dbeckett

I am in the planning mode for next year's Baltic cruise.  We think we have most ports sorted out but want some feedback about a couple of excursions that Princess offer so if anyone has done either of the the following we'd appreciate comments - good or bad.  We are no longer concerned about ensuring we see the Little Mermaid on either tour as we are docking at the Langelinie cruise terminal which is within walkin distance but is it the last thing seen before returning to the ship?  We'd get off there and walk back if it is (and they let us do it)

A Discovery Exclusive - Christiansborg Castle & The Royal Chapel - it sounds like the Little Mermaid is at the start of the tour

North Sealand Country & Frederiksborg Castle - I get the  impression the Little Mermaid could be at the end of the tour

Thanks in advance

Thanks for all the responses and the wonderful news that we are docking close to the Little Mermaid.  As someone said seen as how the tours we are looking at aren't long it will give us time to walk to the Little Mermaid at leisure before or after the tour.

Thanks again to everyone 

In response to Hallasm, we will be on the Crown Princess and arriving on 22 July 2020 which is a Wednesday.  As suggested by Dogs4fun I'll also post on the Princess site.

Thanks for the information so far

How close is the Little Mermaid to the port (not sure where the ship is docking yet but will find out).  If going on a tour (with Princess) can anyone say if they got off the bus at the Little Mermaid for photos or just got to see it through the bus window.  The tours we are considering are:

Cristianborg & Royal Chapel Or

Sealand Country & Frederiksborg.

Thanks in advance

On 7/30/2019 at 4:24 PM, steelers36 said:

This I have not read or heard anything about.  So, in building Sky and Enchanted there was no change to balcony sizes?

We have sailed on the Regal and Majestic.  The Balcony was petite to the point we will not book a Royal class ship in future

Yes done the Club Class and room service suite breakfasts but this time it was supposed to be the regular Sabatini suite breakfast (starting at 6:30).  The "electrical fault" meant no cooked breakfast but we did get mimosas before heading to MDR for a Club Class breakfast. 

We did go to Club Class after mimosas but it is not the same.

When we got into the suite on the Island Princess on a Panama Partial in March I was delighted to see that there was going to be breakfast for suites in Sabatini's.  I have asked Princess if it cannot be done in letters following cruises (working on the latest) and it seemed that my whining was listened to.  I told a number of other Sabatini breakfast users that it would be happening.  When I said to the wonderful Sabatini breakfast crew how happy I was they said it was only the second time it had happened.

We went down for breakfast on disembarkation imagine the reaction to find that there had been an electrical fault so the only things that could be offered were mimosas, coffee and pastries.   Surely the coffee takes electricity.   The cynic in me is saying it was a one off and it will not be a freature.

Has anyone had suite breakfast in the regular location on disembarkation day?   I would really like to think that it is going to happen on the next cruise but....

Thanks for any responses

23 hours ago, Ep010835 said:

 

Insurance industry?

 Close but not quite there - I'm a Safety Professional

Here's hoping if ever there is an incident on a Princess ship they are able to let people know in advance that it is going to happen so everyone can get to their must point in advance just as happens for the Muster.   No prizes for guessing what my profession is  - I even suggested to Princess that on longer cruises they say on boarding day there will be an unannounced muster so they can assess how effective their new "improved" version of the drill is seen as how you don't have to take the life jacket and try it on.

Just went downstairs and told my brother so it sounds like he is now okay about getting a taxi.   At least if you have to wait at the port the ship is close so when they say come on board it is easy to do.

Thanks to everyone for the very fast responses.

I know there has been comments about the fact Princess are advising people on specific decks to arrive at, or after, specific times but have the distinct impression no one does it at Fort Lauderdale.  I can't get onto the booking as it keeps coming up with parsererror (if anyone can tell me how to correct or get rid of it I'd appreciate it).  As it won't let me log in, I can't review documents to see what they say.

