Live from the Regal - July 2-23 - Med Cruise - R/T Barcelona

[Steelers36]

14 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

No regrets what so ever with Club Class dining and we love the cabin we have which is pretty much in the center of the ship. But to be honest, Club Class dining IS why we book the M1 category. We like the No reservation required aspect of it, even though we usually show up at 5:30 pm when the doors open, as well as on many occasions we have ordered the extra entree as it’s usually pretty tasty! 

I have not asked you about this being in CC dining.  But, are you aware of how the DRO has handled those guests who booked same time/location/table for entire voyage expecting the TD experience?  Have they been accommodating guests without lining up every night?  Are the guests that want it able to actually get the same table/waiters each night?  These are for Private tables?  Are you aware of guests Sharing a table it's the same people each night like it used to be?  Thanks (and don't run around about it - only if you happen to be aware from other guests).

 

ETA:  @Esprit, perhaps you know??

Edited July 20, 2022 by Steelers36

[Esprit]

We’ve been to Messina a few times so just got off the ship for a quick walk. Here are the sights close to the ship

[Esprit]

Harbour view from the Starboard side

[Esprit]

The $20 pp supplement for the afternoon in the Sanctuary is well worth it. It’s so peaceful and quiet with very attentive staff.

[js1357]

17 hours ago, ROWSE said:

I am sorry for hijacking thread for a minute.  AND if someone already wrote about this tour I am sorry too as I have not read through everything yet.  

We were able to do a tour called the Scavi tour but booked so far out as they only take a few people an hour.  It is an underground tour of the Vatican where we saw an area containing. St. Peter’s bones and so much more.  This was the highlight of our Vatican Day.  Planned it for first tour.  You write them on the “contact” heading with possible days.  Only 13 euro each.  THEN, the best part is that you can go immediately into the Basilica from end of tour.  No waiting in that line.  It may be already full or not work with your time, or you could be claustrophobic.  It was amazing.  The line for the Basilica was huge when we finished and came out.  Here is a link:  http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en/biglietto-di-ingresso.html

 

 

This is what cruisecritic is all about.  Thanks so much for telling us about this.

[phabric]

17 hours ago, ROWSE said:

I am sorry for hijacking thread for a minute.  AND if someone already wrote about this tour I am sorry too as I have not read through everything yet.  

We were able to do a tour called the Scavi tour but booked so far out as they only take a few people an hour.  It is an underground tour of the Vatican where we saw an area containing. St. Peter’s bones and so much more.  This was the highlight of our Vatican Day.  Planned it for first tour.  You write them on the “contact” heading with possible days.  Only 13 euro each.  THEN, the best part is that you can go immediately into the Basilica from end of tour.  No waiting in that line.  It may be already full or not work with your time, or you could be claustrophobic.  It was amazing.  The line for the Basilica was huge when we finished and came out.  Here is a link:  http://www.scavi.va/content/scavi/en/biglietto-di-ingresso.html

 

 

Were you giving a choice of times to  choose from?

[Esprit]

You can’t escape from the filming of the Love Boat TV show even in the Sanctuary!

[Ken the cruiser]

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I have not asked you about this being in CC dining.  But, are you aware of how the DRO has handled those guests who booked same time/location/table for entire voyage expecting the TD experience?  Have they been accommodating guests without lining up every night?  Are the guests that want it able to actually get the same table/waiters each night?  These are for Private tables?  Are you aware of guests Sharing a table it's the same people each night like it used to be?  Thanks (and don't run around about it - only if you happen to be aware from other guests).

 

ETA:  @Esprit, perhaps you know??

You’re right, I have no clue and we have not socialized with anyone else, besides our DS and DIL (besides @Esprit) on this cruise. But I will say most of those items you mentioned are why we only book CC Dining affiliated cabins. Maybe that’s also why I have no idea what DRO and TD means. 😂

[JimmyVWine]

34 minutes ago, Ken the cruiser said:

You’re right, I have no clue and we have not socialized with anyone else, besides our DS and DIL (besides @Esprit) on this cruise. But I will say most of those items you mentioned are why we only book CC Dining affiliated cabins. Maybe that’s also why I have no idea what DRO and TD means. 😂

Director of Restaurant Operations??  I know that TD is Traditional Dining.  I think the question being posed is:  Can one replicate the old Traditional Dining feel by making a reservation at the same dining room each night at the same time, and request (plead) to be seated at the same table each night, paired with the same servers.  It seems that in theory, Dine My Way should permit this, but as we all know, theory and practice can be miles apart.

[Ken the cruiser]

We’re back from our excursion to Mt Etna and we had a great time, even though it was 2 hours driving time each way, but we did get a couple of hours to experience the Mt Etna lava flow and crater area as well as get an informative overview from our tour guide. Just an informative note, the last eruption was in July 2001.

 

These are some of our views on our 2 hour drive to the Mt Etna visitor area.

 

This was interesting. Notice the old castle-like setting on the hilltop with what appears to be some type of rail lift for supplies and possibly people?

 

Mt Etna off in the distance.

 

 

Our tour guide mentioned one of the big crops they grow in the area was lemons, and he wasn’t kidding. There were lemon trees all over the place!

 

 

Their other big crop as you might image was wine grapes.

 

 

Then we started our climb to 2000 meters

 

 

Just thought this was a cool little town we went through as we headed up.

 

This is all from ancient lava flows.

