kcfoxy

First meal off the ship, Mexican food such as a Carnitas Platter...don't have a huge appetite after all the food shipboard but really miss good Mexican fare.

As for a single item? Be they bangers or 'American' style link pork sausages, our 15 day Royal TA last Fall yielded up some nasty sawdusty replicas, good on first bite with a promising snap and fair seasoning, then a pasty suet and flour filler at the end. Meh :cool:

Dearest Amelia,

We are vicariously experiencing this exciting and historic voyage with you on the original Love Boat with the original LB cast! Lovely postings...

I am a huge fan of the smaller ships, and as you know, mobility issues R Moi, too. Admire your cleanse resolve and am sending you some healing Mojo for your poor knees. Glad things have turned out to be exciting and happening and social...we are with you in spirit...just picture Richard Ramsfan in his blue fur headress with buffalo horns :D

This is a wonderful was to spend a rainy day, sipping espressos and savoring the crema, food porn, art porn, architectural porn, tidbits on bathrooms, bits about walking distances and terrain....oh, and the photos, too!

My name is Casey, I'm a newly senior citizen RN...must use oxygen at home and wheelchair or cane on travels, but I feel like I've been to some areas we might otherwise not experience after managing 34 pages thus far. Adore Norman Love desserts, dry/wacky humor, food, travel, cruising, Tom Baker as my favorite Time Lord and lots of lovely armchair adventures such as this one in particular.

Please count me in as a huge new fan and keep on sharing. Barcelona and all things Gaudi not far to go now? :cool:

Ship

Royal Princess

Class

Royal

Deck

Baja

Stateroom #

B435

Category

B3

Port/Starboard/Bow/Stern

Starboard

Connects With Cabin #

N/A

Accessible

Yes

Quiet

Yes

Balcony Size

13' by 4' (oversized as far as length)

View

Excellent view.

Privacy Issues

None.

Wind

Totally protected from the wind.

Soot

None

Problems

Near water tight doors and elevators. Neither was an issue.

Comments

Exactly mid ship. No passenger stairs. 6 elevators, smaller than on some ships. Many elevators coming down full or going up at capacity, allow an extra 5-10 minutes, not as much wait on off times. We hardly felt motion at all.

Cabin about 3 feet wider than standard balcony, no threshold at main entry and bathroom, metal ramp out to balcony if needed.

Showing width of AC balcony cabin with very large desk area, mini frig and extra storage. Besides desk chair and small table, (far right), there is a smallish upholstered club chair, double closet and room safe.

ADA compliant bathroom, no threshold doorway 34-36" wide, elevated toilet with grab bars to each side, roll-up sink, trade off of less cubbies, door hooks at two heights, climate controls and rocker panel light switches accessible from WC as well as standing.

No threshold shower with pull down bench, sturdy to 300+ lbs. Hand held or stationary shower head, usual shampoo and body wash. We used the shower curtain and even with floor drains outlining the 'shower' area, still needed a towel or two to sop up the excess; not judged a hardship.

Two cot-sized 'twins' (30" x 72") separated by large and useful night stands, each with 4 large drawers, really helped with storage. Plus storage nook, and table top large enough to accommodate his and her CPAP machines!

That is nothing like the veal chop I had at Sabatini's. Mine was less than half that size and poor quality [emoji32]

So sorry to hear that. Quess you could file that under the Your Mileage May Vary heading...here's another glimpse of Richard Ramsfan's hunk o' meat. He's a rather large fellow and this was quite filling along with the short rib penne pasta, salad and bread. ;)

This is a similar concept to Qsine on Celebrity. You don't share with strangers only those in your party. We went with another couple they shared their chioces and my wife and I picked other items. I din't mind the concept but the price was $45 pp and in my opinion not worth it. It was a $20 pp experience at best. I am willing to give this new restaurant a try but I am wondering what the price will be if it's carrying the Curtis Stone name. I will miss the veal chop at Sabatini's.

Absolutely divine!

Yes, it was a very good experience. I was somewhat saddened to see several 1 star reviews and although I understand shipboard experiences can vary, there was precious little that was even average, and more than enough above so for my rating IMHO.

As far as the dearth of towel animals :rolleyes: it might also depend upon your particular room steward. We often supply them with construction paper in black, red and blue for the details of such critters, and usually they love this thoughtful gift in addition to extras they have earned ;)

BTW: One of our Roll Call members indicates she and her (adult) daughter had received 3 towel beasts by the halfway point. Very sweet and they were not Suite passengers by the by.

