stunnedinva

Thanks everyone! Just booked it!! Can't wait!!

What a fabulous itinerary! I've been to all the ports except Chios. I could LIVE in the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul if they'd let me--or just back up a U-Haul to load up my purchases. In Volos, I recommend going to the Meteora monasteries: https://www.visitmeteora.travel/en/what-to-see/the-meteora-monasteries We did a private tour (no way we could scale those cliffs), and it was exceptional.

Hi, I am travelling on the Royal with my sister in June and we have planned, hopefully to have at least one day in the Sanctuary. As it is the Med it should be very hot. Some of the pics on here show loungers in full sun, I don't think I could tolerate that long without shade can you move your lounger to a shady part? Also some other postings mention lounge hoggers, don't you get a guaranteed lounger in this price?

There are many loungers in full sun, so when you book, make sure to ask for one that is shaded (and it won't be completely shaded). I don't think you can book seats in the covered gazebo area. You can maneuver your chair some, but not to a completely different area. You do get a guaranteed lounger--no hoggers allowed. Have a great cruise!

On my very recent Royal cruise, a few people staked out two of the seating areas in the gazebo as "theirs" for the entire 10-day cruise so that no one else could sit in their section. They slept on the couches and used the chairs to hold their things or sit in when they weren't lying down. The one time it rained, they refused to move anything which meant that those of us actually using our loungers had to stand or leave. One couple was using all five seats. It was as bad as the people saving loungers at the pool.

Pam, was that the gazebo right behind our loungers, or the ones on the right closer to the entrance as you head toward our loungers? I didn't know those were available to everybody like the ones in our section, which everyone seemed to share when I was there. I missed the rainy day, I guess.

Susan

Royal april 12th to 22nd.

Thank you.

Come on over to our roll call! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2143330

I am sailing on the Royal with my family from April 12-22nd. Does anyone know what the main theater shows are during this run? Who the cruise director is? Thanks!

Come on over to our roll call! http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2143330 :)

Look on the deck plans Princess provides where the middle of the ship bumps out.On the Emerald deck you will find cabins with no obstructions. You will also find cabins on Dolphin deck. Just scroll over them and you will see what type of cabin you are looking at. Decks above these are mostly mini-suites.

 

In my review of the Regal below, there is a picture of E433 that will give you some idea of the balcony size.

Ah--okay. Thanks! Those are listed as obstructed view, but E433 clearly wasn't--lucky you! I bet those cabins are snapped up quickly. I'm looking forward to my first cruise on the Royal next month.

Yes, there are large balconies on each deck mid-ship. They are available in a balcony cabin, a Deluxe balcony cabin and a mini-suite cabin. The actual balcony sizes are listed with the cabin on the deck map. You can see the larger balcony in the diagram of the deck.

 

There are also forward cabins and forward facing cabins with huge balconies.

Finally, the aft facing balconies are large also. Not all aft facing cabins are suites.:)

Where are the midship cabins with large balconies, other than mini-suites?

How does the upsell offer come? Is it emailed? Do they telephone? Does it go through your TA or directly to you?

I just got one today--my first. It was an e-mail sent to my TA, who forwarded it to me. It included the number at Princess that I had to call. I left a message, and they got back to me within about an hour, which gave me a chance to research my options.

Based on the posts I've read, the new mattresses are very comfortable twin size mattresses which do not need a topper which is only used for a queen size configuration. Previously when they put 2 twins together they had a poorly designed topper to create a queen configuration.

 

Ah--okay. That makes sense. Thanks!

Just off the Coral this morning and D631 had the new bed. It's a 9" single sided mattress with an added topper, if you have them put together as a queen bed. If you go with two separate twins, then there is no topper unless you request an egg crate, according to Ryan, our cabin steward.

 

Oh, I hope your cabin steward is wrong! It doesn't seem right that only those sailing with a spouse and sharing a bed should be allowed the extra comfort of an added topper. I've had SO many uncomfortable beds on Princess, even with double or triple (folded) egg crates. Some of them used cafeteria trays or folded beach towels under the mattress in an attempt to compensate for the ratty mattresses. :(

We did this on our very first Princess cruise.. and have never had to request one with Carnival.

