doe326

Don't remember where the kiosks are located. There is a $6 dollar charge to remove money from them. Depending on your bank and/or credit card you may also incur a fee with them.

We cruised the week before you with ports of Grand Turk, Dominican Republic, Bonaire and Aruba. I agree with most of what you said. Not impressed with the food in the dining room. Our service in the dining room was terrible. Received my appetizer long after my soggy Caesar salad. Received my sour cream long after my baked potato went cold. At least on Lido I could get a fresh salad and a hot baked potato. Waiters seemed harried and my hubby and our friends did get coffee after they ate their desert. Waiters didn't seem to comprehend serving food and drink together. We mostly ate on Lido because of the shows we wanted to see.

 

Lines to the Comedy Club were unbelievable long. We never did get to one. The Liquid Lounge is a terrible venue. We arrived late one night (long, long time in dining room). Saw some seats and started for them only to realize we would be behind giant columns. A lot of empty seats due to the placement of the columns. Other cruise lines have solved this problem. Don't understand why Carnival can't. One show we changed our seats three times because of the bad views.

 

We also had a Havana room. It was suite and it was well appointed and the decor was very nice. Reminiscent of pictures of old Havana. Loved, loved the two sinks in the bathroom and a shower with a seat and NO shower curtain to wrap around you. We had two areas: the bedroom and living area. They were divided by shutters and drapes. Never felt closed in. One complaint, whoever designed the sofa with a lounge end and put it opposite the desk didn't think it out. When the desk chair was out you could not get around it. Either had to get up and put chair in or climb over the lounge. I loved the swinging chair. The balcony was a nice size but I did miss not being able to sit on the balcony and look out to the sea. Pool area was very nice and the bar personnel were friendly and service was good.

 

We did enjoy the cruise and the ports but will probably not be taking another cruise on Carnival for awhile.

We've taken 3 of them with Princess. In my opinion they are the best way to go. Less hassle for you and bags. We had a wonderful tour guide in Alaska for our first Connoisseur tour. Each day we were given our food vouchers and each night we received information for the next day. He was very organized and so knowledgeable about Alaska. Our second was in Argentina and Brazil. Although not as organized as our first tour guide, the guides were wonderful.We just did the Outback in Australia. Eight days before the cruise. Again a wonderful tour director. Very organized and knowledgeable about the area. And she had to heard us through airport lines, bus lines, etc. We flew from Sydney, to Darwin, to Cairns, to Uluru and back to Sydney. She had her work cut out for her and did it very well. The Connoisseur tour makes for a much more relaxing vacation. Just have your bags ready for pick up, get on the bus or train, and arrive at your next destination. We are taking our fourth Connoisseur tour this June in Alaska and expect it will be like the others -- excellent.

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience at dinner. We had the second sitting and maybe that makes a difference but never had any problems with waiter or any of the wait staff. As to the food it was much better than our two previous cruises. And that food was plain awful. I still think it needs improvement but felt it was getting better. Went to the Sterling Steak House two nights. Excellent food and service. Hope you have a better dining experience on your next cruise.

The OP sounds more upset than the person hurt. First it is none of your business what Carnival was going to do for her. She may not want you to know. Second they did refund her shore excursions. Other than that there is nothing more for Carnival to do.

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"][COLOR="RoyalBlue"][/COLOR][/FONT]Have sailed on both Princess and Carnival. And comparing them is like anything else, it is subjective.

Been on Carnival during Spring Break and had no problem with children. In fact, hardly saw them. Was on a June Alaskan cruise with Princess and was almost ready to throw all the kids overboard. They were obnoxious, loud and undisciplined. Was also on a Caribbean cruise with Princess in January and there were so many strollers and babies I felt like I was in a day care. Someone was always rolling over people's feet with the strollers. It was a back to back and the second week was a little better but a lot of older (6-12) children but pretty well behaved.

I find the food to be better on Carnival. My last 3 cruises on Princess the food has been just awful. The buffet food looks like mush and the variety was poor. I also miss the Carnival deli on Princess. Great sandwiches. IC Cafe is good but no match for the deli.

The rooms are larger on Carnival than Princess but this doesn't bother me. Carnival doesn't have a room comparable to the Mini Suite. Carnival's suites are o.k. but Princess has it all over them on suites. Carnival has basically no amenities. We had a basket of fruit, a bottle of wine (ugh) and we were in the owner's suite. The only perk was we were personally escorted to the suite--passed lines and got to the head of the scanner line.

Carnival has better gifts for platinum guests. I have enough of the blue Princess bags to make a float (lol). Princess has better wifi for platinum guests than Carnival. Get laundry with Carnival platinum. Have to wait for Elite on Princess. But I don't sail for the gifts either.

I could go on and on but the bottom line is you have to sail the company that you like the most. I love Carnival (especially their longer cruises) and I love Princess (hope the food gets better). So I look at the itinerary, departure port and price and make my decision from there. Good sailing all!:)

Our last two cruise on Princess the food was awful. Both in the dining room and buffet. Most of the time the food in the buffet looked like mush. On the Regal they had a lot of pork, which I love. Unfortunately it was so dry the gravy couldn't make it better. Too many ethnic dishes. If you have an Indian night, please have some food that others might like better. We went to the buffet on one of the ethnic nights and there wasn't one thing that I could eat. Thank goodness for pizza and hamburgers. We usually book the steakhouse one night on our last cruise we booked it two because of the food elsewhere. I love Princess and hope they can get their act together about the decline of their food. In the meantime I'll try some other lines too.

