GweninTX

On 10/29/2023 at 10:08 AM, Hlitner said:

I will confess to being a coffee addict and coffee snob.  Yes, I really enjoy a good (and very strong/flavorful) cut of coffee, espresso, cappucino, etc.  Like most coffee addicts, I have my share of "devices" at home including a high-end Superautomatic (Swiss Made) expresso machine  In that machine I only use Lavazza or Illy beans because they are simply the best and are roasted in a way that will not gum-up machines.  

 

I mention all this because we are only mildly impressed when a cruise line uses decent name-brand beans (such as Illy or Lavazza).  Why?  The type of bean is only one part of the equation that makes a decent cup.  What is even more important is what they do with those beans and how they are turned into a drinkable beverage.  So, dumping Lavazza grounds (or beans) into a huge bulk drip machine is not going to yield a great result.  One attraction of the IC is that they have traditionally made "small batch" coffee which should yield better results as long as they use enough coffee in the device.  I have yet to be on a Princess ship that had decent coffee in the Lido...that comes from the large coffee vats.

 

Hank

But dumping ground Lavazza coffee into a giant urn and brewing it fresh would be a 1000% better cup of coffee than the syrup swill they are currently using!!

12 hours ago, MissP22 said:

I read that Lavazza was available.

I know it is available on other ships just wondering about the Enchanted specifically 

We will be on the Enchanted Princess for 40 days and wondering if they had upgraded to the new Lavazza coffee makers in the buffet yet? 

Is the Enchanted serving the new Lavazza coffee in the dining room or the buffet? If so, is it better than the syrup swill they used to serve? Thanks

On 10/20/2022 at 2:49 AM, happy42cruise said:

Most people don't drive from Texas to take a cruise out of San Francisco, so that was why I asked if they were coming from the bay area.  I did see where they lived & I was trying to be helpful.

They do if they are going to Washington state for a quilt retreat!😉

Can anyone please recommend long term parking lot near San Francisco cruise terminal. I have searched with Google and cheapest I can find is $20 per day. We are gone 34 days and looking for cheaper alternatives. Thanks 

24 minutes ago, rjack22 said:

Thanks for all of the replies.    I did look in the app but there wasn't a bracelet offered there.   I am not looking for an Air Tag but rather the bracelet which I have not seen in an Air Tag version.  

 

Question for Capriccio.  Since you have the bracelet, or at least know more about them.  How do they go on your wrist?   Do they slide over the hand or do they have a clasp?

They have a clasp and run very very small. Too tight and restricting for me. I tried one on in person and glad I did. I have settled on pretty lanyards. If you have a tiny wrist, the bracelet is gorgeous!

We use American a lot and our names are often jumbled together and odd looking, but we have never had an issue 

We were on Enchanted Princess for 30 days - 3 ten day cruises and medallion worked seamlessly thru all 3 cruises. Did not have to get a new one for each cruise. On Ruby we did 2 ten day back to back and changed cabins and STILL  used the same medallion. They can reprogram it for the new cabin without getting a new medallion. We did have to have our battery replaced on our door lock when we could not get into our cabin. They came quickly and replaced the battery easy peasy.

On 3/10/2022 at 6:22 PM, fredcq said:

Sorry I was looking for additional pictures over and above what you posted that anyone might have of the inside of the sideways inside cabins on Regal Princess.  But I found some videos on YouTube so I saw what I needed.

 

That said, can anyone confirm that there are or are not power outlets at the sides of the beds in these sideways cabins? One video said there were none but I see lamps and need to know for a CPAP machine. I’d prefer not to use an extension cord if at all possible.

We had one of these cabins in the Enchanted and had it set up as a Queen bed. We LOVE these cabins as they are a lot bigger and have more room on each side if the bed (Just make sure it doesn't have bunk beds hanging from the wall). We both use a CPAP and there are no outlets unless you unplug the lamps and it is a European outlet. We just bite the bullet and use an extension cord and plug it in at the desk area each night. We put ours under the bed, so it is out of sight. The newer ships do have a Usb port on the lamp for charging your phone. Hope this helps!

We had 12 foot seas on the Enchanted and didn’t feel much. 

