Sea Day Cruiser

I would be fine with testing before leaving home if the test requirement had been kept at three days before the cruise instead of two. But my cruise is in January and I also have to be concerned with the weather to get from the Midwest to Florida. In the past I have always flown to Fort Lauderdale a day ahead of the cruise. My last cruise was in January 2020 and we had a snowstorm. My flight to Ft. Lauderdale was canceled. It was supposed to leave at 7 AM so I went to an airport hotel the night before and was at the airport ready to go. The flight was delayed twice and then canceled. I was lucky and was able to get a 6:30 PM flight that evening to Miami. It was after 10 PM when I got to Miami. My luggage didn’t get there and I didn’t see it for a week.

So for this cruise I made up my mind to lower the stress and not take a chance and booked air 2 days before the cruise. My flight leaves at 7 AM so there is no way I can get a COVID-19 test before leaving. I have to wait and take a chance on getting the test and testing negative after I get to Florida. Maybe some of you who don’t see this two day testing requirement as a big deal don’t have to worry about things like the weather, but for some of us that change from three days to two is a big deal. It’s big enough that I will probably end up canceling the cruise but I won’t do that until final payment is due in case requirements are changed again.

On 8/3/2021 at 10:37 PM, Sea Day Cruiser said:

I am pretty sure I was doing the renewal application because all of my previous information was there. That’s why I don’t understand that I kept getting the error message on the address. My present address was there along with all of the other information step-by-step. I didn’t have to correct or change anything. I guess I’ll just wait a few days and then try again. 

I tried again today and was successful in getting the application for renewal completed. This time instead of using the iPad I used my very slow very old computer. On the address section there was a banner across the top with the dates 2016 to 2021 so I assume they only wanted information from that five-year period. I don’t remember seeing that when I was using the iPad.  So I deleted the previous addresses that were over 25 years old and it didn’t matter I still got the error message. I went back to the address section just kept looking at it. It would be nice if they point out where the error is instead of just saying there are errors. There was absolutely nothing incorrect in that section. So I decided to try deleting the last four numbers on the nine digit ZIP Code. I never add those last four numbers anyway; some websites do it automatically. After deleting them I hit confirm and everything went right through. So if anyone has a similar problem check your ZIP Code. If it has the five digit ZIP Code plus the four digits the post office etc. sometimes adds delete them.

My application was accepted and now I just have to wait to see if it’s approved and if I need an interview.

14 hours ago, GottaKnowWhen said:

I recall doing all of the previous address entries whenI first got the card 4 years ago. I think I only had two entries there. I don't remember even seeing the question when I renewed. Just a guess, but are you somehow filling out an Initial application rather than a Renewal application? All of that earlier information should be in your record...

I am pretty sure I was doing the renewal application because all of my previous information was there. That’s why I don’t understand that I kept getting the error message on the address. My present address was there along with all of the other information step-by-step. I didn’t have to correct or change anything. I guess I’ll just wait a few days and then try again. Thanks for your reply.

I got an email last week telling me my Global Entry expires soon and I should go online to renew it. I must have spent two hours today trying to do that and still can’t figure it out. Everything looked simple but when I finished it said to confirm each section which I did or tried to do. Everything looked right to me but when I got to the end it said there were five errors on the address section and to go back and correct it. I tried several times. I don’t understand the part about previous addresses. I don’t remember putting previous addresses in on the original application and I don’t even remember some of them they were so long ago. It wouldn’t take my application with the address where I live now and have lived for 25 years. So I added the two addresses before that which go back all the way to 1971. It’s still said to go back and correct five errors. Did anybody else have a similar problem? Did anyone else on a renewal list every address where they had ever lived? Did you fill out the application with just your present address and have it accepted? I need help and this is the only place I can think of to get it so I hope somebody has a suggestion for me.

