cheese please

So call the Princess Cruise line that you get on their site not the linked one from e-mail. And go from there. If scam no foul if legit score. But at lest know you are booking through the legal company.

27 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

What other cruise lines have you tried?

 

Even after this increase, I think Princess’s Speciality dining is very reasonable.  They are much less expensive than Celebrity’s SD (but not a true comparison).  Oceania has great SD that is including in their base fare, but they are usually significantly more expensive.

 

Is NCL and Carnival less expensive?

It is not just the cost that is the deciding factor. But value for money. So is the 6-7 dollar extra they are now charging worth the quality of the service and food they present. The last 5 times, 3 have not and that was before the increase. Making value for money with the increase rather shaky. This holds true on any ship that has extra cost dinning. You have paid for a dinning meal and these are a charge over and above what you have already paid.

I don't look at this as a 18% service charge. As it really is just a 18% increase to the cost of specialty dinning. That is a big increase any way you look at it. With our last few experiences with the Crown and Sabatini's I am not convinced a 18% extra cost is a worthy expense for us.

2 hours ago, RD64 said:

Should you be in Northern Italy again - I recommend Hausbrandt, and Goppion, but truly - the top of the top - Julius Meinl from Austria, but easily found in the region.

Thanks I will put that in my file.

54 minutes ago, RD64 said:

My family is originally from Trieste - the home of Illy. We have Illy running through our veins. That being said -I am not sure if you have ever been to Italy, but every restaurant / caffe serves only one brand of coffee - be it Illy, Lavazza, Segafredo, Hausbrandt, etc. and people will choose their caffe based on the brand.

Been to Italy alot. And by car and hotel or VROB's, Not on an in and out on a cruise. I know what your saying . For us we look for the Segafredo for our expess. But if there is none around am I going to walk away. Hard to compare coffee you get there with the suff served on this side of the Atlantic. Beautiful mountain area is Trieste been through a few time on the way to Chamonix.

Lavazza is on the Grand. Princess. And sorry folks but I do not think Illy is any better it just costs more. But to each their own.

21 hours ago, blizzard44ca said:

Yes. Internet was great in Alaska. A big change from the ships last year. Worth paying for.

How true. Last year no internet in Skagway and this year no problem. Did a speed test twice this trip and it has come in around 3.5 mbs both tomes including Skagway.

Yes sample size is small. But this survey got alot of TV air time regardless of its merits. And as I go through the Princess boards if I was a new cruiser I would wonder if it is true. The negative comments so out weight the positive that sometimes you have to wonder if anyone should cruise on Princess. So newby's if you're reading this I almost always cruise Princess they are my favorite. 

This U.K. consumer group "Which" has ranked Princess Cruise as last place on their list of cruise lines. Having in June sailed on Regal I find that hard to believe. 

 https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/cruise-lines/article/best-and-worst-cruise-lines-aXDfX7O9uJEz

But that is what they have in reviews. And reading the boards on C.C. I guess I am wrong and they and a lot of you are right. But I can not wait to board the Crown in 13 days for Alaska. I love those old ships. They may not be big and glittery but comfortable like a pair of old shoes and easy on the feet. And when it comes to cruising Princess is our go to line.

1 hour ago, Sailin Gal said:

For those of you bringing cheese on at embarkation or from a port stop, is that allowed or do you have to smuggle it on?  Never would have thought to do that, but I do love some cheese and fruit as an evening snack and agree the selection and quality of cheese onboard is disappointing.  

Never had a problem and we do this often.

In June we did a around Great Britain cruise. Bought cheese in a few different ports. Then had a cheese picnic in the Horizon Court. They supplied the bread, cold cuts and wine. 

The cheese on board is just not note worthy. The Parm is real Grana Padno. Now Padano is not a bad cheese it is not Regiano. And the rest are like the Parm, mild cheese's that will not offend anyone unless you are a Cheese Head.

We are cruising on the Crown in August and I have no reservations about it. We were on one trip and our plumbing got clogged 3 days in a row. Got talking to the maintenance engineer and found out someone was flushing orange rinds down the toilet Duh. So thank you chengkp75 for your info even if the armchair engineers know better then you. The less passengers on the Crown the better for me. We all know those new ships have a better system right 😉 Got to go call a plumber our house is 40 yrs old need to update to new plumbing fast before it is too late.

Not a bad why to make a living. 40 tourist tipping $5. each = $200 = $50. hour. Then add those North Americans that like to brag about how big they tip and you really make good money. A guide tipped $2. each makes $80. for 4 hours work that is $20 hour. None of this includes what he or she is being payed by the bus company. So tip what you like but these guides are not going home destitute.

