AndWe

32 minutes ago, Joy_K said:

Crown Princess, last fall on a TA:  Deck 16 beside Tradewinds bar, covered and set coffee up between 5:30-6 every morning.

Also, Deck 7, Speakeasy cigar lounge in the front corner of the casino.  Also Promenade deck a wall unit but no seating and one bench on one of the top decks that was too windy to use, completely open.  Casino while playing designated slots but not on formal nights.

Also on Deck 17 starboard there is a space with seating outside the kids club.  It is VERY windy, and it seems just staff knows about this.  I went there every morning because it had seating,  was in the sun, was quiet and my cabin was aft.

Booked my Christmas solo trip on Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas Dec 23, 2019 from Tampa.  Come on along!!  Key West on Christmas, Cozumel fun.  Easy!!

Pam

2 minutes ago, jisduit said:

the answers we are getting are not helping much now are they ?  From the you tube videos I watched - it wasn't a covered area - kind of concerned about it because I would rather be outside than at churchills

I'm sorry,  I've never been on the Coral. I know it's frustrating -- I'm a smoker too, and I can only guess where the smoking is on the Coral based on other ships I've been on.  Usually there is a smoking area by the pool bar; it's on the upper level by the pool tucked next to the bar.  Then on the starboard side on the Promenade deck near the aft there is usually an outdoor smoking area.  When you find one of these areas, ask the smokers where else to go.  That is all I got.  Have a great trip.

😂🤣😂🤣

This is AWESOME!!  I wish there was one of these for every ship.  It would help immensely when choosing your cabin.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.  I will follow through...and put together a similar post for the Crown and the Golden Princess.

3 hours ago, mdpseattle said:

 

I want to be clear that I'm not disagreeing with you.  It's very possible Princess Cruises is rigging the machines and doing something to alter paybacks on a whim.  And I agree that that might be doing it.

 

BUT... here is a problem I have.  If it's possible to rig the game, some people would certainly take advantage of this for their personal gain.  If you were in charge of rigging a machine for Princess, you could do a little extra rigging to your benefit and then tell your family or friends to go play that game and win all the money.  So... it would actually be in Princess best interested to have a fair and balanced machine that can't be rigged.  For their benefit mostly and indirectly ours too.  Still doesn't mean they don't set the payback to the minimum 80% required by Vegas law, but I doubt they can be rigged. 

This guy was so creepy looking I don't think he has any friends --- hahahhahaha

12 hours ago, mdpseattle said:

 

Here's the slot payouts in Vegas:

https://www.americancasinoguide.com/slot-machine-payback-statistics.html#Nevada

 

They average 87-96%

 

And 80% is the minimum required by Nevada law. It doesn't mean the cruise slots are all at the minimum. The truth is we don't know what they are.  It's highly likely they are simply buying the same damn average mix of machines they have in Vegas.

 

Personally, I've played both places A LOT, and I would agree the cruise line slots feel "tighter", but I end up with a similar experience that I do in when I visit Vegas, it's not too terribly different.

 

I have sailed on the Crown Princess three times.  The first two times, there was a machine (a Heidi beer machine) that paid out great.  Mind you, the pays were $50-max $500, but it was a fun game to play.  I was on the ship in June and they did something to that machine.  Not one person won anything.  I watched it for the 10 days and lose, lose, lose.  Then I noticed that a machine that I hit big on my last trip was also not paying.  Near the end of my trip, I won $850 on a $1 machine and immediately changed machines to another $1 machine that paid me $750.  Later that evening I noticed a creepy looking man in a suit opening all the machines I had just won on and he was adjusting some wires!!  I asked him if he was rigging the machines -- if looks could kill.  He was not just changing the paper, but had tools and all the wires out of the machine and was re-routing them.  Hum, makes you wonder.  I will be on the Golden Princess soon, so I hope that one isn't as slimy.  I will never said on the Crown again.

On 9/23/2018 at 1:24 AM, getting older slowly said:

 

To answer your question on the Golden in Australia generally Two Areas

Deck 7 starboard side just aft of the doors on to the promenade next to the Vista lounge ( standing only )

Deck 15 port side at the Tradewind Bar with table and chairs and you can get a morning coffee there

 

Cheers Don

What about in the casino and the smoking lounge?  I'll be on the Golden going from the U.S to Australia. (San Francisco to Sydney)

What about smoking on the Princess from the U.S to Australia?   Please don't tell me the casino and Churchill's does not allow smoking on this 26-day voyage from San Francisco to Sydney!!! 

8 hours ago, texascat said:

You will be so glad you took the trip!  I can tell you my first solo was by far the best cruise ever!  Have a great time!

