mringenoldus

4 hours ago, Hawaiianislanddoll said:

Traveling on Allure next month. First time we did a guaranteed ocean view balcony. We ended up on the 14th deck with a connecting balcony. Now I’ve heard nightmares about hearing pool lounges dragged above our deck as early as 6 am and connecting balconies and rooms being noisy. Feeling regretful for not choosing our own room. I’d love to hear some tips on those who were on deck 14 and having a connecting balcony. Thanks in advance.  I do want to say I’m really grateful to be fortunate to take a cruise. We knew we were taking a chance, just want to know how to make the best of it.

 Not a lucky draw, but it’s still a really fun ship. 

On 10/18/2022 at 7:40 AM, richwmn said:

My saga of problems with this vacation continue. I have been trying to connect to Delta via the app or website for the last couple of days. When I have been able to, I couldn't find my flight out of Fort Lauderdale. Last night I found the confirmation number and tried using that. I found that the flight had been canceled.

 

I am on hold with Delta right now and the first question the CSR asked was if I was on the flight to Montreal. She did confirm that the ticket was canceled.

 

We'll just have to see what happens next.

 

If I’m understanding correctly, it is your ticket that was cancelled and not the flight itself? Was your booking made direct with Delta, by your travel agent or through a 3rd party vendor (such as Expedia)? 
 

I hope you can get this resolved without too much further issue - so sorry this is happening. 

Very pretty entry to the Portland harbor this morning even without the sunshine!

We have a very pretty day for our walking food tasting tour. I have been wanting to do this for awhile so glad it will finally work out.

Garrit and I are a.so onboard Nieuw Statendam and have had a great first week! Although we have sailed about 60 times, this itinerary had 5 of 9 ports we had not visited on previous itineraries.

We took an independent tour in Quebec with only 10 others and except a brief rain shower, the weather allowed us to really enjoy this beautiful old quarter or the city. We almoast felt like we were I France.

The port of Saguenay couldn’t have made us feel more welcome.Again we took an independent small group tour to the Backcountry and fjords. Once again in the afternoon, the weather cleared. We really enjoyed seeing all the different manger scenes made by local artists of different materials in a very pretty park.

In Charlottetown, we did a walkabout and found the scarecrows throughout the town, had a nice visit with the local fire department administrative assistant and learned more about what the people went through from Fiona. We were grateful how quickly in the area worked to clear damage so we could enjoy the ports. This port has a very nice indoor market of local vendors and I can vouch for COWS ice cream!

Today we took a HAL tour to Baddeck and Louisbourgh. The fortress offered us two activities (hot cocoa made the way of the settlers and a costumed interpreter explaining a day in the life of a soldier) The guide was very good and informative, but I remembered why I dislike the big bus cruise line tours. Too much time has to be reserved to just getting everyone on and off the bus and the bus ride portion takes a bit too long. 

We find this ship very comfortable and the crew is unfailingly cheerful and friendly. The cruise director is amazing in her EXC talks and very professional yet friendly throughout the day. We will be back on this ship next June in Copenhagen and very much looking forward to it.

On 1/13/2022 at 1:15 AM, portisheadblue said:

Good Morning to anyone currently on Venus …. How many PAX are there on board please and also are you really in Zeebrugge today, Thursday, and if so why. Is this a one off? We are doing same cruise on 5th February so have an interest. Have a great time Cheers

You may want to check out the February 5 roll call as there is a good deal of information on it following the 1/12/22 sailing and pre planning information for 2/5/22.

On 8/30/2021 at 7:37 PM, keokukjoe said:

We all received an email from Atlas last week to upload our CDC cards to "MyAtlas". Very encouraging.

Can you share the laundry and Wi-Fi details? 

Is that one bag per person or per cabin per week? Is it just wash and fold or wash and press? I'm getting conflicting info directly from Atlas. Hope it's not just undergarments as was offered to a previous poster!

Also any update on the  "standard" Wi-Fi which was supposed to be included vs. the very limited allotment that was allowed on the early cruises?

Just wash and fold - the information I was given didn’t limit the type of clothes

While the port itself intends to open, countries such as the UK may still not permit travel to Argentina. Hopefully the world health situation will improve enough to allow travelers to visit Antarctica.

13 minutes ago, keokukjoe said:

We all received an email from Atlas last week to upload our CDC cards to "MyAtlas". Very encouraging.

Can you share the laundry and Wi-Fi details? 

Is that one bag per person or per cabin per week? Is it just wash and fold or wash and press? I'm getting conflicting info directly from Atlas. Hope it's not just undergarments as was offered to a previous poster!

Also any update on the  "standard" Wi-Fi which was supposed to be included vs. the very limited allotment that was allowed on the early cruises?

