gardenbunny

Port access is fluid. What is open one week may not the next.

Ship gives you a letter on board which are open for what activities allowed.

Just off Enchanted 1/9.  We did some research on milkshakes - we were told you could purchase gelato and then go over to International Cafe and they have blenders to mix it.  Didn’t sound like a real thick milkshake to me…..

So someone in our group got the Dirty Banana without booze - I took a taste of theirs and yep, tasted like a milkshake.

Good idea on mudslide!

And where do you ask for Volcano?? Never heard of it but definitely my kind of dessert!!   Dining room?  That looks awesome 🤩

Love it!!!

I have never been a fan of the buffet layout on the R class ships.  It is so large and a true test of your cognitive function to remember where you saw something you wanted.  I always walk up and down all the aisles and center sections before making my decision.  And I always get the hot items last so they stay warm while I try to figure out how to get back to my table!!

We were just off Enchanted 1/9 and we found buffet food to be OK - mostly basics.

I am sure low capacity and supply chain issues must be a challenge. 

I think those of us wanting to start back cruising after such a long pause could be experiencing some of the “ramping back up” aches and pains cruise lines surely must be experiencing to get back in the groove (so to speak).  

Consider all the restaffing of crew - our room steward told us many of the contract companies that crew belong to went out of business during the pause.  And a lot of long time crew members had to quit and find other jobs to support their families.  Massive hiring for all the world’s cruise ships over a short period of time to start back.  Not to mention new training (Medallion!!). And with capacity issues, they are constantly moving crew among Princess ships based on how bookings are going. Expecting more but then last minute cancellations due to Omicron panic.

Again, I spoke with several crew on board saying their contracts are currently only 4 months but not guaranteed on same ship entire time.  Our room stewards were leaving Enchanted on 9th for the Ruby to Hawaii.  They had only been on since November.

I have another cruise in Feb and March on different ships so it will be interesting to see if over time things will start to show consistency we were all so used to.

FYI - WhatsApp will no longer work on certain older Iphone and Android phones after November 2021.

Google to see list of devices.

Just off Enchanted Jan 9th.  Purchased before with App.  Elite.  My discount showed on my onboard account first day.  Same for the 10% discount on excursions I bought before.

Service worked great!  I could even watch TV on my YouTubeTV app!!  
Food for thought - working great with all the lower capacity - could be different once back to normal passenger loads….

FYI - On another note - I read on CC to make sure and check your account every couple days - was easy to do on the App.  I found several charges that were not mine.  Could be hazard of crew tapping wrong guest on their hand held devices.

I was charged twice for some sort of Princess Cays expense (did not get off ship) and a drink at the Sky Pool.  Not me, we had soda package and do not drink.

Customer relations took them off - no problem.

Just off Enchanted on 9th.  We have T-Mobile (previously Sprint).   Has always been great - game changer on 2019 World Cruise. But with our new paid Unlimited WiFi  vs our former Elite free minutes, I had a learning curve since this was first cruise since January 2020.

While sitting on ship after we left port and back at sea, I got an Alert text from T-Mobile to make sure I was on Airplane mode. My plan did not cover cruise ships!  

I had turned off Airplane mode to use my cell service in port and forgotten to turn it back on when reboarding.

My new routine - turn on airplane mode and reconnect to Medallion Net while waiting in line to reboard ship!!!

Well I got email today that my Feb 11 will be on Marina!  Beautiful ship - and they stated that all guests will be accommodated in staterooms or suites with a veranda.

I booked interior - nice upgrade!  Cabin and ship 😀

We got our email letter today for our Feb 11-23 Waves of Wanderlust.  We have been wanting to try Oceania so this will be our first. We have done 2 World Cruises on Pacific Princess and love the small ships.  So we only booked an interior.  We got a mega upgrade!

Just looked on website to see the ship - beautiful!!  Even though it is slightly larger than Sirena, I expect it will not be full capacity either.  Might get spoiled and have to increase my travel budget allowance. LOL

Seems like the key is to definitly book your reservation for table-type you prefer (private or share) for your entire party and time desired immediately when DMW is available on the app for your cruise!  And make sure your party is linked to your cruise reservation number.

At what time (number of days before cruise)  does that typically open?

Another update:  Went to Amalfi tonite to get the table that we had last night and people were sitting there!  Went back to front desk and Alana told us that table has been reserved all week and were not there last night.

