LIVE from Regal's Inaugaral Cruise

[Av8tor]

Hi is there any clarity on whether wines bought as part of a wine package (silver or gold) from the mdr can be consumed elsewhere - like in the room, at other bars, dining venues etc. thanks

 

I've never had a problem consuming wine that I've purchased onboard in any appropriate area of the ship (i.e. not in the pools, hot tubs, spa etc). I've frequently taken the unfinished bottles from the MDR to enjoy in lounges, the theater or my cabin.

 

I don't think you can GET the wine from the packages anywhere except the dining rooms (and maybe the Horizon Court/Bistro and specialty restaurants), but once you get it, feel free to take it with you and finish it at your leisure!

[Cruiseday]

Thanks for fabulous review and pictures. I'm particularly interested in The Retreat Pool ... My Father has mobility issues but has previously managed to navigate independently in/out of the Lotus Spa pool on Ruby/Emerald/Star. The steps in The Retreat pool look more challenging - and in the photo it looks as if the pool itself is surrounded by water before reaching the steps; this could be tricky!! Perhaps there are alternative steps?

Thank you!

[Denali2003]

A friend of mine told me that in Europe, the stores, restaurants, etc can only read/swipe Credit cards with the Chip in it. If your credit card doesn't have the chip, they will not be able to read it. Is this true?

[Blue_Eyed_Cruiser]

Thanks so much for posting! I LOVE all the pictures and reviews. And all the really helpful answers to the questions people have posted. My family and I are booked on the Regal for their Christmas cruise this year out of Ft. Lauderdale. And this thread makes me even more excited for it.

 

Thanks again! :D

[Diehard Cruiser]

It did happen to us in Norway only one time in one small town. All the other ports and around the UK we didn't have a problem.

[IECalCruiser]

A friend of mine told me that in Europe, the stores, restaurants, etc can only read/swipe Credit cards with the Chip in it. If your credit card doesn't have the chip, they will not be able to read it. Is this true?

I don't know about the Med, but last year in the Baltics it appeared that most locations could handle swipe and sign credits cards. Many card readers had the ability to swipe US credit cards, read the chip in chip and signature cards (typical for US credit cards) or chip and pin cards (typical European credit cards). I have seen more locations by us including Walmart and Lowes that have installed credit card readers to handle the chip and signature cards, perhaps better security and an attempt to avoid a Target fiasco. Many US credit card issuers with provide you with a chip and signature credit card. We used that most of the time last year in the Baktics. The main issue is at unattended locations like some train stations or bus stops where the automated ticket machines only take chip and pin cards.

 

 

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[Astro Flyer]

A friend of mine told me that in Europe, the stores, restaurants, etc can only read/swipe Credit cards with the Chip in it. If your credit card doesn't have the chip, they will not be able to read it. Is this true?

 

I had no problems using a card without a chip anywhere in Italy.

[Loonbeam]

I had one store that wouldn't take it. You are more likely to have a problem either at small shops or automated kiosks. Small shops because the transaction fee is higher without a true chip and pin there, and kiosks are not set up for signature.

 

I had no problems using a card without a chip anywhere in Italy.

[POregon]

A friend of mine told me that in Europe, the stores, restaurants, etc can only read/swipe Credit cards with the Chip in it. If your credit card doesn't have the chip, they will not be able to read it. Is this true?

 

We were all over Europe last year and never ran into a business that wouldn't take the swipe cards without the chip.

[Av8tor]

Thanks for fabulous review and pictures. I'm particularly interested in The Retreat Pool ... My Father has mobility issues but has previously managed to navigate independently in/out of the Lotus Spa pool on Ruby/Emerald/Star. The steps in The Retreat pool look more challenging - and in the photo it looks as if the pool itself is surrounded by water before reaching the steps; this could be tricky!! Perhaps there are alternative steps?

Thank you!

