On board British Isles cruise Royal Princess

[cboyle]

Morning all, glad I could help re Dublin, just wish it could have been more concrete, but Princess themselves know no more than us now, so that's the best we will get.

 

A lot of you are asking questions re food, movies, tips etc., and I will answer them all when we get home, probably on Monday, as they all take up valuable minutes from my allowance. I promise I will go through this thread and answer all of you. Have got my patters all packed for movies and shows etc.

 

Sailing down UK at the moment, been a bit of a foggy night, first time I have ever heard the ship's whistle thing go for fog. Having been born and be out up in a seaside resort I'm used to hearing a booming foghorn going at night, but the ship's whistle is most peculiar. Something new for me.

 

Nothing else to report, will get back to you all later. Don't think we'll be sunbathing today!

Sue

Sue,

 

I want to add my thanks for all the information you have generously provided and especially for the trouble you took to communicate with the Captain about the Dublin situation.

 

Carolyn

[grouten]

Hi everyone, well not a lot more to report. Quiet day on board today and formal night this evening. Interestingly the Captain took us outside the British waters (think it's twelve miles) on a couple of occasions so that they could open the casino. This cruise, because of various time limits, restrictions etc., the casino hasn't been open much so I'm guessing they are trying to make up some revenue. Quite a calm day, although a bit of a swell at lunch time.

 

Will answer questions about Invergordon, as best as I can, tomorrow, after we have been ashore.

 

Weather calm, cloudy skies, and quite cool, but then we are in the very North of the UK. Not bad at all.

 

Just a word on dress on formal nights (and I know I am sticking my head above the parapet here) but it seems, on this cruise, that anything goes. We are seeing the full thing, from DJ and long dress through to denim shorts and T-shirts, although the shorts and t shirts weren't in the dining rooms. Honestly folks,whatever you feel comfortable with seems to be ok. If you have weight restrictions on your luggage, then I would be more inclined to pack the layers you might need in Britain, and just pack one nice outfit for the formals.

 

Well the Ancient Mariner has brought me my cocoa, and it is a very early start for us tomorrow, so time to turn in. Will report back tomorrow evening. Cheers,

Sue

Nancy 48…Thank you so much for your posts; I , too, am enjoying them and all of your cleverness ( "poking my head above the parapet" and your comments on your "Ancient Mariner") I am an American solo traveler on the cruise in August, and your journaling is a wonderful and valuable preview to all the ports.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[FoxKitchen]

We were on the Royal in May for the TA and then the BI. We changed cabins too (A616 to C209 which is aft starboard to forward port). Internet is slow but not as slow as we experienced on the Grand to Hawaii in February. On my previous Princess cruises I would find the fastest internet late at night however on this ship it was actually slower then! Maybe because more crew were off duty and online? don't know but did figure out I could use it any time of day in my cabin (only place I did use it). Just be aware it is slow so if you want to do something that takes several clicks it may be a 5 minute process. If you are platinum and get 250 free minutes when signing in you will receive a choice of that or 500 minutes total for about $79 (those extra 250 min are a $20 savings from those that are not platinum).

 

Hope this helps.

 

dickinson, sounds like the onboard wifi connections haven't improved all that much. In addition to wanting to stay in touch with family, I have my own website to check on daily. I think I'll take my chances with finding free wifi in the various ports. Thanks, you saved me some money 😊

[cnd crsr]

Sue,

 

Thanks for taking the time to do this "live from". We were supposed to take this cruise May 9, unfortunately I was sick and hospitalized at that time. I really am enjoying your impressions. Hope to do this next year.

[Nancy48]

Hi everyone, well it has been a misty old day today, but very calm seas. Hopefully Le Havre will be a bit warmer. Itwas the Captain's cocktail party this evening, usual sort of thing, I have Lways had a hankering to win one of the "most cruises" awards on these occasions, but the top one was over 1200 days!!!! I should think they own a ship😉.

