CalLuvsCrusingToo

On 3/5/2024 at 9:01 PM, Palo4911 said:

We are booked in April also, just curious if you have received the email yet, asking which parking/pick up offer you would like?

Thanks!

 

(We sail Apr 4th to Hawaii on the Crown)

Were on same cruise.  Have received nothing about Prestige.

Are you talking about the small picture of yourself, as your walking up to your door??

I never thought to change it cuz the picture doesn't last long. 

Its displayed (tiny) in the middle of your door panel, for maybe 10 secs. 

Its about the size of a nickle.

Picture is only there long enough for you to walk up and open your door handle.

Its hard to see IMO, plus Nobody but you is going to see it.

On 2/19/2024 at 1:28 PM, SmooshSmash said:

Looks like the minimum qualifiying offer is Interior with $250 FP, which is what I got as Come back & Play offer. 4 nights cruise, average 30-45mn/night, average $150/hand on BJ.

I am not gonna book that offer, not really worth it. I think Princess wants me to gamble a couple hours every night to give me free balcony.

Well, we play alot more than that, but it the same kind of thing....

My past few Come Back & Play offers have topped out at

Balcony & $600 FP.  No matter how many points you play over 7,000 points.🤔

We just got back from a 10 day cruise, and got that SAME (lame) Come Back & Play offer. (Balc & 600 FP, Nothing else, No Plus perks etc)

Needless to say, Not going to book it....

I played less this trip, cuz we Knew thats all were gonna get.  

So why play more?

10 hours ago, pootsien2 said:

I just finished 14 days on the Sky Princess and I also got that same come back offer for a free balcony and $600 freeplay. I had a low jackpot each week (1300 & 1250). The points don't carry over from the first week. Second week I ended with 11,000 points. I will try NOT to spend so much on my next cruise!!

Thats what were doing too, Playing LESS next few cruises we have booked.

Because theres No incentive to play, if thats all youre going to get?

Its like Come Back and Play offers are topped out for all of us, No matter how many points you get!

I have Not booked ANY cruises weve gotten lately  because they didn't include Plus Perks. 

(I have a comp casino cruise very soon, with ALL the Perks, but it was from an offer last year.)

Like I said before, we have no plans to go over 7,000 points, cuz Points won't matter.

Yesterday, I got a new Prestige offer that includes all the bells and whistles.

THAT I will book. 

Not all the others.... Because if it doesn't include Perks that you are used to, for your level of play?

Not gonna book it.

Washing & hand san is all Good.

But Please remember Virus is spread, Airborne!

When I got bounceback Covid, my Only clue to test again was I sneezed a few times.

I felt ok, just a few sneezes, but tested just in case..... Positive! 😳

So please consider GOOD Masks on top of your handwashing.

Good luck all.

2 hours ago, 5:00_Somewhere said:

I'm so happy to hear such a positive review of the Ruby. She's long been our favorite Princess ship, but it's been several years since we sailed on her. And, we just booked a cruise on her (albiet not until 2026) because we were missing all our favorite Grand Class features. This has me even more excited.

Were just the opposite about Ruby!  lol

We were (stuck) ugh, Had Ruby out of San Francisco, too many times, felt like forever....

We sailed on her enough.  So the thought of flying to Florida to sail AGAIN on Ruby?

Kind of rubs us the wrong way.  But were going for itinerary.  And really Hopiing shes

in much better shape and Less Smokey!

Don't call the infuriating Call center.  (Thanks Princess for dismantling your Casino dept.🙄

Get yourself a CVP Asap!  (Princess) Certified Vacation Planner🤓

They are our go to for Princess Casino bookings.

1-800-901-1172

Mask outside our cabin, and avoid crowded elevators.

Eat outside alot & room service. MDR at off times.

Very happy to hear Rubys dry dock was a success.

We will be onboard in a couple weeks, and were really Hoping Ruby looked better

than we had the past several times onboard.

Thanks for your review.

And if you spent any time in the casino, can you tell us how Smokey was it?

(We cancelled a Hawaii Ruby cruise due to the bad smoke smell.)

Was there last year for a day.  We just got off the ship....walked around a couple streets

with vendors & few stores.  Walked past some folks sitting in a restaurant by the beach.

Few folks sitting under beach umbrellas.  That was about it. 

Made a loop and back to the ship.  Took 30 mins tops.

On 1/27/2024 at 9:04 AM, pursel said:

Finishing up a 7 day princess cruise now. Amassed around 7200 points and received an offer for a free balcony with $600 freeplay. 

