Papa Yoda

It also helps to be a b2b passenger, you can put your request in on the first leg, and if you get in fine but if not then chat up the DRO (Maître d') about leg 2. Often if there is enough interest, they will also schedule an additional Chef's Table. Once, when meeting in Vines the group included 6 very inebriated, loud, obnoxious people and we were delayed 20 minutes waiting for 2 more drunk members of their party. We asked M d' to count us out, and if possible schedule another, he did, we had a much more pleasant group. We heard later the drunks were "friends" of someone at Princess.

So there is again the standard Princess confusion... Nothing in the T&Cs there states that the first 2 passengers in the same cabin must purchase the "whole" Plus Package. I do know you can't buy the Plus fare separately at booking, but can you add the upgrade separately later? https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages/terms-and-conditions/ I was able to upgrade our package using Chat. They added it to the booking and I paid via Personalizer. I should have checked on severability. If booked via TA you'd have to pay for the upgrade through the TA. @sh28Give it a shot and let us know!

The Plus Beverage Package by itself is 70.79 USD per day (including 18% service charge) and must be purchased for the entire voyage. Bundled with WiFi and Gratuities, Plus is a better deal at $50 per day. WiFi is $10 by itself, Crew Appreciation is $14.50-$16.50 per person per day so you're at $24.50 before drinks. Fancy coffees are $4-5, Drinks $8-12 so those can add up to more than $25 without a stretch PS: Welcome to Cruise Critic, join the Roll Call for your voyage and connect with fellow passengers before the cruise.

I tip stewart on the first day - to start the friendship off on a happy note. Nothing else is implied. I also tip the longshoreman before he delivers our bags to the ship, just to make sure they are happy and feeling good about themselves.

We've seen the credit show up same day as the charge, may be a bit later. Seems like a bookkeeping thing - they have to charge the laundry fee, then debit the Elite / Suite benefit.

Correct, the DoubleTree has no Valet and maybe 1, if you're lucky, bell person. And they have very few (maybe 2) luggage carts. And... while the shuttle is part of the stay, park, cruise special, it was also a cluster/zoo last April. (I dropped bags at curb for check-in then wandered around for parking.) I figured we'd stay at CP this next time, on check-out I can drive over and drop DW, scooter, and bags, go back and park, and walk/cab/shuttle to terminal. On disembark, do the reverse.

98% effective means just that. 100% non-effective vs. 98% effective leads me to conclude I'll wear a mask. Also my RT has said: the outside of the mask is where COVID gets caught, so don't touch it!

Agreed, April on Grand, worked pretty well, only one delayed order - new guy couldn't find the Lotus Spa pool. Once I ordered a drink to be delivered to the stateroom, but I didn't uncheck "My Location" and check "My Stateroom". Darn server chased me all over as I had gone up to buffet in the meantime. She called just as I returned to the cabin, and asked "where are you!?" I ordered lots of drinks, wine and Lattes delivered to the stateroom, all covered by Plus. This is the best upgrade I can think of.

What I've found is that a bar may not have a particular wine/spirit/beer even though it is down in "stores" deck 4 and on the ship. If they run out or don't have it at the bar, it can be overnight or more before getting restocked from the ship's stores. I've also had the same issue with Room Service: "we don't have it and have to wait for it to come up from stores." The waiters can't run down to stores to get anything. Taking a couple days to get something replenished doesn't seem unusual. Maybe the prior cruise, everyone in the DR was drinking up the Canyon Road :D

At $13 a glass before gratuities I'm just going to have get Rombauer by the glass - I did upgrade to Premier but the $2.16 diff over the plus package would have been minor. Hope they stock up...

Not too bad considering the discount price in stores in just under $40. So if I bought it on shore for $36 and added $20 for corkage, I'm close on ship, and get 20% off with the package offsets grats. Hmmm... I may be going big on Rombauer next month. I love Carneros

Ship security can open the safes, leaving late will also let them get that stuff ashore. We almost got left behind in Puntarenas - our tour return was late and the Veendam had to leave before low tide as the port is shallow. We thought no worries, the Captain's wife was on our excursion. She said, "Oh no, he'll leave us." (but would leave a tender if necessary) We made it back as they were singling up lines, we heard we had only 3 ft left.

Not for Closed Loops cruises: Per cbp.gov https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/western-hemisphere-travel-initiative U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same U.S. port) are able to enter the United States with a birth certificate and government-issued photo ID. Please be aware that you may still be required to present a passport to enter the countries your cruise ship is visiting. Check with your cruise line to ensure you have the appropriate documents. (Note that cruises that visit Central or South America are not WHTI compliant) Enhanced Drivers Licenses (EDLs) are state-issued enhanced drivers licenses that provide proof of identity and U.S. citizenship. They are issued in a secure process, and include technology that makes travel easier. EDLs are a low-cost, convenient option for entering the United States from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean through a land or sea port of entry, in addition to serving as a permit to drive.

Yep it's back Don't ever give IT guys an hour for lunch on Fridays...

Princess site is still: We are currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again.

Just forward of the lotus spa are M/F sauna / shower rooms with lockers, very well hidden. If you like, the Thermal Suite is also very nice.

And in a suite, the ice bucket is stainless steel vs plastic. I also order a big bucket of ice from Room Service -- comes in a wine chiller. Stewart keeps it refilled and/or re-order from room service as necessary, keeps the drinks colder.

Suite passengers get a Specialty Dining on embarkation day on cruises longer than 5 days, CC Minis do not. Yes, you can reserve Specialty Dining through the App. If you're in a suite, it will show no charge for first night dinner if eligible (>5days) after going through the whole booking process.

On the Sapphire, it is Santa Fe, deck 6 starboard midships. Diamond is her twin. On Royal class ships it is port side deck 6, all others starboard.

Good idea! I usually keep some foreign money as a cheap souvenir

Thank you for the photo of a whale shark statue. Our one cruise to La Paz included the Whale Shark Encounter, one of our most memorable.

And don't forget to get Shareholder and Veteran's (if qualified) OBC for both legs. If you are Elite you get a mini-bar each leg. Your folio will just roll over - no need to close out. Unused OBC rolls over. Casino however must be closed out last night of first leg.

Ship remains at anchor, no Casino

The cage i.e. galley bay

Oregon and California are "reciprocal" states so shipping is doable. "One" can buy the wine in Oregon and ship it to SF. Reliable, and could be less expensive. Wine shipper boxes come in 2, 6 and 12 bottle varieties. If your friend is buying it at a winery they will definitely take care of shipping it, plus they may get wine only offered at the winery. I worked for a winery in a tasting room in the SF Bay area for many years. So if your friend is in Astoria soon, can they send me some Willamette Valley Pinot Gris? Please? The only fool proof method I see is for "friend" to get 1 bottle per adult in Astoria and walk off with those in in SF - no worries at all. Wait! Wait! Maybe "friend" can enlist a couple other shipmates to bring one bottle each back on board for them?