Cruisers from MA

Just off Crown TA. Contractors replaced stateroom mailboxes with Medallion screens beginning a day or two after April 16 embarkation, and the work seemed to be finished within a week. Many large display screen frames later fitted with a round, blue-pulsing Princess logo: presuming that will detect nearby Medallions....

Just off Crown TA. 

Afternoon Tea was featured most (all?) days in an MDR from 3:00-4:00PM, and was complimentary. The tea being poured was Twining’s English Breakfast, which surprised us (we had had Lipton at Tea on a previous Princess cruise). Also, for info, Twining’s was available in the buffet and when we asked for English Breakfast tea after MDR dinner. In fact, the only Lipton we encountered was the first Room Service breakfast (where we requested “hot tea”); other Room Service orders we requested “English Breakfast Tea” and got the Twining’s.

At Afternoon Tea, servers circulated with -

• Scones (and served jam and cream)
• Tea sandwiches, several types to choose from
• Cakes (some amazing frosting colors, not seen in nature)
• Brownies/ cookies/ biscuits

We enjoyed it. Hope this is helpful. 

Thank you all so much. Do you remember if the balcony is covered? I know the ones on Dolphin are not covered and I really want a covered balcony.

Emerald Deck minis on the Emerald Princess are fully covered. Enjoy!

Thanks, everyone, for helpful and quick replies.

I think I'd rather keep the connecting door than lose the extended-angle balcony, so I'll stay with C415.

I’m hoping (once again!) I will find some elusive information by asking the experts…

We’re considering reserving C415 on Regal; this is one of the minis with the extended angle balcony (there are just a few remaining cabins with the larger balconies presently available for the sailing we’re thinking about). However it looks like there’s a connection between this cabin and its neighbor.

The description says “EXTENDED ANGLED BALCCONNECTS WITH C409”. Despite a search of the Princess board, I’m not sure whether this cryptic descriptor means that the balconies of C415 and C409 connect, or that the cabin interiors connect.

There are postings with descriptions of an interior connector door that replaces the full-length mirror in some “connecting cabins”. I’ve also read a couple of posts that seem to suggest the “connection” between mini-suites on Royal-class ships with the extended angle balcony is only via balcony doors the steward can open and close.

I’ve read some helpful posts around whether or not a connecting interior door (as in connecting hotel rooms) is a noise problem or not, or whether a tightly-rolled towel blocks much of the noise; thanks all.

Can anyone help with a specific recollection of how C409/C415 connect?

The main benefit of Club Class dining is that it is true anytime dining as you will be seated whenever you show up during the time the dining room is open. No long lines. No pagers. No delays getting seated.

 

Yes, there is an extra item on the menu which might be prepared table size. And since you will always be seated in that special area, you can have the same wait staff each evening. And because it is often lightly utilized, you will likely get more and faster attention and service.

 

But there can be several reasons it might not be highly utilized.

o Only those in the Club Class mini-suites and those in full suites can eat in that area. If you are traveling with relatives/friends who are not in cabins eligible for Club Class, you cannot dine with them unless you eat elsewhere.

o Some passengers often eat in specialty restaurants and thus would not show up in the Club Class dining room area those evenings.

Exactly this. But, unfortunately, not this.

Our most recent cruise (Regal, Baltic) was our only Club Class experience; we booked a mini - interested in giving it a try.

Our circumstances are unusual but allow some interesting comparisons: after our final payment, family members unexpectedly (and happily) decided to join us - they booked a Balcony. Hence for Club Class dining eligibility, we couldn't get "out" and they couldn't get "in".

Most days we all dined together, and we generally chose MDR dining between ~6PM and ~7:30PM. About half of the days we were together we'd arrive at the MDR, answer the question "Willing to share?" with a "Yes", and be seated immediately. And about half of the days we all dined together (no way to predict based on time of day, port/sea day, etc.) we'd be given a pager, and would wait between 25 and 45 minutes to be called back and seated. Overall we had a great cruise, but the routine delay in MDR seating during prime dining hours was a major negative for us. We called it "Ain't No Time Dining."

On 3 evenings it was just my wife and me dining together (at about the same times in the evenings as when our larger party of 5 would dine). Each of these times we went to the Club Class entrance and were seated immediately. Each time we had the same servers (and the first time, the Chef handling the "special" dish came by, introduced himself, and mentioned he hadn't seen us before).

In our minds the one major advantage of Club Class dining is immediate seating. Since (besides dining) we didn't find Club Class amenities a real incremental advantage over a non-Club-Class mini, I don't know if we'd choose Club Class again.

