aussiebossyboots

Glad you are enjoying the package.  As an added bonus, you can take these mini champagne bottles to any restaurant to have with dinner.

Sorry, but can't help with the engine issues, but hope all goes well.  Keep enjoying.

Apologies for this late reply, but we have only recently returned from a cruise.

There was no issue when we were on board to just book the two restaurants and really cannot remember any issue of using this credit for other things like drinks.  I didn't ask before buying the package for the details and just assumed we would use the money as we say fit and that did happen.

Not sure if there is a change in their process currently.

Now we didn't take out Princess insurance, we have an annual insurance travel policy and they were fantastic with reimbursing my doctor's bills on the cruise.  Received the reimbursement within 4 hours of logging the claim.

I am not one for 'working the system' just wanted what was promised and fair.  Also, just chasing this up was so time consuming.  All done now and we are happy.

7 minutes ago, Nebr.cruiser said:

Well, that didn't work.  My email came back as undeliverable with fatal errors.  I have gone back and triple-checked that I used the right email address given above.

 

 

If this is the email you used - customerrelations@princess.com -  the same thing happened to me - returned and undeliverable!!!!

I had success by going to the Princess Website and clicking on 'Contact Us' at the bottom of the website home page, it's in a Black Band.  Then use this section:  

If your issue does not fit in with the options just choose: Topic not listed

Then write out the whole story.  This was suggested to me after I spoke with the fourth customer relations person at Princess.  After I logged the complaint on the website I was contacted after about 5 days by telephone.  Hope it works for you too.

Yikes, didn't ask for a refundable OBC - Oh well, we will just spend it on the expensive wine at dinner or lash out on cocktails which we never do at home😃.  Really just happy they came good as I am now looking forward to our cruise on Sunday with a much better opinion of Princess.

Just as a follow up, I received a call today (and confirmation email) that this issue has been resolved.

The $400 + laundry charges will be added to our OBC account on our Sea Princess cruise to Papua New Guinea which we will board this Sunday in Brisbane.  My patience paid off.

Finally, happy with the outcome but really had to work for it.  For future reference it's best to get on their website and fill in the contact form for better service, don't bother calling them - hopeless.

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.

On 1/2/2020 at 4:17 PM, brisalta said:

 

If that does not help then you may need to

contact the  CEO.  Follows what I think is the email address and postal address:

 

jswartz@princesscruises.com

Jan Swartz
Princess Cruise Line
24844 Rockefeller Ave
Santa Clarita, CA  91355

 

 

 I didn't have to contact the CEO, was leaving this for the last resort.  But have saved the information should anything go wrong in the future.

Thanks Again.

Just as a follow up, I received a call today (and confirmation email) that this issue has been resolved.

The $400 + laundry charges will be added to our OBC account on our Sea Princess cruise to Papua New Guinea which we will board this Sunday in Brisbane.  My patience paid off.

Finally, happy with the outcome but really had to work for it.  For future reference it's best to get on their website and fill in the contact form for better service, don't bother calling them - hopeless.

Thanks everyone for your comments, much appreciated.

I received a helpful response form a couple of posters on the Princess forum, one was another American email address but unfortunately for whatever reason the email I sent bounced back.  

I also received the email address of the CEO, but will wait until I go down that track.

I am waiting for a response from the web contact form.  Will give them to the middle of next week before I call again. Just for your information, I will keep you up to date on any progress.

Thanks again for all your comments.

Yes, we usually get an envelope with the account the last night of the cruise left in our room.  Again, unfortunately, because I was really not well - some sort of virus - I didn't really concentrate on the bill side of things.  When we arrived home, the next day I was looking for the account.  This was my first contact with Princess solutions@princesscruises.com.au  and I must say the account was sent via email within 24 hours.  Then things went down hill when I pointed out the discrepancies.

I have now (today) been told that the person who sent me the account was not authorised to further my query - Really!!  But was not told this until I had sent several emails to this original person (no reply) and spoke to three other customer relation people via their 1300 551 853 number which was given to me by our travel agent.

I have now been advised from the Princess forum to contact customerrelations@princess.com  which I will do now.

Fingers crossed.

Unfortunately not on FB.

Thanks for the input, I have been corresponding with solutions@princesscruises.com.au  I will try your customerrelations@princess.com suggestion.

Thanks in advance for your comments & suggestions.  Members of the Australian & New Zealand forum have recommended that I post this issue on this forum as well to get some assistance.  Most importantly the Ruby Princess email address if anyone has it.

