pris993

Would agree. It has been a few years since we have been on Celebrity (we are elite but prefer Princess) and we have only done 3 NCL cruises over the years. We did do both Celebrity and NCL in the Mediterranean. We booked a NCL cruise a few years back because we wanted to go to Israel, given unrest in area the cruise fare was a bargain. We knew when we booked NCL does not have any set dinner times in MDR. We have also enjoyed BLU on Celebrity. We decided to go and make the best of a good cruise fare. First day on board we went to the MDR for lunch and dinner. That was the last time we did so on an 11-day cruise. Food and service left a lot to be desired. For the remainder of the cruise, we enjoyed the buffet late afternoon, specifically the "salad bar" area where we could make a good salad and sandwich. The hot food items on buffet were what I might call comfort food items, not that inviting to us. Given the quality of food we saw, we were not interested in pay extra for special dining and many special dining was ethnic food that we don't eat. We were more than satisfied with the offerings from the salad bar. We felt we knew in advance NCL and Celebrity are different, for the fare we paid we felt we got what we paid for and if we had the same deal again might go again. The other thing about NCL is they prohibit folks bring foods back from ports. I came prepared with plastic bags, so that I could easily bring back nuts and other street foods we like when we are in Israel and the Greek Islands. Never had any other cruise line prohibit passengers from bring foods back from port, we done the same on Princess, Celebrity, HAL, Cunard, so did not care to respect NCL rule on this issue. Our cabin on board was similar to cabins we booked on Celebrity. Dress code on NCL was very relaxed, anything goes. We dressed like we do on any cruise line. I think we were on the NCL Jewel, might have been the Jade? It was the one NCL used in Hawaii, so still had Hawaiian themed decor in many areas of the ship. As I say, if we got a good cruise fare we might do it again, so not a bad cruise but not the same as Celebrity. Hope this helps you decided.

Goggle any port name your are interested in, Port of ..... you can find out a lot of info generally.

We have done many cruises in Europe. Policy is the same, enforcement varies. We usually return to the ship mid-day, sometimes port staff screens, sometimes ship staff screens. We have brought back wine mostly, sometimes liquor if we were in a port like Gilbralter. Never had any problem doing so. We only brought back what we might drink on the ship, because we had plans to carry it home on a flight. Never have had a bottle taken from us and held.

No real difference in dress code. We have done about 12 Mediterranean cruises over a number of years. Did them on Princess, HAL, Cunard, Celebrity, Crystal and NCL. Only NCL was very relaxed about dress.

Thanks, glad to hear someone else remembers besides me. I did a google search because I thought I might find out if I imaged it. Found I asked about this discount back in 2013, so guess it has been gone for some time. I did not think about until OP asked a question.

The desk area always has outlets too, we always book mini suites.

We started our cruising with Royal Caribbean, Song of American in early l980s. When RCCL started building bigger ships and we toured a ship in SF, found new cabins smaller and twin beds subsize, we left and never went back. Have seen some RCCL ships in port, would guess a good option for families but not for us as seniors. We have cruised 9 lines over the years, including Celebrity, Holland America, Crystal, Cunard and NCL, plus a few lines no longer around. Don't know how these lines compare post pandemic but before Princess attention to customer service on board beat the others out for us. I understand how you feel losing benefits, we are also elite, going on our 31st Princess cruise in December. For now, we will stick with Princess, do believe it is going to take more time for all cruise lines to fully recover from the pandemic. Plus, I have no interest in flying at all, airlines seem to be in worst shape than the cruise lines. For now, I can take Princess out of my home port of San Francisco and that works for me.

I understand your point of view. Interestingly, when we cruised on the QM2, we were surprised the lowest class suite cabin was the same as a mini suite cabin on any Princess ship. We booked a cabin just below the suite level and checked to see what the next level up was like while on board. Cunard separates the classes by dining room categories.

Port of Barcelona is very easy, because distance from airport or hotels very short.

Had a similar experience boarding the Grand Princess in l998 in Istanbul - did wait a short time but arrived early, only about 5 passengers waiting, boarding was swift.

Longest San Francisco to Istanbul. Over the years we took cruises out of Athens, Rome, Barcelona, Venice, Southampton and Dover. That was when flying was fun, no longer. Now happy to take a taxi to the ship in my home port of San Francisco.

