Tiffany's mom

This information was just posted on the Holland board. Am sorry to hear that another ship will be gone.

Pam

WE have done 2 cruises to Egypt. We used Alex City Tours. The best tours we have ever had in 25 years of cruising. The owner of the agency is Hany we had him on both trips. Wonderful knowledge and very good English. We did a overnight in Cairo (Geza). Stayed at the same hotel that Princess used. We joined a another couple who happen to be travel agents that put tours together and they used Hany. We had a driver and Hany (guide) and a armed guard. We felt very safe. The next trip we did not go to Ciaro as it is 3 hours away. But did booked all day tour of Alexandria. We had a mini van for the six of us.

Hany's prices were a lot less than Princess and we saw so much more than any ship tour. He was flexiable with what we wanted to do, but also gave us a time sheet for the Cairo tour.

If we ever go back to Eygpt we will use Alex City tours.

Pam

We did a canal on the Island several years ago. Just sail the Island to Alaska. The first canal trip we had a middle ship balcony. Alaska we have a Dolphin deck forward mimi. They open the doors(these are the lock doors marked private) in the front of the ship when you go through the canal ( or Alaska at the Glaciers). When we did the canal it was a long walk to the forward decks. The people in the forward cabins to go out watch the ship go in the locks and go back to their room and get a drink and cool off. You will want to see the ship go into the locks.

In Alaska we could go out to the front decks and see the glaciers and go to the cabin and get warm. No long walk back to our forward mimi

I think those 2 cruises you would be happy in a front cabin. We are sailing the Island next year in Europe and have a mimi mid ship.

Hope this help you find a great cabin.

Pam

We know that the world cruise ends april 30. What we did not know was the drydock. I could find it listed anywhere.

We would like to know what they are planning doing during drydock. I do not want to cruise if a lot of changes are planned. Read too many horror stories about the cruise after a drydock. We are cruising for our 50th and don't want any problems. I have read about cancelled cruises, unfinished work and cruising with workers

Thinking about booking the canal cruise on the Amsterdam, May 10, 2015.

Been looking for the criuse before this one but can't find any listing from April 30 to may 10. Called Holland and was told it is for drydock. I don't know if I want to cruise right after a drydock.

Does anyone know where the ship will be between April 30 - May 10?

Pam

We did the 5 day land tour this year. The train ride from Denali to the ship was almost 9 hours. I got bored before it ended. It is a very slow train. There is no place for your kids to lay down to take a nap. I think it would be a very hard trip for both you and your kids.

The only place our Signature Bev package shows is the invoice from our travel agent. Where can I find it on my reservations or docs? I don't want to get on the ship and have a problem.

Thanks you you help

Hands downs the Med. After 30 cruises we did Alaska and land tour this summer. Lots of rain and cold(fog). It was ok saw some wonderful sites, but the Med is great. Try the Island Princess out of Venice. Venice is our favorite port in Europe. Go early and spent a few days in Venice. Our 50th anniversary is next year and we are doing the Island out of Venice. The sailway is so special. The cruise ends in Barcelona, we will spent 2 nights there and join the Emerald to Fort Landerdale.

What ever you choose have a great one.

Pam

I would call Holland and ask them to arrange wheelchair assist. It can be quite a distance to the terminal. They should also know at what berth the ship will be docked.

We're leaving next week for our first Alaska cruise. Got an email from Princess about some information of our booking. There's a section mentioned "Original Productions" and below are "Motor City" and "Piano Man". What about "On the Bayou"? :eek: I always heard good comments about this show on CC and really look forward to it. Is the show cut by Princess? Anyone who RECENTLY back from Island can tell me did you see "On the Bayou" on the ship or not? Thank you!

We were in the Island in July. I believethe shows were" Piano Man" and "On the Bayou". Seen Piano Man before it is ok. "On te Bayou" was a good show, the lead singers could be better. This group has been with Princess for quite a while, I was hoping they would get better. On the Bayou is in the lounge, get there early because there is not enough seats, we sat in the front row.

Hope your weather was better than ours, a lot of rain and cold on the cruise part.

