Next Cruise: Princess Sky - Rome to Barcelona Starting November 10th 2019

TEL: +1 608-238-6001 Email: greg@cruisingreview.com

New Health Series An important part of traveling is maintaining proper health. This series dives deep into help making good food choices and techniques that reduce the effects of long flights and other travel struggles. More Info

Bemer PEMF Device Review and Experience New as of April 2024, I just received the Bemer Therapy System Evo to see if it helps after long flights, post covid, and circulation. More Info

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Sky Princess The Princess Cruise lines, Princess Sky, had its first inaugural passenger cruise two weeks ago. They have an innovative app used for pre-cruise, embarkation, and onboard services.Here are some screenshots of the very cool app.

Pre-Cruise: Aside from completing the standard profile information, passport information, and other pre-boarding documents to speed through embarkation, I also purchased a weeklong Internet package and drink package (soda, coffee, tea, juice, hot chocolate, smoothie, mocktail). if you pre-order a alcohol drink package, it automatically includes a 20 percent gratuity. Doing as much pre-cruise will save valuable time on-board. App and Medallion RFID: you're issued a free identification card (with lanyard) which has a RFID (Radio Frequency ID) that is placed in it, to open your room door, and also charge for items aboard ship. This is also your identification for getting on and off the ship. They do offer a in-app purchase for a ID bracelet, necklace, or pin, in case you would like to have another option (other than the lanyard). You can buy the wrist-band, but it's a cheap silicon band without the medallion (skip-it since it's a waste of money - and doesn't look like a quality method to hold the medallion in sports activities). Just use your lanyard with medallion. The wrist-band requires you to remove the small coin-sized medallion from the plastic clip-together lanyard holder, which will fail after a few uses (clipping on and off will result in cheap plastic failure). We will be designing a cool edge-lit acrylic holder in the near future for easy removal and holding of the medallion. Ocean Compass: A separate app, called ocean compass, is the Princess Cruise line solution for getting around the ship, directions, and also finding shipmates. Such a fantastic idea! In the legacy cruise days, you wouldn't have much choice, other than to try to text message someone via Wifi. Food and Drink Service: using your app, you can order food or drink service anywhere on the ship. Such an amazing and simple concept which has been needed for years. The integration and deployment of simple smart phone apps make seamless transitions on and off the ship. Best of all it improves your onboard experience by reducing frustration in locating and ordering services. Getting to the Port: The port at Civitavecchia (https://www.civitavecchiaport.org) allows certain taxis and other authorized transfers to drive right up to the ship. Uber and other drivers most likely can drop-off at the port entrance, where you'll have to board a free shuttle bus to your ship. From the website: Civitavecchia, also referred to as “Port of Rome”, is a modern port located 45 miles (70 kilometers) north west of Rome. There is a train station in Civitavecchia city where trains run hourly. It could take from 45 minutes to 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the port from Rome depending from the train you are catching. The Roma Fiumicino airport has its own train station. Instead the Rome Ciampino airport is connected with the Ciampino station (village) by shuttle bus ATRAL. Keep in mind, currently there are no direct connections and you need to make at least one change of line to get to the train station of Civitavecchia. From Fiumicino Airport station take the train to Rome city center, get off at “Trastevere Station” and changed the line in the direction of Civitavecchia. In this way, it takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes, or 2 hours; and you will pay a total of €12.60 (€8 + €4.60). Alternatively, you can get off at “Roma Ostiense Station” to change the line to Civitavecchia. From Rome Ciampino airport you can reach the station of Civitavecchia making two changes: First take the shuttle bus ATRAL that connects the airport with the station, a journey of just five minutes at a cost of €1.20. once you have reached the Ciampino train station, take the train to Roma Termini, at a cost of €1.50 (every 12 minutes). You can buy tickets at the info box at the airport, on board or at authorized retailers. Lastly from Rome Termini to Civitavecchia the cost of a regional train ticket is €5.00 (about 1h20), an Intercity train costs €11.00 (55 minutes approx.), for a Freccia Bianca train the cost is €15 (45 minutes approx). FL1: is the train line between the Fiumicino Airport station and Roma Trastevere Station, or Roma Ostiense Station. FL4: is the train line between Ciampino Station and Termini, and other towns of the Castelli Romani. FL5: is the train connecting several stations in Rome, including Rome Termini, Ostiense, Roma Trastevere and Roma San Pietro station, with Civitavecchia train station. Getting to the Port: The port at Civitavecchia