Here is the souvenir cruise pin given out at our Meet & Greet as a lightweight, (easily packable), vacation memento. But after signing up 270 for the M&G itself, I might just enjoy the next one as a guest rather than host :D

We have cruised a couple handfuls of times since 1999, but this is our first time trying Princess, Royal Princess and a late Summer Transatlantic voyage. The Cliff Notes version, for those desiring the bottom line is that we liked it very much, thought the food was better than NCL, the Royal was gorgeous & it only took a week or so after returning before booking another cruise; 4 stars.

********

For everyone else, here is the full cruise review with a bit of the before hand but none of the after...

We have done many sailings with NCL, and one each with Carnival and HAL, but this was our first ever with Princess, and overall it was a very good introduction. I originally wanted to experience their British Isles itinerary, loving many of the Scottish, Irish and English ports of call, but we decided instead to do a mini tour of some bucket list Western European ports and then a leisurely 6 days of sea days back to the United States.

We are late 50's to mid 60's with a variety of major health issues. I will mention this for the benefit of other likewise disabled/mobility impaired to help provide some insight into what such an adventure includes. 5 new airports, 6 new countries, a new ocean to cross and a new cruise line to experience.

The United and Icelandair staff provided airport wheelchair transfers and/or shuttles through much of the long concourses, and we rented our own wheelchair for the cruise itself. That one was available in our accessible cabin, but for both embarkation and debarkation, Royal Princess provided wheelchair assist.

After spending a few nights in a Heathrow area hotel, the better to lessen our West Coast jet lag, the transport company gave us a little stop at Stonehenge then delivered us right to our newish Southampton cruise dock around 1:30 PM. We were informed this was 'perfect timing' as a noontime power outage had put the cabash on all registration and boarding, for a full hour.

Our tour bus was parked behind another, and the covered walkway to the terminal itself was about 120 yards. We both began walking, I with one huge suitcase, 1 heavy CPAP case, largish purse and mini quad cane while DH forged ahead. Since there is also a serious lung condition, stops every 20 or so yards was the norm.

How fortunate that a very nice couple stopped to ask if they could help out! Between us, the last 40 yards wasn't so daunting, especially when a very energetic greeter named Jerry burst through the double glass doors brandishing my chariot, er, transport wheelchair. We literally whisked past all lines straight up to the handicapped registration. Passports and cruise documents furnished and it was only 10 minutes more until we were handed off to Princess transport team...our smiling driver recruited from the onboard room service staff.

First impressions. What a beautiful ship. Spotlessly clean. Huge central Piazza, 3 stories high with many bars and bistros all around. Plush and opulent without seeming garish...not a Las Vegas vibe, as with Carnival. By design, one trade-off is lack of a central staircase, beyond deck 7 for pax, although behind double doors there is definitely one for mainly crew us, except right before/after the afternoon's Muster.

Our room steward said Hello then walked off, promising to be back later. This gave us time to inspect Baja deck 435, the aforementioned handicapped balcony cabin. Squarely midship and sandwiched between two passenger decks, it would prove to be an excellent central location, while at times decreasing available elevators, (there are 6), where more able-bodied pax might opt to use the stairs.

Our room had a no-threshold entry way, 34-36" wide. The bathroom door was likewise ADA compliant with a very slight ramping, hard to detect otherwise. The no-threshold shower used rows of floor drains to separate it from the slightly elevated toilet, 19" off the ground.

There were sturdy grab bars all around and a roomy sink that made up with lack of storage cubbies, with a wheel-up capability for those confined to chairs. Body wash and shampoo dispensers and an emergency call light completed the bath, and we appreciated the hand-held shower wand and sturdy drop down bench, (supports 300+ lbs).

We notified Princess ahead of time, and free distilled water was available from our room steward for his and her CPAP machines. There were 2 AC outlets, no converter/plugs needed, but our daisy style extension cord and the heavy duty cord furnished from the front desk were put to good use.

Numerous reviews have decried the smallish balconies. What they are is narrow...4' wide, but 44" available with the metal and glass railing. Our cabin is about 3 feet wider than the usual balcony class, so the balcony was likewise longer and narrow enough that the two chairs worked better facing each other than outward. There is a ramp feature out to the balcony if needed, but I preferred walking the few steps out with my cane, otherwise it might work better for someone to position the WC outside in lieu of the deck chair. Doable at any rate.

Tons of closet space, plenty of drawers and shelves. The two deep drawers in each decent sized nightstand were very useful, as was the provided safe and mini fridge, which we used for our own bottled water, (Princess has no issue with you bringing a case or two onboard), and midnight snacks.

Since it was past lunchtime when boarding, we next proceeded to Alfredo's for our first meal. I was swooning over thin pockets of ground veal, beef and cheese in a decadent Piedmont-style cream sauce. Himself declared the calzone doughy and neither cared for the green salad, comprised chiefly of some sort of purple lettuce. My finishing pastry was good, and at least one of us wanted to give this beautiful spot right off the Piazza one more chance.

