CruisingObsessed

Yay!!! I have been rereading and enjoying your past blog, hoping you would have another one soon. I love travel blogs and yours is one of my favorites. I so enjoy your trips and your style of reporting them. May you have safe and happy travels this winter as well!

Thanks as always for your Live From Threads! I have enjoyed them for years, and we want to do this cruise someday so it's especially interesting to read this one. Sounds fortunate we do not tend to seasickness!

My wife and I are booked on a Princess British Isles cruise next summer. I came across this excursion on the Princess website.

 

I hope someone who has done this excursion can answer a couple of questions. I’ve searched Cruise Critic and the internet but can’t find any information that has the specific information I’m looking for. Often times, descriptions don't go into details.

 

My answers in BOLD

Question one: During the Louvre visit, is there a guide that stays with the group for the entire visit, or only part of the time and then you are free to wander around the museum?

 

Below is a description from the website about the Louvre visit.

 

“Upon arriving at the Louvre, you'll marvel at this former royal palace. Today, it's perhaps the greatest repository of fine art in the world. Experienced guide offer highlights of this vast collection, including the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory, Leonardo de Vinci's immortal Mona Lisa, and other paintings by such masters as Delacroix and Gericault. You'll have free time to browse in the museum shop before departing for lunch.”

 

There was a guide and they preferred to keep everyone in a big group, but, we hate that. We were able to get the guide to tell us a meeting spot and time, then went on our way. It appeared others did so as well when we rejoined them.

 

Question 2: Is there any free time to take pictures after lunch? I noticed on internet pictures there seems to be a outside walkway on the same level as the restaurant. Below is a description from the Princess website about lunch.

 

“You'll enjoy lunch at 58 Tour Eiffel, a restaurant on the first floor of the tower, while viewing charming views of Paris from the venue's large windows. When it's time to call it a day, you'll snap a photo or two of the imposing tower before your return drive to the pier.”

 

There was free time after lunch, but not long, maybe half an hour? Skip desert if you want more. We walked up to the top, then bought a fridge magnet on the way down (yes, there's a store ON the tower), and had a bathroom break and the buses were loading.

 

Often times, descriptions are incomplete. Thanks for sharing your experience with me.

Overall not a bad excursion. I would have preferred it was a city WALK instead of DRIVE, but the guide was interesting, and it covered the sites we wanted to see for an overview. We hadn't been there before. The ride in and time on your own would be fine too, but we wanted lunch in the tower, and the view was magnificent. We are glad we took this excursion. Hope that helps.

Loved your review. Thanks for taking us with you!

Having sailed in both a deluxe balcony and a min-suite on Royal/Regal, there are just a few more differences than mentioned---the mini suite has a curtain between the bed and the sitting area, so if one person is resting while the other is up, it's nice. There are 2 TVs. There's a bathtub. And you get champagne when you sail away. Otherwise--yes, the balcony is the same. The couch on the mini is full sized and the deluxe balcony is a love seat. The sitting area in the mini is larger. Both are nice; if the price is similar I go up--if it's a thousand dollars, probably not worth it.

Last year on Regal it was per person, no break for a second person, for the week. I honestly don't remember how much and that might have changed. It wasn't that bad. Loved the Enclave.

Doesn't anyone else who has cruised for a while find that the new generation of mass market cruise ships--like Royal and Regal, both of which I have sailed on, are just too crowded? I've started doing more land based vacations because of this.

Nice, thanks for sharing!

Thanks for the review! How was the red frog pub? Isn't that in the main lobby area?

It was supposedly happening on the Regal 2 weeks ago. We checked it out 2 nights---one night it was open, one night it was not (no it wasn't Captain's Circle Party night). They were using the room for a private event so cancelled the elite/plat happy hour.

I'd rather have drink credits to use for discounted drinks at my leisure, honestly.

Hi, the question is in the title. Trying to decide which night to book specialty dining.

Thanks!

Was it Port or Starboard that faced the glacier the whole time? I'm going in a few weeks and want to figure out if my port side balcony will be good.

Thanks!

It was Starboard, but I don't know if that's every time

Hi, We are docking at Askerhus and I am interested in buying Oslo passes. I'm confused by some of the posts... has anyone used the phone app and does it work well? Is it only for seniors (we aren't quite there yet)? Is there a will call that can save you time if you buy ahead? I thought there was a place at Askerhus where you can buy them or do you have to do that at the TI near city hall? Thanks for the information!

Fabulous review with beautiful photos, thanks!

If they would only serve the exact food in the Horizon buffet as in the DR most of the problems caused by people not wanting to dress formally would go away.

Exactly! Or dedicate one dining room to smart casual. Then those who enjoy could have the entire dining room full of fancy gowns, tuxes, etc, which I admit is beautiful and special feeling in that old time sailing tradition kind of way. Not everyday stuff..

The reason we rarely indulge is that, at this point in our travels, we usually take exotics and backpack around before and after the cruise. Packing a tux just isn't practical--or possible unless we add a suitcase. And we've done the whole formal thing many times. But we miss the fancy dinner food!

So, are these Baltic ports as expensive as I've been hearing?

Love to lunch in ports, but read that fish and chips and 2 beers could be $70.

Spending 3 nights in Copenhagen pre cruise...tips?

I know it's vacation but want to spend wisely

Doing this next month do take with grain of salt, but tips from my research for Copenhagen (we are spending 3 days there also): Buy beers from vendors and drink on the street, it's cheaper. Look for Smorebrod shops, which are local open faced sandwiches. Take and picnic in a nice local park, which cuts cost dramatically and they will wrap them for you. Avoid breakfast in the hotel and look for the local pastry chain, (long name starting with "L"), one in train station--buy that, make coffee in your room, voila save $30 for 2 people. Buy a Copenhagen card, which covers public transport and do your museum tours that day as they are included.

