movinout

Thanks to all who gave their help and suggestions.  We called Princess again and talked w another CVP..who so nicely checked our profile and spoke with a supervisor.  Bingo!  They rebooked us with a couple of discount offers they found in our profile, so we got an even better offer, reduced deposit and same small but welcome shipboard credit.  Perhaps persistence paid in this instance and we are very satisfied w the treatment we received today.    Politeness when inquiring went a long way too!   Yay Princess!

Well I figured it out.  The party traveling with us who have been on one other Princess Cruise received a lowered price being given to “past guests”.  A notice popped up on the screen as I was trying to book a cabin as a test case.  
 

Well if a Platinum member isn’t a past guest, who is?  Yet we didn’t get the lowered price.  Thanks Princess.🙄

Thanks all.  We have 23 cruises in our past and aren’t new at this..hence wondering.  Perhaps a regional discount or like Atlanta cruiser said…targeting new  to cruising guests which they are but it’s not  a good way to treat their long time patrons…may move on to another company….not Carnival Inc.

No, booked w Princess CVP.  I have a copy of their invoice.  Two distinctly different base fares. No codes or discounts listed.  $400 difference.

4 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

5 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

Is it possible that your friends are booked via a TA?  If they send you their invoice, you can see if it is direct and whether it has any special codes/discounts.

 

Obviously you situation as you understand it does not seem right.

Thanks but we rechecked this more than once.  Mid aft and same letter category.  Even the first CVP we spoke to saw the difference in fare tried checking and eventually turned us over to someone else…whom we assume was a supervisor.  
No luck and these bookings were within 8 hours of each other.  Price online has not changed but they got a golden deal and that’s good.  Somebody just goofed I guess.  We might try calling again.  

We are Platinum Princess members sailing with friends who have sailed once with Princess.  Just last night we put a courtesy hold on a particular cabin for a British Isles cruise next year.  This morning our friend called Princess and booked the cabin right next to the one we currently have on hold.  When we called today to book our cabin (same category, next door) we found our pricing is quite a bit MORE per person than their cost.  We asked why, and after much waiting time, while the CVP checked out both fares, were told there was nothing they could do.  Something about they must have gotten some promo code that they’ve run out of now. Yet we booked first. Do they have unadvertised codes just lying around?  
 They also received a reduced deposit of $200 per cabin vs our deposit quoted at $800 per cabin.   Mind you, no where in any sale or promotion currently on line matches what she received.  They also received onboard credit. We get nada.  We feel cheated and wonder why we have been so loyal for for so long when it has gotten us nothing.  There’s no clear answer from Princess.

Has anyone had this happen where two cabins, same category,  next to each other, booked within hours, are so different in price? Even though ours is a courtesy hold the price online is now still what they quoted us when we put it on hold.    Can anyone shed light on this?
 Thanks and I hope this makes sense!

Thanks for your reply and information! 

4 hours ago, John Bull said:

Invergordon is certainly the simpler of the two, and offers a wider range of tours.

It has two cruise berths, and altho the town itself has nothing of interest to visitors, as a base there's a  range of scenic tours.

 

Simplest, just a 30 minute drive away, is Inverness. And just 15 minutes beyond, is Culloden Moor, the final battle which in 1746 put an end to the Jacobite Rebellion.

 

Most extensive for a port-of-call day would be either.....

a circular road trip from east coast to west coast alongside a number of lochs to the Kyle of Lochalsh, then west to east  past Eileen Donan Castle, hills & lochs to Loch Ness and turning north to run alongside Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle and back to Invergordon. That's driving time of 4 to 4 1/2 hours, almost all scenic, and would allow another 90 - 120 minutes for a visit to Urquhart Castle and a number of photo-stops.

https://goo.gl/maps/uznZ1UnLvxGTA2Uz6

Or 3 1/2 drive-time for a circular tour taking in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains and the famous Speyside  whisky distilleries, and time for short diversions to Culloden Moor and a number of castles/fortified country houses.

https://goo.gl/maps/uznZ1UnLvxGTA2Uz6

Or for something simpler, John o'Groats is about 2hrs 15 mins (e/w) to the north or Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is about an hour (e/w) south. 

And many more road-tour options.

Roads mainly have very little traffic.

 

I've only seen the Orkneys from the mainland and know nothing about them, but I do wonder whether the scenery is a little more sparse and the places to visit quite limited.

Hopefully others will contribute to tell me the error of my presumptions 😉 

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, John Bull said:

Invergordon is certainly the simpler of the two, and offers a wider range of tours.

It has two cruise berths, and altho the town itself has nothing of interest to visitors, as a base there's a  range of scenic tours.

 

Simplest, just a 30 minute drive away, is Inverness. And just 15 minutes beyond, is Culloden Moor, the final battle which in 1746 put an end to the Jacobite Rebellion.

 

Most extensive for a port-of-call day would be either.....

a circular road trip from east coast to west coast alongside a number of lochs to the Kyle of Lochalsh, then west to east  past Eileen Donan Castle, hills & lochs to Loch Ness and turning north to run alongside Loch Ness past Urquhart Castle and back to Invergordon. That's driving time of 4 to 4 1/2 hours, almost all scenic, and would allow another 90 - 120 minutes for a visit to Urquhart Castle and a number of photo-stops.

https://goo.gl/maps/uznZ1UnLvxGTA2Uz6

Or 3 1/2 drive-time for a circular tour taking in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains and the famous Speyside  whisky distilleries, and time for short diversions to Culloden Moor and a number of castles/fortified country houses.

https://goo.gl/maps/uznZ1UnLvxGTA2Uz6

Or for something simpler, John o'Groats is about 2hrs 15 mins (e/w) to the north or Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is about an hour (e/w) south. 

