Princess reveals Dine My Way
It allows guests to make reservations for onboard dining rooms and speciality restaurants
Princess Cruises has revealed Dine My Way, an enhancement to Ocean Medallion, which makes it easier for guests to tailor their dining experience. It pairs with the OceanNow on demand service.
Dine My Way allows guests to make reservations in onboard dining rooms and speciality restaurants at times they prefer and with whom they wish to dine.
“We believe guests are going to love the control and customisation Dine My Way offers,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises’ president. “Instead of restricting dining choices during the pandemic, we’ve been able to expand the options for our guests and thanks to the unique, innovative capabilities of the OceanMedallion, reduce wait times and eliminate the need to stand in line.”
There are also features that will help people avoid busy venues if they wish. With Dine My Way, staff can optimise capacities in dining rooms and restaurants on board, manage wait times, and give guests significantly more flexibility.
When making a reservation, guests will be able to:
· add additional friends or family members with whom they are travelling
· select their preferred pace of dining (relaxed, quick)
· indicate their desired seating location (near window, close to entrance) in the Ocean profile
· share dietary preferences and allergen information
· pick the same venue and dining time each night
Princess’ OceanNow on demand menu has been expanded to include entrées and beverage options from restaurants throughout the ship, with guests’ requests delivered directly to their location. OceanNow orders can be made using the MedallionClass app on a smart device, via the stateroom TV, or by having a crew member place the order on the guests’ behalf.
OceanNow will also include many expanded personalisation options so guests can order their favourite coffee, select steak sauce toppings and choose pizza condiments, providing more customisation than ever.
“Guests have always appreciated the convenience of OceanNow, and because the pandemic has expanded people’s use of on demand direct delivery services, we think even more guests will embrace the ability to order what they desire and have it delivered to them wherever they are on board,” notes Mario Siebaldi, Princess Cruises’ senior vice president of guest experience. “It not only prevents unnecessary queuing, more importantly it elevates the guest experience.”
Holland America Line to restart in August
The line has announced four sailings from Piraeus on Eurodam and bookings are open now
Holland America Line has announced that it is to restart cruises from Greece this August, with four four sailings on Eurodam from Piraeus.
“Everyone at Holland America Line has been preparing for our return to service, and we are grateful to the government of Greece for allowing us to show that we can safely operate our cruises,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “The beautiful islands of Greece have been a highlight of our Mediterranean itineraries for decades, and we are honoured to be able to restart out of Athens and give our guests a memorable vacation after all this time without cruise travel.”
The sailings will be available to guests who have received their final dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to the beginning of the cruise and have proof of vaccination.
Departing on August 15 and 29, the Idyllic Greek Isles itinerary features Kotor, Montenegro, plus the Greek isles of Kékira (Corfu), Thíra (Santorini) and Mykonos. Ancient Wonders departs on August 22 to explore Haifa, Israel, as well as Náfplion, Mykonos and Rhodes in Greece. Both options can be combined to form a longer, back-to-back 14-day Collectors’ Voyage.
A seven-day Adriatic Allure itinerary departing on September 5 will sail from Piraeus to Venice, Italy, with calls at Mykonos, Katakolon (Olympia) and Crete (Chania), Greece, and Sarandë, Albania. Additional Mediterranean cruises on Eurodam will be announced in the coming weeks, including ports in Italy and Greece. The company intends for Eurodam to sail to the United States to begin its Caribbean itineraries in mid-November.
Fares for Eurodam‘s seven-day Greece cruises begin at a Have it All premium package fare of £1,949pp (based on a Veranda stateroom) that includes one shore excursion, a beverage package, speciality dining and wi-fi. Free air travel is also included from London and select regional airports, including transfers between ship and airport and late arrival protection.
“The Greek Islands have been welcoming Holland America Line ships for many years, and we are proud to work together to welcome the cruise line back this summer,” said Harry Theoharis, Greek minister of tourism. “We are sure that all visitors to Greece will once again have unique experiences in our beautiful destinations and fully enjoy the rich history, culture and gastronomy of our nation.”
For more restart dates, click here.