Many meals were taken in the Anytime Dining Room, midship deck 5. No assigned waiter or table, we still came to find an especially likeable waiter, requesting to be seated in his area whenever possible. This worked better with morning calls to the Dining Room...seemed an oxymoron, reservations for anytime dining, but we almost always scored a 2 top in this manner, with only a few minutes wait time if any.

The food was good to very good, about like banquet fare but with a bit more style.

You could chose from Always Available items such as filet, salmon, chicken, pasta or a vegetarian selection, or chose from nightly offerings. We are carnivores, but neither cared much for the prime rib. I loved the chilled fruit soups, so missed on NCL of late, while we both rejoiced over the wide variety of flavorful sorbets, eschewing the more caloric sweet offerings more than not.

We also sampled the Horizon buffet, for both breakfast and lunch. This thing is truly huge, but DH got the hang of it fairly soon. Loved the made to order omelets, fresh fruit and very well done breakfast pastries. Didn't care much for the sausage; the American style looked promising but tasted exactly like not-so-meaty bangers. The bacon was not bad, and the meatloaf was actually quite tasty.

The International Cafe was open around the clock and provided specialty coffees and teas, for a fee, as well as wonderful salads, sandwiches and desserts without added cost. The Shrimp Salad and Ham & Cheese croissants were faultless, and the Coffee Card we bought brought cafe mochas, espressos and even decadent Ice Cream Sundaes.

We also tried the two surcharge dinner venues, Steakhouse and Italian respectively. The rooms were quite lovely, the service excellent and the food very good to excellent. We'd try the Crown Grill again in a heartbeat. By sticking to grilled meats, steamed veggies and light desserts or fruit, for the most part, we were able to stay within our diabetic regimes.

There was no Noro virus outbreak on our 15 night cruise, though weeks before this was an issue. Hand washing stations in the buffet and hand cleanser dispensers were prominently placed near other dining venues. Quite a few did develop a deep, hacking bronchial cough toward the end. Foodwise, I opted for simpler fare during my self-imposed quarantine, so our final score was Casey: lost 5 pounds, Richard: gained 2.

The weather cooperated throughout, just a few minutes of misting in England and some dark clouds in the Netherlands. Security was good on these port stops, and staff helpful when any assistance needed. Some terminals were the equivalent of a 2 to 3 block walk and no carts or shuttle type transports seen at any.

The late Summer temperatures of 60-70 felt marvelous after 90-100 degrees every day in California. On board ship, 68-72 degrees seemed the norm, and the 3,400 pax were mainly in the 50-80 age range, almost all refreshingly spry and adventurous. The hot tubs were in use and not so much chair hogging around the pool. We didn't try Movies Under The Stars, (MUTS), but both enjoyed the wide variety of television...must have watched every rerun of The Love Boat available, too!

Shipboard staff was helpful with the huge Cruise Critic Meet & Greet organized, with about half of the invited Officers attending. Of 270 signed up RC members, about 170-180 made an appearance. Nice, since this was a port day until 2 pm. We handed out customized pins commemorating our lovely cruise and beautiful ship. Unfortunately our Name Tag Volunteer was the victim of jet lag, napping, (no wake up call?), but we greatly appreciated having the Lounge rather than a Bar for our gathering and managed to have a pleasant hour socializing.

We didn't partake of any specific activities or entertainment, but heard lots of live music in the Piazza. With instrumentals this wasn't at all bothersome, but with some of the vocalists, and one particularly pitchy female, the cruise staff cranked up the volume and you could hear it a couple decks away. Someone, how about a ship's engineer, should definitely monitor the decibel level...it was 100 or more...not at all pleasant in several cases.

Did miss the usual towel animals gracing our beds on other cruises at least 50% of the time. After I mentioned it in passing, one cute little monkey made an appearance swinging from the overhead fixture. Making a point to thank our room steward next day, (about the halfway point of the 15 night cruise), was told "You are welcome, Madame Casey and there will be more of those coming." No further additions to the menagerie, possibly a towel shortage or green conservation efforts, not a deal-breaker either way. :p

Transfer from the ship to our airport, on disembarkation went well even though the assisted disembark-and all others I'm told-was delayed by almost 2 hours. Our own travel wasn't until late afternoon, but for some other travelers they'd be cutting it close. We rejoiced at the return of Jerry, the best wheelchair pusher I've ever encountered. He made up for lost time and zipped through Customs and baggage claim lines then out onto the pavement. It was an E ticket ride, but safe nevertheless. Super ending to a fine cruise. 

