oskidunker

The issue was not waiting for a table. We had no wait as we had fixed dining

Athough I thought the food was very good in the dining room, I did have a problem with the service and in particular, the wine service. we were at a table for 4. Our waiters had two other tables for 8. The tables for 8 seemed to be the focus , not us.

 

I brought 7 bottles of wine on board and paid the $105.00 corkage fees up front. Half the wine was Schramsberg Champagne.We also ordered some wine from the wine list. we had fixed dining at 5;30 but in the anytime dining room, so I suspect they were not motivated to get us out as quickly as if we were in the traditional dining room.

 

Normally we arrives about 5:40. The other two tables seemed to always be there when the doors opened.The waiters would take 20 minutes to open our wine , even though we asked that it be opened when we arrived. If we ordered wine, it also took 20 minutes.

 

So we would order. The two tables for eight would then get their appetizer. They would then get their second courses. We still had nothing. After 20 minutes we would get the first course. The tables for eight were now served the main course.We waited.15 minutes later we would get the first course.

 

We complained to the head waiter and he seemed annoyed. Nothing changes. Someone at our table asked for a special dish and he said he would get back to us.He never did. At times he would come to our table and stand looking at us but since we were talking, he would leave.

 

The last night everyones Champagne glasses were empty so after waiting quite a while, I went and got the champagne and poured my own, which they did not like.

 

I understand we should have probably got there right when the doors open but I would advise anyone seeking the early dining to avoid the anytime dining room.

Thanks

Anyone tried to bring on magnums?

It is usually rough due to two currents meeting

Anyone know how comfortable on the Star? Leaving Sunday

You may be confirmed for a fixed time in the anytime dining room but are on the wait list for fixed in the traditional dining room. Normally the anytime fixed is listed as 5:30 while the traditional one is listed as 6:00.

The beef can somtimes be a problem. After a few bad experiences, the beef was pretty good last 2

Maybe they do this on purpose

Doing this 4/19. How were the ships tours?

You always must tell whoever you are sending a gift to. They screw this up all the time

not yet, anyway

You used to be able to request what you wanted via the personalized. Not now. Strange thing is they always stock it exactly the way i set it up a few years ago

I find the winepackage not worth the hassle. They guve you a paper card. If you lose the card you are out of luck. I am rolling on a wine carrier for the Star 4/19 out of San francisco. But i live 20 minutes from the port

Southwest still does not charge for luggage,last time i checked. Use southwest if you can. Some airline credit cards allow free luggage. If you have status with an airline,you can get extra luggage. If you fly business or first class you get 2 free bags each. Often times when you check in, the airline will offer you an upgrade to business or first for cash flying sfo to quebec we upgraded rt for $300 p person on united,were allowed 2 free bags each so we took the wine carrier

 

If none of the above applied,i would not pay the airline to bring the wine. Instead i woulg bubble wrap 2 special bottles and pug them in a bag i was going to check anyway.

 

If you are doing only carry on and going to formal night in your underwear,then forget about bringing wine. [emoji6]

The alternative restaurants are often not as good as the main dining room. Certainly not worth paying and being disappointed. On a recent crusie the lobsters in the Crown Grill looked liked shrimp while in the main dining room they were large and good. This should not be the case.

I have eaten in Sabatini's a few times and found the food not great. they seem to feel by giving you alot of food it makes up for the quality.

Crown grill has excellent Filet Mignons. did not care for anything else there.

Princess can't go back to all traditional dining because the dining rooms will not handle all the passengers on board.Tere more passengers than 2 times all the dining room capacity. They hope many will go to the buffet or the alternate restaurants(not worth it).This is even worse on the ships that have increased passenger capacity.

 

So I would ask you this, Is it better to pick a fixed dining time and know you will have a stress free evening every night or is it worth not have have any pressure on you to eat a particular time and put up with the mess. I dont want any part of Any time dining.

 

95% of the time the ship sales before the first seating. You won't miss it.

 

Tip #2 . If you have traditional first seating and get back late do one of two things.

1. Go to your assigned dining room and tell the waiter you will not be ordering alot of courses and promise you will be out by the time they need to clean the dining room. we went an hour late and they let us do this. We only took an hour to eat.

 

2. Go to your assigned dining room but arrive at the late seating. the late seating is never full. Try to find your waiter and he will accommodate you. Maybe your assigned table is available( ours was)

 

Do Not go to the Any Time Dining room.

Have 18 cruises over 20 years. Hopefully this is not a new trend

Some have reported that if an excursion gets close to selling out, Princess may raise the price. Does anyone have any examples of this? I usually don't use ships tours but when I do ( Current Mexican Cruise) I reserve well in advance since you dont have to pay anyway.

 

I would not be surprised to see Princess requires payment at the time of booking at some future date

Also the Bordeaux are good

Chase is very good with this. Never argued. Ever.

Was thinking of bringing one Have done so in the past. Is this confirmed?

Sometimes people booked in mini suites have been offered an upgrade to a full suite for 375.00 pperson. Notmally the suites are booked and this does not happen

Normally we try to get a table for 4 if there are four of us. We don't like sharing a table because we dress formally on formal night and dont want a guy in a T shirt and baseball cap at our table on formal night. Though most people honor the dress code, some either dont have a clue or are promoting their back yard wardrobe

In my opinion,neither of these is worth your time. The free one has cheap wines not interesting unless you have never drank wine

 

The expensive wine tasting is not worth the money for two reasons

1. There is way to much talking and little actual tasting

2.The pours are so small you wont be able to tell if you like a wine or not

 

Do the chefs table or buy yourself a bottle of good wine

 

 

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