shootingstar07

My friends are in that deluxe dolphin balcony and are not having any problems, but if they do I will report it! ;)

Hi Amelia

So sorry to hear about your "cruise from hell". Here is hoping it gets better and that you get some satisfaction from Princess.

If you have time, can you report on D729 - aft facing cabin. My friends are on this at the end of Nov. Of course, final payment has been made, so I am not sure what, if anything, would be accomplished by telling them about your soot problems.

Thanks in advance. Feel better and enjoy the upcoming ports.

Kathleen

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From Messina.

For a new ship , the bridge cam is not transmitting a very good picture. The ones from Venice were so bad I did not post them.

 

Thanks once again for the pics of Royal in the Canal.They were excellent .:)

 

Agree 100%!! So over exposed. Hard to tell weather and could not appreciate beautiful Venice.

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Dave, I really don't do reviews as a lot of things are subjective and everyone's cruise experience can be different.

We are not foodies so talking about food not my thing. I will say the presentation in the dining room was nice. Food really there just like on all the other Princess ships. The big difference was the great layout of

Horizon Ct. and Bistro. So many food stations with lots of variety.

I was sick on most of the cruise so to review food not a good thing as nothing tasted good to me.Last night of cruise, Rui had asked if we wanted a special Indian dinner . One of the Chef's was Indian and he said it would be outstanding. And it was really special .Even with my bad cold, could savor the flavors.

Room Steward was really good. One of the best we ever had, so efficient. Never had to ask for anything as he really did his job well.

We had a fixed dining table in anytime dining room Deck 5 (Symphony).Very doubtful that our female Waiter will be around long. By far the worst we have ever had and she was reported. One night

we waited one hour before our first course appeared. When we complained to her she said"Well, you do have your bread".

There were six of us .I usually view dinner as a place to relax and visit with friends so normally slow service wouldn't affect me. But this was beyond bad. This was not normal service for this dining room. This Wait person was the exception. It appeared like the other waiters were efficient . We experienced better service when we changed tables the last night.

 

Gloria

So sorry to hear you were sick most of the cruise!! And then to fly home. Following Pia's live and it seems you had to deal with cool temps and rain in several ports. Did you have any sunny nice days? Take care. I believe you have a family event coming up. If my memory hadn't totally gone south, do have a great time. Hello to Lou. One of these days our paths will cross again

Kathleen

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I saw them waiving goodbye. Did you miss it?

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Maybe it is a revival, since someone posted earlier princess use to do it. They are premiering on Royal. We can only hope it goes to all the ships- kinda like the IC!!

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I can live with the policy. However I wish Princess would carry some top shelf single malt. Would not bother me to purchase bottle from them so I could sit on balcony at sail-a-way. Beats me putting it in my suitcase, bubble-wrapped and taking space where another pair of shoes could be!!

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Hi friends,

 

I am posting late for Roma, on this port intensive cruise I am having a tough time writing up all the private excursions in a timely manner. Better late than never!

 

9-30-2013

Roma, Roma, Roma

 

Today Fabrizio picked us up at 7:15 prompt, Civitavecchia is so busy today and seemingly filled with many giant cruise ships. We had planned to visit the Vatican and Ostia Antica but discovered it was closed so we decided to spend the entire day in Roma. I love Roma and cannot get enough of it, especially with Fabrizio.

 

We beat the cruise ship buses and still hit traffic as we approached Roma, it was just like home! We talked and laughed, Fabrizio entertained us with information and jokes and the time just flew by. ....... It was time to go meet up with Fabrizio!

Hi Amelia

Your entry brought back such great memories of past trips to Rome. I too remember the days of walking into St. Peter's up the front steps!! No wandering hallways.

Think you said in prior post that Fabrizio had a surprise for you in Rome. What was it?

Keep the excursion posts coming. So fun.

Kathleen

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Me thinks Belkin should be giving all CC'ers a discount!! With everyone ordering (myself included) their YTD sales numbers will be inflated. Some Exec will be wondering why!! Hope he/she cruises and reads CC!!!

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As most of you would know, I have been very critical of the way in which the post cancellation of the Sun Princess cruise had been handled at the time in Singapore. I can now appreciate the difficulties faced on that day by Princess and how we can all be wiser in hind sight. After many discussions on this matter with staff from the Princess Cruises, I’m confident that a lot has been learnt from this event.

 

At first Sally and I had real concerns that our pre cruise expenses would not be treated fairly and we’d be denied just and reasonable compensation, for our out of pocket losses due to the cancellation.

 

We have now come to an arrangement with Princess Cruises on a compensation deal. I can only tell you that we weren’t able to secure full reimbursement for all our losses but in the spirit of co-operation between both parties I believe that Princess Cruises have been reasonable and fair.

