Capt Krunch

Thank you, I will take a look at the Riverside on our next cruise.

On 11/15/2023 at 6:43 PM, Ashland said:

Look at the reviews of ES...it's gone down hill. We used to stay there a few years ago but not any longer. Hyatt Place (our now preferred) is also a great location which actually sits just behind ES.

You are right about the Embassy on 17th Street.  

We used to stay there all the time but the last time we were there it was in terrible need of refurbishing and we will not stay there again until it is redone.

On 11/23/2023 at 6:52 PM, mum and son said:

Maybe they're all on Thanksgiving break.

Today, I received an email that my brokerage account was confirmed and I could go to the Stockperks app and submit a request for my perks.  I did that and requested my perks and received an email back that my credits would be posted in 5 days or they would advise me on what to do next.  So the new system seems to be working OK.

I just uploaded a page of my stock broker account that showed my Carnival ownership with the account numbers blacked out.  They sent me back an email and said they would respond in 2 days with what I had to do next.  I have not received an email yet.

Yes, I just used the web based check in and signed in using the booking no. and it worked but not as good as the former check in system.  I got rid of my iphone and have a cell phone so I have to use the computer check in system.  Hopefully, they will get the bugs fixed in the web based check in and it will work better.  But give the web based system a try, if you stick with it will work.  Good luck.

3 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

If this was the case, we would have had to do the same testing to board the 7 different Celebrity cruises we’ve been on so far. All we’ve had to do so far is pass the antigen test no more than 2 days prior to embarkation day, or the day prior to transition day if we’re on a B2B. Sorry, this is definitely a Princess thing.

Thanks for the info, we like Celebrity and will take a look at their itineraries.

16 minutes ago, iamaqt2 said:

The CDC no longer tells the cruise lines how to operate. The CSO has expired.  This is being driven by Princess and the port destinations.  

And don't give them any ideas for Noro testing or it probably WILL be next.

The CDC is still calling the shots, take a look at their web site: Cruise Ship Color Status | Quarantine | CDC

27 minutes ago, Mikel1733 said:

1 test before flying, 1 test at dock, 1 test 2 days in, 1 test mid cruise, and 1 test at disembarkation?  5 tests seem overkill.  Making me rethink my May cruise on the Emerald.

The testing has gone bonkers!  What good is it to be vaccinated?  Are we going to test everyone for the Noro after the Covid is over?  The CDC doesn't have a clue on how to handle this Covid or we wouldn't have to be going thru all thee hoops.  

Thank all of you that shared your experiences with us that are waiting to cruise again.

The testing 2 days before boarding does seem to be useless because after we get tested we get on an airplane and fly to the port to board the ship.  The airplane is probably were we would catch the covid rather than on the ship.  If everyone is on the ship is vaccinated, why all the testing?

We were on this cruise and also noticed the fuel smell more than on other cruises.  This was one of our better cruises.  We are now back home and have not received our post cruise comment emails from Princess.  Has anyone else not received their post cruise comment emails?

On 11/30/2021 at 11:37 AM, Steelers36 said:

True, but of course the marketing pablum they sent you was about the Medallion itself on board removing friction.  They are good politicians - switch the topic and answer a different question. 

I just read in the Princess Circle Mag that the Mastermind behind the Medallion is John Padgett who is now the new President of Princess.  How long before they replace him for screwing up ROYALLY?

Heads at Princess need to roll over this Medallion debacle.  How could any company screw up so terribly and discontinue a registration process that was working so well and replace it with a process that does not work.  I have called Princess several times and they inform me to just check-in at the terminal and forget about using the app.  Since I cannot use the app this is what I will have to do.

Thank you for your post.  I will use it to check in.

What has happened to the check-in feature on the Princess web site?

I do not use an iphone and cannot check-in as usual to get my boarding pass and luggage tags.

So what do I have to do now to check-in?

The previous Princess check-in isn't on the web site anymore.

Can anyone help me out?

Thank you. 

Thank you for your response.  Did you receive a full refund from Norwegian?  Those I have talked to didn't receive a refund from Norwegian and had to use their insurance to re-cover the cost of the cruise.

Has anyone who was booked on the Breakaway for 9-1-2019 received any compensation from Norwegian?  When something like this happens, the cruise line normally issues credits for future cruises.  I have spoken with others that were booked for 9-1-2019 and they said they received nothing from Norwegian.  So the cruisers had to pay for their airline fares to Miami to board a ship that didn't show up.  I could not believe that Norwegian did not issue future cruise credits to compensate cruisers for the cancelled cruise.

