toeloop

We arranged for a car service on Viator.  There were five of us, so the price was reasonable.  It picked us up from our hotel and dropped us off at the port.  It was very easy.

We stayed four nights post cruise last summer. We wished we could have had two more days.  We did the Acropolis, Delphi and the Temple of Poseidon at sunset. One of our favorite outings was taking the ferry to Hydra for the day.  We rented an apartment.  Six women and one bathroom. Our cousin's wife was from Athens, so she joined us and was our personal tour guide.  We did schedule private tours through Viator for our outings to Delphi and the Temple of Poseidon.

Prima does not have full sized pickleball courts.  It sounds like they aren't that much larger than the kitchen.

Are they going to charge for it now?  It wouldn't surprise me.

I was able to renew my passport online.  I received it about 3 weeks.  

15 hours ago, kinca said:

Has there been any promotions where the Plus package was thrown in for free?

Yes.  Our Med sailing this summer included the Plus  package for free.

Carnival offers a few fancy cakes in the buffet.  In 8 days, I found one that was worth eating.  

On 2/14/2023 at 10:17 PM, hurricane0226 said:

What happened to the crew? Is it the nude cruise?

Yes.  It's the nude cruise.  It was upsetting to many of the crew.  

I was on that sailing as well.  I'm happy I'm not on the Pride this week.  I'm still feeling sorry for the crew.

Not saying you need a passport for your particular cruise, but they now renew expired passports online.  I got my new one in under 6 weeks.

So, technically it isn't an upgrade.  Those days are gone.  It's really an upsell.  I will have fond memories of the upgrade fairy. 

My sister and I are booked on a Christmas sailing.  We have no worries.  We drive to the port.  I would prefer to not have to wear a mask .  Even with frequent changes ,they have caused me to get infections.   My pulmonologist has told me to avoid wearing them, and not to worry.   I have been living my life and going and doing what I want to do.  In my opinion, living in an apartment by oneself in fear is not a life worth living.  Now cruising, that is a life worth living.   The ships need to get sailing, people need to get back to work.  If not, there won't be a Princess to cruise on.

It's surprising to hear they had a balloon drop.  I was on the Regal during the Christmas sailing and the assistant cruise directors told us that there was no longer a balloon drop on the ship because of a new law prohibiting the use of balloons at sea.  

A few years back our Christmas door decoration was taken.  I saw it two days later on an elderly ladies motorized scooter.  She was so happy with it.  I didn't say anything.  Someone probably stole it and gave it to her.  I will put another decoration on my door this Christmas.  Our room is at the elevator bank.  I expect it to be stolen and will replace it with one that says "santa sees everything."  I expect that it will get taken as well. 

I have been on 11 Christmas cruises.  In the Caribbean, their big Christmas celebrations are on Christmas Eve.  Most shops are open on Christmas day.  They have had crackers on most of my cruises, after all, it is a British ship.  The level of activities depends on the CD.  I have been on cruises with lots of holiday activities each day.  I have also been on one that didn't have many Christmas activities.  They didn't even show a Christmas movie on MUTS.  Be prepared to say Merry Christmas a million times on Christmas.  Just about every time you make eye contact, it comes with a Merry Christmas greeting.  There will be hundreds of kids on the ship, but you will see the same 5 kids.  You don't realize how many there are until  the Christmas day family fun fair and when Father Christmas comes to hand out presents.  There is usually a special crew holiday show in the Princess Theatre.  

Its a very special time on the ship.  Hanukkah begins on December 22nd, so it will be an extra special time.  I always enjoy it when both holidays are celebrated on board.  Enjoy your cruise … and Merry Christmas … and Happy Hanukkah..lol

If you go to the end of the pier and turn right, their is a coffee shop.  It is a only a 2 or 3 minute walk.  They open early and sell pastries and I believe some sandwiches (could be wrong on that).  We met our tour guide there on our sailing in April.

The room steward will put a mattress on the floor for you, no need for an air mattress.  This was done for us this past April,

Just wanted to give a heads up if you book a tour from  "with a local" in Bruge.  Our ship missed the port due to high winds the day prior.  We emailed the company and directly phoned our assigned guide Igor.  We never received a response from anyone from the company nor from the tour guide.  They will also not offer a refund.  So, just wanted to let others know that it might not be a good idea to book with them when cruising.  They have what looks like wonderful tour offerings, but their communication skills leave much to be desired.

My experience was different, but then again it is a large ship.  I was on this same sailing, in an inside cabin.  Our room was comfortable with the air set on the lowest setting.  Most of the public areas of the ship were cold for the first couple of days.  I didn't see any leaks where I ventured around the ship, nor did I see people sleeping in the conservatory at night.  They must have gotten there very late at night.   I found the food to be very good on this trip, including in the buffet.  At times, the hand washing line had maybe 5 people in line, but I also saw hand sanitizer everyday closer to the buffet line entrance.  I felt the beverage service in the buffet was very slow.  By the time you received your beverage, you were finished with your meal.  The seating area was quite full, but if you went to the back of the ship, seating was to be found.  It was quite cold outside, so everyone was inside of the ship.  It didn't help that the explorers lounge was closed most of the day when their were art auctions, so indoor seating was more limited.

I was very disappointed that we missed our first port.  It was really frustrating watching the other cruise ships leave the port while we sat there.  The ferries to the Isle of Wight sailed back and forth past us.  Well before we were to set sail, we were given and extra pillow from the room that was to house the pilot coming on board in Southampton.  We were told he wasn't coming so we could have it.  It's my belief that the decision to delay sailing and to miss the port was made well in advance of the announcement.

Bummer...lol.  Thank you for your help.

Does anyone know if Princess offers EZ Check from Southampton.  We will be flying on United if it makes a difference.

As Christmas is an international holiday, there is a "traditional" holiday offering on the menu on Christmas Day.  You will find that the majority of the crew celebrates Christmas.  So, get your Merry Christmas greeting ready.  Every time you interact, or it seems even make eye contact with a crew member, they will wish you a Merry Christmas.  I have learned this having been on 10 Christmas time cruises.  I will be spending this Christmas aboard the Royal.

We always decorate as well.  This will be our 10th Christmas at sea. We have a small tree and string lights around the mirror with suction cup hooks.   We have used lights that plug in and have never had an issue. Of course we unplug them when we are not there, but we have never been told that we could not use them. 

Might anyone know what time of day princess will open up the dollar deposit cruises for booking tomorrow?

8 hours ago, geocruiser said:

Sorry to hear that yo did lose your car.  How did you get back home?

Well.. Red Hook was closed as it had a lot of damage.  We were supposed to sail to Bermuda but due to the storm we went to Boston and sat there for a couple of days.  We returned 2 days late to the Piers in Manhattan.  We had to carry off the luggage due to damage and limited power availability.   Princess offered buses to either the bus terminal or Newark International airport.  When we found this out, I got on line and rented one of the last cars at the airport.  A ford focus..cost me $110 a day.. can we say price gouging!  I live in Delaware so I was about a two hour drive home.  Car wasn't towed until sometime in late January.  They had so many to tow in the area that they couldn't keep up.  The process was a major headache.