On the Enchanted for 30 days. Saw shorts every night in dining room. Even saw a man in bathing suit. Doesn’t bother me in the least. It is their vacation too. Formal night was VERY informal. Maybe 3% in tuxedos and gowns. 

20 hours ago, jwattle said:

I believe that they are still having issues with DineMyWay. Which ship are you on?

We are on the Ruby

17 minutes ago, ProfMHC said:

Are you staying in a Princess hotel pre-cruise? That’s been identified as an issue re: the endless spinning DMW.

No, flying in day of cruise. 

I feel like I just won the lottery - I have the green lane for our December cruise! I probably deleted and reloaded this app twenty times! But, no matter how many times I try I cannot get dining to come up. I just get a spinning circle and the word “loading”. Anyone have any ideas??

2 hours ago, G.M.T. said:

Why wasn't the Op taught by their parents to drink via the lip of a glass.🍻

REALLY???????????????????????????/

 Did your Mom teach you when you were little that if you can't say something nice, don't say ANYTHING at all! Or better yet, just move on!

I am considering this a Public Service announcement for those of you out there that LOVE straws. We just returned from 10 days on the Equinox and the paper straws they are using are WORTHLESS! Not only do they collapse and you cannot get your drink to suck up thru them, but they disintegrate and make your drink taste AWFUL!! Now I know, that we should all just be happy we are on a cruise and blah, blah, blah -- but if you are a straw LOVER like me - this is a BIG deal! SOoooooo - either take a supply of plastic straws in your purse or take a metal straw with you as you will need it. I know they are trying to save the planet and the oceans by using these awful paper straws, but it is a joke -- they use disposable PLASTIC container filled jams  jellies on the dining room table and THOUSANDS of plastic water bottles on the ship. I am through with my rant --- but I wish someone had told m e before we left so I could have taken appropriate action!

We are elite. Booked an IE guarantee. Ours is not due till 9/12, so we have not paid yet!

7 hours ago, wagz said:

Gwen,

We have been a Category BF Guarantee since we booked a year ago.

Did you book with a travel agent or directly thru Princess?

Final payment was today.  Still a BF Guarantee. 

Kathy

We originally booked thru Princess, but we transferred to a TA later for better price and more OBC

Add us to the Island haters! They RUINED her when they cut her up and added all the extra cabins! Never again!!!!

55 minutes ago, CI66774 said:

Has anyone been brave enough to book a gty on a World Cruise? I'm interested in the 2021 Island World Cruise but Princess is only booking Gty. Any experiences would be appreciated!

We booked an inside guarantee for the 2020 World cruise and have been upgraded TWICE for free! First to a nice Oceanview and over the weekend we were upgraded to an obstructed balcony! We booked our cruise when it was available only to elites to book. The cabin we have now is $10K more per person than what we paid so we are REALLY happy with our guarantee cabin!! Watch your cruise personalizer and pray to the upgrade Gods!

I bring a few things with me as their gluten free bread (to me) is awful unless toasted. I bring some crackers with me and my favorite gluten free granola. The gluten free desserts are hit and miss, but that is ok. The gluten free pizza is excellent and has to be ordered 24 hours in advance. You can pick it up and take it to the buffet to eat with friends. The chefs in the buffet are very knowledgeable as to what is OK and what is not. I always ask if in doubt!

Eating in the dining room is the easiest to assure you are getting gluten free. They only have white bread and it is very very dry. I am not sure what brand it is, but is not very good unless it is toasted. They have NO crackers or cookies, so you might want to bring her favorite along. They do have blueberry muffins, but they are also not very good either. They did make a "chefs choice" gluten free dessert for me each night and they were hit and miss. I do not like rice pudding, tapioca or creme brûlée's , so I passed on all of these. I now bring my own crackers with me and put them in tiny ziplock baggies and keep them in my purse. If you want a pizza, pre-order the crust 24 hours in advance at the pizzeria. It has been excellent on every ship. They also have excellent gluten free pasta. The pasta tasted like a rice/corn blend. If you have any other questions, please ask! 

Very easy to do on your own!

Doing this cruise next year and looking forward to reading your blog!