EZ2CY

Have never done this. Sounds really good! Thank you for bringing this to my attention!

Where do you sign up for the Crab Shack, and when? When first boarding or later?

I'm guessing that I'm one of the few who have actually benefited from this sale. Just got off the phone with a very nice Princess rep who gave me a "refare" that resulted in about a $300 savings. I'll gladly take it.:)

I like both HAL and Princess and have avoided the cruise lines that have "hairy leg" contests. Both HAL and Princess feel "right" to me.

I love the Crow's Nest area on HAL ships and the "all the way around" promenades.

But on Princess I really like (in no particular order because I'm sort of unorganized....)

1) Movies Under the Stars

2) Interesting Itineraries

3) The Piazza area on Regal (and Royal)

4) The International Cafe and Gelato area

5) Inside muster drills

6) Nice cabins at decent prices

7) Lots of comfy places to sit, inside and outside

Will be going on both HAL and Princess in 2017. I'm a happy cruiser!

We love breakfast at Sabatinis. My husband would probably pay extra for a suite just for that. I didn't realize people walking by thought those of us in there were snobs.

Many of us aren't thinking that and really don't begrudge you or anyone else any of those perks. I hope you continue to enjoy the "suite life" for as long as possible!!!

Seems like the threads regarding the new Cabin Class minis have morphed into something akin to "only snobs stay in suites" and that's just not the case at all and certainly NOT my thinking. When I traveled with both my mom and sister, we chose a mini suite for the extra room. On my last cruise, DH and I stayed in a balcony room. It's all good.

At this point, I'm going to simply take a "wait and see" attitude on what the Cabin Class dining will mean for other diners in the MDR. The main thing is simply being fortunate enough to be able to cruise, and for that I'm very grateful. :)

Whether its a blue or black card - anyone who wears their card on a lanyard is no one I'm interested in talking with - typical tourist

I haven't been on these boards long enough to know whether or not that's a joke. Heck, I was under the impression that anyone who was traveling, i.e. not working, on a ship was a tourist. Silly me.

I've only been on a half dozen cruises so far. The "normal" vacation for DH and I is to fly to Milan, or Frankfurt or Barcelona then rent a car and drive around for 1 or two weeks. I've been to a lot of interesting places and seen some amazing things. But apparently, since I wear my ship card on a lanyard (a really pretty one with rhinestones by the way) because the pockets in my capris are too darned shallow, I'm being judged by some like this poster as not interesting enough to talk to. Hey, that's ok. Darn sure I wouldn't want to talk to someone this shallow either!!!

(Ok for the moderators to zap that. I just needed to vent a little. :rolleyes:)

 

Hope EZ2CY gets the shrimp recipe from Princess. I did a search thru CC but didn't find any posts about this salad. Can't eat shrimp so have never tried it.

 

Sandy :)

Can't wait to try the chicken salad recipe. Thanks guys!! Still waiting and hoping Princess will send the shrimp salad recipe. I tried checking past CC posts too and couldn't find it anywhere. Maybe it's a secret??? :eek:

Dining in Europe has created in me a Nutella addiction! With a European cruise looming....any CC peers with Nutella knowledge at the buffet or dining rooms on Princess line?

 

Cheers

Another Nutella addict here. Bring your own just in case! Not sure where you live but here's a link for the individual packets. http://www.amazon.com/Nutella-Individual-Single-Weight-ounces/dp/B000QCOALC

Happy Cruising!!

I believe you can find hot chocolate at the International Cafes. Not sure what ship you'll be on and whether that's available on all ships. Here's a link that shows a menu from 2015. Hope that helps.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2248189

Have a great cruise!!

Everybody is assuming that Club Class will be in one of the AT dining rooms. I actually doubt that. I suspect they will create the space in the Traditional DR. It's less chaotic there and will be easier for them to control things and key the atmosphere low key and quiet. Additionally' date=' they indicated that there would be a "separate entrance" so nobody's cutting in line in front of anyone or anything like that. I doubt it will be "cordoned off" but more likely discreetly separated. Plus, if it's in the Traditional DR, most people can't even find the dining room, so it will be hidden from the majority, who won't even know it's there.;)[/quote']

 

Interesting point. I went back to the Princess site to see why so many of us assume it's the ATD section that will be affected. Here's what the site says...

