caribill

How?

Pre-pandemic there was often a table set up on embarkation day to sell flowers.

It is very rare that such a notification is sent.

That is a change from the past. Photos were allowed in the casino with the restriction not to include other people in them.

a) I note that it says the game ends 12/31/22. Unless they extend it, people who purchased the Premier package for a cruise next year will not get this "benefit." b) As I remember it, when this was first announced they said that passengers who did not have the Premier package and had not purchased entry into the game would still receive one free entry. I do not see this mentioned in the rules.

The cast on a Princess ship only know 2 or 3 production shows and that is all they can present no matter how the ages of the passengers vary on different segments. I have really enjoyed reading about your cruise and seeing the many great photos you posted. Thanks for sharing your cruise with so many of us on Cruise Critic.

Krown

The program you are referring to is different than the one the OP is asking about. The one you used in Seattle is sponsored and run by the Port of Seattle. Princess is supposed to give your luggage to the port people and they are supposed to deliver it to the airline at the airport.

Menus from other ships also do not have it on the menu any evening.

Yes, the daily gratuity charge is also shared by those in room service. It is up to you if you wish to tip a second time.

Have you looked at the costs? It is not inexpensive. Tampa to London starts at $189. Also be aware there may be some items that are not allowed to be in the luggage they transport, mainly due to customs requirements.

Definitely not there for a Princess cruise.

From the Washington Post: When it comes to pandemic-related risks, some travelers feel safer on cruises, and others feel the risk is higher than any other form of travel. Just this month, the Coral Princess had more than 100 covid cases onboard in Australia. Cruise companies have been dealing with the reality that the coronavirus will find its way onto ships. As of last Wednesday, 93 of the 94 ships reporting coronavirus data to the CDC were under observation for covid cases onboard. This week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ended a pandemic-era program that disclosed coronavirus cases on ships to the public. While companies will continue to report cases to the agency, the CDC says travelers should now check with their cruise line for precautions and coronavirus levels. https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/cheap-cruises-deals-last-minute/?utm_campaign=wp_evening_edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source

a) The coupon books are provided by Princess for TAs to "give out" several times a year. As others pointed out, they are not worth much (most are spend a bunch a money and save a few $$$ on that purchase). Never pick a TA based on getting this coupon book. b) There are good Princess CVPs and poor ones. There are good TAs and poor ones. Thus you can have a good or poor experience booking either way. The best way to find out which ones are good is when you are on board and can meet with other Cruise Critic members. c) Booking directly with Princess you will always pay the current list price and get the current promotion perks. d) Any TA that wants to charge more than the Princess posted price should be avoided like the plague. e) Some TAs offer discounts and extra perks. Many do not. As pointed out by others, TAs are not supposed to publish prices lower tha what Princess displays. You need to contact the TAs to find out about any lower pricing they may have. f) Discounts and perks from TAs can come from several sources. One is the TA may set up a "group" booking and get a discount for doing that which is passed on to the customer. Another is that a TA may give some of their commission to the customer via a discount on the pricing. A third is that a TA may get "points" for booking a number of cabins on a cruise. These points can be reserved for perks for the customer such as OBC, a bottle of wine, a specialty dinner, etc. They can also be used instead by the TA to get a higher commission instead of something for the customer. g) Big box stores may have great pricing and perks, but will have very poor customer service once the booking is made., For example, they are unlikely to pass Princess offers for upgrades on to the customers. h) If you book with a TA, Princess will not discuss anything involving pricing or cabin changes with you. You must do that with the TA. Princess will still work with you on other issues and with booking on board experiences such as specialty dining and shore excursions. EZAir and any problems with it are doine directly with Princess and not with a TA. i) The agent or CVP is an employee (contract or direct) of Princess. Their first loyalty is to Princess, not to the customer. (Some CVPs are willing to be a better advocate for the customer than others.) For a TA, their first loyalty is to the customer, not to the cruise line. j) Many Princess reps and even CVPs are inexperienced and do not really know enough about what Princess offers, Princess policies, etc. Most have never even been on a cruise ship. A good TA have been on a number of different cruise ships, knows the cruise line policies, and may have good contacts at the cruise line for resolving problems. k) If using a TA, pick one that will have an alternate contact person if your main contact is unavailable (illness, vacations, on a cruise, etc.,)

That is the real reason. For the corporation as a whole, this has been the CCL cruise line for several years. CCL will not even allow you to bring a bottle of water back on the ship at a port call, even if it was a bottle that CCL sold you as you left the ship. And where Princess delivers any purchased bottles of alcohol to you the last evening of the cruise so you can pack it, CCL requires you to line up to retrieve your bottles on disembarkation day morning before leaving the ship. Of course one reason that people may prefer water and soda in bottles is that after opening the bottle and drinking part of it, the cap can be put back on and the rest of the bottle used later. Can't do that with canned water or soda.

First step is to ask the airline what they have done to rebook you.

To allow for raising scenery, etc, the theater stage area does have a part of it open up to deck 9, so sound can carry from the theater up to deck 9 near the front of the ship. I have never stayed on deck 9 in that area, but when I have been in that area on deck 8 I have heard music at a low sound level during shows and rehearsals. Just background noise.

No chairs to move around in the galley.

From the Passage Contract: Guests are also prohibited from bringing water, sodas and other non-alcoholic beverages on board that are packaged in bottles. A small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought on board on embarkation day, only if carried on in Guests’ hand luggage (not in checked luggage). A small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed, unopened cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding.

This may help to read what it says:

Totally understand. But if you are unable to cruise this year, c'est la vie.

I doubt that will be of any use. As reported on these boards, there are many cases of Covid detected after the cruisers return home at the end of the cruise. There is no way to report these cases to the cruise lines. HAL will not know at all how many cases of Covid developed due to not testing pre-cruise.

As people who have had front facing balconies have posted, when at sea the wind is too high to be out on that balcony. Similarly, for the crew the wind would be too high to smoke out in the open on the bow while the ship is at sea.

Yes, I have seen it in the link provided. Not yet time to celebrate: Some quotes from the link: "CDC said it will continue to provide testing recommendations for cruise ship operators to follow, and cruise ships will continue to report COVID-19 cases to the agency." "Cruise operators contacted by Seatrade Cruise News generally referred to the CLIA statement and said they're reviewing the news. 'We haven't made any decision if we're going to change anything — if we make any changes at all,' one company's spokesperson said." On the other hand, it does say: "the agency's color-coded status for cruise ships is going away, and that web page is being retired." Which means there will no longer be transparency as to which ships have a significant number of Covid cases.

Agree. Just ask for each to be able to access both cabins. No need to mention who will be sleeping where.