Torfamm

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Looks like they really did just cut it in half. Will be interesting to start getting some first-hand accounts about the lounge/performance experience now with all the slot machines in there. When I was onboard in May, Bon, the bartender told me that the reason they didn't even have a blender at their bar (people kept trying to order frozen drinks) was out of respect for the bands. Now we are going to have 30 loud slot machines in there instead?!!?

It also eliminated the dance space. What a shame that they choose the only bar on the ship with walls to add slot machines. Crooners would have been a better choice from my point of view.

Here’s a photo of the current progress in Take 5 shared by a passenger on the Enchanted now. 😔
 

2 hours ago, BamaVol said:

I will be doing this in two days.  My daughter and her family are in the cabin across the hall.  We want to make our mini suite available to the four of them sailing in an interior cabin.  They may want to use our bathroom or balcony. Also, my son-in-law snores.  I picture someone coming across the hall to sleep in our sofa bed. I am assuming I can ask the cabin attendant to make up the sofa bed. I will visit GS on day one to get them access to our cabin.  I cannot picture needing accesss to theirs.

The only time I can think of is if you needed to grab something for one of your grandkids for example. If you had access, you could get it and bring it to them.

We’ll be next door to my son, his wife, and their baby. We’ll keep the balcony divider open and give them access to our door so they can get in and out from the balcony without going through their own door if the baby’s sleeping 

4 hours ago, GoodHope said:

Hi,

My family and I decided to book a cruise to celebrate various milestones this year (our daughter HS graduation, her college acceptance, our 20th anniversary, birthdays). We used a TA for our booking. We settled on Princess cruises and our TA priced out various options for us and we decided on the Princess Plus package and realized none of the perks that comes with that package applied to our daughter (wifi & drinks mainly. I am talking juice, water, soda). She is a teenager and the world ends without a little bit of scrolling. The perks only applied to my husband and I (we do not drink alcohol). We leave for our cruise in 8 days. I reached out to our TA and I am still at a lost as she does not suggest something other than should i add it to the card. I am also annoyed and stressed, because when that package as chosen it was for a reason so we did not have to worry about certain things. We never book something and not have it include out daughter and our TA knows this. This is not our first time booking with her. We do not have unlimited funds to toss around truth be told. We are by no means cheap, but when it was booked, I did not think I would be on a Forum asking for advice.

 

Can you all please shed some light and what are some alternatives? Thank you

The only way all three of you would have the Plus fare package is to purchase it for all three.
 

She can use your sign in to access wi-fi if you don’t want to get her the Plus Package. You and your husband can each be logged in to one device at a time.

If you don’t want to share your wi-fi access or want her to have a non-alcoholic beverage package, the $60 per day Plus Package is a better deal than buying separate wi-fi at $25 per day, no alcohol beverage package at $35, and paying $16 per day for crew appreciation.

58 minutes ago, memoak said:

1 hour ago, Torfamm said:

Yes, for that one cruise it was true. The vast majority of cruise ships however do not sail into a hurricane with 50 ft seas. Normally a captain would alter their course to avoid that sort of situation. In fact, they are generally required to do so. I don't think it's a likely enough event to require providing indoor smoking areas for every day use.

Yes that captain made a bad guess and is no longer with Princess but my point is that things happen and in those days we could still smoke in many indoor spaces like cabins and bars

I believe smoking policies should be developed based on common needs, not potential weather emergencies. I haven't seen a single complaint from smokers who weren't able to get outside to smoke during a storm in the nearly 20 years that Celebrity has been free of indoor smoking.  While you certainly have the right be in favor of indoor smoking areas, the majority of passengers don't smoke and don't want to be exposed to second hand smoke.  Outdoor only smoking has become the norm for many, many smokers. There are a significant number of smokers who refuse to smoke in their own homes or cars or around their children or grandchildren.

