AKman2495

We got back from one just last month. We sailed from England to Holland, France, Spain, Portugal and the Azores to FLL.

the last 6 days were at sea. The weather from France onward was sunny and warm. The last week, it was hot and humid-hot being 75-80 degrees.

We only had one day where we saw any rain and it was near Florida when we had a mid day thunderstorm blow through.

The sea was relatively calm for the entire trip.

None of your complaints have anything to do with "nickle and diming" but an overall decrease in the entire cruise experience (food, staff, coffee, drinks, etc.).

You took the words right out of my keyboard....

We were just off the royal and what a difference a god CD makes. We got tote bags and the CD promoted the wake show questions frequently during the trip.

The entire crew and waitstaff was happy and anxious to serve.

I guess the CD does make a big difference.

In all my travels, I have never gotten my passport stamped except on this last trip. It was stamped when we entered Britain. Princess cruises had dutch authorities on board in Southhampton and when we boarded, we beeped in through security as usual and proceed to a desk where our passports were stamped by the Dutch Authorities (our first port was Rotterdam).

That's it....

When the Royal came back from Europe last month disembarkation was very late, and that caused boarding for the next cruise to be delayed as was sailing time. The number of customs agents was not enough for the entire crew and all of the passengers to be cleared. We were supposed to disembark at 8:30, and it was after 10:30 when we got off, and we didn't clear customs until 11:30. It was the worst ta disembarkation in 6 ta cruises.

We were lucky, we were supposed to leave by 7:45 and actually got off around 8:00. The customs line looked bad, but actually was pretty short (there was a separate line of the crew).

We had no trouble getting to the airport by 9:00 am for an 11:00 am flight.

In this case, early was better.

Ok...it is virtually impossible to do both. As noted, all snorkeling is done off shore.

The Altun Ha ruins (which is what I think you mean re at leas t 1 hour to 1.5 hours out of Belize city-plus the tender ride to town (at least 20 minutes). I think the other poster is thinking of Cozumel, where the ride is 40 minutes.

Anyway, figure 2-3 hours at the ruins and you can see that it is one or the other....

We took a flight on Iceland air from Anchorage to Heathrow. We stopped in Reykjavik just for an hour.

Our flight included 2 free bags from the US and 1 free from Europe. Since we took a cruise from England back to the U.S. the return flight was not needed.

I agree with this assessment.

 

I'm always surprised (although by now I shouldn't be ;) ) by the percentage of folks on this board that want to eat so early. I know I'm an exception but there's no way I want to sit down to dinner when I'm on vacation at 5:30 or 6:00. I don't eat that early at home.

 

However, I'm curious. Do you think most U.S. cruisers like to eat early because they simply don't want to eat later or is it due to how they want to schedule their nights activities? I'm not judging, I'm just curious. I benefit from shorter ATD lines by dining later. :)

We eat early at home. On the cruise we figure if you get into the MDR by 6:00 pm you can easily make the 8:15 show. There are days hen some other event is occurring where we decide to go to the late show or the early shoe. In that case, we will eat later. That is one of the benefits of ATD.

Also, most of us have learned that the MDR will fill up by 6:15. People who enter in that group will not generally be done before 7:30-7:45. So, the 7 to 7:45 time frame is not ideal for ATD. It is just the way it is.

After 7:45, the MDR opens up again and it is easy to get a seat.

So, if you do not want to wait...DON"T GO TO THE MDR SAY BETWEEN 6:30 and 7:45. It is not that complicated.

People eat early because they are used to it and they know that the MDR will get full. It is as simple as that.

Coals to Newcastle:D:D

 

Exactly my feeling....

I once brought some snacks on board and never touched them....

The temps are comfortable to a little cool. I pack sport jackets, short sleeve shirts, long sleeve shirts and a light weight sweater.

I wear them all (I usually take longer cruises). I have been comfortable in whatever I am wearing.

I will say that a full theater can get warm, through, so you may want to shed a layer for the show....

We were just on a 15 day cruise. when we dined in the MDR, we made it a point to go before 6 pm. We never had to wait. One night we got there about 6:20 and got a beeper, but didn't have a long wait-we didn't have time to finish our firings in the bar.

One night, we went to the early show and ate later around 8 and, as you said, had no problem getting in. We don;t mind having a leisurely dinner aboard ship-especially if you have interesting table mates.

Going between 7 and 7 45 without reservations is asking for trouble, as you discovered. Land restaurants take reservations and ATD is supposed to be like that.

FWIW...

I was on the 27 day British Isles/TA, and sadly, by the last week of the cruise you could walk right past the attendant by the sinks and no one said a word. While the hand washing is a great policy it's only as good as enforcement. I complained to Passenger Services during week 3, and they had an extra attendant out for about an hour, and we never saw any increased enforcement.

Gee, I was on the same cruise and I dod not see that. There was online time where the attendant had stepped away for a minute. Otherwise, someone was there "on guard".

Also, virtually everyone I saw had no problem washing up before entering the buffet.

OK...the others have broken it down pretty well. Here is a real life example.