So here we go again….they sat us at another table that was nice. and good wait staff.  So, asked as we were leaving if we could have that table for last night….yep you guessed it - nope, that table has been reserved but they were not here tonight!

But Alana promised us she would find a nice table for us again…..

I know this was first experience but so far not a fan 🙃. 

Even more questions to add to my list of how this DMW works - if you reserve a table weeks before cruise begins and when you show up and like it and decide to reserve entire cruise, do you have to tell them on nights you are not using it?

But I will have a few weeks to further my education on this topic - booked today Panama Canal 10 day on Emerald for March 13.

DH and I cruise only Princess and Cunard.  Always wanted to try Oceania.  Taking Sirena on a Caribbean cruise that we found on sale for to 2 ports we wanted to visit St Vincent and St Barts.

We did not purchase the O package - but understand many amenities  are included.  But looking at website for booked guests, I am not exactly sure what is and is not and how to book??.  It appears we get 2 specialty restaurants in Tuscan and Red Ginger.  And 6 included shore excursions?

Could someone please give me an idea of what I need to do before we board?

Looking forward to Oceania - I have heard good things.

Thanks

2 hours ago, wineglass said:

when I go to dine my way for our Discovery Princess cruise in March, it only gives me the option of “party shares a table with others” or “party spread across multiple tables”. There is no private table for your party option. Our party are only 3 people. We have always asked for a private table for 4. Has anyone else seen this result?

On board Enchanted this past 10 days we would get those options - kept having to change time or DR to find private.

Very pleased to report that the dining room table we had in Amalfi last night was exactly what we wanted - table for 6 in a back room with a window and wait staff very nice and attentive!  We asked to have until cruise ends so all is good!  

I think booking ahead before boarding gets you better tables vs waiting until  a few hours before first dinner on board and everything is taken.  

Still hoping a few more options could be added for shared table such as size - 6,8,10.  

We are not back cruising with Princess until May 2023 on Enchanted for 21 day RT Barcelona.  Much could change by then.  

10 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

I love having the sane waiters every night.  They get to know you and your likes and dislikes.  It puts such a personal touch on the service.  It would be such a shame to have to break in a new team every night!  😂 

I will definitely ask to have the same table and waiters every night, unless of course they are duds. Lol  Quoting a famous CC member.  lol

Would like to chime in to this topic.  Sorry to be long….

Currently on Enchanted - boarded 12/30.  First, ship is beautiful!  Totally love it.  

So, DMW.  I was very leery to use the system - call me old fashioned but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.  I liked TD - early or late - and we like a table for 6 to meet new people. But if you did not want early or late, you could go at your preferred time - the former Anytime Dining - and if you liked your table and waiters you told maitre’d to reserve every night.  

We are currently with our family group of 5 - odd numbers don’t work.  We have been making reservations on Medallion app for 7-7:30 time, and have gotten bad table size and location every time.  Never have we found one to “keep”.  Either a table for 8 or 10 - either in center aisle, chairs and with banquette combo, poor service, both dining rooms  - no personal relationship with waiter.  It feels like they give better attention to their “same guests” tables and we are the “others” they have to squeeze in.  I felt like we were just making reservation for any restaurant we go to at home. Luck of the draw if you got good table/staff or not.

We went to Capri at 5 tonight to speak with someone about how to get a better table to keep until  cruise over for time we preferred.

 Oh how I miss the maitre’d. I think the new DRM was standing there in his suit but one of his “assistants” tried to help us.  We asked for a table that would seat 5/6 not out in the open aisle.  So she showed us the same tables we have already been given - the giant ones.  When asked about other empty tables we saw, she said those are reserved from/since  the first night. And they keep those large tables for people who want to share.  Therefore, since we want private, we get the oversized tables (aka leftovers)

So we are sort of in limbo.

She suggested we go to Amalfi and called someone there to explain what we wanted and that we would be coming tonight and they would find us a table……

I will report back

PS.  Our other 3 family members were doing other things on 2 nights so DH and I asked for shared table reservation on app.  Had to tell them when we arrived prefer a table for 6. They tried to seat us at the large ones.   Had great people both nights - even at different tables.

This will take some getting used to.

That app is so frustrating I was expecting it to have one of it’s unpredictable not working issues.