1 minute ago, memoak said:

In 2001 we were in a hurricane for 36 hours in 50 ft seas that is quite significant 

Yes, for that one cruise it was true. The vast majority of cruise ships however do not sail into a hurricane with 50 ft seas. Normally a captain would alter their course to avoid that sort of situation. In fact, they are generally required to do so. I don't think it's a likely enough event to require providing indoor smoking areas for every day use.

14 hours ago, memoak said:

As you may know I quit smoking 6 years ago. My post was mostly a jab at those who pine for the old ways of cruising. I do think you have to have some place indoors for smokers in certain circumstances such as bad weather which causes the outside decks to be closed  

I think the vast majority of smokers are accustomed to not being able to smoke for fairly long periods of time, for example while flying or at school or work. The amount of time that absolutely all outdoor spaces have to be closed due to weather isn’t that significant. 

I can recommend this Iceberg Safari by RIB boat. It was spectacular even on a rainy day. The survival suits they have you wear kept us warm and dry 

https://sagalands.com/tour-item/icebergsafari/

7 minutes ago, nasa1974 said:

And eliminating Churchills. Why not make Churchills larger and that be the smoking area on the ship. Also putting slot machines in Take 5 will ruin the venue.

In time, ships will join the many, many places that don't allow indoor smoking. They've eliminated one indoor smoking area and the casino will be next. The only question is how much longer it will take. The percentage of people who smoke grows smaller every year. What is a small minority of the population now will become a tiny few over time.

18 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

We traveled extensively on her when she was home-ported here of SF (after the restart) and they have had nonsmoking casino machines, I’d say about 30 casino machines, give or take, in that area.  Now, I haven’t been on the Royal since she left SF but even though I thought the area didn’t have a great variety of machines, it was a nice way to avoid the smoke.  It’s a shame that nonsmokers have to settle when we are the majority of gamblers.  I haven’t seen this on any other Princess cruise ship. 

I hate being exposed to smoke, but I think moving slot machines into Take 5 is a big step in the wrong direction. It does absolutely nothing to eliminate smoking in the casino area or to help those who play table games or the staff avoid exposure to second hand smoke. It also doesn't address the problem of smoke pouring into the piazza area.

I'll never understand why they didn't just leave the casino as it was after the restart. The decision to make the casino a smoking area again was a bad one.

4 hours ago, memoak said:

Because Take 5 is also the casino bar on many Royal class ships 

I think the casino servers already access that bar from a door in the casino, they don't have to enter Take 5 to fill drink orders. At least not on the Enchanted.

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

There are slot machines on the Royal in the Take 5 Bar area .. far too small and not a good variety of machines there but that always where you could find us gambling,   
as you didn’t even get a whiff of smoke in there.  
There was still a large area where for the Take Five Lounge area for those that lent there for visiting or to watch sporting events on their TVs.  It wasn’t noisy, either.   

I haven't been on the Royal but Take 5 is a venue for live jazz music in my experience.

4 minutes ago, JamieLogical said:

 

Because that would ruin the lounge/band area of Take 5. If they made the whole thing an enclosed smoking area, then non-smokers couldn't enjoy the lounge and the live music in there.

I think the number of people enjoying drinks and jazz in that space is already going to very limited by the addition of slot machines. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid it will just be the worst of both worlds.

Just now, JamieLogical said:

 

Because that would ruin the lounge/band area of Take 5. If they made the whole thing an enclosed smoking area, then non-smokers couldn't enjoy the lounge and the live music in there.

I have a feeling that the space won't be anywhere near as appealing once it has slot machines.  We'll see if it's "ruined" but I am pretty sad about the change to one of my favorite spots on the ship

1 minute ago, Lady Arwen said:

Please report back when you get home.  Have a fabulous time!  Looking forward to hearing all about it.

Thanks! We're traveling with my younger son, his wife and our grandson.  We are really looking forward to having a week with them.