On our last cruise we went to the MDR usually before 6.We had no problems getting a table. They always ask if you want to share a table. We always say yes. Once the head waiter get to know you he or she often tries to accommodate you based on what you prefer (one guy said he specified sharing-but only for a table of 6-no bigger).

Anyway, they lead you you your table and you eat. We usually move around the MDR so we are not in the same section every night.

Once in a while, we decide to do the early show because other things are going on later. We will go to this show and then we will eat later with no problem.

That is the flexibility of anytime dining.

Now-warning-if yo get there after 8 pm, you can expect to wait-they have beepers and they will bee p you when a table is open.

Tables for two take longer to accommodate because there is a limited number of tables and a big demand for them.

FWIW.

The prepaid excursions work like this. once you book them, they will appear in the personalizer under the payment page as a separate line item. At any time, you can click on the pay excursions button and they will be charged to the card on file-just like payments for the cruise.

Of course, if you do not prepay, they will be charged to your card after the cancelation deadline has passed.

The most ships we've seen were 6 in St. Thomas, but they arrival/departure times were staggered and it didn't feel super crowded.

The most crowded was Belize with 4 ships. The pier was a madhouse and I have no idea how we made i through to get to our tour! Getting back was a little easier, but not by much.

Some have written ... "it's not worth the uncharge!" You wouldn't know that until you've tried it. We think it's well worth it!! Try it ... you might like it!!! It always amazes me that there are many who spend many 100's of dollars on alcohol but bemoan the $25 fee in a specialty restaurant.

We've never been and have no reason to go-without a promo free pass.

There is simply a lot of good food that we can get free to be motivated to spend money to eat.

I have doubt that the restaurants have good food. But, as the old saying goes...why buy the cow when milk is (in this case) free!

Hi

 

Can anyone advise how big the towels are in the cabins? Are they good size bath sheets or stupid useless ones? My husband & I hate silly sized towels. Also do you hath to bring your own towels for swimming ?

Thank you

Actually, they have four sizes of towels in each cabin. two small face cloths, two hand towels, two large bath towels, which are quite large. They should work for you. Aldo, there is a bath mat and two pool towels, with blue and white striping. Note that you can get plenty of pool towels up on the pool decks. The pool towels are good size but are not ginormous.

Also, if you take your towels ashore, you must bring them back or you will be charged for them.

That's because using the internet while on vacation is not a priority for the typical Princess passenger who tends to subscribe to the "Escape Completely" theme and lock their devices in the safe for the length of their cruise..

As a Platinum cruiser I get a certain number of "free" internet minutes. I say "a certain number" because I really am not interested. I'm on vacation!; I have no interest in contacting anyone.

Well, you guys are the exceptions. On our last cruise-the Royal TA, I would say most of the passengers were on line for much of the trip.

As the article notes, people track Facebook and other social media sites, they do check e-mail and they do like to chat. Both on the ship's computers, which were busy most days and on their personal devices.

Princess passengers will enjoy this upgrade as soon as it comes....

I was on the same cruise and we never felt humiliated by the washing process. Moreover, as far as I can tell none of the other people we saw felt that way. Most people were happy to see the cleanliness practice in use.

The attendants were always friendly and would even hold my Pizza while I washed (I like pizza DW prefers the buffet.)

The stations are permanently installed and are intended to be used!

At Southampton before our last cruise 4 people were called out to security ashore. One has a small knife and the other a leatherman tool. Neither was allowed to keep them.

On our last cruise, we met a few single seniors at dinner in the MDR. We always like to share and they will seat you with no problem. In fact, one day, we shared a table with two single seniors!

I can understand what people who have cruised for many years are saying-not from cruising but my experience on the flight home.

We have only been cruising since 2012 and find it a delightful way to travel and it meets all of our expectations and more!

On the flight home, however, I upgraded to first class. That flight was in stark contrast to previous first class flights. First of all, they added an extra row of seats so legroom was cut down. Second, the men, while good, was pedestrian. There were no salt and pepper shakers on the tray. The tray has a simple paper cover instead of the cloth cover. Drinks were plentiful, but the flight attendants were often relaxing someplace else.

Finally, near the end of the flight, they passed out the hot towels, which were small scrawny little things that did not hold their heat very long....A sad reflection from the past....

It happened to me on the same cruise!!!! once...after I left the card overnight on top of my Kindle with the magnetic case cover.

After that I let the two apart and had no further problems.....

I suppose there is a point where subjectivity becomes universal....except some person was actually wearing that t-shirt, and someone else sold it, and someone else manufactured it. So maybe it isn't universal at all.

 

If I were manning the door and steerlers36 showed up wearing a Jerome Bettis "game worn" jersey, it would be: "Right this way. I have a great table for you." If someone else showed up wearing a Ray Lewis jersey, it would be: "Uhhh. The buffet is up on Lido Deck!" :D

That brings to mind the bunch of ladies wearing their orange Bronco's jerseys in the casino on the Crown during last year's Super Bowl. By the half, they looked embarrassed....

I just think it's sad when the waiters and room stewards are dressed nicer than the passengers.:(

Hear! Hear!