Pam

I also enjoy talking with people from different countries. But we were on a X cruise to Norway with only 200 Americans aboard and a few from Britain. It was a made for a different cruise.

We were lucky and our table mates were from New York and Britain. English speaking. Announments were in 5 languages. It was the worse dressed group I have seen on a ship. (over 30 cruises). Throw some on in the morning and don't take it off until bed time. Clean up for dinner, heavens no. Formal night was interesting. A lot of pushing, no lines. No manners, and not friendly.

Did this riun my cruise, NO. I always wanted to see Norway, so I enjyoed the cruise. It just opened my eyes to what cruising would be like on a european crusise line.

We will be on the Norrdam for 26 in October so I hope to say it was a great or good cruise. When traveling you have to patiences.

We were on the same cruise. Embark were horrible for me. I have Raynaud's which is very poor blood to my fingers and toes. Being cold is very painful and can result in finger uclerations.

We were the last car from the train to get in line at Whittier. It was in the 40's, raining and winding. Part of the walk was covered but still very cold. I had a sweater, jacket and gloves on, but that was not enough. It was a very long line that take 35 minutes to get into the termimal. We are elite and there was NO prioity boarding. There was enough room in the termimal for everbody but they only let so many in at a time. Why?

As a result to be cold for so long I now have 2 very bad finger uclers.. These can take months to heal. Have been to my doctor. Really no treatment but to take care of the ucler and take strong pain meds.

I talk to Passenger service manger and the Captain circle host. I was told that my comments were being pass on and that is the way it done. The word SORRY was never said by anyone.

Well I am sorry how I had 2 very painful uclers to try and heal. Princess just did not care.

Pam

We are doing a Sydney to singapore cruise in jan 2015. It stops in both airlie beach and cairns. Airlie beach offers trips out yo the reef

 

 

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We did this cruise last nov, 2013. Would do it again in a heart beat. Take the ships tour to the Great Barrier reef. They load from the ship and take you back to the ship. No travel time to get on the boat. We booked as soon a possible as these tours sell out. Also we took the one on first day. They also offer one the next morning. Had my husband known he would have done that one too. The reef was on his bucket list.

This was a great cruise, one of the best we have done (over 30 cruises).

Pam

The M class ships have family balcony rooms. The Cabin are aft and the corner balconys are huge. We had one for our Australia cruise in November with our adult daughter. There are rooms which has a sliding door between them. The only problem with i see is 5 adults using one bathroom. Look at cabin 8181.

These cabin can only be booked thur Celebrity or a TA to groups of 4 or 5. If they not not sell by final payment they are then opened for less passengers.

Enjoy your cruise.

Pam

We have booked with a on line agent for several years. We booked about 2-3 cruises a year. They have a website but we call our agent to book. It is a discount agency but we use one agent. She has always given us very good service. Responses to messages and e-mails.

A month ago we decided take cruisetour to Alaska after I got a cancer free report. Since was Sunday(agency closed)there was only one mini left we reserve it with Princess. A phone the next morning save us $600 ( both discounts and obc).

The only cruise we did recently with another on-line discounter was a last minute cruise. The price was unbelievable $1,000 pp for full Canal for a balcony.

Pam also in California

I hve a POC for flying. I need it only for flying. Decided to purchase my own as we like to travel to Europe and are gone at 3 weeks. At $200 + per week it was better to have my own. You must have perscription to purchase a POC.

Every time I fly I must have a form from the airline signed by my doctor. You have to call the airline and most of the time send them a copy of the form. Each airline has their own form. You can get this on their website. Each airline has a little different rules. Just get the information from their website. They require you to sit in a window seat. A POC does NOT count as carry-on luggage. I take it off the cart( which goes up in overhead storage, put the POC under the seat. As soon as wheels up I turn it on as it takes 10 minutes to get the the level I need.

I let the cruise line know that I am traveling with a POC but don't need it aboard. If a tour goes up alt. I take my POC. It has been easy to travel with my POC.

Pam

This thread scares me, We are booked for a 26 day Ta in October. I do not smoked and donit like the smell. I also have a serious lung problem called Pulomary Hyptertension which is fatal. I just got cured of of bladder cancer. The major cause of bladder cancer is smoking. I have never smoked, but my father and husband smoked for years around me. That was before we knew of the danger of smoking.