Published 10/26/15

You'll be two days early if you show up to check in on October 6th... :rolleyes:

 

Lew

Aha! Thanks Lew, guess I was preoccupied by this year's fast approaching TA on the Royal Princess, just a week from now. :o We are arriving in Italy October 6th but not embarking until October 8th...Well, I have over a year to get it right plus you and the rest of the Roll Call to keep us on track. :D

Dry Dock late September 2016...I think our October 6 TA is the shake down cruise that follows.

Good, brief review, thank you. I am curious if you enjoyed the food?

I know the BI cruise is port intensive but isn't at least one of the MDRs, I think the one AFT, open on all Sea Days, I'm thinking Noon to 1:30 PM? Was it the same (static) luncheon menu?

We are boarding rather soon, and glad to hear you didn't contract Noro and the infection seems to be dying down.

Thank you for your suggestions. I have already gotten some glucose tablets and some packages of nuts to carry to carry in my day pack, plus some meal replacement bars for excursions where I won't necessarily have any control over timing.

 

I need to try to even out the roller coaster. Being too high is no picnic either.

Something quite easy to carry also are honey packets. Gets into your blood stream within minutes. But like glucose tablets, hard candy et al, this is only a temporary fix, as mentioned around 20-30 minutes.

The meal replacement bars are fine if they had adequate protein. I have seen plenty that are really more of a supplement or snack bar than anything with a decent amount of protein.

For me, protein is the key. Over the years I have changed my very bad meal habits from a Pepsi and candy bar at the Nurse's Station report room :rolleyes: to something with at least 15 grams of protein...that is my own magic number, for other, smaller individuals it might be as low as 10 grams. This keeps my blood sugar on a very even keel, even on vacation/when away from home.

Shipboard my OH who is also Type 2 diabetic, gets plenty of exercise and water. He ends up pushing my WC around a fair bit and loses an average of 2 pounds each voyage. I end up even, neither gaining or losing, so that is all fine.

As time goes on, and you become more used to your new routines, it will be less worrisome and you can relax more and enjoy life to the fullest...yes, even with a new insulin dependent status.

What many diabetics do not understand, is that the oral medications help but do not replace a normally functioning pancreas. At some point many will have to add a second type pill, sometimes a third, then there comes a time the body no longer puts out any insulin and it becomes time for shots.

BTW: I am diet-controlled, with an A1C now down to 5.4. My OH, recently diagnosed has gone down to only one tablet twice a day plus half of another after losing a large amount of weight over several years.

His Doctor feels he can soon lose the extra medication, and possibly, at some point be likewise diet-only controlled. I don't want to frighten him, but I have stressed as a nurse educator, not to consider eating whatever he wants and then the 'magic' pill will do the rest.

Princess will work with you, and I hope you find a comfortable routine for meal times aboard ship and on excursions. Please have a wonderful adventure! :p

There are some givens and some unknowns that we have less control over when traveling. Carry a roll of hard candy such as Lifesavers, (NOT sugar free), in your purse or pocket.

Simple sugar, such as apple juice, soda, hard candy or even a sugar packet or 2, sprinkled under the tongue will suffice for 20-30 minutes after taking your medication.

Foods containing fat, even if they are nice sugary cabs, will have delayed digestion. Amylase in your saliva begins digested simple sugars immediately, then right into your blood stream.

When we go on tours, and not sure about when we'll be eating again, as long as we've had a nourishing breakfast, and for us that would be at least 15 grams of protein, then we can snack on a packet of crackers and cheese or a sealed piece of beef jerky, for example.

Certainly conferring with the Maitre'd is something to do after embarkation as well as making dietary needs known via online Cruise Personalizer :)

Aha, I spy several members from our Roll Call dropping by to chime in. I'm sure the ship is doing everything possible to help curtail the nasty germs, and of course there are several things we can bear in mind.

With 14 years under my belt, as a telephone Advice Nurse, we were often called upon to share CDC recommendations for travelers, including cruisers.

For my own self I have then added a few of my own observations and some experiences over time.

As there is a few days incubation period, sick pax may not even realize they are ill until several days on board. Perhaps someone sneezed, coughed or grabbed surfaces on the airplane and thus the germ was passed to the unsuspecting.

Besides those ubiquitous elevator panels, gangway railings and railings in general are quite germy. We know about public bathrooms, but I wonder how many actually think about all the steps taken there. Say you really need to use the facilities and are good about washing your hands. Do you then touch the fixtures, hand dryer or door as you are leaving? Recontaminated now.

We tend to avoid the Buffet and other areas of shared food/utensil handling for the first 48 hours of any cruise. Usually by the 2 day mark, ship's Doctor will know if any cases of Noro on board.

