IECalCruiser

When Princess first did the trial of the wine packages on an couple of ships they offered 5, 7, 10, and 12 bottle packages and on cruises as short as 7 days. It appears that the results of the trial led them to adopt the fleet wide program of only 7, 10, and 12 bottle packages for 10 days or more.

 

With the price increases of $2-$3/bottle last year it is often cheaper to bring wine on board and pay the $15 corkage than to buy the package. We will be bringing 18-24 bottles with us on our upcoming B2B cruises of 20 and 8 days rather than rely on buying a wine package or two.

 

 

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I don’t believe we have had any issue with damaged clothing on at least 10 cruises.

 

 

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The fresh air is the main thing we are looking for on this cruise, but I guess we were mislead by the increase in size over regular balcony if as IRCalCruiser is correct. We were hoping for a size increase in the cabin, not so much the balcony as it is likely to be too cool to sit out there for any length of time.

 

 

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Other than the Accessible cabins, mini suites on the Pacific, some mini suites on Marina and Lido deck on Royal class ships and a few inside cabins, all cabins whether inside, oceanview, balcony or mini suite on Princess are approximately 9 feet wide. Two accessible cabins occupy the space of three regular cabins and are therefor about 13.5 feet wide.

 

 

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In the past I would take the coffee card and get a mocha latte smatte whaever for DW and a fresh brew for myself in the AM, I'm guessing that's a possibility depending on the servers?

As long as the package is on your card, yes. Terms and conditions of the coffee package are that punches can be shared but fresh brewed coffee, specialty teas, and hot chocolate are for the package owner only.

 

 

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Where is that guide? And is it anothet "suggestion"?

 

 

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=132

 

 

 

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Cruise critic has a tipping guide and they recommend $2-$3 per person/day for your cabin steward. We often tip a bit more.

 

 

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FAMSKI...you note that on the Royal brewed coffee is available all over the ship. Does that mean in the buffet too? or is there a place in the buffet you can use your card to get the brewed cup. Where else is " allover the ship?" Thanks for the insight.

There are coffee brewers for complementary regular and decaf on each side of the Horizon Court with an adjacent hot chocolate dispenser. I assume that the complementary coffee in the DR’s, specialty restaurants, and room service is also fresh brewed but I can’t confirm. Fresh brewed coffee at the IC or bars is not complementary and would need a coffee package or individual purchase.

 

 

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However, I don't think they would prevent the cardholder from getting one brewed coffee, taking it to a table, then getting back in line for another "unlimited" brew. With the old coffee card, on multiple ships, I've never had a problem with getting two brewed coffees at a time...

 

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The coffee package is now like the soda and more package and the premium beverage package. The terms and conditions specifically state “Pre-purchased specialty coffees may be shared, but complementary brewed coffee, teas and hot chocolate continue to be limited to the purchaser.”

 

 

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A minor correction. Apple chargers and most other manufactures actually are rated from 100-240 volts.

 

 

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If it's like what we experienced recently, there are two different menus. The first one is a more traditional pub lunch (Ploughman's, fish & chips, bangers & mash, etc.) and the second one is more unique or gourmet-like (and to us, less appealing).

It's usually in the Wheelhouse Bar but can vary.

Only the Crown, Emerald, and Ruby have the capability to serve the Pub Lunch in the Wheelhouse Bar. Other ships typically use the Crown Grill or the Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse.

We did a 3 day Vancouver to LA cruise a few years ago and there were quite a few Canadians sailing down the coast and then going to Vegas after the cruise. They enjoyed the 3 days.

 

That short cruise was our 15th (elite qualifying) cruise after two weeks B2B in Alaska. There were plenty of activities on board.

 

 

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Duplicate post.

You also get “free” tea and hot chocolate in the IC

The tea (Mighty Leaf) and hot chocolate at the IC are only “free” if you have a coffee package or PBP. Otherwise the cost is $1.44 for tea or $1.73/$3.45 for hot chocolate.

 

On Royal class ships there is complementary hot chocolate, and hot water and tea bags in the Horizon Court.

 

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So how much is a latte without a coffee card?

 

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With gratuity, $2.88 for a regular or $4.03 for a large. Both a regular and large should count as one drink with the coffee package.

