paddingtonbear

We like to share with people when we are travelling too.
They generally like to seat everyone at a table about the same time so you start eating together. Maybe on the ship when you confounded the MDR staff they didn’t have any spare tables that were just about to start? 

i know, under the old system, in anytime dining those prepared to share a table were seated a lot quicker than those who wanted a table for 2. 

On 6/12/2024 at 12:28 AM, Cruisemeister2002 said:

I can book Speciality Dining, but MDR dining won't be available to book before the 17th June. I presume that those wishing to dine at different times will be able to then use the App and for those like myself who wishes to dine every evening at 8.15 I will be able to access that option. Which presumably we will know which of the three MDR's we are allocated.

Booking dinner at 8:15 each night means you miss both of the main entertainment shows in the theatre doesn’t it? 

Thank you for your great live report! 

1 hour ago, SCX22 said:

It an pricing/advertising strategy.  This is another way for Princess to try and convince the passenger to pay for an upgrade and have the cost justified.  Some look at the cost of a lump sum upgrade and deny it upon first glance saying that it's too expensive.  If you break down the cost to per person per day, then for some it's an easier pill to swallow.  The cost to upgrade on longer cruises has an aspect of sticker shock; if Princess breaks it down as a daily per person cost, somehow the passenger thinks that it's justified.  No different than when a car dealer begins negotiations with the question of "how much can you afford monthly?"  In the end the total cost of the car will be the same, but by breaking down the cost monthly, it lessens the blow and can convince a person that they can actually afford it.  

 

The question is if participating in something like this, when will Princess grant the upgrade and will this affect your ability to refare, if accepted before final payment and the fare decreases?  

Yes, I agree. 
Also you somehow have to work out the extras: “and excludes taxes, fees and port expenses.”

1 hour ago, TM said:

This happens more often than passengers realize.  Once on a departure from San Francisco about 15 years ago we were delayed departure for close to 6 hours as 5 crew members left the ship and did not return.

That is so sad.  I wonder if they know the consequences of their actions?  Future entry bans etc. 

1 hour ago, EDVM96 said:

 

That's correct,

 

The photo is from 2011:
 

It's already the same building like today.

I loved our trip. Every second of it. We did 7 days land by ourselves then the Star Princess cruise to Vancouver. Fabulous. I’m just a bit foggy on some of the details like the port building! Thank you for the photo. 

7 hours ago, Essiesmom said:

There was a building in 2010.  I’ve never arrived by train, but lines were not a problem…. EM

Maybe you are right. I do remember a long line of us under a canopy snaking around the port. Maybe there was a building at the end of it! 

The Royal princess has (or had) a library. It was little but it was there. Nice and quiet. Lots of books on the first day at least. 

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I see that there is now a "building".  When I was there...eons ago, it was just a canvas canape.  Making improvements.  Look on the bright side, only one ship in Whittier.  

 

I'm sorry @Thrak. That is a true travesty.  

Yes the building is an upgrade since we were there queuing in the sun. But, it was our first cruise and we were so excited. Met lots of nice people in the queue. 

Has anyone noticed if the IC (specifically on the Majestic but any ship will do) has gluten free food or cakes? 

1 hour ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

Judging by the comments with regards to the MDR's many prefer Casual or Speciality dining. It would be interesting to know exactly what percentage of a passengers fare is for MDR dining as many comment on it being a waste of time paying for a Plus or Premium package as most will never consume 15 drinks per day, eat two Premium desserts, go to the gym or whatever and yet they will spend a lot of dollars on Casual and Speciality dining as they don't like either the food or service in the MDR's. In fact I have been on cruises where some passengers dine in the Speciality restaurants the entire cruise as they have said they are not partial to the food served in the MDR.

On past cruises we’ve dined in the MDR and the buffet. I don’t mind the food in either and never have a problem finding something I can eat and enjoy.  The MDR takes ages - probably because we preferred to be seated quickly which meant joining a group table where you’d have to wait for people to be served 2 starters and then 2 main meals. 

I won’t be paying for specialty dining or casual dining over my Plus allowance. 
 

We will get good value from Plus for DH from 3 coffee a day, a glasse of wine, a few beers and a scotch and for me from mocktails and cocktails and sparkling later and wifi. And also it’s easy. 
 

I just had my hopes about the catch by Rudi for a while there. 

I got DH excited about going to the Catch by Rudi but just realised that the plus package covers 2 “casual” dining experiences not specialty restaurants.  We’ll be on the Majestic after the upgrade so don’t really know which restaurants it will have but we have a fair idea. I’m GF and don’t like uncooked seafood so other than Alfredo’s it’s not looking good. 😩

2 hours ago, MsTabbyKats said:

@geoherbPlease co firm....washers and dryers on Island Princess are free.  Others on other ships said they had to pay.

