paddingtonbear

I agree with just about every thought in this post - except perhaps the speculation on Carnival/Princess business motivations.

 

 

 

I'm just off a really fantastic cruise on the Regal - which was a redeeming surprise after an generally unsatisfactory Royal cruise the previous year (in retrospect remind self to NEVER cruise at Christmas). That said' date=' while I appreciate the Royal class ships and what the offer, the line just isn't feeling like the Princess I fell in love with. I've dabbled a bit with Cunard and it's fine for what it is, but it isn't going to be my new go-to. I was so frustrated with the lack of 10day Caribbean options and PRICING for next winter that I'm actually going to try HAL. I normally take a minisuite and after my Regal cruise would only go on one of the extended balcony minis mid-ship but on HAL I saved over $1400 and got a suite. I doubt they will be my new go-to but it's a great itinerary and I'm sure it will be "fine."

 

 

 

For all of you who commented about Princess Live - it's going away on the next new ship. That whole area including the Wheelhouse and Crown Grill are being reconfigured. (heard this on the Regal).[/quote']

 

 

Cruising Chris,

I would love to hear a HAL vs princess report on this princess board after your cruise if you get a chance.

Aw, that was a lovely thing to do, Bob++. Nice to hear that Eurostar value their Bob!!

We booked our London to Paris Eurostar tickets 6 months out (as soon as seats went on sale for our dates) online after studying the seat61.com site about where to sit. This got us the cheapest seats and the best selection.

Then three months out (on the date seats went on sale) I rang Bob and booked our Edinburgh to London train trip through him. This ensures that if our train is late, even though we bought the cheap seats, we can get on the next train at no extra cost.

Bob was fantastic. He couldn't choose seats on the Edinburgh to London train but miraculously we got great seats on the best side of the train for that trip!

Great experience thanks to everyone's advice on this board.

We are really looking forward to our trip.

Are these Australian?

 

I've heard of "how's it hanging" but I would never use it and I don't know anyone who would except maybe in jest.

 

I haven't heard of the other two. Are you sure it's not: Howya doin'?

I just wanted to report back that a builder we know arrived today and addressed my husband by saying "How's it hangin'"

They then had a lively debate as to whether it should be: how're THEY hangin' OR how's IT hangin'

THEY won!

Colloquial slang used by a few in semi jest. It's a guy thing!

can we use british pounds or us dollars in st peter port.

GBP but be aware that you want to ask for GBP in change or you might get the local currency - the Guernsey Sterling - which is only legal tender on a few islands.

You can use a credit or debit card. You cannot use USD.

You can add coffee cards, boutique purchases, gratuities, excursions, and everything else that you charge to your room.

 

If you make a large purchase at Facets (jewelry store), they sometimes allow you to put that directly on any credit card of your choice.

 

OBC doesn't go as far as you would like it to go.

Thanks. I was having difficulty thinking of the things I might want over and above coffee and gratuities. I guess I will learn quickly. : )

Yes. OBC is just a credit to your account. As charges hit it, the credit is used up

So OBC is used for drinks, gelato, gratuities, excursions (if doing any), casino money, speciality restaurants and photos. Anything else?

Well you need to do a little more research then that. :cool:

There are options.

THere are lots of bigger balconies on various decks.

Stirling Scotland or West Australia or South Australia?

We stole all your names when we migrated 200 years ago : )

I haven't been to Scotland yet so if it is Stirling Scotland then no.

The post of mine above is ambiguous. When we first arrive this trip we will be going to Ireland then Scotland. Then England and we finish with the British Isles cruise. So when we are on the cruise we will be coming back to Scotland and get the chance to see things we might have missed the first time (just a few weeks before).

Hi

 

 

 

Never had an issue with rough seas around UK,

 

 

 

wind has been an issue, missed Guernsey as its an open water anchorage,

 

 

 

been late in to Dublin a few times,

 

 

 

Emerald and a few other ships have been trapped in port before but this has been last cruise of the season,

 

 

 

 

 

as such cabin location not a bit issue for me,

 

 

 

might visit either Edinburgh or Greenock do you know what you are doing these days

 

 

 

PS Snow and ice forecast for next week but only on high ground

 

 

 

yours Shogun

Shogun,

We will have been to Edinburgh so we will do what we missed the first time.

Greenoch I think we will do one of the local friends of Greenwich bus tours.

On the deck plans some rooms eg C250>C246 have an interconnecting door between the cabins. Is the wall that this door goes through the wall that the head of the bed is against?

Hi

A few newby questions:

On the Royal around the British Isles I assume it might get a bit rough so I've narrowed the choice of cabin down to mid aft or mid forward. Are both the same for comfort at sea if it's a bit rough?

Is deck 10 ok or is higher up better for comfort at sea and proximity to things? Or are decks 9-14 pretty much the same?

