philwill

28 minutes ago, Geoffa30 said:

Hi. Wine package was being heavily promoted on the first day of the cruise. Prices are as per the picture.

Thank you, for taking the time to post.

Greatly appreciated.

1 hour ago, Geoffa30 said:

A successful day in Bruges. Now for some sustenance in the International Cafe. More details to follow.

 

 

Geoffa30; 

I will be boarding Sapphire on its return to Southampton for its next cruise. 

I wonder if you would spare me a few minutes of your time to tell me if the wine package is available on your cruise and at what price. 

Thank you for time, your response would be gratefully appreciated on our RC.

8 hours ago, Frflatt said:

31st August 2019 6.30am

 

The day is finally here and in a couple of hours we will be setting off on our short drive to Southampton to join the Sapphire Princess for a 14 night Baltic cruise - really excited to be visiting so many new places.  We were on the Sapphire this time last year for a Scandinavian cruise and loved the ship - whilst we enjoy the Royal Class ships (looking forward to boarding the Sky Princess in 57 days) we love the Grand Class - especially the aft pool and Skywalkers.

 

Yesterday was busy, both Geoff and I were at work (Geoff worked from home in case there were problems commuting to The City with the train strike); but it was wonderful when we were finally able to turn on the out of office and enjoy our ‘we’re on holiday’ G&T!  Over the last couple of weeks we had been washing and folding our holiday clothes and these were neatly piled on the spare bed - this made packing a simple task. The holiday paperwork is all printed and sorted and all we have to do this morning is close the cases and attach the luggage tags.

 

We've already had our first coffee and in a few minutes we’ll have our second one and then cut our hair, shower and get ready.  We’re still debating what to wear - we had planned on shorts but the weather forecast suggests it will rain later so now we are rethinking.  Once dressed we will drive the 30 miles to Southampton and pop into West Quays for some last minute shopping - Geoff’s ordered some new boat shoes and we need another umbrella.  We had intended to take the train to Southampton but with the train strike we decided to splash the cash and buy parking at the port - probably cost five times more than train and taxi!

 

I’m looking forward to daily blogging on this cruise (Geoff will be supplying the pictures - I can’t take photos) - will do a catch up later on the embarkation and first few hours onboard  Will try to answer questions and respond to comments but I’m not the best at doing this.  I hope you will be able to follow along.

On the following cruise, will look forward to reading what you have to write regards the ship herself. 

As for your itinerary, we did it a few years ago, you are in for a treat. Enjoy

On 8/17/2019 at 6:39 PM, lovetoholiday said:

Looking forward to that as I will be boarding The Sapphire Princess the day you disembark for the round trip trans Atlantic and am keen to hear about the ship.  Plus I am doing a Baltic trip next June, so am interested in hearing about your ports too.

 

Have a great trip.

Lovetoholiday, 

There is a roll call for your cruise, with a very active bunch of participants. 

We would be pleased to welcome you there, and make you aware of our M & G. 

We also have a number of members who have sailed on Sapphire a number of times, so could pass on their knowledge of the ship.

On 8/17/2019 at 8:00 AM, Corfe Mixture said:

Having done the arithmetic, and not having any weight restrictions, we have decided to pay our $150 and board with 12 bottles (two don’t attract corkage) of wine and champagne.

Hi CM; 

Philwill here from off the same cruise as yourself.

I see we are thinking along the same lines on wine🍾, and I also was wondering how best to get the bottles of wine on board.

I am clear that there is a table to pay corkage at, at some point on entering the ship. This therefore suggests that you have it with you on entering. 

But if you are taking a couple of cases or so and it is not with you as you enter ship my understanding is that it is held at security point until you collect it and pay the corkage. 

My dilemma is, which is the best way to get the cases on board;

carry on yourself, how to package?

or

check in with main Luggage. How to package?

I have seen this topic discussed on this forum many times, but I do not recall seeing this question asked.

Furthermore there does not seem to be any reference to this on Princess web site.

Is the elite complimentary drinks bar set up only for consumption within your stateroom, or can it be consumed anywhere onboard. 

Thoughts appreciated.

PamJP;

Whilst not in relation to your question directly, but could help you overall, may I invite you to join the roll call for your September cruise.

You can access it by the following method, and hopefully find a lot of interesting info for your cruise

•  Home 
•  
• Categories 
•  
• ROLL CALLS 
•  
• Princess Roll Calls 
•  
• Sapphire Princess Roll Calls 
•  
• Saturday 14 September 2019 Canada & New England from Southampton roundtrip

On 3/28/2019 at 6:49 PM, 111222333 said:

We're going on a cruise to Canada and New England 14 September for 24 nights. Any advice on what clothes I'll need.  Will it be cold/mild  that time of year ? 

