hm9912
-
Posts
806 -
Joined
Content Type
Forums
Store
Blogs
Downloads
Events
Gallery
Posts posted by hm9912
-
-
We are sailing Ruby in April and have 1 6 yr old and 2 teenagers. Looking for an idea of what their schedules are and activities. Doesn't have to be for this ship.
I only have the children's menu
I think the daily activities might depend on how many children are in each age group?
Don't miss ordering the Love Boat Volcano off the children's menu
I loved it
Howard
-
Just completed a 10 day on the Crown, and along with a few dozen other pax, came down with noro. Everyone I talk to cannot believe that Princess charges for the meds to get well. They want you to self-report your illness, but then stick you for the costs. Is this common practice on other cruise lines?
I guess next time I will bring my own Immodium and FORGET to let the ship know.
Of course they charge!
Didn't you purchase medical/travel insurance for your cruise?
Who does anything for free these days
Howard
-
Definitely worth it - we did it on the Ruby with Commodore Romano - wonderful man - wonderful tour.
I would do it again in a hearbeat.
eclue:rolleyes:
Did it on the Caribbean Princess. Well worth the money and included drinks.
The hospital section and where they put a dead body in case someone should expire on the cruise was interesting.
Would take the tour again
Howard
-
The only way I know of to "reach" a status during a cruise is if you are on a B2B cruise. in that case' date=' if the first leg finishes the qualifications for the new status, it will be awarded to you for the second leg (you should get internet minutes for the second leg). If there are any difficulties with this, go to the Captain's Circle host who should be able to verify your status and make the appropriate adjustments.[/quote']
That is exactly how it worked for us on our last B2B cruise.
On the second leg we received a new cruise card and 250 internet minutes each
Howard
-
Welcome to Cruise critic. Yes they normally have the Elite lounge for Elites and Platinum members open from 5-7pm with canapes and $5 drinks (cocktails, wines, spirits and beers). Sorry, I am not sure where on the sea princess it will be held.
On the Caribbean Princess it was held in the Skywalkers lounge
Howard
-
Does anyone know if you use cash for the laundry or do they have a way for you to put it on your cabin card?
On our recent cruise on the Caribbean Princess you use your cabin card to get tokens. $3.00 for wash and $3.00 for the dryer
Howard
-
Excursions.....Aruba we did on our own. Took a public bus up to Catalina Cove to snorkel. It worked out well, but it would've been nicer if it was a longer stay in port.
In Cartagena, we took Dora the Explorer's city tour. Similar to one offered by Princess, but in a van versus a full bus. Dora was knowledgeable and her driver Victor was talented ! The streets are tight, and crowded now in the modern city area due to a new public transportation program.
We took the Panama Canal by ferry to the Pacific. It was well worth it. (The canal day was the reason I took this cruise. In retrospect, nothing else on the itinerary would have been memorable or worth cruising for. ) but that day in the canal was awesome. ! Getting up at 5 am, watching the passage into Gatun Locks ( which didn't start til after 7 am ) then going through the Pacific side locks on a smaller vessel , was great.
Limon, Costa Rica was ok. Our tour was through Princess, Rainforest hike, Tortuguero Canal Cruise and banana plantation. The guide, Erik, was very knowledgeable, but the tour was not immersive enough, due to the multiple stops. The hike was very short, a loop from the area where we picked up the canal boat tour. On the water, we did see wildlife, such as monkeys. The banana plantation was closed ( Sunday ) but our guide explained how things work there.
Ocho Rios we did not go out on our tour due to my back being too painful to climb Dunns River Falls.
We took the cruise two years ago
Loved the banana plantation and they do grow on trees unlike money
They wash them real good to get rid of any creatures that might be hanging out on them.
Howard
-
Tracie Lynn
I'm following your blog and wish I was going again
We did this trip two years ago and loved it.
Sorry for the loss of your mom
Enjoy
Howard
-
^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thank you for the tip. Great idea!
