compozer

It is a very small library. I really did not find anything I liked. But I don't like their policy that you can check out more than one book. People were checking out three and four books per person. So, one cabin took eight books.

I'd like to see one at a time.

kdkmilwaukee,

We got it. No problem.

If you get a chance drop me a note and I can send you more info.

compozer424 at yahoo dot com

The soot has been falling the past couple hours but it is really windy out - you can see the smoke hanging low over the stern. I just can't go barefoot. We are going out in a boat snorkeling excursion tomorrow morning but will be interested in what tomorrow afternoon looks like. Would really like to sit out and get some sun.

As I said before, I didn't hear about the soot until after final payment and have never purchased cancel for no reason insurance. We really did want to see what the balcony was like and I truly had hoped they would fix it by now. You could have a huge party out there. I did complain and was told someone would contact me but it didn't seem to be a big deal to them. First day of a cruise is not the day to complain - they have enough other stuff going on.

Toilet paper - don't know what all the complaints were about - fine for us.

Beverley,

Didn't get a close look at the soda package. I did see something with a straw other than the regular tumbler. I know the tumbler is different than a year ago. We usually don't get it so didn't know anything about the straw one. Will check into it later. We never left the cabin until dinner so have not checked out much around the ship.

We ate at the Crown Grill - wonderful as usual. Every other ship has allowed us to use the suite comp dinner on a later night but they said we had to do it tonight. No big deal. Our waitress, Ileana was such a sweetheart. Enjoyed the piano music. They said they have lowered the volume - remember someone said it was so loud. It was an added bonus for us. After dinner we walked up to MUTS to see what was on - it was crowded. Then we went forward and almost got blown away. My hair was straight out and my dress was - well you don't want to know. Seemed like we were in hurricane force winds - could barely walk.

Now I remember why we don't do ship excursions, we have to meet at 9am - heck, we usually get up around 8:30 so I better get going and get my gear together tonight so we aren't late.

Looking forward to meeting you all.

We are on the ship. I put our three bottles of wine in my carry on and was told to go to the table. She stopped the belt and held up everyone until I was with someone. We have all our luggage except one bag - our sons and he doesn't drink wine so he got something for himself. I think we will be getting a note saying we have to go to the naughty room.

I am not happy at all. Our balcony looks terrible. The cushions look ten years old - all black. There are piles of soot around. The wood decking is all stained. The carpet inside the doors are black. the bottom of our shoes are already black. I went to book the Sanctuary but it is totally booked.

I better go start my unpacking. See you all later

I just got a Cressi from our local dive shop for this trip. Love it. My son's is so heavy compared to mine.

We made it with the flight having three short delays. We were lucky - many were over five hours late. I have never seen Milwaukee airport so busy and we travel every holiday. And FLL was nuts - paid the most we ever did for the taxi -people stopping in the middle lane to pick of people. And that idiot driver - he kept slamming the truck lid on our luggage - any child could see five large suitcases would not fit. Then another one came over and helped him push it down while we all are yelling to stop. Ruined one piece but driver didn't care. I wanted to wait for a van - next time.

We dropped the luggage at our room and made it to Total Wines at 10:40. Then came back to find the internet was not working at the hotel. And it is wild at the hotel - Embassy Suites. There free breakfast is nice but not sure it will be worth the number of people fighting over tables.

Not sure what time we will head over. It is mostly cloudy and very windy.

Hope everyone is in town or already on a flight.

Hi Wendy,

Loved reading your LIVE. I bet you were up late with ikea telling them all about the ship. It is so neat meeting people on cruises and staying good friends with them. And exciting recognizing names from past cruises :D. Have a wonderful holiday.

Dietemann,

My son thought they opened late and I guess he was right -thanks for letting us know. We could skip it but I like my wine on the balcony before dinner. The weather in the middle of the country does not look very nice. I think it could be a "keep your seatbelts fastened" ride. OH well, will just play on the computer or read a book. Doesn't pay to get worked up. We had a five hour delay last cruise and it wasn't that.

Safe travels everyone. See you tomorrow.

Sandy

Thanks Mike- I was also wondering about them. Love staying at the ES since it is so close.

You'll find the prices all over South Florida bad that week. Go to http://www.Sunny.org and look for Small Superior Lodgings in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea or Hollywood Beach.

