Cisterna

Hi - Don't buy the package! Too expensive and you really won't have that much to wash. We traveled for a week prior to our 9 day cruise on Windstar Legend Venice to Athens. Our friends bought the package and we just paid to use the service twice and for items we needed ironed. They did a terrible job on the ironing and the new shirt my husband brought came back faded and with iron burns! Our friends new White T- shirts came back with color run stains. We showed them the damage to my husbands shirt but since we were departing the ship in 24 hrs nothing was done - they were very embarrassed but didn't offer any compensation , and we didn't push the issue. The service is great for socks, underwear, bathing suits, work-out clothes etc, but on the Legend I wouldn't trust it for anything else.

I am looking at arranging my own excursions in St Petersburg. I called Windstar to confirm that I would be able to obtain my passport when I leave the ship. I was told that they do not return passports unless I have obtained a Russian visa. All SPB group and private excursions companies provide this visa, I simply need to be able to get my passport as I'm leaving the ship.

 

Does anyone have experience with this issue to advise me? I really don't want to take the Windstar excursions, as they don't cover enough sights. I feel like Windstar is trying to force me to take their excursions.

 

Thank you!

Alla Tours an TJ are great companies! Alla tours will match you with others to give you a group price if the dates and tours you want to take correspond. We had a fantastic roll call on C, C. and many of us used Alla Tours so we became a group. They take care of everything for you! Alla will give you documents wtih very specific instructions on where to meet, what to take with you , what to wear... YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PASSORT to go through Russian customs and to return through customs to re-board the ship ! And don't worry Windstar will give you back your passport when you show them you have a tour booked with a professional company. Alla and TJ's have licensing with the Russian Government so if touring with them you will not need a visa. They give all your personal information to the government for you. Alla 's pricing is a little lower than TJ's and their tours are identical. Alla's website is very easy to use and communication is fantastic - just remember the time change and give them 24-48 hours to respond! St. Petersburg 2 day tour is great! (and exhausting)! Enjoy

Returning on the Emerald in June for our anniversary. Was going to celebrate by going to the Chef's Table.

 

Just got off the Emerald last week. The Curtis Stone selections in the MDR (left side of menu) and SHARE ($39pp) were a big disappointment. Tasteless at best.

 

I didn't notice a Chef's Table offered on our 4/5 b2b. I really wasn't looking so I might have missed it.

 

If Stone is in charge of the Chef's Table Menu in June, I won't waste my money. Food is subjective so this is, of course, my opinion. The fact that the SHARE restaurant was never full and the staff hawked the restaurant everywhere on board all during the cruise constantly, gives me the impression many other passengers felt the same.

 

Of course, if the chef on the Emerald doesn't follow Stone's recipe then he's to blame. But the rest of the food served was pretty delicious. So throw Stone's menus overboard!

Brandee what anniversary is this? Really disappointed in your review of SHARE - we have purchased our tickets for June 4, 2016!

Chefs Table has been on Princess for years! We were at the Chefs table on the Royal (May 2014) and it is beautiful ! Great service beautiful presentation but the food was just OK. The chef had no personality at all ~But the dining companions were fantastic! We had a GREAT group and really the best time dining on the trip! We said we wouldn't do another Chefs table on Princess again - because the food wasn't great -But now that Curtis Stone has taken over the menu we will definitely do it again! Of course the only drawback with Chefs table is you can't sign up in advance so you never know what nights it will be offered!

Share by Curtis Stone is available on Emerald and we have purchased tickets for our June 4, 2016 trip (Baltic). However will not be able to book the actual night until we are on the ship.

Thanks for all the well-wishes. A sad sad Iowa day...no cruise for us!! Cancelled flight, delay to cancel, and another delay. No way we can make the connection, even if the ship left 3 hours late we would miss it. Ugh how I needed this mini-break! Live and learn, you know?! We did get our FCCs back, just not the cruise cost (another hard lesson...so many today!), and Princess customer service was very kind. Hope someone gets a great balcony upgrade today in our absence!! Have a great trip, Golden! :')

OH How awful for you ! If you didn't book your flight through Princess they won't help you with a missed flight situation!.- btw the airlines are NOT responsible or required to help you if you are going to or miss your cruise (as someone stated)! Can I also assume you didn't buy insurance ? You spend so much money on your cruise a couple hundred extra is worth the price for weather flight cancellations and such - you would have gotten your cruise money refunded or a voucher to use on another Princess cruise - not just your FCC back. Such a horrible way to learn a lesson. I feel your pain!

Anyone???:o

Hi - we have been on 30+ cruises and always try to get an aft facing balcony they are substantially bigger and much more private - the wake is NOT loud - you are up so high it is actually soothing! Don't worry about the sound AND the ship doesn't "rock" significantly more in the back - especially a ship this big! Of course that is sans storms - which we have also been in - My only concern with with this ship (and the Royal) is the soot that everyone keeps talking about!