1 hour ago, In Toronto said:

Does anyone know if you can plug in a nightlight in the bathroom?  The plug that states For Shavers Only.  Would it use the same power as a shaver?

 

Thanks

Some work, some don't. I use a rechargable night light like one of these

https://www.amazon.com/Approved-Magnetic-Nightlight-Stateroom-Ceilings/dp/B0CL2LB2MS/ref=asc_df_B0CL2LB2MS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=693698194697&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12593021671884269701&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1019457&hvtargid=pla-2246505526553&psc=1&mcid=85d652ce3f73315aa4af6f922775a0fe&gad_source=1

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

Our sailing is August 24th on Enchanted, too.  Are we on the same cruise?  I hope you’re right about the changes on Take 5.  It would be wonderful!  However, that seems quite soon for them to get that done, but you never know, right.

We board the Enchanted on Saturday. I'll be interested to see what I learn.

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

 

I guess the best we can hope for for our August Enchanted sailing is that the proposed changes to Take 5 occur and half of that space becomes an enclosed non-smoking casino.

What I don't understand is why the don't make it an enclosed slot room for smokers if the plan is to make it casino space. That way it might limit the smoke spilling out into the piazza.

We had booked Extend Your Stay In Singapore earlier this year and were really frustrated to have it cancelled during our cruise leaving me scrambling for an alternative since we had a late flight out. I wouldn’t book it again. We did end up finding a day room that worked out fine.

2 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

I totally believe this!  Hardcore gamblers are immune to cigarette smoke.  They’re either smokers themselves or they don’t even notice it anymore.  Folks like myself, who enjoy the casino on occasion and do it only for fun, are the ones who suffer.  The Princess casinos would still be full until the wee hours without smoking.  They’re just afraid to take the leap.

I avoid evenings because of the smoke. For slot players, early mornings on sea days are the best opportunity to avoid the smoke. It’s tougher for those who like table games. They get more active as the night goes on. Going early is a matter of timing

2 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

Exactly the same here in Canada.  I can’t remember the last time I saw someone smoking.  We’re basically a non smoking country except on your own property.  

I get pretty frequent Waves surveys from the Ocean Players Club and they always ask about the smoking policy. There is no doubt that this issue is on their minds

7 hours ago, Retired-N-Happy said:

he only way you should possibly lose your card is if you were impaired because you had too much to drink

Or you had to leave it somewhere while you swam or worked out, or it just fell out of your pocket. The wearable aspect of the medallion is a real convenience.

14 hours ago, BamaVol said:

How interesting!  Do they look like a passenger medallion?  What color(s) are they?  What’s printed on them?  I will be onboard Enchanted in 6 days.  I will be looking closely.

They are blue as I recall. 

On 6/8/2024 at 10:52 AM, karatemom2 said:

Personally I love the medallion. Cards were a pain - I rarely am wearing something with pockets so DH ended up carrying it around for me most of the time. Medallion is always with me on my wrist bracelet - don’t have to worry about it. It’s convenient and easy. And we often travel as extended family with our adult kids - we love being able to easily find each other - no more the days of the dry erase board we used to use for messages in the cabin. I pretty much realize that in our modern age we are being filmed, monitored, and tracked as humans and consumers daily so it is what it is. If it makes my vacation easier and more convenient then I’m happy. 

I agree, the wristbands are really convenient, I especially like knowing the medallion can be with me swimming or exercising. Losing my key card because I had to leave it somewhere always is a concern, especially on shore. I miss the medallion when we cruise other lines.

On 6/7/2024 at 11:58 AM, SCX22 said:

 

 

Not quite sure why you'd not be in a state to answer an audible ring or vibration from your phone on a ship.  Too many drinks?

Lots of reasons- in a fitness class or running, getting a massage, swimming, sitting at a blackjack table, taking a nap. We use the app all the time to find each other or see if the other has finished what they were doing and moved on. It’s one of my favorite features.