We were on a cruise to New Zealand in November/December on Ruby Princess and our cabin was flooded - like seriously.  Concurrently, I was also extremely sick with two visits to the doctor during the cruise.

As compensation we were relocated to another cabin for 24 hours, given a free specialty dinner, our wet laundry done and in addition were advised that $400 OBC would be added to our account.  All OK at this stage.  We are pretty easy cruisers but have never had this type of problem on any of our other cruises.

Unfortunately when we disembarked - because I was still very ill - and hubby really leaves all this organisation up to me, I didn't check our account.  When we returned home, I noticed that Princess Cruises had taken out a substantial amount from our credit card and also realised that we were not given an account of our expenses on board on the last night as we have previously received on other cruise lines.  This was our first Princess Cruise.

I contacted Customer Relations via email and received the account only to find that the $400 OBC promised was not on the account.  In addition, they charged me for laundry for all the clothes that were at the bottom of our wardrobe that were saturated.  

After 5 phone calls, numerous emails (not answered) I was finally instructed to use the web contact page to lodge my complaint (today) and have received an automated email response that it is now lodged.  This has been going on since our return on 5 December.

Their customer service is really unacceptable, there has been no one who has returned my email requests and when I have called I have been told that it is being investigated.  Every time I call I have to go through the whole story and all the security questions etc.  Very disappointed.

The Aus/NZ forum has suggested that someone may have an email address to contact the Ruby Princess to assist expedite the resolution of this problem.

Hoping someone can assist and again thanks.

Felt comfortable posting on our Aus/NZ forum but a bit apprehensive about posting this on the Princess Forum, but your idea Chiliburn of getting the ship's email address is great, so will cross fingers and try my luck on the other forum.

Have now received an automated reply that my issue has been received.

Thanks for your advice.  I have yet again phoned the customer service line to be told to lodge a complaint via their web.  None of the other phone calls resulted in this advice.  So I have lodged the issue on their contact us website.

We are going on another Princess cruise on 12 January to Papua New Guinea and was hoping for this OBC to be credited to this cruise.  Resolved to this not happening.

Really their customer service is dreadful.

Thanks again.

We were on a cruise to New Zealand in November/December on Ruby Princess and our cabin was flooded - like seriously.  Concurrently, I was also extremely sick with two visits to the doctor during the cruise.

As compensation we were relocated to another cabin for 24 hours, given a free specialty dinner and in addition were advised that $400 OBC would be added to our account.  All OK at this stage.

Unfortunately when we disembarked - because I was still very ill - and hubby really leaves all this organisation up to me, I didn't check our account.  When we returned home, I noticed that Princess Cruises had taken out a substantial amount from our credit card and also realised that we were not given an account of our expenses on board on the last night as we have previously received on other cruise lines.  This was our first Princess Cruise.

I contacted Customer Relations via email and received the account only to find that the $400 OBC promised was not on the account.  In addition, they charged me for laundry for all the clothes that were at the bottom of our wardrobe that were saturated.  

After numerous telephone calls and emails I have been told that this is being investigated.  

Does anyone have a similar experience and/or know how long it will take to have this issue resolved?  I will call them again today, this will be my fourth phone call.

Many thanks for your assistance.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Yes, we are going to the Conflict Islands and I have booked the Princess Excursion to the snorkeling platform just because I am not a very strong swimmer (though Hubby will be there to help).  We will then do our own thing for the rest of the day.

Regarding Alatou, I have finally managed to find an operator who offers a simple snorkeling trip to an island abut 20 minutes drive away (+ short motor boat trip), including a visit to the market and a local school who will accept payment on the day.  So this makes me feel much better than transferring money to a bank account weeks ahead of our arrival.

Cheers,

I am dealing with a couple of local agents to organise a day trip for snorkeling.  Both want prepayment, a 50% deposit now, and the balance 2 weeks before arrival.

The amount for one of the day trips is, in my opinion, substantial, but still $218 less than the Princess excursion, but of course the Princess excursion I believe is more substantial and probably worth the extra money, but I am not prepared to pay $718 for the day trip for 2!!

Another agent, in another port in Papua New Guinea is happy with us turning up and paying the amount in AUD$ on the day.

Your thoughts on prepayment would be very helpful.  Thanks in advance.

Well it is Papua New Guinea and I have read similar experiences across the board.

We have decided to go with Rabaul Cruise Tours (they work with Kokopo Tours).  They have a stand at the cruise dock, take cash AUD on the day so no pre deposits which a couple of other operators were asking for.

