CU64

22 hours ago, CU64 said:

Thank all of you for taking the time to respond. Very helpful.

we might just do Red Hook Lodge if available. Hilton Brooklyn won’t take reservation, yet, for next year. 

What about the Ace Hotel?

16 hours ago, sucramdi said:

If you're not planning on sight seeing, I stayed at the Lodge Red Hook hotel. The hotel itself is quite basic, but it's clean and the location is very convenient as it's walking distance to the cruise terminal. There are a few nice restaurants in the neighbourhood too, I highly recommend Bar Mario if you enjoy Italian food. You can also easily walk to the waterfront and see the statue of liberty.

Thank all of you for taking the time to respond. Very helpful.

we might just do Red Hook Lodge if available. Hilton Brooklyn won’t take reservation, yet, for next year. 

We won’t be sightseeing. Flying in from West Coast to board QM2 the following day. 
we either want something low end like Comfort Suites or what about Hilton downtown Brooklyn.

any responses appreciated. Ty

9 hours ago, tourismtessy said:

Does anyone know when the website will post the 2026 cruises for fall Canada/New England?  I want to get booked as soon as possible.  Already booked on one for 2025 (7 day RT from Boston) but looking to book a 10 day Boston to Quebec or vice versa.

Try Celebrity. They have an 11 day on Silhouette ready to book….out of Boston 

On 8/18/2024 at 5:42 AM, TAW1963 said:

We had the Reserve Collection Dining room in May on the Majestic.  I have to say that it exceeded our expectations considerably.   It was an excellent experience.  We now feel that it will be difficult to cruise on Princess without having at least a Reserve Collection Mini Suite so that we can enjoy the Reserve Collection Dining room. 

Agreed. We had same experience 

13 hours ago, BamaVol said:

This was a rarity for us. But we were part of the problem, as we brought 2 of the kids. I agree that cruising when kids are in school is more enjoyable. This was a different experience, but it was meant to be all about time spent with grandkids. As far as the kids were concerned, it was a fabulous success (review coming). Their parents had a good time too. But for us, it meant giving up some of the things we typically enjoy when cruising. I didn’t expect to be giving up timely food delivery, but all things considered it was great fun. 

Was it too much trouble to go to buffet and pick up food for them, take back to room? Seems like a better option to me. Or go to the grills, slice pizza & bring back to room. 

7 hours ago, latebuyer said:

Thanks everyone. I’m still here. Thats good to know as often with drop and go fares, thats what is left.

7 hours ago, latebuyer said:

Thanks everyone. I’m still here. Thats good to know as often with drop and go fares, thats what is left.

I always pick cabin by stairs unless I have an aft suite.

7 hours ago, ratbin said:

Not expecting Princess to be Crystal! However, all the reviews were beginning to scare me. I'm sure we will be fine. The reviews I checked were specifically about the BI cruise from last fall. There was a lot about inferior quality food and a good bit of general whining. I'm pretty good at separating real info from nonsense and there was a good bit of nonsense.

Any tips for first time Princess cruisers? 

Why would you take your 90 yr old Mother on a port intensive cruise?

is she planning to get off with you all on a few days? On the days you are in port, she is alone on the ship, which might be fine with her as she has Family around for dinner.

10 hours ago, napunani said:

We do not care for a shared table due to a horrible incident in 2017. Hubby and I were placed at a table for 8, MDR, early seating.  Absolutely not what we had requested thru our TA.  Embarkation evening dinner was a nightmare as one woman at the table just berated all the other women at the table on what they were wearing. It was truly ugly. Her husband tried to rein her in, but that was even uglier. We talked to the dining room manager about what took place and asked to be reseated anywhere else and he claimed he was overwhelmed with seating change requests and could not help us.  We never went back to our designated table and time in the MDR during that 14 day cruise and basically stayed away from PRINCESS for 7 years. 

Wow. I would just have excused myself & eaten at the buffet, IC, or room service. Never would I put up with that. 

On 4/23/2024 at 7:02 PM, Treasure Hunter said:

We took The Emerald from LA to Hawaii and has a fabulous time. Last year we did NY round trip to New England/ Canada. Both times the service and CDs entertainment was great. It has a cosy, friendly feel. Would definitely cruise again.

Agreed

19 hours ago, EbayCruiser said:

Thanks for all the replies.  If we go on Utopia, it will just be me & my daughter.  Niece & her friend are staying with the Princess cruise.

