tml1230

I have friends, and,  I have GOOD friends......BUT not sure any of them could make me skip the enjoyment of a reserve class supper !  

I was hooked after ordering escargot one evening. Our waiter on the Regal noticed how much I ENJOYED them and he brought me a plate every evening.

16 hours ago, getaway101 said:

Thank you for posting this.  We are booked for 27 days on her in May 2024.  I was really getting leery with all the negative posts.  Normally I take them with a grain of salt.  Please tell me you didn't see roaches everywhere.  We are in a window suite for the first time and so looking forward to it.

Haa! we saw zero roaches, we saw zero leaky and or moldy ceilings or walls, our A/C and toilet worked perfectly!

Watching her at the dock as we pulled away from the port I left like I was leaving a good friend behind! 

have a safe cruise!

We are about to disembark the ship here in Quebec City. We booked this excellent New England and Canada itenerary after 2 incredible voyages on the Regal P.

Truth be known, based on so many negative comments here about the CP I had VERY low expectations for this cruise. Recently  4-5 posters have positively commented about the ship and crew which gave me some hope. I greatly appreciated that!

Yea, the CP is showing its age and some furniture in public areas could use an upgrade, but the ship  is meticulously maintained.

After 35 or so cruises the overall quality of food in the dining room and buffet was in the top 5 of all our cruises.

We have come to expect outstanding crew members on Princess and again we were not disappointed on CP.  Nobody  hires better crew members than Princess in my opinion. 

If you have an upcoming cruise on the Caribbean P. I think you will have an outstanding cruise.

Now ...if Princess could screen out some of those self absorbed, entitled passengers!! The ones who feel it is necessary  to  talk VERY LOUDLY in every venue? Also the ones who treat staff like servants..... then life would be perfect!!

Have a safe and memorable cruise!

thanks for a GREAT report! we are on the Island P in November to Isreal and then the transatlantic to FLL, so I found your thoughts observations very useful ! Also enjoyed your sense of humor! all the best and thanks again!

We and several hundred other passengers assembled in princess theater yesterday for a bus and boat tour around NYC. After more than an hour we were advised that our busses had still not arrived yet and staff was working on the issue. A few minutes later staff advised that passengers could turn in the tickets for a refund or continue waiting as they tried to find us transportation.Some passengers left but most remained in the theater.

MOST of the passengers handled the news very well but y'all know.... there are those entitled folks who have to opine loudly and display their displeasure.

My favorite example was a woman who stood up and implied that the staff had intentionally " overbooked" these tours, causing this poor operation. I aint sure where she got this incorrect information but the tour staff handled her professionally refuting her conspiracy theory.

About 10 minutes later the staff  announced they had found some busses and we proceeded to have a very good bus and boat tour.

Once on the bus, the tour people explained the reason the busses were very late.... In midtown Manhattan a crane ON TOP of a skyscraper had caught fire and collapsed into an adjacent building. Rush hour traffic in the city was basically shut down. By some miracle there was no loss of life and 6-8 injuries.

After the tour returned to the ship we were told by the crew that along with their apology, we were receiving a a 40% refund on the tour. Although not necessary I think it was a great gesture by Princess. How they wee able to acquire bus transportation in that traffic chaos  showed impressive skills.

we boarded Saturday also. We arrived  at 1100. Very different experience than mentioned above. We were asked if we had our medallions and passports (we did) and within 10 minutes were past security and sitting in the elite lounge in the terminal. Soon thereafter we were on board. As usual we found the process efficient. 

For what its worth there were a whole bunch of travelers that looked confused and frustrated.

For us so far its been another great. cruise...... as I type and look NYC skyline we are blessed....

. Food in dining room GREAT!  Service in Crooners almost non existent at times....I will try to push on past that hardship!

I would really have to search my brain to find any real disappointing experience so far.

6 hours ago, Doug R. said:

Some Americans find traveling to Floridia unsettling too. 😂

REALLY?......interesting comment coming from  someone in New Jersey....

to all the posters since post# 29......first and foremost.... thank you VERY much!...great information and very much appreciated!

14 hours ago, eclue said:

On the caribbean princess right now. Food is good…the pool  decks are crowded as one would expect ona sea day. Headed to Puerto Rico tomorrow. Ship is sailing fine…all previous issues of engine problems are nonexistent.

our cabin is cool but there are very warm areas on the ship, one of them t,he buffet area.

overall pleased with this ship

 

ECLUE, thanks very much for the current up to date report! we board Saturday for Canada. 

safe journey!

17 hours ago, amanda384 said:

I have never had problems on the Caribbean Princess and I have been on her 3 times and leaving for a 4th this Saturday.  I love the Promenade deck, and while it is smaller than some other ships I always feel they do crowd dispersal quite well.  I never felt crowded in, except maybe when waiting to ender the MDR at peak times. I also love their Lido Deck pizza and the Sanctuary.

Amanda, we board on July 22 heading to Canada from FLL.....if you get a moment on your cruise would you share your thoughts and observations after boarding?  thanks and have a safe and enjoyable cruise!

