert $9

Total $77 (again at an average restaurant).

 

I enjoy the food at all of the restaurants on Princess.

 

PS, great pics, Bugsy.

 

Paul (yes, I usually order 5 or 6 courses!)

Do suite cruise cards look any different from the others? We will be experiencing our first Princess suite in three weeks time. When we had a suite on Celebrity it has "Suite" printed on it. Perhaps a little gauche but as we had to flash it to get priority tender boarding I wondered if Princess was the same.

 

cheers

 

Stu

 

 

 

They have the word Suite printed in the upper right corner.

 

 

Just double check when you get them. Two years ago, ours didn't say 'Suite' and it took a lot of convincing at embarkation when we headed to the Elite/Suite boarding area. So, not to be pretentious, we did go to Passenger Services and we agreed that it wasn't a big deal. Unfortunately, we weren't as lucky at our tender port, where they wouldn't let us be priority, because of that flaw. So, if that happens, I would now ask that our cards be swapped with correctly marked cards.

 

Hope that helps (without sounding either gauche or pretentious).

 

Thanks, Paul

Thank you - it seems reasonable - not asking for extra people and it would be the same people everyday not mixing it up - we will ask politely and if the answer is no, it is ok - and we would not make a fuss -

 

 

It may also work its way out anyway. That is about the age of our DDs when we started staying in suites and our kids in the balcony next door. Not that we tried, but they had no interest in getting up to go to Sabatinis for breakfast! That is still true today! However, they did like us to go sit in deck loungers until they rolled out of bed. We don't like laying out, so we sit there watching MUTS until they come up at 11:00 and we give them our chairs! Still not sure if they understand the full effect of that parental sacrifice....

 

Have a great cruise with your family. Safe Journeys, Paul

Imho cruising is not about the food, but rather the chance to get away, relax, visit new or familiar countries, ports and cultures.

 

 

 

You cannot prepare food for 2000-4000 guests or more and expect to serve world class cuisine. If you choose to disagree with me that's your right but I'd be willing to wager that you have never eaten in a 3 or 4 star Michelin restaurant. The food on ships sometimes is quite good but more often than not just adequate. But as I say that is not why we cruise.

 

 

 

We do visit "specialty" restaurants on board periodically, however for a $49pp cover charge the experience would have to be far in excess of what I believe it would be.

 

 

Food is pretty high on our list to cruise.

 

Michelin Stars are capped at three. I've eaten at 1 and 2 star Michelin starred restaurants and price isn't always a factor. I've been disappointed in a 2 star, and thought some 1 stars were better. It all comes down to what the individual reviewer enjoys, even if that is you.

 

Supply and demand, as opposed to corporate greed, will dictate the prices in the specialty restaurants. Because of the lack of available reservations in the Crown on our last two cruises, it indicates a need to increase the price.

 

This is just my opinion and my two cents.

 

To answer the question, we would try Share at the established price and then decide if we will be repeat customers. Time, supply and demand will ultimately establish the price.

 

Paul

Shopping is good along the trolley route downtown, which is about two streets back from the front street. The front street is mainly jewelry stores. There is a mall downtown that is mainly upscale brands. Shopping is also good along Palm Beach. If you are there at night, many vendors open their kiosks in that area, also.

 

 

Thanks, Hatteras.

 

We have the 7-7 shift. If we were there later, we probably would schedule Flying Fishbone, but don't want to chance it since they open at 5:00. I saw everyone's restaurant list and we may hang at Eagle Beach area and lunch at Passions. Afternoon, we may go to Lighthouse and then shop where you suggested. Any other ideas are always appreciated. First time on the Southern Caribbean route, so we are new to 4 of the ports.

 

Thanks, Paul

Rotelle con Coda di Manzo Brasata. Served as an app or main. Very good...just had it on the Regal. I always order the nightly Signature Pasta as an app each night.

 

Mangia, Paul

Thanks all. That's what I gathered after an Internet search. It is a 2016 tour guide for the Caribbean published by a company beginning with a 'F'.

 

Says that there are many restaurants and local shops!

 

Oh well...onto the lighthouse with everyone else!

