FiggyWig

Hi All

Can any one confirm - if you buy an Easy Drinks Package but then choose to have a more expensive drink from the allowed cost limit, do you just pay the extra - e.g. a further 4E (plus gratuity) on top ?  or are you truly restricted to those drinks within the allowed limit ?  Or do you have to pay the full price of the drink ?

Just wondering which package to get if any.

TIA

Hi

Just wondering whether MSC are inclined to put on shuttles from cruise terminals to city centres when the centres are not really in walking distance  ?  Specifically Euribia and Hamburg. We are also stopping in Le Harve, Rotterdam and Bruges if anyone has already done this trip.

Thanks

Regarding the issue of 'bidding' for upgrades - am I right in thinking this would only be if I had booked directly through MSC ?  Since I booked with a TA I presume I wont have the opportunity to bid ?

Also - if I have booked selecting a specific cabin (inside midship) what are the chances of still being upgraded to an improved cabin / location ?

The 'bus in the sky' Easyjet  

Sorry - hadn't realised.  I have re-posted the question as suggested.

Thanks

Revised and reposted from earlier post

A question mainly for British and European passengers.  With all of the current issues with air travel and delays / cancellations going on right now what are your concerns regarding getting to your embarkation port on time.  We are due to set sail from Athens on Regal in July and although we are supposed to be arriving in Athens the day before having flown in from London Gatwick we obviously have our worries about whether we will get to the ship on time (it at all) in the event of horrendous flight delays or cancellations.  We are even looking at our 1^st few ports of call and flights to that country in the worse case scenario – if indeed Princess do allow joining the ship enroute.

By the way we are not booked direct with Princess, but with a TA.

Any views / advice appreciated.

Fig

A question mainly for British and European passengers.  With all of the current issues with air travel and delays / cancellations going on right now what are your concerns regarding getting to your embarkation port on time.  We are due to set sail from Athens on Regal in July and although we are supposed to be arriving in Athens the day before having flown in from London Gatwick we obviously have our worries about whether we will get to the ship on time (it at all) in the event of horrendous flight delays or cancellations.  We are even looking at our 1^st few ports of call and flights to that country in the worse case scenario – if indeed Princess do allow joining the ship enroute.

By the way we are not booked direct with Princess, but with a TA.

Any views / advice appreciated.

Fig

Hi

I have tried phoning (unsucessfully), searched and read everywhere but still uncertain on the Testing requirements. My partner and i are both double vaccinated and i understand we will be tested when embarking on Regal at Southampton to Rotterdam and back. But what kind of test is this - the full PCR or just antigens/lateral flow?  The reason i ask is that my partner unfortunately had Covid with PCR positive earlier this month. Only lasted a couple of days and now fully recovered with lateral flow tests showing negative. But the covid guidelines say not to PCR test for 90 days. So if it's PCR at Southampton then we could have a problem. Similarly at disembarkation when we return - is there compulsory PCR testing then.

If anyone can help me more than Princess then i would be grateful. 

X

I would agree   

2 hours ago, CruisingNole said:

 

.

Hi RCI Regulars

I'm a frequent visitor to the Celebrity boards (so will be posting there to). 

We are in the UK and my son & DiL flew out to Miami earlier this week to be embarking on Serenade on Friday just gone. Us at home have obviously been watching as the virus problem gets worse (& I guess as parents ⁴we hoped the trip would be cancelled before they boarded).

Well it appears they must have been one of the last to leave since the decision to suspend came just a few hours later. 

DS has since been in touch a few hours ago and seems oblivious to the latest developments...I have only just discovered this myself.

Ideally I would like to see the ship turn around and make a quick return so that at least they could try and get an earlier flight back home before Mr. Trump totally shuts the door on UK. But from the announcement it would appear they intend for ships to continue their current journeys.

So ..question I have..does anybody have any further update on what might be happening for ships just starting out ?

Or anyone know of any other Brits who will need to be travelling home in the next few weeks..either coming off a ship or otherwise.

Everything for this is made worse as DS is due to start a new job in April so has to get back home 😱

Any views appreciated.

Thanks

A worried mum

Hi

Just wondering what the sunbed situation is like on board - I like full sun OH wants some shade. Are there areas that provide both without being miles apart ?

Doesn't need to be close to the pool!

TIA

Fig

10 hours ago, skynight said:

On the Emerald specialty coffees are available at the International Cafe 24/7 located on deck 5. You can also get them at Coffee & Cones by the main pools. I'm not certain of this venue's hours, but it isn't 24/7. There may be another bar where they have espresso drinks. The details of what is included, terms & conditions, is shown below. A March 2019 list of menu items is also in the attachment. The price is $36.58 for 15 espresso drinks and the unlimited coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Although the first term mentions that the package number may vary by itinerary, I have not seen this yet. I have only seen the 15 drink package.

 

What is Included

• The package includes the pre-purchase of a specified number of specialty coffees (numbers vary by itinerary) during the voyage of purchase, as well as complimentary brewed coffee and hot chocolate.
• Guests may redeem the number of specialty coffees purchased in the package in locations where espresso is available. This will include select bar and dining areas and varies by ship and/or itinerary.
• Selections and service are limited to that venue’s menu offerings and operating hours.

