seapals2

17 hours ago, clubcardcruiser said:

I'm interested to know what package is needed/best to be able to at least make voice calls via WhatsApp or FaceTime? 

We plan to only purchase by the day for use on sea days.  Mobile will work in the med for us for WhatsApp calls on 3G/4G and whilst in port.  Probably have to have the higher price day rate onboard.  Is this a 24 hour rate from time of purchase?   Could use over two days if purchase in the afternoon and continue following morning.  

We had the Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc at the Captain Circle lunch but tried unsuccessfully to get it at any bar.  They gave me the regular and tried to charge the additional cost.  Makes you feel like the wine police .. asking to see the bottle.  😵‍💫.  Whispering Angel Rose was the same.  Before long it will just be white or red .. take it or leave it!   The casino bar went tho the most effort to try and get named wines but after a couple of days we just gave up.  

14 hours ago, GE65 said:

On Enchanted last week a kind waitress in Sabatinis gave us this list of wines that she recommended we should try in the other restaurants / bars to make full use of our premium package. She told us to be insistent as these were in stock.

Asking for these in the MDR led to a 20 minute wait as the waiter disappeared somewhere to get them. By mid week we were offered a “double” to save them a second journey. The bottles were to hand in the Crown Grill Bar and some in Crooners.  
Interestingly, in the Bistro my wife had a glass of the Chalk Hill (20 min wait) but her refill was the Sauvingion from the counter! 
The Bel Gloss and Zinfandel were my favourites. 

Princess Plus has been the start of a whole different concept of drinking onboard.  Can’t say we enjoyed it and wouldn’t have it again if it was an option.  

When I tried to order premier wines by the glass and prepared to pay the difference 3out of 4 were not available.  
Princess are in a cost cutting exercise right now and sorry but it shows. 
 

On Enchanted there is no Vines … there is the Salty Dog gastropub in its place.  
No wine flights.  

If you have the plus package you will only be offered a red or white wine.  White wines come in Chardonnay .. Pinot Grigio .. Sauvignon Blanc

Red wines .. Merlot .. Shiraz or Malbec.  
Gone are the days of a wine menu unless you are purchasing a bottle.  You can request a premier named wine and pay extra but a lot are not available.  
The wine was our biggest disappointment..  tried all the whites and most of the reds there was very little difference in quality all were cheap Italian plonk.  The Shiraz got the most votes.  We did get very big pours but guess that was just to make less visits to the bar for the waiters.  

We had mini suite but only hand soap in dispenser and shower gel and shampoo dispensers in the bath/shower area.  No priority boarding.  We only made the evening cocktail hour once .. no atmosphere in the Vista Lounge on Enchanted.  We did make the most travelled lunch which was excellent.  👍🏻  

Received notification from Princess this morning with regard to departure terminal for our sailing on Enchanted 16th August.  No mention of the important changes to Covid testing procedure.  
I wonder when we will find out.  Presumably at the terminal when everyone gets out their paperwork.  There will be many with unnecessary paid for test certificates.  It will be … ‘you can put those away ..we don’t need to see them anymore ‘.    Thank you for wasting your money. 

I think when they issue an update it is meant to replace preceding information.  
My issue is the fact that’s it’s been done with no pre warning of change.  There will certainly still be passengers paying and booking tests right now.
We sail on the 16th and have received no official notification from Princess or TA.  We can cancel our DAM screening test but will be charged admin fees.  For those that sail sooner there is no refund if cancelled within 48 hours.   NCL at least gave their customers some notice of change.  
 

Finally we have an update.  Certificates no longer needed for UK sailings.  Passengers will be required to self test and attest to a negative result before boarding.  

Sorry these links aren’t opening for me.  😕

It says to check requirements of countries visited.  I am on a Southampton sailing to Canaries.  None of the ports require vaccinated visitors to have proof of Covid test.  

I’m sure the testing company would not be able to state the requirements without having checked with the cruise line but I will give them a call to confirm.  
Quite clearly on the 28 July update Princess states a certificate of negative test is required.  It does not add ‘supervised’.   If you check out the UK health testing website it shows a sample certificate you receive following uploading your test result.  
The whole process is a total waste of time and money with no guarantee of being Covid free on the day of boarding. I will just be happy to be wasting the minimum amount of money.  
 

On 7/28/2022 at 5:01 PM, carlucas said:

Princess has just updated its Covid rules for criuses departing from UK

https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/uk-southampton-cruises/

I don't see any relevant change

 I read it that they now only require a certificate not a supervised test.  
UK health testing website confirms this. 
I can purchase a certificate only with my own test kit for £4.95 

check out UK health testing https://ukhealthtesting.com/ 
 

Thank you for posting your detailed review and photo/videos.   Adding it here in the forum gives everybody the opportunity to reply and ask questions.  👍🏻   
We join the ship March 20th for 20 nights and have a similar itinerary.  We have done over 50 cruises but with a long break from Florida and Caribbean ports we are looking forward to relaxing In the sunshine once more.  Even with all the extra testing and paperwork!   
 

Presuming that even with more ships in port they are all sailing at around  50% capacity.  We are looking forward to 20 March Caribbean sailing and hoping that ports are less crowded.  Over years the volume of visitors has taken away a lot of the appeal of a Caribbean cruise.  We find ourselves staying onboard and enjoying the sunshine when six or more ships are lined up.  Even Princess Cays has lost some the original magic with thousands of sunbeds now lining the beach.  It gets harder to find a quiet spot in the shade … anyone else remember those little straw thatched umbrellas. 

On 2/25/2022 at 5:11 PM, san diego sue said:

So you think Covid testing is  beyond a joke when you  got your two shots plus booster. I pretty much isolate and barely go out unless I have to. Right before I was to cruise to Hawaii tested positive  for Covid. I had the two shots plus booster. This isn't a joke. Testing is necessary. Even if you don't think you are sick and that slight cold starting feels like a cold but isn't.

Sorry but I agree it’s the testing system that’s a joke.  
if someone tests 3 days before joining the ship there is ample time for them to pick up a Covid infection pre boarding.  
Here in the UK everyone is tested free of charge immediately before boarding at the port.  No exceptions.  Positive result will prevent boarding.  

 

2 minutes ago, seapals2 said:

 

Sorry .. assumed you were arriving in UK.   Testing is free of charge sailing of Southampton.  Not sure about the Mediterranean ports.  If you are boarding shortly after flying the  requirement for your flight should still be valid for cruise.  If you are doing a hotel stay pre cruise Princess should advice on what is required.  

16 minutes ago, wowzz said:

I was talking about cruises departing from Barcelona, Rome etc. Will Princess require negative tests for those cruises  ?

On 2/3/2022 at 9:01 AM, mturvey said:

Thank you so much for all your help. 
We tried to sign up for this previously but needed to enter a US address.  We will contact Princess again and ask for their advice on how to sign up for this and at the same keep our fingers crossed the rules may change before we go.

we entered our hotel address in Palm Beach and it was ok.  We have a timed slot before embarkation. Looks like there are only 50 places available per each 30 minute time slot.  Book early to ensure you get a slot that fits with your embarkation time the early slots were already half full.  

On 2/24/2022 at 10:45 PM, wowzz said:

I wonder what Princess will do when the European cruises start ? For the majority of people flying into European departure ports, trying to arrange testing will be a logistical nightmare.

Adopting the procedure as used in Southampton last year, with LFTs being carried out at the port would seem to be the logical answer.

You don’t need to test for arrival into UK.