Thanks for posting your experience and what your bounceback (Come back & play) offer

was for.  I'm beginning to think this is their TOP offer if you get over 7,000 points?

Needless to say, on my next cruise in a couple weeks.... I won't be playing over that amount, if

thats all were gonna get anyway. 😑

29 minutes ago, occruiselady said:

I change cabins by calling Princess, I just did this last week. They can tell you if the change is going to affect the price and credits for your cruise. I give them the cabin number I want and have the deck plans on the computer in front of me while we’re talking. They sometimes have available cabins that are not showing up online they can offer you. My fare actually went down, which surprised me.

What Princess # did you call?  Everytime we call "princess" it goes to the offshore Call center.

And we know how good they are?🤨

Many of us have changed to CVP and haven't looked back.  CVP can easily change cabin

for you by call or email.  If yours doesn't? Get a new one.  Cuz we will never go thru the

hours long confusing drama of princess Call center anymore!

On 1/23/2024 at 10:49 PM, justafem said:

I just found out I have this same dilemma for a cruise in 2 weeks.  

 

Cruise is booked under friends name under a casino offer.  I had the same offer (which I've since used on another cruise), but we chose to book under her name.  

 

Now she's not going.  I'm tempted to show up, using the delayed excuse and see what happens.  

 

I want to go!

Check your Personalizer then, Get ahold of casino dept (or better yet CVP) ASAP, and  see if you can use any of YOUR offers? 

This is the ONLY way to go.  You Cannot get on that cruise on HER offer if she is Not there. Period.

Or you WILL pay full boat.

Call asap. Book on YOUR offer.

On 1/18/2024 at 10:42 AM, SmooshSmash said:

Booked a Prestige cruise and didn't know how the perks unique to Prestige would work. For those like me, I recently got an email from prestigeplayers@princesscruises.com, giving me the options to pick from (airport pickup vs self parking etc.) So in summary, they contact you via email. You don't need to call the casino center (which I'd done) to find out how the heck they would pick me up drop me off etc. (some of the Prestige perks) without knowing your travel arrangements.

Exactly! Thank you for posting your email from Prestige! 

This is the first I've heard of it.

I sent an email to my CVP, but he hadn't gotten back to me about it.

I was also wondering How to pick our perks, like Bask vs. Trek.

and Parking vs. Pickup?  Would be nice if we KNEW procedure when we were booked.

Wondering if they contact you a certain amount of days out?

I booked Prestige cruise for April, and haven't gotten an email or reply yet.

Did you say When your Prestige cruise is?

Thanks

PS- this Prestige offer was from many months ago.  Nothing nearly that good in a long time. 😔

4 hours ago, jbinbi said:

Am on the Princess Nordic cruise beginning of June. Didn't realize that with 4 months to go all the popular excursions would be sold out! Basically on the cruise to do the excursions. 

So now looking for finding excursions on shore not with ship. I know there are usually many tour companies on land, and might be less expensive than through princess, but I am looking for suggestions on companies that I don't have to hopefully vet in each port. Is there a good company throughout Scandanavia that I can book tours with in most of the major ports? TIA.

Were in the same boat, same cruise.  I didn't realize so many tours would be sold out so soon either.

We have 2 other cruises before this one, so wasn't high on my priority list yet.

But reading other trip threads, it really sounded like so many of our destinations were walkable?

I wasn't too worried about it.

I like the idea that you can visit Tour desk upon boarding.  That might be what we end up doing.

Thanks for this thread.  See you there!

😄

Its easy to do, done it several times.  Your CVP can easily make the change.

Email to cvp will give a headsup. If cvp hasn't reached out to you in next couple days? 

Give a call. 

The name change is authorized by you, so you can give cvp your friends details...

address, phone, etc, to get the ball rolling.  So collect those details now.

If your friend has sailed with Princess before?  Ask friend for their Captains Circle #.

That will make it simpler for cvp.

48 minutes ago, beg3yrs said:

Travel summary - we always take a hard copy as if you need it at guest services, hard copy is best.

YES Travel Summary. We Always print a hard copy cuz it lists Everything in your offers.

What you paid for, Itinerary, the whole thing.  We Always bring it.

Everything is backed up with screen shots on our phones, but I also hate fiddling with the phone or app when were in line trying to get checked in.

We've had experience with the medallion, with and without it being mailed.

They kind of force our hand with it being mailed, unless you don't mind standing in the Blue line?

