Fjord4Fun

Is the sauna free to use as well?

How is the 75/250 miles actually measured. As the crow flies or as per Google Maps? 

We are both first-time Princess cruisers and although I've been allocated a blue medallion, my wife has been allocated a gold one. As long as both work I don't really see that the colour is significant.

1 hour ago, rbtan said:

Sorry. H e was not totally clear on how many people he tipped. Individually we would have tipped each 20% of the bill. We mostly don't do excursions, but go off on our own. That's why we tip a higher amount.

I really don't see the logic of tipping more because you do not go on excursions.  I thought the argument for tipping was based on whether the person being tipped had done a good job (or went 'above and beyond') rather than on the travel preferences of the person doing the tipping.  Is that just another strange American custom?

3 hours ago, Wakepatrol said:

Apples to turnips comparison

How come?  All are just 'doing their job'.

1 hour ago, kamelia said:

I can confirm that the 10% discount appeared as OBC only after we were onboard.  Given the fact that two of our shore excursions were cancelled while on the cruise and 10% OBC credit for those tours then removed from our portfolio, I don't see that Princess will ever make that OBC available to use before boarding.  

Isn't the clue in the name: OBC - On Board Credit. 🙂

In those far off 'pre-medallion' days if I wanted to get my wife and I a drink from the bar i simply took her cruise card and showed both to the bar staff. What do i do now? Get her to remove her medallion from her wrist or neck?  What a faff.

13 hours ago, rheathslc said:

And working 6 1/2 days a week for 3 months straight or more. I worked 4 summer seasons for Princess many years ago at the McKinley Princess lodge in Alaska and we had it easy. We got a WHOLE day off each week and Princess didn't like paying overtime so most shifts were only 8 hours. And the season was about 5 months long. I can tell you, by August I was so worn out and the last 6 weeks were tough. But that's nothing compared to the folks who work on the ships. Those people work their butts off and do such an amazing job to make our vacations better.  I am so impressed by how hard working and thoughtful and gracious every single Princess staff member has always been. Giving the ones who make a special impression a little more brings me joy. I LOVE being able to thank them with a bit extra $ in their pocket.

My daughter-in-law is an ICU nurse working 12 and 1/2 hour shifts often with one half hour break, caring for people with multiple life threatening conditions who don't actually get her care unless there is a very high chance they will not make it.  She never get tips (or even a decent wage).  Please don't talk to me how people working in a commercial organisation 'need' tips.

Does anyone know how long it takes to get proof of vaccination document approved o the Medallion App.  We loaded our PDf's a week a ago but they are still showing a 'Pending'.

On 8/8/2022 at 3:26 PM, Ptroxx said:

 I watch people just walk off an excursion and give nothing.     Ugh 

In Japan tipping on excursions, like anywhere else these, would be considered very bad manners as it implies they would not have done their job well unless you tip them.  Height of bad manners.

Just received the following notification from Princess for our cruise departing next week from Southampton:

"We are pleased to advise that we have updated our COVID-19 testing requirements for your cruise. Tests are no longer required to be medically
observed, and we have updated our acceptable test types to include Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) that are performed at home."

On 8/4/2022 at 8:46 PM, Rick&Jeannie said:

I have to admit...when I saw the title of this thread ("Can you change person in cabin") I thought maybe Princess was introducing some kind of new magic act...

Or maybe swap partners if you get friendly with another couple during the cruise? 😀

How have people managed to upload proof of their vaccinations to the Medallion app?  We have PDF's of our NHS documentation in Apple Books which the app can't access. It will allow us to take a photo so do we print the three page PDF and photograph each page?  Seems rather impractical.  There must be a better way.

In my experience it's an American 'thing' to tip anything that moves. I much prefer the Japanese who would get offended by tips as they are simply doing their job. If people are not paid to do their job that's the employer's fault not mine.

8 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

True but the port security is checking the carry-on.  Princess scans every bag going onto the ship and will find bottles.

 

If I were to leave a bottle in a checked bag for some reason, I would tape a note on it explaining I realize this is unusual and am prepared to pay a corkage fee and that it is wine and not alcohol.

 

"it is wine and not alcohol. "

What is it then?

30 minutes ago, LTCruzer said:

 

The chat feature on the website should work for anyone who has access to a computer, tablet or smartphone.  The Medallion App is available for iOS and Android, which covers 99% of smartphones in the US. 

I do not get the website chat option on my Apple desktop using any of my browsers (Firefox, Safari or Chrome).  Is it because I am in the UK?  Can any UK people here acces it?

2 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

 

Spreading to whom?  The vaccinated?  The unvaccinated?  If others are concerned about someone else spreading covid to them, they should be wearing an N95 from the moment they step outside their home regardless of their vaccination status.  And if they are unvaxxed, I'd say they are not too concerned.

 

The virus is here to stay.  The vaccines and therapeutics are working and I place my trust in them to keep me safe, not other people.

 

Anyone waiting for zero cases is going to have a long wait. 

So are you advocating that we all just spread it around in the hope that those who think they might be vulnerable take precautions?  Isn't that rather selfish? I guess you are happy to have people coughing on you at close quarters or on the buffet food on the grounds that 'we should just live with it?'  If not what is your point?

1 hour ago, Mickrory2 said:

If Princess don't follow suit they will start losing business to these other companies. Travel is difficult enough currently without the added aggravation of finding a testing site before the cruise, particularly as Testing in the UK has been scaled right down.

We've just booked another cruise with P&O even though our preferred cruise line is Princess.

Testing might have been scaled right down.  However, the number of case is still soaring.  You might not be worried about catching Covid on a cruise but you might well be spreading it.

40 minutes ago, Billish said:

You should still ring and confirm. 

We booked online for a test at the Slough store. Got  appointments and everything. Rang the week before and were told they didn't do tests instore . 

Will do, thank you.

13 minutes ago, Billish said:

Just telephone them and check that the store actually does them. Not every  Lloyds chemist offers the service.

Appointment just made online for preferred store.  Best of all if Princess change the rules I can cancel and will not be charged.

17 hours ago, devonuk said:

Lloyds Pharmacy for me 👍 £29.99 for an antigen test. 

Ah ha!  I saw all there other test but not their £29.99 one.  Staring at me in plain sight when I checked again.  I can see there is an in-store one 20 miles away from home so will book that the day before we head to port.  Many thanks.

14 hours ago, PplusA said:

You can just google “Covid test near me” that came up with a few for us.

I did that first.  There aren't any.

10 minutes ago, memoak said:

Except that many health providers like ours (Kaiser) in Oregon do PCR tests for free and we have always gotten results in under 36 hours

Thank you but I need specific UK providers.

Until recently the Princess website, for UK embarkation , stated that Covid testing had to be 'medically observed' and also gave a link to their preferred provider.  Both of these have disappeared and although it does make reference to having certain acceptable proofs of testing it does not clarify how or where these can be obtained.

Can anyone in the UK, advise (a) the name of the original preferred provider that did video observation and/or (b) other means and providers of supplying acceptable proof of testing. I know that Boots offer a service but none within a 50 mile radius of home do this.

12 hours ago, Billish said:

The elderly have already had a second booster, and a third booster is planned for this autumn (UK)

Which 'elderly' are those?  I know of no-one aged from 65 to 92 who have had a second booster. And no-one has one booked until October.