jaxon41

After 30 Princess Cruises I've never had my cabin changed involuntarily and probably neither have 99.9% of the passengers. So I highly recommend that you still consider Princess which I prefer over NCL and RCCL but someday would like to try Celebrity. I believe that all cruise lines have in their contracts the ability to change cabins although what criteria the cruise lines use is anybody's guess!

 

Whether it's my cabin assignment or a flight I like to be proactive & to check regularly. I think it's much more likely that a flight would be change involuntarily and sometimes the alternative routing is not what I desire. In such situations I've found the airlines are willing to change to a routing I prefer but with limited alternatives I like to find out about changes ASAP.

thanks -- makes me feel better, I think.

Sorry, do you mean you've never heard of price reductions, or is it upgrades that surprise you?

 

Price reductions are fairly common with Princess, as long as your booking isn't past final payment. Involuntary upgrades less so. In almost 20 cruises on Princess I have never received an upgrade that I didn't like and never been given an upgrade when I said no upgrade. Just my experience...

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

thanks for the responses

No, I was referring to a poster talking about having their cabin changed after booking a specific one, even if they said, no upgrade.

I don't think you're being obsessive! :p

 

I kept checking my last 2 cruises (booked 18 and 12 months in advance) but never had any price reductions. :( I also had them marked "no upgrade" however there have been too many recent posts from those who had requested no upgrade yet had their cabin changed. Others have posted that apparently there's a legal loophole which does not guarantee any particular cabin & allows cruise lines to make changes when necessary. :(

WHAT??????? I have NEVER heard of this on any of the lines I have sailed -- NCL (1x); RCCL and X (too many times to count) -- should I forget trying Princess as it is currently a serious contender for our next cruise.

Thanks for the thread. I am a traditionalist -- late dining -- and really disliked my one NCL cruise because of "anytime." I HATE waiting, and lines, but was tempted to try it again on my (potential) first Princess cruise. Not now. Question: One reason I didn't like NCL was because there was so much pre-planning required because of the entertainment venues (and you couldn't make reservations except during times when you were on an excursion or enjoying entertainment). On X and RCCL, entertainment wrapped around the two dining times -- early show for late diners/late show for early diners. How about on Princess?

Does Princess provide a nice bar/venue for pre-dinner dancing to live music?

We enjoyed it. After a full day and dinner, I was a bit tired, but glad I did it. I may never get back to Vienna.

The rules have not changed. However, the agents could have reserved group space when prices were lower, and they are permitted to sell at the earlier(lower) prices.

thanks

A quick question: it always used to be that no agent could undercut the prices of RCCL or X quoted on their site (they could give bennies, however). For the first time I am seeing lower prices with on-line travel outlets than I am seeing on RCCL's own site. What's with that? Have things changed?

You check the prices by doing a mock booking of your same category stateroom on Royal's website. If you find the price has gone down since you booked, and it's before final payment date, then call whoever booked your cruise and request a price adjustment.

I haven't cruised Royal for two years and am looking to book a Jan 2015 cruise. Just to see prices for different categories and positions on the ship, I do a "mock" before making final decisions. For two days this has been impossible -- it won't give me potential cabin availability. It just throws up the ever-obnoxious "do you want to upgrade" message and whether you say "yes" or 'No thanks" the same message "can't fill your request at this time" (or something like that) comes up. I have made two phone calls -- one to crown and anchor and one to the number for website questions and got "ho hum" and told to use the drop down under "preparing to board" to send an email with the form. Now who would have thought to look there for a form on the website? Do you think this is about the new whatever that is to hit today and that I see no sign of? Such a glitch would wreak havoc for price drop checking. Although they have always had my proper email, I have heard nothing from them (or Celebrity for that matter), by mail or email in over 2 yrs. I have 9 sailings between the two of them.

Thanks for the comparison. I am thinking about a Princess cruise for the first time (prefer the itinerary). I have numerous cruises on X and RCCL, so am apprehensive. (Century is my favorite ship so was sorry to learn that she is being retired; sailed her before and after she was cut in half). I am looking at the Ruby Princess. I assume that like Holland (same owner), you will get a better price for a Princess cruise through a travel agent. One of things I like about X and Royal, is their prices can't be undercut by an agent (you can get a benny, however). Any advice on that?

