Hopefully 'Live' from Ocean Princess. 6-14 August

[Pia1913]

I agree, she is lovely, remembered us readily after one quick chat. Never failed to stop for a natter and is keen to read the blog!

 

I just hope to meet up with her some time in the future, though I doubt she will still be on the Ocean when we board in May. He, OTOH, I can live without permanently.

[earljr]

thanks for posting the "live from"

[Beatriz9]

We have been back home again for a little over an hour after a very smooth disembarkation. We chose a latish time and was given 8.20 am. Our number was called right on time, luggage collected and we were into the car park ready to drive off by 8.32.

 

I have kept all the Princess Patters plus the list of disembarkation times for the various different forms of transport, so am happy to answer any further questions.

 

We have had a wonderful cruise, met some lovely people, both staff and passengers, eaten far too much delicious food and enjoyed all our ports to a greater or lesser extent. With hindsight we should have caught a local bus in Waterford out to the coast at Dunmore East, which I think we would have enjoyed more than just wandering around in the city. The weather there was mostly dull and we copped out a bit. The ports such as Dartmouth and Edinburgh, where we were more adventurous, ended up being more enjoyable.

 

It was my first experience of being Platinum level in the Captain's Circle. We went up to the special Cocktail lounge on 3 occasions but never saw more than 2 other couples in there. In the end I didn't actually use all my 250 minutes as they were not available this morning before leaving the ship. John is now Platinum too and we will certainly choose Ocean or Pacific Princess again as we love the smaller ships. Just have to keep looking for deals in 2014. :)

 

 

Bon Voyage to all those sailing on the UK departures of the Ocean Princess in the next few weeks.

 

Corinne

 

Thanks so much for your posts, having really enjoyed reading them all. We are doing this cruise next week - although we'll be travelling anti clockwise! Best wishes to you.

[celie1110]

Thank you so much for taking us along with you on your cruise. I can't wait until we are onboard the Ocean Princess in 15 days!

[John99]

Hi Corinne

 

I really enjoyed your comments and personal perspective.

 

You indicated you've taken well over 23 cruises. What really surprised you on this cruise? Food -- people -- ship -- itinerary -- cost -- etc.

 

We never cruised on a small ship but from your comments (and others) it's sounds like something to consider in the future.

 

John

[Steph27]

As you have also sailed an Azamara Quest, could you provide your thoughts on how Ocean Princess compared to Quest?

 

Was the demographics on your OP sailing split fairly equally between North Americans and the UK? Assuming other nationalities too but in fewer numbers. I enjoy a diverse group so that is why I asking.

[cinnamon]

Hi Corinne

 

I really enjoyed your comments and personal perspective.

 

You indicated you've taken well over 23 cruises. What really surprised you on this cruise? Food -- people -- ship -- itinerary -- cost -- etc.

 

We never cruised on a small ship but from your comments (and others) it's sounds like something to consider in the future.

 

John

 

John, I think our main surprise was just how many teenagers were onboard. There are no facilities for them and the events (trivia, crafts etc) are specifically labelled as only for 18+ adults.

 

We don't usually cruise in August but this was an 'extra' for us. The cost was very reasonable as we picked up a deal when the price dropped around 6 weeks before sailing.

 

The ship is very similar to Azamara Quest. The Casino Lounge/bar area is a little larger on Ocean P which gives more space for trivia and events.

 

The food was wonderful. Almost on a par with Azamara and better than our previous Princess cruises.

[cinnamon]

As you have also sailed an Azamara Quest, could you provide your thoughts on how Ocean Princess compared to Quest?

 

Was the demographics on your OP sailing split fairly equally between North Americans and the UK? Assuming other nationalities too but in fewer numbers. I enjoy a diverse group so that is why I asking.

 

There were approximately

535 US

45 Canadians

65 UK

50 others spread across another 15 nationalities.

 

There were children and teenagers plus young adults, far more than on Azamara. As mentioned above, we were surprised by that. On our last sea day in warm sunny weather, the noise from the children around the pool was enough to make us retreat to the sun deck on 11.

 

The cruise was totally set up for US passengers. No tv channel from the UK, just BBC World which does not have UK news. Also Fox, MSNBC. no live sport, no 'newspaper' delivery, so we were reliant on our Internet minutes for news. The weather forecast provided by the ship was routinely wrong, frequently the temperatures ashore were warmer than forecasted and we dressed more heavily than needed.

 

We were able to get good coffees with our card either at the MDR lounge or buffet bar. Quest of course has a wonderful Barista in a lounge on deck 5 where OP has a larger shop. Apparently on our sailing there were few coffee cards sold whereas there were lots on the previous sailing.

[celie1110]

I know the casino is closed on part of this cruise, could you tell me the days they are opened (which port days and if either sea day)? Thanks:D

[Pia1913]

I know the casino is closed on part of this cruise, could you tell me the days they are opened (which port days and if either sea day)? Thanks:D

 

No ship has a casino open on a port day, but they usually open about one to two hours after departure.

[celie1110]

No ship has a casino open on a port day, but they usually open about one to two hours after departure.

 

I know- I realize that. What I meant is due to UK gaming rules certain days/evenings the casino will be closed on the British Isles cruise. I was wondering which days/evenings they will be opened.