2 hours ago, Wltodream said:

I have cruised solo, a lot.   I am comfortable doing so.    I can say I have a lot of fun, eat exactly when and where I desire.  Take excursions or just do nothing.  My choice.   I can talk to thousands or read a book.    I get off a cruise not exhausted but truly feel I was on a vacation.   You will find it is all on your time.   Your way.   Hope your adventures find you smiling and enjoying 

I travel solo everywhere, including cruises.  I can't imagine sharing a cabin (or a hotel room) with someone.  I've found that even if I know people on the cruise, I still end up going my own way and doing exactly what I want.  Nobody to answer to is the recipe for a great time!!

On 7/29/2018 at 2:44 AM, AndWe said:

 

Thanks, I thought so. Don't they also have an indoor smoking room near the casino - generally for cigar smokers?

Got off this ship a month ago.  There was no smoking in the Casino!!  They said it was Japan rules (go figure).  The indoor Churchill Lounge was smoking.  Other than the casino, all the usual places to smoke outside are the same.  Made my playing in the casino scarce.

In Saigon went on Pham Tours and had a great time.  Much better and less expensive than the cruise excursions. Get 10 people together and do this!!

I just booked my first solo cruise on Allure January 6, 2019. Any words of wisdom for a new to solo cruiser?

Hi, I travel solo everywhere and find that cruising is a little harder unless you are very friendly (which I am). During meals, I ask to sit at a table with others and I introduce myself. During excursions, I always seem to "buddy-up" with other females who are on excursions alone and usually see them around the ship later so there is a friendly face. The best cruise I ever took solo was a small ship (around 20 travelers) around Myanmar. Everyone got to know everyone else and it was a good group. Don't know what you like to do, but I'm not a pool person and so I spend a lot of time in the casino and that is fun for me.

I’ll let you know what I think of the Trollfjord, I will begin my trip next Wednesday for the Astronomy Cruise.

Enjoy! And please post about your trip. Would love to hear all about your adventure.

What a wonderful way to spend the holiday!

 

Will you be there for New Year's also?

RT or one way?

 

Enjoy! :)

 

GC

No, just Christmas. I'll actually end the cruise the day after Christmas in Kirkenes and then spend a few days there before I fly back to Olso.

Enjoy you cruise. I’ll follow few weeks later. After my Kong Harald midnight sun cruise last year I’m looking forward to the Trollfjord Polar Night cruise and the Northern Light.

However I have previously travelled during winter in both Iceland, and North Norway and Finland.

 

 

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Yes, I'm really looking forward to Northern Lights. Travelled to Iceland in winter and didn't see any! Just got back from Alaska and no Northern Lights either. Hope this Norway trip makes up for it!!

Thanks for all this info! I'll be on the Trollfjord for their Christmas cruise this year.

I'll be on the Trollfjord for their Christmas cruise this year. Really looking forward to it ... and seeing the Northern Lights!

Actually the smoking area aft starboard deck 7 side , is a pain as it blocks the people whom walk round on the promenade. It would be a good idea to give them a room sealed from the rest of ship, so the air it ducted straight outside away from the others.

 

Maybe some where around the funnel area, or simply ban smoking in public areas

 

Don

Looks like there are ONLY 2 outdoor smoking areas on the entire ship. Get over it.

The Casino is definitely a smoking zone.

Although they had 1 or 2 smoke-free evenings.

Thanks, I thought so. Don't they also have an indoor smoking room near the casino - generally for cigar smokers?

From the Princess Patter (January 2018):

 

 

See you on the Diamond in February. ;)

Thanks! No smoking in the casino???

I'm booked on the Diamond. Anyone know about the smoking areas of that ship. It will be sailing through Asia on my trip.

Will be doing a solo spin to Alaska next month on Royal Caribbean. Then in December, over Christmas, I'm off to Norway to explore the Northern Lights on the Hurtigruten (some interesting excursions up there!). I just book a solo trip on Diamond Princess to Singapore-Tokyo, with stops in Vietnam, Hong Kong, Osaka, Taipei -- not in that order, I'm sure. Anyway, that's in February. Love solo travel and solo travellers on so many levels!

Can you tell me EXACTLY where the smoking sections are on the Explorer -- apart from the Casino? I'm in an aft balcony and I'd hate to have a far walk for my morning coffee and cigarette. I haven't been able to find this info anyplace!

I know........we are not sure what to do. We have to check out at 11:00 am and the hotel shuttle is taking us to the cruise port. I understand they have to get all the cleaning done, but I called Princess they said nobody was on the ship now. They already will already be deported before it gets to Fort Lauderale. .......just wondering.

That can't be right. They are at sea now, and will be arriving in Ft. Lauderdale on Nov 8 at 7am. I doubt that all passengers left the ship in Norfolk yesterday.

I think someone lied to you!!