dbeckett

We stayed at the Hotel Saturnia through Princess. As has already been said a Princess rep. meets you off the flight and takes you to a water taxi. It was shared with another coupke on the same flight. It is a great way to enter Venice. The hotel has a dock for water taxis. As the room wasn't ready (we were about 2 hours early for check-in) it was an easy walk to St.Mark's (over one bridge and 3 streets (not blocks) away.

Food was good - we had breakfasts and dinners there. The room was "quaint" but the bed was comfortable.

Going to the second muster drill but using the alternate route is a good idea. When I organised fire drills at work and "blocked" the regular exit with a forklift truck it was interesting to see the number of people who climbed over it to get out as they didn't know the alternate exit (and you get to go to a part of the ship you normally ccan't go.

Saw Dan on the Regal a couple of weeks ago (not as CD) so we wondered if he was going to be taking over from Ron. They had "his" quiz show Hollywould You advertised on the Princess Live screens when we were disembarking so again thought the next cruise was going to be getting him

On the Regal the Winemaker's dinner while not the Chef's Table is good.

Just back from the Regal and to me the lack of stairs mid-ship was to say the least damned annoying. I normally only use lfts (elevators) at the start and end of a cruise when I have a suitcase with them. We were midship on the Regal and did as a lot of people have suggested walked forward or aft to use those stairs. When coming back from or going to Shore Excursion or even to HC or HB it was annoying to have the lift go past the floor because it was already full.

I was talking to a member of the crew about it (I voiced my opinion that it was a cost cutting exercise for Princess) and was told that it was because one group cruisers (the ones that are the majority of Princess cruisers) didn't use them. I did point out that there were more cruisers than them but was told that was the reason the crew had been told that passenger stairs had gone.

Prior to the muster drill (tell me why do people insist on going an hour early with their life jackets just so they can use the lifts) I asked a different crew member where the stairs were that the route map of where to go when the alarm sounds and was told that there are no stairs - use the lift!!! Like you should do that in the event of a real emergency.

The stairs and other things we prefer on the mid-size ships mean that it would have to be a very special itinerary for us to consider the Regal (or Royal) again.

I'm missing something as they grind the coffee and don't use syrup for lattes.

Even the morning coffee isn't loaded with sugar and that is supposed to be the syrup - camp syrup in the UK is strong coffee and not sweetened.

If you are wanting a specialist coffee (gingerbread at Christmas) then as I was on the Regal 2 weeks ago I didn't see any of these coffees offered though I wasn't looking for them so...

Often people without walking difficulties need to use the handrails for balance in rough seas.

Having the carts blocking the handrails is just not safe.

LuLu

It would be interesting to know if there is a protocol for rough seas saying no carts in corridors. It would make sense. It may mean that rooms aren't cleaned, especially if passengers are encouraged to stay in their rooms.

I would love cruise lines to try muster drills with the carts just so they can assess the effect. Being devious when I worked in a production plant for one of the (many) fire drills I blocked an exit - the one most production workers used - with a fork lift to reinforce they had to know their secondary means of exiting the building. It was "interesting" how many people climbed over the FLT and its load. It didn't happen the second time an exit wasn't accessible.

The comment that carts are germy again leads to cleaning of carts after use. I would think that Princess requires them to be cleaned after each use/shift but again it is something that Princess would have to let us in on.

The food plates are a nuisance and I will take them back to HC rather than have them hanging around.

I asked the F&B officers when I was on board a few weeks ago this exact question - they said it is no problem - everything is made ala cart and thus if someone has specific problems / requests they will do everything to accommodate.

They don't accomodate diabetics - just had to sit and watch everyone else work around their spun sugar deserts. Good for the diet as I'd enjoyed everything else though so missing out on desert wasn't the end of the world. When I said I was a diabetic I was told they wouldn't be able to do anything so if I didn't want to go that was fine. Interesting I didn't even get the option of the sugar free desert that was on that night.

I guess I'm in a minority but I loved the Princess products (to use when not on a cruise but I needed a cheer up moment - out would come the shampoo, soap and lotion to make it smell like a cruise). Do the new pumps have the same/similar smell or are they totally different? As for the fact they have combined the conditioner and shampoo I use a similar product daily so it is not a problem though it will be if they don't smell the same. I have my regular shampoo/conditioner ready to go for the Regal.

Anyone cruising to/from Alaska via Canada Place don't be concerned about the 'blood red" water. There is an algal bloom happening now - due in part to the warm temperatures. TV stations say it will only last for a couple of days.

Great review - we'll be on the Regal in just over a month and of course are counting the days.

If there was a catastrophic event the last thing anyone should be thinking about is taking the elevators to get to their muster station.

Most (if not all) taxis in Vancouver take credit cards

you are very patient! I'm glad it paid off.