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Princess Cruises Sydney office team, for the professional and courteous way in which they treated us throughout the last two weeks. This has reinstated our faith in the company, we are now looking forward to sailing with Princess in the not too distance future.

 

Thank you also to all the support and advice given to us through this forum by the members.

Marvelous that your situation is resolved in an expeditious manner. Of course, for you and anyone else on that "non cruise", it probably seemed a decision from Princess came at a snails pace!! I thought all along Princess would want a sealed settlement and request the amount and terms not be disclosed. But I am so happy that you feel it was just and that you plan to cruise again. Wishing you and Sally fair winds and following seas!!

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My travel agent: Just got off the phone with Princess and they have confirmed that the port of Bali has been removed from the itinerary, they are looking into why for me and have advised me that letters will be waiting for you in your staterooms when you board the ship. I will let you know as soon as they get back to me.

That is too bad. Bali is such a beautiful place with gracious people. Please keep us posted as to why it was dropped. I am looking at an itinerary that includes Bali. I would be very disappointed if it were dropped. Good luck - hope you don't have all the problems the OP and others had on the first cruise post dry dock.

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I agree GHDPeter and I asked the same question at the time, the answer I got was yes there is passenger manifest and that was all he said. Typical of the behaviour at the time by the staff on hand, confused and un-organised. At the time I let it go thinking that as some of the passengers had been boarded it was more expedient to do a on the spot list.

 

I have since become aware that they did not kick all the passengers back off the ship loaded in the afternoon, only some. So I guess it was a little hard for them to know exactly where everyone was at any one time, just glad it wasn’t a sinking ship, no way they could of handle a crisis like that.

 

My real concern now is will Princess act responsibly and with honour and make good all the financial losses suffered by the passenger’s such as the cost of travelling to Singapore and accommodation while waiting for the cruise. Due to airline seating availability we had to be in Singapore for 3 days prior to the sailing date. No way we would of gone to Singapore, as nice as it is except for this cruise. Oh well fingers crossed, we can always start a class action against them if they try and dodge their responsibility, hands up those interested !!

So so sad and sorry about your ordeal!! I do hope you and your fellow Non-cruisers" get reimbursed for all your expenses. Please continue posting here and keep us up to date on the resolution. It is sad that Princess can't make 2000 pax whole faster than what they have promised.

Come on Princess, we are all watching how you handle this!!

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I too am in the "minority" in that the lack of outdoor spaces (small balconies, no promenade, no aft pool, fewer shaded pool areas) IS a deal-breaker for me. I obviously am not the demographic they are appealing to. And its not just CC members - its all our friends & potential first time cruisers who will see pictures of these ridiculously small balconies, compare them to to other ships, and will book something else. I have cancelled my Regal Maiden next year and re-booked on the Emerald. I love Princess, but will stick to Grand class ships.

Hi Bernie

What did you do about Royal's TA? Would still love to meet you. Cruising seems to be a large family - you run into each other every couple of years!! I know our paths will cross on the high seas. Hopefully it will happen st a nice restaurant in Lewes!!

Kathleen

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When I posted "Do what I said" didn't mean strong statement that I was telling someone what decision to make, I meant go to the instructions I had posted to check out the price difference (BD over Delux price).

Some people are really weird on this site and unfortunately misunderstand. Or I apologize if I didn't make it more clear.

When one is trying to help , it is sad that I am called out for it.

 

To the OP, yes definetly go with the choice that works best for you , which is what I always do.

Gloria

It beats me why you are called out for your comment!! I understood your meaning. I hope the OP does too. I second your opinion on the Caribe balconies - why pay for a deluxe balcony price amidship when you can be forward for less cost? Forward you can zip up and down to theater; aft, in the 600- 700 range, you have easy access to the MDR.

You barely feel motion on these big ships with the stabilizers, so I don't find a need for amidship cabins.

Keep giving advise. That is what CC is about - helping each other. Sending a big hug your way!!

Kathleen

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Would love to see photos of the cabin and balcony if you have it. Obviously trying to determine size of balcony - is it like all those posted - 4x9? All sun or covered? Thanks so much!!!

can you tell me what cabin this is? What category? Thanks for posting.

Wonder why all the chairs/bleacher on the dock? From what I have read, there was not a celebration for maiden voyage. Someone posted they did not receive any souvenir of the actual maiden - just for the season (and for purchase too) Bottom line drives everything!!!

I can send you a video of the mini suite and balcony.

 

Hugh

Hello Hugh,

I would love to get that video. Specifically I am looking for photos of D729 aft Deluxe Balcony cabin. Where were you located?

my email addy is:

ka4293 at gmail dot com

Thank you.