Hand wipes and sanitizing gels may give a false sense of cleanliness. In our hospital use they have not found to be as effective as handwashing. Just 15 seconds, the amount of time it takes to hum the Happy Birthday song, will suffice with soap and warm water.

You've heard not to touch your mouth with your fingers, to help prevent spread of this GI disease. But other mucous membranes can also be entry points. So think eyes, nose and mouth. Many might be surprised at how often people will touch these parts of the face, yes even in public. My DH is a Professional Cook and is more aware than most...see how long you can go without doing so, or at a traffic stop, just observe fellow travelers. :rolleyes:

Noro is nothing to sneeze about, upsetting your whole electrolyte system, a real danger to the elderly or those with impaired immune systems, diabetics and so on. And speaking of sneezing...and coughing. Have you been taught to cover those potentially infectious droplets with your hand?

In the food industry, DH Richard relates they are taught to cough into their elbow or sneeze facing the ground. Otherwise that hand acts as a marvelous conveyor of nasties...and not everyone can immediately have access to soap and warm water after doing so.

Having learned so many useful things on CC, here I am paying it forward with the hopes it will likewise be helpful. Have a safe and wonderful cruise, and here's hoping our beloved and beautiful is once again ship shape in no time at all!

Within the past couple of years Princess realized it was a waste of resources & food to keep the buffet open 24 hours a day. If room service & the International Café isn't enough for you & is a dealbreaker then try NCL or Carnival instead.

 

It's your prerogative to believe that old review and to ignore the experience of others who are trying to answer your questions. Things change and reading reviews are not always current information. :rolleyes:

NCL stops serving between 9:30 and 10:00 PM. Available options then become limited menu Room Service for $6.95 or Pizza delivery for $5.00. Casinos may offer up some wimpy snacks around Midnight: stale finger sandwiches and leftover cookies from that night's buffet, so I don't see that as a viable option. :cool:

Many thanks to all who responded with wonderful suggestions. I have been on a low sodium diet for the last 40+ years but recently my doctor placed even more restrictions on me hence my new problem. I agree with the poster about the desalinated water. On every cruise we had been on till our last 2 I was drinking the ships water and being careful with my food choices and every time I blew up like a blimp from water retention. 2 cruises ago we had a beverage package-immediate difference and ever since I'm a believer-only bottled water for me. Once again thank you.

Totally believe it about the ship's reclaimed/recycled water! We lug on our own bottled water, which is a pain but not as much as trying to stuff very swollen feet, (talking pitting edema), into the extra wide shoes I've had to pack.

This is our first time with Princess Cruises, so I am not sure, but I believe the 16.9 oz bottles of water go for $2 each, which works out to $48 a case. I think we pay around $10/3 cases at home, (not counting CA CRV), so DH feels it is so worth it.

We've heard "no extra sodium in the water" before, but the proof is in the pudding, or what I like to term my Flintstones ;) Perhaps some of us are just more sensitive to any extra sodium, but please do have a wonderful cruise!

You didn't mention your restriction, is it 500 mg, 1,000 mg or 1,500 mg?

In our cases, I've put us both on 1,500 mg sodium diets, with the blessings of my Internist and Nutrition counselor. We are both Type 2, non-insulin diabetics and have hypertension.

It didn't take much to retrain our tastebuds, and luckily we both like to cook, so herbs, spices and condiments such as lemon juice help. On board ship, it is just a bit of an issue, but I bring small packets of favorite salt free seasonings such as Mrs. Dash, Penzeys and Paul Prudhomme when I need extra flavor.

Often have the buffet breakfast on-board with a preference for made-to-order omelets. Mine is egg whites, DH likes regular eggs. We both request no salt added, and use onions, peppers and mushrooms. Occasionally a small sprinkle of cheese, which of course contains sodium.

Breakfast meats are all high in sodium, including preservatives such as sodium nitrate and sometimes MSG, (another source of sodium). Turkey bacon or sausage are no better, in fact sometimes more highly seasoned.

Plain oatmeal, or with fruit and milk is naturally low sodium if not made from Instant Packets. Bakery items including breads, pastry and the like are made with sodium and leavening which contains sodium, both baking powder and soda, so we will keep that to a minium or perhaps have half a bagel or single slice of multi grain bread.

Fresh fruit is fine, in fact many contain a goodly amount of potassium. It is one of the two electrolytes-sodium being the other, that counter-balance each other. A good thing to remember. Melon is also a natural diuretic, especially watermelon. It helps to flush retained water from our systems...I am speaking just about my own situation. This is advice I would share with my own beloved family, nothing more ;).

