HMSDingy

19 minutes ago, cjpj said:

Yes - always per person for the Princess prices. Usually for one night it is not economical.

17 hours ago, shellbeachjim said:

I've always considered the Princess hotels to be w-a-y overpriced. Remember, the rates on the website are per person based on double occupancy.

It is overpriced but if you book the same hotel on another website, then tack on 2 Princess transfers to the port, it comes out to roughly the same. By my calculations & taking into consideration when we plan to cruise, our cost would come out to $550 CAD. If you go the other route & book another hotel, you would still have to add on the transfer to the port and you're looking at 150 euros per ride. From what I've found, hotels that include the airport shuttle, usually range around $200. That would still make our one night stay at another hotel with transfers from airport & to the port at around $450 CAD. Yes I'd be saving a few bucks but with Princess I would have peace of mind as to transfers. Our cruise is in November, so I've got a bit of time to put more pennies away & make a final decision. That being said, anyone have hotel and transfer to port suggestions?

18 hours ago, Mflem1278 said:

Looks to me like it was $308.  And that was one night.  Included transfer from airport to hotel and from hotel to ship and then from ship to airport.  I don't know if that is considered expensive in Europe or not.  It was a really nice place and we were happy with what we paid.

 

Was that $308 for the room or per occupant.

17 hours ago, shellbeachjim said:

I've always considered the Princess hotels to be w-a-y overpriced. Remember, the rates on the website are per person based on double occupancy.

Then the prices are ridiculous because the cheapest hotel on the Princess website for a room in Rome is listed at $299 which would make it almost $600 for one night. I can get the same room on Expedia for $332 CAD tax in and even save more since I'm a member. The hotel website lists a room at 179 Euros. I'm sure there must be something wrong.

17 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

I have no personal experience with this but I have read a number of times here on CC that the Princess price is listed per person. Make sure you know exactly what you are looking at in regard to prices.

Are you sure? Usually hotel prices are quoted per room as a double occupancy.

16 hours ago, Hlitner said:

Come live here in some places like NYC.  Get a meal in NYC and then you add 8.75% tax plus another 20% tip.  Drives our European friends crazy 🙂

Here in Montreal we have a federal and provincial tax totalling 15% and tipping is from 15% to 20% or whatever the heck you want to pay. But living here isn't as expensive as NYC. I have a niece who's studying at Columbia on a scholarship and lucky for her, the scholarship covers her rent. 

On 2/3/2023 at 12:38 PM, Hlitner said:

Easier said than done!  We Americans often suffer from what has been called "tipping guilt" and have a difficult time not tipping :).  We sometimes see posts here on CC where folks suggest they will always tip...not matter what!  What we (Americans) fail to understand that mores do differ around the world and there are actually places where tipping is considered an insult and patronizing.  The UGLY American is alive and well and believes that they are always right and there is no need to follow local customs.

 

Hank

Hi Hank, long time no speak. Wife and I are Italian and we speak the language fluently. That being said we are rarely mistaken fo tourists and do understand the practice, or lack thereof, of tipping in Italy. I really love all of the extra charges they tack onto your bill. 

Just now, Mflem1278 said:

We stayed at a Princess hotel pre-cruise in Rome in November 2022.  Nice place, directly across from the train/subway/bus station.  Yes it included transfers.  Best Western Premier Hotel Royal Santina

Curious to know how much you paid for the hotel. The Princess websites lists the prices at $299 Canadian. Doesn't specify if it's for one or two nights.

Although Platinum members, we've never stayed at the hotels suggested by Princess. This coming November were looking at a Med cruise and would like to stay for at least one night pre-cruise. Has anyone used this service? I know that although the hotels tend to be a bit more pricey, they do include transfers from airport  & to ship. 

Hi all, looking to book a Med cruise this November. Does Princess pick up pax at any hotel they're staying in or is a select few?

Thanks in advance.

I have the VaxiCode app on my phone with all of my shots. Would that be enough?

16 hours ago, kazu said:

 

 

My experience is the Sam as RoyalVisit’s and I’ve done a few European cruises.

 

Definitely a difference compared to a Caribbean or Alaska itinerary.  

That's what I figured.  We have in fact done have one Med cruise but it was with Royal Caribbean not HAL. Wanted to know if it was the same with HAL.

On 5/18/2019 at 12:41 AM, Boatdrill said:

And from the other side....I've worked for cruise lines (onboard and shoreside), and in hotel management,  so I've worn uniforms nearly all my life.  My first cruise was when I was 10 years old.  

I look forward to dressing up for Gala/Formal nights. When I pack, I look in my closet and remember what I wore on which ship and the itinerary. I choose accordingly (Caribbean vs Alaska vs transatlantic, etc.).  I dress up for Gala nights not only because  that's what the occasion calls for, but out of respect for the officers (who are in their formal uniforms as well) and their ship.  That's what I was taught, and yes,  I'm a traditionalist.  I know crew appreciate well dressed guests; it's similar to dressing well for first class on an airplane.  No passenger should ever feel overdressed in the MDR on Gala Night. But that's where it seems to be headed.     

