MikeD4134

It keeps your belongings dry.  Luggage is not protected frrom the weather, put on a cart parked out side in the rain, cargo holds fill with water during storms.  Sunny days not much use.

14 hours ago, MJC said:

Here is what Princess website says:

In my case, my printed Excelsior pass shows the dates and type of vax, but the app does not show that info, it only shows that I've had three. I haven't scanned my pass QR code to see what it displays or if it works. I suggest you check what the QR code scan displays before you rely on it. 

 

Separately from boarding, I was recently in Canada and I had to show proof of vax to eat indoors. Only half of the restaurants we visited had QR scanners, the rest wanted to see the CDC card. So depending on the policies of the countries you visit, your CDC card might be needed too.

 

Tap on the image of your Excelsior Pass, the second screen has your QR code, and a spot to tap for vaccination details, the details include Date of vacination, Type, the Vacination site and lot number for your vacine.  Everything you need is available in the APP

10 hours ago, caribill said:

 

If the brother is now a US Citizen, the quoted sentence does not indicate the birth certificate could not be a foreign one.

 

It does not say "US citizens by birth". It just says "US Citizens".

 

So if the phone rep read that information, it is no surprise that the phone rep said it would be acceptable.

You need proof of U.S. citizenship, a German Birth certificate is not proof of U.S. citizenship. 

This information is from the Princess website.  Nowhere does it state that Foriegn Birth Certificates are acceptable. The Last sentence on this page clarifies that this information is guidance and who you should contact for official answers.  There are many places and times as one goes thru the process of booking a cruise, the cruiser is notified that it is their responiblity to have all proper documentation.  Including warnings that if not in posession of proper documents you will be denied boarding and no refund given.  This OP's problem is not a Princess problem it is his problem for not doing enough to assure that his brother had the right docs.  There is a link in the middle of this information to U.S. Customs and Border protection website, Princess makes it pretty easy to get the correct information.

Travel Document Requirements*

Ensure your name appears exactly as shown on your travel document. If the name does not match, contact your Travel Advisor (Travel Advisor must call in corrections if the booking was made through a travel agency) or the Princess Cruises Reservations Department if you booked directly with Princess, at 1-800-PRINCESS (1-800-774-6237). Please provide Princess Cruises with this information at least 45 days prior to your cruise. Failure to do so will result in delayed check-in and, possibly, denied boarding.

For non-US passport or non-US permanent residents disembarking in a US Port, the US Department of Homeland Security requires that before your cruise, you provide the address at which you will be staying in the US, post-cruise.

Travel Document requirements vary by destination and your citizenship. Below are document guidelines for both domestic and international voyages. Once a booking is made, you may view voyage specific requirements on the Cruise Personalizer.

Document Requirements for US and Canadian Passport Holders

A valid passport is required for all international itineraries including Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, Panama Canal (partial and full transit), Caribbean voyages that visit Martinique or Guadeloupe, South Pacific, Tahiti and World Cruises. Although US and Canadian passport holders are not currently required to sail with a passport on most domestic itineraries (including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico), Princess highly recommends they are carried.

If your cruise requires international air travel, including flights between the US and Canada, the Caribbean, Bermuda or Mexico, you will be required to present a valid passport when departing from or returning to the US by air. Even if your cruise does not involve air travel outside the US, should you be required to unexpectedly depart a vessel prior to the end of the sailing, a passport would be required to re-enter the US by air.  As such, Princess Cruises continues to strongly recommend that all guests are in possession of a valid passport.

