2 cruises a year

On 6/4/2024 at 8:50 PM, karatemom2 said:

If you want to have a view of land choose the Port side as you will likely use your balcony more on the way down when you are sailing away from the wind and are more protected. Sailing back up the coast tends to be windier and colder - definitely less optimal for balcony use. 

Great point! I like it.  I never thought about that.  The only time, before now, that I was concerned about which side is Tran-Ocean (east to west, or west to East) sailings.  POSH is the sunny side for that trip.  For north/south sailings through the tropics, POSH is the cooler side.

26 minutes ago, kirtihk said:

If the cruise price was the 1-number (1 line-item on the invoice) price which is the cruise total price (with real all inclusive), the rails wouldn't be needed whatsoever at first place (no thread of such a topic would be generated).  From the other hand, there would be tons of other threads for that matter with variations of "Why don't I have a choice of selecting what I really need (maybe I don't want Wi-Fi, or multiple restaurants, or I'm not a drinker, I don't need a butler service or shore excursions, ...)?"

You don't have to choose a package. Anything you like can be selected individually.

I haven't read through this whole thread AGAIN.  This has been discussed ad infinitum.

First of all, in life tips don't go directly to who ever you are tipping.  This includes restaurants, bars coffee shops, what ever.  It always goes into a pool that includes who served you, the dishwasher, the buss boy, bar-back, the salad maker, who ever.  Princess is no different. They pool the Gratuities, and divy them out.  They tell you this, it isn't a secret.

But withholding Gratuities cheats everyone.  Divying them out as you see fit is bucking the system and doesn't accomplish anything.  They have to turn your tip in to the pool if you don't contribute to the pool with the daily Gratuities.  Don't try to tempt them to keep it for themselves, they will only get into trouble.  It is not worth it to them.  If you do pay the daily Gratuities and tip them, they can keep the extra above the daily Gratuity.

Maybe it is a shell game, but so what, the crew has to be paid, and you are going to pay them, one way or another.

AND LASTLY, the crew knows better than we do, what they signed up for.  It is none of our business how, or how much they get paid.  Do you sit down at the bar and ask the person next to you how much money they make?

2 hours ago, JG&Lcruisingnewbies said:

I’d like some designated staff whose job is to assist those with disabilities. That’s all their role is. Trained to understand & recognise the difficulties of travel when disabled and a good understand of what helps. Understand Visible and invisible illnesses. A trouble shooter and enabler. They can liase with other staff to help make as much as possible accessible to all.

 

It doesn’t need to be a huge group of staff but having some disability specialists on board means a few staff get specific and more enhanced training than the limited training other staff get alongside there other considerably large duties.

 

if you have notified Princess of a disability you get a the details of person to contact for advice/ help. I’m NOT talking bout them being a carer!
 

But there are enough disabled people on board to keep a specialist busy making sure as many barriers to enjoyment as possible are removed 

Your point of specifically trained staff is an excellent idea, and well taken.  But I would like to extend Kudos to the crew doing this these days.  They do a damn fine job at this without any special training.  Their care and compassion is second to none.

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Princess currently has 4 classes of ships:

 

Panamax

Grand/GEM

Royal

Sun

 

Let's cannibalize all the good from each ship.  What would you like this NEW/but old Princess ship to look like?  You may not add venues that are currently not on any Princess ship.

 

I'll start (in no particular order):

1.  a theater forward and aft to spread out the entertainment

2.  Gigi's

3.  Grand Class Window Suites on Deck 6

4,  International Cafe

5.  Crooners, Wheelhouse, Explorer's Lounge

6.  Keep the Piazza clear of large events

7.  No smoking in the casino

 

Your turn.

 

I'd say that we are both fans of Grand class ships. 6 out of 7 on your list are Grand class features.

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

Princess currently has 4 classes of ships:

 

Panamax

Grand/GEM

Royal

Sun

 

Let's cannibalize all the good from each ship.  What would you like this NEW/but old Princess ship to look like?  You may not add venues that are currently not on any Princess ship.

 

I'll start (in no particular order):

1.  a theater forward and aft to spread out the entertainment

2.  Gigi's

3.  Grand Class Window Suites on Deck 6

4,  International Cafe

5.  Crooners, Wheelhouse, Explorer's Lounge

6.  Keep the Piazza clear of large events

7.  No smoking in the casino

 

Your turn.

 

7 out of 7.  Great start. 

Wrap around Promanade Deck.  Completely, not partially, not mostly.

Personally, I book ahead. It is one less thing to worry about.

2 hours ago, TRLD said:

While similar from a dance perspective, waltze off is often used to mean a quick and easy departure.

I have a feeling that by now Mark_K has slapped his forehead and said "Oh, now I get it"  🙃🙃

To the credit of the crew, I don't think it would make any difference at all.  In my experience, Princess crew treat every passenger, from inside cabin to suite, many days at sea to first time  cruiser, like you are their best, most favorite guest.  This is how they really feel.  They will not be better or worse from the prior cruise.

13 hours ago, kirtihk said:

Perhaps, you didn't "translate" a meaning of my post properly.  It was about the fact that 10 years expiation is truly <10 years.  So, people pay for 10 years when in reality they pay for 9.5 years or potentially even less.

