justafem

All non-bar smoking lounges have now converted to arcades.  

Which makes the only inside smoking area, the casino.  And we're going to utilize that EXPANDED space to smoke in public/inside.  

Want that to go back to normal levels?  Tell princess to bring back the enclosed smoking rooms, until then, the casino is now our space. 

Laws about smoking on deck 7 on ships goes back to bulk carriers/ cargo ships when carrying dangerous goods.  Deck 7 smoking is written into those laws.  Cruise lines must follow those laws, same as the passengers act (what most call jones act).  

14 hours ago, MissP22 said:

 

That's why I get rid of my car every few years. Even with maintenance, the older they are the more that goes wrong. 

I have a 20 year old car.  Nothing has ever happened that wasn't caused by a collision. 

Think of all the money I've saved in car payments, increased insurance and oil changes.  I bought the $300 lifetime oil package when we bought the car!  Oil changes, fluid refills, tire rotations and complete inspections every 3 months.  Still get 43 mpg.  

I'm happy with my car and will drive it until it dies. 

8 hours ago, memoak said:

I think a lot of people on this thread never worked at service jobs. If there was no tipping then your restaurant prices would be at least 25% higher and you would then complain about that. Many restaurants have tried that and got lots of push back

I live in CA, where servers get paid at least minimum wage, currently $16.50 per hour.  Our prices are about 10% higher than when we go to Nevada where servers make $2.13 per hour, or federal minimum wage for tipped employees. 

19 hours ago, doghog said:

Agree.

 

Smokers such as yourself using the casino as a smoking lounge is nothing new. Princess has always allowed it.  Even when the casino is closed to gambling. The smokers are not a fault here. It is an authorized smoking area. 

 

Glad Princess is removing Churchills. But turning them into arcades!! 👎

 

 

Why are you glad princess is removing smoking lounges?  A confined space where smoke is contained isn't good enough?  

Now we WILL use the casino as a smoking lounge.  Princess has expanded the smoking section in every casino where the smoking lounges have been removed.  All of casinos now have larger smoking sections.  Happy now?  

What I'm seeing is Princess is converting the dedicated enclosed smoking lounges into arcades.  So if smokers want to smoke inside going forward, we'll be in the casino, probably not gambling or playing so slow as to be not gambling.  It'll become our smoking lounge.  

A step backwards if you ask me. 

32 minutes ago, JustPlainAli said:

I don't dispute your right to smoke where smoking is permitted. I do heartily take issue with cruise lines permitting smoking anywhere that smoke can travel to common areas, though. I realize banning all smoking would not be ideal for cruise line business, which is why I propose cruise lines only permit smoking outside on the very top deck. Make it a super boring deck above absolutely everything else. Smoking only. I mean, I'd even be magnanimous enough to say they could give the smokers their very own little bar up there. Put some slot machines on the bar, even! Puff, puff, pull.... Puff, puff, pull... Can you visualize it? All that smoke never coming near the non-smokers below! 
 

Hopefully, the Cruise Gods see this message and I change the world right here on the Cruise Critic message boards. 😆

Oh, so you want the smokers/casino players to supplement your cruise costs and make us live in the rowboat.  

25% of the world smokes.  Stay out of our areas,  simple as that. 

36 minutes ago, JustPlainAli said:

Avoiding you is really difficult as you puff away and your smoke travels beyond the scope of just your own lungs. (Not to mention sitting next to you at dinner stinks. Even if a smoker is not actively smoking, they still smell.)

 

Smokers have made it so that healthy people literally cannot comfortably or safely use parts of ships that they paid to be able to use. If cruise lines want to continue to cater to smokers by allowing them in casinos and open air parts of the main decks, they should charge them significantly more, and charge non-smokers less for tolerating the depreciation of their trip. You know, like insurance companies do. (I realize this would be a logistical nightmare, so the suggestion is tongue in cheek just for emphasis.)

Princess sells cigarettes, cigars, alcohol, perfume, heck even soap, sunscreen and throw away fashion.  All of these have issues.  We follow the rules implemented by the cruise line.  Your opinion is just that, your opinion.  

I follow the rules set by the vacation venue I choose.  We are allowed to smoke.  If you don't like this, you are free to choose another way to spend your vacation funds. If princess changes their rules, I'll make a decision based on that. 