I would advise against accepting any information unless confirmed through your travel agent (for those booked independently  - Go with God 🙂

This is the official policy on laundry. WiFi policy has also been updated but I didn't inquire regarding the specifics. 

Laundry and Dry Cleaning:

Suite guests receive one bag of complimentary laundry per 4 nights and

stateroom guests receive one bag of complimentary laundry per 8 nights

(And additional portion of 4 or 8 nights). The complimentary laundry services

will be washing and folding only and does not include pressing and hanging.

Additional laundry services are available for a charge and those are not

included in the cruise fare. There are no self-service laundry facilities on

board and dry cleaning are not available.

45 minutes ago, chooms said:

 

Just read that the EU is putting the U.S. back on the banned list, so it probably will affect some upcoming cruises.. at least for the U.S. residents...

 

Also, have found out from a contact at Atlas that as of the Oct. 4 sailing all passengers must be vaccinated and provide proof....which is a big plus for many of us...also, adjustments have been made on the Laundry and WiFi  issues...but these adjustments will not be promoted and passengers will be informed when they board....

For those on Antarctica cruises, Atlas has already made arrangements for an alternate port of departure, in case Argentina remains closed to U.S. visitors and no allowances are made....Looks like Atlas is being proactive in addressing problems and getting them ironed out....

After all the laundry issues "getting them ironed out" made me laugh! 

The EU is anticipated to make a formal announcement today regarding US non-essential travel restrictions, however, it is up to each country-state to determine if they will adopt the proposed restrictions. It will be very interesting to see how this develops. Part of the reason for reverting to earlier bans is due to our high levels of COVID - the other reason is political frustration with our continued refusal to allow EU travelers. Also of interest, is Austria and Croatia's decision to consider a vaccine card 270 days past the second dose date as expired (or in the case of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, 270 past the 22nd day after the shot) And we all thought keeping track of passport expiration dates was challenging!

The last official word on laundry I received from Atlas was one bag of laundry for an 8 night cruise and one every four days after that. For example: A 12-night Antarctic cruise would have two complimentary bags. If Atlas wants to step into the actual luxury market I feel it needs to up its game. I have not received any word regarding the alternate departure port. As all cruise lines typically include Buenas Aires and Ushuaia, the use of an alternate departure port will be a very interesting logistical change. 

10 minutes ago, joyce Ottawa said:

So… we are not arriving in Egypt today. There is one confirmed case of Covid positive on board, so it seems that Egypt has refused the ship entry. We have turned around and are heading back to Crete.  We sure were hoping this would not happen, but knew it could be a possibility.  We are still free to walk around the ship etc. The pool, gym and spa are closed.  To be continued…

I hope the poor person recovers quickly and all of you stay well. This inaugural sailing has certainly had its moments.

You are an excellent photographer!

Did anyone from this sailing have to complete the 24-hr prior to sailing Health form at the pier? The Medallion App has gone berserk for my friend and Princess is closed for the night.

13 hours ago, AOV Alberto said:

Hi everyone. Alberto here.

 

 

 

I am on board World Navigator right now and am acutely aware of these issues.  These topics are significant and a high priority for us. 

 

 

I regret there has been a miscommunication about our laundry service from our web and marketing team. We mistakenly communicated an element planned for World Traveller, our second ship currently under construction. Although not announced yet, we will offer a complimentary guest launderette on that ship. Regrettably our promotions team inserted that new amenity into our current ship, World Navigator. That insertion has misled readers to infer all laundry was complimentary, while we had only meant to convey that the launderette would allow guests a chance to do laundry at no charge. As many have seen, the travel documents we issue to guests do not include this incorrect information.

 

 

 

Regarding internet, please bear with us as we continue to adjust our communications systems, including our Wifi. During our positioning voyage to Athens, we finally stress-tested the system with a high volume of users and discovered a technical issue with the newly installed system. As such, we had to fall back on limiting Internet access while we correct the issue. We continue to look forward to offering our guests a complimentary WiFi service that will meet their basic internet needs. However, we have always stressed that our included internet would offer basic capabilities, while guests would have an opportunity to upgrade to a higher-capacity transfer rate for an additional fee.

 

 

 

We sincerely appreciate everyone giving us an opportunity to serve you and I apologize for any confusion and inconveniences. Please know that our onboard team is working hard to align our experience with our product definition, and we are looking forward to delivering a more encompassing, high standard of service.  We are confident that these elements of the guest experience will very soon equal the otherwise high-quality shipboard experienced everyone on board is already enjoying on our wonderful new ship. 

 

Good afternoon, Sir

I would suggest that Atlas provide a more proactive response to the laundry/WiFi mishap that would engender a sense of goodwill among your current passengers and any future passengers that booked while the website promoted the inclusion of free laundry and WiFi. In a more forward view, there are many future passengers who are following this information and questioning the honest business practices having booked a previously unknown product at significant expense. The cost/benefit of living up to the cruise line's advertising is quite small to reverse the current narrative. Thank you for your attention.

