Msail

This cruise is round trip from Seattle. Emerald Princess reviews have been very mixed lately. Not sure if I should cruise HAL Amsterdam instead. Cruise Critic Awards seem to favor HAL greatly over Emerald Princess. This will be our second Alaska cruise. Last one was 10 years ago on Norwegian Pearl with our kids. Now it will be just us.

 

 

I can change in the next 10 days. Just nervous that Emerald Princess service and ship appears to really be on the downhill side if I read the recent sailing reviews. However not Sure if HAL Amsterdam is right for us (60 and 58 year old active couple). Anyone been on either of these lately or have a suggestion/recommendation?

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My wife and I signed up for the Sip and sail in August of 2016 for a The Princess Ruby cruise on Dec 9 2017 for our anniversary cruise . My wife check our reservation and Notice that the drink package has been removed. We checked our confirmation email and it’s crystal clear that is what we purchased. I called both our TA and Princess and they basically have zero answers and Claim they changed the promotion at our TA request which she not only denied but there is no paper trail that says that we wanted to change the promotion . Bottom line we’re out over $440 dollars due to the difference between the two promotions . Princess won’t really deal with me because I went through a TA which leads me to the conclusion that I need to book direct with the cruise line in case I have a problem it won’t be ping pong match back and forth . My question is who do I put the hammer down on the TA or Princess that I have a contractual agreement with and a recipient.

 

 

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BOTH why choose

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Looking at this cruise out of Boston and would like to know if there is much to do on this island.

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Let me approach things differently here. In looking at the ship amenities on your last five cruises (Oasis and Freedom) I think you could be bored silly on the Coral and the Island. Of the three options you gave, the Star would be my recommendation simply because it has more public areas for you to enjoy. Yes, the scenery is the main attraction in Alaska, but I am thinking about what sorts of activities you are accustomed to onboard. Having been on those two ships for your last five RCL cruises, tell us what you like about the atmosphere onboard those two ships and why you have returned to them multiple times. It could make a huge difference in meeting your expectations.

 

Is there a reason you really want the Princess cruisetour? Royal offers very similar cruisetours, and given your affinity for Royal you could either book their cruisetour or a DIY land tour before/after a cruise on the Radiance OTS.

 

Yes, Princess is the big player in that market, but your line of preference is in the game. Why are you not considering them? The answer could be very helpful in making recommendations for you. :)

For Alaska Princess and Holland America are the only two choices and are the only two that can Cruise to Glacier National Park when it comes to Alaska no one else compares.

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You need a balcony for Alaska and the train is a great way to get to and from Vancouver. Very affordable.

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How do you go so long between cruises I go nuts if I go more than 4 to 6 months.

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In a hartbeat the owners suite is very nice lots of room and you get all the perks breakfast in sabatini's priority embarkation disembarkation tendering minibar canapes every night before dinner champagne onboarding and Elite status for the cruise

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If it is a small cab fair 5 or 6 I tip the same as the fair a dollar or two is a joke what can you do with a dollar.

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My favourite is outriggers best drinks hands down vines and you get glass not plastic at vines which is better.

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The problem is finding a good T/A we've tried a couple different ones they suck so we book direct and it works for us .

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Probably the couple that you were traveling with very discreetly tip the waiters nicely that gets you great service and they remember you.

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Sabatini's was awesome the change over to CS sounds like a big step down.

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Coffee cards are cheap it's not worth the hassle man up buy another card .

Pan Pacific can't beat it ship docks right at the hotel tip the bellhop and they take your luggage down to the ship we love it.

When you book direct with Princess and then right before final payment...switch it to an agent...are you basically burning bridges with the princess agent, or is it expected and not taken personally? I have worked well to get a few drops on a sailing with my Princess agent, but I know if I transfer it, I will keep the lowered price, great location and get more OBC with the new agent.

Honest thoughts please?

I don't think princess cares they get the business one way or the other but I get all the price drops directly so you really don't need to TA.

I will take my TA and my additional 12% off the price that you pay along with all the very nice OBC that you get. ;)

Like to compare price because I would be very surprised if you do better with a TA. I typically get hundreds off the internet price my next cruise in April was listed at 1699 and I got it final price 1250 don't think TA are getting that price

We always book thru princess and have learned the routine we do very well get all the price drops and very nice on board credit no need for a TA no need for a middle man we like direct.

We cruise 3 to 4 times a year and we've not had a problem not sure why you people think I'm making it up. So you might want look at what your doing because it works for us.

No no confusion on date we had made final payment and the final payment date stated by Princess was passed and we still get the rate drop every time

This is not false I have gotten lower price after final payment every time price has dropped and that has been more than four times with the most recent being yesterday on a April cruise that the final payment had been made weeks ago. Not sure what your doing but it wrong.Only when you book thru princess not ta

If you are booked thru princess you will always get the price drop even after final payment.

That's why we book thru Princess not a TA much easier to deal with it your self the price most likely will go up again I would try to get the lower price now. Our cruise in April dropped 200 per person we called Princess and they gave us the lower price no problem.

We never fly the same day we cruise for this exact reason

We did the b2b just had lunch and chilling in our room