Ron the Rev

So you want to pay $349 for an Inside Cabin and get $1,200 in perks.

 

I have a bridge in Brooklyn that you might be interested in buying. ;)

$349 and perks. Here in the UK we can't even get those sort of deals. Put a one in front of the 349 and that's a deal for us. Think of us when you next book a cruise. :mad:Woe is me, but then there are no pockets in shrouds, so enjoy whilst you can.

Look to the promise, that good will overcome evil. We pray for those who stand up and fight the good fight. RIP to those who were sadly taken. Thank you Canada.

Thanks Shogun we are on a east/west Caribbean b2b on the Ruby as of the 6th Dec 2014 and look forward to your further reporting. Our last cruise in Aug. was 99% good, in fact MDR had a vast improvement from several previous cruises, so here's hoping.

We have made it policy for breakfast every day to fill in the room service card so as to reduce our intake a bit. So if we are leaving early, as on debark day this is not available, then the day before we double up on the quantities and store some in the fridge.

I could be wrong, but I think Princess ATMs now have a charge of $6. This is in addition to any fee your own bank may charge.

Yes correct, we were recently on the Emerald and the ATM worked OK $6 for any amount of transaction, also the rate was reasonable.

Just says WELCOME ABOARD nowadays but the key to customer captains circle level is the surrounding colour framing your information.;)

Oh, just to be able to "come back new" forget the soap, just take a year or two off my age that would be nice. Seriously though the whole cruise industry is over serviced by the amount of ships on the oceans. Just like the airlines drop their prices to suit the mass market the consequence is that standards drop. Sadly there goes Princess, little things mean a lot.

Well according to my cruise personaliser. Cmd. Romano is "driving" the Ruby on our Caribbean b2b from 6th Dec. 2014 until 20th Dec. 2014.:confused:

It may also be age related. I find it so, as those many years ago I could cross " the pond" without a problem. Now at 75 I wish someone would invent an injection to put you to sleep for the whole flight east bound.:D

Totally agree with the OP. Yes main dinning room food has improved considerable. We were recently on the Emerald, and such was the improvement, on the last several Princess cruises, that we didn't even have to go to the speciality restaurants. If we had, then we would have made a night of it and not rushed the meal so as to catch a show.:)

Just back from the Emerald and the M'd was able to be contacted in one of the dinning rooms for table change from about 2pm to about 3pm. If as the OP says this is going to be changed then Princess have just lost our 3 future cruises already booked. Why's that you say, well DW is wheelchair bound and we need a table for 2 accessible for her. Although you can request a table for 2 at booking time, it's only a maybe request with no guarantee. Now if special requests could be confirmed at booking stage then all would be well. Why change the old system? Princess take note if you read this as The Consummate Host will be not so consummate and people will vote with their feet.:mad:

I love this exact embarkation lunch! Can anyone who has cruised in the last couple of months verify that the salmon is still on the menu?

Yes salmon was on the menu of the Emerald in Aug. Like other posters we always head for the dinning room, ignoring the persuasive staffs who try to direct you to the trough ( oh sorry horizon court), which we avoid like the plague, but then it's some peoples prefered choice so each to their own. That's what cruising is all about.;)

We are flying from UK to Miami,:) staying overnight there through a Princess booking. We are booked for transfer by the Princess transfer bus to Port Everglades Pier. I've a mind to get to the pier earlier by taxi. DW is wheelchair bound so we try to get on board as early as possible to see the Maitre d' for dinning table allocation, for a 2 up with wheelchair access. Any suggestions as to earliest arrival time would be appreciated as I guess the bus transfer will get there fairly late after the initial rush. An idea as to taxi fare would also be welcome.;) Many thanks.

Another thing that keeps people from using the lounge is what time they like to eat. Early diners don't have the time, especially if they want a table for 2. If you spend to much time in the lounge you'll wind up getting a beeper which will cause a long wait at times and you'll wind up missing the first show. The only time we utilized the lounge is when we didn't care about the show sine we've seen it numerous times.

If they keep the lounge open late we definitely would go after the show. IMO the lounge is great for people who like to eat late.