Plain coffee, tea and skim milk are also fine. Fresh and real juices in small quantities likewise fine. Breakfast potatoes are generally prepared in batches, and salted. For other meals, I enjoy half a baked potato...the skin is a good source of potassium and we skip the bacon and cheese but do like a small dollop of sour cream and sprinkling of chives.

For lunch, we steer clear of the pizza, hot dogs, and soups. Baked chicken, baked or broiled fish or a plain hamburger are generally what we enjoy, and a trip through the salad bar isn't out of question. Here we chose lettuce, cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumbers, sunflower seeds, oil and vinegar as a dressing instead of one of the prepared versions. A nice grind of pepper adds additional flavor as does a squirt of lemon juice when available.

For a truly low sodium diet skip the garbanzo beans, bacon bits, shredded cheese, olives and croutons. At home we have found good sources for wonderfully low sodium black olives, salt free garbanzo beans and much more.

On board ship, assume they will used the regular canned and brined products.

You would be amazed at the sodium content of just one serving of sauerkraut. Add in a nice bratwurst on German Day in the buffet and you've just consumed a whole day's worth of sodium on a regular diet :eek:

The always available menu in the MDR has plain items like chicken, fish and beef. All can be ordered without added sauces. Fresh, vs canned veggies and the lovely chilled fruit soups plus a fruit plate or sorbet, these are all fine and do help prevent pedal edema, (feet swelling), soaring blood pressure, headache, dry mouth and other symptoms of too much salt.

Since we are on a modified, vs either a salt-free or extremely low sodium diet, we do occasionally splurge for a particularly nice looking slice of cheese cake, chocolate dessert or pastry. Generally we split it, and try not to dream of pepperoni pizza or bangers and mash.

Hopefully, you will find something useful here. Certainly do meet with your Maitre 'd or Head Waiter in whatever dining venue you choose and beforehand, be sure and run and food questions past your own health professional and have a game plan in mind :p

I would not worry about what others think, in terms of your abilities or disabilities. I sometimes walk with a small Hugo quad cane, and sometimes need to be in a wheelchair for distance. It all depends on my stamina and what kind of a day I am having.

I can climb a few stair steps, walk a block or two with my cane and manage the Light level (Non-Walking) Tours some of the time. With only 20% lung capacity heat/humidity and elevation also play a part in my endurance.

From the outside I just look like an overweight middle aged lady. It is not readily apparent that antibiotics have 'blown out' almost all of one patellar tendon. Basically that connects the thigh bone to the leg bone, keeps the knee cap in place and helps to prevent the two bones rubbing together. It also aids in the ability to stand from a seated position.

So what if someone imagines I am just out of shape and lazy. I'm not likely to whip out my permanent disability card for just any Nosey Parker, although I've done due diligence and notified the access department for each Cruise Line as directed, so they can help me have the best cruising experience possible, and also know my location, (hint, embedded in those little cruise cards), in the event of an actual ship's emergency.

With either a wheelchair or scooter, you need to keep it in your stateroom, not parked out in the hallways. Generally you will need a handicapped berth, with the extra room for this equipment as well as a bathroom set up with no thresh hold shower and extra grab bars and a shower chair, which comes in extra handy when you are feeling weak or a mite unsteady and the ship may be rolling about.

Sometimes, with only a foldable light wheelchair, a regular cabin might suit some. You will have parking set up in the MDR, special seating set aside in the theatre and possibly larger showrooms. There is also some AC seating set aside in the buffets.

It is easier to get around the main decks than the stateroom areas with narrow hallways and sometimes linen carts taking up much of that space.

You might not be able to use your power chair in certain port stops, and probably not at all in places you'll tender.

My own foldable rental WC is 48 pounds. Up to 60 pounds they will usually help with it on gangways; exception when particular gangway is very steep...had that happen in Alaska, for example.

I know it will seem scary and alien the first time you travel like this, but I do hope you are treated with courtesy and understanding . It is a real eye-opener to get about in this manner. In our case, the elevators proved the most trying, and while I endeavored to just go with the flow it was a good deal more irksome for DH, my dedicated pusher.

I have been in touch with Diana Hall, who oversees the Onboard Services Coordinators. Here is the latest list, as of today...of course these are always subject to change. The Coordinators and ships without changes are not included...

Diana Hall, Supervisor

but now has Diamond & Star

Lawrence Andrada

Regal

Dena Gertsch

Royal and TAAs

Jodi Rudolph

Crown, Ocean & Dawn

Jan James

Golden & Pacific

Coleen Reyes

Caribbean, Sea & Sun

I will leave the wonderful overall formatting in Christine's very capable hands, as there is only so much one can do with these dratted cataracts. Anyway, hope the update helps. :p

I've been using a three-wheel walker that folds side-to-side and is essy to get in and out of elevators as it is then about 8" wide. Since I have a LOT of trouble with stairs, I have to get to the theater very early to get one of the few seats above the stairs. I just ordered a 4 wheel rollator walker with a seat that will fold side-to-side, taking about 10" width when folded. This way I hope to be more independent and still not take too much space.

