2 cruises a year

48 minutes ago, 2 cruises a year said:

Check into this, this is from my memory from a few years ago.  I could not use FCD's on a couple of longer cruises (true, I do remember this), but my TA was able to use them for some sort of discount on the cruise fare.  As I recall, it was significant.  The FCD's were "sold" back to Princess, the $100 each was credited back to my credit card and I no longer had the FCD's.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

16 minutes ago, LACruiser88 said:

The below is my post from the 54 day cruise roll call (3/13/26).

 

This has been in place for as long as we remember.  On voyages of 45 days or longer a FCD can not be used as the deposit.     

 

We did apply 2 FCD's towards this cruise to receive a 3% fare reduction and those 2 FCD's were refunded to our credit card.  This is a very strange application of FCD's, but it ended up saving us $1,300.   This also raises your refundable deposit to 5% of the total fare.

 

We have done this on several recent cruise bookings that were over 45 days in length.

Just one more note.  Since the FCD was not applied as usual, no FCD onboard credit was applied either.  Not a game changer to me, but worth noting.

11 hours ago, gottagocit said:

We just tried to use a FCD to book a 54 day voyage and we’re told they can’t be used for any cruise >44 days in length. The one we’re booking is not part of a world cruise which I seem to recall can’t be booked with a FCD but we’ve never heard of this. Has anyone here?

We spoke to two different Princess contacts (agents) and both told us the same thing. 

Check into this, this is from my memory from a few years ago.  I could not use FCD's on a couple of longer cruises (true, I do remember this), but my TA was able to use them for some sort of discount on the cruise fare.  As I recall, it was significant.  The FCD's were "sold" back to Princess, the $100 each was credited back to my credit card and I no longer had the FCD's.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

You can't go wrong with FCD's.  The plusses are many.  The worst case scenario is that you don't use it, you get your money back and all you lose is what ever money that you MIGHT have made investing it.  If you do use it, the least you get far out weighs what you could have received investing it.

It is hit or miss these days.  Probably more miss than hit.  I always ask.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

35 minutes ago, mtnesterz said:

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. --Mark Twain.

Bring a lined windbreaker jacket, not a sweater. It's the wind blowing off the water.

29 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

Actually, it’s been attributed to Twain but did he actually ever say that? 
 

This has been debated ad infinitum, Snopes has an interesting conversation about it.  While a lot say Mark Twain never said it, to my knowledge, no one has ever been able to verify who said it.  It does fit Mark Twain's wit, and he spent a lot of time in San Francisco.

32 minutes ago, mommycruiser said:

Hello,

 

I need to start packing and was wondering if there will be some cold days while we travel to Hawaii from San Francisco. Any suggestions on what to pack are much appreciated.  I am coming in from Texas so we always have hot weather. Traveling on December 20th on the Crown. 

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

 

24 minutes ago, mtnesterz said:

The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. --Mark Twain.

Bring a lined windbreaker jacket, not a sweater. It's the wind blowing off the water.

Windbreaker is the secret, especially for out on deck.  I live in San Francisco, (yes actually San Francisco) and my favorite is a Coaches Jacket.  It is a light, lined nylon jacket with a hood.  It won't be 30 degrees, but even 50-60 degrees (typical temp. in San Francisco and on the way to Hawaii) will feel like 30 with a breeze.  A windbreaker will keep you comfortable.

2 hours ago, VirginiaIsForCruisers said:

The last cruise I rented a scooter (I now own a powerchair), the scooter was like a Cadillac. It was beautiful and brand new, with turn signals, a headlight, and a rear view mirror. . It was a bariatric (extra large) scooter and could go super fast. Well, I would go up to the buffet after the late show to grab a quick bite. There was an employee who bussed tables who kept looking longingly at the scooter, which I'd park and transfer to a regular chair to eat. I told him to go ahead and he said he shouldn't. I told him, "oh, just go ahead". He got on it and jacked up the speed, flying out of the buffet and all the way down the pool deck. I could hear him laughing the whole way. He brought it back a few minutes later and thanked me. Every night, we had a repeat. I figured I could let him have a little fun.

 

 

Great story! Good for you. 

19 hours ago, Cruz4Sun said:

My DH can also walk short distances (with my help for balance) and he takes his mobility scooter onboard.  It is very comfortable and easy to drive. At the dining room he drives up to the table and after he is seated the staff drives the scooter away.  They happily bring it back to him when we are done eating. At the lounges we generally find a wall to park against and he walks to a seat.  At Crooners he walks into the lounge leaving the scooter against the railing separating the lounge from the hallway.  I hope you will find the solution that works best for you.  Enjoy your accessible mini suite!

I do have to comment about the staff taking care of your scooter for you, they LOVE it.  They have way too much fun driving around. (I mean this in a good way, we have fun seeing them "play" a little bit) My wife also parks her scooter at Crooners. When we are ready to leave, the bartenders can't wait to "bring her scooter around". 