Yes we are early eaters so don't get the chance of meeting fellow plats at this time. What price the drinks be they 5 or 6 bucks, petty cash within the overall cost of the cruise.;)

Ron: Is the sushi "real" sushi, nigiri or temaki rolls made with the raw fish or is it "safe" sushi, with cooked shrimp or surimi? Is it served all day? Can you buy a glass of wine there, get a plate of sushi, and take it somewhere else to sit and sip and eat tables at Vines are all occupied? Did you notice if they had sake?

Hi susiesan DW & I don't eat sushi but the preparation area looked like they had plates of sliced raw fish and all the goodies for making the real thing. Call on Dimi the barman he does what he can for his real customers. Take your own ear plugs. Of course you can take it where you like. Take it up to Crooners and ask for sake as a challenge. On Princess ask and it shall be given (maybe) Opening times for Vines bar 4pm to 11pm port days and 11am to 11pm sea days.

I will be on the Emerald in Jan. I understand there is a Vines on that ship. Besides the tapas, is there sushi? Is there an extra charge for the tapas and sushi?

 

Is sushi ever seen on the buffet in Horizons?

Just back from the Emerald yes both tapas and sushi, free if you purchase wine in the Vines. Major problem with the Vines was the overspill of people from the International Cafe taking all the tables. Horrendous noise so not the place for a quiet glass or two.:( We eventually gave it a miss and went up a floor to Crooners bar where you can tuck a bottle of your favorite wine behind the bar and have some nuts, Bombay mix or olives brought to you.

Hi

 

We are booked on an Emerald Princess sailing this October. Just wondered if anyone who has booked a disabled cabin has ever been upgraded?

 

Yes I realise this could well be very wishful thinking on my part and appreciate the extra space already in these cabin types but I'm allowed to dream aren't I?

 

Thanks, can hardly wait for your replies.

 

Pj

If you're badly enough disabled and need a hoisting rail by the toilet, low level hand basin and a bathroom easy to use when you are in a wheelchair; my advise is to have Princess mark your booking "no upgrade". We were upgraded once from Carib balcony to a mini suite on Dolphin deck and had all sorts of problems. So your wishful thinking may backfire. Every blessing.

I don't mind applying each time, but does the documentation have to be sent also.

Just a photo copy will do.

I'm from the UK and have to apply each time.:(

DW is mostly wheelchair bound so we book our cruises as early as we can so as to get an hc cabin. She can't use the side hand wheels so I do the pushing. The cabins are a lot larger than normal and there are those rotten people who are not at all disabled who will try to book them. Princess knows this and now require the passenger to declare this when booking, but still the cheating goes on. Get in early then keep looking at the price and take advantage of the price drops if they happen. Have a nice cruise.

Standard practice for body search using hands, is male to male, female to female. No ifs or buts. My dear wife is wheelchair bound and the degree of body search is always by hand pat, on one occasion recently she was asked to go into a booth away from public view for a search in this case there were 2 lady searchers there. Don't forget that in this day of lawyers and compensation, those doing the searching would lay themselves wide open for sexual harassment if they weren't ultra careful. I guess there is a training program for those employed this way.

Great write up Touristbay. Very helpful as we are on the Emerald end of Aug.:)

Info please on which dining room will be open for lunch;) on the Emerald on embarkation day. Sailing from Southampton 30th Aug 2014.

We use room service for breakfast, so as not to over indulge in the dining room. Cash tip to the deliverer of two or three dollars is appreciated ( it is extra work);) and the coffee is better than the normal from the dining room.

We have cruised twice with our disabled son. (He's an adult and books his own cabin.) It's amazing how much hassle the carts can be for a person in a wheelchair but... The stewards are so quick to move them to let him through and, when they find that we are moving or have moved the cart to get him down the hallway, the stewards are extremely apologetic and literally "hop to it" to assist. We just tell them it isn't a big deal and that we understand they have a lot of work to do and we aren't working at all and it isn't a big deal.

 

Yes, it can be a hassle - especially with a wheelchair since you can NOT get a wheelchair past a cart without moving it. We would have preferred unfettered travel down the corridors but we also really appreciated having everything perfect in our cabin EVERY time we entered. Like I said above, we were on vacation and the stewards were working. Unlike some people we felt that kind of gave the stewards the "right of way" or whatever.

 

Relax. Don't worry - be happy. :)

Ditto to Thrac's posting. DW uses a wheelchair. The stewards soon get to know you and are most helpful in getting you past the trollies. We try to enjoy life to the full, smile and it's soon returned tenfold:)