We will be transported to the Rapopo Plantation Resort for the morning snorkeling and lunch and then will join an afternoon tour returning to the ship by 3pm they have guaranteed.  This is important as the ship departs at 4pm.   We are not really interested in the afternoon activities but will just join along for the ride.  If they get us to the ship earlier all the better as I will be a lot less anxious.  Cost AUD$150 per person.

Reviews of the snorkeling at Rapopo Plantation Resort are good, they also have a dive operator so maybe we can add on another activity.  I will report back at the end of the cruise. 

Thanks for your comments.

Hoping you guys can help. 

We are booked on a Sea Princess cruise (ex Brisbane) in January to Papua New Guinea and our main focus is snorkeling.  Princess doesn't offer any snorkeling opportunities in Rabaul so we are looking at a local tour operator.  Rabaul Cruise Tours (no reviews on Tripadvisor available) in association with Kokopo Tours (mixed reviews) offers the following option:

Snorkel and Swim (morning) and in the afternoon tour the area (not interested).  The snorkel/swim is done at the Rapopo Plantation Resort which has good reviews for this activity with a great sandy beach and nearby reef so happy about that.  The cost meets our budget so not an issue, but getting back to the ship is!! 

We would rather get our own transport there and back and just use the resort facilities but I know that PNG really doesn't have that sort of reliable service.  We are not interested in the afternoon activities of touring the area.

Does anyone have any experience with a local operator that can provide this transfer service?  I will be trying to contact the resort to see if they provide this service, but thought in the meantime I would like to ask if anyone on this forum can make alternative suggestions or know of a transfer service.

Many thanks in advance:)

Agree, went on P&O recently (first time) and the coffee was much better than Cunard!!  In fact we didn't like the coffee on Cunard at all and couldn't wait to get to port.

We had a P&O coffee every day, it was just like any café at home.

32 minutes ago, lyndarra said:

23C? Cold/cool? That's about normal summer water temperature here in Newcastle, no need for wet suits. We used to holiday on the Sunshine Coast Aug/Sep and I would surf wearing only boardies wondering why everyone else was wearing wetsuit. Until a couple of years ago I would windsurf here in winter wearing spring suit and booties. As I'm getting on a bit (now 70) I now windsurf wearing a steamer. You being from Canberra I would have thought the temperatures  you were experiencing above would be positively balmy.😀

Well I may now live in Canberra (suffering today) but I am not originally from Canberra.  Also I am a 'Frog' and really feel the cold.  Even swimming at Surfers in March is just OK!

Looking to Papua New Guinea on Sea Princess in January 2020 - now the sea temperature should be all OK for me then

Yes, I agree there was dancing every night almost in the Queens Court.  I love to dance but unfortunately married to a man who just can't and he has tried.  We did enjoy watching all the other people dancing pre dinner, we were on the late sitting and our routine was to go to the Queens Court, have a drink and enjoy watching.

We tried the disco a couple of times (once it was New Year's Eve) but it just didn't kick off early enough for us.

The sea temperature on the day in Noumea (according to the operator) was 23 degrees Celsius (about 74 degrees Fahrenheit).  Everyone was asked to put on a wetsuit.  The two guides both had full wetsuits including head covers.

The water was cold for me.  I had on a 3mm 'shorty' it covered me to my knees and to my elbows and when I got into the water it took my breath away which added to my confusion and combined with the strong current made me loose my focus.  But that was me, I feel the cold.  I used this wetsuit for all of our snorkeling adventures and was very grateful that my husband insisted on me purchasing it prior to the cruise.  There is no way I would have gone into the water without it.  And I was still cold.

On the land it was quite warm for a couple of the ports, however we encountered a low pressure which cooled the air temperature considerably towards the end of the cruise.  For the second last port, Mare, it was really cold and windy on shore, it ended up raining and all the passengers were back on board well before the set time.  For the Isle of Pines, we missed the port due to rough seas/weather.

I want to do this cruise again but will choose April or October/November.

Quad biking is out 100%.  I am surprised that Princess is offering this tour.  After reading a Tripadvisor review it would be a dangerous thing to do, especially for us at our age.  The potential to fall off is there unfortunately.

The trike bike might be an alternative as you have an experienced rider taking you around while you sit at the back with a seat belt.  Expensive though at NZ$115 for 25 minutes, but this is for the trike which can hold two passengers.

But you (lyndarra) make a good point about checking our travel insurance to make sure that this is included just in case.  Thanks for the heads up.

Sorry.... need to wear my reading glasses, meeting place is Sailsbury Avenue, Mt Maunganuia.

Still a good option.