I think the food, in general, on Princess has declined from when I started cruising with them (2003). I think they need to make some plain good basic food and quit with the Indian, Chinese, German, etc. We were on the Crown in December and the food was not good at all. The food on Lido, which used to be like the Dining Room was terrible. Was not displayed well, most of it looked like it was just thrown in the casserole. Thank goodness for pizza and hamburgers. The best meal we had was in the Crown Grill. But I'm not going to pay every night for a good meal. When we were on the Regal crossing the food was very good, except for the pork. Every piece I tried was dry. And this could be particular to that ship. But all-in-all I've been very disappointed with the food on Princess.

Will be boarding the Golden on the 17th when you get off. Leave her in good shape for us. :) Enjoying your posts.

WOW! I can't imagine any type of vacation to your liking. Yes it is a safety concern if someone is throwing chairs off their balcony. But it is none of your business what Carnival did for punishment. The behavior stopped so I don't see why you continued to complain about it and the punishment.

 

Do Not take a cruise for a particular port. The port authority of each country has the right to close a port any time they want. And yes Carnival may not have been informed. Missed two ports on my Grand Med this October. Big deal. I know that before I cruise.

 

I think you are far too rigid for cruising. You need to go with the flow on a cruise. Nothing is perfect and you have learn to loosen up a little.

 

Hope your next cruise or vacation experience meets your very high standards.

that sounds like Cantrail here is their link http://www.cantrail.com/ their phone is Telephone: (604) 294-5541

 

Their buses are that color

 

vickie

 

Thank you Vickie, that might be the one. Really appreciate your help.

lol...

 

there is another company that does this trip too for Princess and that is Cantrail but normally it is Horizon Charters. Quick Shuttle is another option, I wonder if the poster remembers what the bus looked like on the outside. That could narrow it down. Hope they get their phone back.

 

Vickie

 

Hi Vickie,

I looked at the Horizon Charters web site and it was not them. The bus was cream color and the bus numbers were in kind of a sage green as was the lettering. I really thought the name was Royal Canadian Charters but nothing on Google by that name. I've left it in the hands of Princess Lost & Found. I have a new phone and was able to get everything back except for the photos I took in Alaska (I can get most of them from DH). Thanks so much for your help and suggestions. :)

Filled out the Lost & Found Form for Princess and my CVP is checking on it. But she said it can take up to a month for the process to unfold. I have a new phone and was able to get all my important information back but lost the photos I took in Alaska. Looking for good news.:)

I'm so sorry to hear about your phone! I'm going on the Coral this Saturday and I'm taking the same transfer. How long was the bus ride?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

About 3 hours unless you get held up by US Customs.

The company that Princess uses normally is Horizon Coach Lines. I have quite a few friends that work for them.

 

Here is a link to their website - give them a call

 

http://horizoncoachlines.com/

 

 

Thank you.

Have you tried calling your phone in case it has been turned on?

 

Forgot to do that before we had service stopped. :(

Sorry to hear you lost your phone. Princess would use a contractors for transport might be worth a try to get a hold of the carrier

 

Thanks. Not sure of the name and Pribcess didn't have it when we called.

You might check with Princess… I know they have a lost and found that can be accessed at the Pier 91 Terminal.. A Princess employee was kind enough to find my Kindle in that lost and found and have it returned to me.. Suggest you contact customer relations..

 

I did contact Princess and have form to fill out. I left the phone on the bus from Vancouver to SEATAC airport.

did you have a "find my phone" feature enabled?

 

Unfortunately I didn't.

I left my cell phone on bus 941 (was on Coral Princess) (Gold Group 1) from Vancouver to SEATAC. We were sitting in the first row across from the driver. If anyone found it please reply here and I will make arrangements to have if sent.

 

I've contacted Princess also. Thanks

We rode her horses once in 2011. We just loved talking to her. Had a wonderful time that day. God Bless you, Randi and my you RIP.

Great review Froufie. So glad we got to meet you on the TA. Maybe we'll sail again together someday probably won't make the Sunshine TA -- that would be 4 cruise for next year and hard on the budget). Have a very Happy New Year.:D

 

Dick and Anita Little (aka George and Doris!)

 

 

 

Hi Froufie, Anita Little here (lol). Thanks for the great pictures and reviews. Makes me wish I was still on the ship. Hope we meet on another cruise sometime.

Thanks for the review. We have Gerry booked for January and I am looking for "different" things to do that would be of more interest to my 70 year old in-laws that will be with us.

 

"different" as in different from what hubby and I would normally do...which is just bar hop !!! LOL

 

 

You'll have a great time with him. And I'm sure he'll be able to help you find "different" things to do.

Booked a tour with Gerry on 11/11. Gerry was waiting for us at the cab stand just as my email from Mike indicated he would be. First he asked what all we wanted to do, gave him our suggestions and we were off to see the north side of the island and a stop at the grocery for drinks. After stopping at several monuments we headed out to San Gervasio ruins. Paid our entry fee and started out on our own. All the ruins had sign designations in English. The ruin site was small but very worthwhile to see. Really enjoyed our walk through the ruins. Then we were off to the Tequila Factory. A wonderful margarita was included in the price of admission. Bought some tequila for gifts and home consumption. We then headed to the east side of the island. The best stop of all was at the "Pee Pee Stop". Yes that's what it is. Very clean restrooms and some very beautiful black coral jewelry. Again Gerry stopped anywhere along the way where we wanted to take photos. Had lunch at Playa Bonita. A delicious meal. We then headed back to the ship. It was a great 5+ hours and Gerry is so informative. Also he has a beautiful voice and played some great music. One thing he did ask me to do was let everyone know that Cozumel is very safe and for tourists not to be afraid on the island. That they do not have the same problems as other areas of Mexico. My DH and I agree with him. It is a beautiful island with beautiful and friendly people. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in something different.