alolewis

I am taking a photography class at the local community college. We will be on a 30 day cruise. The Professor has agreed that we (DW and myself) can miss class if we upload some photographs to meet the assignments. She wants the photos uploaded to Flickr. I know some websites are blocked on Princess, is Flickr one of them or can I access Flickr using Princess Internet? We are talking about less than 10 photos per week at a small jpg size. Never tried uploading photos before on the ship as usually wait until I get home. We will have some Internet minutes as we are Platinum but can purchase more if needed. Thanks.

I booked direct with Nazcaflights.com and are paying $360 a person for a flight plus a tour of Paracas National Reserve. They do want advanced payment via Paypal.

There is a very active roll call for the entire 30 day cruise: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2369406

Priority boarding includes mini suites, correct?

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They did last year.

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Train. Easy walk from cruise dock. Follow the line on the sidewalk.

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We did exactly that on our Princess cruise from Seattle. Took an early flight from San Francisco to Seattle, did some tourist stuff in Pioneer Square, had lunch on the waterfront and then took the city bus to the pier. This was in August 2014. At that time we gave our luggage to a Princess rep at Seattle airport who transferred it to the ship for a small fee, I think it was about $5 a bag, not sure if they still do that. Took Lightrail from airport to Downtown. We got to the terminal about 1:30 or so, if my memory is correct, and no lines or wait. The Chihuly exhibit is great but does take some time.

While you don't think it's much of a problem, the regulation is set by the USPH/CDC, not the cruise line, and these folks are world renowned experts in contagious diseases and epidemiology, and if they feel it is a potential contamination source, I'll go along with the experts.

Actually the USPH allows refilling of bottles by consumers on ships:

section 7.3.3.4.6 of the USPH VSP Operations Manual: Drinking cups and containers may be reused by self service CONSUMERS if refilling is a CONTAMINATION-free process.

According to some, then every fast food restaurant that allows consumers to fill their glass is unhealthy. Here is what the state of California says: e) Personal take-out beverage containers, such as thermally insulated bottles, non spill coffee cups, and promotional beverage glasses, may be refilled by employees or the consumer if refilling is a contamination-free process as specified in subdivision (a

(a) Except for refilling a consumer's drinking cup or container without contact between the pouring utensil and the lip-contact area of the drinking cup or container, food employees shall not use tableware, including single-use articles, soiled by the consumer, to provide second portions or refills

Since typically the portion of the water bottle that the lips touch is not what touches the nozzle, I would be more worried about a glass being refilled.

We booked a thirty day South American cruise as two B2B segments. With Promotional credits, travel agent credits, military credit, Future cruise credit (only had one each) and shareholder credit, for two it will be $2570. Not sure how we will spend it all but I am sure we will try. This is in addition to a travel agent discount. I use a travel agent that Pam In Ca recommended and have been happy ever since. The travel agent even beat a big box membership stores price.

In Kona, Kona Country Club is 7 miles from the pier and has some holes along the ocean. Makalei is 8 miles away and is a hilly but fun course. Both have rental clubs. have fun!

The other day i checked our Feb 2018 cruise and the $99 option was there but today when I went to order it, it was gone. Hope they bring it back, otherwise we will not purchase any photos, rarely do anyway but at $99 thought it was a good deal. We have a 16 day and a 14 day B2B cruise in Feb/March 2018, South America.

twice using Princess to Copenhagen and Rome, twice using Luggage Forwarders to Southampton and Sydney (return Hong Kong). All time luggage arrived on time and we first saw it in our stateroom. Costs seems to a average about $700 round trip but we usually go and return a week early/later keeps us from having to drag a second suitcase around.

Sunday May 8 and no survey yet.

Got off the Golden Princess April 27 and have not received the post cruise e-mail with the survey. What is typical timeframe?

Thank you for posting your review.

 

Why didn't the waiter bring a new cup of coffee with new pitcher of cream ???

 

I hope you added info about the carpet and mildew to your post cruise survey from Princess.

This is what i expected but not what happened.

We are different than most here on Cruise Critic as we go late and never have to wait. Recently in Sydney we checked out of our hotel, they kept our luggage, did the Bridge Climb and the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art, both near the cruise terminal, went back to the hotel, got luggage and walked to cruise terminal arriving about 2 PM, No lines at security, checkin, etc, walked right onboard. This works for us as it seems to start our vacation early and makes use of the time instead of waiting in a crowded lounge to board. Going late then everyone could board at the same time. Only works though if there are things to see in the area and you arrive at least a day early.

