Strongbox

You could always check in online for your flight - I don't believe the three hours is required if you do this.

Thanks for the replies guys.

Hi All, apologies if this has been covered elsewhere. I'm considering the New Zealand cruise on Diamond next Feb from Sydney, does anyone know if wine packages have been introduced yet in this area. Thanks

I came off the Vision on 6th Feb. I paid £45 a day plus gratuities. With the price of drinks it still made it worth my while.

Yes, still Port Rashid. About 30 minutes from the Airport. We came off the Vision there yesterday.

Travel agent sorted visas out for wife and me - very quick and easy to obtain.

Here is a drinks package calculator that a brilliant fellow cruiser dreamt up - just put the number of drinks in col c that you think you will have.

Drink_Package_Calculator-2017 (1) - use this one now.xls

$44 is a sale price already. Regular price is around $55. Some people have said they received an onboard discount of 40% but yes, that is only for the high status people. $44 is likely the cheapest you will see it, and it will have to be bought before you board or you'll pay the $55+ price.

 

 

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I would go for it at $44, but not £44.

Does anybody know if the deluxe drinks package discount is offered only to diamond/pinnacle etc status cruisers. I am a gold rookie and its currently on offer at £44 which is too much for me but would consider it at a discount - thanks.

Doesn't seem to be offered on the Vision in January.

Interesting reading about the different prices for the drinks package, mine is currently advertised at £45. Where do you find these offers, are they emailed to you or do they just appear in the cruise planner - thanks.

Here what's stated on the wine package's flyer: "The package will be honored in the dining room, Horizon Court, and alternative restaurants"

 

My wine package card has punches from using it but I can see that it states "all dining locations" and that it's not valid at "bars & room service".

 

I know that the AIBP is usable at Vines and is available on shorter cruises of 7 days or less. If the "package" that 'madrick' purchased was the "wine" package and not the "all-inclusive beverage" package, then it's another example of inconsistent application of Princess' policy by using the wine package card at Vines which is a bar. It's nothing that I'd count on happening but maybe you'll get lucky & have a crewmember "bend" the rules and be able to use the wine package card at Vines. ;)

 

Having the wine card available on a 7 day cruise like 'madrick' can happen because there's nothing in writing saying it's only available on 10 day or longer cruises. However the wine card states in writing that it's only in restaurants or the buffet but not from bars or room service. Vines isn't a restaurant but is a bar that has some free snacks available as does Bellini's & Ocean Terrace Seafood which have food for a fee on the Royal-class ships.

 

It's possible to get a bottle of wine from a dining room & to take it anywhere on the ship to drink it because it was purchased from Princess. I've read posts saying that when having remaining wine package punches they'd get that wine to either take home or to give to a crewmember. We've never had had any unused bottles but if we did would do like those passengers.

 

It'd be great if the wine package was always available on 7 day cruises which is something that I advocate. :D

You're right. We spent a lot of time in Vines, it was our favourite but they wouldn't let us use our wine package card. In the end we got a bottle from the MDR and carried to Vines. They were OK with that.

Thanks so much for the replies everyone :) I feel relieved to know that a 7 am is possible.

 

We are heading to the airport that day and I was hoping to get an English speaking taxi driver to take us first to the Acropolis, wait for us and then head to the airport. I was looking into booking ahead and was quoted 125 Euros for that -- don't know of that's reasonable or not.

 

I have read taxis should be about 55 euros to the airport and about 40 euros from the Acropolis to the airport, but I have no idea how difficult it is to find a waiting taxi at the Acropolis. Googling that provides no info at all. Does anyone happen to know? TIA

We came off the royal in Athens last week, there were loads of taxis at the Acropolis but I'm not sure if they were pre-booked. Get tickets for the Acropolis beforehand online if you can as the queue to get tickets was an hour long .

12 bottles $336 (+15% gratuity). Must admit we weren't sure if packages were available so we took a couple of bottles of wine each on board with us.

We came off the Royal last Saturday in Athens after a 7 day cruise. We were offered the silver or gold wine package as we sat down in horizon court on day one. We took the gold at $336 which gave us 12 wines up to $45. It included some decent wines.

We, like you, have used Rome in limo and were very pleased. We used them for Tuscany and the Amalfi coast as well. I believe that they offer their good services in Sicily as well. Frankly, I intend to use them whenever we are in Italy. They will put together small groups on their site.

We used Stefano Rome day tours and found them excellent. I think with any firm the secret is to check the reviews beforehand.

Military Benefit for Veterans and Active/Retired Personnel

To thank the brave men and women of the American and Canadian militaries for their service, Princess Cruises® offers up to $250 free onboard spending money* for veterans as well as active, retired or disabled military personnel. This special military benefit is eligible on any cruise, any time of the year and can be used to purchase a wide variety of amenities and experiences including Lotus Spa® treatments; dining in our specialty restaurants; gifts, jewelry and clothing in our onboard boutiques; and Princess Cruises shore excursions.

Military Benefits: Up to $250 Free Onboard Spending Money*

Cruise Length Amount

14 days or longer $250 per qualified passenger

7 - 13 days $100 per qualified passenger

6 days or less $50 per qualified passenger

UK ex Military are eligible too.

Thanks for replies guys.

Hi, We are booked on the Royal Princess this summer. Our party are all wine drinkers and on previous cruises have bought a wine package, i.e. a number of bottles for a certain price before the cruise. We can't get any info about such a package from Princess. Has anyone come across this whilst cruising with Princess - thanks.