This last sounds excellent, maybe I can skip the wheelchair for excursions, (we have no tender ports), and it would be lighter and take up less room in the transport. Where did you order it, please?

Also, really do need the wheelchair assist for embarkation and disembarkation. Princess requests that you let them know at least several weeks prior to your voyage so they can plan to have enough attendants on hand. That helps all of us ;)

Hi!

 

Our numbers are accurate. The numbers listed on the Roll Call landing page represent the number of members who have posted on the thread. It's a simple count, really. We have no way of knowing how many people are sailing with each individual member!

 

I think it is safe to say that doubling the amount shown on the landing page is the way to go, since the majority of people cruise with someone else -- they will more than likely be attending the Meet & Mingle as well!

 

On our Regal 9/26 sailing we are showing 26 members on the Roll Call -- but in actuality we have almost 60 who have been accounted for and will be attending the Meet & Mingle.

 

I'm happy to see that Princess is monitoring those pages and/or other methods to see how many people POSTED on a Roll Call -- but those numbers are not indicative of how many people have responded to attend a gathering.

 

That all said -- and this is from experience culled over many years here -- the number that show up is a different story. Perhaps close to 40% do not show. I blame Princess for having all those fun activities to do on board! LOL

 

Seriously, I'm happy to explain this in detail to anyone over at Princess.

 

LAURA

Thanks very much for this explanation. Possibly Princess Coordinators are getting the Roll Call number mixed up with the Meet & Greet number from the sound of it.

BTW: Our Roll Call actually numbers 270 Cruisemates, with 139 distinct log-ins. Meet & Greet roster totals 209. As you say, it would be remiss for any party to use the Roll Call Tool number as Meet & Greet head count. :p

In terms of real number of people who actually show up at these events. It has ranged from 12 on a 4 night cruise to 180 on our last 12 night Repo. That was 180 out of 202 signed up.

It might help that I furnish a very nice, 2" cruise souvenir, ship's memento-1 for each cabin, plus offer useful door prizes such as handmade lotion and soap...the stuff on the ships tends to be...sub par or none existent in some cases. Pretty good turn out with small gifties, in 6 of the 7 gatherings I've somehow hosted. :D

Thanks once again, Laura!

On our upcoming Royal TA, Stacey Anderson handed off to Craig Bliss June 1st, and I was instructed to contact Lawrence Andrada as of July 22.

It is a bit confusing, but with our Roll Call at 209 already, I want to make sure everything is right. And we have apparently overflowed Club 6, just looking at numbers.

Was a bit shocked when I received an answering email from Lawrence stating the Cruise Critic page, (using Roll Call Tool) only showed us as having 131 signed up for the Meet & Greet. (I am signing everyone in on a Google doc. spreadsheet plus posting an undated M&G roster every 24-48 hours or so, depending upon activity).

Where do the CC numbers come from? They are certainly not accurate, and it would be a big mistake for Princess reps to consider them reliable. Maybe causing an ill-suited venue, (max capacity 140), to be reserved when clearly a larger one is needed.

At any rate I have written back with the correct information, and the above explanation of our way of computing numbers...will hopefully receive a reply after this weekend. They have certainly been a great bunch to work with!

Just an FYI in case this should affect anyone else :cool:

Thanks for the wording from Princess. My MIL uses one of those metal canes with the 4 feet. But not 100% of the time. Just when she walks a lot or when her foot hurts. I'm sure the handles in the bathroom would help her, but I don't think its absolutely needed at this point since she doesn't have these at home. So, I think I will just book her a regular cabin and make sure we restrict her walking by being close to elevator. I may have to alter our plans in Ketchikan of doing a walking tour on our own now that she has expressed interested in joining us.

 

From the sounds of it, she probably doesn't need the handicap cabin so I will leave it for those who may need it more. I just wanted to be thoughtful of her needs before I booked the cabin.

 

Maggie

I think the best solution would be to book a cabin close to the midship elevators. We routinely use those cabins and they are no noisier than any others. Often times a shower chair can be used, although I wouldn't say it would be roomy in the 2'8" square enclosure.

By securing a midship cabin, many activities and services are close at hand. It is only 1/3 of the way back to the Lido deck and Main Dining Room, and if she likes to attend shows/Casinos then 1/3 of the way forward from her cabin.