    

Quick question, from your experience are pax on European cruises dressier on gala nights?

Although I'm Canadian, I don't have  Discovery Channel & I'm not going subscribe just for one episode. Would appreciate any link where I can view it .  

5 hours ago, canadianbear said:

They encourage after 7:30.  However, if you go before and it’s super busy they give you a pager so you can go have a drink while waiting.  If you’re willing to sit with others it’s usually not too long of wait (except the first night we’ve found, hence we pre-book a specialty restaurant).  

Then I guess the best thing would be to book a specialty restaurant for the first night & avoid the mayhem.  

BTW British Columbia is beautiful as is the rest our our country!

18 hours ago, canadianbear said:

We didn’t do the MDR night (1st gala night) when they didn’t have escargot.  We did the 2nd gala night and all 4 of us had the surf & turf. We found it excellent.  

 

We book Tamarind ahead of time for the first night as always find the MDR a zoo as we have any time dining.

Speaking of anytime dining, are they flexible with the hours.  We normally like to dine at 7.

On 3/7/2019 at 1:36 PM, canadianbear said:

We just got off the Koningsdam yesterday.  We like dining in the MDR on gala nights.  Just a heads up if you like escargot-our cruise and the one before it had no escargot.  They said they were having trouble stocking it.  

 

You might like to book the first & last night at the specialty restaurants like Tamarind, Pinnacle or Canalleto.  

Did you dine in the MDR? One of the posts above commented that the surf n turf was nothing to write home about.  We're booked in the Tamarind for our second gala night but we can change it for another night if the MDR menu is decent.

23 hours ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

You will not be disappointed in the Tamarind!!

I've booked the Tamarind for the second sea night. My sister has sailed with HAL and she tells me to do a gala night in the MDR because of the special menus.  Is it really owrth it?  I can always go the the Tamarind on another night.

1 minute ago, RuthC said:

By 15%? I believe the prices on the website include the service charge, and the prices on the list do not.

Yes I noticed that.  

1 minute ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

I’ve always found that confusing, so when I order the package online, I just set the delivery date at embarkation and delivery to my cabin.  You can’t order the individual wines until after you board anyway, and this way I get the wine list and a card in my state room when I board.  Then when I’m ready to order my first bottle in the dining room, I just tell the wine steward which package I’ve purchased, give him/her my cabin # and my selection.  They’ll check to see if the wine I’ve selected is part of my package and bring the bottle to the table.  Easy!  

 

Lana (chilling in my air conditioned cabin after trying to deal with 87 F temp and 100% humidity and deciding life’s too short to be that uncomfortable...)  😳

Thanks.  

7 minutes ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

** 2019 wine-packages.pdfUnavailable

** 2019 wine-packages.pdf 1.12 MB · 0 downloads

Wow! Thanks. One last question and you can go back to your cruise.  I was looking at the wine package we want on the HAL website, when it comes to ordering , they ask what date we want the wine delivered and whether we want it in the cabin or dining room.  I thought this would default to dining room and for all of the dates. One more thing, the prices on the HAL website are more expensive than the file you just sent me.

26 minutes ago, ArtsyCraftsy said:

 

If you purchase the Cellar #3 8-bottle package, then yes, you can select from the entire list (Cellars #1, 2, and 3) of special package wines, a subset of the overall list of wines available on the ship, as not all wines are available for sale via the packages.  If your 8-bottle package is Cellar #2, then your allowable selections would be from the Cellar #2 and Cellar #1 lists.  Cellar #1 is the cheapest package and you’re limited to those wines that appear on the Cellar #1 list.

 

Lana (currently on the Eurodam, anchored in Bora Bora)

Thanks, that clears things up.  Do you know where I can see a list of the wines offered per cellar?

17 minutes ago, daisy-mae said:

Quick question:

 

Does that price include the gratuity?

 

 

Yes.

Does a wine package include all of the wines or special selections per different package?  A simpler question; if I purchase a wine package of 8 bottles, do choose 8 from the entire wine list?

2 minutes ago, Krazy Kruizers said:

You will not be disappointed in the Tamarind!!

Thanks I appreciate your response and all of your help here on Cruise Critics.  This will be our first cruise with HAL and like all of our cruises, I'm as excited as a kid in a toy store.  I do like the choices of specialty restaurants with HAL.

Just now, simplyrubies said:

Slightly off-topic question, but will you be travelling on the June 1 cruise by any chance? I know there are a couple of Greek island itineraries and I am wondering when ours will be!

 

In terms of your question, would you be able to get a reservation if a table cancelled? I assume such would be common and you might have a chance of getting a table then, but of course you never know how many people will do it and what time their reservation is. This would be quite risky, in my opinion. 

Yes we are on the June 1 cruise. I've booked the Tamarind & Pinnacle for  our sea days.  As for the itineraries, are you booked on the ship's excursions or privately?