 

As far as the West Coast, Sarasota through Naples will also be horrible then. You may find better prices along St. Pete Beach. Siesta Key is the prettiest but will be the most expensive.

 

Good luck!!

thanks for taking the time to help me out. We may just paly it by ear and see what happens. We stopped in Siesta Keys a couple years ago. Loved it.

Will check out that site - thanks. We will just have to pay what they are asking. Better than being up in the cold and snow country.

Take care - Happy Holidays

thanks Mike. We can still run over there after dinner.

Chris,

glad you only had a hour delay. We woke up to ice covering everything. Schools were all closed around Madison and they had flight delays We had a miserable drive to Milwaukee - ice/rain/sleet. Had dinner and now we are just chilling in our room with a couple drinks. We have a nonstop flight tomorrow at 3:15 so we can relax in the morning and NO alarm needed. We are suppose to get 9 or 10 inches of snow so we are hoping it holds off until we are gone.

Need to pick up a couple bottles of wine and some no caffeine pepsi before we board the ship. Does anyone know how long Total Wines is open on Saturday night or what time they open on Sunday??

Now, I am just hoping that there will not be any soot on our balcony - keeping fingers crossed.

Safe travels everyone.

Sandy

If you are booked in a full suite, you will have them in your cabin but they are more of a pain. I agree about taking cheap ponchos. We have only had to use them once.

I saw this thread and thought. No, the cruise isn't for two days so it is true, I missed the flight!

Woke up to a phone call at 5:55 saying schools were closed. We are suppose to head to Milwaukee this afternoon and then have a flight tomorrow afternoon but not sure if we will make it. Our driveway is all ice and I have to take one of the cats to the kennel and their road probably won't even be sanded and the sleet/ice is suppose to continue into the evening. On top of this, we are suppose to be hit by a big storm tomorrow afternoon.

Safe travels to everyone. Just go with the flow - we missed a cruise years ago on Christmas day and at least we have a port the second day so we can always fly to the Bahamas and get on.

Thanks, you must know your stuff - yes, during the boat show. We get off the ship on the 9th but think we will head north until Thursday or Friday. I think we only need to stay 2 or maybe 3 days at the most (by then I will feel terrible that I don't have the money to buy a 130 footer) and then head to the other coast. So the dates would be somewhere between the 13th and 17th. Prices on the hotels I have checked out don't change much in price during that time.

Really appreciate any help in finding a place.

Bad time of year to plan a trip - just too busy with other things. I searched a month ago but never found what I needed.

Instead of flying home right after our cruise, we decided to stay for a while and plan to rent a car. Haven't decided on a rental company yet, but do we have to go to the airport to rent one or is there an office at the port? We will come back to FLL to fly home so maybe the airport is the best choice. Do any of the companies have a shuttle. Thought about getting the car and then going back to port to pick up our friends and all our luggage.

We will be traveling with friends from out of the country who have a late afternoon flight so if we could get a car at the port, we would do something for the day with them and drop them off at the airport later in the day.

Thanks for any help.

We are heading down in February during the boat show and hotel prices are sky high. Some of you seem very knowledgeable of the area. Haven't been down for many years. Would like a nice hotel but don't want to pay over $300.

Not even sure if South Beach is close to the convention center or not. It is a busy time so I haven't had time and need to do some research but am afraid everything affordable will be booked ( many already are) by the time I have time to do it.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Can anyone tell me if the soot is a problem on the suite balconies if you go around the side rather than staying on the back?

Same thing for the diesel smell?

I was very upset when I first read about this problem then I settled down and figured we would work around it and maybe it would be fixed or not as bad as people said but hell, now I am getting upset again. I booked the suite for its great balcony. Like someone else said - we should only have to pay for an inside if we can't use it. I doubt it will be fixed by next week.

Can anyone tell how long Total Wines is open on a Saturday night.

thanks

At least people are talking about the issue again. For a while there if you mentioned the ship had soot issues, you got blasted and I think people were afraid to say anything. Why do people have to post comments if they were not in any of these cabins and do not know anything first hand? I just noticed on the FB page of Princess that a lady said they were in an aft balcony cabin and had no soot issues. Her cabin was A701 and no one has said they have had issues in that area. That is NOT an aft balcony cabin. People really get confused when you say aft. Many think if you are towards the aft of the ship you are in an aft cabin. I guess we should say TRUE AFT.