 

"An exclusive area of the Main Dining Room."

"Club Class Dining will be open for dinner each night, as well as for breakfast and lunch on sea days."

 

I didn't think the Traditional Dining area was open for breakfast or lunch so I did assume they meant the ATD dining room. However, maybe that will change with the Club Class dining??

I don't actually.

Shoot. :eek: Before anyone jumps on that, I meant that I don't actually think you are a snob."

 

If you think that make me a snob- then you don't know my heart.

I don't actually. My "beef" as it were is with the way Princess is marketing and handling the new dining perks for certain Mini Suites, NOT with anyone staying in a suite of any level.

A "snob" to me is someone treating others with disdain because they feel they are beneath them in some fashion. Generally not anyone on these boards. Although there may be some here. I'm still a newbie.

The more I think about this new Club Class dining merely being a sectioned off portion of the MDR with "upgraded" decor and a few added selections on the menu, the more I wonder WHY anyone would be willing to pay the price difference for a Club Class mini. Wouldn't it be a better experience all around to just dine in one of the speciality restaurants? What am I missing here?

If Club Class (hate the name by the way) came with meals in the specialty restaurants included or deeply discounted, maybe THAT would have been a better idea all around? :confused:

So....my thanks to any who have done a kindness to her or to any other guests with such needs. For every obnoxious chair hog' date=' there is some wonderful person who does look out for others.[/quote']

 

I'm so glad you posted that. I so agree. While there will always be chair hogs and obnoxious people on cruise ships (and elsewhere) there are usually many more kind and considerate fellow passengers who don't think they're the center of the universe and will gladly help out however they can to make someone else's cruise a good experience.

 

Question: IF you are in the pool, or just stepping away for a few minutes to use the restroom, wouldn't something other than just a towel be on a chair or lounger in the first place? Seems like the "towel only" is sort of big red flag that the chair isn't really in use. Am I wrong?

Originally Posted by IECalCruiser View Post

I don't know about the Royal, but there were different salads in the IC on the Sapphire last month. Instead of the various salads mention above, these were the salads at the IC one day:

Goat Cheese, Roasted Bell Pepper, Toasted Almonds and Orso Pasta Salad, Cranberry Vinaigrette

Mixed Green Salad

Shrimp, Radish and Chick Peas Salad with Preserved Lemon,Taboule Style

Chicken Rotisserie Salad with Pineapple, Lime-Curry Creamy Dressing

Watermelon Caprese Salad with Tomato, Mozzarella and Arugula

Found the above in a thread from 2014. THIS is the type of salad fare I'm looking for. For lunch, other than in the IC, is something like this available elsewhere on the Royal? Prepared salads like the above are something I've never seen in the buffet. Am I just missing seeing them? Making my own from the salad bar really isn't the same thing. :confused:

I am appalled at the "Club Class" dining idea. Not only is it a recipe to make anytime dining even more messed up than it already is; but is creating a caste system on a ship that has mass market appeal such a good idea?

 

Am I wrong? Do people think they need this for the extra money spent on suites and minis? Obviously Princess's motivation is cash...

This subject was discussed a bit on another recent thread: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2352131

Personally, I HATE what the Cabin Class dining represents. I have NO problem with those paying more, receiving more. Why else would you pay more? BUT the idea of SEPARATING diners by cabin class is just... well, not classy.

DH and I are disliking the separation of "classes" in the MDR so much that we've booked our next cruise on Princess BEFORE the Cabin Class dining plan rolls out on the Royal. And then.... we'll see what happens. I hope there's some sort of modification because I LIKE Princess and I loved the Regal and expect to love the Royal but the proposed dining plan? Not so much.

Easy fix, Princess is great about sharing recipes. Just fill out this form and you're all set.

 

http://www.princess.com/customer_care/emailform.jsp?cat=GI&subcat=s1&subject=Request%20for%20Recipes%20and%20Bar/Wine%20Information&utm_source=affiliate&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=sales:565526

Thanks! Just filled out the form. If Princess sends the recipe I'll definitely share here!

This group never fails to amaze me!

Does anyone have the recipe for the shrimp salad they serve in the IC???

