azteachergal

This is NOT a bargain. Checked the Celebrity Tuesday specials and the solo supplement on all "specials" are 200 % with a few at 225%! Never, in the past, saw more than 200%.

What? 225% that's not a supplement, that's a penalty! That makes no sense whatsoever. I'd be calling Celebrity on that one and making a lot of noise about it. I understand some single supplement. Certainly the line loses revenue if one person travels and there is no supplement. But even 200% (which I realize most lines charge) seems a little unreasonable to me. One person isn't going to eat for two (in most cases ;)), probably won't go through the same number of towels, tissues, etc. I know those are rather minor and the expense of staff stays the same for the line. But 225%? Why on earth would they do that for solo travelers unless they're against singles and solos?

And have you fully considered what would happen if you are pickpocketed or robbed ashore (or just careless) and you lose your passport?

 

Given some of the reports I've heard on Mediterranean cruises, many more people lose their documents to pickpockets than miss the ship and need their passport.

 

(Besides which it has been confirmed to me that passport that are either left in one's safe or -- in some cases -- are being held by Princess will be left with the port agent if one does not turn up before sailing.)

Of course anything can happen and we can make up all kinds of scenarios. First off, I'm not so careless as to lose my passport so that's not really a concern for me. When I first traveled overseas the state department recommended that you carry your passport with you at all times. I have always followed that recommendation when in a foreign country. Canada (I am a US citizen) would be the exception. I leave a copy of my passport and travel documents with a family member and a copy stays in my hotel room or cabin.

Pickpockets are an issue in other places as well. I usually use a waist pack (worn in front) or a small cross body bag. I did have a gypsy girl on a crowded train in Rome try to unzip my waist bag. She was pretty obvious and was looking at me. I hope she still has my fingernail marks in her hands! Point is, I'm no immune to it but I'm also very careful and do things to protect my passport. In this case, I was wearing a money belt inside my clothing.

Considering that my post was my opinion, I still stand by it. Certainly didn't intend to ruffle anyone's feathers. I also don't leave my home without identification. Doesn't matter if I'm driving or not. I always have my license with me for many of the same reasons. But whatever you opt to do, I wish you safe travels.

On my I-phone, when you switch to airplane mode it also turns the wifi off, and wifi needs to be turned back on to use the ships website.

Turn airplane mode on then go and turn wifi on. You won't be able to use the internet when connected to your ship's wifi unless your pay for it and specifically go to your minutes. The activity info is all accessible in airplane mode with wifi on. I love being able to have the schedule with me wherever I happen to be on the ship.

Princess did away with all the little bottles of things s few years ago when they installed the full bottles of shampoo in the shower, so no cabins receive any of that stuff anymore, except maybe club class and full suites. We miss the little bottles of lotions and shampoos that used to be provided. And on our last few cruises, it is all we can do to get more than one bar of soap. They used to give new bars every other day. On our 10 day cruise we got a second bar of soap on day 8 and on the last cruise, only one bar for seven days. I am sure we could have asked, but the cruiselines have all gotten stingy

 

 

 

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We did get nice size tubes of lotion in the bathroom. Also, had no problem with bars of soap. I will bring my own shampoo and conditioner next time. That combo stuff in the shower was horrible - I never felt like my hair was clean after using it.

I'm anxious for more info as well. I'd like to cruise more but the 200% fare makes it difficult.

I don't think it has been around for all that many years. So it could be that it didn't exist when they previously booked directly with Princess. I just heard a blurb about it on the Princess Call Center "Music On Hold" when calling in the other day so, they don't try to hide it.

 

AE_Collector

Could be. Sure didn't mean anything negative regarding booking directly with Princess. All of my interactions with Princess of been positive.

One nice thing, other than the money itself, is that he will automatically get that OBC every time he sails on a Princess ship without him having to send in another application, etc. One thing he does need to remember, however, is that if he books a Princess cruise through a non-Princess.com location (e.g. through a TA or as part of a group going through a TA) he will need to make sure that the TA knows and uses his Captain's Circle number when entering his data into the computer. Otherwise, Princess will not know that he has already submitted the veteran's OBC paperwork!