4 hours ago, Cruz4Sun said:

My DH can also walk short distances (with my help for balance) and he takes his mobility scooter onboard.  It is very comfortable and easy to drive. At the dining room he drives up to the table and after he is seated the staff drives the scooter away.  They happily bring it back to him when we are done eating. At the lounges we generally find a wall to park against and he walks to a seat.  At Crooners he walks into the lounge leaving the scooter against the railing separating the lounge from the hallway.  I hope you will find the solution that works best for you.  Enjoy your accessible mini suite!

If you travel a lot, look into the Luggie. It is a travel scooter, so it is compact and light. My wife has one and it is perfect on a cruise ship. It is narrow and fits between the walls and room service carts with out having to move them around.

17 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I am currently booked for a voyage to Iceland and Greenland (all in one).  It is one of my bucket list cruises.  After traveling so much in 2023, I am not sure I am up to this cruise.  Reserved this booking years ago to get my treasured Window Suite.  

 

What's holding me back?

Very long flights from West Coast to LHR (via EZ Air)

Expenses for hotels (LHR and Southampton)...if you are going that far....might as well tack on a few extra nights

More sea days than days in Iceland and Greenland

Expensive excursions

 

Would love to hear from other passengers who have gone to Iceland and/or Greenland.  Was it worth it?  I know I can do Greenland from the East Coast.  This may be one of those "not meant to be".  I've cancelled (or had cancelled) 4 cruises to Iceland or Greenland.  I know of people who have done land tours.  

 

Thank you in advance for your comments.  Looking forward to hearing from all of you.

 

 

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!”

Mark Twain

2 hours ago, Seaspartan said:

I am familiar with credit card holds.  It just seemed like these were very small and odd dollar amounts.  Thanks to all for sharing your info!  

They are the holds that you are familiar with, but yes, odd amounts.  The first time that this happened to me, I asked at the Pursers Desk.  Luckily I got someone that knew what the charges were and was able to explain it to me.  They are just credit holds to make sure the card is still good.  They will drop off shortly.

On 11/18/2023 at 12:56 AM, Steelers36 said:

What has made you think that because clearly the menu you had it not being served on other ships. 

 

It will be a sad day of the chef on each ship cannot use his/her own creativity in coming up with the CT or WMD.  I do understand that 360 is coordinated with the sensory stuff - and that one will change BTW.  Only the whole experience will change along with menu.  But as long as the theme is the current one, I imagine the dishes stay the same.

@Steelers36I wouldn't hold my breath for the 360 to change.  When was the last time you saw a new Production Show in the Princess Theater? 

On 11/17/2023 at 10:33 AM, BlerkOne said:

Consistency is good 

That is McDonalds claim to fame.  Their burger tastes the same everywhere in the world. It is also boring. I haven't been to a McDonalds in decades.

7 hours ago, alyssamma said:

On the 32 day Sapphire Princess. At the beginning of the cruise we got a survey. We don't really complain and nothing major was bothering us so we ignored it.

 

Then we got a second one. I decided to put two things in it. Again, if we didn't get the second survey I would have never complained, and it wasn't something that would make me say I'm not sailing Princess or anything like that. 

 

I had a bad interaction with a lady at guest services. The manager came out  settled my problem in under a minute, and it was forgotten. Also, I mentioned the food wasn't consistent. As an example, my wife and I had prime rib tonight and hers was the entire cow and mine was made for a child. There are also some quality issues with certain staples like the pizza... sometimes amazing and sometimes not so much.

 

Anyway, while eating today the MaitreD for the restaurant came over to talk to me about the food comment. Right behind him was the guest services head and he wanted to know what happened there.

 

I was blown away. I didn't expect the survey to be read, let alone acted on. They listened intently, and explained what they would do to prevent these things from happening again. And again  these weren't big issues for us at all 

 

Anyway, at least on this ship, they are listening and working to improve.

 

 

4 hours ago, Coral said:

I had a message from the Corporate Office. I had traditional dining and they found us quickly in the dining room. This was years ago.

 My next comment would be about being interrupted while dining.  Not the time or place for any negativity, no matter how minor.  😉😉 

1 hour ago, trbarton said:

I upgraded through bidding from Stateroom: C707 (Balcony: BD), Deck 10 Caribe on the Emerald Princess  to Stateroom: C617 (Balcony: B2. I don’t see any difference in the staterooms other than the location. I thought that I would be getting a sofa.  Anyone know the difference?  Both balconies look to be the same size. 
 

Tom😎

You are probably thinking of a Deluxe Balcony. That class is on the newer ships. I know for sure, the Royal Class ships have a DB category with a small sofa.

https://www.princess.com/en-us/ships-and-experience/ships/rp-royal-princess

15 minutes ago, memoak said:

Thank goodness for reserve dining

Reserve dining is only for the Privileged Class.  Not everyone wants, or can afford the Privileged Class Staterooms.

2 hours ago, MissP22 said:

All that does is invite more spam after they sell you name & email.

Yes, but it will be some pretty classy spam.  Not your run of the mill "please confirm your $12.00 purchase by giving us your credit card pin number".