Look up articles on the bay going dark (in November). I cannot find that it has made a comeback. Like you I will have the same times in port, next winter, and really wanted to do this excursion as the last cruise I took, I booked specifically to go to the bay and then the excursion got cancelled. Scientists think the bay may have gone dark because of waste water treatment plant run off. If anybody has an update, I'd appreciate it.

Does anyone know if the bay is back? It went nearly dark in November (and in 2003) -- lots of articles from reputable sources -- but I cannot find if it has returned to its normal luminescence. Fingers point to a waste water treatment plant run off. I booked a cruise a couple of years ago specifically to do the bay, but the excursion was cancelled because of wind (not that I could detect any). I really do not want to book another cruise for this excursion if it is going to be a big disappointment.

thanks for the input, Sergio -- I have looked all over the AMA site for things like tips and optional excursion costs but haven't been able to find the info -- appreciate your help.

Sergio,

Did you do the optional concert at the palace in Vienna? I am wondering how much it costs. Also wondering about the side trip to Salsburg's, cost. Can you tell me if tips are taken care of like ocean cruising? Charged to your cc, with envelopes to present? I have read the tips are $24 a day per cabin which is like ocean cruising. Appreciate any info.

Thanks so much, Sergio. Your pictures were just gorgeous!

boo-hoo -- taking this trip and the pics are gone

pretty confusing -- Jewel of the Seas has no excursion to Veragua for some reason. Lucky tours does not list this excusion on their site, either. Waiting for some email replies. The Veragua site says you have to get a cab from the port, and can't enter without a guide, and wants cc info to secure one -- not anything I want to hand out over the net to a Latin American country/entity. Any chance of picking up a tour at the port?

For those recently off -- are you still setting your clocks ahead an hour out of Key West and back an hour out of Cozumel?

Totally enjoyed the cruise but no refrigerator in OV 4554, just sodas and water on the counter.

Thanks, dream2be. That's what I thought because one isn't listed in the description, and all the pics show pop on the counter. I'll find a little cooler or something to keep drinks on ice -- the ice in those plastic ice buckets melts fast.

Are there fridges in the OV cabins -- pics don't show them, but they are listed on the crusieclues site. I have booked an OV in the new section. Will take a small cooler if there isn't a fridge for pop. Thanks

anyone? Someone here must know.

Are there fridges in the OV cabins -- pics don't show them, but they are listed on the crusieclues site. I have booked an OV in the new section. Will take a small cooler if there isn't a fridge for pop. Thanks

The whole ship has new bedding.....I think the only difference between the old and new cabins is the shower............the new ones have the curved glass doors........the one have shower curtains..........

 

I have been to Colon(as a port stop) and I have no desire to go there either,..

Thanks for the info -- new beds and furniture, I presume? Sometimes a shower curtain is better, depending on the size of the shower -- you can poke your elbows out.

I haven't even sailed her, yet, and I am sorry to learn she won't be going out of Lauderdale any more. This is one of the most laudatory threads I have ever read on any ship, and it made me so happy that I had booked this cruise for our sisters' trip. Neither of them has ever cruised before. I was thinking that this could be the choice for our next large (hubby's side) family cruise -- we did the 5 day Century in March. A nice ship on a short jaunt makes great sense for first timers -- most of DH's family were first timers. I hope whatever replaces Enchantment will be as nice as you all say she is -- as nice as Century.

I, too, have no desire to fly to Panama, but a Panama cruise is high on the list for the future -- Galapagos, Australia, Panama.

I have read most of this thread, and I have a question for those experienced Enchantment cruisers. Many posts regarded the new section of the ship. I actually have one of these cabins booked, but if something opens up (11/01 looks to be fairly solidly booked already) on a higher floor, I might go for it providing ..... when she was stretched, did they refurbish all the cabins, or is only the new section outfitted with all new furniture, bedding, etc.? Thanks in advance.

thanks Linda for the pics -- taking my two sisters on the E in November, celebrating big birthdays for them. Forwarded your pics to them