Torfamm

Before boarding. Tried using them to pay for Shore Excursions as well as purchase OBC. Cancelled when I found out that the exchange rate was 1:1. Others report the same in using the cards onboard to make payments on account.

Using USD gift cards to purchase AUD shore excursions as well as OBC is converted 1:1. I tried it recently.

I'd plan to eat on a rooftop every night if it were me. We had dinner at two that were in walking distance of Plaka hotels in June. Both had beautiful views and have menus available online. I liked the food at the Athens Gate a bit more and it has a view of the Temple of Zeus as well as the Acropolis. Athens Gate Rooftop Restaurant https://www.athensgate.gr/roof-top-restaurant-bars/ Strofi https://www.strofi.gr/en/

The Retreat pool and the deck area above it are quieter outdoor spaces on Sky. No movies, bands or DJ. Indoors, the area near the Crown Grill bar is away from the areas with the louder music and activities.

You can see how many formal nights to expect and the requested dress code here https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/what-to-pack-for-a-cruise/ The Journey View activity timeline in the app will show which nights are formal. Look for "Formal portraits" to be listed as an evening event. It can populate as much as a couple of months before a cruise.

Yes, you can use gift cards online to pay cruise fare or by phone for OBC or excursions. They are accepted for AUD cruises but the exchange rate is 1:1, a terrible value.

Details are here https://www.carnivalcorp.com/static-files/50351a91-4dc0-4f6b-bfec-684647e6129f

I’m not doubting there there are people who are having problems with the app and it certainly has a few areas for improvement, but in 12 cruises since the restart and 5 booked in the next year, I haven’t had any trouble using it. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. The people who aren’t having any issues probably just don’t chime in to mention that though.

I may be in the minority, but I like the app. It’s not perfect but I really enjoy having it available both before and during a cruise I definitely don’t miss the days of having to visit travel agents. I can remember how happy I was when online booking came along and I could do everything myself too.

If you decide to cancel the ship’s transfer I can recommend this transfer with tour as an option. https://www.salmonberrytours.com/tour/anchorage-to-whittier-transfer-and-tour/

We were just on the Caribbean Princess for 16 nights and had no issues.

The policy is that they will hold it for you and return it to you at the end of the cruise. There is usually an alcohol collection table right after you go through security when returning to the ship. A couple of times I've told them I have a bottle or two of wine and they have said not to worry about it.

There is no penalty for being a no show. They just release the table if you don’t show up. It’s easy to cancel your reservations in the app though

There must have been a weird glitch. Many, many people have posted that received these emails. We got them too. It’s the normal email that is usually sent out a day or two after your cruise.

I absolutely understand you, it was a festive touch that had little to do with the actual “champagne”. For me though, dropping my bags in the cabin and then enjoying a relaxing drink on deck has been a good replacement. You might find that you don’t mind the changes much at all. I think it’s worth giving it a chance.

The embarkation champagne is gone but I can’t say I really miss it. The food is not quite what is was but it seems to be improving again in my experience

You can cancel and get a refund or rebook on the website up until about a week before the cruise. After that you have to visit the shore excursion desk to cancel and they can also help you rebook. The cancellation deadlines will be posted there

We were just on the Caribbean Princess and almost never waited. There were a couple of evenings when the people at our requested table were later than normal finishing dinner but for the most part there were no lines in the Palm dining room. I think the location is inconvenient but it may be less busy

They were definitely checking on the Caribbean last week. Also when we were on the Enchanted in May and June. On that cruise though the future cruise/loyalty person told us to feel free to bring the friends we were traveling with on our second leg as guests.

Have you tried making reservations yet? If you are able to book a private table for 2 on every evening in one of the dining rooms, that would be a good start. Once onboard you can ask the hostess or dining room manager if it’s possible to be seated with the same wait staff every night.

The one thing about Princess excursions compared to those booked directly with the tour companies can be group and vehicle size. It takes longer to board a bus than a 12 passenger van for example. Meal and toilet stops also can use up a lot more time. The exact same excursion with the same start and end time can leave more time at each site in a smaller group.

You can see which nights are scheduled as formal nights in the Journey View activities timeline in the app. Every evening will show either “casual” or “formal” portraits. I’ve seen it populate as much as a couple of months before a cruise.

Document requirements depend on your nationality, itinerary, and other factors. For example, if one adult is traveling with one or more minors, everyone in the party needs a passport. You can see Princess’ Travel Document requirements here https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/pre-cruise/prepare-for-your-cruise/

I ate there a couple of times in June and thought it was a really nice space with great service. The food was disappointing though. My first two choices for a main course were unavailable and the shrimp I ended up ordering the first time we ate there were much smaller than I expected and overcooked and rubbery.

On a full sailing it is a bar space with live entertainment where it’s not a challenge to find a seat. I see that as a real benefit. Currently on the Caribbean Princess headed back from Greenland. With cold weather indoor spaces can be very crowded. This ship normally hosts it in Skywalkers where there are very nice views, especially during sail away, but it is in Club Fusion for this sailing due to the high number of Platinum and Elite members