 

I am so back & forth, with the reserve package Princess is almost twice the price for just 2 more nights.  We have a mini suite on Princess but could not get a Jr. Suite for a good price so we will have a ocean view balcony on Utopia but we won’t be in the room very much.

 

We are now leaning towards Utopia!

 

Drop the extra price for Reserve Class. You will be fine eating in MDR or other venues with your friends. The minisuites are very nice.

22 hours ago, EbayCruiser said:

We booked the Caribbean Princess for a 6 night cruise for March '25.  There are four of us (all ladies) with 2 rooms (mini-suite with the reserve package).

 

We have never cruised Princess before but I have cruised on Holland America, RCI, & Disney once.  Looking for good food and a nice, clean ship.

 

Reading the reviews and see a lot of bad ones about old ship, sewer smells and bad food.  I realize all of this is subjective but we are paying a lot for this cruise with the reserve benefits.  

 

Now I have looked at a 4 night on the new Utopia of the Seas in October '24.  I have been on the Oasis class ships 3 times and really loved them but not sure about the crowds (children) and the food.

 

Thoughts?

If you want a Wow factor from the ship environment ( age 51) it will not be Princess. No bells and whistles. For that one person, RCI might be it. For the rest of you, and for quality interpersonal interaction in Reserve Class dining, I would go Princess, unless you are going to look around and find fault. If you want a Wow factor, book an aft Suite for the bigger balcony on the older ships. 

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Once cleared, the gangway will be open all night long.  I saw a few passengers disembarking with their luggage (your responsibility).

 

You are correct.  Flying out of Quebec is a nightmare (expensive and very few flights).

 

I am not sure you will be able to get to Montreal by train in time to catch a flight EAST.  IF...they dock in the morning, it will take a train 2.5 hours to get from Quebec to Montreal.  You would still have to clear customs and immigrations in Montreal.  It will be another hour or so (terminal is large/Nexus or Global Entry?).  

 

The train will have several fare options.  If you sign up ahead of time, there are usually Tuesday specials and a senior option.

 

https://www.viarail.ca/en

 

 

 

Clearing Customs can be a long process. Also they do not tell you exactly where to go to get to international flights so you need time to navigate. Only time I almost missed a flight.

20 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Minisuites have the shower over the bath. Not suitable for people who need an accessible cabin.

 

Also you can't just buy Reserve Class as an add-on to a regular cabin. You have to book a Reserve Class cabin to get access to Reserve Class dining.

I mean get a regular Reserve Class minisuite. It depends on your disability whether you need accessible. 

On 12/15/2023 at 4:54 AM, tml1230 said:

we never had much interest in the reserve (old club class) option .....UNTIL we tried it!  To us the instant seating and engaging staff makes for a wonderful experience! we don"t leave home without it!!

Agreed

On 3/11/2024 at 9:02 AM, JordanF said:

I read it as an extra course option. Maybe I had it wrong?  I any event, I figured I'd do fine in the food department without it. 

On 3/11/2024 at 9:02 AM, JordanF said:

I read it as an extra course option. Maybe I had it wrong?  I any event, I figured I'd do fine in the food department without it. 

The extra course is usually a specialty prepared pasta dish and often a separate salad. You may choose these over other menu items. I had never had Reserve Class until our 15 day Hawaii RT from LA on Emerald. What a pleasure to be in that environment. Not having to reserve or wait is not the half of it. Personal attention and service. Ability to add and/or modify regular menu items with ease. People showed up light casual dress & did not spend time looking at phones. A very lovely civilized experience. Will always book now going forward.

It elevated the whole travel experience. 

On 12/26/2023 at 3:01 PM, cruisinsince75 said:

We have quite the dilemma.  We are booked in a mid ship accessible mini suite.  Reserve Collection was not available for our accessible stateroom.  Our friends are in a full suite and they obviously have RC privileges which include dining.  There doesn't seem to be a way to add RC to our booking.  It appears that you can only do RC in a handful of pre-selected staterooms that are not accessible.  We are already paying extra for our mid ship location.  Is there a way to pay extra for the RC dining privileges?  I can't find any options for it anywhere.  Thanks in advance.

Do you really need accessible if you have a minisuite? Get regular & buy reserve class.

