BDevilCruiser

For my July cruise, I was assigned a family inside cabin (I think that’s what they called it.). The third and fourth beds went flush into the ceiling, so I didn’t have any bumping issues (I’m right at 6’ tall.). This was cabin 11641.  I don’t have enough experience in other cabins to know if this was normal, or I just got lucky.

given how uncomfortable I though the bed was, with the “seam” way too prominent, in hindsight I wish I’d done what kalib did and split them back into two twins.  (Still wouldn’t have helps with how hard I thought the bed was, though.)

1 hour ago, azbirdmom said:

Very spry for someone in his late 80's.

He's actually 91, born in June 1933.

(ETA-Since you met him two years ago, he was then in his late 80s!)

I've sailed out of Port Everglades twice, once getting there in my own vehicle, and once flying in early the day before and renting a car for the day.  That means I wasn't restricted to hotels close to the port, and further away the prices are lower.  I tend to stay at Marriott-branded ones, and you can search on their app for decent hotels/prices.  (Check the user reviews; one or two bad ones out of hundreds isn't bad, but I tend to stay away from hotels with recent negative reviews that have the same complaint.)  I ended up about 30 minutes away at the Courtyard Weston (I had stayed there the previous fall, and one of the employees remembered me.)

For the one time flying/renting a car, I returned the vehicle to the airport return center, and then walked over to Concourse A, where Uber/Lyft/Taxis are available. While walking to the Uber pickup location, a lady with a Princess sign came walking the other way.  I said I was sailing and she directed me to the bus shuttle with which they contract.  It was easy, but I had to wait a while for other flights to get there, and to stop at other concourses, so the Uber would have been faster (and, IIRC, slightly cheaper.)

Of course, this doesn't work if you don't have a vehicle, or the selected hotel doesn't have an airport shuttle.  You can still Uber, but it'll be more expensive.  (Both to the hotel and then to the port.)

Wildcat, I should have added a smiley emoji to my message.  I’m just amused by the left hand/right hand issues in the same IT department.  I will say that one significant (to me) benefit of Platinum is the half off internet service, since I’m not likely to get either the plus or premier packages. 

if they’re going to mix up things, I wish they’d confuse my account with my Dad’s (same fist/last name.)  My parents went on around 25 Princess cruises and I wouldn’t mind jumping immediately to Elite status.

Just received an email saying I finished a cruise (that I had cancelled) and congratulating me on achieving Ruby status.

Thing is it had the correct number of cruises/days sailed (which didn’t count the one I supposedly just completed) that puts me in the Platinum Captain’s Circle Level.  And My Account on princess.com has it right.

I know I’m stating the obvious but I think one group in IT ‘isn’t talking to another group about these things.

I have an app on my phone from the Red Cross that has a digital copy of my donor card.  Unfortunately, can't donate any more, but it has my blood type and other useful information.

Search for "Blood Donor American Red Cross" in the Apple app store (sorry, don't know if other countries have a similar app.)

I was on the first Sapphire cruise in Alaska this May, the one with the propulsion issues.  I would absolutely sail on the Sapphire again.  That was a one-off problem, and I thought Princess handled it as well as they could (still have to chose which new cruise I'll apply my FCC from that one!)

I never felt crowded on the ship, even though it was at/close to listed capacity.  The crew was friendly and handled the extra sea days well.  While an older ship, and if you look closely you can see some signs of that, it was clean.  I understand from a contractor on-board that week that some work will be done this fall on interior spaces (hearsay, of course - my speculation is that it'll be done while at sea.)  The buffet was small, and my very picky tastes didn't always find something, but the burger grill and pizza at the pool filled in nicely.  The MDR was terrific; good choices and properly cooked with great service.

What I wouldn't do again is sail Alaska the first week in May.  Too cold for me.  I'd wait until June or July.

23 hours ago, Anoynmous Phoenix said:

I have never seen the actual MDR menus for each specific night on a cruise anywhere.   Normally I look at the door of the MDR that is NOT used for breakfast first thing in the morning.

On the Joy a couple of weeks ago, they posted printed menus in the corridor on deck 6 IIRC (it might have been deck 8.  Near the center.)  I discovered late in the week that you could check the info screens on each deck for each restaurant and that breakfast/lunch/dinner menus would pop up when selecting the right button (you could find which MDR had lunch on the non-port days.)

