VAWCB

We were in 10018 in September (NY to Montreal) and regularly heard our next door neighbors’ TV and some conversations. It was an annoyance but not a terrible problem.

For those who consider the champagne to be of no value, ask your cabin steward to swap it out for a bottle of wine. We have done it in the past and did it again on a fall Vista cruise to Canada. The wine isn’t great but better than flat champagne. Another concierge perk only briefly mentioned is the newspapers in the lounge. If you still like a physical paper, they have New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Finncial Times, etc.

On our recent New York to Montreal cruise on Vista, the itinerary and the blue book said that we would be docked in every port. In reality we ended up being tendered three times.

We will be on the September 18 Vista cruise from New York to Montreal. Since we checked in on-line a week after first being able, the earliest embarkation time available was 1:30. If we arrive at the pier at noon, is it likely that we will sit in the terminal for over an hour, or is arrival time flexible? Thanks for any thoughts (other than “you should have checked in earlier”😀).

I too was originally booked on what I later learned was the Polka cruise. Apparently, the prior year a similar event was held on the Regal Princess and included over 600 polka dancers, musicians, and fans. It struck me that a similar number (600 out of 3,600) could change the dynamics of the cruise (as well as sometimes closing some venues) so I chose to change to the February 10 sailing on Sky which has an identical itinerary.

No one has mentioned travel insurance as being a perk offered by their travel agent. My guy provides full trip and medical insurance which, at my age, is worth at least 10% of the cruise cost.

Paul also hosted the Meet and Greet on the January 31 Riviera cruise. His 'memory ability" impressed all 15 to 20 attendees. Paul will be the initial CD on Vista and I look forward to seeing him again on the September New York to Montreal Vista cruise.

It is definitely not a charter as a number of people on the Roll Call seemed surprised and troubled to learn about the polka group. I agree that the polka band will be playing frequently, and probably loudly, so I moved my reservation to a February cruise with an identical itinerary.

An outfit called “Jimmy Sturr / Mollie B Polka Cruise” is soliciting people to go on the January 13, 2024 Sky Princess Caribbean cruise. Apparently a similar 2023 cruise on Regal Princess had 600 participants. I have nothing against polka music (in small doses) but am not sure I want to spend a week with 600 polka musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts. Has anyone been on a polka cruise and did you find that the group overwhelms the ship or changes the dynamics of the cruise? I do realize that 600 people represent only one-sixth of the capacity.

We were on the Jan 31 to Feb 10 Riviera cruise. On two nights we went to the Terrace Grill and found no ribeye, lobster, or shrimp on the grill. These were Greek night and Caribbean night. One of our favorite meals had always been the surf and turf sandwich in Waves. This time it seemed different - maybe the sauce on top? Did anyone else notice a difference?

We had the same problem as pinotlover trying to get DW’s class into the cart. Our TA said to book both spouses which would get the class into the cart and then delete the spouse who doesn’t plan to participate. It worked!

I am currently on Riviera. Nine days ago we arrived at the pier just before 11:00. Suite guests were already checking in. Concierge got called around 11:15. Once on the ship they called stateroom categories as the cabins came available. Penthouse got called at 1:00 and concierge at 1:35. I’m sure that higher suites were earlier but I didn’t hear them called. Until the category is called, you need to lug around your hand luggage.

I had the same problem on Crown Princess. During a “chat” on the website I was told that this is a sometimes systems problem and the easiest resolution was to go to guest services when onboard and they would cancel the charge. I did so and the guest services guy was familiar with the problem and handled it quickly.

1) Emerald Princess in February, LA to FLL through the Panama Canal. Ship was half full and suite benefits made it a very good trip. 2). Celebrity Summit in July (NY to Bermuda). Had a Retreat suite and the experience was better than any of our Princess cruises. 3). Crown Princess in August to Alaska. Celebrated 50th anniversary with children and grandchildren all in suites. With the Crown’s propulsion problems, changes in itinerary, vibration issues, etc. this was our worst Princess experience. Traveling with family made an awful trip into a fairly good one. In 2023 we will be on Oceania in February to the Caribbean and in September to Canada/New England. Questionable if we will ever go back to Princess.

I had booked an A-3 for the 1/31/23 Riviera Caribbean cruise. When the sale was announced, my TA dropped the price by $600 for the cabin. Both initially and after the sale he included trip insurance which for us “old folks” is quite expensive.