sminfiddle

I misremembered on the price of Nicolas Feuillate - $62 including gratuity.

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Nobody ever bothers to figure out all these things when figuring out if it pays to bring wine on board.

Some of us do indeed.

I buy the Costco champagne which comes from Janisson in France:

"The Janisson Champagnes are beautiful wines. This Champagne House is located in the Village of Verzenay, a designated Grand Cru village. Grand Cru signifies the finest and best vineyards in the Champagne region."

It still costs $19.99 and the quality is good, between a Veuve Clicquot and Nicolas Feuillate. Princess sells the Nic at $75 a bottle. With corkage charged, the Janisson is still half that.

Houston/Bayport was good to us and the cost stayed $19.99 plus tax to get 'em on the boat.

The MDR waitstaff was very very good to us too. 'Nuf Said about that!

Can you share how big your wheeled box is and how you got it through the initial screening? I would very much prefer to just carry/wheel it on when we board.

...

Cheers, and happy Friday.

It was one of our matched "set of luggage" but not the biggest checkable one, maybe it's a wheeled carryon bag? It did fit thru scanner so maybe the third-biggest one. Not a box.

Cheers! :D

Rick

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... upgraded bathrobes were listed separately and not as part of the upgraded bathroom amenities which elites are also entitled to. Therefore, it appears, to me, that elites do not have plush, suite style bathrobes as one of their perks.

Yep.

Unlike the gel mask etc. placed in the bathroom, robes are placed in the closet. They could be termed closet amenities along with shoe polisher and sewing kit :D

Hey Rick did you get the envelope I sent you?

I sure did. You are very thoughtful! We will put that envelope to good use.

Cruise friends are the best! If we are to meet up, it'll have to be before you cruise. I am being sent to Austin for the weekend of the 22nd. But I trust that you'll enjoy Prince's, the Four Seasons and downtown, even without a personal guide. Good choices all.

Rick

Count me as one who likes them. Viewed them on line; DW says there have been many on NBC (she scrolls past ALL commercials though) during Law & Order.

OMG I am hoping what you experienced getting on the ship was unusual, if not i am dreading it already.

The sailing after Bimmer's, on January 18th, did not have the fog delay. But they did have a 2-hour delay for deep-cleaning. Boarding began at 1:55.

Our two cruises on 11/30 and 12/07 boarded on time at 12 noon. The one before ours did not (not due to fog, but unusually strong winds).

And the good news about the survey is that it lets you recognize each employee individually. You can write your accolades for the first employee, and then the survey will ask if you have another employee you'd like to recognize.

Looks like the limit for Commending individual crewmembers or departments is 5.

We just completed our 4 surveys (for 2 passengers on a B2B).

Is the "Dreamboats" band still on the Caribbean Princess?

(Heard they might have moved to Sapphire)

Thanks

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I got to correct the Princess Patter when we visited the Print Shop on our UST! This was a big thrill for me. :D

He had the Log Of The Cruise open on the editing PC and I pointed out that where "Houston Shipping Channel" was used there and in the Patter from embarkation day, that nautical feature's name is "Houston Ship Channel."

He said that of course he had to check with the Navigator, but the change was indeed made for that Log, the next Log, and all the Patters going forward where they mention it!

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Thanks for reporting in! I'm enjoying your posts. Have you been to the spa? Do you know how many

thermal lounges are in the spa?

Five if I recall correctly.

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Belize -

1. Altun Ha Mayan Ruins, Scenic River Cruise and Lunch

2. Cave Tubing and Scenic Drive

 

Anyone have any comments on the above mentioned excursions we are interested in?

Hello! You're going to have fun.

We reserved (on a B2B) the Altun Ha ruins with lunch and Old River cruise the First week and Lamanai/Mangrove River/Lunch the second.

While the ruins were very interesting, the bus driver and guide and boat "driver" very good at what they do, and the lunch authentic, we decided one was enough and canceled the matching tour from our 2nd week. The bus and "topless" river boat were both filled to capacity and did get cramped, too much so for my DW who kept getting hit by others' bags and metal water bottles. Lunch, while not bad, left a yearning in my belly for a bit more substance. We eat Caribbean here at home so it wasn't as novel as for some. Still glad we gave it a try.

We had done Cave Tubing (privately for $45pp) last spring and like the ruins, we're glad we did it once.