7 hours ago, hallux said:

Mine have come to my email since 2022.  I thought I got an email with it for my cruises in 2019 but couldn't find it.

Mine was emailed the morning of disembarkation which was on 7/28.  The title of the email was "Important Information from Norwegian Cruise Line", which is the same as numerous other emails in the two weeks from booking to disembarkation.

Went on the NCL Joy a couple of weeks ago after finding a great solo price.  IT was NYC to Bermuda. Previous cruise was on the Sapphire Princess in Alaska in May (the one with propulsion issues.)

Frankly, worst cruise ever for me.  Way too crowded (many kids, so three/four to a cabin - I'll add that the kids were for the most part very well behaved.)  The last day it was raining, so everybody was inside, making it more crowded.  First time I've gotten COVID since testing began back in 2021.

The beds were rock hard, and the seam between the two twins (becoming a queen) was too obvious, making it difficult to sleep.  Food was eh, a more limited selection in the MDR, and it seemed mostly overcooked and dry (likewise in the buffet - I'll add that I'm very picky, so YMMV.)  They did have more specialty dining choices, which was good (one was included in the "free at sea" promotion for a solo inside.)

The crew seemed stressed, and not as friendly as what I've found on Princess.  Didn't mean service was lacking, though.

The smoking section on the pool deck was in an odd place, enclosed but "on display".  The smoke smell was at least limited to very close to the enclosure.  It was a bit worse on the casino deck (7) when walking by the enclosed gaming room, but I thought that was better than the Sapphire's side-by-side open sections.

One nice thing was the observation lounge at the front above the bridge, and Spice2O adult space at the back.  Princess doesn't really give you a "free" view from the front.

It was a cruise, to beautiful Bermuda, so things weren't THAT bad (I certainly emphasized the negative here), but I'm not sure I'd pick NCL again, especially not out of NYC in the summer.  Then again, Princess has become very solo-unfriendly in booking (no longer able to search for single rates; have to go in cruise by cruise) so that's not helping.  I have future cruise credit given due to the issues on the Sapphire, so I know I'll make at least one more reservation.

On 7/23/2024 at 6:32 PM, debenson0723 said:

I just looked up the fine for my 'speeding' ticket..$265. That is stupid. My brother in law just printed out the Oklahoma statutes and the posted speed was 45, while the 'suggested' speed around the curves I was driving was 30-35. The white sign supersedes the yellow suggested signs. So I am going to fight it (via certified letter to the Court). I think the officer saw an out of state license plate and thought I was an easy mark. Little did he know he is messing with the wrong woman.  Nothing to lose, worse that can happen is I go to jail (just kidding...I will just have to pay the fine). $265 will almost pay for my spa package in November!

Sorry, catching up after catching COVID ‘on last week’s Joy sailing.

Traffic engineer here.  Absolutely fight the ticket, if you were not exceeding the white sign’s speed limit.  The white sign is the regulatory sign, while the yellow sign is a “warning” sign, and is not enforceable.  (It’s more a CYA by the road authority for slightly substandard sections of road.)  Both are described in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, or MUTCD.

Oklahoma has adopted the MUTCD (as every state must to ensure Federal Highway funding):

The Federal Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) was developed through observation of driver responses to traffic situations.  The MUTCD provides guidelines for installing signs and thus creates uniformity from state to state. The State of Oklahoma has adopted the MUTCD in Title 47 of the Motor Vehicle and Highway Safety Code.

Get a traffic lawyer in OK.  You’re not only paying the fine, you’d likely pay higher insurance because of points on your licenses if you plead guilty.  They’ll fight this easily.

12 minutes ago, 7Trainguy1951 said:

Wife and I will be sailing the Jewel to Bermuda from Philly in 2026. We've been to Bermuda a few times (different cruise line) and see the NCL ferry to St. Georges at the dockyard. Can someone tell me if you need to reserve tickets to use it and if there's a charge to use it? Also, how late is the last return trip to the dock? Thanks for any help.

No charge, the ferry dock is right next to the northern ship dock.  No reservations, but Haven guests do get to "cut the line".

