Expat Cruise

As of last month, they still have not started doing the behind the scenes ship tours. Was told they are hoping to bring them back. As for crab, there is a major shortage of crab with the closing of most of the Alaskan crab commercial fishing for the last three years. You will not see a lot of crab on the cruise ships this season in Alaska.

Your plan is fine, it is almost what we did in January. I would point out that while you reserve the tickets, they also have a standby line. We had noon tickets but were at Pearl Harbor early, so we walk over for the 10am time slot. Waited five minutes and did the 10am which gave us much more time after to explore, Pearl Harbor. From the ship to Pearl Harbor, the Uber was about $45.

Have done several cruises to Hawaii from the US West Coast, also did one cruise on the Pride Of America. NCL Pride is the only major line cruise ship that can do an all US cruise. The others must go to a foreign port to meet the requirements of the Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886. Many think it is the Jones Act of 1920 which regulates maritime commerce in U.S. waters and between U.S. ports, but that act is really about cargo. Even some cruise lines confuse the two acts. Any ways, we would not do another NCL Pride Cruise for several reasons. First because it is a US Flagged ship the costs of a 7-day cruise on Pride is the same or more than a 14 to 16-day cruise from the other lines, leaving from the West Coast. Also, the US Flagged ship is under US Labor laws, most of the service crew must be US Citizens or Green Card Holders. The level of service provided is not great. The level of food is also below other lines in our opinion. The Pride is also a much smaller ship than the other mainstream lines use. At 80,000 tons carrying 2500 passengers, vs a ship like the Emerald Princess which is 40% larger 113,000 tons and is only carrying 3100 passengers. Much more space per passenger with the Emerald Princess, so the ship feels less crowded. NCL does give you an extra port and the ability to tour before or after the cruise in Hawaii. But the other lines give you a Mexico or Canada Stop and many great sea days. Our Choice would be Princess or Holland America, Carnival Cruises is an option but very limited offerings to Hawaii.

Maybe his happened because they used a travel agent vs. booking direct? We're never been a fan of using TA for Cruising. Cruising for over 55 years and the last 40 years have not used them. Maybe the TA didn't supply complete information to the cruise line. That said, once the cruise line accepted the booking, they became responsible for supplying these two ladies with the cruise they paid for. From a public relations standpoint, this is the worst outcome. I do not know the laws in place in the United Kingdom, but in the US, PO would have major legal issues here. In my opinion, the Captain and Hotel Director have a lot of explaining to do to corporate, if they even still have jobs in the end. It would have been easy to fix this issue, if it really was a safety issue assign crew members to be available to escort them around the ship. It would have cost P&O nothing really and saved them thousands in bad PR. If a legal claim is filed, it could cost them far more

Wow, you must be a very important person with Princess Cruises. I wonder if everyone is treated this well. 😄

Another idea they will not be crowded is on port days ask around the port about local tours. Dog sledding tours in Alaska include a kennel tour and time to play with the cutest, little puppies. Even if the port does not have a sled tour, many breeders who are happy to allow people to visit their dogs. I talked to one breeder who was selling many of his puppies to the lower 48 states to be family pets. Because of referrals from cruise ship passengers that he offered free tours too.

I have never really cared about the chain of command. I give Princess Cruises one chance to fix an issue. And if they don't, I skip all the middle steps and go straight to the Hotel Director, who is the officer everyone on the Hotel side reports to. Would never allow an issue to go on for four days, that just doesn't work. But I'm very proactive and do not take no for an answer, so I find it easy to get to the Hotel Director. Once he had no idea about the problem because the lower level staff did not want to tell him. But they must have been surprised that he had an email from me detailing the issue.

A sale is not going to happen because no reason for Princess Cruises to do so. They already have your business if they do offer a sale on the packages, it most likely be for new bookings only. But it is very possible they will have another price increase before you cruise on the packages. Princess Cruises wants to get everyone using these packages because they make more money with them.

Have spent a lot of time in Japan. The Japanese people are very proud, they believe if they take a job that they work that job and give their best. If a local tips, it is done as an insult to the honor of the server. If an American tourist tips, they feel sorry for you and mad because you do not honor their ways. You're already paying for a good service, so there is no need to pay extra by tipping. Japan offers truly spectacular service without any strings attached.

Addressing the costs of these packages. Does anyone think that the level of alcoholic drinks being offered in the packages is far too much? Every guest is free to drink whatever they want. But, with the daily drink number set so high that they are just encouraging excess alcohol drinking. Which for many reasons including passenger safety could be an issue. The NIH sets these levels as excessive drinking. For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion, or 8 drinks per week. For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion, or 15 drinks per week. Clearly, the packages reach the level that are excessive, Therefore, it is reasonable to assume most people will be nowhere near the daily limit. So why set package limits so high for the number of alcohol drinks? Why not cut the drink numbers and offer a package that would appeal a better mass appeal? They could then offer a discount on the prices for those who have the packages and wanted to drink more package number, using the savings from the lower package prices.

As others and I have already said, you really do not need a tour company if you just want to go to the beach. As you walk out of the port, 150 meters from the tender to the gate, you will find many taxis, just outside the gate. But when we have done tours here, we always have used https://phamtours.com/ Have done many tours with them and never had any issues.

Yes, I can read thank you, but no reason to shout in all caps. If anyone takes the time to read what I posted. It does not say he used a travel agent. It clearly says we never want any third party between us and the cruise line. Sorry, do not trust Travel Agents, to be able to handle anything to do with bookings. If others do use an agent, that is their choice. As our choice is never us an agent. Sorry but do not need to re-read, again never want anything to do with a travel agent do not ever want a third party between us and the cruise line. Legal claims are already made hard enough by the cruise lines would never add another layer of problems. Like this cruise travel agent who has had almost 800 formal complaints filed against them in about two years. And now all cruises through the Summer are on hold. Because these customers used a Travel Agent, they have no standing with the cruise lines to settle this nightmare caused by another Travel Agent who is just looking for their commissions If others want to use Travel Agents that is their choice, for us, it will never happen. https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/embattled-boston-based-cruise-company-vantage-postpones-all-summer-trips/FQGJ2NEVDRDMTLGFDJ4XCGOSZM/

Happy you got this taken care of, very sad Princess made you waste six hours plus of your time. That seems to be the new norm with many cruise lines, make it so hard to correct many will just give up. This thread is one of the reasons we would never have a Travel Agent involved in any cruise booking. Errors, mistakes, and lying does happen and when it is time to fix issues having a third party between the guests and Princess Cruises is just going to cause problems.

No misleading of anyone here. If it is a true close loop cruise, from the United States, no passport is required. It is that simple.

All guests should know the requirements for travel. Princess Cruises makes it very clear they will assume no responsibility for these travel documents. Directly from Princess Cruises: "It is the Guest's sole responsibility to obtain and have available when necessary the appropriate valid travel documents. All Guests are advised to check with their travel advisor or the appropriate government authority to determine the necessary documents. You will be refused boarding or disembarked without recourse or liability for refund, payment, compensation, or credit of any kind if You do not have proper documentation, and You will be subject to any fine or other costs incurred by Carrier which result from improper documentation or noncompliance." Princess Cruises is very clear they take no liability for as they say guests 'noncompliance'. Guest really need to stop trying to blame others for their lack of finding the correct information.