justafem

The TOS explains that scenario, for a bid there's no doubling of cruise credits. Pre-covid we got them for upsells. Times have definitely changed!

We invested $1000 so we could get the $100 fidelity was offering for the grand of funding. Bought 100 shares at $8.20, then waited for the bonus. Then stock tanked again and we bought 30 more shares. We own 130.162 shares that are 'worth' $2250 today. If we sold our extra 30 shares, we'd recoop more than half of what we paid. This was throwaway money after we were refunded for our trip from hell (Feb 21, 2020 Grand Princess Hawaii cruise). We've gotten 3-4 times our investment back as onboard credit. Maybe IF the price goes to where I make up the original grand, we'll sell the 30 shares, maybe not. I'm kinda digging on watching it go up and down.

2022 was out of pier 35, while 2023 was pier 27. 2023 was much better because of pier 27!

Nope. It's specialty addressed in the rules for the bidding process. We had difficulty getting the double cruise credits years ago for an upsell to a suite. Granted, they did eventually give us the credit, but it was several phone calls and escalation. This was before club class/reserve class.

We had the opposite experience. Only one other table had customers, but we still felt completely ignored. Food service took 2 hours, after 20 minutes of trying to find someone to get seated. The breadsticks were stale, the cheese sauce clumped and cold. Our drinks were never refilled, not once. And the food was also disappointing. How can something be both overcooked and raw at the same time? My sweet potato fries were both. My burger was ok, but also cold and my tablemates lobster mac was also cold and clumpy. Just not worth it. This was a year and a half ago and we are back on the Ruby in Aug, but seriously doubt if we'll go back or recommend.

I did the B2B in April 2022 (and again in April 2023). Both legs were out of pier 35. Both were complete pains, there are no bathrooms within long city blocks and that's if they're even open. First leg, we were elite and first boarding group. Gosh that room is dark, dirty and unpleasant. Next leg, they made us walk all the way down the 420 mile ramp to the street. At least we got to watch the drug bust going on in the terminal while we walked up and down the long long ramp!

We book through 3rd party TA's, get our bids at cruise compete, cheaper fares and always onboard credit. Then there's FFD and stock. Most of the time I also get some as a casino core. It's not casino credit, actual onboard. It all adds up.

That's what we've started doing since we can buy it on the ship. Normally have so much onboard credit that we have to use the casino trick, so being able to buy it with onboard credit is a game changer for us!

Friend of mine got off the Ruby a weekish ago. She's still layed up from the flu. It can be a rough one if you get it bad. Washy wash wash! Stay safe and keep cruising.

I'm thrilled with my 1000 investment for 130 shares. I bought very low. I have belief in the cruise industry to rebound from the covid setback. We're already seeing the finances beating projections. We won't ever see princess fall to the rate of carnival or rise to the level of cunard. Cruising is different than it once was. But they are surviving and paying off their debt. Didn't serve so I won't miss that. Sorry to those that might miss out on some onboard credit they've gotten used to. I'll hold my stock, it's always been worth way more than the FCD match although I really appreciate the return on that too. I guess I'll make decisions when it comes down to actually having to make a decision, IF a decision ever has to be made.

I've brought a first time cruiser to the lounge and whoever my cabin mate is. Never had an issue. Then again, since they stopped giving us menus and the invention of the plus package, I rarely go in. I used to have a couple favorites, but not willing to just pop in and see if I want a nibble. And it messes with dinner.

I so agree on the wages. They are doing amazing for their financial base. Coveted positions, life changing for them and their families. You are doing exactly what cruise lines were trying to fix when they came up with daily grats.

We were waitlisted for an excursion. Didn't even think of it until we got on the ship and there were the tickets. And we really didn't want to go. Headed down, cancelled and turned in the tickets. Was jabbering with another pax and they were so excited that they'd gotten the excursion. I'm glad our cancellation made them happy.

If you leave auto-grats on, any additional tipping is not expected nor required for any food or bar service. Heck, even if you removed auto-grats, I'm sure the service would be exemplary!

I've been intransite several times. There are times when I don't want to go into port and those that I do. Never jumped off and was back soon enough to have to go through boarding times! I used the time in port and got back an hour or so before sail away. Princess is so much easier to board than carnival!

I vote crocs. Stable, good grip and can add a pair of socks if it's actually cold. Takes the place of the flip-flops and the trainers, while being nearly weightless. Space suckers though, so wear them!

I'm a hider, not a finder. I leave no tags and no identifying marks. They are bound and gagged with a bracelet with the specific cruise details printed on it. Not interested in where they go, but happy to see them gone. And I put them in plain sight! BAHAHAHA! The mad ducker strikes again!

You have to make sure they've never had contact with princess either. If they ever set up an account, the referral doesn't count. I did get one in January 2023, so it's still working.

It's been many many years since people just showed up at the tender and boarded. I remember that cluster! Actually so much better now that there are boarding groups.

There are 3 additional lobster choices. One is a 12 oz lobster tail Second is a whole split lobster Third is a whole lobster salad Lookie, I can read! GRINS

There's a surf and turf option included 5-6 oz filet mignon and 4 oz lobster. The $30 is a 12 oz additional lobster tail.

Hubs and I are thinking of going a day earlier if we fly. We're only about 230 miles north of SF and usually drive but cost of flights fell to about the same as driving the day before. I've never seen hotels available through princess. Can anyone tell me how to do this? Thanks!

Delete. Posting to new thread

We've had crystal glacier, kirkland, best value and a couple others I can't remember off the top of my head. One time, there were no small bottles, so they substituted the HUGE bottles!

I went to the website, found the cruise I wanted and looked at the price. Exactly the same price as on princess. Sure, I get $200 onboard, but I don't get to pick my room or even room location. I'm sticking with other online TA's. Thanks though