7 hours ago, MCC retired said:

With non-refundable deposits , Princess takes advantage of those first timers , non shoppers, and those that believe booking a Sale @ Princess.com is the one and only deal.

Many of these frequent Princess Sales do have a Refundable Rate code that only a TA sees or you must call Princess to book it.

I think it is very disturbing that Princess would try to scam cruisers with non-refundable deposits when the cruise market is becoming more and more competitive.  Princess offers Future Cruise Deposits (FCD's) that you can purchase while on board a cruise for $100. per person.  This was supposed to make it easier for you to book cruises in advance and now they have come up with the non-refundable deposit to complicate booking in advance.  The FCD's are supposed to be refundable but if you use an FCD to book a cruise with a non-refundable deposit, you will lose your FCD.  I have talked with Princess several times about the non-refundable deposits and using an FCD and I get a different answer every time I talk with them.  I have also emailed Princess about the non-refundable deposits and they have not answered the  emails.  I think Princess is doing to great disservice to their clients and frequent cruisers by not being completely upfront and open about whether FCD's are refundable if they are used as a deposit for a non-refundable fare.  Princess refuses to give a straight forward answer and their employees who interface with us cruisers don't know the correct answers.  When booking a cruise now I make sure it has a refundable deposit or I will not book the cruise.

17 minutes ago, dog said:

Just told by Princess agent if using my FCD on a non refundable deposit booking, I can cancel before final payment and my FCD will go back in to my account. If it expires it will be refunded to the credit card I paid for it with.

I think I would double check that because I have been told by Princess that if you book a non-refundable deposit with an FCD then you are subject to the rules of that booking and if it is a non-refundable deposit fare you will lose your FCD as a non-refundable deposit.  Princess does have a fare that offers a refundable deposit, check that out.

2 hours ago, hilomelko said:

8:23 pm local time we are still sitting here!!!!all aboard was 6:30

Has the Breakaway left Cozumel yet?  

Wondering about the 9-1 sailing.

We are thinking about booking on the Coral and wondered if anyone has been on the ship since the dry dock in Jan 2019.

What improvements were made like adding big screen TV's that are interactive etc. and any other upgrades to the staterooms.

Thank you.

Thank you for your report.

We are thinking about booking on the Coral and wondered if anyone has been on the ship since the dry dock in Jan 2019.

What improvements were made like adding big screen TV's that are interactive etc. and any other upgrades to the staterooms.

Thank you.

If you use an FCD then you don't have to put down more deposit unless it is a world cruise or such but your FCD may not be refundable or transferable if the booking offer states that the deposit is NRD.  But you can call Princess and get the pricing for the RD deposit so you don't lose your deposit.  You may still get all the same amenities with the RD deposit fare.  This NR deposit stuff has really complicated booking a cruise.  You have to look at all the fine print so you don't end up losing your FCD in case you can't make the cruise.  Frankly, when one has to be an attorney to read thru all the fine print when booking a cruise, it takes all the fun out of cruising.

This is the latest offer from HAL.  These $25. deposits are non-refundable. 

Doesn't look like the NRD's is helping HAL with bookings.

"Book your next adventure with a $25 deposit!

Journey through Alaska's calving glaciers, explore the wonders of Europe or relax on the sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean. Wherever you decide to take your dream cruise your deposit is just $25! Hurry—offer ends August 19."

On 8/11/2019 at 1:38 PM, Iamcruzin said:

This all sounds good in theory but when the share holders see that bookings are down, watch how fast they run the $1 deposit promotion. Royal Caribbean and Celebrity are already offering two prices for RD and NRD. Royal Caribbean is very sneaky about it as you have to go through the entire booking process to see how much more a refundable deposit will be. NRD is the default.  Newbies fall into the trap and then find Cruise Critic to complain when they cancel and are penalized. I'm still part of the working world so planning 18months plus out won't work for me with a NRD. I will wait for the fire sales or the special deposit offers before I commit to anything. In reality I'm sure that it's only a remote few who follow cruise critic that book a dozen cruises at a time. The average person doesn't have time to keep track of mass bookings unless they are at TA.  Celebrity's formula of offering NRD and no perks while offering a refundable deposit with two perks that most don't want doesn't seem to working. I have been receiving more last minute fire sale adds than ever before.