 

 

 

When we finally arrived, he gave us some information and then we went into the restaurant to enjoy are refreshments which included cannelloni and water or juice, before we headed out to enjoy about 70 minutes of free time to wander about. There was also a tram which took folks to a higher level, but that would require an extra 2 hours which we didn’t have.

 

The road in the distance was the one we came up on.

 

 

 

 

 

This restaurant has been severely damaged twice over the past 30 years, and they have rebuilt it each time.

 

 

 

Then it was time for our drive back to the ship. 

 

 

The reason for the map is to show how close Messina, which is on the island of Sicily, is to the mainland of Italy.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by Ken the cruiser

[PRINCESS Sweet Pea]

We LOVE the Sanctuary!!!!  

(hopefully no paying passengers directly affected in that timing area)

 

Also,  I would really love to know if X-cite will be onboard for any length of time.

We are hoping to be onboard in a few months....

It has been years ago, but they were AMAZING!!!!

That was back when the ship band played a lot more time thru-out the cruise.

They CARRIED that whole sailing!

They literally brought the whole house/ship down with their performance of Hey Jude.

Seriously put the Beatle-maniacs to shame.

[Ken the cruiser]

And we’re off to Naples!!

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

Tonight after having dinner up at the buffet as we got back late from the excursion, we passed on watching the opera singer, Shelly Rivers, in the main theater as we’ve seen her show a couple times before. But we did find the energy to go participate in Musical Bingo in Princess Live.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

July 21 - Day 20 - Naples, Italy

 

 

 

[JimmyVWine]

Just now, Ken the cruiser said:

July 21 - Day 20 - Naples, Italy

Ken:  Did you post the Sicily Patters?  I've been collecting them and don't seem to have those. Thx.

[Billish]

5 hours ago, Esprit said:

You can’t escape from the filming of the Love Boat TV show even in the Sanctuary!

Did you ask for a refund. It's hardly a sanctuary with that going on !

[Billish]

4 hours ago, PRINCESS Sweet Pea said:

We LOVE the Sanctuary!!!!  

(hopefully no paying passengers directly affected in that timing area)

 

Also,  I would really love to know if X-cite will be onboard for any length of time.

We are hoping to be onboard in a few months....

It has been years ago, but they were AMAZING!!!!

That was back when the ship band played a lot more time thru-out the cruise.

They CARRIED that whole sailing!

They literally brought the whole house/ship down with their performance of Hey Jude.

Seriously put the Beatle-maniacs to shame.

They were on Sky in October last year, so I guess they move between ships. 

They are good, but I would prefer them to get rid of the recorded backing  track,  - it's just glorified karaoke. 

[NIkkiGR]

5 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

July 21 - Day 20 - Naples, Italy

 

 

 

Thank you Ken for taking us along on your cruise. Off topic is 

Princess still providing the princess cloth bags on arrival to your cabin? I rather like them for sea days to hold all the sun tan lotions, etc. 

[Esprit]

10 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Director of Restaurant Operations??  I know that TD is Traditional Dining.  I think the question being posed is:  Can one replicate the old Traditional Dining feel by making a reservation at the same dining room each night at the same time, and request (plead) to be seated at the same table each night, paired with the same servers.  It seems that in theory, Dine My Way should permit this, but as we all know, theory and practice can be miles apart.

Last week we shared a table twice with another couple. We would have continued to do so if they were on for two weeks too.

We simply agreed to meet in the Allegro entrance so we could dine together.

We also have had the same waiter each night and sat mostly at the same table by the back windows. 
Whilst we often chat with neighbouring tables our meal time is considerably shorter so we have seen far more shows that start at 10 pm on this cruise.

So apart from not sharing a table of 8 our MDR experience has been better than expected post Covid.

We haven’t had a poor meal either in the MDR

[Esprit]

3 hours ago, NIkkiGR said:

Thank you Ken for taking us along on your cruise. Off topic is 

Princess still providing the princess cloth bags on arrival to your cabin? I rather like them for sea days to hold all the sun tan lotions, etc. 

We didn’t get any this cruise. I have seen one or two so presume people packed them beforehand.

[Esprit]

6 hours ago, Billish said:

Did you ask for a refund. It's hardly a sanctuary with that going on !

They started to set up around 4.45 pm and began filming at 5.40 pm as we were leaving.

The whole port side area of the Sanctuary has been reserved for filming during our two week cruise!

Edited July 21, 2022 by Esprit

[Esprit]

Due to the late arrival and departure from Messina I was unsurprised how quiet the MDR was at 8 pm.

However I did not expect the ship to be so dead from 10.30 pm. Nothing happening in the Piazza apart from a violin and cello duo. Very odd!

Bellinis had last orders at 11 pm.

Only the Wheelhouse bar had some people enjoying the pianist.

[Ken the cruiser]

10 hours ago, JimmyVWine said:

Ken:  Did you post the Sicily Patters?  I've been collecting them and don't seem to have those. Thx.

Sorry about that. At least I know now someone was looking at them. 😂

 

 

 

[Ken the cruiser]

5 hours ago, NIkkiGR said:

Thank you Ken for taking us along on your cruise. Off topic is 

Princess still providing the princess cloth bags on arrival to your cabin? I rather like them for sea days to hold all the sun tan lotions, etc. 

Yes, we got this one. Didn’t even know we got it until you mentioned it. It was in the back on the top shelf in the closet.

 

[Ken the cruiser]

We have arrived in Naples, Italy. BTW this is the only duplicate port we’ve visited on our B3B. Today we plan on going on an afternoon PCL excursion to the Herculaneum.