pixiestyx

Does anybody know if the new beds have rolled out ship-wide?

We'll be boarding on Saturday 2/27 and are wondering about the beds. We have toppers that we bought after the last horrid bed we had but don't want to haul them if we've got the new beds.

We're in A751 if anybody knows about that specific cabin :)

Hope it's ok jumping in with a question. Mainly been with Royal Caribbean recently, but have a cruise booked with Princess. Very recently we've started having most evening meals on RC in Windjammer, because it sorts hubby and my dietary needs and inclinations better than the main dining room. Things we especially like in Windjammer are the large variety of vegetables and salads, and the fish dishes. Any views re how Horizon (I think that's right?) compares to Windjammer?

 

 

 

We're not sure what to do yet, because we do enjoy the company we've met in the traditional dining situations.

 

 

 

Is there somewhere it's easy to have a look at sample menus for the main dining room?

 

 

 

Also, a question re formal nights. If we eat in the self service will we feel out of place during the rest of the evening, not in our formal gear?

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

I'll be going on my first Princess cruise next week so I can't answer about how their dining rooms work (I will report back).

On Royal, I have always eaten in the MDR (I hate hate hate buffets). We are not bread and potato people so we always ask for a large plate of steamed or sautéed vegetables. It's never been a problem. They usually have one fish option on the menu as well. Besides what's on the menu, they've always seemed able to drum up some kind of fish for us.

I'm hoping Princess will be similar.

On a side note, I never see so much beige colored food except when I'm cruising. I guess potatoes and rice/noodles are cheap.

That is where I got mine too. I had no idea that this was an option. The two TSA agents who do the interviews in Charlotte are lovely. They asked who my travel companions were, and I let them know that until recently, my mom had been one of mine. The agent got out of her seat and hugged me. I was touched.

Just as an FYI, they are not TSA agents who do the interviews. It's CBP agents and they are a whole different deal.

Where do you go for the interview?

To a CPB office, most likely located in your nearest airport. A handful of cities have non-airport locations.

I'm so glad, I stumbled upon this thread. I had no idea about surge protector issues. I had bought a power block to get some extra outlets buy saw it did have surge protection.

I was surprised at how hard it is to find something without. I ended up with a couple of one to three plugs. No lights, switches or anything so I'm confident there's no protection.

I'd hate to have my strip confiscated, but more so I'd hate to put myself and thousands of others unknowingly at risk!

I was on the adventure in Nov. we had no problem making a my time reservation for around 6pm. The dining room didn't really fill up until as we were finishing.

I think with the culture of the local population skewing towards later dining you'll be fine if you prefer early :)

I'm on the same sailing as OP and would like to know too! Previously I thought I read the sit down dining room closes at 1pm. I hope it's open a little later as according to the email I got they don't even start boarding until 12:30.

Or maybe I misread? It's my first Princess cruise

I sailed Adventure just before thanksgiving. We loved it. It looked great and the staff was the best I've had on RCCL. I went with my mom who hadn't done anything in the Caribbean for 20+ years and only cruises other places for the itinerary.

She had such a great time that we ended up at the next cruise desk. We're going. To do the Jewel on its 9-day once it returns after refurb and Europe.

I don't like buffets and never use them so maybe my opinion is skewed, but we went to check out the windjammer on Adv. and it was horrific, just gross and dirty.

I sailed on Nov 21-28 and the cafe promenade used Illy coffee. It was delightful.

Anything was eligible for the package. They also have decaf, we would always get a large decaf latte/Capp/mocha etc after dinner.

I love it. It works perfectly for me. I drink a TON of water and coffee. We (both of us had replenish) would go through at least 6-8 bottles of water each per day plus 3 lattes or cappuccinos. I think I had a ginger ale one night as well. We really got our money's worth with bottled water and coffee. Ship water makes my legs swell horribly so it's all bottled water for me.

Most folks won't have such a high water tab, so think about how much coffee, juice and mock-tails you'll have in a day.

It may be ship to ship. I had the same experience on the adventure (11/21). I'm not even going to call what we had a mattress. I sent an email to the concierge prior to our arrival to request an egg crate based on reports here.

I got back and email saying yes it will be on the bed, then an email a few days later saying they don't have foam toppers.

Merry Cruise-mas from the gorgeous Emerald Princess! I'm happy to report the ship is in spectacular condition post dry-dock! ALL beds were replaced with brand new plush pillow top beds! They showed a dry-dock documentary this morning detailing all of the work done; it was so fascinating! Tonight is opening night for SHARE, and we will be the FIRST pax to experience it! Final price: $39

We shall see if it's worth it! Off to the new shark trivia game show!

Thanks for posting. Not to be weird but any chance you could post a pic of a mattress corner? I've had some bad bad bed experiences! Will be on emerald end of February and hoping maybe I won't need to haul bed toppers!!!

Has anybody stayed in this cabin? We're booked in it for a Feb. cruising. Anything to know? There are a few other on Caribe deck in the same category, any reason to switch?