 

Tom

Absolutely! He and my mom are platinum members so they always use their Captain's Circle number even when working with a TA. Both times I've cruised it has been with them so I've also been able to take advantage of some of the platinum perks such as priority boarding and the like. Slowly working my way up the CC ladder. ;)

Princess is having a ship in the Caribbean of 2018.

 

 

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Is that a question? If so, yes. They are doing summer 2018 Caribbean cruises. Received an email a while back as though it is something that they're bringing back.

Pierlesscruiser: Yes indeed! That's exactly what she got him! All their other cruises had been booked directly through Princess. Now I will say that I found the information about the veteran's benefit on their website but only because I was poking around. My elderly dad wouldn't not have found it.

Kamloops50: Yes, you're right and Alaska is very likely an option. They've also published some summer Caribbean cruises for 2018.

Cruise-Crazzy: For some the cell phone isn't a problem that we need to escape from. I enjoy being able to use mine as I do while on my cruise. But if one is try to escape numerous calls and emails. . .heck yes, lock that baby away!

Returned a week ago from a 7 day Mexican Riviera. Purchased internet pre-cruise. No special offers on board for internet.

Good to hear as I've not found a cruise for 2018 yet! Teacher is limited to cruises that fit within the school calendar and teacher budget! :-)

Formal nights. . .on my two Princess cruises I didn't get very formal. With casual long dresses being quite popular I have many. I wear those and I've also worn casual cotton dresses with a sweater or jacket. I saw a bit of everything from jeweled gowns, cocktail dresses, to fairly casual attire like mine on formal nights. Sometimes I actually wear sandals instead of my jeweled flip-flops on formal night!

In my limited experiences (two Princess cruises) one was booked directly through Princess the other via a TA. The TA came at the urging of my dad who ended up using a TA for a Panama Canal ocean to ocean last October. He was pleased with the TA because she got him an additional credit for being a veteran and she gave he and my mom dinner at a specialty restaurant. So, on this last cruise we used the TA. She did give us (there were three of us traveling) dinner at a specialty restaurant and she found a discount for Arizona residents that we were not aware of.

For me, a 5th grade classroom teacher, the biggest issue with using a TA is the ability to communicate with them. I can't just pick up the phone and call when I think of it because I'm in the classroom. I like being in control and being able to manage everything via the internet. But to be fair, the only things I couldn't manage via the internet were transfers and payments.

I will probably use the TA again as my ability to cruise is tied to the school calendar which is also when fares are higher (holiday times). Also, as one who will likely be cruising solo, I want someone who is seeing the deals daily to be watching for me.

Just sailed on the Ruby two weeks ago in a mini-suite with my parents who are platinum members. No loofa, lip balm, or shower caps in our bathroom. We had the same bathroom amenities that we had on the Crown in December 2015 (in two premium balcony cabins).

On my first cruise (12/2015) I paid for my cell phone carrier's (Verizon) "at sea" plan. It sucked! I wanted it for text messaging. Of the messages I tried sending only two of them appeared to send but they were never received at the other end. I only received a handful of the text messages sent to me. On my recent cruise (two weeks ago), I paid for 120 minutes of internet service through Princess. It's not the fastest connection but I found it to be far more reliable than Verizon's service. I was able to check my email, Facebook, and messages using the ships service and was also able to post a few pictures to my FB timeline. I got off the ship in Los Angeles with about 10 minutes left. When in Mexico I use Verizon's travel pass program that allows you to use your plan for $2.50/day.

I would NEVER leave the ship at a foreign port without my passport and a least one major credit card. You never know what might happen where having appropriate documentation is critical. I'm not a doom and gloom person but your have to consider things like an accident, a medical emergency, etc.

As others have said, if you're on a Princess sponsored excursion you will not be left behind. On my first cruise it was time to leave Cabo (a port where a tender is used) and apparently a couple had not returned to the ship. The couple was paged a few times and our departure from Cabo was delayed by about 45 minutes. The couple was late returning from Cabo but did make finally make it back to the ship (I watched from my balcony).