Hi 111222333

There is a roll call for your cruise. Why don’t you join us on there and see what is planned.

. Just trying out Tapatalk for the first time.

 

 

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Hello I'm on the princess sapphire in Feb.

 

I am in the UK now and have booked most trips privately on the internet with your guides.

 

 

 

I plan on 're confirming all the arrangements just before I leave Heathrow in the Uk.

 

 

 

I don't want to pay for cruise ship internet and I'm not that technical.

 

 

 

In Europe I just turn off my roaming and hook onto free wifi in cafes etc.

 

Is this possible in the ports please ?

 

 

 

Singapore

 

Bali

 

Penang

 

Kula Lumpar

 

Phuket

 

Leam chambang ( for bangkok)

 

Kho samui

 

Phu My Vietnam

 

 

 

Any suggestions would be very welcome [emoji16]

Lindyloo.

From experience I know that the best way to find free wifi in any port of call is;

Ask the crew, or follow the crew.

They will have already docked in these ports of call, and will be experienced in knowing how to get in touch with their loved ones back home.

Regards

Phil

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First time post ever.

Taken in Tenerife, Canary Islands

Philwil - thank you for your information & advice.

 

Strangely enough, last night I researched Princess cruise website, looked up shore excursion section, then clicked on details of the excursion, and it showed a lot more re each excursion.

 

For example - in Ho Chi Minh City, the size of the ship depends on where it will be berthed, and this is what I found out......

(a) small ships get to Saigon Ports, the city central, eg. Seaborn, Silversea, Nautica Oceana get right to Nha Rong Port, just 5 minutes walk to city central.

(b) Larger ships get to the Ports in District 07 & Nha Be, like 7 Sea Mariner, Ocean Princess...it takes 15 to 30 minutes to the city centre.

© Large Ships, like Diamond Princess, Amzara, American Holland - dock at Phu My Port, about 100 kms away from Saigon, that takes 2 hrs to drive to the city.

 

I guess being on Sapphire Princess, which I think is considered a "large" ship, that we fall into catergory ©

 

______________________________________________________________

 

I am always trying to ascertain where the cruise ships berth or moor

At Ko Samui, I have an idea it might be at Nathon (no doubt tenders are used), then they bus you around to Chaweng Beach (where I would like to have a swim/coffee/shop, etc.....not sure how long that would take in a bus or car.

I concur with your research. HCM is a 2 hour drive from the port along very busy roads with heavy traffic. For this reason it is being highly recommended to use ship organised tours.

Ko Samui on the other hand is totally the opposite. It is my understanding that we are at Nathong also, but we could well be tendered in. The island is only around 55 Kms in circumference and therefore very easy to get around. If you are looking for beaches, the best are on the opposite side of the island from Nathong. Chaweng being among them,can be very busy, a little more research could give you much more picturesque, less populated, and good snorkelling.

So I am led to believe through my research.

Phil

No fuss travel -

Singapore Flyer is one attraction that we haven't been on yet, and I didn't know there were food stalls under the flyer, or near it.

 

DW & I have discussed doing the flyer on our next trip to Singapore, which maybe in July/Aug this year (to look after our grandson, whilst his parents are out of the country on business)

 

In Feb 2015 we are returning again, for a cruise on Sapphire Princess out of Singapore visiting Penang, KL, Singapore, Ko Samui, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, then back to Singapore. Never sailed on the Sapphire Princess.

We liked the look of this cruise as it gives us time in Singapore before & after with our son & family, and also visit some ports were never been to, eg. Penang, KL, Ko Samui & Ho Chi Minh City.

 

Then on the 5th June the same year, we fly back to Singapore for 3 nights stay, then board P&O ship "Pacific Jewel" - sailing via Semerang, Bali, Komodo Island, East Timor, then 2 islands in Papua New Guinea, arriving back into Brisbane 21st June, again another cruise which gives us time to visit our son & his family, then visit places we haven't been to yet, and arrive back in Brisbane, with only 4 hrs drive home.

 

Be interested to hear from anyone who has done one of these above mentioned cruises & what they thought of the ports visiited. We have visited Bangkok many years ago, but none of the other places.

Widebay

My wife and myself are on the same cruise, plus the one previous to it. We are spending 5 nights in BAngkok and then overnighting in SIngapore before the cruise, which then gives us three separate port days in Singapore, so your info is very useful to us.

Have you looked in on the roll call for the cruise, as there is plenty of info being given on the various ports of call.

Phil