For domestic itineraries for which a passport is not required, US and Canadian passport holders must present one of the following valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) compliant travel documents at cruise check-in:

• Passport Book: Recommended travel document
• US Passport Card
• US or Canadian Issued Enhanced Driver's License (EDL)
• US or Canadian Issued Identification Card (issued to minors and non-drivers)
• NEXUS Card Air travel is limited to participating airports
• SENTRI and FAST cards
• I-872 American Indian Card or Enhanced Tribal ID Card (ETC)

PASSPORT REQUIREMENT WHEN MINORS TRAVEL WITH ONE ADULT ON VOYAGES GOVERNED BY THE U.S. WESTERN HEMISPHERE TRAVEL INITIATIVE (includes travel within BERMUDA, CANADA, CARIBBEAN, HAWAII, MEXICO, UNITED STATES) When minors are traveling with only one adult 21 years of age or older, Princess requires that all guests must be in possession of a valid passport. We have implemented this requirement because we want to ensure that your party remains together should an emergency arise that requires one or more in your party to be disembarked in a non-U.S. port. We cannot guarantee that all members of your party will be allowed to disembark with just a WHTI-compliant document or birth certificate. Failure to present a valid passport for all guests traveling together will result in denial of boarding without refund of the cruise or cruisetour fare.

US citizens traveling on U.S. roundtrip or “closed-loop” voyages may also travel with an original certified birth certificate presented together with a valid government-issued photo identification. These voyages include:
 

• Alaska roundtrip from San Francisco or Seattle (roundtrip Seattle cruisetours excluded)
• Canada/New England roundtrip from New York
• Caribbean roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale^ or New York
• Hawaii roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco
• Mexico roundtrip from Los Angeles or San Francisco

^Voyages that call to Central or South America are excluded and only Passports or WHTI compliant documents are accepted. All voyages that call to Martinique or Guadeloupe require a passport.

For information regarding WHTI compliant documents, visit the US Customs and Border Protection website.

US Permanent Residents are required to present one of the following at cruise check-in:

• Permanent Resident Card (ARC/I-55 card)
• Temporary ARC/I-55 card and valid government-issued photo identification
• Expired ARC/I-55 card and form I-797 and valid government-issued photo identification
• Passport with “ARC” stamp in the passport

Canadian Permanent Residents are required to present a valid passport and Landed Permanent Resident Card at cruise check-in.

Non-US/Non-Canadian Passport Holders: A valid passport is required for all non-US and non-Canadian citizens for all itineraries.

Passport validity: Many countries require passports be valid for six months after the completion of your travel. Check your passport to verify it will be valid for this period of time. Please ensure the name on the passport matches the name on the booking. Additionally, make certain that your passport contains blank pages for entry and exit endorsements and any visas that may be required. If necessary, allow sufficient time to renew your passport and/or obtain additional pages. US and Canadian passport holders sailing on a domestic cruise should ensure passports or other travel documents are valid through the completion of travel. There may be occasions where we retain your passport at check-in. This is to ensure that you are not inconvenienced by immigration clearance during your cruise and where face to face inspection is not required. We recommend you bring a second government issued photo ID if you wish to have one with you while in port.

There are over 7,000 Application Acceptance locations in the US. You may locate the one closest to you by going to the US Department of State website. The United States Postal Service also provides passport services. To obtain this information, go to the US Postal website to find a Post Office location, fees, and to download a passport application.

For information regarding Passport applications, please visit Department of State travel website or call the National Passport Information Center at 877-487-2778 (M-F, 5am - 5pm PST).

*This information is provided as general guidance. Because governmental travel requirements change periodically, you must check with your Travel Advisor or the government authorities for all countries you will visit to determine or verify the actual requirements at the time of sailing. Princess assumes no responsibility for advising guests of such requirements.

7 minutes ago, Cruise Suzy said:

Sorry but there was a change in policy. I used my shore excursion credit immediately after booking a cruise in November, 2021. The shore excursion was $149.95 pp. I had two $100 credits and was charged $49.95.  A friend booked the same cruise, same excursion in January and was not charged anything for the excursion. Both excursions were booked online. We later booked other excursions. My purchases were credited with my remaining $100, hers were credited with her remaining $50.05 - so we both paid the same amount in the end.

 

Your example is confusing, where in it did either of you lose part of your benefit.