5 hours ago, LoriPhil said:

If you go to Explore.org and click the Bears/Brooks Falls Brown Bears tab, it’s  livestreaming bears in Katmai National Park snagging salmon in the river.   The camera is rotated periodically showing the fisher-bears a bit farther down river.  Wonderful!  Now I’m hungry.

Thanks. I’ve never seen anything like that!

My security photo, profile photo, and password all seem to have migrated into the app from Princess. I can see the security and profile photos. Under travel documents I have a green checkmark and it says complete. I don’t see any place where I can edit or change anything. In the weeks since the app has been available I have only seen the actual passport once and it was just a small thumbnail size photo. The next day it was gone but that section still says complete. So I’m assuming they have the information but I don’t know for sure. Fortunately I don’t have to have it until January so I’m not going to waste my time calling them. 
 

it also says I have a pin code but I have no idea what it is. It must be something I put in for my last cruise 18 months ago. It says it can be changed but I probably would have to put in the old one in order to change it and I don’t know what it is.

Every time I open the app to the travel checklist I have green checks everywhere except the one for agreeing to the contract and one for medallion pay or credit card information which I refuse to put in while this app is such a mess. I have checked the contract and Covid sections and if I open the app and then back out and go back in the orange check will have changed to green every time.

I don’t think any questions about this app are stupid but I do believe that Princess is being very stupid inflicting it on prospective customers.

I’ve done at least half a dozen transatlantic‘s in the fall and on three of them changes were made in the itinerary during the cruise due to storms in the Atlantic. If you would be crushed at missing one of the scheduled ports they’re not for you, but if you like a sense of adventure and don’t mind missing a port they’re great cruises. 

14 hours ago, tuputts said:

After it loads it disappears after a few seconds. I have iPhone 6 is there a way to conduct business without it like my princess.

Mine does exactly the same thing. It is an iPhone 6 too. I don’t really want to buy a new one just to go on a cruise.

8 hours ago, kjg46 said:

Question: How does one get the Princess email notifications? We have been elite for a number of years and have not received any notices about early bookings or elite benefit changes. We even have trouble getting booking confirmations sent to our email address. I've checked with Princess a number of times to confirm the correct email address. Also viewed spam, junk mail folders and ISP cloud email . No Princess emails! However, I do get EZ-Air notices. Go figure.

I was in the same position as you regarding emails from Princess until about a year ago. I never received notices of elite day ahead bookings and I didn’t get confirmations if I booked with Princess online. After repeated calls to Princess and even talking to Captain Circle reps on ships I was told that my AOL email address was the problem. They said Princess has trouble with AOL emails. If they know why they didn’t say. I gave them a Gmail address to use and I have since then been receiving most emails that are referred to here. I got the one about the changes in the elite benefits yesterday. I’m not sure if I have received all of the day ahead booking notices. So if you have an AOL email address you might consider changing email addresses with Princess to see if that works.

You can also check on the payment page. Click on gratuities. If the package is booked it will show the gratuities as paid. If not it will show how much you will owe. I guess I should’ve said crew incentive of instead of gratuities. Same thing.

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Deleted

2 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

Has anyone been able to make Dine My Way reservations for cruises besides the next one? I can only make reservations for my first cruise but not for the 2 later cruise.

 

During the webinar the question was asked about how far in advance DMY reservations can be made & they said on any cruise booked currently up to 2023.

Earlier today I was able to make reservations for the same time every day for my next two cruises in January/February 2022 and October, 2022. A few minutes ago I went back in to change the time on the October one and got an error message so I couldn’t do it. I think the original reservation I made is still there but I’m not sure. I was not able to make any dinner reservations for January 2023.

I have a free special dinner for the October 2022 cruise so I tried to make a specialty restaurant reservation for that one and the app wants me to pay so I don’t know what’s going on with that.

18 hours ago, Lucky TGO said:

Hi to all my Cruise Critic friends,

Right now I’m at the back of The Rowboat listening to music from the 50s it doesn’t get much better than this. Today it’s going to be in the 90s 😁. I will be cruising around Cape Cod today happy happy!! 
The Captain of The Rowboat,

Tony
 

I just downloaded a bunch of music from the 50s onto my iPhone and iPad from the iTunes Store. I had no idea that was even available. Love being able to listen to it while driving in the car.