Also, eat like a King at lunch and pauper at dinner, will save $$.

All over the Baltic, we expect restaurants to be costly. So we will picnic or eat on the ship; and treat ourselves in Berlin. Germany isn't that expensive (we've been there before), and it's too far to return to the ship for lunch.

Have fun!

Are you sure about that?

I was on that sailing too, and was told we were at Endicott Arm

I was on that sailing too (June 6-13). We were in Tracy Arm. And yes, the ship parked for some time with the same side of the ship facing the glacier. I was surprised it didn't turn.

Fabulous review, thanks so much! Really enjoying it.

We are going on this trip in August and are Elite so we can use the priority line as well. I've been wondering what time to show up to the pier. You said the lines moved well, what time did you go?

I do not feel that it is worth USD29, on top of what you have already paid in your cruise fare, to eat there, the food in the MDR is very good (and free). And where you can eat as much as you want.

This highlights what people forget. You already paid for dinner. The $29 plus tip is EXTRA, so it's no great bargain. It still might be worth it to some folks, and that's fine, but eating in the specialty dining is expensive.

Kind of a shame they don't have mixed plates like a surf and turf option---smaller amounts of each protein, but 2-3 different kinds on the plate, for those who don't need quantity but would like variety. I find CG starters to be lacking. I'd gladly give them up for a surf and turf or 2 different meats with some veggies; and have ordered lobster tail and the 6 oz filet and skipped the starter in the past. With that option at a costly $39 plus, I'm done eating there.

Thanks! :) I will definitely do that. One of his complaints about not wanting to cruise was "eating with strangers". It's not that he isn't friendly or nice or personable, he is just not very comfortable with new people. On NCL, which I am not comparing, but much more familiar with is all, you go to the MDR when you go (or not) and get seated with whom you arrive so the concept of set tables, times, and dining companions is still a bit foreign to me and seems way too "structured" for his tastes.

 

 

If we choose not to eat in MDR one night (we do have steakhouse reservations one night as well) do we need to inform the maitre d' or will he just figure it out if we don't show up?

 

We do plan on seeing the shows, and I am staking out a seat in the comedy club every night. Comedy is my thing more than music; Jeff is into live music though, so I am sure we will make the rounds for that too. :)

We sailed Legend recently. Great entertainment team--one of the best I have seen, so you will find things to do. Good call on the comedy, the hostess/manager is fun, and the comedians they get are first class. Legend also has a pub band (and there are games in the back you can play for free while you listen), and there is always some sort of activity from crafts to trivia. The piano bar guy is hilarious--this is not your Grandmother's piano bar!

The buffet often has much of the food served in the MDR, my DH is also not fond of eating with strangers. But the food is good on this ship, even in the buffet.

You are staying almost exactly where we did; that room is decent for movement--but honestly, in Alaska, that's not too bad usually anyway.

Don't count out Tracy Arm; we made in in June. But if you don't, Endicott is pretty.

We had the YTD in Alaska (our 1 and only time we did that) and I agree about the poor service in the MDR. I'm not sure if it was related to that, or if the scheduled time diners had the same issues. Often had to wait longer than normal times for things.

 

I didn't see those problems in the comedy club though, it wasn't that crowded when we went, nothing like the Magic last November!! :o Standing in line for 30-40 minutes before the show doors opened.

 

As far as Tracy Arm I don't think I've heard of any ships making it in there. I followed the news/reports last summer before we went and I've read some this summer and haven't seen any making it in there. Having never been to Tracy Arm, I wouldn't know what I was missing. I thought Endicott was beautiful!

Legend made Tracy Arm on the 6th-13th sailing (I was on that one) and a few others. I've seen both Arms, there are advantages to either. Tracy is a bit deeper. To the OP: Safety is #1, if for any reason it's not safe, they will take you to as comparable a place as possible. I hope you both enjoyed, Alaska is fabulous no matter where you go and the Legend was a real joy to sail on.

It varies some from ship to ship but Santa comes on all of them. It snows in the atrium (fake, of course). There are Christmas Carols, cookies, and treats. "Elves" host activities in the atrium. There will probably be some shows with the holiday theme. The ship is decorated throughout. Holiday trivia. Christmas carols sung by the ship's solo artists. It's fun---IF you like kids. Lots of families sail during the holidays. So if you can be patient through a little chaos here and there I highly recommend it.

Book excursions on the pier or through Viator--the ship excursion prices are much higher, and they use the same companies.

I know there are people out there with more urgent questions, but let me toss out a frivolous first-world problem:

 

Assuming we take all the cruises we have booked, we'll reach Elite on the Princess loyalty ladder in October of 2018. What kind of cruise would you take to best make use of the added benefits?

 

-- A long cruise would give us plenty of chances to use the laundry perk, but the complimentary mini-bar wouldn't last long.

 

-- Something with a lot of tender ports would give us a lot of chances to pull rank. But c'mon, that's sick.

 

So what kind of cruise would you take (or did you take) to celebrate your Elite-ness?

 

Jim

My first as elite was just a 7 day Mexico, DH was a 12 days British Isles. The 7 day Mexico we drank the mini-bar; the British Isles we used the laundry. It's all good! :cool:

I think quiet and easy walk to interesting stuff are probably mutually exclusive in Copenhagen and most large European cities...You could stay somewhere quiet that is an easy train/subway/bike ride to the interesting stuff, or if you are looking for a King bed in the center of the stuff, Scandic Palace has them--but they even admit on their site it's not quiet. You can get rooms in your budget there, trend them as hotel rooms in Scandanavia change their rates often and by how many have been sold/how close the date it.