Years ago, we had a similar situation.  I should have been elite for an upcoming cruise, but was only platinum.  Found out that one of our suite stays was only crediting a single credit, not the double credits I should have received.  It took 3 telephone service agents for one to finally understand that even though we were upgraded to a suite, it was an upsell, we paid for the upsell and according to the princess website, we were to receive double credits.  This was way before the bidding process, where they tell you, you won't get additional credits, old rules. 

I think what the issue is, is that you'll have 14 credits when boarding for the first leg and the double credits bring you to 16.  I think the system is trying to award elite on the first leg, even though that's not what's being questioned.  And the bookings are tied together, so it only sees ONE booking hence 2 credits.  It's a poor programing thing.  You'll never have a problem after this with loyalty, you'll be elite forever. 

I don't believe the casino offer has anything to do with the issue, that's just a shiny object for the loyalty dept to grab onto as an excuse, it makes sense until logic kicks in.

Glad it was resolved.  That's what princess is known for when we have reasonable requests. 

For us, we get the plus package. Rarely have the same servers, so that's not something we worry about.

I get $100 in $1's.  If I get a drink, any kind, there's $1.  I don't tip my steward much, if at all.  Sometimes I go home with $50, sometimes I go home with nothing.  It's my choice as should all tipping be, nobody elses business. 

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!

You can keep the same medallion or go to the service desk and get your new color.  

Are you getting status by cruise days or cruise credits?  That makes a difference, if you're hitting by days during the second leg, as unlike carnival, princess doesn't upgrade status during a cruise.  

But if you hit the 15 cruise credits on the first leg, you should get elite on the second.  FREE LAUNDRY!  That's all I ever wanted! 

On 12/29/2023 at 5:57 AM, nymshowdown said:

Had a Princess rep call me the other night offering their "Future Cruise Package". When you run the numbers, it does sound like a decent deal if you're already planning on booking $3k worth of cruises over the next 24 months. You're basically paying $49 for a 5 night resort stay, but it's limited to "thousands of top rated resorts" and I'm skeptical on their definition of that. Could easily be $1,000+ in value there depending on what resorts are bookable. 

 

Here's a summary of what the package includes. Anyone with any experience booking this package? 

 

Princess Future Cruise Package provides incredible incremental value and flexibility by allowing you to reserve your next Princess cruise without having to commit to a specific sail date.   Priced at $3499, your package includes $3,000 Future Cruise Credits, $100 Onboard Credits, $350 Hotel Credits, and one 5-night Stay Certificate.

 

 

Future Cruise Credits (FCCs)

Future Cruise Credits allow you to purchase your Princess cruise(s) once you are ready to book. Each FCC is worth $1, allows you to sail over the next 24 months, and can be used towards any future cruise booking with Princess. FCCs may be applied to one cruise or multiple cruises - the choice is yours!

 

Onboard Credits (OBCs)

An Onboard Credit (OBC) is a dollar amount that will be credited to your account for the first cruise booked as part of your Princess Future Cruise Package.  Onboard Credits can be applied to expenses charged using your Princess Medallion during your cruise and can also be used as credit towards shore excursions, beverages, items purchased in the Shops of Princess, and services at the Lotus Spa.

 

Hotel Credits

Hotel Credits are exclusive to Princess Future Cruise Packages and allow you to save on hotel rooms found in the Princess Promotions hotel store. This booking engine includes tens of thousands of hotels around the world, including some of your favorite resort and island locations. Your Hotel Credits expire in 24 months, giving you plenty of time to find your next exciting destination.

 

Stay Certificates

Your package includes a 5-night Stay Certificate that can be used to reserve accommodations, at thousands of top-rated hotels and resorts around the world. You can combine your Stay Certificate as a pre- or post-stay with your cruise or use it for an entirely separate vacation. Like your cruise, you must complete your stay within 24 months of purchasing your package.

Those are from a 3rd party travel agent.  They change their name every couple of years, because of the poor reviews.  I don't trust them.

1 hour ago, Oxo said:

Years ago you had free playing cards, post cards pens, etc.

Those years are gone.

Never coming back.