 

The photo I posted shows steps into the retreat pool at the forward end. I'm not sure if there are steps at the aft end also (poor memory is showing...). Not knowing what your father's mobility issues are, its hard to say how he'd do. Could he sit on the low wall facing forward at the forward end, swing his legs over the wall and twist around to be facing aft, then stand and take one step to hold the hand rail and descend down the stairs into the pool? Exiting would be the same thing in reverse...

Edited June 25, 2014 by Av8tor

[Av8tor]

A friend of mine told me that in Europe, the stores, restaurants, etc can only read/swipe Credit cards with the Chip in it. If your credit card doesn't have the chip, they will not be able to read it. Is this true?

 

As others have stated, most businesses in Europe still can accept the US cards with the magnetic strip. One exception is automated kiosk machines such as petrol pumps and some ticket vending machines that may require the chip and pin cards.

 

during our 17 day trip, my normal magnetic strip card only "failed" me twice. Once was at an automated bus/vaporetto ticket kiosk Venice and the other was a restaurant in Istanbul. In Venice, I simply switched to my back-up chip and pin card and in Istanbul, I used another magnetic strip card (must have been a comm failure to my primary CC company, not a chip issue). Some Europeans may not like Americans, but I do believe all the merchants like to get our money...

[chamima]

Thanks for fabulous review and pictures. I'm particularly interested in The Retreat Pool ... My Father has mobility issues but has previously managed to navigate independently in/out of the Lotus Spa pool on Ruby/Emerald/Star. The steps in The Retreat pool look more challenging - and in the photo it looks as if the pool itself is surrounded by water before reaching the steps; this could be tricky!! Perhaps there are alternative steps?

Thank you!

 

The photo I posted shows steps into the retreat pool at the forward end. I'm not sure if there are steps at the aft end also (poor memory is showing...). Not knowing what your father's mobility issues are, its hard to say how he'd do. Could he sit on the low wall facing forward at the forward end, swing his legs over the wall and twist around to be facing aft, then stand and take one step to hold the hand rail and descend down the stairs into the pool? Exiting would be the same thing in reverse...

 

Last February we had a very late flight after departing the Royal and so hung around the ship until the last minute before disembarking. The weather was beautiful so we sat by the Retreat pool and watched workmen try to install a seat lift by the forward end of the pool. They couldn't get it to work correctly but I'm sure that eventually they must have.

I don't know if that would help your father or if he doesn't need something like that but it's an alternative.

[Thrak]

You're right, of course, so I called, I wrote, I put it on Princess' facebook page, I posted it on our roll call here on CC, I encouraged everyone else to do the same. I think this is the wrong direction for Princess to head, but I think the lack of communication about it (if it is true) is really bad form, for those on board, for those booked, and for those considering the true cost of a cruise in the future, when the website and all documents on my booked cruise information still says 'complementary' for both. It may seem like a small thing but it will make me rethink Princess as my cruise line of choice.

 

If they jacked up the price of the cruise by $50 - $100 nobody would notice and they could do away with these stupid add-on charges while keeping the customers happy...

[Loonbeam]

Unfortunately, that's not a valid assumption. Carnival is trying very hard to hold the line in the face of aggressive discounting, most notably by RCCL on their mid-size ships, and occupancy is suffering accordingly as well as aux revenue.

 

Look at airlines - people in Philly CONSTANTLY complain about USAir, but when you look at the metrics, they still fly them because they are $5 cheaper than United or whatever.

 

The cruise lines aren't stupid. They know what the mass cruisers want (NOT necessarily the same group as on here, and MUCH larger). They want the cheapest fares and buy what they want. It is not lost on the cruiselines that this model works for the airlines. The difference is because of the labor situation, the cruise lines can still provide service while doing it.

 

If they jacked up the price of the cruise by $50 - $100 nobody would notice and they could do away with these stupid add-on charges while keeping the customers happy...

[Cruiseday]

Thanks for the pool update. I'd hoped that "watery" area en route to the steps wasn't too large and it looks as if the suggested wall-to-steps technique might be possible! I remember the Lotus Spa pool had a pool hoist so it will be interesting to see if the Regal has installed this too.

