jasbo49

10 hours ago, caribill said:

 

I am sure that the entertainment is the best available in Princess's price range.

In the past I have thought this too. However, this cruise, our 18th on Princess, seemed like a sad step down from what we're used to. This was just lousy.

Jim

2 hours ago, EllieinNJ said:

What a shame.  We do not drink so look forward to these shows at night.  On our last Princess cruise on the Grand they had shows in different venues and ran back and forth to catch them all.

Don't stress. While the Princess Theater shows were disappointing, we did find enjoyable acts in the Wheelhouse Bar. Your basic singer-guitarist acts.

Jim

I'm not sure where you are seeing these negative reviews. If you're talking about the stuff in the "reviews" section of Cruise Critic, I've found those to be among the harshest reviews out there. A lot of people seem to like to drop a review there because they can rant and rave and no one can call them on their over-the-top diatribes.

I've been on the Regal three times in the last three years and have another cruise booked this year. I think it's a great ship. It does have a few things that are less than ideal or that some don't like. They are small balconies, lack of a round-the-ship Promenade deck, and trading in Explorers Lounge for the Princess Live theater is a sore point for some.

On the upside you have a buffet that's almost twice the size of most, with easy ins and outs rather than clogging lines. You also have an interactive TV with lots of options like dozens of movies you can start and stop at will. And I'm convinced the stage talent is better on the Regal and Royal. I once sat next to an understudy with the dancers in the theater and he said all the performers apply for the big ships. They have a certain draw to the performers at the top of the line.

In short, you can find negative reviews for every ship, and many of them are over-reactions to a single incident. There's nothing wrong with the Regal unless the lack of full Promenade deck and big balconies bugs you.

Jim

I see lots of love for the CG here, and I won't try to persuade you that you shouldn't do that for your special occasion, but I will say I find the place overrated. I rarely get a steak the "temperature" or doneness I asked for, and the baked potatoes we were given last week were about the size of an extra large egg. Service was great on our recent trip, though.

While I'm not a huge fan of Crown Grill, I really do enjoy Club Class dining, first for its true anytime nature, and then because of its elevated service. The extra items offered ranged from a pasta dish or special dessert a few nights to filet mignon one night and lobster thermidor another. I find CC dining substantially better then standard MDR.

Jim

4 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

Any updates?

We just got off June 18. There are bits of work going on here and there, which was not that surprising to me since they are days (can't remember when) from going into full Medallion mode. I didn't find it that difficult going to Vines for my morning coffee, but it sounds like some of the people who use Vines as a quiet little wine bar were non-plussed by the invasion of the coffee people.

There was at least one other part of the ship that had some kind of boarding up, the area between the photo-video desk on Deck 7 and the ladies' room/aft elevators. But I don't think anything was there before, so it didn't mess with our enjoyment either. Probably some kind of Medallion help desk.

While I didn't think any of the work was a problem, I did note with displeasure the lack of entertainment, particularly in the Princess theater. The acts they had there when the production shows weren't playing were like bad vaudeville, a comedy-variety-acrobatics act, some kind of funky fiddler and a vocal impressionist. Everything I saw was worthy of a vaudeville hook.

Jim

This same question was asked and answered just last month.

And I don't see that much has changed. The answers are just as disparate now as then. The same people seem to think it's all right even though it's not in accordance with the rules.

Jim

The policy is pretty clear that all kinds of people -- elite, platinum, suite, club class minis and maybe more -- have priority check-in. But when it comes to boarding, there is a real order that has elites boarding before platinums. I don't know how someone can say "no issues" with something that's not in keeping with the rules.

If it's important to board at exactly the same time, why not wait 5 or 10 minutes and board with the platinums?

Jim

10 minutes ago, dickinson said:

 

Thanks!  I was looking for something like this.  I have no idea where on the website it is but I am glad you found it.  I wonder how many people on the tour won't know info they need to know?

I've found some of the more obscure corners of the Princess website are easier to find via Google than by reasoning with the site.

Jim

Sorry, but if they have expired, then you will have received a refund in the form of CC credit. They would be history..