Sometimes transatlantic cruises stop in Iceland. I have been there twice and both times were on transatlantic repositioning cruises.

1 hour ago, maggie777 said:

I have not received these notifications in over a year. Several calls to PCL have not helped. I get my info from Cruise Critic.

I haven’t received them either. I thought I had the problem solved about a year ago after changing my email address because Princess said that was the problem. I got one after that and none since. I didn’t receive any information about the early booking yesterday except here on CC.

For the Captain’s Circle credit it’s one for each segment so two for the cruise. Same with the minibar set ups. I’m not sure about the Internet minutes. Sometimes depends on who’s in charge in the Internet Cafe. You only get one loyalty on board credit regardless of number of segments. 

3 hours ago, trbarton said:

interesting how some Elite get notified like yourself & others like myself never hear anything. 

I don’t know if this will help but I didn’t get the elite emails or any emails from Princess for years. I tried calling them and I tried talking to the captain circle host on board and nothing did any good. Finally one time I called and the person I talked with said the problem was probably my AOL email address. She said Princess has problems with AOL and email. I changed my email to an alternate one and have been receiving emails from Princess lever since. If you have an alternate email address you might call Princess and switch email addresses.

Yes

Will not cruise if vaccines are not required.

I’m elite on Princess. This time last year I was on a HAL ship, the Zuiderdam, for a one-week cruise in the Caribbean. It was my first HAL cruise since the early 2000s. I thought the food was much better than on Princess. I usually get inside cabins and on HAL I was upgraded to an obstructed view cabin which included a sofa. I never get upgraded on Princess.  I was very impressed with the HAL passenger services people. American Airlines lost my luggage and I was without it for the entire week. The people on HAL did everything they could to help track down my luggage and they were the ones who were able to track it to a hotel where American had left it and it was waiting for me in the HAL terminal at the end of the cruise. The only drawback I saw on the HAL cruise with a lack of entertainment. I was disappointed in that.

The Sapphire Princess was my favorite for a long time until Princess sent the ship to Asia. I loved the wide wraparound promenade deck, the covered pool and smaller restaurants. Now the Royal and the Sky are my favorites. I’ve never felt crowded on either one and I like the larger buffet. My last cruise before Covid was on the Sky in February and I thought the ship was beautiful.

I don’t know about US certified doctors but I remember being told on the ultimate ship tour that the doctors on board had to have either ICU or emergency room experience. I kind of think it was two years experience but I’m not absolutely sure of that. We were also told that the number of doctors on board was regulated by the number of passengers. Royal class ships have more passengers and require more doctors, nurses, etc. There were three doctors on board at that time.

Yes, the Sapphire Princess has midship stairs. I think the Grand is now the only Grand class or above Princess ship that doesn’t. I don’t know about the Pacific, Coral, or Island. The Royal and Regal did not have them to start out with but they have been added.

Since I live alone and pretty much stay home all the time I have really enjoyed following and reading this thread. Thanks to all of you who have contributed.

I have never received one. I have been elite for years and have over 100 cruise credits with Princess and I have never received one. I have called Princess I have talk to the Captain Circle person at Princess and I have talk to the Captain Circle host on cruises. None of it is ever done any good. I’ve given up on them.

10 hours ago, Ombud said:

Then WHY was I taken off it????

I think the problem here is that the Enchanted TA in the fall of 2021 was canceled and the ship was changed to head for Singapore. I was on that cruise also and it was canceled and I received $15 goodwill offering. I think the OP just has the date mixed up between 2020 and 2021. The Enchanted is still shown is doing a TA from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale in 2020 although we don’t know if it will happen or not. The Enchanted was originally supposed to also do a TA in 2021 that was canceled so they could send the ship to Singapore.