 

Every princess cruise I've been on this year has had free playing cards in the library/game room.  And you can get free pens at the service desk, just ask, they'll give you several if you want. 

The suites and elite gatherings have discounted drinks from a very limited selection.   That's the only happy hour that still exists. 

Got off the Ruby 10 days ago.  Marlboro were $60 a carton, buy 3 get 1 free, or $45 each.  

On carnival a month ago, they were $260 for 5 cartons, or $52 per carton.  Definitely stick with princess on the pricing! 

Never been stopped at customs, but I'd tell the truth if they asked.  

We were blue yesterday, arrival time disappeared and are back to green today, with arrival time back to group A. Not worried, we'll get on the ship!

We get value from the plus package.  We also don't cruise less than 10 days at a time. 

I'll typically drink at least 3 boozes per day, multiple bottles of water and at least 4 specialty coffees.  There are days when I won't drink a single booze, but there are days when I'll drink 13.  It evens out.  Hubs rarely boozes.  He'll MAYBE have 3 drinks for the entirety of a 10 day cruise, but he does love his mocktails, bottles of water and coffees.  

We order room service.  Sometimes 3 times a day, but always at least once a day.  So let's say that's $10 per day.  And we also order through the medallion for drinks or food.  

We love alfredo's. We're going to eat there frequently.  Salty dog has been disappointing every time we've gone, so no go.  We also love specialty dining.  We're going to go at least 3 times in a 10 day cruise.  

I can't justify the $20 per person per day to upgrade to the premium package.  Specialty dining is $40 per person, so that would be every other day savings if we purchased plus and paid for it.  And I'm no kind of wine person.  I like sweet wine that tastes like fruit, add bubbles and I'm thrilled.  Boones it is!  

I want internet.  Heck, I just paid for it at almost $20 per day on carnival.  Hubs can take it or leave it, but he needs to be able to check his email daily for work.  So he has to have it.  

And we'll have a couple of premium desserts.  Not necessarily the monster sundaes, but a couple scoops of gelato or a piece of cake. Not every day, but some. 

We pay grats.  

For us, it's worth the price of $60 per day.  Probably even at $80 per day.  But don't tell princess!!

We've gotten the plus package since it started.  We'll continue to get the plus package.  

It really is the best value out of all the cruise lines. 

Since sailing restarted, I've done 16 cruises.  Mostly princess, but a couple of carnival sprinkled in. 

I'm fully vaxxed and boosted, but have gotten covid 3 times, 2 times while on ships all diagnosed AFTER disimbarkment.

First positive was prevax, which was a horrific experience.  Next 2 times, were miserable, but survivable. 

When dinner is opened, it's always loud, but later time, it's much quieter. 

I'm going to keep cruising, until I can't.  Then I might hire someone to take care of me while cruising!

I remember being in the first club class sailing.  People were walking into Sabatinis breakfast and telling crew they WERE going to be seated because they were elite. 

Same thing happened multiple times in dinner seating.  

Then the absolute chaos with disimbarkment breakfast in the MDR.  And there we were, trying to enjoy something we'd paid dearly for.  Dirty looks, rude comments and forceful behavior.  

I've had people try to barge their way into business and first class on flights.  People are going to do what they do.

We always get plus, especially now that it can be bought on-board with on-board credit.  

Hubs rarely drinks and I'll have a couple a day, with several days being close to 15.  But I can drink my weight in butter pecan lattes and hubs thoroughly enjoys his key west coolers. 

And being able to order drinks anywhere, especially the 3 AM lattes is amazing!

After cruising carnival a couple of times in the last year, I can tell you what kind of value the plus package is to us. 

And that's my opinion. 

No problem as long as they're in cans or cartons.   I carried on Monster coffees 2 weeks ago.  

I'm not on the Ruby, but I am on the carnival miracle in 4 days, leaving from pier 27.  

We are on the Ruby on Aug 5.  Fix my boat or I'll pout!

I know a couple of crew who work bar, buffet and room service.  They are all part of the tipping pool.  I've run into the same gentleman in 3 different capacities in the same day, several days in a row, especially on a B2B

So I KNOW room service is part of the tipping pool. 

The best thing you can do for crew is note their name in the post cruise survey.  

The daily gratuities were supposed to end the discussion and amount given.  But sadly, it didn't.