 

 

 

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In my cruise personalize , i see this:

 

The coffee package costs $35.65 whether purchased in advance or onboard. That is $31.00 for the package and $4.65 for gratuity.

 

 

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Just remember that these discussions only apply to the Royal class ships (Royal, Regal, Majestic, and Sky). They are the only ones with a 220V European style outlet. The older ships only have 120V U.S. style outlets like the one on the left in OP’s photo in the first post.

 

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We will shortly be on a 28 day cruise while our house is for sale. AT&T has a Cruise Talk, Text & Data plan that for $100 offers 30 days of unlimited text and talk, and 200MB of data. It is offered on most Princess ships including the Golden. We will see how that works.

 

 

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Looking at the deck plans this obstructed view cabin is said to be 250 sq ft versus 222 sq ft that some of the regular balcony cabins are.

Would the increase in size be on the balcony or in the actual cabin do you think.

We will be on a transatlantic this spring so any extra square footage would be welcome, and the cost is about $100 less for the cabin.

 

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That appears to be just be one of many errors on deckplans on the website. Except in the center bump out all balcony cabins and balconies are the same size.

 

 

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We stayed at the Continental location in Las Ramblas in 2014. The location is great but I wouldn’t recommend it. It was not the very small pink rooms that was the main issue. The bathtub was elevated off the floor and it was probably somewhere between 25” to 30” high. Not good if you are at all physically challenged.

 

The hotel occupies the 5th and 6th floors of the building with two other hotels on floors 3 and4. The elevator was small and after we had checked out and were going down with our luggage in the elevator it stopped between floors. The emergency phone didn’t work and we waited at least 10 minutes until someone walking down the encircling stairway heard us and contacted the hotel management.

 

We found the buffet marginal at best and the white wine barely drinkable although the beer was refreshing. We went over to the market area for breakfast, had one lunch on a tour and dinners on a wonderful walking tour with the Barcelona Taste and a very good buffet at a flamenco show.

What about doing an exchange at the airport? Good idea?

 

 

Tom[emoji848]

Exchange rates at currency exchanges like Travelex are very bad. On several occasions I have found major bank ATMs at airports and used them.

 

 

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As others have posted, if your phone has WiFi calling capability the is the best way to go. Only the cost of your WiFi minutes on board or free at a WiFi hotspot in port. We have used WiFi calling from a hotel in Venice and Manchester, England, and at sea on the Adriatic.

 

 

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Does the Island Princess have a Sanctuary and would it be a good place to be to go through the Panama Canal?

 

 

 

Thank you

The Sanctuary will cost $70/person or potentially more for the Panama Canal day and is NOT included if you book the Sanctuary for the entire cruise. It can be very hot.

 

 

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Thanks !

 

We'll be on the Pacific for New Years and will look forward to this.

 

Since the Stammtisch isn't announced in the Patter - how did you know about it?

 

We went to the red wine and chocolate pairing on the Emerald and loved it but we found out about it from our Vines sommelier. There is no Vines on the Pacific so I'm not sure where to look.

On the 2015 cruise the Stammtisch was advertised in the Patter on days 2, 3, 5, and 6. On the 2016 cruise the Stammtisch was advertised in the Patter on days 3 thru 8.

 

 

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That sounds like fun.

 

I wonder if they would have it on the Pacific. There's no "Vines" on her but they could do it in Sabitini's during the day.

We cruised the Pacific in 2015 and 2016 and one Stammtisch Table was scheduled for each two week cruise. Unfortunately in 2015 the event was scheduled to be held outside on deck and it was rained out [emoji22] In 2016 it was held in the Upper Hall on Deck 5 with about 12 passengers and 4-5 officers. The three wines were very good and there was extra to go around. They accommodated our vegetarian daughter with meatless food pairings. One passenger’s husband was a beer drinker and they did a three beer and food pairing for him. That is just an example of the great and accommodating crew on the Pacific. That was one of our more enjoyable Stammtisch Tables.

 

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On our recent cruise it was Donatello deck 6 (atrium).

 

In the past it was in Canaletto Deck 6 aft.

 

Check the Patter or just head there. Noon-1:30pm.

Interesting! On the Grand class ships the only time we have had embarkation lunch in the aft DR was the International DR on the Sapphire and Diamond. On other Grand class ships it has always been the midship Fiesta deck 6 MDR.