Level 10 available opposite interior cabins other levels mostly opposite lifts, laundry, the divider between sections etc

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The strange greeting "How ya diddling" was taken up by the comedian Alexei Sayle as his catchphrase. See YouTube "The All New Alexei Sayle show Bobby Chariot" a sketch where Sayle portrays one of the bottom five warm up comedians.

 

egards John

Interesting. He's British isn't he? Not sure he got that one right - I've never heard it used - but goodness what do I know?

Do you know of any brick and mortar stores that carry Eagle Creek luggage? I have seen it online but I'm extremely hesitant to order something I can't actually look at and check out personally.

 

Edit: D'Oh! Lame. I Googled it and there is a store location function for retailers of Eagle Creek luggage. Sadly I had to expand the search to 100 miles to find a retailer "in my area" but at least I found the information. I can't believe I asked such a dorky question when I know better.

 

http://shop.eaglecreek.com/store/storelocator.aspx

I know exactly how you feel. I asked a shop keeper if they knew the phone number of a store they were sending me to. It wasn't until I got to the car that I realised I had a functioning iphone in my pocket and could have "googled" it.

I think it better for people from all over the world to give their greetings as it would be said in their own country certainly use your accent to explain away any faux pas. Everybody will know where they are and what is happening. Expressions like "Arrite mate how's it hanging" or "Watchacocka" or "Howya diddling" might be used to greet the wrong type of person and lead to problems.

 

Regards John

Are these Australian?

I've heard of "how's it hanging" but I would never use it and I don't know anyone who would except maybe in jest.

I haven't heard of the other two. Are you sure it's not: Howya doin'?

Hi Paddingtonbear,

Will see what l can do for you, it's 20 c in Glasgow today

It's 15C here today and headed lower. Pouring with rain. Snow in the mountains (miles and miles from here, thank goodness.)

I am looking forward to 20C : )

We are going to be in Scotland from May 24 until June 12 then back again to do the British isles cruise later in June. Hopefully the weather will be warm but I am prepared for any eventuality : )

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The waves were 11 metres high. The lifts were hitting the walls of the lift shafts.

Poor people who missed their flights only to land and find domestic flights delayed and many international flights diverted to Melbourne and Brisbane.

How quickly can I get from the port to the airport? Well, it depends....

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Because the Retreat pool has sloping handrails and stairs that descend into the pool, I don't believe it would be adequate or safe for attempting laps.

 

The main pool is unobstructed on either end, although I can't tell you it's length and whether laps could be accomplished.

 

The main pool looks fine. My DH is going to have to do laps on the cruise to counter act the food!

It is a really port intensive cruise so he'd have to be up early to swim. Very interesting to see how he goes. Thank you very much.

Hi

Can anyone tell me if any of the pools on the Royal are long enough to be used for laps in the early morning? If so what time would they start to be used by sun lovers on the British Isles Cruises? Does anyone ever use them to do laps?

ummmmm Cronut!

 

Oh my goodness! The food! My DH is going to get chubby on our 12 day cruise! : )

Anyone know of a workaround so that when accessing the Princess website I can see fares in US$. It appears that Canadian I.P. addresses cause Cdn$ prices to be shown with no option to change to an alternate currency.

 

 

 

Have for some time been using a US online TA for booking cruises. Great site for research then speak to a human to make the booking! While this may seem odd I worked in the US for a number of years and as a result have the ability to pay in US$.

 

 

 

Would be nice to monitor prices on Princess; compare to TA prices then make contact if Princess shows less than TAs prices.

Use tunnelbear.

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Glad to hear it ducklite. If it makes me mad (a normally laid back Aussie) I can only imagine how other more volatile souls might react.

Most planes have a donation scheme going where you can donate any currency of coins (or notes!) in flight to a children's charity. Lovely way to get rid of left over foreign currency.

I've heard them referred to both ways (as well as Twonies and Twones) by my Canadian friends.

 

It would be very inappropriate for him to ask a Canadian guest to exchange money. I can't imagine tipping a bellman in Canada with US dollars and can't understand why some Canadians feel it's appropriate to tip in the States with Canadian currency.

Lots of people on these boards suggest tipping US dollars in Britain and Europe.

In Oz the banks will not exchange coins only notes.

I imagine it's the same in the U.S., Canada and around the world.

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Thanks for the link. Very helpful. No need to worry about being close to it at all : )

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I had E703 on the Royal for my 17-day trans-Atlantic cruise in September. IMHO, the "700" obstructed view balcony cabins are the best balcony deal on the ship. They aren't obstructed, very easy access to Promenade deck, very quiet and among the cheapest balcony cabins. I loved the location (and price) and can't think of a single "con."

Hi Pam,

They are all gone!

Can someone please tell me what the concierge lounge is on level 14 of the Royal Princess? IT is next to the wedding chapel. Would the cabins below on level 12 be quiet?