 

Nothing much else to report, and as said earlier I will answer all the rest of your questions once I am home, as I only have a few minutes internet time left. Will tell you all about disembarkation too.

 

So I can smell my cocoa coming, so it's bed time for me. TLk again tomorrow,

Sue

[GolfMom321]

Hi everyone, well it has been a misty old day today, but very calm seas. Hopefully Le Havre will be a bit warmer. Itwas the Captain's cocktail party this evening, usual sort of thing, I have Lways had a hankering to win one of the "most cruises" awards on these occasions, but the top one was over 1200 days!!!! I should think they own a ship😉.

 

Nothing much else to report, and as said earlier I will answer all the rest of your questions once I am home, as I only have a few minutes internet time left. Will tell you all about disembarkation too.

 

So I can smell my cocoa coming, so it's bed time for me. TLk again tomorrow,

Sue

 

Over 1200 days?:eek: I'm still trying to get to 100! That will happen this fall on the Island Princess. By the end of 2016 I'll be all the way to 160. I guess I'd better get busy! World cruise, anyone???

[Ferndale Girl]

dickinson, sounds like the onboard wifi connections haven't improved all that much. In addition to wanting to stay in touch with family, I have my own website to check on daily. I think I'll take my chances with finding free wifi in the various ports. Thanks, you saved me some money 😊

 

I was on the same cruise as dickenson. I used the computers in the Internet Cafe and didn't find it slow at all. Maybe it is different if you use your own computer.

[dickinson]

Slow is all relative. This was much faster than my Hawaii cruise on the Grand that I took in February. I did find that late at night (around 11 pm or so) it was quite slow. During the daytime it was better. It is possible that Ferndale Girl had a little faster speed than me. Sometimes location on the ship can make a difference. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase an internet package if you want to check email.

[Nancy48]

Hi folks, just a quick check in, a lovely sunny day in Le Havre. Taxis, buses, shuttles right off the gangway so a very easy port.

 

Nothing else to report really. My internet minutes are about gone, so I won't be posting again u til I get home, but will fill you in on disembarkation and answer all of your questions as soon as I can, probably Monday, once the laundry is done!!

 

Talk soon,

Sue

[Grover_]

I saw on another thread that there have been a lot of people with the flu onboard. Does this have any consequences like a noro outbreak (increased sanitation, no self serve, etc.)? Just curious how they handle this type of illness.

[simok99]

Everyone has flu in uk

[Cosmic Rays]

Everyone has flu in uk

 

What a strange comment to make! Where do you get this evidence from as you know that it is not true at all?

Although, having said that, you all do in Liverpool and the City should be avoided at all costs?

I don't think so.............

[Jo and Rob]

Everyone has flu in uk

 

I don't know anyone with even so much as a cold at the moment! In fact the lovely sunny weather is making everyone feel quite the reverse.

[insidecabin]

Over 1200 days?:eek: I'm still trying to get to 100! That will happen this fall on the Island Princess. By the end of 2016 I'll be all the way to 160. I guess I'd better get busy! World cruise, anyone???

 

on the 21st cruise the most cruise prizes at the Cocktail party were for

 

1. 1608 (the patter said 1381)

2. 938

3. 661

[Shogun]

Hi All

No flu here, not heard of anyone with flu, not flu season,

Yours Shogun

[Cosmic Rays]

Hi All

No flu here, not heard of anyone with flu, not flu season,

Yours Shogun

 

Well said.................

[jones721]

I teach in a primary school not that far from Southampton and no-one I know of there has flu - children are usually the first people to catch things and pass them on. Must be a regional thing.

[Lostincruisin]

Hi All

 

Nice to see Captain Nash read my post of the other day,:D

 

PS, Captain Nash does read CC, he also knows who we are,

 

when I visited him on the Emerald we chatted about posts I had made a year before.

