elaine5

We have found that All the mainstream cruise lines have made cost-cutting changes: Less included, rising drink and speciality dining pricing, lower quality food, cutbacks in entertainment, etc. but we still prefer a cruise vacation over other options and usually find excellent “value” for OV or balcony. We cruise 2-3x/year, (diy) land in europe, no all-inclusives. We sailed Celebrity over 15 years ago and went on C again to ABCs last spring. Great cruise, loved it. We are food/wine people, but are fine in MDR, but noticed a change from what we’d get 10 years ago. Celebrity is now our fav cruise line for just DH/me. As a couple we also like princess, but C just seemed a bit cooler and hipper than P and more upscale than Rccl. We tend to still pick P over C due to pricing. For ex, 13 day Balcony AU to NZ was much less than 12 day OV for similar dates:ports. I also do not like C’s higher fare for refundable deposits, P is usually the same. For the last 15 years, We sailed Rccl and Disney with our kids-now young’s 20s. We’ll sail Rccl this summer with them-it has the “stuff” they like and are not foodies. If celebrity is trying to attract families, I’d say they need more fun/active stuff, slides, escape rooms, more sports. The new Sun princess would be on our radar if our kids were teens.

We got this for Jan sailing on Rotterdam. No idea we had it until I saw the credit online. Also was skeptical. Yes, it was free. But date I booked online was changed to day 1 or 2. So check App for doing time after you’re onboard. Dining staff easily changed it back to prior date. Fantastic dinner-best speciality we’ve ever done.

Our July 2018 was very calm on royal princess.

Yes, we'd inform Princess ASAP, so it's be a day prior to embarkation. It would not be ideal, but not awful to miss the beginning if we could embark in Auckland.

We're flying on Qantas arriving the in SYD from HNL (9 hr flight) at 7pm the evening prior to a cruise. If, for some reason, our Qantas flight was cancelled (weather/mechanical, etc.) does anyone know if US citizens would be allowed to board in NZ? We have trip insurance, but would much rather get on the cruise.

I was also looking at trip advisor. I must have mentally merged a bridge issue from 5 years ago, which supposedly resulted in the train now not going as far as it used and some lackluster reviews about the scenery and thought that meant it didn't go to the gorge anymore. Thanks for clarifying. However, upon reading reviews again, we might cancel this and pick another option.

What is a la carte daily wifi for platinum?

Total fare for the Alaska booking as 2 7 days is $100 more, plus loss of $50 extra for Shareholder OBC. But, we got much better cabin selection on 2 7 days and more flex, and if we got PP or PP+, we'd get a few more perks (and would definitely store some waters and beers in our suitcase). But, the major perk is the flex. If fares went down, we could refare one segment, or swap and jump on Coral departing a few days beforehand, or jump on HA a day after on 2nd leg if they dropped their pricing. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't "missing something" with doing 2 7 days and making a dumb decision. Thanks!

Rci offered a bus from Venice to Ravenna this summer for $59 each way. 2.5 hours with bathroom stop midway. Bathroom at bus loading area also. Both need 1 euro, bring change. We flew into VCE and then went to Florence afterwards (Rci shuttle to Ravenna train station and then independent train tickets). Shuttle is on 1st stop of people mover near Santa Lucia train station. There are detailed posts about how to find the shuttle spot.

Others reported that the train doesn't go to the gorge anymore after bridge issues. Is that not the case?

Best of Dunedin - The Taieri Gorge Train Tour: I read that the train doesn't go to the Gorge anymore. Should we consider something else, and, if so, what? We are active, early 60s, enjoy hiking, scenery, nature, wine, don't really care much about museums. This excursion was rather expensive, and booked to see NZ scenery. Thanks, Elaine

Thanks for replies. I thought about Princess Plus one way...if we change cabins, can we just put water/beer/bottle of PP discounted wine in our luggage? I think we'll do 2 7 nights. We'll lose $50 Shareholder OBC and pay $100 more total. But we'll have more flex for refaring and also jumping ship to Coral a few days earlier if we decide to stay in AK for 3 days, which we debated.We'll have to change rooms, but had much better choices for cabins. No big deal to swap cabins. We plan to go on the 26 Glaciers cruise or Scenic train to Portage for the day, so off the ship either way.

would I still get the "in transit" card, or have to disembark with all my luggage and then do the embarkations again with 2 one ways?

We did similar for 6:20 each night for table for 2. We plan to sit at a share table a few nights. I'm guessing that the hostess will happily to swap us on those evenings, as there likely will be diners waiting for 2 tops.

For Alaska cruise: we can book 2 one ways (N/S) or a 14 day cruise. Any major pros/cons in just booking 14 days? On 14, we'd keep same cabin. How about embarking, anything else to consider? As the N one way would stop in Whittier, it's not likely we'd want the flex to canx one leg later, like in Ft Lauderdale.

Hi, wondering about the “limited free shuttle” to Lyttelton? Do we need to sign up? Just get off the ship? Do they run out? We just want to stay in L and not go CC.

I'd say Sun is the best bet if you want Princess, with Sun adding more fun/active things. I read this was Princess trying to attract families/younger cruisers with Sun's design. My kids also really enjoyed the RCCL Navigator/Freedom class ships. Just the right size with lots of "fun" things. There are likely to be more kids their age on RCCL in October. But at 11/13, they likely are happy to explore the ship together-that's what they did as tweens/teens. Mine also enjoyed the Princess MUTS (poolside movies) at night (when age appropriate) if the stage entertainment didn't appeal to them. If you're doing Princess 3/4 in cabin for free, it's a great deal. I'd think it'd have enough to keep them busy and happy for the week on the Sun. IMHO, food better on P than RCCL in MDR.

Please post back how you liked your cruise. We are considering for 2025. We sailed Vision in 2022. I expected a smaller, older ship, and thought it was fine--but definitely not a big ship experience (compared to Anthem or even Explorer). So wondering on Grandeur about Entertainment, MDR and buffet food, activities in Centrum--game show, silent disco, 70s night, etc.?

We had extras added to Asia cruise for this spring. They also added some to an excursion that was not accepting WL. I happened to check and they still had the 8am as full, but then offered 9 and 10am departures. So, keep checking also.

We booked in advance. It was an excellent tour. oldenadventure.com For Alesund, we walked into town and walked up the 500 steps to the top of the mountain/lookout point. It is fabulous if you have good weather. Easy walk (5 yr olds were doing it), not steep.

if you mean mobility impaired, I'd highly suggest: Olden-above mentioned tour, but adding troll cars. It's a very fun excursion. You must be able to transfer to the four wheel, jeep-type vehicle. Stavanger-Boat excursion to fjords, view (from bottom) of Pulpit rock. Short walk around small pier to get to boat. Same one used for ships' excusrions. https://rodne.no/en/

Smoking is in casino on deck 3, which is above those deck 2 venues with an open staircase. Seating towards midship is fine; seating on the perimeter towards front is not if you are sensitive to smoke. BB King's is further midship and is not affected by casino smoking.

Thanks, Terri, were those the actual dr/hospital charges, even if not in network? And was it for illness or accident (as I think coverage might be more generous for accidents)? Thanks so much for posting! Elaine

We also took the X99 on prior BI cruise. Easy peasy.

I'd say this is spot on.