kjg46

On 12/7/2023 at 3:02 PM, startedwithamouse said:

Did they give you the option to still take the barre class?  I would be a little irked if I made the effort to be there on time and dressed, only to have it canceled. 

Princess makes a big deal about the Special Fitness classes available via the Plus package. There have always been fitness classes on the Princess ships before the Plus. On our last two cruises, I was not aware of any special Plus available classes by a popular fitness program. I guess I would have to inquire about such classes. Each time I worked out. I did not see any instructors. For most people the Special Plus fitness adds little value.   

We will be on your Regal sailing as well. I hope the weather in the BVI and Antigua clears up by the time we arrive. Have a great cruise.

All the Best

14 minutes ago, John Bull said:

Thank you very much for the excellent information. Looking forward to the Port and the visiting the town.. All the best

Kevin

Kingwood, Texas USA

 

Blue Star / Unilink bus, route U2C.

Normally a double-deck blue bus.

It passes the door of your hotel & goes direct (no changes) to Southampton Central station.

Turn left out of the hotel, walk straight across the traffic lights & the bus stop is about 100 yards. Frequency every 15 minutes or better, journey takes about 10 minutes.

 

When you return it'll be numbered U2 or U2B .

If there's no live information board on the bus ask the driver to let you know when it gets to Stag Gates.

That'll be right  by those traffic lights which you crossed that morning & almost opposite your hotel. Use the traffic lights to cross the road.

(If you miss that stop, get off at the next one, Northlands Road & walk back, its only a few hundred yards - but it's a busy road, use the pedestrian crossing lights part-way back.)

 

Sorry  I don't know anything about fare (it'll be peanuts) or payment methods.

 

BTW, don't get off  the train at the big "Portsmouth & Southsea" station - take the train all the way to its terminus, Portsmouth Harbour. That's right by the Historic Dockyard & Ships, Spinnaker Tower etc

 

JB 🙂

14 minutes ago, John Bull said:

 

 

Blue Star / Unilink bus, route U2C.

Normally a double-deck blue bus.

It passes the door of your hotel & goes direct (no changes) to Southampton Central station.

Turn left out of the hotel, walk straight across the traffic lights & the bus stop is about 100 yards. Frequency every 15 minutes or better, journey takes about 10 minutes.

 

When you return it'll be numbered U2 or U2B .

If there's no live information board on the bus ask the driver to let you know when it gets to Stag Gates.

That'll be right  by those traffic lights which you crossed that morning & almost opposite your hotel. Use the traffic lights to cross the road.

(If you miss that stop, get off at the next one, Northlands Road & walk back, its only a few hundred yards - but it's a busy road, use the pedestrian crossing lights part-way back.)

 

Sorry  I don't know anything about fare (it'll be peanuts) or payment methods.

 

BTW, don't get off  the train at the big "Portsmouth & Southsea" station - take the train all the way to its terminus, Portsmouth Harbour. That's right by the Historic Dockyard & Ships, Spinnaker Tower etc

 

JB 🙂

On 10/9/2023 at 9:17 AM, John Bull said:

 Yes, the New Road one is less-convenient than the West Quay one, but it's still walkable.

It's about 1/2 mile (10 min walk, yes- partly thro Palmerston Park) to the city's centre-point Bargate, the main entrance thro the city walls into the old town The Bargate & adjacent city wall are close to  the West Quay Mall and neatly divides old-town from that mall and the mainly-pedestrianised post-war main shopping street of Above Bar. From there it's the same distances to the old town's few sights as the West Quay one. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/NjVkvAyZ5yXAj6ix5

 

JB 🙂

Sorry to get off the track. We will be staying at the Elizabeth House Hotel on The Avenue. Can you tell me if there is a City Bus we can take to the Central train station? We would like to visit Portsmouth.

Any help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. 

Can someone advise me about the availability of Uber vs a taxi on getting to the cruise port?