Just now, Bowler Lady said:

Good Luck!! I hope it works out. We have all had so many of our travel plans not work out! I would love to hear how the cabin works out.

 

Thank You, Carol

Will do, Carol!

1 minute ago, CruiseChick33 said:

It's very strange. They keep circling. I'm wondering if it is too windy? 

Or the patient is not yet ready for transport.

We are in AmaLucia 333 on September 7 (if the EU will continue to allow US citizens). If we make it, I'd be glad to let you know.

1 minute ago, san diego sue said:

Wine Makers dinner, Gnocchi was served. It was so rich. Unfortunately I threw it up a few minutes after consuming it. Thanks to my napkin and my husband's, no one seemed to notice. Next time we did the dinner, I passed on eating it.

When I looked on Cruise Personalizer, it states that the Winemakers Dinner is only on the Sapphire Princess. Is that incorrect?

That’s a shame as it had more unique shops apart the standard tourist items.

Other earlier passengers have reported many closed shops in Skagway - have you found this as well? Thanks!

Just now, Jeter02 said:

I agree somewhat. Which is why I'm the type of passenger who always tells them it's okay as far as going down to guest services it was just really strange about the minibar setup just wanted to make sure it wasn't an oversight or something.. and then a lot of the officers even told me I need it to be bring it to the ship's attention because there's something going on with the people in the department for room service. It was funny because I was slightly embarrassed to even go down to guest services as I told him I am not one of those people to ever complain if anything I like to watch out for their backs. And they told me this isn't a complaint it's a service that's supposed to be provided and our job is to make sure that we provide you with an excellent service.

 

One thing I wish more and more people would do as I tend to see the opposite quite frequently is always treat your recruit members with the utmost of kindness as I always say we are all human beings. And throwing a compliment and a few kind words all throughout the day really do go a long way. These crew members all work incredibly hard and deserve to know that they are appreciated. And that sometimes when there's errors it's definitely not their fault as this is a learning curve for everyone because it is no easy task restarting a ship back up for business

I'm sure the crew appreciates you as a thoughtful and reasonable passenger. Only once, in over 40 cruises, have I taken an issue to the customer service manager and only because the issue was egregious. I approached them in much the same way as you have described yourself. I feel we all have a responsibility to be reasonable travelers - my life does not always run perfectly and neither will any trip I take. Please enjoy yourself to the fullest and take home wonderful memories!

18 minutes ago, Jeter02 said:

Thanks. I've talked to a lot of the head officers and stuff and pretty much a lot of them I have all set the same thing where a maiden voyage when you're starting from a brand new ship it's so much easier to get started. Whereas here they're picking up all the pieces from being on a pause it's a whole different ballpark really. I think they're just trying to figure themselves oh and how to run more efficiently and whatever it is. I just kept telling them that it was okay because I know everyone is trying to get shall we say the veins of the ship back up and running. 

I must admit I am a bit surprised at the level of passenger angst afforded to what appear very minor inconveniences. I can understand that on finally boarding a cruise, people are hoping to revisit prepandemic days.....but the fact is we as people (and passengers) have changed. We have become less tolerant, more quickly frustrated and quicker to lash out at those frustrations. Your crew asks little more than a smile (and, yes, the gratuities) as a reflection of your satisfaction for their hard work. From glitchy Medallion updates to mini bars, I would hope everyone could just take a deep breathe and remember how lucky we are to have the means to be back onboard a beautiful floating home and enjoy the splendor of Alaska. 

27 minutes ago, alanasgpa said:

Did I read someplace that on the room service menu you can order from the main dining room? And they bring it to the room

This is available for full suite guests

1 hour ago, testerlady said:

Do they have any sugar free or no sugar added options for the coffee and pastries? Thanks.

Sugar free choices are clearly marked and quite delicious

47 minutes ago, pkt1976 said:

We will sail away soon and the Captain just made an excellent announcement for the crew. At long last, after months for some, they will be able to go ashore. I know that will mean the world to them. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

That is great news for the crew!

I hope you have included Steve Kroeshel's wildlife excursion on this trip. It was one of the most memorable we have done in over 40 cruises. I am beyond bummed that next week my BIL and his son didn't think the experience was worth the cost. Steve is beyond quirky but incredibly talented at what he does. He does a lot of work with National Geographic. We had a private tour of his property (which is in the middle of nowhere and my SIL thought I had taken them to the Blair Witch Project location 🙂 ) Steve made sure that my husband was able to get his shots to look as if in the wild as much as possible. The assorted critters he cares for is varied and amazing. Enjoy!!