Yes 10 years is arbitrary, the State Department can chose whatever time the want, but your passport is good for 10 years, no if's ands or but's  You do get your moneys worth.  It is other countries that arbitrarily require the 6 month rule.  It is not practical for the State Department to try to satisfy the requirements every other country in the world.  It is up to the traveler to follow the requirements of the country they are traveling to.  As far as the U.S. is concerned, your passport is good for 10 years when in the U.S., and leaving or returning to the U.S.

4 hours ago, masonchar said:

I booked a 14 day Alaskan cruise directly with Princess back in January.  Final payment was three days ago.  We couldn't afford an oceanview cabin or better, this time around.   But, we decided to book an obstructed view cabin.  There weren't many left, but we found one with a pretty good view. ( I used a website that shows pictures of the views).  Last night I got an email saying they are moving us to a cabin beside the one we had booked.  They said the reason was that the one we booked could accommodate 4 people and there are only 2 of us.  The new (they call it an upgrade) does not have as good a view.  The one we had booked was between two tenders.  The new one is blocked by the front of the tender.   We aren't happy about this change at all.  Before I get on the phone today, is there anything I can do?

I can't find it now, but it has always been my understanding that if you book a four passenger cabin it is with the understanding that Princess can move you IF they need it for four passengers.  A more extreme, and unlikely scenario is that you can book a handicap cabin if you so choose, even if you are not disabled, with the understanding that IF Princess needs the cabin for a disabled passenger, you can be moved.

28 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

If you click through to find a cruise, you will find you book it on another site (that sells cruises), not CC. CC is advertising the cruises (for some sort of kickback, I assume) but not actually selling them. 

@cnice515 They just can't help themselves. And they don't bother to read all of the posts.

11 minutes ago, cnice515 said:

Understand that CC is a part of trip adviser but the site I linked is indeed a CC site at least for me.  However, so as not to offend the cruise booking site police I will never make the mistake of stating that CC is a booking site for cruises.  Thanks to all for letting me know how wrong I am lol.

I'm glad that you took that well, CC posters can be pretty nit-picky. 😉

16 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Not on Sapphire yet. 

 

I don't call anyone on anything written onboard a ship, when English is their second language. 

Well said.  And just as relevant, a different culture. They are all trying to do their best.  There isn't any way that they can know and  cater to every language and culture on board.  That is part of the fun of travel, experiencing different languages and cultures.

45 minutes ago, OSU Buckeyes 1980 said:

I don’t have a dog in this fight (we don’t decorate but I don’t have issues with those that do) but you have to admit they could make a pretty good Saturday Night Live skit out of this “dispute”. 

I agree, you can't make this stuff up.  Reality is greater that fiction. 

Any other expressions anyone would like to add?

6 hours ago, CruisinCouple2010 said:

We are boarding the Ruby Princess this Saturday March 09. I am bringing a Saint Patrick’s day decoration for the door. I will see what happens.

Love it.  It is easier to get forgiveness, than permission.

9 minutes ago, Tom Baker said:

How the hell am I going to find my cabin at 3am now staggering down the corridor is bad enough without trying to figure out the numbers

Beat me to it. My door decorations have saved me from trying to enter the wrong room more than once. (Seriously, I've knocked on the right door, wrong deck before. Luckily no one was home. I finally figured it out) 😉

1 hour ago, Btimmer said:

We were informed yesterday that per new Princess Company policy, no door decorations are allowed and we had to remove ours.  After following up, a supervisor explained and read the policy which only permits company approved items in public areas. 

This is a fairly common "fire" safety issue.  Just more fuel if there happens to be a fire.  Christmas trees in public spaces have some pretty strict regulations.  Also, and I know that I'll get a lot of blow-back on this, but lights, and cheap paper decorations are possible fire hazards.

I'm as disappointed as everyone else, I had battery operated lights and non-flammable magnetic door decorations for every holiday.

On 2/22/2024 at 4:57 AM, DallasGuy75219 said:

9 sq ft is not a meaningful difference, only 5% more square footage.

It really depends on how that 9 sq. feet happens.  One example, in my opinion, an extra foot along a 9 foot wall would be nice.

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

Dinner at the GastroPub tonight was even better than we expected.  We didn’t get dressed up formal night and went in around 5:30 PM.  We were the first ones in there and wow, did it ever get crowded quickly.  
 

The Elton John show was fantastic.  We went to see the comedian in Club Fusion right after that but there were no seats left so we headed down to the Explorers Lounge for the Majority Rules game show.  That was fun.  
After that, some easy listening music at Crooners with a great piano player / singer.  
Another great day at sea … 

 

Who is the piano player in Crooners?  I pretty much live them all, easy listening and up tempo.

On 1/27/2024 at 6:28 AM, phabric said:

I keep a few in my suitcase encase I need them to carry beach towels, book, lotion to the pool.

Perfect for saving your lounge chair while you go back to your cabin for a nap, 😁

7 minutes ago, joetop2467 said:

We hardly ever use cash any more. I get nervous if I have over $80 in my wallet. 

I don't think that the tour guide cares if you are nervous, he wants cash.  He is nervous that your credit card will be rejected.

28 minutes ago, Thrak said:

 

That's less than $700. I have no issue carrying that much cash. Six $100 bills and some smaller stuff would cover it. Not an issue to tuck into a wallet.

Even some $50 dollar bills for the in between $100 amounts  as you suggested.  It is easier to round up to the $50, as a little extra tip rather than trying to get change.

1 hour ago, charliedalrymple said:

I'm assuming from the responses that "pop" means soft drinks.  🙂

Do you mean as in "I never drink anything stronger than Pop.  But Pop drank just about anything"😁