With a good guide, the (long, not-smooth) ride to either the ruins or caves is enjoyable, interesting, scenic and "edutaining." Fortunately they are all learning from the good ones.

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I am wondering what other's experiences have been bringing wine on board at this port... to plan ahead for a March cruise. Thanks!

I can answer about Houston. But it may change at any time -

We boarded a Houston B2B last month with enough champagne for both weeks (6 or 8 bottles) and were prepared to defend our 3rd and 4th free bottles (for the second "voyage"), and pay for the ones over that. We carried them on in a wheely and never got an opportunity to pay. We have not heard of any checked wine boxes being charged or quarantined in Houston, and I have been reading ALL the reports.

At ports of call they took our visible hard liquor for holding, not asking for our wine.

Again, as we say in the financial biz, Past Performance Is No Guarantee Of Future Results!

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One of the best suite perks is exclusive use of Sabatini's for breakfast.

I see "my" table!

That and the wonderful caffeine machine are getting me all sentimental now...

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Carol was excited when a patron came in wearing a stetson (first sighting). Checked shirt, clean jeans and yes-beautiful leather boots. Yee-haw! We were in Texas for sure dadgummit!

Even in casual clothes these folks dress well.

That, my friend, was one of the Russian Cosmonauts in training at NASA.

The Cowboy was the gent in a polo shirt and an AC/DC baseball cap, which he removed upon coming indoors.

Rick

We were on the New Year's cruise and unfortunately weren't able to buy any wine before embarkation. But we did buy some wine at the Duty Free stores in Cozumel and Roatan and we got waved through. They had the bottle check station when you boarded but they were looking for alcohol, not wine.

Our Bayport CB experience too.

At security checkpoints, the scanner operators are not raising an alert for wine bottles. Reboarding at ports of call, the table with two very friendly, easygoing, seated crew is after the bags scanner. If you are carrying a big sealed red-lined plastic bag from DUFRY it's pretty obvious... otherwise you are asked if you have any liquor.

Again, these guys are seated and it's quite a casual encounter (think, "Dockside Photo Op Invitation" and then dial it back by 60%).

They are not even present at Houston security.

Quick question... why do they call the Caribbean princess "CB"?

The Sea Princess is CP, and the Crown is KP.

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I'm a Houston native and my feelings are not hurt. The terminal is in the Pasadena city limits... and even we joke about Pasadena :)

Not the best smelling part of our area, but my Dad would have said "smells like money" because it's where all the oil comes in...

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I'll keep the noise down as I'm in the front row.

There may be drool though.

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Ah, a Bimmer tome to subscribe to!

Reclining the ol' La-Z-Boy, taking my shoes off to "set a spell."

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The idea of 3D pictures from the upper decks sounds like those pics would be something to see. I think my TV would show them - E733 at ATT dot NET

Thanks for the offer!

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Enjoying the narrative and the refreshing picture layouts.

I'm a big fan of E733. Nice and steady when underway, and the wake is a powerful relaxant.

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Soda Sticker info (there are 2 packages available) is on this "Princess Cellars" list. You need to call and charge a credit card, or buy on board.

Espresso is 1.75 a shot, specialty Coffee drinks are more. Using the Café Selects card (at the bottom of this list) for a coffee drink comes to $2.22 per punch after gratuity is charged.

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/cellars_culinarydelights/princess_cellars/index.jsp

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Does anyone know if Sabatini's is open for breakfast on turn around day when staying in a suite both cruises?

No it's not.

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Some great pictures there.

I recognize the Belize restaurant as where we were served that same lunch on a Ruins / River Cruise excursion, last month.

Thanks for sharing!

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How often can I send clothes to the laundry? Is it once during the cruise or as often as needed?

Each morning, by 9 AM if possible, up to the last day (when there wouldn't be time to do it of course).

Is there a limit to how much laundry I can send to be washed?

No. Ask your steward for extra bags / forms if needed.

What types of clothes can be sent to the laundry?

Anything except what you'd want to hand wash.

Items that can't take high heat can be cleaned by requesting "professional cleaning" on the right-hand half of the laundry form. It uses less water, more time, and less heat.

Press-only is also an option. Starch is another option.

Pro tip: a "pair" of socks is counted on the form as "one" item. Took me two cruises to 'get' this. The laundry staff corrected my form each time. :D

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