 

Hi Shogun. Just out of curiosity.... what post did Captain Nash read of yours. I hope you have been well. We sailed with you in October on the Ruby from Canada to Fort Lauderdale.

Regards from Florida, Loretta

[Lostincruisin]

Dear Sue

 

Thank you so very much for the day to day blogging. I appreciate all of the information. We are taking this cruise on July 8. I am interested in hearing about Normandy. I don't know if you took the tour or have been there before.One of our main reasons for taking this cruise is to see Normandy.

 

Also could you tell me if Lisa Ball is the cruise director? Again thank you for the information and I hope you had a wonderful trip as it sounds like you did. Best regards, Loretta.

Florida

[dickinson]

Dear Sue

 

Thank you so very much for the day to day blogging. I appreciate all of the information. We are taking this cruise on July 8. I am interested in hearing about Normandy. I don't know if you took the tour or have been there before.One of our main reasons for taking this cruise is to see Normandy.

 

Also could you tell me if Lisa Ball is the cruise director? Again thank you for the information and I hope you had a wonderful trip as it sounds like you did. Best regards, Loretta.

Florida

 

I can answer one of your questions. Lisa Ball is the cruise director. She is great!

Edited June 14, 2015 by dickinson

[Colo Cruiser]

Dear Sue

 

Thank you so very much for the day to day blogging. I appreciate all of the information. We are taking this cruise on July 8. I am interested in hearing about Normandy. I don't know if you took the tour or have been there before.One of our main reasons for taking this cruise is to see Normandy.

 

Also could you tell me if Lisa Ball is the cruise director? Again thank you for the information and I hope you had a wonderful trip as it sounds like you did. Best regards, Loretta.

Florida

 

 

Not that they are very accurate but have you looked at your pre cruise emails?

They are viewable in the personalizer if they are not in your regular email. ;)

[Shogun]

Hi lostincruisin

Nice to hear from you, took months to get rid of Ruby cough,

I posted about Dublin, saying busy, windy, tidal, OP met Captain Nash and he said busy, windy tidal. So was only a bit of fun, however did meet Captain Nash as a guest of Princess a year back and he thanked me for comments l made about him, he said he followed cc and new l was Shogun. Now head office follows cc and sends a summary to the ships, years ago l wrote about an incident on board the next day captain came and found me and asked for more details.

[Nancy48]

Hi all, well home, unpacked and two loads of laundry done. Tomorrow I will go through this thread and answer questions, but thought I would just let you know about the "flu" situation.

 

It was announced on, I think Thursday evening, that there were "more than usual" numbers of people reporting, colds, coughs and sore throats, and I do believe flu may have been mentioned as well. Certainly by the time we left this a.m. There were quite a few people coughing and sniffing, not least, I am afraid to say, me😒😒. Started with a sore throat on Fridaynight, by yesterday it was what I call a "mucky cold" and now I have a very red, sore nose and now it is turning into a cough. Not how you want to return from a wonderful cruise. But to put this in perspective, my illness has just about annihilated my immune system, and if there is a bug anywhere it will find me. On the other hand, the Ancient Mariner, who has been with me at all times, and has even😱slept in the same bed as me😊😊 is as fit as a fiddle, not even a tickle in the throat.

 

In other words, yes it's a cold, and yes you may get unlucky, but as long as you keep washing your hands, and use good cough and sneeze hygiene, you will be fine. Most people did not have it. But if I was you I would pack a few of your favourite cold remedy, just in case.

 

Back tomorrow with all those answers, am taking my cold and my cocoa to bed right now. Talk tomorrow,

Sue

[Colo Cruiser]

Hope you feel better. :(

[Shogun]

Hi Sue,

 

Thank you for taking us with you on your tour of the UK,

 

Sorry to hear the bug has found you, having fallen ill on my last cruise

 

to a nasty flu like bug, know to well how a germ can spread through out a ship,

 

get well soon

 

yours Shogun