MarkSeattle

I’ve spent 5 weeks in Russia, but too long ago to comment on the current situation other than giving my impressions.

Unless you get an independent travel visa, my understanding is that your visas will be valid just as part of a guided tour when off of the ship, so I wouldn’t worry too much in that case, but would avoid PDA, even though this was common among straight men when I was there.

I’m a bit mixed in my opinion of Russia right now, but some sites like the Hermitage are bucket list sort of opportunities. I still remember standing in awe inches away from the unprotected DaVinci’s Madonna and Child.

I’d probably stay away from independent excursions into the gay nightlife, but would personally be ok during the day, but wouldn’t recommend that if you don’t know some Russian and can navigate the metros independently.

I just use colored zip ties to secure/lock the luggage. When flying as well as when giving to porters for loading on/off the ship. Keeps it from accidentally opening and thieves of opportunity out.

The TSA locks won’t stop anyone, I’ll bet you can find master keys on eBay...

Only one time has a checked bag been inspected and they actually zip tied it back shut but left their inspection note on the inside.

I keep nail clippers in my carry on to cut them off.

As far as identifying my bags, I’ve used straps, unusual custom tags on the handle, as well as a big strip of colored masking tape as a stripe on the bag itself.

You can take your child.

The people who get grumpy about people not dressing appropriately will probably be a bigger pain than normal if your kid is acting up though.

I'm confused. The coffee card can be shared. It has a finite number of coffee drinks that are punched when used. It doesn't matter who uses it. Are you talking about sharing of the brewed coffee/tea that are unlimited on the card? The Grand is not scheduled to get the medallion any time soon. Is the coffee "card" done electronically now? Sorry, I don't have time to go back and read through all of the posts so if it was mentioned before, I apologize.

The other poster mentioned he was at a bar, so the pic may be to cut down on sharing the AIBP, not the coffee.

Breakfast and lunch will be available during limited hours in one of the three traditional dining rooms. The buffet is also open all day.

For dinner you will have a reserved table and time for traditional dining, or you’ll be assigned to Anytime dining and show up at that dining room at whatever time you like, but probably wait for a table. The buffet and specialty restaurants are also open for dinner

Princess has staggered departure times for the airport transfers based on flight time.

There are plenty of taxi’s immediately available.

Uber and Lyft will be less expensive, but you’ll wait a few minutes.

Actually, those outlets have a rating of 20-40 watts, and even an anemic hair dryer is rated 1200 watts. They are also protected by one time fuses, not breakers, to prevent resetting. The reason they are limited to such a small current (about 0.2 amps) is because it is in a "wet area" where the potential for touching the electricity with wet hands could result in a shock. Due to ship's grounding systems, ground fault circuit breakers/outlets (those required in kitchens and baths in areas close to water) don't work (same reason surge protectors don't work and are a fire hazard), so they limit the power available at the outlet. 0.2 amps (200 milliamps) is the bottom threshold for a potentially fatal shock.

Just got off a ship 2 weeks ago and would have sworn under oath it was higher, lol. But I️ didn’t take a picture of the outlet (it’s marked with the limit) so I’ll take your word for it.

It did work fine for my cell phone and camera chargers.

They had roasted turkey and other Thanksgiving sort of food a couple of years ago when I was on a Thanksgiving cruise. Don’t remember the exact menu.

No, they have a 200 or 300 watt limit, so even with an adapter, it would probably flip a circuit.

You need to use the outlet by the desk and Princess hairdryer.

I use it as an extra outlet to charge my phone or camera if the other outlet is being used.

You’re not supposed to use small swim pools either. Dirty diaper water can get all over the deck and risk other passenger’s health and drains into the grey water or possibly pool not the black water system. They’d have to close half the deck and possibly drain the pool to clean up your mess.

Inflatable pool toys other than water wings are generally banned anyway.

Was on the Grand last week. Bought a buy one, get one for $1 and had both caps left on in the Wheelhouse, at the evening One5 happy hour bought 2, left the cap on one.

No limit, but there is the $15 corkage fee for more than the one allowed per drinking age passenger.

Just got off the Grand, the wine checkin table was essentially optional/voluntary in SF. Could have rolled a case onboard with no corkage fee if you plan to pour your drinks in your cabin. No issue taking a glass you poured to dinner or another venue, you just can’t bring the bottle.

The ATMs were reliable 10 years ago. I was there for a few weeks and got all of my money from ATMs and local currency was absolutely required, but maybe not for stores near cruise ship shops or tours as others have said.

Just the babies will be better. My grandsons recently wore one and I don’t think it will look nice for me on formal nights.

 

 

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Agreed. Keep it to the toddlers, that would be cute, not for older kids or adults.

Also, I can’t remember if t-shirts are even allowed for men on RC for dinner. I know some lines require collared shirts.

I'm going on the Grand next month. Do they have flat screen TV's and "On Demand" movies?

 

 

 

Thanks!

No on demand, but they are flat screen TVs.

Just got off the Grand last week. In laws were a few doors down from you and we were up a deck.

There were some water leaks and buckets around. One from the WiFi repeater a few doors down from us.

The food was a little sub-par, but I imagine this can change week to week.

Since carry on wine was mentioned the check in SF was optional, and they didn’t even have tables set up to check purchases at the ports, but it was a coastal cruise. My last Alaska they didn’t check either.

You obviously haven’t stayed in cheap enough motels :)

I do agree that ours last week on the Grand were in need of changing, even the pool towels were getting a bit ragged.

Now that I think about it, the bathmats were a bit better than the regular towels...

Only ESPN-1 and FSN-1 on the Grand last week. The channels went up to the 40s, may have started at 20. I’d say no more than 20 total cable channels outside of the princess specific ones.

They added a local Fox station for game 1 of the World Series, then either Fox or ESPN covered the others onboard.

Had it on the Grand last week.

Still there on the Grand.

Deck 16 starboard aft, overlooking the horizon pool.

Decorating your cabin door? This is a new one for me. A door banner with what on it?

 

#intrigued

 

 

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Other than the cruise ship provided happy anniversary, or birthday some people put up their own.

A couple of cabins down from me had Halloween stuff all over their door last week. One big spider or ghost kept falling down so they stuck it on their glass room number sign.

Some people go nuts on Christmas cruises going by posts on CC, but I’ve been on one and it wasn’t too bad, but quite a few for sure.

Does that include the casino? I knew everything else was charged to your room...did not know the casino was as well. :o

You can use cash or charge to your stateroom account in the casino.

 

IMHO, the CG pales in comparison.....:):):)

 

Bob

Sorry for the late reply, just got off a cruise.

That does look nice. My husband and I are together 18 hours or more a day year round, and have a table for two every evening at home, so when we cruise or vacation we prefer the ambiance of our own table in a restaurant since we very rarely eat out vs the same old 2 of us in our room (sans waiters). If we had little time alone together or were having a getaway from the kids, etc. I think UBD would win hands down.

I’d go to the CG once and save some money.

If I hadn’t done the UBD, then I’d probably give that a go once. UBD is nice, but I actually prefer a table for 2 in the MDR or CG than going through stacks of platters on the balcony. But we never order room service either...

Obviously no one would admit, but I hope some are not knock-offs from an offset print shop.

I suspected photoshop and an online print shop for most of them before this thread, and suspect that is the case for anyone always selling them, but it does seem like they pile up for some cruisers.

No you will be fine. They will honor your punches no problem. My problem was getting them to treat a blank brown one like a new one. My husband only drinks black coffee and I wanted that perk with an unused old style card and had to speak to a supervisor

 

 

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Ah, that makes sense since they punch for drip on used cards, and you had old “new” cards.