Used the retractable dock at Nynashamn on Aug 27. That evening an MDR server mentioned that tenders had been used frequently this season (he said "first time this year using the dock" but that seemed incorrect based on reports from others on this board).

Capt. Maresca on Regal - Aug 18-29 sailing.

I know there are a lot of cruisers worried about not finding a taxi, however, like you, we found 2 taxi vans without a problem.

When you are a group of at least 3-4 people, I don't understand why they would attempt the train & bus, when a taxi is so much easier. I've heard of families with strollers & babies, taking the bus & train to save a few bucks.

Thanks, TravelingAPor; agreed. And I should have mentioned the taxi fare, which was exactly 400kr. Money well spent IMO.

Here's another data point (I'd been following this thread avidly before our recent cruise) -

Three of us (and four suitcases, yikes) disembarked from Regal Princess at Oceankaj (C331) on Tuesday, August 29. When we packed the fourth suitcase I decided that a taxi to the airport was the best choice after disembarkation (previously I'd been on the fence between taxi and bus+train).

For info, according to cruisett.com Regal was the only ship expected at Oceankaj that day; she arrived on time at 5:00 AM. Other ships were due (1) later that morning and (2) at other Copenhagen ports.

We walked off at ~6:00AM and followed signs for TAXI. There was no line (as passenger groups arrived from the terminal a dispatcher directed each to a cab; we saw a cab departing with passengers as we walked out, and there were several cabs waiting). The dispatcher pointed us toward a minivan - I verified that the driver would accept credit card payment and we drove off.

We encountered very little traffic and I think we were at the airport by 6:45 or so - well in advance of our 10:25 flight departure. (By the way, we were able to check in and print boarding passes at the SAS kiosk when we arrived, and also use the bag drop ~3.5h before the flight - from time to time in Europe we've been unable to check in / drop bags until 2 hours before the flight.)

I would go directly through Princess place a deposit and get on their waitlist

as soon as possible.

I suspect there's just one list, managed by Princess.

We have friends that (a few days after final payments due) wanted to join us on a sold-out Baltic cruise on Regal. They contacted a travel agent they'd used before, were added to the waitlist (told they were in 4th place), and cleared (into a Balcony cabin) in about a week.

Good luck!

Unfortunately, the USS Constitution will be in dry dock for repairs until 2018.

 

Actually, the USS Constitution is now afloat again as of the 23rd of July, but even while it was in drydock you could still tour the ship. I do recommend visiting the ship along with the adjacent museum. There isn't any fee to do so, just donation boxes.

Thanks Baystate. Presently it looks like the ship is closed to visitors, tentatively through early September, but then open after that. The museum is open daily throughout.

More info here.

We plan on using the Verizon TravelPass for $10 a day I can use my phone just like I was home in most countries we will be in except Russia

Just a +1 - I've used Verizon's TravelPass several times in Europe. It's $10 for each new 24-hour interval when using cellular services (and $0 any day the phone is off [or on WiFi only]). ...No surprises on the bill.

For those who cruise in both balconies and suites, do you find it a nice change, or ???

Our family of 3 (2 adults, one [now] teen) has cruised mini-suites perhaps half a dozen times on Grand-class ships. (We have a mini on a Regal Princess Baltic cruise later this summer [having considered + and - for the ship and for the category].)

Our most recent Princess cruise, though, was a 7-day Caribbean on Emerald Princess, where the pricing was attractive and we chose an aft suite. We had previously visited each of the ports (indeed, we didn't disembark all week) and figured we'd make good use of the suite perks during a week "at sea".

We loved it!

YMMV, but we particularly enjoyed

• Afternoon tea on the large balcony
  
• Sabatini's breakfast
  
• Thermal Suite access
  
• Balcony loungers
  
• ...as well as the larger room, closets, lavatory...
  

We worried that, having sailed in a suite, we might never "go back", but as I mentioned we chose a Club Class mini for this summer's Regal cruise. After reading many reviews, Regal suites didn't seem a good value for the incremental spend (generally small balconies [except great suite balconies aft, and Regal apparently doesn't have Royal's soot problems], no Thermal Suite [The Enclave is additional cost, suite guests included]).

If you can afford a suite, even once; I suggest you sail in a suite, even once!

Interesting. Some say the Regal loungers are heated and some say they are not.

Recent consensus is that Regal stone loungers are not presently heated. Some say spa staff are suggesting this is the new normal ...at least on Regal.

Indeed, thanks very much - very helpful. (Disappointing, but helpful.)

Can someone comment who's sailed Regal since the recent drydock?