The schedule depends on how many ships are in port, and their schedule.  Last week I was on the Joy; the schedule for the two full days (wed, Thurs) we were in port:  left Dockyard 9:00, 11:15, 1:30.  Left St. George 10:00, 12:30, 3:00, 5:15.  The day we arrived (Tues) the listed schedule was Dockyard 3:00, St. George 5:30.  However, there was another NCL ship in port when we arrived, so I'm sure there were morning runs for them before they left.  The last day in port, we left at 5, but originally were scheduled for 3, and it ran 9:00 out-1:00 back.

1 hour ago, cruiseny4life said:

I'd classify it as the adventurous way. 

 

But, to answer OP's question, my November 2023 Transatlantic on Pr1ma that ended in Manhattan did have a transfer option to all three major NYC airports. 

Adventurous?  Not for a native NYCer.  😀

It is the method I'm considering if I wind up on the Joy in the next few weeks, as I'll be coming from the Jersey Shore. If a relative is not available to drive me, the NJT North Jersey Coast Line is the likely option.  The cost on a Sunday morning is about $12 total using the subway and a senior discount on NJT.  That's less than the toll for the Lincoln Tunnel.   IF the weather isn't good, I'll splurge on a taxi from Penn Station instead of the subway and the ~four block walk.  The negative is that it'll take about three hours.  I'll have a wheeled carry-on sized suitcase and a backpack, so luggage is manageable.

I think the OP's question was if NCL was still running the transfer to EWR; there's at least one message that said they weren't, hence the other options.  But, if it is running, definitely the easiest and least confusing for them.  Well worth the additional cost to be worry free.

7 hours ago, Incredimom said:

Hey anyone who was on this cruise!!! I am wondering if you ever got your refund. We got our FCC applied to a new cruise, but we never received our refund? I have tried calling and on the live chat and everyone that I reach says they can't help me. It is so frustrating - I am happy about how the cruise ended and we did have a good cruise despite all the missed ports. I did get my refund for my excursions and everyone, but just never got my 75% refund and I can't figure out how to get it. Please help!

I believe I received my refund while still on the ship, or at least by the time I was home after my red-eye flight.

As Wallyj mentioned, check which credit card you used to book the cruise, and remember that the refund amount is 75% of the cruise fare, not including taxes/fees.  If you used a different method of payment (cash, if that’s still possible) they’ll issue a mailed check, which takes a lot longer. 

Newark Airport's web site estimates a taxi ride from the airport to the midtown zone (including 12th and 55th) to be about $70, with some additions such as bag fees ($1 per) and tip; I assume the terminal to airport trip would be about the same, and I believe the estimate includes two-way tolls (you will pay for the driver to return to NYC.)

A quick check of Uber prices right now show about the same (surge pricing would likely take that higher right after the ship clears and people start disembarking.)

The Scrooge McDuck answer if able to walk with luggage would be go 20 blocks south to NY Penn Station (walk ~1.75 Miles, taxi or subway-station is roughly four blocks east of the terminal), and get on a NJ Transit train to EWR for $12.20 (senior) to $16.80 per person.

IIRC, you will pay the local (Vancouver) sales tax for drinks while in port.  This is becoming more common.  While I didn't get a drink on board while in Vancouver in May, I did pay the tax while in Juneau.  I have also paid it in NYC and Bayonne NJ.

Ship    Sapphire Princess  (5/11-18/2024)
    
Class    
    
Deck    8 (Emerald)
    
Stateroom #    E610
    
Category    OW (Oceanview Obstructed)
    
Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern    Port Mid-Aft
    
Connects With Cabin #    N/A
    
Accessible    No
    
Quiet    Yes.  No issues, even being just above promenade deck 
    
Balcony Size    N/A
    
View    Obstructed.  Mostly of a lifeboat, with a narrow clear view to the right of the window (see picture)
    
Privacy Issues    None.
    
Wind    N/A
    
Soot    N/A
    
Problems    The ship is showing its age.  While generally OK, some age/rust/ill-fitting parts are there.  In this cabin, the bathroom door was a minor challenge to close/open.
    
Comments    Convenient to aft elevators and laundry is close-by as well.  As mentioned, very quiet.  The window allowed natural light to come in (appreciated in the morning to tell me to wake up!)  Tables next to bed had new lamps with USB ports in the base (only full outlets at desk.)

