Optotronics

Thanks,

It will be interesting to find out what upgrades, changes or maintenance happens that week.

looking at itineraries for the royal and cannot find any cruise listed for that week or drydock sheduled.

Would this be a private charter week?

That's great. I never know if the taxi will be an actual taxi, or what you describe :)

 

Thanks

ML

I was going to add, if you don't want to wait for the free ride, you can just go out to the street and catch a cab in seconds for $2pp back to the ship.

I really enjoyed the walk to beach, they had an path and some boardwalk and a fair amount of shade as well as some nice bargains in the shop you pass. Wife found a nice dress for $10... you won't find that kind of deal in those shops at the port.

Good to know. Is it hard to get a cab back? If it's too hot, we might want to ride!

Not hard at all, the taxi (air conditioned) holds a dozen or more and runs continuously at that time of day. We waited about 3 minutes. I suppose if it were really busy, you would have to wait another 20 until the next one.

It was the best day of our cruise and for sure the best bargain.

Princess has a 3 1/2 hour tour in Barbados called: CARLISLE BAY BEACH, SWIM & SCENIC DRIVE. It includes transport to & from Harbour Lights beach club, chair & shared umbrella, and a drink. It's priced very close to what we would spend if we did it on our own.

 

Does anyone know if we decide to stay longer than the allotted time, will we allowed to continue using the chairs and umbrella provided? (I know we'd be on our own to pay for a taxi back to the ship).

If you go the "boatyard" at Carlisle bay you get the chairs and umbrella all day long:) for $20/person you get a lounge chair, umbrella (one per couple), a free drink ($10 value), plus free taxi ride back to the ship every 20minutes or so after 1:00pm. It was a great day! Oh can also go on their free sea turtle excursion (takes 30 minutes).

The boatyard is a little over a mile from the port, we walked there in about 20 minutes along their boardwalk. If it's too far to walk, the cab ride is $2pp.

Just what is it that you retain from a muster drill that makes you feel more prepared?

If the ship were actually sinking most people couldn't remember their name. no less where to go to jump off the ship. :D

Exactly, they would think they need to jump off and they make it quite clear not to jump, but to walk off the edge.

I am just off the Royal, and was taken aback with the "new" version of the muster drill. A taped version with a "lighter" feel? And what's with the daily version of the airline spiel about the ship moves, be aware of doors and movable things. It doesn't seem to me to be taken as seriously as it should.

Wow, do you watch a video from your room?

No sale.

 

The consular (note the spelling) folks only help US citizens visiting other

countries, not non-US citizens visiting to the US. The consular service

section in US embassies and consulates doesn't even do visa interviews.

Yes, but David Dennison didn't know that;)

I'm sure they are hard working and kept busy at all times. If you think all they do is print invitations and such, you're nuts!

They are bound to have several other jobs behind the scenes or???

Princess gives every crew member more than enough work to keep them busy 10-12hrs a day 7 days a week.

In fact their other duties beside captains circle are probably their main job.

IMNSHO, this is not the place to get what amounts to legal advice.

 

Think: State departments, embassies, adoption lawyers, unit legal officers, ....

Maybe, but our state dept. was decimated and has no leadership:(

Let's take a closer look at this:

 

You decide to spend American Thanksgiving on a cruise ship flagged in a country that does not celebrate this uniquely and very American holiday.

 

The cruise line's Austrian Corporate V.P. Of Food and Beverage is asked to design a classic American Thanksgiving menu.

 

The ship's Croatian Director of Food And Beverage is told to make it nice.

 

The ship's German Executive Chef is assigned to supervise his Filipino Galley Brigade to prepare it.

 

Your Indonesian Dining Room waiter serves it to you in the dining room, on a cruise ship, in the middle of the sea somewhere in the tropics, next to a few thousand strangers from around the world.

 

I can't imagine why this special meal should feel, look, or taste any different than if it was being prepared by Aunt Mary, back on the farm in Ohio....................

Ya know what?

I enjoy the diverse people we meet at dinner and with the crew and those on land, I'm a believer that all men are created equal:)

It wasn't the crew, other guests or lack of family; they just plain don't know what's in a traditional thanksgiving meal I suppose. Like I said I enjoyed the cruise and if it had been a normal day the menu would be fine.

Oh and I have to add, the offerings were worse than the time I made prime rib for Christmas dinner and when adding water to the Pyrex baking pan like I always had in the past, the pan shattered and made a big mess. Shut off the oven and drove to the local truck stop for dinner:)

We are going to be on Princess this Thanksgiving. Anything special to look forward to?

I'll just say it didn't impress me at all.

We were on royal over thanksgiving.

I did see some turkey being served and maybe pumpkin pie.

we figured the real thanksgiving meal must be at the buffet, because the dinner menu didn't say thanksgiving celebration at all. There was one turkey item, but really lame.

I thought to myself why does everyone rave about thanksgiving on board...

Obviously the food they are getting at home is not very good.

I ended up having a couple pieces of fried chicken and some mashed potatoes that made me long for being home on that day.

As for decorations, I didn't see any until the day after thanksgiving. The had a small display on one edge of the piazza. Is was a morbid display, they dressed real plucked ready to cook raw turkeys and added arms,legs and such from other real animals. All in kind of a big cornucopia. I should have taken a picture... I'll have to see if my wife did.

I thought it better than spending all the time cooking for 2 days precious and just let someone else do it for us.

We enjoyed to cruise very much except for thanksgiving dinner.

Sorry

How often do they change movies? Will they be the same in May

Most will be. It's a slow rotation.