I think there's something wrong with me--I'm actually enjoying reading this thread. !

Me too.

I wish more pool-side chair hogs would leave large sun hats along with their towels. Then when I lay down with my feet on the towel I'd have something to keep the sun out of my eyes too. :D

Princess needs to redesign policies to regain control and make cruising a pleasant experience for all passengers.

 

 

I also suggested that Princess begin charging a nominal fee for the entertainers and production shows.

 

Too many things on the ships have gotten out of hand. There needs to be a way to control the crowds. Staff can only do so much and be in only one place at a time.

Sorry, OP, but what you're proposing sounds a lot more like boot camp than a "pleasant experience for all passengers." Are you sure you actually like ocean cruising? Perhaps a river cruise and/or smaller ships would suit you better? (That's not snark, that's an honest to goodness question.)

Charging ANYTHING extra for services that are already included (like entertainment) is simply going to penalize everyone for the misbehavior of a minority of passengers. Do some cruisers act like Neanderthals with no manners? Sure. Does the majority act in selfish and annoying ways? I don't think so. Considering how many passengers are on some of the bigger ships, I think it's amazing that there isn't more to pick apart than idiots saving seats in the theater. The laundry issue could be a biggie, especially for longer cruises. But I pack mostly things I can rinse out and dry overnight, so I'll leave that for others to comment on.

Think about the smaller ship suggestion. Smaller crowds, smaller problems.

Officers and crew are on the ship 24/7 and must appear in uniform in guest areas. That's a whole lot different than a flight crew at an airport bar where one can presume that the only reason they are at their "place of work" is that they are getting ready to work.

.

Thanks. That's what I was trying to say. Oy. :)

Sailed on the Regal in January and the menus were posted on the wall right outside the restaurant.

Is it worth the extra trouble to dress up and wait for dining room meals on Princess Cruises? I skipped them on my first cruise because it seemed like a hassle and I was content to get my food elsewhere. Also I've heard claims that the food was nothing special. Is this true? Would I be dressing up and waiting for stuff I could grab myself at the buffet?

The real difference is in ambiance. In the MDR you'll be waited on as in any other "nice" restaurant, given a menu to choose your meal from, be able to order cocktails and wine etc. In the buffet you wait on yourself, except for having water, coffee or iced tea etc poured for you. You'll be able to have delicious food either way.

Just noticed you're from So Cal (where life is more casual than the Northeast where I now live.) Flip flops and shorts aren't allowed in the MDR for dinner. If that's a deal breaker for you, then you can get good food in the buffet or in the even more casual spots like The Trident Grill. (No flaming, I grew up in California. Sibs still live there and two think wearing new flip flops IS dressing up. LOL)

Ok, Ok, Ok. I am waving a white flag.:eek: My intentions were never to suggest they shouldn't eat with passengers, I was happy to see them there. This was my first cruise so I did know it was the norm.

 

I am a Brit living in Canada I am in no way prudish about alcohol believe me.

 

Perhaps its time to move on and forget I mentioned it.:)

 

"Originally Posted by chengkp75

I think the OP is concerned about the image that is presented when officers are seen drinking in the guest areas wearing the company's uniform."

 

 

This is exactly it.

-------------------------------

OP, I don't think your post is a silly concern at all. I've learned a lot from some of the experienced cruisers here. It makes sense that a ship at sea is sort of a special world, where you will see officers eating, drinking and mingling (glad of that) because this is where they are LIVING for months or years at a time.

Now... if this was a "Flight Forum" and we were all talking about airline pilots in uniform camped out in a bar, I'm pretty sure the responses would be a whole lot different here.

Thanks to all for the informative responses!

Question...does the manifest have to be confirmed so many days prior to sailing? In the old days you could get on the sailing on embarkation day. But I seem to recall now it's a 72 hour cut off. But have really no idea, just curious.

Don't know if it helps, but I just saw this on the Princess site about ships leaving from a US port:

"U.S. law requires cruise lines to transmit their passenger manifests to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security no later than 60 minutes prior to departure from the U.S. To comply, all guest information must be processed at least 90 minutes prior to the scheduled sailing time."

OP: Good luck! Hope you get to sail on the 28th!

Thanks everyone. Very helpful!