grandsmack

Yes they will make any specialty as a decaf, they even brew decaf in the coffee shops..  I don’t drink caffeine either, so I just order it decaf

 356

October 22, 2009

Georgia

#1   

Posted just now

It was years ago, on our first elite cruise.  A warm weather 28 days.  We were looking forward to this perk and read the dos and donts on this board.  First 3 weeks were perfect, except for placement of the very sticky number tag on your clothing.  It was nearing the end of the cruise so out went lots of clothing worn on tours.  We took the photo, filled out the form, took a photo of the form and neatly placed the clothing in the white bag, labeled it and photographed that too.  Off it went but when it came back we got someone else’s items (Socks & underwear).  Gave all those back to our steward with a look at our photo of missing items.  He searched for two days and sent up a senior manager or supervisor.  We learned we had two choices once we completed the claim loss (1) purchase lost items and submit our claim form with receipt for the reimbursement (2) estimate cost of loss, submit with claim and wait for reimbursement.  We did #1 and did as told, received a check in the mail a few months later.  We now mostly use the self service and do our own laundry.  I would love for princess to reverse the token or swipe charge.  I hope you are able to resolve your suit issue with ease and 100% satisfaction.

It was years ago, on our first elite cruise.  A warm weather 28 days.  We were looking forward to this perk and read the dos and donts on this board.  First 3 weeks were perfect, except for placement of the very sticky number tag on your clothing.  It was nearing the end of the cruise so out went lots of clothing worn on tours.  We took the photo, filled out the form, took a photo of the form and neatly placed the clothing in the white bag, labeled it and photographed that too.  Off it went but when it came back we got someone else’s items (Socks & underwear).  Gave all those back to our steward with a look at our photo of missing items.  He searched for two days and sent up a senior manager or supervisor.  We learned we had two choices once we completed the claim loss (1) purchase lost items and submit our claim form with receipt for the reimbursement (2) estimate cost of loss, submit with claim and wait for reimbursement.  We did #1 and did as told, received a check in the mail a few months later.  We now mostly use the self service and do our own laundry.  I would love for princess to reverse the token or swipe charge.  I hope you are able to resolve your suit issue with ease and 100% satisfaction.

@eaglecw We are flying in to Seattle a few days early and have a few questions about the process of calling sound mobile diagnostics.

How far in advance must you call for an appointment?

What is the cost for the test?  We couldn’t find the fee on their webpage after reading your post.

We have one scheduled at the airport upon arrival, but would like a back up plan, especially if our plane is delayed on Thursday afternoon.  Sea-Tac is charging $200 for a rapid test.  Thanks for sharing.

Thank you Jeter02 for posting the last menu of this 7 day cruise: the Farewell Dinner Menu.

To all of you taking time and sharing information and photographs on this second Alaska cruise on the Majestic, thanks, it has been another informative thread.  Wishing all of you a safe homeward journey tomorrow.

Jeter02 thank you so much for posting the menu for tonight. Some of our favorites are listed, so we won’t want to miss this one.  I will have to try the salted caramel.  Kathy

I would like for someone on board to post a copy of the regular dinner menu for tonight (Friday) and tomorrow.  Neither of these were posted on the July 25 live from thread.  Thank you for all information each of you has contributed to this new season of cruising in Alaska.  Kathy 

Another heartfelt thank you to everyone for posting and sharing your cruise with us.  I’ve enjoyed this long awaited live from.  
 

I haven’t seen the dinner menus for Friday or this evening posted.  Hope someone will post a copy along with the patter for today.   Safe journey homeward, stay healthy upon your return.