A new movie every cruise or two and an older one taken down. We were on royal in November and about half were available back then. I'm looking forward to seeing murder on the orient express next week on the royal again:) and maybe something brand new not listed.

Just thought of this.

After the hurricanes, we got several offers for 10 day cruises on royal for BB balcony for $399 per person.

With the current feelings and fear of Russia, I bet this summer will have some of these same deals on cruises with St. Petersburg on the itinerary.

If you've been looking at these, watch for the last minute deals starting 45-60 days out.

We did this and it took a number of days for the transaction to show up. So I wonder what is different. We were on the Royal in late Feb.

 

Also, the OP didn't want the FCC to be charged on the same card they had on file for the cruise, so this option doesn't really work for them.

 

I admit, that booking it through the app should result in a quick feedback (Like you got.) I thought that we'd see that, but didn't. And FWIW, it wasn't that it was sea days that delayed the posting. I talked with the rep and said the app is a bit strange and that's why it takes a bit of time. Strange that your results were different than ours. On a good note, it all worked out for us. It didn't sound like it would have worked for the OP if they didn't check things out.

The charge didn't show on our CC account until a couple days later, but we received email from princess with FCC numbers within minutes.

This is a great way to purchase FCCs if you want them changed to your credit card on file. But when you have an American credit card on file and your are purchasing Canadian FCC’s you can’t use this method nor can you just put your form in the box. You are forced to wait in line and speak to the consultant. I suggested to him that Princess needs to come up with a better option for people using a different credit card than standing in line. When I was waiting there was 5 other Canadians waiting to do the same thing as me so this problem is common.

But what upset me the most was that the consultant was not going to process the application and just ignore it. If I hadn’t been checking my email for the confirmation of the purchase I would have left the ship thinking I had purchased them!��

Is a cruise credit bought on a USA card not valid for a cruise that originates in Canada? I thought the FCC we buy on a USA card is good for cruising on princess from any port, is that not true?

If anything I would think that if the ship is in the USA and a cruise credit is bought on a foreign back account that you would not only be charged the $100 equivalent in CND dollars but also a fee from the bank for converting the USA charge into CND.

Best way to buy your future cruise credit is to do it my way.

I open the browser on my phone for princess@sea while waiting to disembark. Click the number of credits and for whom and within 2 minutes got an email from princess corporate with our credits. The charge then shows up on the credit card given to them previously.

Easy, no form just a couple of clicks.

You realize that the ships water is at least as good as bottled water. It is either city water, or distilled/purified water from the ship. Bottled water is not necessarily the purest/cleanest/best.

I would say the ships water from your cabin sink is even bette than the bottled water...at least it's been that way for us the last two cruises.

Regal in Jan 2017 bottled water we could not taste any difference between ship and bottled. In Nov of 2017 we were on the royal right after its return from Europe and the bottled water was from France I believe; my wife didn't like the taste of their mineral water, so I drank most and left the remaining unopened bottles hidden back behind the balcony curtains for the next passengers as we had found a few hidden back there for us. Left our canned soda for them too:)

I am holding US passport but had been born in Ukraine. That nver got me any problem during recent 10 years. IB

Yes, but the times they are a changing and quickly. You'll have a better idea of the situation by cruise time. I personally wouldn't get off the ship in Russia under Putin"s dictatorship.

I was reading the "I'm devastated" thread and wondered what would happen if 2 people book a cabin and then at the last minute they decide they can't leave work or for whatever reason and although they bought insurance the reason is not covered and they know this and don't plan on filing a claim and they don't cancel. Can the other person on the booking board as normal and have their cruise?

Other question, would the person who didn't go, cancel or file a claim still get their captain circle cruise credit?

I truly wish people would drop the Carnival is a party boat meme. It is no more so than any other comparably priced line given similar dates and itineraries.

I agree, princess would get the same demographic as carnival if they only did the shorter cruises and made their ships look more like an amusement park than like a cruise ship.

yes - just book him and a 'fwb' into their own cabin - will have a great time ;p

Yep, there's a reason it's called the Love Boat ;)

Looking at January 5,2019. Do you think there would be enough “kids” his age? Enough to entertain? DH and I just off Regal and we loved it but didn’t see many his age. Also looked at Carnival Conquest-8 day and liked the itinerary but a bit nervous about carnival-not great experience 15 yrs ago. NCL Getaway was my 1st choice but having some 2nd thoughts. We all had a blast last Summer on Dawn but the “ boys” want to try something bigger/newer. I’m over thinking this.... help.... thoughts?!

Yes, I would say too don't over think it.

He may still be your little boy, but he's 21 and not an 8 or 10 year old who needs all the kiddy stuff to be entertained.

I was on the regal 1/8 last year and yes I would say avg age is 55 or so, but still there were passengers of all ages ( but few school age kids) and dozens around his age. Also he can go to the casino, hang at the pool or whatever.

Plus all the ports! At his age I bet he'll be more interested in the girls that the amusements.

My question still lies in them sending 3000+ medallions out by the mail...What?...whose idea was that???? Just give us our medallions at the terminal, let us get the feel of using them to open our cabin, etc......then they can add all the bells and whistles.

 

 

And again why not start this on a new build...I just don't get it......?

Because if they wait till you're at the terminal, check in would be the same only instead of a card it's the medallion.

By mail, you get the medallion and then go online and fill outta their questionnaire which will include emailing them a picture of current photo ID/passport to link to the medallion. Then check in is eliminated and you just walk right on without any wait once loading begins.