If we have smokers next to us I will be polite about trying to asked for some time that the baloncy will be smoke free.

Years ago Princess before changed their policy of smokingon the baloncy, we have a baloncy next to us that both of them smoked all the time. Not only the two of them but their friends were always there smoking too. I could not use our baloncy at all. I really enjoy sitting on the baloncy reading.

I can hope for non smokers as neighbors. We choose this cruise because of the different ports.

We did Norway cruise last year. There was only 200 Americans aboard. most of the passengers were from Europe and Asia. The passengers were the worst dressed cruisers in all of our 30+ cruises. A gentleman told me I looked very nice one evening, i had on black jeans and a sweater. I saw a hoodie in the MDR on formal night. So much for a dress code.

Hi,

 

I'm looking to take an Alaskan cruise with my husband and three children in August of 2015. The kids will be 8, 4 and 4 (yes, twins). The two options that look to be the best fit for us in terms of itinerary and price are the Coral Princess and the Celebrity Solstice. I've cruised Princess 2x before but have never sailed on Celebrity.

 

My question is: is there a reasonable way for us to accommodate our family without booking an expensive suite? I see that there are minisuites that accommodate four---I'm wondering if the sofa bed would be big enough for both of my 4 y.o.s to fit on it (and if Princess would even let us book 5 people in a room). The other option would be to have to rooms that connect via the balcony, but that doesn't seem like a good option with such young kids (especially since this will be for our anniversary, and I don't want to spend the week not in the same room as my husband!).

 

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks!

Jody

I like Princess but try Celebrity M class they have wonderful aft family cabinbaloncy cabins that will sleep 5. You have to have your agent call as these cabins are reserved for 5. You will not see them on-line. If they do not sell them, they are released and will show on-line.

We had a corner FV last year on the Millie and it was wonderful. Our adult daught was with us and you can close off the kids room and have some quiet time. The corner baloncy is huge half covered with a large table for 5.

Pam

We were on the millenium last November on the Sydney to Singapore cruise and loved it. We gad read bad reviews before we went but could not fault the ship, service or food. I would go on her again.

We were on the same cruise in November and love it. One of the best cruise we have had and we have cruised for 30 years. It does not had to be the newest ship with all the bells that make a great cruise. We traveled with our adult daughter and had a family suite, it was wonderful room.

We have stayed at the Violino D'Oro 4 times. We realluy like this small Hotel. It is across from the Bauer, just a small canal apart. We have taxis both ways. From the airport to the Hotel and the Hotel to the ship. Princess take your luggage at the dock, so you only have to take your carry-on to the check.

There is a water taxi site. We pre- paid the fee before we left home. Internet prices are a lot better than waiting until you arrive to book transfer.

Venice is our favorite port. We are going back next year. You can never visit this megical city enough.

Pam

the FV cabins on the M class ships are wonderful. We had a C1 booked for for myself, DH and DD(adult). FV are not available for less than 4 passengers. If they don't sell they are opened to anyone. We jumped at the chance to get a FV. The corner cabins have a huge baloncy. It was cheaper than our C1 cabin. We were in 8181 on the Millie.

Pam

WE had a C1 booked for myself, DH and DD(adult). When a corner FV opened -8181 - we calledl right away. It was wonderful. You can close the sliding door between the rooms and have 2 private rooms. There is a large round table which we eat breakfast most days. Also 2 loungers, no need to hunt for loungers at the pool. Half covered balcony. Double the closets. The view was wonderful when we sailed the great barrier reef.

We were on a 17 day cruise, it would been a very different experience in the C!. Will be watching in the future for the FV to open up for booking.

We are planning b2b cruises in 2015. We will be elite after the first cruise.

Will cruise card show elite for the second cruise?

Pam

Check out Violino D' Oro. We had stayed 4 or 5 times. The staff is best, very friendly and helpful. It is easier to take a water taxi from the airport. We just bite the bullet and pay the fee. There are some cheaper water taxi if you book on line and pay in advance.