Jim

On 6/2/2019 at 12:41 AM, Astro Flyer said:

We purchased a 7 bottle Gold wine package (Silver has been eliminated) last month on a Royal Princess 7-day cruise and the pricing & procedure was the same since we first experienced it many years ago.

 

An 18% tip is added to these prices.

 

Gold Package (wines up to $45 per bottle list price)

7 bottles -- $217 (average of $31 per bottle)

10 bottles -- $290 (average of $29 per bottle)

12 bottles -- $336 (average of $28 per bottle)

 

You get a punch card which can be used at any of the dining locations (including the buffet although have read that can take a long time) but it clearly states not from bars or room service. We always purchase the wine package from our MDR waitstaff who provides our wine & will receive any benefits for selling it.

 

You can choose any wine from a dining room’s wine list. If you want to buy a wine that costs more than the $45 limit, you just pay the difference. For example, if you buy a wine that costs $50 you’d only be charged an extra $5.

 

Since the wine is purchased from Princess it’s okay to take it anywhere onboard including to a bar.  Just use the same procedure kennicott posted to have bottles delivered to your cabin after ordering at a restaurant or just take a bottle with you from a dining room.

 

It’s worked well for us to have a cruise long “wine tasting” to try new wines.  Depending upon departure city & itinerary we decide whether to bring our own or to purchase a wine package.  The PCL wine policy is one of the many things that keeps us returning to Princess. 🙂

 

Thank you so much for explaining this. I've never understood how this package worked. We board the Crown on Thursday for a 12-day BI cruise and this might be just the thing.

Jim

I would check into the mid-ship cabins that have the larger, angled balconies (D410 for example).  You don't say when or where you're sailing, and of course that's a factor.

Jim

I don't think slippers were ever included in a mini-suite, only in a suite. But then I've been around these things for just four years. 

Jim

2 hours ago, rocklinmom said:

It's always good to have a ship's excursion booked in tender ports. 

This makes a lot of sense to me. Probably doesn't matter so much if you have priority tender privileges such as suite or elite.

Jim

7 minutes ago, memoak said:

There is no concierge on Princess - just a steward.  Just go to the restaurant you want to use the first night and they will take your reservation

On Regal and Royal, at least, there is a concierge.

Jim

24 minutes ago, neverbeenhere said:

Sorghum vodka is for snobs, us regular folks drink potato vodka. 

Now wait a minute.

On 5/29/2019 at 1:25 PM, Doug R. said:

Yes, although coffee snobs think it is bad.

So the suggestion is that people who don't like typical buffet coffee are snobs? I like coffee made from coffee bean grounds rather than syrup. But I never thought that made me a coffee snob.

Just like wanting scrambled eggs made from real eggs rather than some reconstituted crud doesn't make me an egg snob.

Jim

I've heard of mostly of good experiences with the Princess excursions in St. Petersburg. So I don't think you'd regret it if you can get past paying almost twice as much and being in a group three times as large.

We went on a 2-day tour with Alla Tours last August and couldn't have been happier. Fantastic guide, bright, helpful, knowledgeable, a real sweetheart. It sure was easier for our group of 16 to move around those huge museums than it would be for a group of 45 or 50.

That stuff about the ship waiting for Princess tours and blithely sailing away while private tour types are stranded at the dock is really a pretty hollow threat aimed at scaring people into doing the ship's tours. These private tour operators are multi-million dollar companies that would be out of business within a week if that happened.

Jim

19 minutes ago, Dani24 said:

 

In addition to those things, here are some other things that may be available to do on sea days, depending on your ship:

 

- Puzzle/brainteaser sheets in the library

- Book club

- Casino lessons 

- High Seas Heist 

- Escape Room

- Wine tasting events

- Arts& Craft classes (jewelry making, paper quilling, cross stitch, card making, origami, box making, etc.)