 

Thanks again, Paul

Hello, we have a long day in Aruba in January. We usually split our port days with beach/bar/lunch in morning and island exploring/shopping in afternoon. A Caribbean Island book lists the town of Santa Cruz as a good local shopping venue, but I don't see anything that really supports that online.

 

Is Santa Cruz a viable option for an off the beaten path experience; or, not worth the effort? We don't expect large stores, just local goods and local snacks.

 

Any information would be appreciated.

 

Thanks, Paul

How far is Arashi Beach and Boca Catalina? I see we can take the bus, but if we would rather take a cab, any idea how much that would run?

 

 

Found this taxi information link:

 

http://www.aruba.com/sigma/Aruba_Taxi_Fares.pdf

 

Arubalisa may be able to confirm accuracy.

 

Hope it helps. Paul

MCC,

 

As always, thanks for the advance info.

 

Safe Journeys, Paul

Good morning, Bugsy. Rarely do I follow a live thread, because I usually get bored or tired of the many interruptions. However, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed your thread. We love the Royal and Regal and you captured the Regal's essence with your pictures and commentary. Very fair reporting and I enjoyed the comparisons, because we haven't been on the new RCI ships.

 

Thanks for taking the time; I am sorry to see the cruise end for you.

 

Until next time.....Safe Journeys. Paul

Everything Fishywood said.......and Prego Pizza slices!

 

Mangia, paul

I get it changed every time it drops or OBC raises. I have a TA, so I don't do it personally. I watch the fares and send an email to my TA. The best was several years ago, which my TA made the arrangements for 5 cabins for my parents, us, brother, and kids. We made about 7 inquiries over the course of 4 months for a net savings in fares or increased OBC of over a total of $7,000.

 

No one cared or argued.....plus my TA did all of the calls. I always got notified of the approvals by day's end.

 

No problems. Paul

I was avoiding comment on this thread because everyone can choose to cruise on any line of their choice. However, after seeing the above list, I must say that we would not want the crew to touch any of our personal items. I don't cruise to have the cabin steward pick up after us. We have not had a bad steward on any of our Princess cruises since we started cruising Princess. We've been on cheaper lines and more expensive lines and Princess is the comfortable level for us.

Also, we believe that cruising in general is still a good vacation bargain for everything you get.

This is my opinion and everyone is entitled to one, so good luck finding what you seek.

Safe Journeys, Paul

The Enclave has 8 of the heated tile chairs rather than the typical 5 in the Thermal Suite. There are also two heated "water beds" not found in the TS. The best part is the hydrotherapy pool which is only in the Enclave. Book as soon as you get on board as I believe there are only 40 spaces available.

 

 

The first time I used the Enclave on the Royal, I could have sworn that the tiled chairs were heated; but the second time they were definitely not heated. I asked and they said that they are not heated and are intended to be cool to offset the heat in the room. However, I prefer the heated ones, also because of bad hips. Didn't try the Enclave on the Regal to compare.

 

Paul

What was Princess thinking when they designed a ship for 500 to 1000 more passengers than their older ships - and reduced the number of pools?

 

 

 

The Royal has one adults-only pool, one main pool, and another that is essentially a large (not so) hot tub.

 

 

 

There is no covered pool as on the Grand class ships.

 

 

Jimbo, were the pools crowded on your cruise? Just curious, because none of the pools were crowded when we were on our three Royal cruises and one Regal cruise in the Caribbean. However, we never cruise during Spring Break, Thanksgiving week or summer vacation time, so don't know about these pools during school kid or college kid seasons.

 

Thanks, Paul

I had to call Princess about another issue, so I asked... :D

 

For those who sail 3 or 4 to a cabin, yes, upsells do happen!

 

Thanks Shredie!

 

 

Thanks, Working!

 

Paul

Well, out of 2 cruises in 2015, I received 2 upsells! Very nice! Ocean view obstructed to balcony....

 

 

 

I also found out that my casino discount expires on December 17, 2016... that should allow me to book cruises well into 2018.

 

 

 

Very happy!

 

 

Congrats, Working 2 Cruise.

 

How did you find out about the expiration of the casino rates? Are you calling direct for information on each of the cruises that you are interested?

 

Thanks, Paul