TinaLee on our last cruise 2/1/-2/29/20 we exchanged the minibar set up for coffee, but they were doing it differently.  Instead of cards, the promo was loaded to your cruise card, it was not a medallion cruise. It’s the same original promotion: 15 specialty coffees, unlimited brewed, hot coffee, hot chocolate and hot tea.  Since my husband doesn’t drink any coffee, I had both promotions added to my card, so I got 30 specialty coffees during this 29 day cruise.  If he wanted hot chocolate, he used my cruise card or I ordered it for him.  I’m sure now the coffee promotion(s) will just be added to your medallion(s).  Hope this was helpful, Kathy 

First initial of the first name of each grandchild spells mack, so that’s how we chose Grandsmack

We have done a portion of the World Cruise in 2019, and several cruises of 28 to 30 days, so this is my experience based on that.  I used to write down entire menus on note cards and started taking them on my next cruise.  What I learned: there are about 18 standard menus.  On some cruises there are exact duplicates (repeats of menus), then on other cruises there are menus that take appetizers, soups, salads, entrees from those 18 and mix it up.

on our portion of the WC there was a duo band that was excellent, drawing more and more folks as the cruise went on.  They said they were staying on for several segments.

There was a women on board who was not part of the Cruise staff, she was hired to do the daily arts and craft sessions.  She and another women switch off on world cruises doing arts and crafts.  Our lecturer was a DNA expert, he was leaving after 15 days.  Other entertainment came and went at different ports, so yes the entertainment changes, maybe not as often as on some other cruises.
 

Have fun planning and celebrating your partners retirement.  We celebrated mine in 2013 with our first 28 day cruise to the Hawaii Islands and the South Pacific.

I have arthritis in my hands and fine the dryers on the Royal and Regal difficult to use because you must hold the on button pressed while using the dryer. I bring a small travel hair dryer when on these ships.

13th cruise ended with a count of 151 days. Our next cruise had already been booked, but we didn't realize when we booked it that we would be elite, it was a 28 day Hawaii, Tahiti, South Pacific. What a way to celebrate a milestone.

We've visited Caribou Crossing twice, the menu both times was 1/4 serving of chicken (dark meat) cooked over a BBQ pit served with 1/2 of a large size potato, cole slaw, dinner roll, coffee, tea or water. Beer and sodas for purchase from a bar area inside. Dessert is unlimited mini doughnuts rolled in cinnamon sugar.

Dog sledding: there are adult dogs on site in a fenced in area, fresh teams are hooked up to a sled and they follow a dirt path on the property. They do charge for this ride. We did not participate, just watched and folks seemed to enjoy the ride. Puppies have their own fenced area and you are allowed to walk into this area and hold them.

On the Emerald in October and the Crown Grill seared scallop appetizer had been replaced with:

Bay Scallop Timbale, Cajun Crawfish Cream

Toasted corn, fried okra, grits beurre blanc

Described by wait staff as a scallop mousse, it had a whole scallop in the center of the timbale.

We were on the Emerald last week in Alaska. We were traveling with our four young grandchildren.

Being in two cabins we each traded in our elite bar set up for coffee cards (4 total). This allowed each grandchild to use a card for free hot chocolate and the occasional Gelato. I know it's not a bargin to use a coffee punch for a $1.50 Gelato, but this week I really didn't care because three kids got to enjoy a scoop of gelato, and I have so many coffee cards.

It wasnt until the last afternoon that the server said it would be three punches on the card or $1.50 charge. When I said this had not happened any other time this week, she said this was their policy. I wanted clarification, so she got the manager, he agreed that their policy was one punch for one scoop and that other servers had been wrong to only punch the coffe card once for three scoops. Asking if I could see the policy, he threw up his hands and told the server to just punch the card once. At least the grandkids were happy and enjoyed their last gelato.

:mad: Our recent cruise saw changes to coffee punches from 1 punch to 3 punches for gelato (a $1.50 cash charge). Also happy hour now requires you to open all drinks in bar (coke & beer). I was told these changes were new by bar manger and customer service supervisor. Has anyone else herd of these changes.

Over 20 cruises never seen a roman chair on a Princess ship.

We were on the Grand in July of this year, the always available side of the menu listed

shrimp cocktail (with the red sauce)

Caesar salad

hazelnut crusted salmon with maple syrup glaze *a signature Alaskan dish of the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge

pan seared, corn fed chicken

Princess gourmet beef burger

This side of the menu did not change during the cruise. Fettuccini Alfredo was listed each evening under the other evening pasta course. There were a few nights when a Curtis Stone item appeared on the other side of the menu under the main courses.