I'm still trying to master the D7200
Howard
-
Does anyone know if (besides DSLR cameras) the Camera Dept on board Princess cruises also sell lens that would go with the camera? I know it is hit and miss depending on inventory on board -- but are lens EVER an item that is available for sale?
I would recommend B&H Photo prior to your cruise
Howard
-
On these boards the last few days I have read a lot of negative comments about various Princess-related things, from the food, the service, the beds, the venue changes, etc...
Now I love sailing on Princess. In 2012 alone I was on the Ruby for 19 days, the Crown for 24 and the Emerald for 20. My last Princess cruise was in Feb 2013 on the Sapphire and I am planning my long awaited return this March on the Regal.
In all honesty, I am a little worried. Worried that Princess has made too many changes in the name of increasing revenue. Worried that many of my favorite venues are changed beyond recognition or just plain gone. Now to be realistic, I understand that Princess probably needs to make changes here and there to compete, to make money (it IS a business after all) and that the more important customers are the new customers, not the new Elite customers like me who have close to $0 on-board expenses. But thinking only for myself, if the product changes so much that I cannot recognize it anymore, I am not going to stay loyal just because I've achieved top loyalty.
I like to think that those who offer criticism of a Princess product or service are doing it because they CARE. I've also seen a lot of you give credit where credit is due. I will do that too: Princess creates an atmosphere on board that I love. I cruise solo but I never feel alone. The CD staff are friendly and approachable. I have made tons of friends I've met on Princess cruises. But if the company is going to change the product I have grown to love so much to the point it feels foreign to me, I am going to start comparing prices, since another of my beefs is with the incredible rise in the fares.
So how do you folks feel about the Princess product TODAY compared to before (a year ago, 5 years ago...). If you've just taken your first Princess cruise, I'd be curious to hear your thoughts as well.
Although cruising today does not compare to our first cruise on our honeymoon over forty years ago on the Oceanic we have no complaints about Princess. We do miss the dome over the pool that closed over the pool on the Oceanic and it would have gotten good use on our last cruise to Norway and Iceland.
http://www.classicliners.net/SS_OCEANIC.html
As for the food, we enjoyed it. The shrimp are not as large as they were on the Oceanic.
You can order all you can eat
Overall no complaints with the food
Howard
-
Don't you have anyone who can take call for you?...you will be ON VACATION.:D:eek:
Like a telephone answering service?
Howard
-
I am going on a 10 day princess cruise to Alaska (lots of time at sea). I am a doctor and own my own practice and have to be available by cell phone for patients to reach me 24/7. I don't actually need to talk that many minutes, but need to always be reachable. What is the cheapest option for me to have a cell phone on all the time to receive calls. Thank you for your help.
Check out phones from INMARSAT.
They are available on Amazon
They work anywhere in the world where there is no cell service.
Howard
-
We just got off the Royal on 1/18.The international cafe is in fact open 24 hours.A very neat server from the Ukraine brings out the yummy just out of the oven baked goods at about 4am. Perhaps you are thinking of the horizon court which does not serve breakfast goodies until 5:30 and does not offer the decadent donuts
On our recent 23 day T/A cruise on the Caribbean Princess the fresh apple and blueberry turnovers were being put out at 4:15 AM after they completed a through cleaning of the glass case.
If you only want their regular and Decaf brewed coffee and not any special coffees there is no charge and no need to purchase a coffee card.
For twenty three days I was at the IC by 4:10AM and enjoyed the free coffee and apple turnovers. The HC did not open until 6AM
Howard
Howard
-
Last year we were on a 14 day (which could have been a 7&7 B2B) and became friends with another couple who had also booked it as a 14 day.
Our cards had the total 14 day dates on them. Their cards only showed the dates for 7 days.
They were concerned because they had booked a 14 day so checked with Captains Circle.
Seems because they would have completed 15 cruises after the first 7 days, they were given their Elite cards for the second 7 days with their mini-bar set up, etc.
As mentioned, Princess is inconsistent with its polices from ship to ship so it's always best to check with the Captains Circle Host on the ship.