And many more road-tour options.

Roads mainly have very little traffic.

 

I've only seen the Orkneys from the mainland and know nothing about them, but I do wonder whether the scenery is a little more sparse and the places to visit quite limited.

Hopefully others will contribute to tell me the error of my presumptions 😉 

 

JB 🙂

 

 

 

We are looking at the Regal Princess British Isles cruises in 2023.  My question is in trying to decide between an  itinerary where the ship stops in Invergordon Vs one that stops at the Orkney Islands.  Does anyone have a preference between the two as which is a better stop for our bucket list visit to the area?  This cruise was cancelled twice and going for a third try…it’s a charm right?  And we want the most charming itinerary!😊. Thanks!

6 hours ago, Simmsy said:

The night light feature is very annoying. Can it be blocked?

Yes, on the Majestic we simply called housekeeping and they sent someone up who put a special tape over the sensor.  Problem (and it is a too bright problem!) solved.  We also just put the decorative small pillows on the lights by the nightstand floor at night.
 Whoever came up with these safety lights must be afraid of the dark.  One can simply flip on their bedside light if worried about tripping in the dark.

We are sailing tomorrow on the Majestic and I am still awaiting my CVS Covid Test results from 2 days ago and getting nervous since my husband’s taken at the same time came back yesterday.  Has anyone taken the Princess test at the pier prior to boarding?  Did it work out because I’m going to have to do that if my results don’t show up soon!

Wondering....we have final payment tomorrow on a late May British Isles cruise.  We have Princess Platinum Insurance and our air through Princess Ez air.  Are we fairly well covered if this thing gets worse and we cancel closer to date?  Does the cancel for any reason return airfare which was added into our total or does that  also go into a future credit too w Princess?  Anyone help me with an answer here?  
Thanks, Debbie

13 hours ago, rabin1 said:

I do have a question for anyones thoughts. I live in South Florida and most of the cruise ships will be leaving soon for their TA's for their summer cruises. I don;t think their is a possiblity they will cancel those cruises because they need to get the ships there. I think they may miss ports but would not cancel any TA cruises. Your thoughts?

 

I was on one of the TA's leaving the end of March. Thank goodness I had the Platinum insurance and had no trouble cancelling

 

Thanks

Kathy 

 

So interesting..I started this thread in 2005 and it still gets seen!  Not the people u were looking for here but sure enjoyed our cruise on Azure Seas...maybe we heard you play!  Sail on...

Did you ever inquire with RCCL if they would give you a sailing credit for your 1983 Azure Seas Cruise?

 

If I could receive credit for my 1982 sailing, it would put me at diamond level!

Post #35 has a great history of the ship..It was Western Cruise line in the 80's and not affiliated with RCCL of today. It was our first cruise too and what a memory!

Truly love just about anything involved with cruising. Starting with the moment when you've unpacked your suitcases and they are stuffed under the bed and you're ready to go! The point when your ship leaves the harbor and enters the open sea...ahhhh escape!

Waking up each morning to look out and see a place you've never been to before.

Gotta go book our next cruise!:)

I was the member who started this thread almost 4 years ago and here it is still being read and that ship is still being remembered by a lot of us! Just thinking how cool that is and how I need to be booking another cruise!!! It's been great to read everyone's memories!:)

I love that moment when you leave the confines of the harbor and head out to open sea!! Leaving all the cares behind on land and we're off to a new adventure! Can't get enough of cruising!:D

I love that time in the evening after a full day of touring, relaxing, eating, or whatever when you finally return to your cabin. It is like returning to your own private cozy little peace of heaven. Bed turned down, candy on pillow, then we climb in and read the ship's daily paper to plan our day ahead. OH, then falling asleep to the gentle sway of the ship in the night. The best!

How interesting I have found the replies to my question regarding the Azure Seas and especially since we all seemed so fond of her. I remember the social director and staff and how they led a cheer that used the cruise line initials. My first advice on seasickness was from a blackjack dealer who said just "keep something in your stomach at all times" something we have never failed to do on any cruise yet!:D The casino was pretty non descript by today's comparisons, but the menu's and food were fantastic. Our stateroom was small, double bed against a wall, but we were so impressed with the room steward, how he hung up anything we left about, and the fact that we never really saw him. We had a porthole and could hear creaking at night. Would probably freak me out today.

Anyway, it was nice to hear from those who recall this ship with special memories also.

Azure Seas, which was originally built as Southern Cross, eventually became OceanBreeze, which sailed for Dolphin, Premier, and finally Imperial Majesty. Imperial Majesty replaced OceanBreeze with Regal Empress a couple of years ago.

 

Sadly, Azure Seas/OceanBreeze is no more. She was scrapped about a year-and-a-half ago. I loved this ship -- we were onboard in the mid 1990s and had a wonderful time. The food was also magnificent then. She was truly a classic.

 

Here's a wonderful history of the ship, from Maritime Matters:

OceanBreeze history from Maritime Matters

Lisa63:

Thank you for sending me to that website! As I said it was our first cruise and definitely started our love affair with cruising! I recall the wonderful menus, very classy, and remember standing on the deck, seemingly one of the pictures in this article, and looking at a totally calm, sparkling sea and had such a feeling of peace came over me, I will never forget it. So sad to hear of her demise. May she rest in peace. Thanks again Lisa.

Does anyone here know what happened to the Azure Seas that did 3 or 4 night sailings out of Longbeach/LA in the late 80's? Went to Ensenada mexico. It was our first cruise and I can't recall the cruise line name (Western or Royal?) but just remember that was how we got hooked on cruises. Small ship, excellent food, and a wonderful time.

Thanks for any info provided.