What lounge does the Royal use for Plat. & Elite disembarkation? Also what deck is used for disembarkation in Ft. Lauderdale Fl.?

We have sailed twice this year and while the soup listings had some differences, the sail away menus were consistent, listing three appetizers as: red snapper mojito; vegetable spring rolls and fresh fruit of cantaloupe, honey dew and watermelon, I think this was served with a red wine reduction.

There are three soups (a broth, a cream of...and a frozen or cold soup) and a watercress, ice burg and radish salad.

The pasta was conchiglic ala campagnola (broccoli, capers and olives).

Main course: seared Basa filet, Luau pork, cognac flamed crawfish étouffée, prime rib, Texas chilli and a vegetarian dish of either spinach flan or leek and ricotta cheese tart.

And of course there is the "always available" side of the menu. Hope this was helpful.

How nice to see this review!! we are taking our two grandsons on the Fascination in about three weeks! They have cruised before but the youngest has only cruised on Hal...no watersides:) The only thing I am worried about is four of us in a quad cabin:eek: I am already anticipating some bumped heads!!

 

We are also doing a four day...our kids are 14 and 11....want to try and stay up with them to see some shows:) And hoping we make it to dinner in the MDR every night...did you perhaps eat breakfast in the mdr at all?

 

Again thanks for the review...and way to go Grandma...taking the grands on a cruise:)

 

We did not eat breakfast or lunch in the dining room. The children found a variety of breakfast foods at the buffet and really liked sitting outside each morning, so this was their go to venue. Our food rule was to only get what you knew you would eat and if you wanted more, you could go back for a second and sometimes a third helping (examples: a boiled egg, box of cereal, muffin).

 

Re bumping heads on bunks - in hindsight I should have asked our cabin steward to take down the ladders and put the beds back into the wall each morning, we usually bumped heads when picking up the room or upon retiring in the evening. Good luck

 

Something I wish I had known before so that I could have told the grandchildren was that they were required to wear a wrist band for the whole cruise. It is issued to all children 11 years old and under (it reports their muster station). We have two grands with some sensitivity issues and talking about it beforehand would have helped.

 

Poppa and the 10 year old did make some of the evening family evening shows that were scheduled for later than 8:30, but the younger ones were worn out by that time.

Grandma’s review of our 4 day Fascination cruise

Background: We are in our 60s and have cruised over 200 days. This was our first time on a Carnival ship and our first time taking grandchildren on a vacation without their parents (none of the parents like to cruise). The grandchildren are a 10 year old boy, his sister who is 6, another 6 yr old girl and her sister who just turned 5 – and this was their first experience cruising.

Why did we do this?: The grandchildren had been asking us to take them on a cruise, so we did some research and decided that the Carnival Fascination would best fit our criteria (the date fit into their other vacation plans, the length of cruise would be manageable for us, easy 4-6 hr drive to the port, the price was right, and there were activities we thought the children would enjoy).

The Itinerary: Jacksonville, Freeport, Nassau, Sea Day, Jacksonville (5/29-6/2) we did not do any touring at the ports, just got off the ship and let the grandchildren shop for souvenirs.

Staterooms: We were on a budget and knowing we would not spend much time in our stateroom, we chose two inside cabins; a double and a quad. We were assigned R171 and R179. The 4 girls were bunking together and the 2 guys were in the other cabin. While there was ample room in the quad, all of us bumped our heads on the bunk beds (some of us more than once). Also in the girls’ room, we used all available drawer space (4 drawers) and all available hangers. There was some cabinet shelf space still available, but not much. The suitcases all fit under the two lower beds. The guys never felt crowded in their cabin except when all six of us pilled in there. I took 3 small plastic juice size cups to hold the tooth brushes and tooth paste and for the little girls to use to rinse with (each had their own color) and these 3 cups fit on the ledge around the sink. This way they did not have to try to reach the glasses on that higher glass shelf.