The cabins having issues have all been across the stern of the ship - all cabins facing the wake.

capriccio, I have a couple questions for you. could you send me a note so I can get your email address - thanks. compozer424atyahoodotcom

Sorry, PH.

Thank you Bob. I found this site which shows the suites in photos instead of artist renderings.

 

http://maritimematters.com/2013/07/royal-princess-decked-part-two/

Mom33, I discovered that site last week and was very disappointed when I saw the OS pictures. Bob said it was like two closets and that IS what it looks like in these pictures. The rendering shows two chairs by the sofa. These pictures show only one chair and a loveseat NOT a sofa. They have the coffee table pushed right up to the loveseat to make the room look wider. It looks like the cabin is not as deep as the aft suites on the other ships. Other OS also have a table and two chairs in the cabin. And then four chairs at the table on the balcony, not two like we have been seeing pictures of.

It looks like the PS have the sofa and two chairs.

I think this will be the last time I book a new ship before it launches. I really feel like canceling. Bob (and the rest of you), thanks for being so truthful in your posts.

Bob, you have mail.

I booked an aft owners suite for Christmas the first day and then last fall I looked at my personalizer and noticed that I had a different cabin number. Can't remember if I called my TA or Princess and asked what was going on. No one knew anything about it. I did get my cabin back. Thank goodness that I checked since they sold out early. Then shortly after that my TA called and said Princess called and wondered if I would switch cabins. It was to another suite on the Emerald deck and I said NO WAY since it was right above the Vista Lounge. They were offering a very healthy OBC for us. Wonder who was paying for the OBC - the people wanting my cabin or Princess?

We will be on the Royal in December but they are not offering any scuba on Princess Cays. We also are doing the same itinerary. Wonder why they offer it on some ships and not others? Wish we were going to some other island - I have been at the Cays many times - usually just stay on the ship but our son is joining us and really wants to scuba.

 

My OS suite continues to disappoint me. I paid a great deal of money for the right to stay in two closets for 18 days. I would urge anyone who has an OS booked on the Royal or Regal to reconsider. For what you get, it is a true waste of money.

 

Bob

Bob,

I screwed up somehow and posted a question to you on another thread when you talked about the DVD player not working so thought I would repeat my questions here.

But this comment really bothers me. I have one booked for Christmas and like you, booked it when they first opened but now I'm not sure. It is costing me more than I have ever paid per day even for the GS. And I just made my final payment last week.

So, getting back to my questions. Do they still have the DVD library for suite passengers or is it gone with the player not working?

On all the pictures of the stern I have seen here, the suites only had two chairs with the balcony table. How many do you have? If only two did you ask your steward if it is possible to get two more? We have always had four.

No one has ever talked about the wrap around balcony. How is it?

Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

Hope things improve for you so you can have a wonderful cruise.

Dr. Pam,

Thanks so much for taking the time to post your review. I understood what you were saying.

After lots of research, I booked R731 the first day it opened. We are looking forward to all the sunshine although it is nice to get a little shade once in a while. The first thing I noticed when I saw a picture of the balcony, was that there were only two chairs with the table. Did you ask your steward if he could get you two more chairs? Our son is also joining us and we always eat lunch on our balcony along with many dinners. We also have guests over every night so I am real disappointed they cut back. Wonder what they will do when we order the balcony dinner - maybe bring a folding chair in:D.

It is interesting about getting a bottle of bubbly with your first night dinner. We did four cruises last year and the AMEX- plat perk gave us a bottle with dinner but not the first night in the suite dinner. Maybe that is a something new.

So, what exactly did the person in the lounge do for you? Did he help with excursions? Dinner reservations? And was it the same person every day or different ones? Do people come in and just sit around having coffee or take it back to their cabins? We always get a call from the dinning room staff the first afternoon asking when we want dinner - did they call? or was that taken care of in the lounge?

Did they invite the suite people to stay in the new lounge the last morning. They had a special morning lounge for suite people on the Star last spring. It was really nice.

I hope you will continue to answer our questions. Thanks again for spending your time with this.

We loved the Grand and can't wait to return.

thanks, glad you had a good time