We are at hotel in FLL for embarkation Thursday on Enchanted.  Picked up phone and touched OM icon and it came up - went to that last incomplete  Health Status and clicked on it - surprise!!!  I answered all the questions for myself and DH, hit submit and done!!!!  

Worried that I might have to upload my test or vaccine card - nope.  Only had to answer  a few questions.

I have to pick up my Medallion at port - my green lane QR code says to bring medalllion and test and passport - so not sure  how that works….I am sure someone will be there to direct us.

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Very different perspective than Alaska.  Humpbacks are in the island waters to mate and give birth.  You would be able to see calves and mother.  You might even be lucky enough to see females with escorts and suitors (that's a hoot to watch).  Lots of whale sounds and breaching.  

Yes Yes Yes!  We had the most awesome experience this past February when we spent the entire month in Maui at The Whaler at Kaanapali.  They were just reopening the island so it was stressful to do all that Hawaii required to come but I will never forget being able to watch the whales everyday from our lanai.   We saw sooooo much - everything you described and more…with and without binoculars (but with the binoculars it brought them so close you felt you were right in the water beside them).  😄

My son who had covid in Jan 2020 has his answer when asked the standard question “have you been in contact with anyone who has Covid”…he always replies - “I have no idea”.  

And when you think about it that is true for all of us.  We could be in line at the grocery store with a person who is asymtomatic but has covid - but how are you suppose to know??  

There is not a 100% way to avoid risk.  Just read that CDC description mentioned in post 7.

Just do the best you can!

9 hours ago, Hlitner said:

As to testing, it is not going to solve the problem for Princess.  Testing negative a day or two before coming to the port (or even at the port) does not guarantee that nobody will develop symptoms of COVID within a few days.   The law of averages will almost make it a certainty that some folks on nearly every cruise will have COVID.  If they remain asymptomatic nobody will be the wiser.  But even a single symptomatic case (passengers or crew) can jeopardize the vessel's ability to get cleared into most ports. 

So very true - I have been saying that since early 2020.  And it doesn’t matter if you are shopping at a grocery store, sitting in church, going to work, staying at a hotel, cruising on a ship…..or wherever your everyday life takes you.

Therefore I have been vaxed and boosted,  I wear my mask (when asked to do so) and go about living my life.  I will not stop what I enjoy doing until this virus finally fades away to something like the seasonal flu or common cold.  And I pray that this latest variant will finally be the beginning of the end.

Reading the articles today about the several ships having issues with covid cases, I noticed that capacity on them seems very high compared to the Princess ships.

So logic would seem to make you think it is much easier to avoid crowds when  fewer people are on board.

Our fellow CC Live post cruisers have all commented on how nice it is with so few on board.

We are to board Enchanted Dec 30 so I am hoping capacity will continue to be low.

Worst nightmare for me and the crazy way this new variant is working, is that I could be totally feeling fine with no symptoms but could test positive !!  

We are on Dec 30 for NYE.  Wonder what they will do for social distancing if they do a balloon drop - obviously masks on.

With regard to menus, I too have thought they looked much like the ones before the shutdown.  I am thinking not knowing what the start up and capacity would be like, it was better to stay with the “known” vs starting back up with an entire new menu offerings.

But I am sure getting all the provision suppliers back up and going has also caused some logistic issues.

Will just be happy to be back on a cruise ship after 2 years — and I can take a break from cooking. 😂

14 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Thank you for the posted photos of snowmen.  First time I've ever heard of this activity.  

 

I agree.  What a fun thing to do - brings back our inner childhood when we did those activities 😁. I am not crafty so I am sure mine would look not so good 😂

I feel bad for Royal Caribbean - 2 ships have reported cases - Tiny percentage of the population…

But have to admit I am glad Princess is not in the headlines like when Covid began!,

Everyone has the choice about gratuities being at a restaurant, Uber drivers, at your hair salon,  or cruise ship.  I am a typical 15% tipper - less if service was totally a disaster - more if fantastic.

However during Covid I have been seriously generous - too many people have lost so much income from shutdowns, reduced capacity, not enough people in service industry to meet demand, etc etc.  I even put money in the Tip jars at self service places.

When things get back to “normal”, I will go back to my usual.

With that capacity it must seem empty!  Enjoy the peace and quiet. 🎄🎄🎄  I think the decorations look very nice.  Love the house display

We are doing NYE on Enchanted out of FLL.  Hoping for low capacity also.