Activities -What we liked/and not so much: This cruise was for the grandchildren, so this is from their prospective and I know nothing about the night life aboard as my roomies were ready to call it a night and snuggle down in their beds between 8:30 and 9pm every night. They played hard all day and especially loved the water park. The small slide was perfect for the youngest one and the other 3 could not get enough of all three slides. They did not really enjoy the pool, and believe me they wanted to. We had two excellent swimmers and two non-swimmers. The water temp was cool to cold, and very salty. I heard many people complaining about burning eyes including our excellent swimmers who have a salt water pool at home. (note to others: bring goggles) The two 6 yr olds enjoyed Camp Carnival attending a total of 6 hours of activities; the 5 yr old went to a few activities and the 10 yr old went for two hours the first day and chose not to go back. They enjoyed putt-putt when we were in port, but it was a little too windy for the small ones when we were at sea.

They could hardly wait to get back to the room each evening to see what towel animal Jose’ had made and to get that piece of chocolate candy. Because of their interest in the towel animals, they participated in learning to fold their towels into animals at the towel animal demo. This was followed by a towel animal puppet show which they enjoyed. They also enjoyed the family comedy show and the Hasbro game shows. The 10 yr old enjoyed the arcade, we just gave him a limit to stick to and he did.

Meals: We started our mornings with breakfast from the Coconut Grove buffet, there were plenty of choices and even our pickiest eater found something to fill her up. They loved eating breakfast outside. For lunch, the kids chose The Grill twice and ate hot dogs, hamburgers and fries there. The other two lunches and two dinners were eaten at the Coconut Grove, where they found an assortment of food to “graze” on – they were excited to see pizza, but did not like it at all. We ate dinner in the dining room two of the four evenings; the 5 yr old was in heaven because she could order a pbj (her absolute favorite food) and she asked for it not to be toasted after we learned when ordering one from room service that they toasted the bread. The children always ordered off the kids menu; however the 10 yr old tried the homemade chicken noodle soup from the adult menu and it was nothing like his Mom’s homemade soup (I had to agree, it wasn’t good). Their absolute favorite treat was the soft serve ice cream (available 24 hrs). The critical adult eye: I have to say that wait staff in Coconut Grove did not do a good job of bussing tables either inside or outside on the deck. They also were slow in cleaning up food people had spilled on the floor and deck areas. It was hard to choose to eat at The Grill on port days as the flies were in abundance and landing on the food being served buffet style (the cooks will give you a fresh burger or hot dog off the grill if you asked for it). I did get to try the Mongolian Grill once and really enjoyed that lunch the best (beware the wait in this line is usually long). The one time we had a short break with no children (they were at Camp Carnival), I had a decaf mocha frappe from Bogart’s, well worth the $3.50.

Two of the children experienced sea sickness which we were able to treat (one with sea bands the other with oral medication). In the end this was a wonderful way to experience a vacation with the grandchildren; I think we made some lasting memories. They all want to cruise again, in fact none of them wanted to leave the ship yesterday morning.

Yes, they still have the pre-dinner complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drink special on Princess ships. (A perk for Platinum, Elite and Suite) Recently sailed a 5 day Ruby Princess cruise and we had it 4 of the 5 evenings. They did not hold it the evening of the Captain's Party. There should be an invitation in your cabin.

On the recent 5 day cruise: Day one Mojito $5.00 served w/ Mexican Salsa and chips #2 Breeza Marina $5.00 served w/ herb-marinated goat's cheese with crisp rosemary flatbread and tomato bruschetta #3 Cosmopolitan $5.00 served w/ shrimp fountain and cocktail sauce #4 Japanese Slipper $5.00 served w/ assorted shushi, soy sauce, wasabi & pickled ginger. Along with the stated hors d'oeuvres they served assorted raw veggies, cheeses, crackers, olives and dried fruit.

have fun on your next cruise

The brackets were installed in our cabin shower on the Sapphire during our 28 day cruise, but the bottles were removed. I assume they were filled and returned with the start of the next cruise.