We've happily purchased and enjoyed the Thermal Suite on a few other Princess ships, and we're cruising the Baltic with Regal this summer.

Recent comments suggest Regal's "heated" stone beds have been stone cold, with spa personnel positioning this as a feature, rather than a bug. The Princess website still says about the Regal Princess Enclave "Relax on heated stone beds..."

Drydock might have been an opportunity for Princess to fix the problem (if they saw it as a problem).

Guests have different priorities and interests, but I can't imagine relaxing on chilly stone loungers. So we'd be in no hurry to spend >$200 per person for The Enclave if the experience doesn't match what we've had on older Princess ships.

OP - I have the same question as you - Warnemuende arrival is "7AM", but how quickly will we be off the ship if we do the "Walk Off" self-disembarkation option?

Although we will arrive in Berlin and spend a few days there before traveling to Warnemuende to board Regal Princess, I'm wondering whether to fly home from Berlin (we're not planning post-cruise time there), or whether to fly from an airport closer to Warnemuende.

Anni - can you advise?

It looks like the airport in Rostock (RLG) has one (?!) departure daily that might be helpful - it leaves for Munich (MUC) at 1010. If we Walk Off, is that a flight we could reasonably plan for, or is it too early to be a safe choice?

Alternatively, it looks like many departures from Hamburg (HAM) for Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich, and convenient connections from FRA or MUC to the USA. (Warnemuende to HAM looks like it's 2 trains - first, a direct train from Rostock to Hamburg's main train station (Hamburg Hbf), and then the suburban train S1 from Hamburg Hbf to HAM).

If we're not planning to visit the city of Berlin post-cruise, is it useful (or better) to fly home from RLG or HAM?

Thanks (hope I didn't hijack the thread!)

Thanks - I appreciate the responses.

Thinking more about it - each of the embarkation ports (Copenhagen, Warnemunde, St. Petersburg) is likely popular enough that most passengers NOT starting or ending their cruise that day would be ashore (it's not like Cozumel: "I've been here so many times, I'll just stay on board"). By the time they return, perhaps new passengers and their luggage will have found their way to cabins, the muster drill will have been completed, PA announcements made, etc.

So perhaps a very busy season for ship's personnel in Scandinavia, with some (but not all) cabins emptying and filling every few days, but maybe not so disruptive to passengers.

Hoping some of the well-traveled here will have had experience with this:

Someone kindly posted in the "Princess 2016/2017 Itineraries" thread a link to a PDF with Europe itinerary details. It looks like Regal embarks passengers in Copenhagen, Warnemunde, AND (not or) St. Petersburg. For example, there's a Regal Princess Copenhagen departure on 3-June, a Warnemunde departure on 6-June, and a St. Petersburg departure on 10-June. My family and I have never encountered this before - in 8 or so cruises we and everyone else boarded the same day, cruised, and then disembarked the same day.

How does this work out? Is the ship a madhouse not only on the first and last day YOU board, but also on each of the other two boarding days during your 11-day cruise? Luggage outside cabins and being wheeled around, abbreviated service offerings?

Or (because perhaps only a third of the ship is disembarking/ embarking), are this interim boarding days not as disruptive to the rhythm of "your" cruise as it might seem?

Curious what folks' experiences with this may have been, and what to expect.

Thanks in advance.

...I hope Princess gets the hint that its largest ships are not winning Cruisers' Choice Awards while the smallest ship in the fleet is...

I saw the list too. Really just the near-complete absence of Princess Grand- or Royal-Class ships among lists featuring Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean ships was surprising and disappointing.

Wouldn't you be better off asking your provider than random strangers?

My first thought too.

But for info - before a 2013 Alaska cruise I checked with Verizon and ensured that AK "counts" as within the USA: according to their Website coverage information, it did.

We kept our phones off whenever the ship was not docked, but ashore or aboard while in port we had Verizon service and paid no additional charges.

oooh, but we do have ports, mainly on the lakes for lake and river cruises. Just none that are available to ocean going ships :)

For sure. Absolutely no disrespect intended :)

Faced with the dilemma of choosing between a week aboard a favorite Princess ship, or a week's hiking in and around Muerren, for example, I'm not sure which I'd pick.

I saw the thread title "Swiss Splendors" and thought it was a joke. You know - Switzerland, landlocked, no ports....

OK, sorry. Back to lurking.

Although, if there's a "Paraguay Explorer" - I'm in! :)

Check out this link to Princess' summary of (full)suite benefits.

As for Internet, if you're Captain's Circle Platinum or Elite, you get free minutes; check this out.