Package Details and Qualifications

• The package may be pre-purchased up to 4 days prior to boarding the vessel.
• The package is NOT available for pre-purchase within 3 days of sailing.
• The coffee package is valid only on the voyage for which it is purchased. If the maximum number of coffees pre-purchased are not used during the voyage, the remaining value will NOT be credited or refunded and is NOT transferable for any purpose.
• Coffee packages cannot be sold or otherwise transferred to any individual. Pre-purchased specialty coffees may be shared, but complimentary brewed coffee, teas and hot chocolate continue to be limited to the purchaser.

Exclusions and Limitations

• Does NOT apply to bottled or ready to drink items such as canned coffee items etc.
• CANNOT be redeemed when ordering Room Service or for Mini Bar items.

Terms and Conditions

• Princess Cruises may modify, amend or update these terms and conditions of our beverage packages / offers at any time with or without notice to guests. The terms and conditions as published on princess.com on the date of sailing will apply, in addition to the terms and conditions of the passage contract.
• Not all exclusions or limitations can be foreseen or published here and may exist or be implemented with or without notice.
• Pricing is subject to change without notice, and for vessels designated in a foreign currency (Australia as an example), packages purchased in advance may vary from onboard pricing due to timing and currency fluctuations. Guests will NOT incur additional charges, nor be issued any credits or refunds for such currency variances.
• By purchasing a coffee package, you agree to these and all future terms and conditions.

International Café Coffee Prices March 2019.doc 28 kB · 9 downloads

This is great information - thank you.  So to summarise if I were to purchase a coffee package I will be able to get 15 coffees from any of the items the list given for the IC at no further cost? Is there much the same type of menu in Coffee & Cones ?  I think the Iced Coffee will be of great interest to me while at this venue given that we will be in the Med in the height of summer.   I presume most from this list are what they classify as 'Speciality', so in which case I'm not sure what is meant by 'Brewed' which, according to this is complementary - sorry if that me being dumb but can someone clarify ?

Thanks

Fig

I enjoy a nice coffee..not just an Espresso but the flavoured type with whipped cream etc on top, and am contemplating getting a coffee package for my forthcoming cruise. But was wondering if Emerald has any Speciality Coffee venues aside of the regular Cafes or Bars or can anyone let me know a bit more about what the coffee package includes..better still are there any menus out there ?

Thanks

It's probably been asked before but I don't seem to be able to find anything.

How far out do people tend to receive their E-tickets ? I thought I had read somewhere 75 days - although this far in advance would surprise me. We are in the UK and booked through a travel agent if that make any difference.

TIA

Fig

I'm guessing all you guys are in the U.S. to which I say .."Price Drops ??..Promotions??...Lucky You"....no such luck for us the other side of the Pond !😡

Is the Sanctuary open to all, or just those in Suites ?

What an informative lot you are. Thank you 😊  Keep the comments coming. 

I chose Emerald purely because of the great Med itinerary... and that my other Princess experience was a good one.  Other than the promenade what is rest of the open deck space like ?  We have 4 sea days and will be on board end July - early Aug so hopefully perfect sun-bathing weather, but I'm guessing like all ships, the pool areas are heaving with people so are there many other 'outside' spaces...not a million miles away from a bar ? 😉

Hi Peeps

Have previously cruised other lines but am a bit of a novice with Princess having only sailed once on Sapphire last year. But I enjoyed the whole Princess vibe so have booked for this summer 14 days on Emerald. My question is are there any obvious differences between the 2 ? I think if I have read correctly they are different classes but just wondered if you experienced people out there could enlighten me with any great differences, or hints, or tips.

Thanks all

Fig

Thank you. I hadn't seen it but I have now sailed. MDR dining for us was 9pm !..a little late for our preference and never got round to changing it so only ate there twice.

Hi everyone 

Now the app seems to be up and running (albeit much of it's in German) I just wondered about using it while on board. Do you need mobile data / internet to use it or is there some kind of Wi-Fi set up just for the app ?

Hi. Quick question...My son & DIL are booked on their 1st Caribbean cruise next month. He's cruised with us enough times when he was younger but only in the Med. She's only done a mini cruise from UK. So they were wondering just how formal Formal nights are. My thoughts are that Caribbean cruises particularly with RCI are a little less formal than Med so they maybe didnt need to carry out all the suits and ballgowns if they didn't want to.

But i know you friendly RCI Caribbean experienced guys out there can advise further, what are your thoughts ??

TIA

Had the same problem as others have mention for the last 2 weeks. Can log into booking with email address which shows excursions/beverage pack etc, but if you try and log into MyAccount to get actual cruise details - cabin / packages etc..nothing. Multiple phone calls and emails later and still no further forward. Useless !

I've seen a lot of talk on how MSC like to upgrade. From peoples experience does this tend to be when you have booked direct with MSC or could it happen when booked through a TA?