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

Whenever asked about our annual income, I put down a 9 digit number!  🤣

Braggard!  😉

I wonder if the Laundry is run by a concession, like the stores and casino?  The general rule might be that the ship stays out of it, but on some ships the they feel like taking care of it is less hassle than the grief the might get.  This also might explain why it isn't consistently an Elite benefit, it would cut into the concessionaires profit.  Just a thought.

17 minutes ago, MacMadame said:

Yes but normally when I go to a restaurant, I get an iced tea which is apparently included. My husband will get a soda which is not. Don't drink beer or wine. When I am at a place like Disneyland, I will have one cocktail a day. Will I do that on a 16-day cruise? I don't know. Probably not unless there are lots of cool specialty ones I can't get at home. (That's why I get them at DL -- they have seasonal ones for a limited time only. LOL) Even then, that's a lot of drinking for me.

 

At this point, I'm thinking that if I stick with my Plus package, I won't have to worry about whether or not I'm spending too much and should have just gotten the package. Instead, I can worry about whether or not I'm getting my money's worth. 😄

I think that this is a good choice.  You won't get an unexpected surprise on your bill at the end of the cruise.  And if you do keep below that unexpected surprise limit, it won't be a very big loss.  To me the amount you MAY lose is a minor investment to alleviate any end of cruise surprises.  Have fun, try that good sounding drink, you are on vacation.

38 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

IMO, with regard to shares, a guest who buys shares with the full intent to collect $100 OBC and immediately sell is unethical. 

 

That said, anyone can elect to buy more or sell shares per their own financial situation and how they read market conditions.  But, the ethical way would be to be a shareholder at least until the voyage sails or ends for which the $100/$250 OBC was earned.

 

Can PCL enforce this?  Not likely.  They would have to ask every guest who claims SOBC to resubmit proof of ownership post-sailing or by embarkation and then bill anyone who is not still a shareholder $100 to their credit card or onboard account.  And of course update the T&C's to reflect this.  Is it going to happen?  No.   No doubt they realize folks can "cheat" the system, but they probably expect the vast majority are making the claims as intended.

It's not worth the effort for Princes to try to enforce actual possession.  I doubt anyone has done this  deliberately.  It is possible someone had stock, applied for OBC then sold their stock, but not for a  profiteering purpose.  There is so little to be gained and so much effort to be put in.  The stock may even drop in value before it can be dumped.  Even the OP admitted he didn't have this in mind.

4 hours ago, Bwana Tom said:

My personal belief is that since the Plus package has gone from $40/person/day to $50 then within months to $60, not to even mention the Premier that could double the cost for someone staying in an inside cabin, fewer of us have reached the discussion it really is worth it. Of course, for some folks they will consider it worth the extra cost largely due to their own personal drinking habits. Nevertheless, I am thinking the number of cruisers currently buying into these packages has dropped significantly from only a couple of years ago.   

People love to comment about the price increase.  But what nobody seems to remember is that pre-Covid, the drink package alone was about $67.00 per day per person.  Now you get tips, wi-fi (I know, don't go on about the Elite wi-fi) and beverages for $60.00 per person per day.  Looks like a bargain to me.

2 hours ago, Pickels said:

Responding SargassoPirate's post:   Glad you took the initiative and reported it.  Hat's off to you! Can you just imagine trying to walk thru the corridors when the ship is going thru some rough seas.  There were times when the wife and I were walking thru a "clear" corridor and had to hold on to the rails; imagine if we also had to negotiate around scooters! 

Also, can you just imagine trying to walk thru the corridors in the dark during a crisis causing the lights to be out?

All of the comments above are answered on princess.com under Accessible Cruising.  Bold type, my emphasis.

Please ensure that your mobility device meets the following specifications:

• Maximum device width: 22” for standard staterooms, 31” for wheelchair-accessible staterooms
• Maximum combined weight of the wheelchair, including guest: 600 pounds (weight may vary outside the United States)

Your mobility device must be securely stored in your stateroom when not in use. This will ensure that hallways and other public areas are clear for other guests and crew to safely move throughout the ship. We do not offer alternate locations for mobility device storage onboard. For assistance onboard with charging your equipment in your stateroom, please contact your stateroom attendant.

If you are bringing other mobility equipment onboard or if you have booked Princess transfers, pre or post hotel stays, Cruisetours or shore excursions you must complete our Mobility Questionnaire (PDF) and return it to us at least 60 days prior to sailing. (This questionnaire also references storing your scooter in the cabin)

Please be advised that filing out the Mobility Questionnaire is to ensure that our Access team can properly assist you with your accessibility and mobility needs. It is not an approval or confirmation of any request, nor does it guarantee being booked into or moved to an accessible cabin. Please ensure that you discuss your cabin needs with your Travel Advisor or our Reservations department.

17 hours ago, wineforhealth said:

Good luck with that,  Hope you can find a quiet spot.

 

Hmmm, love your Profile picture. By any chance is that the Star Princess on her Homecoming into San Francisco after the Covid pause.

Here is my picture that day.  We were probably within eyesight of each other.