ricardin

The prices you've listed I don't think include the 15% gratuity which is added extra at the till. But, the Drink Package price you've listed is the price inclusive of the 15% gratuity. So unless I'm mistaken the price comparison isn't correct.

I left Diamond two days ago and had the drinks package. All my gratuities were included. However we had already prepaid our gratuities so unsure whether I would have had to pay extra for bar gratuities.

Pool issues aside, how is the Diamond?? We're on her next year for the Kyushu sailing. Anything you can post about food, venues, ports is greatly appreciated!

She is a wonderful ship. Carbon copy of Sapphire Princess. Cruise director, Warren is funny and ahead of his game although entertainment was a little lacking. Go for anytime dining rather than the main dining room, although avoid Vivaldi dining room - they are grumpy. The terrace pool at the back of the ship is adults only. Enjoy your cruise

Literally off Diamond today and we had the all inclusive. Well worth it this time as any drink under $10 was included. Alcohol, cocktails, speciality coffee, soft drinks and bottled water.

Having a wonderful cruise, however, does anyone else think it is absurd to close the Calypso Pool, the only indoor pool, for cleaning, on a sea day, when everyone is onboard and it is pissing down with rain?

It isn't always the same two nights (at least that has been my experience) never the first or last night, more often than not a sea day, that usually narrows it a fair bit. Not two consecutive days, first and last sea days are usually a pretty good bet.

Appreciate the input. Was only hoping that one coincided with a 40th birthday.

Has anyone been on the Diamond recently on their 11 night South East Asia cruise from Tokyo, and happen to know which two nights are their formal nights please?

thank you

Having been to China numerous times ,all street vendor purchases are negotiated with crisp US bills. Us yuan for transportation/food only.

Now I am confused. Thank you though.

Thank you. These are all helpful tips for a completely new part of the world to me.

They were all helpful comments. Thank you. I won't be making any major purchases, however I will change some Yuan before l leave though for souvenirs. Thank you again.

Hi

Can anyone offer any advice as to Xiamen in China? There are shopping opportunities during the excursion and am wondering if Visa or Mastercard are accepted, or is it better to take Chinese Yuan for souvenirs?

thank you in advance

Thank you for the tips, advice and ideas. Greatly appreciated.

Hello

I have recently booked this cruise for September, and as of yet, there are no shore excurions for me to check out. Has anyone been on this cruise recently who can give a little info on any of the excusrsions in any of the ports of call?

thank you in advance

...

http://www.princess.com/learn/cruise-destinations/asia-cruises/extend/stay/tokyo_japan.html

chrysalis you are a diamond, thank you

Hi

Have just booked South East Asia and Japan, leaving from Tokyo however I have two days beforehand in Tokyo before joing the ship. Would anyone happn to know any of the hotels Princess use or recommend here pre departure?

thank you in advance

Can anyone recommend any good cruise companies who sail the Eastern Mediterranean during the summer months please? July or August. Ideally, we would like to take in places such as Egypt and The Holy Lands, Israel etc etc. As a guide to what I refer to as good, RC and Princess are our usual choices.

Thank you in advance.

About to start a new thread from this sailing with quite a few pics. Have just downloaded over 200+ FROM The Oasis. Hope they either bring back memories for you, or give you an idea of what to expect. Enjoy.

Yes, would love to see some picutres. We are just of The Oasis in a GS. We are sailing on the Allure next year and again have booked a GS, though could seriously consider upgrading ourselves.

Departure was delayed an hour or an hour and a half I believe. We had a 5 pm flight, so we were supposed to disembark the ship at 10:30. We were not called to disembark until about noon. It was a very quiet and leisurely morning on the ship sitting sunning in the Solarium. We loved it. For those who had early flights, I guess they were in panic mode and huge line-ups. We walked off, went straight to our luggage and were in the customs line for about 15 minutes. It was great for us, but only because we were likely one of the last 500 or so to disembark. Hint...book a later flight and enjoy the morning on the ship.

Hahahaha, sounds like we had very similar experiences, and scarily anough I realise you are from London (although Ontario, not UK) We too asked for a late departure, and didn't actually leave the ship until 11.30, when they were just opening the bars for the next passengers coming on. We had some breakfast and coffee in the lounge. What we didn't realise though, was that most of the ship's communal areas were open. We had realised by 10am though, and went to sit by the pool for our last hour an half of sunshine.

To Ricardin...sorry I hijacked your review, but I thought it would be helpful for people to see my opinion along with yours together. Overall, we agreed on most of the things on this trip.

I don't feel as though you hijacked my review at all. It's really nice to hear what people think of my thoughts, and how their overall experience was compared to mine. Thank you for commenting.

I have some LV luggage and I do not check it with either the airlines or a cruise ship. I would run, not walk, to Wal-Mart for some cheapo luggage. Our airline/cruising luggage is Samsonite. So common that no one will steal it and it's very sturdy.:)

 

Of course you are special.

 

Enjoy your cruise. :)

Our luggage is Samsonite also, and very sturdy, and still managed to get smashed. I know it's not LV. Samsonite is still fairly pricey to get ruined.

I had not heard before that there was a charge to use the zip line, thought it was free!

Yes, it is free. It's just that before I went onboard, I thought I had read somewhere on here that there was a $92 charge, and what with saftey instructions and queuing etc, it takes around an hour and a half. I was real lucky. Twice in 15 minutes.

OMG... :eek: unbelievable... I'm getting worried, we are traveling with 3 rolling pieces and 1 big trunk, they are all LV... :o makes me wonder if we should just get some super cheap pieces at Walmart or something... We are not diamond or c&a or whatever, not even gold, this is our first cruise! So of course they won't even care, or won't even really bother if we complain..since we are not "special" hum...

I would get some cheaper ones if I were you. Shame to leave the LV at home, though why risk it?

Are you serious?:eek:

Absolutely, he did offer a second option however for a neat $395 hahahaha

 

Would it be ok to to tell them when I hand it in to take care of it? Will they Even care? :/

I'm really not sure that would help. You leave your luggage with the porters before you go to check-in. They make sure it gets on to the ship, and then I am sure it is handled by several other people before your stateroom attendant actually delivers it. It is the first time it has happened to me, though I am sure it must happen more often if they have a repair lace and replacement luggage onboard.

I hope you enjoy your first cruise