land lover

For all those that say just do it.....I would say think twice...being one who just returned from Carnival Panorama this afternoon, the waiting game was nerve-racking.....even though at embarkation all cruisers on our sailing knew the potential of a quarantine..... when we were faced with the reality .... it didn't really compute.  The fact that 2 weeks of your life( in this case 4000+lives, including 1000 children) could be determine by the results of a test on 1  person is quite mind blowing.

BTW I actually took extra snacks and clothing, to be prepared...but nothing prepared me for the feeling I felt when we were informed about the ill passenger before disembarkation started. Even though from first announcements it sounded like she would test negative...actions by the ship made you think otherwise.

Just be prepared mentally.....

Was in the last group to disembarked from Panorama this morning at approx. 10am

For those who were waiting for embarkation this morning...the lines were long but orderly..talked to about 10 people and they were happy that their cruise was going forward.

MHO on our delayed disembarkation it was handled as well as could be expected.

Did not see or hear one person on board complaining, what a wonderful group of Pax. ...there were 1000+ kids on board and they and their parents and grandparents accepted the situation with grace.

Certainly there was misinformation(alot) and for those that wanted to get off straight away or had to rebook flights more then once, there was tremendous frustration.

But the overall feel of the ship, was one of acceptance and understanding.

Honestly what could we do....however  what great relief was felt  when it was announced  that the woman had tested negative. I happened to be watching a Dive in movie and great applause filled the air.

The reality is no one got on that ship not knowing the possibility of  a quarantine only unless they lived with their head in the sand. Several of us spoke of it when waiting to embark about bringing extra snacks and clothes.

well, I finally finished packing...yeah...still on my PC at home....

yep.. security will get you every time when photos are involved.

 thanks for the photos....greg...

Never have seen photos the morning of , involving the people I will be cruising with... looks like the usual crowd especially in the priority lounge, even though I haven't cruised carnival in years..the average cruiser on every line have a certain look....😉

I can understand why posters are interested in your reviews....because they are very detailed...and now with "the virus"..u can imagine the interest....

Until we met....if we do...I did pack that little So Ca edible...hopefully i'll get it through security..

continue on great job.....

I certainly wish they did..but those days are gone😥 to much abuse of the system and quite frankly today  people sharing on social media, what they received and then everyone else expecting the same.  I have been told by Princess they do look at things case by case....but the Corona virus is new territory....

Leaving tomorrow on a Mexican Rivera on the new carnival Panorama, 4000+ haven't cruised them in 40 years..we'll see what happens.....

So glad you will be reviewing our cruise...see u tomorrow or the next day or the next day....but maybe not at all😥....but then again.....since this is your first trip to the west coast,  I am going to pack a little edible  something made in So Cal for you to take home to Texas ...you are traveling with checked luggage aren't you?

until tomorrow...L😺ri

great info thxs

So unfortunate trying to do something kind...and look what happens...As the saying goes no good deed goes unpunished.

Rather then assume what she is thinking...ask her what's up.....is she feeling down or it is  a physical issue. As Others have stated be honest with her and tell her what happens if she does not go. But don't pressure her or you may be in for an unpleasant cruise if she does go.

Now regarding u being at the back of the ship and the others center. Tell these cruiser to not forget about you. Get the hub or have them call your cabin so you can be included. If your concerned about walking alone to the AFt of the ship ask if someone will escort you....Sounds like you are a generous and kind person..,certainly they want to be kind to you but sometimes people forget unless they are reminded, So don't be shy speak up.

You'll have a wonderful time...

26 minutes ago, capriccio said:

 

We've always wondered why, in this day and age, HQ couldn't send out daily trivia questions (with answers that have actually been researched and are correct) to all their ships at sea.  No repeating on B2Bs, no keeping lists, etc.  In year two they could mix up all the questions, add more to the mix, and make up new dailies to distribute.  Once they have a database of questions and answers that is able to be expanded easily it is just a question of generating the various lists (general knowledge, music, movies, whatever).

For general trivia most staff members put together  their own trivia questions, with at least one related to their home country.

Unfortunately Other trivia's(music,movie,etc) can be repetitive on the same ship or with the same CD...

53 minutes ago, capriccio said:

We were accused of 'cheating' the first time we ever played Trivia (on Princess or any other line).  My DH and I were a team of 2 and tied after the 20 questions with a team of 6.  There was a playoff round and we won.  At which point the other team immediately said "they are cheating because they don't have 6 team members!"  There was silence in the room and then all the other teams started laughing at them. 

 

That was back in 2008 and we won a useful and high quality (especially compared to current prizes) large reversible waterproof tote that I still use.  We didn't play again for years.  Even now we only play when traveling with family members.

 

 

 

 

 Came across that same reversible tote a few years ago was wondering how I received it. 

How disappointing for U OP...

Since my DH is a trivia buff we have played 100s of times..over the last several years on Princess and have seen many guests not play fairly.   People often keep the questions/answers which is perfectly okay, but to bring them back to a future game...really? One couple we have encountered does keep a small binder and yes they are on CC and are locals out of SP.

Recently, we have found few questions and games to be as repetitive as they were years ago. We have also found some general trivia to be very challenging. Where the top scores are only 12 or 13.

OP hopefully the next time you cruise Princess..the trivia will be challenging where a perfect score isn't achieved.

3 hours ago, cabin4three said:

Ours came with the hole already punched in.

Princess gave all passengers a cruise card  already hole punched at check in.

This was on the sapphire princess earlier this month. Princess shops were selling lanyards of course 😉. 

The children's club made lanyards on the first evening during family time.

 

 This has only happened to us on Aussie cruises..2 last  Sept. Oct. on Sea Princess.

a positive from me for the new system.....no more card to carry around or lose.