I think whats got Elite/suites annoyed isn't the lounge when you get thru checkin. Yes lounge is there.

But having to stand in a longer line To Get In, BEFORE Check in.

On 12/24/2023 at 7:09 PM, Kabuki12 said:

Not only that, but with other lines you know how many points that you need for free cabins.  And there is consistency and transparency.   It makes no sense that one person with 12,000 points will get a balcony and another with the same amount gets an inside on the same cruise.  I have not heard this happening on other lines.  Celebrity is nonsmoking so there's another plus.  

 

I have heard of some people that have quit Princess for a while and have gotten good casino offers to lure them back. 

 

I'll try to book a couple of casino cruises with the AMEX offer and report back whether it worked or not. 

I hear ya.

Had a nice conversation with my CVP yesterday. (if you get a good one, their great to have and do lots of the legwork for you)

Anyway, I explained my situation about Not getting good offers for more play (points).

He pretty much explained... as for now.... Casino is Not giving the perks, cuz they don't have to.

Many ships are sold out, or close to it, yada.

I get it, but heres the rub.

If all I'm interested in is a comp cabin, with not much else? 

We could easily sail with other Lines.  Nothing holding us to Princess.

So, as long as Princess doesn't value us as good players?  Our play will diminish.

If and when the better offers come back to those of us players that deserve it?

Then we'll book.

Sorry you are being hit with awful weather that we are experiencing here.

Were on the same ship/itinerary in early April.

Your topic made me Look to remember which cabin were in.... Deck 11 mid aft.

Really hoping the seas (and ship) are in better shape by then.

Hope your remaining time gets better.

Like others have mentioned, try talking to Guest services for explanation or

what they Might be able to do for you?

Perfect topic for the pkg I mailed to a friend today.

Only her husband was complaining that She snores too loud & keeping him up.

I suggested earplugs... don't leave home without em.

Anyway, I mailed them a pkg of earplugs today, less than $4. Got at Target, or anywhere.

I luv all the responses touting earplugs! 

You really don't want to Pete Townsend your ears!!

YAY to the Earplug wearers!!!

Kabuki12,  I cannot help you with That Amex question, hope someone else can respond.

In the meantime, I got what sounded like a Princess Vip cruise offer....Balcony, FP, and drinks while in the casino.  Which is kind of the standard Vip offer.

I'm still holding out for P Perks, before booking a new cruise.

If I want to pay for perks and gratuities?  I can easily book other cruise lines.

Its like the gambler saying.... Don't marry a casino.

Which means, if you get better offers elsewhere?  Go there.

Leave your (Princess) casino behind, til they offer you better.

My takeaway...... it looks like SF is getting Ruby back...... Again 

Will SF  EVER  get a Newer ship? 😔

Clarification please, was this a Princess tour, or Private tour?

Thread Title says Princess tour.

Was it?

We just did Princess Debarkation tour in Rome 6 weeks ago. 

Tour was Lousy!  Most everyone in our group wanted their money back.

Guide on bus was new? Didn't say a word the whole drive into Rome.

We didn't know Where we were going....

Once we got to Vatican area and thru Security, BOTH guides (Now there was an experienced one?)

Took off, (where did they go?)  stranding our group of 16 at a Gift shop. 

On our walkie talkie devices we couldn't hear anything!  No word from them!

So  we wondered for 45 MINUTES IF they left us?  Our group of 16 waited and waited.

When they finally appeared (saying they went outside the Security gate and couldn't get back in, WHY did they do that?) 

Then we had a NOT great visit at Basilica, then off to the bus after another stop at Same Gift shop where we were abandoned.😑

Back on the bus we were driven BY many landmarks that we would have loved to gotten out for 15 mins to take pictures! 

Like the Coleseum..... we zoomed by..... Zoom.... there went another place.🧐

Then the Guide decided our tour was over, 45 MINUTES EARLY.

We were dropped at (?) Train station.  Only 2 Taxis waiting in the que.

Luckily we got our luggage and got one.  I hope the other 14 guests finally got cabs?

If your tour description is anything like ours? 

Buyer beware.

There ARE Taxis waiting in que when you do early walkoff in SF.

For 7am arrival, were usually off the ship by 7:45.

You can easily walk to Taxi waiting area closeby ship.... or wait for Uber.

BUT, the last couple times we waited for Uber, it was a zoo with some first time Uber

riders walking out into the street trying to grab the next one.... it doesn't work that way.

For you, I would just walk to Taxi area and get out of there sooner than later.

Good luck.