First of all, I am amazed at many of the posted questions, the subject matter many times is complicated or something that changes often or very important (as in if you get it wrong you might be denied boarding).  Why people do not go to the source, the cruise company, the Department of State, the government sites for countries you are visiting and get answers in writng, baffles me.  Instead they ask strangers on this website, and as you all know many times there are different answers from different people which leads to confusion or possibly someone making a bad choice.  Therefore, when I see something that is very wrong I have no problem pointing that out.

Second, I love to stir the pot, and see how the discussion goes, learned a lot this way.

12 hours ago, zgscl said:

They are not making it up. I first noticed that it had changed in March and posted about it here. The change could have happened earlier but everyone who responded to that thread was pleasantly surprised by the change. When the restart first happened you could only use the credit on a single shore excursion. In fact the HAL website still says you can only use it towards the highest excursion. While in practice HAL has been allowing use on multiple tours for some time now, I do not think anyone is maliciously pulling stuff out of thin air, they very easily could have gotten the wrong information directly from HAL. 

 

 

Also, FYI the document you attached on your post includes both your and your spouse's full name, booking number and last 4 digits of your credit card. Not sure if you intended to share that much detail but I would highly suggest redacting. 

The website says that HAL will apply credits to the highest priced tour 1st, not apply the credits only to the highest priced tour.

Thanks for the heads up on the personal information, I reveiwed it before posting and decided I was ok with it.

18 hours ago, canadarocks said:

Just to clarify.... verifying a change in Holland America's policy is not the same as "knowing nothing about the subject". 🤐

Just to clarify there was no change in policy.  The 1st Time I used this perk was on the 2nd cruise of HAL's restart, never was the policy that you lose part of your benfit.

NCL gave me a free cruise 7 nights in the Caribbean included perks veranda cabin, Drink package, Gratuities, 4 Dinners free in the specialty resturants plus some other smaller items, after 7 days I disembarked from the ship and was for the only time in my life angry about a cruise.  Their service is substandard at best.

On 3/4/2022 at 4:50 PM, highseaschick said:

Does anyone know if you do not use the full $100 on a shore excursion if HA will credit the rest on another shore excursion at another port? Many shore excursions are only $29.95 or so and I would hate to waste the credit.  

Yes you can spread the creidt over multiple tours, I have done it twice in October 2021 and on an upcoming cruise if june.  I did nothing, purchased the tours I wanted and then HAL distributed the Credits across the tours.

I made my purchases online well before the cruise

I have no idea why folks answer questions when they know nothing about the subject.  Anybody who told you no, is as incorrect as one can be.

Tour Purchases fron HAL.docx

How I stay safe and not just on cruise ships.

1. Fully Vacinated including 2 Booster Shots

2. Avoid Crowded indoor locations

3. Always wear a N-95 mask when inside, on public transportation, or other places where social distancing is not possible

4. On my latest cruise on Eurodam in October the ship was only 1/2 full so it was pretty easy to social distance, if your ship has the option of renting Cabana's, we did on Eurodam and therefore had complete privacy for meals, hanging out, or drinking.  When possible eat meals outside, in your cabin or on your balcony

5. Take every opportunity to wash your hands and use sanitizer

I hope some of this is helpful, I have every underlying condition and if infected probably have no chance of surviving, but I will not stop living my life in a manner I enjoy, I just take every precaution when engaging in risky behavior.

Where did you get that 5% number.  HAL's policy is everybody 12 and older must be vacinated.  Children under 5 are OK, and 5 to 11can apply for an exemption, not an automatic approval.  I hope HAL will notify cruisers, if anybody is on their ship is not vacinated so we may cancel our trip, as I will not travel with unvacinated people.

How many of the people in line to embark were at the pier at a time early then when they were scheduled to there?  This kind of issue is why i always enjoy my day where ever we are and board the ship about 2 1/2 jours before sail away.  I always just walk directly on the ship. 

