pablo222

So apparently I'm missing something when I drink my Thunderbird out of a red solo cup?:p

Might I suggest a nice holiday upgrade?

http://www.basspro.com/Rednek-Red-Party-Cup/product/12090615/

An email for our upcoming Coral Princess cruise states that it's available onboard.

I was going to order one, just to avoid the crowds and to have it from day one.

I have been hearing a lot about flashing toilet issues and that the "no flash" zone apparently is in the AFT of the ship.

I often flash in the rest room. I moon from time-to-time, as well.

I'm not exactly sure how I would use a no-flash-zone rest room.

Regal Princess to arrive early for maiden voyage

Always had the wine glasses available to me from my cabin steward, the only type of glass they don't have are martini, but then I borrow two from the bar and keep them handy to enjoy martinis on the balcony. Has always worked for me on every cruise line. I like a drink on my balcony rather than sitting at a bar pre-dinner.

I am even worse. I trade it for bottled water which probably is worth about $3.

One can trade the mini bar setup for two coffee cards.

Those are worth about $30 each.

A nice trade would be to speciality dinner for two -- about

the same 'price'.

This would add something for people who don't drink alcahol

to trade for, without losing their shirts.

Our you could get a couple glasses from the bar and barrow a corkscrew from the barkeep or your room steward and not incur the corkage fee.

In most cases now -- if you bring more than one bottle on board -- you will be charged 'corkage' at embarcation. So, you won't be able to get glasses from your steward to avoid it.

It is nice to "schmooze" with the officers, although we have never been at the captain's table. However, one luncheon with another officer led to a private visit to the bridge, which was very enjoyable.

A few weeks ago I was on Coral, and I was the second most

traveled guest. I guess all the heavy hitters were at home

posting on cruise critic...

Anyway, I come in, get my picture taken with the captain, and

sit at the table with my name tag.

There is an empty chair, and no host at the table.

For a few minutes, I was wondering who the host would be.

Then, of course, it dawned on me, the top three would

be seated with the captain. I had a good laugh at myself

for not figuring that out in advance.

Some of the lunches are nice, but often one of more of the

heavy hitters are self-important boors. As was the case

this time.

Unfortunately, I (male) was alone, and boor (female) were

alone, and people assumed we were together. Oy.

On our just completed three-day coastal cruise on the Golden Princess, we received a letter informing us that due to the length of this cruise, a most traveled luncheon would not be held. Instead, we were offered the choice of complimentary dining in the Crown Grill, Sabatini's, or the Crab Shack. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner in Sabatini's with our two grandkids (half-price) and appreciated the gesture from Princess very much.

While I'm Elite and love the benefits the actual value of some of the benefts you list is grossly inflated. I'm not a big alcohol drinker so I trade my mini bar set up for all Diet Coke. Actual cash value of the 2 12 packs I carried on myself (equal to the minibar) about $6

I think Princess needs to trade the mini alcohol bottles for soda at a 2 for 1 value not an even 1 for 1 for a fairer trade value.

 

The Internet is a nice perk and I do use the laundry service but if it wasn't free I'd just wait until I got home. The wine tasting has no value to me as I don't drink wine

I try to have my clothes laundered during the cruise,so I don't go home with dirty laundry.

I read some of the other -- perhaps unreasonable -- posts.

I send my stuff out about every three days --- when the underwear

situation looks risky.

My laundry bill was around $40 (total) on a recent 11 day cruise.

This reminds me of a story about my childhood best friend. During college she spent a year in Switzerland on scholarship and picked up the habit of using her fork in the European style with the knife used to push the food towards it.

When I was on coral, the gent at the next table was using his

thumb to push food onto his fork. We both had reservations,

so I got to see him frequently.

I (jokingly) asked the head waiter if he could speak to the gent

about it, but no go.

I think Princess could improve their policies with regard to this, and probably improve the hardware on the doors, but I wonder how they would react to people blocking the door with their own devices as some above have suggested.

I think some security officer would visit your cabin, and either

simply ask you no to secure the door, or hold the device for you

until the end of the cruise.

I was once with a group, and one group member was quite a pest.

I unplugged my phone to avoid their calls.

This caused a visit from the security officer to advise me that the

phone was safety equipment, and I wasn't allowed to unplug it.

I find it hard to "just think"

On the Emerald there were 2900 passengers and 200 cruisecriters.

So if one saw about 15 passengers 1 would be a critic.

So, I could simply walk around thinking that everyone I encounter

is self-important, and pretty much be right?

This is different than the one people are complaining about right?

Wouldn't you want to form your own opinion about someone?

And -- if there are a lot of complaints about the cruise director on your upcoming cruise --

what action are you going to take? Cancel?

I was impressed with BRett as he hosted a lot of menial activities

(like trivia) that are usually delegated to low-level cruise staff.

And, if you were mentally challenged, and never won at trivia -- you could ask him

for a prize anyway.

What I am trying to say is..someone doing daily bags of Elite Laundry will stuff it up for others.

I'm elite. I try to have my clothes laundered during the cruise,so I don't go home with dirty laundry. Especially when I am alone, so I don't greet Mrs. Pablo with a suitcase full of laundry. There are some things I won't send out -- like Tommy Bahama silk shirts. But, I'm thinking of trying on in the 'Dry Cleaning' process next cruise.

These are all my things; princess invites me to use the service, and doesn't impose a limit.

So, what's the problem?

Also if there is some issues about the cruise one can go to the officer and complain.

And, then people wonder (and complain that) the officers don't

show up voluntarily. Too funny.

Or changing...

People here never change.

Will Princess follow in the footsteps of Celebrity and make changes to their loyalty program?

Well, since princess mis-estimated the demand for short cruises,

and is giving them away again -- there should be a lot of people

achieving elite.

So, I would look for a reduction in benefits. Perhaps a dollar limit

on laundry, etc.

I agree! I would also add that there were 3600+ passengers to consider on any given day of the cruise. CC members are not a command performance for them. Enjoy meeting your CC roll call members and let the crew do their jobs.

A code alpha is responded to by security and medical. Security has a "hard key" to open a deadbolt. Since security is constantly walking the ship, they are generally the first to arrive.

...seems like more than a rumor.

Princess has announced that they have reinstated a 100% refund of January "Get Away" fares from LA and FL. They will give a credit for 100% of the fare on a future 7 day cruise. Is this a good deal?:)

I looked at the florida itineraries, and did not find them appealing.

I like to 'spend' my vacation time carefully, and I think I could get

better ports with only a day or two more vacation time on many

7-day cruises.

One lady a few cabins down from us (but with a different cabin attendant) had a crew member enter on two different days, and was mostly undressed each time.

So, it didn't occur to her after the first incident to make

use of the do-not-disturb sign?