Alaska 2005

Having some personal interest in the schedule and after having done some
research, it looks like the Regal Princess will once again be doing the
Roundtrips from San Francisco in 2005. Now the Regal is one of my favorite ships
so that is not a big problem but I was hoping for a smaller and more comfortable
ship. Oh well. If they continue the 10 day schedule it looks like we will be
sailing on the 7th of June as well. Now to convince friends and family.

Cal Ford

Cal Ford wrote:

Having some personal interest in the schedule and after having done some
research, it looks like the Regal Princess will once again be doing the
Roundtrips from San Francisco in 2005. Now the Regal is one of my favorite
ships so that is not a big problem but I was hoping for a smaller and more
comfortable
ship. Oh well. If they continue the 10 day schedule it looks like we will be
sailing on the 7th of June as well. Now to convince friends and family.

I hope you are wrong. I have no interest whatsoever in the Regal Princess
unless she undergoes a major renovation. From what I have read, since I have
not cruised on her, the casino occupies a far too prominent position for those
who do not gamble (us—due to the smoky nature of casinos) and the fitness
facilities are meager.

We would like to cruise to Alaska on the Sun class or a similar size. The
Celebrity Mercury would be fine, but only late July or early August from San
Francisco. Her September 12th sailing this year is too late in the season for
us.

Do you have any information on Celebrity's San Francisco round trips for 2005?


HAL would be great too, and if they would offer a round trip from San Francisco
for 2005, we'd book it.

Only meager information so far. Princess for sure with the Regal, Celebrity most
likely with the Mercury and if they are clever they will offer more sailings,
Crystal will probabably be back with some 12 day cruises. Don't have a clue
about HAL but if the offered the Prinsendam in early June I would be there in a
minute.

Some people love the Regal, some people love to hate her. We have been aboard
many times and would go again, no problem. Would like to have a wider choice of
Balcony cabins but again, that is not a show stopper. The location of the casino
is not a real problem for me as it is in the center of the dome and there is
ample seating next to the windows all around. Have never noticed a problem with
smoke in that area but YMMV. My only negative comment would be that they close
the curtains too early in the evening as I like to sit by the big windows with
my Scotch and just look out.

The only thing firm for us is that we must sail in early June. Other than that
we are wide open.

Cal Ford


In article , RTCReferee says...
I hope you are wrong. I have no interest whatsoever in the Regal Princess
unless she undergoes a major renovation. From what I have read, since I have
not cruised on her, the casino occupies a far too prominent position for those
who do not gamble (us—due to the smoky nature of casinos) and the fitness
facilities are meager.

We would like to cruise to Alaska on the Sun class or a similar size. The
Celebrity Mercury would be fine, but only late July or early August from San
Francisco. Her September 12th sailing this year is too late in the season for
us.

Do you have any information on Celebrity's San Francisco round trips for 2005?


HAL would be great too, and if they would offer a round trip from San Francisco
for 2005, we'd book it.

Thanks for the detailed response. As to the windowed area surrounding the
casino, I was told that it's possible to hear "casino sounds", and that would
be a deal-breaker for us, too.
We want peace and quiet and absolutely no smell of smoke whatsoever in an
observation lounge. We would like to have tableside bar service, but could do
without it.

One more question about the Regal: I seem to recall reading some reports of
her having engine failure or something (the phrase "dead in the water" comes to
mind). What do you know about that?

We would be interested in the Prinsendam if and when she undergoes a
significant renovation (or has she gone through one very recently?) including
all the cabins, bathrooms and soft furnishings, not just the public areas.
Last time she cruised from San Francisco, that had not yet happened. I saw
several photos of the tiled tub areas in the cabins and the photos I saw
weren't pretty, to say the least.

If Crystal does the "kids sail free" for Alaska promotion yet again next year,
we aren't interested. Oh, maybe if they give us a stateroom credit equal in
value to what a third person in a cabin would cost (our in-kind "kid") or let
us take mother-in-law for free that might work. ;-) (But we'd much rather
they just deep six the "kids sail free" promotion.)


Cal Ford wrote:

"Only meager information so far. Princess for sure with the Regal, Celebrity
most likely with the Mercury and if they are clever they will offer more
sailings, Crystal will probabably be back with some 12 day cruises. Don't have
a clue
about HAL but if the offered the Prinsendam in early June I would be there in a
minute.

Some people love the Regal, some people love to hate her. We have been aboard
many times and would go again, no problem. Would like to have a wider choice of
Balcony cabins but again, that is not a show stopper. The location of the
casino
is not a real problem for me as it is in the center of the dome and there is
ample seating next to the windows all around. Have never noticed a problem with
smoke in that area but YMMV. My only negative comment would be that they close
the curtains too early in the evening as I like to sit by the big windows with
my Scotch and just look out.