Thanks

I am also on the Enchanted with 7 members of family. No problems with the internet. Was able to view Netflix, text messages with family and even air drop photos between members. Great Beautiful Ship “ Happily Camper”

FPSPHIL

We also will be on the Enchanted next week. (One in lifetime family vacation Oh Boy!). We will be flying out of Houston to Newark then Rome 3 days prior.  We just received a notice from United Airlines

that there will be a "nationwide labor strike June 19 - 20." From the information I was able to glean from the internet, it includes the airport baggage handlers. Just a heads up.

Hope you and your have a wonderful cruise. 

All the best

How are Folks booking future cruises with many of the more popular destinations/ships requiring non-refundable deposits?

I was interested in a cruise on the new Sun Princess. However, not excited about the possibility of leaving some major $$$ on the table should 

circumstances prevent me from taking said cruise. Currently, I used my last (FCD) Future Cruise Deposit on an existing booking. I don't see any

$1.00 deposit specials on the horizon.❓

20 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

March 23, 2023 3:20 PM EDT Princess Cruises Announces Lavazza as Official Coffee Partner

New Partnership Brings Premium Italian Coffee Brand Lavazza to all Princess ships   SANTA CLARITA, Calif., March 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Princess Cruises, the world's most iconic cruise brand, today announced that world-renowned coffee brand, Lavazza, is now the line's Official Coffee Partner. For more than 120 years, Lavazza has expressed the essence of real Italian coffee, with a passion for superior quality.     "Princess guests love their coffee as the morning ritual at the International Café in the legendary Princess Piazza. With a relentless focus on what's important to our guests, we are upgrading the experience and magnifying our Italian heritage with Lavazza," said John Padgett, president of Princess Cruises. "Our Lavazza partnership gives our guests yet another thing to love about a Princess vacation."   Lavazza offerings will begin rolling out on Princess ships throughout the spring and guests can expect to enjoy the brand's array of hot coffee options and convenient Ready-to-Drink cans. The relationship will extend beyond offering Lavazza products and services on board to include unique coffee-inspired dinners and recipes collectively designed by Lavazza experts and Princess executive chefs, educational sessions, tastings, food pairings and samplings. The two brands will also collaborate on upcoming marketing campaigns, promotions and exclusive events.   "We have been inspired by the way Princess Cruises creates memorable experiences for their guests and feel a strong synergy between both brands in our commitment to quality, innovation and entertainment," shared Camille Vareille, vice president - head of marketing Americas at Lavazza Group. "We are excited to come onboard to offer an elevated coffee program and showcase our premium products to a broader, international audience."

I hope they also have Decaf. (Drs. orders)

We will have a family cruise on the Enchanted Princess this summer. One of our dining options would have us making reservations for seven adults at the Crown Grill. From the reviews I have read it seems the Crown Grill food is lacking not only on the Enchanted but also on the Regal and the Royal. Would Sabatini's be a better choice?

Go to the web site and put in 3 persons, It worked for me. I then called my PVP and requested the cabin. 

On 1/19/2023 at 2:57 PM, Lady Arwen said:

Princess tends to hold back deluxe balconies because they can accommodate a third passenger on the loveseat/bed.  Just do a pretend booking, but choose 3 passengers instead of 2.  You should then see which cabins are available.  Call your travel agent, CVP or directly with Princess, if that’s how you originally booked, and request the cabin of your choice.  I’ve done this a few times and been successful.  Good luck!

Many thanks. We had a guaranteed deluxe balcony  on one of our booked cruises. After reading your post, I decided to search the ship using 3 passengers . To my surprise, all the available deluxe balcony stateroom now appeared. I contacted our CVP and requested  our selected cabin be assigned to our booking. . Your posting was "Spot On" We are now Happy Campers thanks to you sharing your information. "Knowledge is Power". 

I received this notice from EZ Air yesterday. I called Princess and was advised that our entire air reservation from Houston-Rome return Athens-Houston

was cancelled by the airlines (United) Air Canada operator. I was advised that we had to re book our air flights. So we did, I did, I selected the same flights and was rewarded with a $1,200 fare increase over my original EZ Air booking. I am not sure how much Princess had to do with the price increase or of it was a way for the airline to increase fares. 