2 hours ago, nnzz said:

• Thanks for reporting.  The problem with boards like this is we only hear "horror stories" and
• not enough from the silent majority that have gotten great outcomes like yours.  Hope you have
• a fabulous cruise!

very well said ....and very true!

on our May cruise on the regal this year you could purchase the plans on board. there seemed to be daily walk through tours (non intrusive and quick) with individual passengers,  

Yup, its called the thermal spa.

recently we took  a 21 day transatlantic and British isles cruise on the regal...we LOVED it!...and someone above said  , we used it several times a day....sometimes 3 times a day!

having said that we wouldn't do it on a port intensive cruise.

enjoy your cruise!

6 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

If I'm running a business, I'd do the same for my shareholders. Not to mention all the passengers who've already booked flights and accommodation.

you said it while I was thinking it!!

Suekel, thanks for the update! Sorry to hear about the issues.  Just told my wife I'm glad we aren't doing a transatlantic crossing on her! safe journey home.

On 6/14/2023 at 7:05 PM, Esjung1 said:

Run to Alfredo's on embarkation day, it's the best and people don't always realize you can eat there right away after you board. 

as the above poster stated .....run...to Alfredo's....you won't regret it! 3 cruises on the regal within last 14 months and its ALWAYS our first lunch spot...

safe journey....

2 hours ago, UT-Volsfan said:

We are also currently on the Island Princess.  Crew has been very helpful so far. I understand some have changed out this past month as their contacts ended but service has been very good.

 

Embarkation in Southampton was very quick.  Left our hotel at 10:30, checked in, and allowed to board at 10:50.

 

Some areas are more crowded than we have had since cruising restarted.  Wheelhouse bar is being used for trivia, and they had to bring in some folding chairs due to the crowd showing up. Somebody said this also happened on the previous cruise.

 

Elite laundry service we were told when boarding would take 72 hours for turnaround. There are a lot of Elites on board, so will expect this to probably get even slower. 

 

Internet speed is decreasing as we go North.  Latest speed test this afternoon was 0.8 Mbps download, 0.62 Mbps upload, and latency of 42 ms. Yesterday downlad was 2.96 Mbps, 0.99 Mbps upload with latency of 126 ms.

 

They have been doing some exterior touchup painting this afternoon while in port.

 

 

thanks UT-vols fan!....GO GATORS!

Thanks very much to ALL the posters above! Great information as we prepare for a fall cruise on the island princess.

Travelers07- as you are currently on board, any additional observations would be appreciated ...and safe travels!

32 minutes ago, DaisyRose said:

Thank you everyone for these answers, which help me a lot!  I'll bring MC & V credit cards and a little cash.  

you may want to check if your credit cards have a foreign transaction fee...a lot do...that 3 % to 5 % "fee" adds up quickly.

32 minutes ago, Redwing55 said:

Enjoy.. We did that itinerary last July... same ship..  Lucked out on weather.  NO issues with ship.  Crew was great and we didn't notice much differences from pre-covid to 2022.  

thanks for the kind word and feedback! it sounds like Suekel is off to a great start!

Not for nuthin but 43 years ago ....an underachiever living in Florida (me ) met a girl born in Grand Rapids

Michigan.....she took pity on me as I could not grasp that whole " where you from  on the "hand " map of Michigan.....married her 42 years ago!

14 minutes ago, suekel said:

I'm boarding her today.  I'll let you know. 

we board next month from port everglades  to Quebec city....

very much looking forward to your thoughts and comments! 

safe journey!

thanks for the RECENT first hand experiences on the ship!

2 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

As a retired endodontist, I never leave home without a dental repair kit.  If you’re cruising internationally, or to remote locations, finding a dentist can be challenging, to say the least.  I suggest that you ask your dentist to give you a little emergency packet, containing temporary filling material, oral cotton swabs, a small plastic monojet syringe for rinsing difficult areas, an interproximal brush and some Sensodyne toothpaste.

If you’re in the middle of treatment, be it root canals or crown and bridge, your dentist can also supply you with a prescription for antibiotics or pain meds, just in case of a flare up.

I know it’s not at the top of anyone’s list, but if something happens when you’re away from home, it can either make or break your vacation.  I’ve used my kit twice for fellow passengers.

OK......am I there first person ere googling " endodonist?

I forgot to mention.... although the Paris metro system is VERY efficient, there are a LOT of steps up and down...withyour  luggage, in a new city etc., I highly recommend a taxi until you can drop off the luggage.

10 hours ago, maggieq said:

Are there car services or taxis to take from euro star to Paris hotels to avoid the metro?  Thanks!

yes on taxi and car servix=ces... we just did that a few weeks ago...after exiting the train platform in Paris follow signs to official taxi area (currently turning right from the platform to the  side door). DO NOT accept an offer of a taxi in the train station or while walking to the taxi area as they will be unlicensed and will charge absurd amounts. 

At the stand have your address of hotel written down on paper, verify the driver takes credit card and finally make sure he or she actives the meter, 

we travel to Paris twice a year for weeks at a time. As mentioned above, like any big city, be alert and keep your belongings secure.

we feel way more comfortable and safe in Paris than we do in NYC.