Easy to ask your for your count. Triple espresso is only one punch used to be 2.

Unfortunate when we have had the drink package, that the mini bar can no longer be switched for 'cards", but a bottle of wine or giving away the mini bar works.  DH is the coffee drinker not me...but we still have  used up 2 cards on a 7 day cruise...because of drinking specialty coffee minus the added coffee or tea...and treating someone in line to a drink.

Bring the 2 bottles, checkers have no idea if u are solo or not and won't ask.

My sailing was 74 days out yesterday and I had a positive experience using Ocean Ready. Date given for delivery of our medallions 18 days prior to our cruise.

I love the machines the first one I saw at a McDonald's in NYC almost 15 years ago...one of my kids gng to school there introduced me.

I am not a soda drinker but love the flavored water selections.

We have received the soda package as TA perks on RCI, unfortunately when a machine breaks down, it's bad news....

So from reading this thread.............no one has experienced the machine on any princess ship...correct????

Did I just read someone post they have never heard of a large bottle of wine being confiscated.....well I have and it happened to me....🙄 No option for corkage.

Let's get real..... it depends on the port you're sailing out of, the time of year, guests on your sailing(spring break and holidays often brings out the enforcers),the person checking carry-ons, and  if there is  a table set up  etc...etc...

So if Princess wants to enforce and confiscate they can...per their policy.

If you value your bottle don't take a chance, if not, go for it....

Did I just read someone post they have never heard of a large bottle of wine being confiscated.....well I have and it happened to me....🙄 No option for corkage.

Let's get real..... it depends on the port you're sailing out of, the time of year, guests on your sailing(spring break and holidays often brings out the enforcers),the person checking carry-ons, and  if there is  a table set up  etc...etc...

So if Princess wants to enforce and confiscate they can...per their policy.

If you value your bottle don't take a chance, if not, go for it....

Did I just read someone post they have never heard of a large bottle of wine being confiscated.....well I have and it happened to me....🙄 No option for corkage.

Let's get real..... it depends on the port you're sailing out of, the time of year, guests on your sailing(spring break and holidays often brings out the enforcers),the person checking carry-ons, and  if there is  a table set up  etc...etc...

So if Princess wants to enforce and confiscate they can...per their policy.

If you value your bottle don't take a chance, if not, go for it....

Did I just read someone post they have never heard of a large bottle of wine being confiscated.....well I have and it happened to me....🙄 No option for corkage.

Let's get real..... it depends on the port you're sailing out of, the time of year, guests on your sailing(spring break and holidays often brings out the enforcers),the person checking carry-ons, and  if there is  a table set up  etc...etc...

So if Princess wants to enforce and confiscate they can...per their policy.

If you value your bottle don't take a chance, if not, go for it....

It was in May..but as u know access is weather dependent. We utilized the area a few times. More times than not it was

F R E E Z I N G and windy.....but you could hide under the overhangs.

BTW... did an RT Alaska out of Seattle, last year with adult son...told him not to bother to bring formal wear...this from the Mom who purchased Tuxes for  her sons to travel on cruises when they were younger...I love tuxes, but the cruise industry has been changing for the last 10 years...and with cell phones at the ready , no MD will question what someone wants to wear in the MDR except maybe shorts, but I've seen shorts at night in the middle of cruises more than once.

Enjoy...

Cruised on Coral last month..few tuxes, mostly sports coats if jackets were worn..and these were mostly people cruising for their first time. For the last few years DH has seldom taken his tux,  black long sleeve shirt and slacks, simply because so few people are wearing them any more. On this cruise he noticed most men wore white long sleeves for formal nights.

I don't pay attention anymore. However, on a recent cruise out of Southampton,  DH was odd man out without a Tux at our Anytime dining table for 8. 

For Coral's cruise he chose a black shirt and black jeans...With so many people doing land trips why bother with dress clothes....I chose black jeans and a dressy top...The captains party was formal, which surprised me...as this is one reason why DH has stopped bringing TUX, so many Captain's Parties are no longer formal. The most traveled cocktail party dress code on our cruise was Elegantly casual. 

Love people dressed formally, but the times are a changin' its so much easier not lugging formal wear around.

For our Coral 12 day land/cruise we just took carry-ons and backpacks...so much easier to unpack when you arrive home....

Traveling frm the UK lighten your load...but if you love dressing formal go for it....

advantages for booking early..

1..may sell out

2..price may increase

3..and this happened to me on a cruise last March in Hawaii, last in first out...I booked an excursion 2 weeks b4 the sailing and it was confirmed. It was a snorkeling excursion, vendor had 2 boats but one  broke down, all those who were the last to book had the excursion cancelled.

10 hours ago, gremlinbangles said:

Thank you, so much information and yet I feel so unprepared.  A question regarding luggage is there a size limitation to the suitcase that travels separately.  I can pack for the trip (land and cruise) in our large suitcase, so to bring 2 suitcases seems silly and more to handle. So I would just like to bring a suitcase for everything.

There is no size limit except to what will be traveling with you on the train, for that we just used 2 backpacks. Last month we saw many LARGE suitcases outside of hotel rooms waiting for pick up. Ourselves we decided to just use carry-ons...it was easy to do it in Alaska for 12 days.

10 hours ago, KG2019 said:

Can you tell me if there are safes in the rooms at Princess Denali Wilderness Lodge?  Like on the ship?  Thanks!

No,  Front desk has safety deposit boxes available at no charge. They are accessible 24 hours a day during your stay.

As another poster mentioned many TAs do not want to purchase your OBC until they know you have boarded the ship...thus the comment "on board credit should show by the second day."