We rebooked our flights using airline miles for half of our trip and EZ Air for the return. This way we avoided  the  additional out-of-pocket fare increase.

I was wondering if anyone else has had this same problem.

33 minutes ago, Italy52 said:

Anyone Elites heard anything from Princess regarding the sale?  I am Elite and have heard nothing.

I tried using the Princess web site Chat this AM . No one even answered my question re  Elites view bookings 1 day prior to the Sale.  SPO much for Princess Chat feature,

Forgive me if this question has already been discussed. Both my wife and myself have just  tested positive. We will be sailing on the August 6th Med cruise. I understand Princess wants folks to upload a negative test result to complete the app documentation. Our positive (eMed) test results  will  be within the 90 day window. Thus we should not be required to post a negative test to board the ship.( subject to a secondary screening). Has anyone uploaded a positive result?

❓

On our last Regal cruise the Princess Disembarkation Information sheet had the last  Meeting Time of  8:15 AM (Red Tag).  Our next cruise in August, we would like to disembark later than 8:15. Appreciate comments by Folks who were able to stay on the Regal a little longer. We have requested an early check-in at noon for our Rome hotel. We rather kill some time on the ship than temp storing our luggage etc. at the hotel.  Thanks

1 hour ago, suzyed said:

Chocolates ended with covid. You can ask for evening turn down service.

 

Just saw on video Youtube the Folks on Holland America are getting said mints (chocolates)  in their staterooms. Go figure

I was told by my TA who contacted Princess EZ Air that they are waiting longer to ticket EZ Air flights. because of the frequent changes and cancellations by the airlines. I too have domestic and international flights with United, Air Canada and Lufthansa scheduled for 8/2 and have yet to be ticketed. Hope for the best

I just saw on Fox News, that CDC will be dropping the COVID testing for International Travel on Sunday June 12, 2022 . They will review the policy every 90 days . Great News 

I agree with your comments. We were on the Regal TA and had many of the same experiences as the Folks on the Sky. We have one additional cruise this year to burn the rest of our FCC. After that cruise I am not sure if I will look Princess.

There comes a time when Folks will no longer to be grateful just be cruising (re Covid) and not being satisfied with all the cut backs.  

Can you tell us what the head count is on the Regal? Also, Have the opened the Bistro for other offering besides desserts? Can you comment on the entertainment? We were on the regal for the Transatlantic and the Captain nor his First bothered to attend the Captains Circle Loyalty get together . Just seems like another change due to Covid or cutbacks. Has the internet improved as you travel the Med?

Thanks

Just returned from a transatlantic on the Regal. The worst WIFI at sea. Even in ports the WIFI was cutting out or slow. Connectivity was so bad that on an excursion we asked  had to use a restaurant 

WIFI to connect with our home as on the ship we could not get access. Most if not all passengers were given a credit on the voyage for the  "Slowest WIFI At Sea"

I am on the Regal Princess now Trans-Atlantic. I asked the Future Cruise Consult about the poor phone service. He mentioned the the are about 300 people short. Can’t get Folks to work even from home. He joked and offered me a job. “So there you have it”

My "Better Half" and I will be sailing on the Regal Princess Transatlantic cruise in March. From the posts I have read, some Folks say the entertainment is very limited. Still others say the shows were good, but not many. Having seven sea days together will require a lot of different shows. I don't want to have numerous one person shows with a guy or (girl ) playing a juice (Jews) harp or spoons. (Just some humor, no harm intended)."I like spoons and harps". Bottom line: I would appreciate some comments by Folks who recently sailed on the Regal to give me their opinion on the entertainment. 

All the Best, 

.  

Re Post #152  we are also  on a 3/12/22 Cruise. I purchased our 6 pack of tests from eMed. All six had an exploration date of 01-01-2023. Received in 2 days after placing our order. Hope this Helps