I was talking about a booking discount that I use to get when booking direct with Princess as a repeat passenger, use to be $50pp less. I just did a mock booking on Princess site, with and without my repeat passenger #. I see this discount no longer appears. I guess it went the way of the Captain's Circle credits and internet minutes. Lots of changes since restart.

Sometimes you can find "you tub" videos on ports to help you decide which ports you might like between the two cruises. We have done at least 12+ Mediterranean cruises over past 20 years, most 12 days or more, so have been to many ports. Always found something we enjoyed. Just pick one and you will enjoy it.

We have done 60+ cruises and only 5 of the tours we did were ship tours, generally do on our own. Never missed a ship. Had friends who rented a car to tour on their own in St Thomas once. They got a parking ticket, parking in a prohibited area and had difficulty clearing it up and returning the car on time. Just bearing made it back. But they did make it. Another time they were not so lucky and had to fly to the Bahamas.

I think there is a repeat passenger discount. I believe we usually get $50 pp off a cruise fare as a repeat passenger. We are elite, so have been getting the repeat passenger fare for some time.

Different strokes for different folks. I have been to Alaska once, once was enough for me. I have been to the Mediterranean 12+ times, never tired of going again and again. Went 3 times to Egypt, mainly because it was on an itinerary I really wanted for ports in Israel. Egypt was on my bucket list, glad I went at least the first time, would I go again not necessarily. We all need to follow our dreams, not someone else's. Had to comment since some are trying to talk you out of going on the trip you planned. Getting to your question, I am sure you will fit in. Join the roll call for your cruise you may make some connects with others going on the cruise before you leave. You may think up some questions to ask more seasoned travelers, to start them talking about what they enjoyed. Travelers love to share stories with anyone willing to listen. I hope you have a great trip.

Really, seems you are trying to stimulate activities, LOL! I could care less, don't go to MDR anymore anyway.

Today young families eat out more than ever with their kids. Kids learn early. I have an 18 year old grandson, he has been eating out all his life, his mother does not cook. Even so I rarely see families with young kids on the Princess ships I cruise on in the Crown Grill. Really depends on the cruise we go on. Doing a Christmas and New Year holiday cruise this year for the first time, may see more on that cruise.

Notice it does list "Ocean Now" open 24 hours. You can order from the Medallion APP or from your TV screen in your cabin. I have not used, so no personal experience.

The far back section of the buffet area was kept open on a 24-hour basis, primarily for the ships officers who work around the clock but passengers could use it too. I am sure it offers officers and staff who work during the night hours more options than the International Cafe. I did not check to see if this was still the case when I was on the Ruby in February. Going on my 31st Princess cruise over Christmas and New Year holiday this year. Will check the daily schedule of hours. Some things have changed since Covid.

I live near San Francisco, so take ships from here often. Weather on the Pacific coast is fairly nice year-round. As others have said, during the summer months, ships cruise in and to Alaska. Spring and Fall, there are California coast cruises and cruises to Mexico, including Hawaii. I am booked on a cruise from San Francisco to Hawaii over Christmas and New Year holidays this year. We have done a transpacific cruise some years ago. Flew to Hawaii, cruised around Hawaii, then crossed the Pacific to Vancouver Canada. There are a variety of cruise options on west coast. Hope this helps you find something you want.

You are not alone, we are on Royal for holiday cruise in December, roll call also very slow.

I guess this may be free advertising for Princess. A reality dating show is stretching though!! The scenery will be nice in the Mediterranean.

Haven't seen a Midnight buffet on any ship in years, I cruise Princess a lot. Princess does have a food service 24 hours at the buffet, so one can get something any time day or night. Maybe a bit limited after covid, not sure, as I have only taken one cruise since restart.

If I had to pick one favorite cruise it would be one we did around l989, on Royal Cruise Line, from Venice to London. Royal Cruise Line was a Greek line that catered to Americans, had an office in San Francisco. Expensive for us at the time $7000 for a limited view cabin, not including air and other expenses. Lovely ship, cruise made stops in Athens, Rome, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Lisbon, La Harve and Southhampton. First cruise for us in Mediterranean, was so outstanding that we returned 12+ times on many other lines and ships. Mediterranean never gets old. We have many memories not only of that cruise but of all the cruises we did in the Mediterranean over the next 20 years.