 

Are the beds still that firm on the Princess ships? I just kind of put this out of my mind until this thread popped up. Now I'm wondering if I need to request one for our trip next week.

 

Thanks.

It's kind of luck of the draw. In 15 Princess cruises, I've never had a comfortable mattress. It's not so much that they're firm--just butt-sprung, saggy in the middle, with no pillow top or box springs. I haven't sailed on any of the new ships, so I hope they have better beds.

I am currently on the Island Princess. I had been very worried about the Island Refit, but have to say we are having an absolutely amazing cruise! Ok, for specifics, the new aft sections cabins are not all occupied. They are still working on the new section. Yes, the back of the ship is really ugly. We spent the first day really lamenting the loss of the full promenade and the loss of the wonderful gym. The gym is way too small. However, we have been exercising by jogging around the promenade (and going through the aft doors, across to the other side of the ship). Then into the gym for some weight lifting. Not a biggie. We have not missed the Universal Lounge at all. We have excellent band in Crooners and Wheelhouse. The performers. singers and dancers have been great. Except for time in the gym, we have not felt crowded. However we are told that some of the cabins weren't ready, so that we are not sailing full. We have a wonderful table for two, but there are very few tables for two, and many more large tables to compensate. There is a new Mediterrean menu and we have really enjoyed the food. I am elite on Princess, and have been very pleased with the food and the service.

 

I am happy with the layout of the new Horizon Court, and the ports are incredible.

 

Yes, I am not pleased with the changes made to Island Princess, but want to insure you that we are having an amazing time.

Thank you for the update. You didn't mention an International Café. Has one been added?

Pam,

 

I personally enjoy these stories, and miss the people who are no longer around to tell them. The down side to that is the same story often gets told over and over again!

 

Azmike480

Geez. You may be too young ever to have heard this, but Will Rogers is credited with this memorable advice: "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."

Just read an ongoing thread about a cruise on the Grand.

 

The OP gave a review with some concerning negative comments followed by an notable 30,000+ poster making a reply. In her reply she stated (not exact words) that the Grand was her least favorite ship and her expectations for an upcoming cruise were not high.

 

This solely because of the ship (and staff I suppose). My question is this ... What's wrong with the Grand as opposed to other Princess Ships.

 

Thanks

Just sailed on the Grand for the first time and had a great cruise. There are some differences from the newer Grand-class ships: smaller closet, no Skywalkers (but I liked the One5), no thermal suite, smaller IC, MUTS is closer to the Sanctuary. I think the Crown has had a higher incidence of noro.

We used GoSedan, which I think is a subsidiary of Prime Time Shuttle, last month and were very pleased with their punctuality and service. http://www.gosedan.com/

Same thing happened to our Hawaii April 2015 cruise for about a week last month. When it popped up again all but inside were sold out. Keep check on line, they were no help at call center.

Now it's back online with everything above Verandas sold out. Next week it'll probably disappear and magically re-appear again. :rolleyes:

I mailed my old passport back on August 4th, requesting expedited service and overnight mail return. Once I learned from you fine people that I could check online and they'd actually e-mail me (!!!), I tried that. Yesterday (8/14) I received an e-mail advising me that "we have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you. You should receive it on or about 8/17." Today (8/15), I received an e-mail advising me "we have finished processing your passport, and it has been printed." I DO hope they printed it first before they mailed it. :eek: I'll let you know what arrives. :D

My crisp new passport arrived yesterday, so they really did overnight it to me. :D That was 11 days, door to door. I'm guessing they'll eventually return my beat-up old one with holes punched in it.