16 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

Trivia was a bit of fun, but having to play against professionals sort of spoiled it on this cruise. The team that usually won was made up of the first, third, and fourth place couples (2,000+ days, 1,200+ days, and 1,000+ days on Princess cruises). They keep notebooks of all the trivia questions and answers. The one time they did poorly, they admitted to not having seen those questions before.

Was on the Sapphire last month.  We had one team (that was on the ship for the past ~40 days) that was recording answers, but were not super competitive and were doing it more for their knowledge.  So the sessions were pretty fun.

Last night on the cruise, I was solo (my usual partners were doing something else) and I tied for first.  I had enough coasters and stuff, so I "tanked" the tie-breaker.  The cruise staffer gave me a prize bag anyway.  It was a Princess string bag with a drink bottle and coaster inside (so I thought.)  Since my checked bag was already gone, I just threw the bag into my carry-on backpack.

Next day going through security at the Anchorage airport, they pulled the backpack and kept checking various pockets.  Finally, they came to me and asked if I knew what they were looking for.  I didn't so they described a pointed item with a circular top.  I realized that the prize bag also included a Princess wine stopper!  Fortunately, the TSA staff had a good laugh about it (I don't think I would have gotten the same response from the TSA agents in, say, Newark, or as you experienced, Philly!)

1 hour ago, canadarocks said:

There’s no caffeine in root beer. 

Some do, some don’t.  Barqs, Coke’s root beer brand, does have caffeine.  A&W does not.  Nor does Mug, Pepsi’s brand. (Checking some leading brands quickly.)

3 hours ago, threebluestars said:

Ugh, I hate Diet Coke, I am really hoping there will be Coke Zero on the Regal Princess British Isles this fall.

 

Or ANY zero drink at this point.

 

Aside from Diet Coke, do they carry any other diet pops?

Last month, the Sapphire had Sprite Zero Sugar.

9 minutes ago, NavyVeteran said:

It may not be enough to make sure the sign says Princess. Princess may have two ships leaving on the same day. Make sure they are taking bags for your ship.

Touché!  Thanks for the clarification!

Did this two+ weeks ago in Canada Place.

I walked to the terminal from my hotel.  (This also applies if you’re taking the very convenient skytrain to the port.). Once at Canada Place, you’ll be directed to a walkway heading into the underground parking garage (looking at the building from the street, towards the right.).  Plenty of signs and staff giving instructions.  Once down there, following the walkway, you’ll find trucks and Canadian terminal workers taking bags.  If there are more than one ship boarding, make sure you see a sign for Princess at the trucks.  Give them the bags you are checking in (they’ll double-check the bag tags) and proceed to get your medallions or if you already have them, to security.

if taking a taxi/Uber, your driver will be directed down the ramp to the garage (an experienced driver will know exactly where to go), it’s in the same general area, but a little separated.  I don’t recall if there was a separate area, or if they were directed to the same loading area.

note that our ship was late, so we were essentially the only ship boarding at that point.  No doubt with two/three ships boarding at the same time, it’ll be a little more crowded, with multiple drop-off areas.  (There’s more of a distance from the drop-off area to the ships, hence the trucks rather than just loading onto carts.)

bottom line, plenty of port staff there to direct you, just make sure the sign says Princess.

I was on the Sapphire in Alaska 5/11-18.  
 

I didn’t see hockey on any screen on ship (definitely not in the cabin).  I did see the NBA ‘playoffs on a TV in at least one bar.

i didn’t have the wi-fi package so I don’t know if you’re able to stream the game adequately.  Might depend on where the ship is at that point.

7 hours ago, kstaffen said:

Emerald board as of May 25. I am trying to get clarity. 2 people said the captain was new, but I'm not sure if they mean this is not him, but board wasn't changed, or he jut got on. In that case, the Sapphire has outdated information. But for now, the ED, DRO, and CD are all correct. 

you have made an error here.  It appears based on the photo you posted that STEFANO Ravera is the captain of the Emerald.  PAOLO Ravera (not Ravers) is the Captain of the Sapphire.

Outdated info on Sapphire.  New info as of the May 11th cruise:

Captain - Paolo Ravera

CD - Arrrmando Merin (that’s how it is on the staff picture 😀 )

ED - Drew Raitch

Dir. Rest. - Mario Propato