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

A lot has to do with the itinerary.  My Alaskan 16 day cruise in 2025 is over $5000 per person in a suite.  Booked on day one.  
 

iceland/Greenland is over $6 k for 16 days.  
 

I’m sure prices will only go up.  Rarely do suites drop in price.  Yes, sometimes they do, but not very often.  
 

 

How did you get that Alaska RT LA in August 2025 for 10k on Day 1.

I was quoted around 14 on VTG….about day 4

2 hours ago, memoak said:

All my friends and myself sail with the Plus package. It is just too good a deal to not get

No it is not, unless you do a lot of wine and cocktail drinking. 
 

4 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

We don't care if you've spent tens of thousands of dollars on the Sky Suite, it's FIVE DOLLARS PER CALL! 

3 hours ago, memoak said:

This is not any surprise. Read the perks 

It really makes no sense. They are pushing those packages more than they give a hoot about Suite guests. 

3 hours ago, nzrainbow said:

I booked an Interior Guarantee Cabin aboard Grand Princess recently. I've booked Interiors many, many times before on a range of Princess ships and have never before had an issue with the layout.  I was initially advised that ALL the Interior cabins on the Grand could be configured as twin singles or queen bed and also that some had 4 berths... 2 of which dropped down from the side walls. 

My booking was for a queen bed configuration. When I embarked the Cabin (Plaza 227) was configured as a twin bed bunkroom i.e 2 singles made up with 2 drop down beds folded away. I advised the Cabin steward and housekeeping steward that I required a queen bed and was told that the room couldn't be successfully reconfigured to a queen as I'd hit my head on the bunk beds when entering or exiting the bed because there was insufficient accessway either side of the queen bed.  Also that there was only one bedside cabinet (with 2 fixed bedside lamps) designed to go between the 2 single beds..... pushing the 2 singles together in the centre of the cabin meant there was insufficient room to one side for the single bedside cabinet which would then have to be placed sideways meaning the drawers could NOT be opened!

The option of a single bed, potential brain damage from bashing my head on a protruding folded bunk and an unusable bedside cabinet resulted in my agreeing to have both singles pushed together hard against one wall beneath the overhanging bunk. This allowed a wider walkway down the other side of the bed and also gave sufficient room to have the single bedside cabinet facing the correct way. This left it almost impossible for the poor steward to make the bed without climbing all over it and of course allowing entry to the queen bed from one side only!

Definitely NOT an ideal situation and I don't believe Princess should be marketing these particular cabins as suitable for a Queen configuration so have posted this in the hope that it may help someone else in the future 🙂 The first pic shows the cabin with the queen bed centered and the second with the bed pushed to one side to allow better access (for ONE person) and the use of the bedside cabinet drawers!

 

I prefer centered

The original poster must have had travel experience with 70 cruises, which is why I would ask a simple question: Why? Why did you need to go now…knowing any inaugural cruise problems…and supply issues for anything, especially since Covid. Then to add 3 cruises. What were you thinking? And to use EZ Air in this era of flight problems. Now you want Princess to take care of your lost money? I am in disbelief.

9 hours ago, NavyVeteran said:

On a British Isles cruise a few years ago, Club Class had one table for eight. It was used by my family group of four couples traveling together. Since we were the only group of eight in Club Class, no one else used that table. it was great for us. We could show up anytime and go to our table, and we didn't have to coordinate to all arrive at the same time. I will try to arrange the same on an Alaska cruise this fall when we will have a family group of ten in Reserve Dining.

Now that would be worth it !

11 hours ago, Princessfan20 said:

 

This is true and all good gamblers know this aspect of the game.  The fact is that the effect of other players at the table is random, as likely to help as hurt, whether the players are good or bad. The only sense in which other players at the table affect a good player is they make the count fluctuate faster.  

 

Others’ play at times can be frustrating, but the math proves that in the long run, the decisions of other players at the table has no effect on the expected result for a basic strategy player. You lose when you lose and win when you win and it is basically a lot of luck and no one else's fault.

A pro in Vegas taught me years ago,if you lose 4 straight hands, leave the table. You can go back if you wish, later. He also taught me about letting it ride, and when to pull back. Simple good advice.

12 hours ago, JGmf said:

 

I don't necessarily disagree with @memoak, but sometimes dumb play saves the table.  That said, I hate it more b/c it slows the rhythm of game (pensive deep thought about their hunches) and also drives me nuts on how stupid it these players can be.

Agreed.