TIA :)

I haven't been on princess yet (booked in February), but just got off the adventure of the seas and that thing I slept on couldn't even be called a mattress with a straight face. My sail last year on Indy wasn't much better.

From reading this boards it really seems like regardless of the line beds are hit and miss ship by ship and even cabin by cabin.

We got off that ship the day you arrived.

We walked in and out of the WJ never to return as it was so disgusting.

Other than that we found the crew to be fantastic. We had awesome MTD staff and our room attendant was too notch. As was everybody we encountered at the promenade cafe where we often went for coffee.

The only ship issue we had was when we woke up to a toilet that didn't work. We could hear them flushing the system and then it would stop working. Come to find out the issue was caused by some lovely people flushing washcloths. Not baby wipe type things, the wash clothes in the cabin for your hands/face! They got the line cleared so they apparently flushed some more!

Is this stated somewhere on their website? I looked and looked and couldn't find anything other than the alcohol policy.

It would be great if we could take a few 12packs. Ship water makes my legs and hands swell something fierce. For me it's worth schlepping water to be comfortable.

Hello! I am new to Princess and will be on the Emerald in Feb. I've just read about the sanctuary and that there is a charge. Does the lotus pool also have a charge?

How do you go about booking this? I don't think we'll be too bothered about the sanctuary because we have an S3 suite A751 (which I was told has a nice large balcony) so we will likely enjoy our private quiet area. But on sea days, I like to use the pool but prefer a quiet adult only area.

I usually cruise on Royal/Celebrity and they both have a free adult-only solarium with pool.

I meant about 2 feet wider on each side. All of the suites are a little different in size, depending on deck and location.

I understand all the suites are a little different but according to NCL the general difference between forward and aft cabin space is approx. 30 sq ft.

That is more than about 2 ft on each side. That's closer to 5-6ft on each side, which I think would be noticeable.

But I'm starting to feel like I'm missing something here..

That's about a foot longer and two feet wider per cabin. Hardly noticeable. The forward decks however are MUCH larger. But it's the view off that wrap around deck that's a clincher for us.

Unless my math is off a difference of 30sq. ft. is closer to a difference of 6ft longer and 5ft wider, which I think would be noticeable.

The view from the back looks amazing, but we are the type that do spend time in our cabin (and balcony) so we are hesitant to give up that much room space.

If it really is only a difference of 1ftx2ft or so then that would be a non-issue.

The aft suites are not a lot smaller than the forward suites. Quiet area of the ship, and the view from those cabins is amazing. If you can secure the outside cabins, the deck wraps around to the side of the ship as well. Been in Owner's suites, Family suites, and forward suites, and if it is just the two of us, we like the aft penthouse suites the best.

The two reps on the phone said that the aft suites were 288sq. Ft of indoor space and the forward are 318 sq. ft. That seems like it would be a notice me difference in space.

Maybe they were mistaken? I wish it was easier to find the inside and balcony size separately.

To answer your question, yes you can use your balcony on deck 9 & 10 forward suites. The watertight door is not nearly as daunting as it appears.

 

 

 

The wind could be the issue. If you are lounging/sunning the wind is block out. If you are standing up it could be a bit windy depending on wind direction and ship speed.

 

 

 

Our favorite of those suites are #10000 and #10500.

Thanks for the info! We would just be sitting on our balcony so it sounds like that shouldn't be a problem.

We're in 9500.

Has anybody sailed in one of these before? Can you actually use your balcony while the ship is moving?

I've seen some pictures online and the door looks pretty scary!

Sadly, all the suites (unless you move up into a 2-bedroom which is silly for two people) are at the front or the back of the ship.

The aft rooms are quite small for a suite at only 280sq. ft or we'd move to the back.

I'm totally new to NCL and this layout baffles me.

Hi again, I'm totally new to NCL. I've booked a 7-day in the penthouse with large balcony (forward) on the Star out of Tampa.

I think it said online that there's a coffee machine (or maybe it was Capp/espresso machine. Does anybody know the brand by chance?

How's the coffee out of it? What are the other coffee options (free or fee) available?

Any other advice for an NCL newbie? I've mostly cruised DCL, Royal, and Celebrity recently.

I've read a few posts on here about the room service charge being waived for suite guests, but the NCL FAQs says it's only waived for Haven guests.

Does anybody have experience with this in a non-Haven suite? We will be in a Penthouse with large balcony front facing (SE) on the Norwegian Star and am curious if we should plan for the $7.95/order.

So I'm new to NCL and just booked a Penthouse with Large balcony on the Star. I loved the idea of a large balcony and the room size seemed similar to RCI Grand suite.

However, when I looked up pictures online these rooms looked to have an odd setup that make them look very cramped. It also seems that there is a small window portion for the balcony and a larger metal door. The balcony is big, but they only have two loungers so it doesn't feel like you can really take advantage of that space.

Any thoughts on these rooms? I'm thinking of switching to one of the rear facing rooms instead. They are smaller, but look like the make better use of space?

Help me, please!