I mailed my old passport back on August 4th, requesting expedited service and overnight mail return. Once I learned from you fine people that I could check online and they'd actually e-mail me (!!!), I tried that. Yesterday (8/14) I received an e-mail advising me that "we have finished processing your passport, and it has been mailed to you. You should receive it on or about 8/17." Today (8/15), I received an e-mail advising me "we have finished processing your passport, and it has been printed." I DO hope they printed it first before they mailed it. :eek: I'll let you know what arrives. :D

Thanks for the info on smithsforairport.com the quote they gave me is cheaper than if the 4 of us used National Express!!

Great! When we used National Express, they had a senior citizen price reduction, but that's been discontinued for U.S. passengers, so I thought Smiths might be a better deal for 4. Have a wonderful trip!

Very timely post! We've used National Express to London, but the car service sounds like it will be just what we need to get to Southampton after a long flight. Just sent a booking request off to Smith's. Thanks for posting the info!

You're welcome. Even though my travel companion's connecting flight in the U.S. was cancelled and she ended up flying out of Newark instead of Dulles and arrived 3 hours later than I did and at a different terminal, Smith's was able to figure a way to pick us both up and whisk us to our Southampton hotel. They were great!

Four of us will be staying at the Renaissance Heathrow Hotel and travelling to the ibis hotel in Southampton on August 13th for the August 15th cruise of the British Isles. Since there are no cruise ships in port that day we can't use the cruise bus. Is anyone else travelling from London to Southampton that day? Just joined CC so I originally posted this as a reply to someone else. Guess I need a tutorial!

If you would like private transportation (pricier than National Express or train), I can recommend http://www.smithsforairports.com. They offer fabulous service for a reasonable price, especially for 4 of you splitting the cost.

anna, are the mattresses newer/more comfortable

or should i request egg crates ??

 

enjoying your reviews !!;)

Anna seems to have been lucky with her mattress. I've sailed on the Emerald 3 times, always in a balcony on Baja or Caribe, and each time the mattress has been terrible--hard and "butt sprung." On the most recent cruise, I used 2 (very thin) foam toppers folded in fourths, and put them under the sheet in the middle of the bed. It looked funny but worked perfectly! :)

I am English.I have been looking at cruises from the US to England.I want a week or so in Florida then a cruise home.But I can see the cruises appear alot cheaper when advertised in dollars.Could this be possible and can I book on a US website with Princess in order to get a bargain?

I wondered if you Americans pay more for cruises from England to travel round the med, for example.

QUOTE]

 

 

My recent Canary Islands cruise (departing from Southampton) was MUCH more expensive for U.S. passengers than for U.K. passengers, which probably accounted for the fact that there were only 99 Americans onboard. Great cruise, though!

I remember at one point Princess wanted to charge the stranded (on the ship) passengers such as yourself a daily fee for staying on board. Did they end up doing this?

Yes, $75 pp/day for a balcony cabin, as I recall. For us, it was the best alternative.

Several years ago I was on the Star Princess in South America on the cruise affected by the big earthquake in Santiago, Chili. Most passengers including myself could not get to the ship and it sailed with mostly passengers from the previous cruise who could not get off. I joined the ship in Buenos Aires, with the next stop in Rio for the start of the next leg. All of the previous passengers had to disembark as they did not have visa for Brazil, so for a couple of days there were only about 400 passengers on the ship. (those of us that had made it one way or the other to the ship) We had one dinner seating and one show, the ships was deserted. In Rio everyone else boarded and it was back to normal

I was one of the passengers from the previous cruise who could not disembark at Valparaiso and fly home from Santiago, so we sailed back around the Horn again to Buenos Aires. After being SO crowded on the first cruise (never being able to get close enough to see the tango dancers in the Piazza, for example), it was like a ghost ship on the return to Buenos Aires because so many weren't able to board at Santiago. I wouldn't want to experience the same circumstances again because things were extremely stressful onboard while Princess decided how to proceed, but the return cruise with many fewer passengers was wonderful. I don't wish to diminish the damage that the earthquake caused to Chile or how many were affected by it, but for us onboard, it was a profound relief to know that we'd eventually get home. And it didn't hurt that we now had front-row seats for everything.