My take is until Covid deaths drop to zero please keep the vacination and mask rules.  Look what happened as soon as Europe dropped the mask rules for flying, cancled flights because crew infection numbers skyrocked

Are we reallly discussing a 51 cent per day increase.  Please

Hello Kazu hope you are having a good day.  As you know we were canceled by HAL for our Volendam cruise.  We are sailing on June 22, 2022 on the New Statendam 14 Nights "Northern Isles" cruise. Always one to find a silver lining this new cruise allows us the celebrate our 34th aniverery on the cruise.

9 hours ago, kangforpres said:

 

Does it suck as bad as being a Ukrainian war refugee?

Did I mention anything about the poor folks in the Ukraine?  No, I simply commented that 12 hours online and on the phone canceling Flights, Tours, Hotels, Transfers, etc. was going to suck. Which it did.  I made no reference to HAL's decision, which I totaly agree with, nor did I equate my situation with the suffering of the people of Ukraine.   Where do you get off judging me.  The folks that reacted to this post agreeing with this person who knows nothing about me, same question, Where do you get off judging me.

3 hours ago, KirkNC said:

All those unaffected by the decision think it’s wonderful.  All those who had a cruise canceled out from under them are not as magnanimous.  Those who think HAL is doing it for free are being misled.

My cruise was canceled and I have no problem with their decsion.  Yes it sucks that I had to spend 12 hours online and on the phone yesterday, canceling tours, hotels, flights, transfers, insurance, and then redo all for a new cruise.  Life is life, one reason I am always happy is when I get up every morning, just like you I make a plan for the day, where I differ from most people is I know I will change that plan 100's of times, most people think their plan is going to work.  This is not a judgement of Kirk just a general observation.  I have no idea how Kirk thinks.

I am on the May 29th sailing and this sucks.

U.S. Sailings Questions & Answers

Everything you need to know about current health protocols and travel requirements on sailings from the U.S.

Your health and safety are our highest priorities. We are working with government authorities to determine specific guidelines and protocols for 2022 cruises to Alaska, Europe and other destinations. We will share final details and requirements between 90-30 days prior to sailing.

Updated March 14, 2022

Until further notice, these are the requirements for our cruise guests on sailings from the U.S.:

Vaccines: Guests ages 5 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated.

Testing: All guests who are up to date with their vaccines may take their test within 3 days prior to sailing. Up to date means a person has received all recommended COVID-19 vaccinations, including any booster dose(s), when eligible. If a guest is fully vaccinated but not up to date with their vaccines (i.e., is eligible for a booster but has not received one), they must take their pre-cruise COVID-19 test within 2 days prior to sailing.

Masks: Masks are recommended on board but not required. However, masks may be required in certain venues and events. Masks are required during the embarkation and debarkation process and on transportation during shore excursions and to/from the ship. 

Some more information fron the FAQ's

Updated March 14, 2022

Vaccinations & Testing

For everyone’s safety and peace of mind, all guests must be fully vaccinated and provide a negative viral COVID-19 test taken before embarkation. If you’re required to take a test before you return to your home country, we’ll provide one for you at no charge.
Review our FAQs to learn more.

Fake news about no test required.

11 hours ago, john2003 said:

Interesting, getting the discount iùn obc on board has never been a problem for us when we prebooked. Is this a new emerging issue?

No it is not an issue.  I was on Eurodam in October and pre bought 3 dinners in the Pinnacle and 1 in the Tarmerand.  Yes, up front I paid full price, and automaticcly they applied the credit to my onboard account, with no communication for me.

5 hours ago, memoak said:

The extra entree in club class is a set item. You cannot order whatever strikes your fancy

My 1st Princess cruise is this fall, so I do not not know if the service is different from HAL.  On HAL many times on my 120 Days on board, when I want something off the menu, I ask the day before and every time as long as they had the ingredents they fulfilled my request.  I do not push the envelope too far, I do this usually one time per cruise.

7 hours ago, DaveOKC said:

The attachment you provided clearly states the 15 beverage limit and that this includes soft drinks and coffee and .....

I just read that attachment and it very clearly states that the Elite has unlimited non alcholic drinks, the limit only applies to alchol.

If I ever need to take food onto a cruise ship, I am not getting on that ship.