LuLu
We were on two B2B cruises this past September. After the first 7 days we stayed in the same cabin for the next leg of the T/A portion. We visited the purser desk as soon as we returned to the ship from a day touring in Southampton and were upgraded to platinum status, given new cruise cards, and our free Internet minutes.
Just visit the purser desk and they have all your records. We only had one booking number for the total 23 day cruise even though some passengers left the ship after the first seven days.
Howard
-
So looking forward to all the delicious meals. I love all the pics and the video. I can't wait to sink my teeth into all the deliciousness.
Found a few more.
Howard
-
A few more
Howard
-
We have 2 Emerald Princess trips coming up real soon. Does anyone have any Princess menus or food pictures to share?
I like thinking about what I'm going to eat! :D
Thanks in advance.
Some photos from the Caribbean Princess. I assume there is not much of a difference
Howard
-
Any state room recommendations on the Caribbean Princess would be appreciated.
We were in P-309 on Plaza Deck with a window
Close to the Atrium, Coral Dining Room, International Cafe,Internet Cafe, and the laundry room. Not all decks have laundry rooms if you are on a long cruise
We would choose this cabin again
Howard
-
Just curious if the TVs currently on the Regal have physically accessible HDMI or VGA(PC) ports?
I tried searching the forums, but the only information I could find was either old(Jan/15) or vague (does blocked mean physically inaccessible or was the tv in hotel mode?)
Would be great if anyone could confirm recent make/models of the TVs (Viewsonic/Samsung).
Our family tends to be night owls and enjoy watching diverse programming (Korean dramas :D).
Thanks in advance!
On our recent 23 day TA cruise on the Caribbean Princess I had no problem connecting my Nikon D7200 to an available HDMI port on our cabin TV to view my photos. The remote allowed me to change inputs
If your remote doesn't allow you to change inputs, ask at the purser desk for another remote.
Howard
-
Someone typed the kids menu a few years ago and it hasn't changed:
http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=79028&highlight=menus
I am sure if you speak to your waiter or head waiter the first night and request mac and cheese nightly, they will make it daily for your son. They are pretty good about special requests in the dining room.
Your son may love their fettuccine alfredo. It is available nightly on the adult menu.
The food on the kids menu is excellent. It has to be
When we took our daughter on her first cruise when she was eight years old turning nine it took me three days to coax her to try a shrimp cocktail. Whenever we went out to eat after the cruise she always asked if she could order a shrimp cocktail.
A cruise ship dining room is the best place to have a fussy child try and taste new things. If they don't like it the wait staff will just take it away. Some won't even tell the child what it is but just ask them to try it.
From the kids menu
The spaghetti and meatballs on the kids menu is delicious
I ordered it as an appetizer.
And so is the volcano
Howard
-
FWIW
Been following this thread. We were on the CB 23 days on its TA crossing in September. We were unable to dock in St. John Newfoundland due to bad weather. Strong winds and heavy seas. Everyone made the best of it as we had another sea day prior to reaching Halifax. We did make it to Brooklyn on time:)
We always take the travel insurance and Princess EZ Air just in case of any unforeseen circumstances such as this.
Good luck to everyone
Howard
-
We're from the US and are taking the British Isles cruise on the Royal Princess in May. I have a medical device and need to know if I need an adapter for the plug, and if so, which type of adapter do I need (UK/European)?
It probably makes sense to use a power strip for the other electrical stuff. Can we get one that has US plugs in the strip, but the strip itself has whatever type of plug the ship uses?
Thanks for your help!
I used this power strip on our recent cruise on the Caribbean Princess
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F9YN2M?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01
I plugged it in behind the TV and used it for our clock and charging the camera, IPad, and IPhone
It worked out great
Howard
-
Norway Fjord
Nikon D7200 with 18-200MM lens
Howard
Norway: What were your favorite Princess excursions?
in Princess Cruises
Posted
Stavanger - Lysefjord to see the Preacher's Pulpit Rock
Bergen - Funicular to the top of the mountain
Howard