I can beat a 30 minute hold (not on Princess but BA as they were dealing with the French air traffic controller's strike) - I was on hold for nearly 5 hours. My brother says I'm not patient but I sat through it!

We were spoiled when Princess gave us an upgrade to a suite so we now book them but the next cruise (in 33 days) is a port intensive Med. cruise so after asking if Sabatini's was open sooner to accommodate early departures for excursions and being told no we are in a mini-suite. Now we've heard rumblings that they will open earlier to accommodate excursions. I'm going to be mortified if they are open earlier. At least we can look forward to the Panama where we know we'll be taking full advantage of breakfast in Sabatini's.

Slightly different Asia cruise on the Diamond (China to Thailand with a land tour beforehand). My brother who doesn't eat Chinese was gratified to find that on the ship it was "normal" Princess fare so unless something has seriously changed then I'd say you'll be fine.

Last B2B (Caribbean) we ordered duty free in the first leg and went and got it at the shop (can't remember the name but you know which one I mean). I don't know if they would have delivered but it was packed and waiting for us. Yes we got more on the second leg and those bottles made it home

If you are booking as 2 cruises you'll get the Elite benefits for both cruises (double internet time and 2 mini bar set ups). If you book it as one cruise you'll get only one of each (though there have been some reports that some people did get it on both legs of one cruise that was really a B2B).

As for the experience of being on board - you'll get a new cruise card (and they usually don't carry over the bill to the next cruise). You'll be told where to meet on board ship. Not sure about the UK but in the US they get you to leave the ship and reboard. If you are doing a shore excursion they will have you meet for that - I can't say when they do the new cruise card in that instance as we just stay on board (great chance to look at other staterooms on the ship). They will let you know which dining room is available for you (so you aren't in the rush for HC). One of the great things about a B2B is seeing all the suitcases outside doors the night before the end of the first cruise and yours isn't one of them.

If you can do 14 days there is a cruise that has the same ports for the first 7 days but then carries on and ends in Barcelona. All categories are available so if it doesn't sell I'd bet that Princess starts to open the mini-suites and suites for the first part.

This is really good advice! Thanks for all the insight into Princess. I'll be turning 40 inboard the CB in September. Any advice on special occasion perks and/or requests?

 

 

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On Cruise Personalizer in My Princess go to your profile and I think it is cruise preference let them know it is your birthday - you'll get balloons on your stateroom door and a cake in the MDR. I can't remember if you get a birthday card from the Captain. You could call Princess and ask them to put it on your booking.

This will be the third Panama cruise so we know what to expect - we were more curious to see if anyone had any thoughts on what the "new" suite layout may be. As I had said we had booked the third one on the Island again but Princess opted to move the Island to Europe. We were lucky to get the last suite that was available on the Island - not the midship location we like but at least we got a suite. I'm currently keeping tabs on the sailing in the hope someone opts not to go so I snag a midship.

We are booked to do the Panama in April (originally on the Island, till Princess moved her to Europe because of Venice) and see that the suite layout has a notice across it saying Your premium suite will differ from what is show here

There is also has the same notice on the Island suites. As the suite looks to be the same as on other ships it would be interesting to know what they are going to do to change it. Does anyone have any thoughts on what changes they could be making? I initially thought it was due to the suite being the mirror image but all the suites say it so... I know this will probably end up being a wish list (don't mention internet access!!) but it could be a good thing for Princess to consider as it will show them what people think is important.

Just like the evening meal they post the menu in advance so you can see if there is something you'd like to try before you go. My usual routine has been to head down and see if there is eggs benedict on before I head up to HC.

It has to be the internet security program as I use explorer too.

I tried to see if there was an ad blocker but there was nothing obvious. At least I know it is me and the settings causing it.

thanks

I decided to go to my webcam favourite link to watch the cruise ships but seem to be having issues getting it to work. Anyone out there who is better at computers than I obviously am who could tell me what to do would be appreciated.

I used the Port Everglades webcam url and now get the option of selecting the connection type. As I'm using WiFi that's the one I opted for but all I get is a broken image link. Thinking it wasn't as fast I then opted for the low bandwith cell 3G but still get the broken link.

I don't think it is because I am not in the US as there is usually a message saying that is the reason it can't be viewed but all that happens is the broken image link.

While I'm talking computers does anyone have a website that allows you to see where cruise ships are on sea (and in port). My "old" favourites aren't working so I've deleted them and the ones I've tried either don't track Princess or have them in strange places (Regal is in the middle of Eygpt on one I tried!)

Thanks in advance

I only noticed them today (before I saw this thread) and like others thought it was something I'd done. On the bright side at least unlike the one that keeps moving on dictionary's daily crossword the ones here are still and you can tune them out.