flhusker

Hubby and I are considering The Pearl for a half Panama Canal cruise in April 2020.  We've always cruised on Princess before but due to several challenges are considering this ship.  But it leads to several questions.  We are an older couple - I'm 76 and hubby is 78.  Is this a ship for a younger crowd?

1. Do they have "anytime" dining or do you have to schedule your dining in advance?

2. Do they have a non-alcoholic beverage package?  Hubby drinks coke and I drink diet Coke?  What is the cost? And can it be purchased in advance?

3. Hubby sleeps with a c-pap, do they have distilled water available even at a cost for this purpose?

4. Do they have a covered pool?  I can't be in direct sun.

5. What entertainment is there after the shows in the main theater is over?  Something other than casino or sitting in a bar.  Neither hubby or I are big drinkers.

I know there are more but that's enough to get started.  Thank you.

Told you I'd have more questions.  Princess has a Knitters and Knatters club that meets every morning on sea days, does Celebrity have anything comparable.  I'm a knitter and enjoy sitting with others and talk and knit and talk and knit.  Have no idea what a "knatter" is.

Hubby and I will be taking our first Celebrity cruise next April (2020).  We've been loyal the the Princess Cruises; however, some of the changes they have recently instituted we don't like.  Therefore, we are giving Celebrity a try.  We are on Celebrity Reflection Trans-atlantic from Ft. Lauderdale in April 2020.  Now for my question(s):

Laundry facilities:  Princess has self-service laundies on every deck so I can pack less clothes.  I understand Celebrity does not. 1-how expensive is it to have laundry sent out, 2-will they wash in cold water if requested, 3-will they bring back certain item (my undies and bras) so I can air dry in the room (I never put these items in a dryer).

One of the things I liked about Princess is we didn't have to walk through the casino every time we wanted to go somewhere.  How is the casino setup on Reflections, in particular.  Is it off to the side or right in the middle so that you have to walk through it no matter where you're going.

Princess has what they call a Daily Platter that lists everything going on that day. Does Celebrity have something similar?  I don't have a cell phone and don't want to carry around my Kindle constantly and spend money on internet service.

I know I have more question but that's good for a start.

Hubby and I have been loyal Princess cruisers; however with the changes this year we are switching to another cruise line.  Dinner times at 5:15 and 7:30 are you kidding me!  Do they think they are running an Old People's Home.  Active seniors don't eat that early.  Show times in Princess Theater have also been changed, I suppose to accommodate for the earlier dining times.  Now I find out from a friend that the lariat for the new Medallion costs $7.00-$18.00.  Are you kidding me!  You treating me old and at the same time have your hand in my pocket.  Thanks but no thanks!  Goodbye Princess!

I use Bio-Freeze not only on my knees but on my shoulders as well. Had a knee replacement several years ago and while most of the pain is gone I have some limitations with that knee. I can't bend it all the way so going up and down stairs I'd slow going. But I had something unusual happen with my knee replacement. I have tissue infusion into the new knee. Yes it can be repaired but it means more surgery and no guarantee it won't happen again. So I live with it like it is and decided not to have the other knee done.

I am not being harsh, just giving you info.

https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/preventing-infection.html

 

https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/when-how-handwashing.html

 

I have one question for you. When you leave the rest room with out washing your hands, do you touch the door? If not great. If so, what about the next person giong out the door?

If I've left my purse with hubby I pushed the door with elbow or shoulder. Like I said don't be so harsh.

Don't be so harsh. I carry the individual hand sanitizers in my purse and use those. If I left my bag with hubby I'll use it when I meet him outside the washroom. Therefore, you don't always see me washing my hands.

I knew that one as my name is on the list.

We are on the Island Princess Panama Canal Cruise departing Ft. Lauderdale on April 19th. When we did the Mediterranean Cruise a couple of years ago in the afternoon of the st sea days they had a craft event. Does anybody know of they still do this? Hubby is looking forward to it. For me I'm bringing my knitting to get together with other knitters.

 

Enchantment usually docks overnight in Nassau when they miss the island. Last weekend, they "parked" next to my ship in the afternoon. Didn't they do this on your trip?

No they did not. The passengers who were up and on deck at 8am heard an announcement that due to high seas we would be having a sea day. The rest of us got it word of mouth.

Oh yes and the "compass" did not come out until almost noon.

Had we not been on Princess so recently we probably would not have noticed the inefficiencies as much. RC is just not quite as organized or efficient. Our next cruise will be back on Princess. We will have to go down to Ft. Lauderdale but that is no big deal as we can spend a night with our daughter.

We were on this cruise and due to high seas we were unable to go to Cocoa Cay. The ship could not be held steady enough to load passengers onto the tenders and also the seas were so high it would not be safe on the tenders. The problem is the crew was unprepared for this event and simply expected everyone to spend the day at the pool on Deck 9. There were not enough chairs or lounges for everyone on board. Even though there were signs all over about not saving chairs or lounges the large groups did save them which meant many could not find a place to sit.

Besides I don't do well in high seas and could not spend my day on Deck 9 without getting sick so I spent the day on Deck 4 Lounge or in our cabin.

We were told that Enchantment has not been able to go to Cocoa Cay in 3 weeks so you would think the staff would be prepared for this event; however, they were not. Besides we were still in our cabin when the original announcement was made and it was only made once. We heard about it by word of mouth from another passenger when they heard us telling our grandchildren that they could go in the ocean as soon as we went on the Island.

Having recently taken a cruise on Princess we were very disappointed in the level of service on RC. We will not be taking another RC cruise. However, we are already planning our next cruise on Princess.

We are taking our grandchildren (ages 6 & 8) on their first cruise. We will be on Enchantment of the Seas departing Cape Canaveral on November 28 for 3 days. What suggestions do you have to keep the kids entertained?

Is the fort at Nassau still open to the public? How much is the entry fee?

What about the Pirate Museum in Nassau? Is it worth going to?

What type of activities are on Cocoa Cay? Are there any free or less expensive activites than those I am seeing on-line?

Also, hubby is purchasing the $8.00 per day drink package for him and me but the grandkids don't drink soda. Are they any cheaper options for water rather that the $49.00 package.

Hubby and I are basically cruise newbies and are recently back from a Meditteran Cruise on the Princess Line. Our grandchildren (ages 6 and 8) were so excited about the pictures and everything that hubby decided to treat them and their parents to a Caribbean Cruise at Thanksgiving. He found one on Royal Caribbean on Enchantment of the Seas and booked it. Now I am getting somewhat concerned as I've seen several unpleasant comments on this particular ship. Anyone who has been on this ship recently can you clear up a few concerns.

First, the food in the buffet - is it always the same thing day after day. This is probably where we will take most of our meals due to the ages of the kids and sometimes neither eats well.

Second, the Explorers Club for kids - I have been lead to believe there are almost no activities for kids and the Explorers Club is non-existant. One of the main reasons for choosing this cruise line was the Explorers Club as we are doing this for the grandkids.

Third, I have been lead to believe the ship is not as clean as it should be and the cabins are noisey.

My son is ex-Navy so I'm not so concerned about him but my daughter in law is from the Philipines and has never been on a cruise. And, of course, the grandkids. I want all of them to enjoy this trip as it is their Christmas present. Have we made a mistake in booking this particular ship?