Z0nker

8 years ago I saw a nice watch in the gift shop that I really liked, but assumed the price would be lower on shore, so I waited. We had to do a lot of shopping around to find the same low price as on the ship. Also, if you want a souvenir T shirt or sweatshirt, some days they offer deep discounts.

Thanks, XBGuy. Good to hear it from someone who's done it.

We're stopping at Long Beach, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Ensenada. I know my way around Santa Barbara because I went to grad school at UCSB. We did the wine trip in Ensenada on a Carnival cruise and had a great time so we're doing that again. Long Beach - maybe walk over to the Queen Mary. They also have a submarine you can visit. I've been to San Diego a few times so we'll figure something out to do on our own there.

Welcome to Carnival. The prices are low until you get on the boat. Then it's a constant upsell.

I'd wear it. You may be among the few, but you'll also be the best dressed guy in the place. Nothing wrong with that. Don't worry about July - I was on the Pride in Mexico in June and people wore tuxes (and dark suits) on formal night. The ship has A/C after all.

As for long gowns, I think a cocktail dress is a better way to go especially in the summer.

The Passage Contract, which you must accept does state "...any alcohol found in violation of the one bottle policy will be removed and discarded." I have only seen one or maybe two reports of that occurring and that was in Australia. The typical procedure is to have additional bottles found in checked luggage charged the $15 corkage. In your friends case there would have been no corkage because there were two bottles and two passengers of drinking age. It is one bottle per passenger of drinking age, not two per cabin if you are sailing as a solo. It is unclear if three bottles are allowed if there are three or more adults sharing a cabin.

 

I have an issue with Princess because the terms of the Passage Contract supersede anything written on boarding passes or luggage tags and the crew are within their rights to remove alcohol and discard it. I believe this phrase was intend to apply to alcohol other than wine but it has been applied to wine. If I was bringing expensive wine on board it would be in my carryon.

I'm concerned about some of the ambiguity here as well. We don't have our luggage tags yet, but the FAQs at princess.com clearly state that you can more than two bottles of wine from home, just expect to pay corkage. No worries there, my DW is in the wine business and has accumulated an outstanding collection at prices far, far below retail. Adding $15 corkage still has us drinking and sharing excellent wine at a comparative bargain. My concern is that the passage contract indicates two bottles only and I don't want to get off the shuttle at the cruise terminal with something I can't bring on board. Has anyone had issues bringing aboard more than two bottles of wine?

Good thought on the tie! I have a colorful tie designed by the late Jerry Garcia. As we're sailing from SF, seems like a natural choice.

I bet your hubby looks dashing in his tweed suit. My favorite jacket is a brown tweed that I often wear on business trips.

Thanks for the tip. We leave out of SF on the 18th, so we'll be getting off the boat just before you board!

The wife and I are booked on the Grand Princess in September, sailing to Southern California and Baja Mexico. Is my tan suit a good idea for formal nights?