As we are staying at Embassy Suites and waited an age (okay 1pm) last time for the Princess coach to leave for the port I was going to go by taxi but my brother (who I travel with) says we may as well wait at the hotel as there is no advantage to going earlier as the rooms aren't ready till the after the recommended boarding time.  That was one I hadn't heard of before so am hopeful someone can clarify what is happening at Fort Lauderdale.  Last year at Vancouver we certainly didn't wait till the suggested time and had it not been for a Homeland Security computer issue would have been on board around 10:30 - we were on in time to have had embarkation lunch had we wanted to.

Thanks

Don't ask for black pudding or

Cumberland sausage though they don't have either

No need to look for the Northern Lights - on a cruise 2 years ago theatre was full and the Captain came on the PA apologising for the interruption but if anyone was interested the Northern Lights were visible. It is to be hoped that the theatre empties that fast if there was a fire. The upper decks were crowded but it was spectacular. Captain also said in all the times he had cruised Alaska it was the first time he'd seen them. As we were doing a B2B there was a similar announcement but this time it was later (had to get out of bed and scramble into appropriate clothing) not as many people and it also wasn't as impressive but I'd say there is no need to be watching as the crew know it is something that people want to see so if they see them they let the ship know.

Was on the Majestic for the first and last time when she was repositioning from Europe to Singapore (couldn't do the whole repositioning work were not happy).

At that time I would say the shops (which aren't too many on Princess) were high end clothes and jewelry - though that might have change, the Karaoke was poorly used. The change to the Vista Gaming lounge meant that for things like trivia, art shows and Captain's Circle were cramped and not as successful.

Then as with Royal ships the balconies are miniscule (I should have said we will not sail on any Royal ship - not just the Majestic based on this).

I know there was a lot of talk from Australians on the cruise that unless changes were made it would not be practical for them.

UK has NEVER had Princess ' CFAR reason insurance so it comes as no surprise that the new insurance isn't available either.

Disgusting! Can you imagine how the weather wreaked havoc with them? Warm sun, cool nights...eww! It's clearly the cabin steward's fault.

I tried responding to this from may tablet but as with a lot of tablet posts it didn't happen (though I did see it briefly as being posted).

Someone else may have said what I said but in case not - it is NOT the cabin's steward's fault. It is the fault of the parents who are setting a wonderful example to their child - someone else will clear up your mess (literally) if you leave it long enough.

Typical example in this day and age of people not being able to take care of issues that are their own making (having small child that needs a diaper to be disposed of) .

Blaming the steward is too easy an option seen as how there is someone who is paid to clean up - makes you wonder at the state of the cabin, maybe (s)he spent so much time dealing with the cabin they never got outside.

Bring back suite Internet

Catherine is a Duchess. Diana was Diana, Princess of Wales and as such really wasn't Princess Diana.

I'll check the regs tomorrow but looking at the titles of the 28 sections nothing leaps out as it being anything dictated by the UK ggovernment

Not sailed Celebrity but I would say not to do Princess suite on one of the newer, larger .ships. The bathroom is well worth it but the balcony definitely not.

After an earlier post, I applied for my shareholder credit but now that I have reread the return email in the UK it will only be posted and available for use to pay for things (excursions, gratuities) until 90 days before departure. I had OBC through a FCC but the shareholder credit not until today for cruise 1 and next week for cruise 2.

Is it really so difficult for Princess to make it the same for all passengers regardless of the country they live in?

Don't expect the email seen as how I now live in the UK.

Bring your own PG tips - that's what will happen in August for me (obviously coming with me from the UK)

Starting with the 2019-2020 Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific Program, going on sale April 17, 2018, and for all subsequent program releases, a new final payment policy goes into effect aimed at encouraging guests to finalize their cruise bookings earlier and help reduce the likelihood of cruise cancellations. Cruises through the end of Summer 2019 are unaffected and will continue to use the existing policy.

 

The chart below reflects the current and new final payment policy due dates:

 

5 days or less cruises: from 60 days prior to sailing changed to 75 days

6-24 days cruises: from 75 days prior to sailing changed to 90 days

25-29 days cruises: from 75 days prior to sailing changed to 120 days

30+ days cruises: no change at 120 days prior to sailing

Apparently it's already in place for us "lucky" Brits - our 2 7 day Alaska cruises have to be paid in full at 90 days plus