[cinnamon]

I know the casino is closed on part of this cruise, could you tell me the days they are opened (which port days and if either sea day)? Thanks:D

 

Due to local gambling laws, the casino closes after the evening of the Dublin day and I think didn't re-open. The ship is too close to the shore. I know that the casino manager is pretty fed up about it.

[Ontario Cruiser]

Hi

Enjoyed reading your reviews. See you on the crossing on the Eclipse.

As mentioned on Eclipse rollcall we are going on the Ocean Princess Spt 17th Rome gto Singapore

Ontario Cruiser

[Steph27]

There were approximately

535 US

45 Canadians

65 UK

50 others spread across another 15 nationalities.

 

There were children and teenagers plus young adults, far more than on Azamara. As mentioned above, we were surprised by that. On our last sea day in warm sunny weather, the noise from the children around the pool was enough to make us retreat to the sun deck on 11.

 

The cruise was totally set up for US passengers. No tv channel from the UK, just BBC World which does not have UK news. Also Fox, MSNBC. no live sport, no 'newspaper' delivery, so we were reliant on our Internet minutes for news. The weather forecast provided by the ship was routinely wrong, frequently the temperatures ashore were warmer than forecasted and we dressed more heavily than needed.

 

We were able to get good coffees with our card either at the MDR lounge or buffet bar. Quest of course has a wonderful Barista in a lounge on deck 5 where OP has a larger shop. Apparently on our sailing there were few coffee cards sold whereas there were lots on the previous sailing.

 

Thanks so much for the breakdown on the nationalities on board your sailing. Surprised there were so few from Great Britain. I am not expecting so many teenagers as our voyage ends close to Labor Day in the US.

 

A shame the ship had no UK TV channels. I have enjoyed that on other cruises. I like getting a fresh perspective from our US stations.

 

Did you visit the Avocoa shop at Powerscourt?

 

Did you happen to notice a taxi rank in Edinburgh? It may rain during our visit and I wonder how hard it may be to find a cab.

 

Lastly, what is the one thing you wish Ocean Princess had that is currently offered on Azamara?

[cinnamon]

Thanks so much for the breakdown on the nationalities on board your sailing. Surprised there were so few from Great Britain. I am not expecting so many teenagers as our voyage ends close to Labor Day in the US.

 

A shame the ship had no UK TV channels. I have enjoyed that on other cruises. I like getting a fresh perspective from our US stations.

 

Did you visit the Avocoa shop at Powerscourt?

 

Did you happen to notice a taxi rank in Edinburgh? It may rain during our visit and I wonder how hard it may be to find a cab.

 

Lastly, what is the one thing you wish Ocean Princess had that is currently offered on Azamara?

 

Yes we did look in the Avoca shops at Powerscourt. I only bought a tea towel from Irish Linen. A gift for my DIL in Canada. I am not a big shopper but there were some beautiful things there.

 

I didn't specifically notice taxi ranks in Edinburgh but I'm sure there were plenty. Certainly hundreds of buses!

 

The one thing we most missed compared to Quest was the complimentary coffee bar on deck 5.

[Shipscat66]

Waterford port got cancelled today because of bad weather. We are now heading for Dublin. We had beautiful weather in Guernsey and Dartmouth.

[cinnamon]

Very pleased to see a live report from the current cruise. We saw on the webcam that you were enroute to Dublin and assumed it must be weather related.

[paul929207]

Cinnamon,

Thanks for the live and all the great comments. Our turn starts one month from today!!

[Shipscat66]

Very pleased to see a live report from the current cruise. We saw on the webcam that you were enroute to Dublin and assumed it must be weather related.

 

Weather lovely today in Dublin. we did our own thing and got the HOHO bus. We arrived in Dublin at 8 pm last night as we could not land in Waterford. this meant that some people were able to take advantage of the opportunity to get off the ship and visit the pubs and nightlife last night which was an added bonus for them after the disappointment of not getting to Waterford.

[cinnamon]

Thanks again for the update. We saw on the webcam that you had arrived early enough for some to enjoy the Saturday night Craic.

[shankill]

I have a question on Edinburgh. We have booked Ocean Princess excursion to St Andrews which is at 2:15pm. We want to go to Edinburgh in the morning and then again in the evening after our excursion. Is this itinerary too exhaustive due to back and forth to the ship to meet our excursion group? Would it be better for us to hire a taxi to take us to St Andrews and then drop us off in Edinburgh?

[cinnamon]

I have a question on Edinburgh. We have booked Ocean Princess excursion to St Andrews which is at 2:15pm. We want to go to Edinburgh in the morning and then again in the evening after our excursion. Is this itinerary too exhaustive due to back and forth to the ship to meet our excursion group? Would it be better for us to hire a taxi to take us to St Andrews and then drop us off in Edinburgh?

 

Can't help feeling doing all three is too much. It takes quite a bit of time to get in and out of the city. If funds allow I would get the taxi to St Andrews, a taxi back to the city, have a look around, maybe a HOHO, then the train back without returning to the ship in between.

 

Presumably it is not too late to cancel the ship's tour? They are very costly anyway.

[cinnamon]

Taxi may agree to wait at St Andrews. Agree the price first.

[shankill]

Thank you for your suggestion! We can cancel excursion since our cruise is on Aug 30th.

[Berta]

Taxi may agree to wait at St Andrews. Agree the price first.

 

Cinnamon, Did it seem there were plenty of taxis waiting and available right off the ship in Edinburgh, or do you have to get into the city to get one?