- Photography lessons

- Music lessons (e.g. harmonica, ukulele)

- Egg Drop challenge

- Paper airplane challenge

- Speed sudoku

- Ping pong 

- Mini golf (some ships have a putting green, some offer putting challenges in the Piazza)

- Lifesize chessboard

- Corn hole challenge

- Bridge & Mahjong get-togethers

- Spa appointments 

- The Sanctuary

- Art auctions

- Taboo (in one of the lounges)

- Pictionary (in one of the lounges)

- Win Lose or Draw (in one of the lounges)

- Scattegories (in one of the lounges)

- Karaoke

- Ice carving demonstrations

- Cocktail mixing demonstrations

- Regional lectures and demonstrations

- Behind the scenes tours

- "Knitters Natters & Crafters" get-togethers (BYO projects)

- Bible study

- Future cruise presentations (where they talk about different destinations, what to see/do there, etc.)

 

Or, I don't see why you couldn't bring a portable easel, canvas and paint set and set up on your balcony or maybe even somewhere else and paint away. 🙂

I can't believe a list so long and exhaustive is one short:

- Princess Pop Choir. That's my go-to activity for sea days.

Great job, Dani.

Jim

23 minutes ago, Diver2014 said:

 

The Irish musicians & dancers were excellent called Gaels at Sea. Been too tired from daily tours to stay up for music. Since this is a port intensive cruise, entertainment has been scaled way back compared to when we were on the Crown last November in the Caribbean.

Great. Thanks. I do love Irish music.

Jim

1 hour ago, ann141 said:

We are sailing on Crown Princess from Southampton soon.We have priority embarkation and understand that embarkation starts at 12 30. Is it worth arriving a bit early e.g 12 noon or will we have to wait until 12 30 before we embark?

When you say you "understand that embarkation starts at 12:30," I assume you're referring to one of those deck-by-deck boarding schedules they send out. Those are an effort to spread out the arrival times and, for better or worse, are roundly ignored by most passengers who know the drill. The actual boarding is likely to start before noon. If I were you I'd arrive about 11.

We board on June 6 and in reality will be dependent on when our Princess transfer from London gets us there, but if it were up to me, I'd arrive about 11.

Jim

7 hours ago, Diver2014 said:

I’ve been taking photos of the MDR menu each day but I can’t upload them until we get home next week since I’m using my camera and not a smart phone. Food is excellent but because of our tours coming back late,  we’ve been eating in Horizon Court which is also very good. Hot bread pudding with warm sauce—yummy!!

Thanks for the reports,  Diver. We board June 6. Wondering if you have caught any of the live music around the ship.

Can you tell us anything about it? I always find it makes a big difference to me to have good bands/performers. Thanks.

Jim

Coming up first, in the latter part of June, will probably be the Sip and Sail promo. We'll find out then whether fares to up to account for the "freebies."

My recollection is that the 3 for Free that follows carries pretty much the same fares as the S and S. It seems to me that some prices will go up for these, but a fair number of our bookings haven't seen increased fares.

Jim

22 hours ago, aimee0715 said:

 I just have to warn you that it is unbelievably windy and cold. Very cold. I thought it might be slightly warmer in May, but no. Also,  anyone with long hair needs to have it fully secured.  Any loose hair will be an absolute rat's nest by the time you get under the bridge! The first time we did this, it took my husband and I both working on detangling my hair for 45 minutes to get it presentable for dinner. 

I've had completely different experiences. Two sailings -- October and February -- and both very nice weather, especially the February sailaway up on the top deck. It's always dangerous to assume everyone else's experience will be exactly like ours.

Jim

FYI: This post is more than 10 years old.

58 minutes ago, BabySarge said:

Fitness center is on Deck 6 aft with no windows or view. 

 

La Patisserie does not (or at least has not in the recent past) offer sandwiches, salads, or soup.  Only a very limited dome covered tray with small pastries and/or cookies.

The fitness center is the most dismal I've seen on any ship.

And La Patisserie, in addition to being just coffee and pastries, didn't open until 7 a.m. if I recall from our canal cruise shortly after the refurb. As a sometimes early riser, I found that a bummer. Nowhere to get decent coffee until 7.

But I did kind of like the Horizon Court being up front with front-facing windows. And the buffet, while not as big as some ships, seemed to be well-tended and well-organized with the food hot. Of course all this is from 3 1/2 years ago.

Jim