The only thing firm for us is that we must sail in early June. Other than that
we are wide open.

If a Statendam-class HAL ship or Celebrity Mercury sails midsummer round-trip
from San Francisco, we'll be the first in line.

If a Statendam-class HAL ship or Celebrity Mercury sails midsummer round-trip
from San Francisco, we'll be the first in line.

I agree....that would be fantastic!
Sean

Then you should avoid the Regal. When the casino is open there is above average
noise. The chairs were not comfortable enough for extended sitting and the bar
service is sporadic in the lounge area.

Seems to me there was some sort of engine problem a year or two ago. Not a
factor to me as ships are complicated pieces of machinery and I am surprised
there are not more problems than there are.

Have not heard of any major refurbishment of the Prinsendam and yes, it would be
great if the Mercury could do a full season from San Francisco. Not holding my
breath though.

Cal Ford
Lido Deck Cruises


In article , RTCReferee says...

Thanks for the detailed response. As to the windowed area surrounding the
casino, I was told that it's possible to hear "casino sounds", and that would
be a deal-breaker for us, too.
We want peace and quiet and absolutely no smell of smoke whatsoever in an
observation lounge. We would like to have tableside bar service, but could do
without it.

One more question about the Regal: I seem to recall reading some reports of
her having engine failure or something (the phrase "dead in the water" comes to
mind). What do you know about that?

We would be interested in the Prinsendam if and when she undergoes a
significant renovation (or has she gone through one very recently?) including
all the cabins, bathrooms and soft furnishings, not just the public areas.
Last time she cruised from San Francisco, that had not yet happened. I saw
several photos of the tiled tub areas in the cabins and the photos I saw
weren't pretty, to say the least.

If Crystal does the "kids sail free" for Alaska promotion yet again next year,
we aren't interested. Oh, maybe if they give us a stateroom credit equal in
value to what a third person in a cabin would cost (our in-kind "kid") or let
us take mother-in-law for free that might work. ;-) (But we'd much rather
they just deep six the "kids sail free" promotion.)


Cal Ford wrote:

"Only meager information so far. Princess for sure with the Regal, Celebrity
most likely with the Mercury and if they are clever they will offer more
sailings, Crystal will probabably be back with some 12 day cruises. Don't have
a clue
about HAL but if the offered the Prinsendam in early June I would be there in a
minute.

Some people love the Regal, some people love to hate her. We have been aboard
many times and would go again, no problem. Would like to have a wider choice of
Balcony cabins but again, that is not a show stopper. The location of the
casino
is not a real problem for me as it is in the center of the dome and there is
ample seating next to the windows all around. Have never noticed a problem with
smoke in that area but YMMV. My only negative comment would be that they close
the curtains too early in the evening as I like to sit by the big windows with
my Scotch and just look out.

The only thing firm for us is that we must sail in early June. Other than that
we are wide open.

(Bicepeak) replied to rtcreferee:

If a Statendam-class HAL ship or Celebrity Mercury
sails midsummer round-trip
from San Francisco, we'll be the first in line.

I agree....that would be fantastic!

Sean



I foresee a roll-call forming. :-)

Cal Ford wrote:

yes, it would be great if the Mercury could do a full season from San
Francisco. Not holding my breath though.

No? There are a lot of folks in the Bay Area who love the Mercury, and a lot
of Celebrity past passengers who want to sail from San Francisco to Alaska.

Even more would love to sail San Francisco to Hawaii roundtrip. It only takes
a day to get down to Ensenada, doesn't it for that two-hour "port stop"?

Well, now I'm going to have to decide whether it's worth flying or driving to
Seattle in order to embark on the newer and larger Diamond or Sapphire Princess
or simply drive the 60 miles to SF to board the older and "unique" Regal. What
are YOUR thoughts on this? I've been on the Star and Sun Princess, so I have an
idea what these newer ships will look like....but my husband and mom have ONLY
been on older Carnival ships. I want to impress them with one of Princess'
larger vessels. But, is it worth the extra money to get to the port? The actual
cruise would be shorter, too, out of Seattle.

Lindsay

Cal said:


Having some personal interest in the schedule and after having done some
research, it looks like the Regal Princess will once again be doing the
Roundtrips from San Francisco in 2005. Now the Regal is one of my favorite
ships
so that is not a big problem but I was hoping for a smaller and more
comfortable
ship. Oh well. If they continue the 10 day schedule it looks like we will be
sailing on the 7th of June as well. Now to convince friends and family.

Cal Ford