Just returned from the 21 day Golden Princess cruise Sydney to Hong Kong. Overall the cruise was very good, food and in the dining rooms (anytime) was excellent. Buffet was good for breakfast, average for dinner, ate dinner in the buffet perhaps three times, rarely ate lunch in the buffet. Room service best I ever had, on time and order always correct. Bought the water package prior and worth it as the water in the stateroom had a strange taste. Entertainment was mixed, some very good, others I did not enjoy as much but had a good mix over the 21 days to have something for everyone. Even watched Australian football on the movie under the stars screen, did not understand it much though. Outstanding enrichment lecturer, Andrew, who gave a variety of lectures, even tried to explain Cricket to the few American's onboard. The majority of the passengers were Australian or from New Zealand. Did the crab shack, was impressed but too much food and the ultimate ships tour which I enjoyed.

A few comments about things that could have been better.

Our stateroom, E728, needed some maintenance, carpet was badly stained, some mildew in the bathroom, couch had holes and what looked like cigarette burns, balcony door would not lock and balcony was badly rusted and corroded. Brought the carpet stains to the attention to the cabin steward who said they would replace the carpet during the cruise, this did not happen. I filled out a form that said was from the hotel manager about the issues but nothing was ever corrected. The public areas of the ship were in good condition except doors into the spa pool area were dirty, the bathroom on deck 14 between the pools tiles were loose and most of the Spas (Jacuzzi's) only a few jets worked it any at all. Spas could have used a good cleaning.

Bizarre incident in the dining room, asked for coffee with cream, the cream curdled which resulted in lumps in the coffee. Told the assistant waiter who went into the galley and came back out and said the chef said the cream was good, we juts didn't stir it enough. Asked for a head waiter who also went into the galley and came back out with a small carton and said "see, the cream is within the date, you just didn't stir enough". No evidence that the cream on our table came from this carton or even if the cream in the carton was good. i was expecting new coffee and new cream, not an argument that after 50 plus years of drinking coffee with cream being told I didn't know how to stir the coffee.

Attention to detail, something that bugs me more than most, for example on the Princess app said pool towels in stateroom, they were not but available at pool. Read on the ship postage stamps available at passenger service desk, passenger services gave me a funny look when asked about postage stamps. Patter had incorrect hours for a few things such as the sports deck, patter said until 6 Pm, the sign said until 9 PM, which is it?

Since the Golden Princess was entering Chinese service after this cruise interesting to see signs around the ship going up in Chinese. During the Ultimate Ship's tour met the translator who was translating the Patters and other documents into Chinese each day. Crew were taking Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) lessons.

Overall had a great cruise, just needed a little more spit and polish.

yes you can go back to the airport and use the Princess shuttle. However there may be less expensive options, me personally I would take BART from the airport to Embarcardo and walk. As to things to do if you haven't been to Alcatraz it is worth doing but you need to make a reservation early as they sell out. There are also free walking tours of the various neighborhoods given by the SF Library. Lots of hotels near the airport, we have stayed at the Marriott.

Thanks for the replies. My bank charges a fee for using an ATM (3% of withdrawal +$5). My credit card does not change a fee for purchases, so I was trying to use the credit card to get cash over the purchase. Of course I can also use my credit card at an ATM but then they will charge me a cash advance fee. Looks like I am stuck either way.

WOW, I would look for a ATM card from a credit union as mine does not charge any ATM fees or foreign transaction fees. Of course you would need an account at a credit union.

The Princess website removed milkshakes under the Soda and More package so appears they are removing them from the package.

Some prefer to pay for items on board since they can use their OBC.

I understand your position and agree for most it makes sense. I just get upset when people are critic of others opinions such as "I can not understand why anyone would prepay...". I have my reasons for, you have your reasons for not, both are legitimate and personal preference.

I'm having a hard time trying to understand why one would want to prepay anything?

Apply for a Princess Visa card and use that to obtain additional OBC along with the Military and stockholder credit.

At the end of the cruise you'll see your charges if any on your Princess Visa credit card statement.

As others have mentioned do not use a debit card

 

Howard

I like to prepay as much as possible before a vacation/holiday so I do not have large bills when I get home. I would rather have memories of the holiday by my photos, etc than a pile of bills. Your logic is flawed in that if you prepay it gets charged to a credit card and if a rewards credit card you get the rewards if you prepay or pay afterwards. If you pay early enough you can even use the rewards for your current cruise.

Not sure why people are so against prepaying for things like tours, tips, onboard expenses when you prepay for the cruise, airfare, and even now hotels to get the best rates. BTW my best credit card is my credit union card as it gives rewards, no annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.

In 2014 in Seattle we wanted to do some sightseeing before boarding. I asked the Princess rep at the airport if they could transport our luggage and they said they would for $3 a bag, they said it was a new program. We did not have Princess transfers, used light rail and the bus. Would not hurt to ask the Princess rep at the airport if you do not want to haul your luggage or plan to do some sightseeing before boarding.

Are milkshakes available on Golden Princess? Thanks.

Yes. Decaf is available for speciality coffee drinks at international cafe.