As a retired Chef that butchered there own meat I can say with confidence that in less the meat is from the same cow there will be differences. Like humans no two cows are alike the grading of meat gets the steaks close but even that does not guarantee that the meat will be tender. I can go into several reasons for this but the big one is organic not the no pesticide organic but the world is organic. So you get a tough piece of meat it is not the purveyor's fault one piece of meat looks like the rest until you try to eat it. Just tell them to replace it. As to over under cooking that is on the cook, but I would love to see one of you try to cook 200 steaks at a time. I have it is almost a challenge even for me.

And as to Princesses food we just got off a Alaska cruise several weeks ago and I found that it has improved concededly from 2019. with portions resizing to a more appropriate amount. Still hunger ask for more instead of all the waste of over portioned plates.  

Smart move by Princess. Who would want to go or spend money in Russia.

I am on board the Grand Princess. We pre booked and paid for 4 specialty dinners. Do not do it. They cannot seem to keep track of what you paid for. Luckily we brought our credit card statement so had proof of purchase. Never again will we pre-pay for dinning. You have nothing on your app or no paper vouchers. And the app only works in some parts of the app and not others.

I feel for the crew and the glichy hand helds they use that are slow or take alot of input just for a beer order. And don't get me started about the wines by the glass selection started ok now it is down to basics ugh.

Menu's and wine list I think have a link from Grand Princess role call May 11

Vine wines are not on the app. 

No testing on turn around.

WIFI is slow to non existent in the Fjords but it does not matter you should be looking at the view. 

Freezing cold in the Horizon Court. If they are going here when it is this chilly then they need to fix this.

10 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Liz     IS      wonderful.  The next time you see her out and about or walk by her office, please let her know that the Mac Nut lady sends her aloha.  Thanks

Will do!

14 hours ago, Wanderers2 said:

Sorry that should say Wine List 🤪

Wine list and menu's have been posted on another board seek and ye shall find.

As to wine. The offers are slim unless you like the basics ie Cabernet, Merlot or Chardonnay. It seems the only place to have a decent wine is at Vines and thank you Ronnie. I am at the point of drinking Beer at dinner.

We are in Glacier Bay today cold over cast and fabulous we saw a couple of whales. I also wanted to say crew are great and this ahip has had some of the best ship food I have tasted.

On 5/14/2022 at 9:00 AM, nunuc2000 said:

Any chance they can tell you what the passenger count is currently sitting at for the May25th cruise? Glad to hear it's good shape... take good care of her until we get there haha!  

I ask one of the bartenders he thinks full capacity starting in June. Liz the Captain Circle rep who is a real sweet heart. Had them turn off the music in the One5 so it is a quiet area for reading and naps. It is 9C and partly cloudy in Juneau. It has taken 2 days to post this. Some how it went into the ether then we lost or internet while in Skagway. And in there was my 70th that somehow involved drinking. Cheers

We are on board May 11 to 25. The computers were down at Vancouver terminal so it was a bit of a nightmare. Ship looks good and clean. Got to feel for the crew as the Medallion app is a bit of a joke. You really cannot use it for much of anything. The internet has not been too bad better in some areas then other. Works pretty good in the room though.

I would do a live from but sounds like work does it not. Any easy stuff I will try to answer. It is wonderful not to have crowded elevators. And one of the Dinning rooms is closed. But not a problem as we dine at 7pm and can get seated right away. ????

18 hours ago, Cheesepleese said:

Perhaps we're camembert cousins? Lol. I think it's a safe bet that like me you have a fondness for good cheese! I see you live near Victoria, BC? We live in Armstrong in the North Okanagan. We used to live in Aldergrove, BC and moved up in 2015. My old email address had morecheezpleez in it. Don't know if you remember in the 90's the dairy farm cheese commercials where kids would hold out their plates and say "more cheese pleese!" It was those commercials that I came up with the email addy and my CC handle. (I also used to dairy farm in Aldergrove). Always enjoyed a creamy havarti or a melted brie topped with sundried tomatoes and garlic and dipping crackers or chunks of sourdough bread in it. Oh yeah, and washing down with a nice cold beer or  a glass of red wine. Only thing going through my head then is life is good!

Cheers, Bill

Yes I remember the commercial hence the moniker. I am a retired Chef who spent his last few years working as a Fromager ( cheese seller). So lots of love for the dairy paste. Needless to say with 375 kinds of cheese France it is what I call heaven on earth. Been there a lot over the years and going  back this October for 3 weeks of dairy bliss. in fact in 2019 we went to Camembert. It is a sign and about 10 houses. But some great cheese makers in the area. Yumm!

Stan 

On 5/2/2022 at 4:09 PM, Cheesepleese said:

Alfredro's pizza! Best pizza at sea that I've sunk my molars into!

Hey cheesepleese do I know you ?

cheese please