We do book AC cabins in order to fit in the the portable WC. I also can walk with the quad cane for shorter distances, but unable to stand for any length of time. I hope you will both have a wonderful time, and your Mom enjoys as much as she can, for as long as she is able! :)

I am diabetic -and have been for over 20 years.

 

Princess has a number of sugar free desserts. They are also right sized portions (of course if you eat 3 or 4 of them...:().

 

One can do well by following the suggestions that he should have received from a nutritionist. By rising carbs with proteins and avoiding the sweeter sauces-eating green vegetables and avoiding the breakfast pastries he should do fine.

 

Avoid the Buffet as much as possible. It is much harder to eat the proper portion sizes there and there is a lot more temptation!

 

One final thing. If he makes a mistake one night and has too much of the wrong things, or, if he really really wants something on a particular night, he shouldn't be upset. Lapses happen and it is better to simply more on and do better the next time.

 

I have a passion for the depths apple pie, which they also serve with the Baked Alaska. I have ordered both....:D

 

Tell him to relax, you can cruise and eat well too-even with diabetes.

Our Roll Call members are absolutely correct. DH and I are both diabetic, and there are plenty of good choices, many you might not think of. We avoid concentrated sugars such as fruit juice. An apple, orange, berries or melon is a good alternative, many less calories-most of them sugar, more roughage et al.

Multi-grain bread or half toasted bagel vs loading up on white flour rolls and pastries. At least one sugar-free dessert each evening in the MDR. Low sugar pudding and Jello other options, if your husband can tolerate artificial sweeteners or alcohol sugars, (like manitol, xylitol).

Diabetics also need to be mindful of high fat foods, even those without sugar.

Lower fat dressings, skim milk, yogurt, frozen desserts are still satisfying. A light touch with butter and other sauces. Lean meats, chicken without skin, broiled fish, steamed/fresh veggies and salads all get high marks.

Alcohol = sugar, so a light beer or small glass of wine now and again is acceptable. As an RN, I tend to think of my sugars/carb as an allowance. So much per day; a goodly amount for a splurge dinner, means clear soup and salad for lunch and so on.

Egg white omelets in the morning with a wedge of fresh melon. Protein is key to helping you feel satisfied, with blood sugar levels on an even keel. A small protein snack in the evening before bedtime is also helpful.

You don't say if your husband is on pills or shots. Mine is on pills, and needs reminding to never take an oral hypoglycemic without eating a meal straightaway. Portion control was the other challenge, but once learned it is not cumbersome, even on vacation. BTW: In my own case this has become almost automatic, and I am thrilled to say my Type 2 diabetes is now wholly diet-controlled.

Lunch and dinner proteins should be about the size of a deck of cards. White flour items and white rice will quickly raise blood sugar, and portion size should be limited to half a cup. Many other choices for carbs, even on a cruise, and after just a year of revamping DH's portions and choices, (plain iced tea vs sugared high fructose sodas for example), weight is down by 60 pounds and he has been able to drop one diabetic medication completely with the blessings of his Doctor

The attitude of "I can have all these things" rather than the dwelling on "I can no longer have that" makes for a healthy mantra. The Maitre' d and Head Waiter can also be great resources once you are on board. Have a wonderful time!

Let's talk shoes. How many of you really check out everyone's shoes. I mean really. Personally I have foot issues and wearing anything with heels is a killer. I'm to the point I wear black tennis/runner type shoes under my formal attire. On non formal night, same shoes. I am NOT going to suffer for two days because a complete stranger has an issue with my shoes. So, OP, forget the shoes. Bring something black to wear and no one will ever notice or care. When my DD got married she had on her pretty shoes and then for everything else she had tennis/runner shoes on that my mom had made super fancy for her. No one really noticed until she showed them.

Between heat, plane flights and more sodium in our vacation diet than we are used to at home, my feet swell and run a gamut of sizes and widths. I am not going to bring 8-12 pairs of shoes. My 50 pound weight limit suitcase plus carry on is plenty, even for vacations of a few weeks or longer.

I have mobility issues, walking with a cane when I'm not being pushed in a WC, so I need low or no heel shoes with good sole traction. I also need shoes that breathe a bit and are lightweight.

Here's one shoe I have many versions of...mostly 5 star reviews for comfort and a bit of style in there, as with these S.C. variety which I think would be more than adequate on cruises, formal nights included. With maxi dresses and pantsuits I doubt if anyone would have an issue, and you would have some lightweight, slightly stretchy gored footwear, actually something to smile about. They come in N, M, W and WW widths with sizes running the gamut from 5 to 12.

Wearing these on a half dozen cruises, haven't noticed any marking up of decking, plus they slip on and off very easily when traversing airport Security.