BuckeyeMark

Just got off the Emerald (July 9) and we had a cabin on the starboard side way back towards the back ... and a couple of times we got whiffs of cigarette smoke. Once it was pretty strong.

VERY HELPFUL! Part of our group arrived this morning (Friday) and Princess reps were there to meet them. No bus. Princess walked them to the taxis and said P would reimburse. Off they went. My guess is there weren't enough this morning to justify a bus. The main body of us will arrive in the morning (Saturday) and I'm guessing we'll get the bus. Just another example of P being overworked and understaffed, I'd guess. We now have a firmer grip on what to do if there is no reps and no bus. Very grateful! Thanks!

Abbot Binax - I think that is an online antigen. Second time we've done it. Lots to commend that. For one thing you can get that test in a cheap "not monitored version" which means you can PRACTICE the exact test you'll take online. Very helpful. And it's very easy to do. They walk you through it step by step.

Thank you!

See we are a big group we were able to arrange with Princess to take us to the O2 and then from there on to Southampton on Sunday. Paid a pretty penny for all this ... would like their buses to show up for us!

Going to the O2 Intercontinental Hotel which I believe is in Greenwich area. And after looking at how far it is from Paddington Station I realized why the people who did the Heathrow Express to Paddington and a taxi from there spent so much money. Sorry 'bout that - London is LARGE!

Some of our group landed early, had paid for Princess transfers and ... Princess dropped the ball. No transfer. Nobody at the airport for them. Our folks ended up taking a taxi in which cost an arm and a leg. Saturday morning I'll be standing with more than 50 folks (some senior citizens) and all their luggage and if Princess isn't there with a bus I need Plan B. Also hearing that there is a train strike? So is Heathrow Express out of the question? What's the best and cheapest way to move 50+ people and their luggage to London, considering that I can't reserve another bus with another company because I may not even need that bus if Princess does what they say they will! SIGH...

The test has to be done three days before sail away. Who's done their test at 12:01 AM so that it was technically within the three day window and did anyone give you grief about it? Did you ask the internet monitor/proctor what date stamp you would get? I'm guessing that if you need the date to be June 23 and it's 12:01 AM on June 23rd that it would count and qualify. Yes? I'd like to test as soon as I can - so I know I'm good to go!

On this cruise and itinerary soon so am interested in the up-to-the-minute updates on the good ship Emerald. Thank you!

Thanks for the help everyone. They'll do the dial in thing... as for the phone, you can set it up, you can do this, you can do that ... nope, nope, and NO. They have no interest in that. They aren't going to use their phones as an alarm clock and they won't be using their phone as an alarm clock. Not my choice, not my decision but that's where it is. So they'll be using the wake up call service. Again, thanks.

Ah but that's the thing: they want to turn their phones off and put them in the safe so as to avoid unexpected cell phone charges. Maybe a little paranoid about it and they could prolly be taught about airplane mode but they are not inclined to that ... so ... how about Princess waking them up?

Someone in our group that will be traveling on Princess soon wants to know if they need to bring an alarm clock or can they do a wake-up call with the phone? I've never done that so I'm not even sure what they're talking about. Is this something you can call and "program" in yourself or do you have to talk to another human being, maybe in customer service, and they program something for you? What say ye? Can Princess be your alarm clock?

Thank you again for a magnificent Trip Report! A+++++! And so helpful to those of us who are headed over for much of the same journey. Thank you!

This is very very helpful. Thank you so much!!!!

can you post the entire letter? what are they doing about tendering?

We're doing that Churchill War Room tour - about how long were you there? How long should we allocate for that?

Can you confirm that masking has been made MANDATORY? Not asking if people are doing it - just has the order changed from recommended to MANDATORY. Princess officials telling me that no ships other than the Alaska ships have mandatory masking. I thought Emerald had made it mandatory. Can you confirm? Mandatory or recommended?

In the US we have some expected percentages in restaurants, coffee shops, etc. Trying to see what that looks like over in the UK. What's the "standard" tip? What would be a "wow, this was way above and beyond what I expected and I want you to know it with this tip" tip? Do we tip in local currency or US dollars? Is there a standard tip for excursion guides? Oh yes ... what about offending with a tip? Any place Americans tip because that's what we do over here but in the UK it's a big no-no and offends people? Thanks!

Not interested in debating it, just want to know if anyone has had an official with Princess say "you can't do that" or "that's okay but don't do ______." I'm guessing nothing that leaves a sticky residue or intrudes into the hallway, obstructs the room steward etc. We're talking a simple sign with magnets so I can find my door easily. And ... anyone got door dimensions? Thanks.

I'd really like a kettle to make coffee first thing in the morning. Yes, I know you can get a thermos of hot water via room service. Yes, I know they have coffee in food court upstairs. I want my own kettle to make my own coffee on my own balcony. #coffeesnob So... how do I get one without being in a high dollar suite? I'd really like a kettle in my balcony room. Have you asked your room steward for a kettle? Did you get one? Thoughts on how to get a kettle? Please help keep this thread on track - it's about kettles. Thanks!