[Thrak]

Day 11 - Katakolon, Greece

 

The ship made up time and we got to port on time despite our late departure from Santorini. We had an Avis car reserved for this stop and everything went like clockwork. The Avis officis right at the exit from the port and the car and GPS were ready for us. We drove to Olympia and toured the archaeological site and the museum; all very interesting. It was an easy 30 minute drive with only two turns so GPS wasn’t necessary, but we planned to explore another area and it really came in handy there. From Olympia we drove to Chlemoutsi Castle north of Katakolon, situated on a high bluff overlooking the ocean and fields. Circa 1220ad, it was in fairly good shape and a distinct change from the ruins at Olympia. Turned the car back in and had about 45 minutes to do some quick shopping in Katakolo and get a quick bite to eat. It was 50 Euro for a little 5-seater, manual transmission car with air including unlimited mileage, insurance and VAT. The GPS was 12 Euro extra and worth it if heading anywhere other than Olympia and back. A quarter tank of gas was 17 Euro. Olympia cost 9 Euro pp for the combined museum and site visit and the castle was 3 euro pp. All-in, it cost 103 Euro to see both sites and not have to deal with the crowd dynamics of a ship’s excursion.

 

I make that to be about $140 USD. Compared to pretty much ANY Princess excursion that sounds like a great deal and, like you said, you didn't have to deal with the crowd dynamics of a Princess excursion. Of course there's always the small chance of a problem that keeps one from making it back on time for sail away but, in general, I think that renting a car and doing your own thing can often be a great alternative to a Princess excursion - both in cost savings and in being able to visit more sites in the same amount of time.

[Loonbeam]

To that point, this was posted on another thread...

 

Thanks. I guess that explains why I didn't get a great deal to Alaska this year and am staying home. Higher prices and deciding not to sell off the cabins. Oh well. I'm glad I decided to go to Alaska last year!

 

If they jacked up the price of the cruise by $50 - $100 nobody would notice and they could do away with these stupid add-on charges while keeping the customers happy...

[caribill]

in general, I think that renting a car and doing your own thing can often be a great alternative to a Princess excursion - both in cost savings and in being able to visit more sites in the same amount of time.

 

When visiting new and exotic places a good guide who can explain what is being seen and any history behind it provides a much better experience than a drive around on your own excursion.

 

It does not have to be a Princess tour as many independent tours have excellent guides at a reasonable price.

[SeaTheWorldBySea]

When visiting new and exotic places a good guide who can explain what is being seen and any history behind it provides a much better experience than a drive around on your own excursion.

 

It does not have to be a Princess tour as many independent tours have excellent guides at a reasonable price.

 

I agree, a guide is a special bonus. It does not work for us to carry a guide book and map because then I am navigating and have my eyes on the book instead of the sights. It does not work for me to read ahead about the history and story behind all we plan to see because,:o I assume due to my advancing age, I don't remember much of what I read.

[CruiseVivaLady]

Excellent!

[Denali2003]

What is excellent?

[Grego]

I believe the casinos are also outsourced. I think I read somewhere that they use the company that runs the Carnival casinos. But I do remember when the change took place, the atmosphere in the casinos changed.

 

I finally saw your reply to my post and you are correct. I did think about this after I wrote it and knew then that I had made a mistake, but too lazy to change it then.

 

Looks like you might be on the same voyage as us next week. We leave Monday for 3 days in Venice before embarkation. Hope to see you on board.

 

Greg

[Ethel5]

I finally saw your reply to my post and you are correct. I did think about this after I wrote it and knew then that I had made a mistake, but too lazy to change it then.

 

Looks like you might be on the same voyage as us next week. We leave Monday for 3 days in Venice before embarkation. Hope to see you on board.

 

Greg

 

I fly on Monday also. TPA>ORD>FRA>VCE. Spend 3 nights in VCE in a house on a canal! See you on board!