Thanks

I think geoherb is saying the washer and dryer on Baja deck are currently free because the token machine on the Baja deck doesn't work. 

Once they get the token machine working again you will have to use them to do your washing and drying. 

8 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Or you can find him in real time with the Medallion. 

Yes that is why I'm looking forward to our first cruise with the Medallion!

7 hours ago, SCX22 said:

This boils down to the question of why is everyone OK with being tracked with what is essentially an AirTag while on vacation?  Is everyone OK with having a stranger place an AirTag in your wallet/bag and have a stranger track your movement when you're at home in your locale?

 

This practice illegal in California:

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=637.7.&lawCode=PEN

The thing is they are not tracking you. You give certain people permission to track you to deliver a drink or to have a friend find you. 
It is also a payment device. That’s not tracking you it’s recording your purchases. Like your Visa card does. 
It is also an identifier like a licence or passport. 

1 hour ago, geoherb said:

I woke up and heard them vacuuming in the hall and thought I overslept. Turns out it was 5 a.m. A pipe burst. My feet went squish when I stepped on the carpet. The water is down my side of the bed. I had knocked a pillow off and it's soaked. There's another squishy area right in front of the bathroom and of course down the corridor.

 

A supervisor just came and they're moving me to another cabin for the moment so I can rest while they clean it up. Thankfully it did not get any of my things wet. But the only things I have on the floor are my shoes and a small pile of dirty clothes behind my suitcase in the closet area. Those need washing anyway.

So sorry to hear about the water leak in your cabin! 

1 hour ago, hrhdhd said:

Why wait? Leave a sticky note and carry on with your cruise. Even without sticky notes, I can find my husband -- he's in one of three or four places. Or we'll find each other in the cabin later. 🤷🏻

We've only been on two ships and we lost one another a few times.  I don't know the places well enough to tell him where I'd be.  This next cruise I'm going to do a more thorough exploration of the ship and I'm going to pay more attention to the names of venues so we can at least tell people on cruise critic where we like to spend our time! 🤣

I haven’t sailed with the medallion yet but I’m really looking forward to being able to find DH after he’s gone on a ship’s engine tour or some other weird event I’m not interested in so I don’t have to wait in the cabin for him to return. 

Even if you don’t want to dress up and go to the MDR it’s worth watching from higher up as they pour the champagne tower and watching people enjoying themselves. 

Thank you for posting the link. It is very helpful for me. 

THank you very much.  Will do. 

On 5/5/2024 at 11:57 AM, McFins said:

We took this tour last year and enjoyed it very much 

 

Did you do the Unitour tour? (Used to be called the Old Quebec Tours). It goes from 10:30 am - 3pm.  Our ship is in Quebec City for 2 days.  On embarkation day (the first in Quebec City) you can board the ship at about noon.  Would it be better to do the tour on the day before the Cruise or on Day 1 or on Day 2 when the ship is in port?

2 hours ago, dog said:

Funny you should mention pre cruise hotels- my 3 nights in London hotel is more $$ than my cruise fare.

My post was supposed to say helicopter rides at $650 USD pp. 

Yes London has some crazy hotel prices atm too.  We have given up on visiting Toronto and Niagara Falls this trip to Canada New England because the price of the hotels was just outrageous and the time needed for the stays and trip to Niagara was just not worth it to us. Would have liked to have done the cruise/tour which looked really good and took in Niagara Falls but it was just not in our budget this time.

5 hours ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Sounds very much like the Resmed Airmini... I just purchased one of these; can't use it because of the extreme difference in noise!  (Very light sleeper.) Looking to sell it or *somehow* get some of my $1100 back!

Yes an airmini. DH took out the dehumidifier disc and that reduced the noise. Also place the machine on the floor or in a draw on the bedside table below the level of the bed. I’m the light sleeper between us and admittedly I generally sleep with earplugs but I don’t hear a thing with either machine. I get disturbed by wind and rain and neighbours dogs before either of the machines! 
 

Or try a different mask with it? DH says the mini mask has the air coming out from the top of the tube - below your nose but right near your ear which he can hear but it doesn’t disturb his sleep. You can buy an adapter for the mini hose to use any Resmed mask.  The other Resmed masks release air from a few places so the noise is greatly reduced.  The other Resmed masks are also more comfortable for him and don’t dry him out so much. I hope this helps you. Good luck. 

Yes there has to be a point when people just don’t do excursions. Even the private ones are getting expensive. And reasonably priced nice hotels at launch and disembarking ports are very difficult to find. 
 

but we recently went to Africa (not a cruise) and people were doing Heliopolis at $650 USD day after day. Some people just seem to have no limit!