GuardCruisers

Sometimes it depends on the ship and the size of the cafe vs. the number of passengers.  Generally, in the Caribbean and Tahiti, we purchased the cards and used all of the punches.  Cafe was easy to get too and rarely had more than 1-2 people in line.  Last spring we went to Alaska with three of us in a cabin and I don't think I went to the cafe more than twice.  Less than 1 card worth.  Issue was way to slow a line, and the cafe was not close to convenient to our cabin.  Just didn't seem worth it.  Just enjoyed the room service coffee with our own flavored cream and small bottles of Baileys.

Normally, by the time I get done with "coffee drinks" in the morning, beers throughout the day and cocktails in the evening, I can come pretty close to the 15 limit.  However, I just did the PBP in Alaska.  On a normal day I would not come close to 15, but probably close to break-even.  I would have to rethink the package if in Alaska or similar.

In the tropics?  Yep, PBP every time!

The Star has the USB outlets in the bedside lamps.

Can someone remind me of the back-to-back rules?  Are you allowed to do BtB on the same ship from the same US port?

Oh, my gosh!   I LITERALLY just put a similar post on the Celebrity page!

We have sailed many times on Princess.  Overall satisfied, but looking to see what else is out there.

For those who have sailed both Princess and Celebrity, what are the big differences, if any, that you have experienced?

Off the ship yesterday in Seattle.  All in all, it was a great trip!  Ship is in good repair, food was fine, service from all staff we interacted with was excellent, and we had PLENTY of butter at every single meal!  Thank you, Princess!

We board tomorrow.  Leave some booze on the ship!

So, we have never tipped the head waiter/guy at the door.  We tip our actual waiter at the table (guy who takes the orders) and his assistant (young man who lugs all of the food up). 

1 hour ago, partybarbie said:

We also tip at the end, however, on our recent B2B cruises, I tipped small amounts at the end of the first leg.  On the second and third legs we received (without asking) wine glasses, extra pool towels, spa robes, and window seats (at a table for two) every night in anytime dining.  I guess a lot of people aren't tipping extra at all.  The service was good before we tipped, but the tipping took it to another level.  

Exactly.  We have been on many cruises, the service was good and on the first few we just tipped at the end.  When I started to tip part of it at the start, the service level went way up.  As it says "To INSURE" not "to hope".  I am happy with our arrangements.

This will start a firestorm...................I tip our headwaiter in the MDR on the first night, as well as his assistant.  Matter of fact, I quietly give the assistant a $50 bill because I know it will be him who is lugging all of my selections up all of those stairs.  I tend to try some of everything, and two of some things, so he has a lot of trays.

Some will call it a bribe, I call it To Insure Prompt/Proper Service.  Tip (s).

I also tip our room steward a $50 bill when we first meet him and explain that my wife is on vacation and that I prefer to never have her hear the word "no".  We have yet to ever be disappointed.

Heading to the bank now to get some $50 bills............we sail Sunday.

We sail out on Sunday in an inside cabin.

We were just called by Princess and offered a complimentary upgrade to an outside cabin.  Wonderful offer, but we have a scooter as part of our travel, so we are staying with the SADA inside cabin we booked.

The upgrade fairy is working today though!

3 of us traveling to Alaska.  Ports are Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Victoria.  One traveler has to use a mobility scooter.  Looking for some excursions on our own to areas close-in to the ports.  Obviously we can do walk-arounds in Ketchikan and Skagway, and the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau.  What are some other things folks have done that didn't require expensive excursions through the cruise line?  Thanks for any advice.  

Can you go to Burro Creek Lodge in Skagway on your own, or only through an excursion package?

Can you do Burro Creek Lodge on your own, or only through an excursion through the ship?  I cannot find a website for them.

Loved following your journey.  We board the Star next Sunday in Seattle.

We leave next Sunday on the Star.  Will be looking for these tasty treats!  Thank you for posting!

We sailed the original Regal in the Caribbean, 1992?

It has been years since we sailed on Holland, but back then, Holland, IMHO, had both better food and better shows.  The Holland cruises were also a tad more expensive.  For us though, it came down to the vibe on the two lines.  Loved the refined, better food and wonderful Broadway type shows on Holland, but it is an older crowd.  For us, Princess fits our fun-loving lifestyle better and just seems "funner".

We are heading out of Seattle on May 19.  We live just a couple of hours out of Seattle and were planning to drive in and arrive at the port around 11 AM - Noon.  Boarding time shows as 1 PM.

Today we received an email from Princess that discusses a "new" boarding time policy.  It has our deck scheduled for 1:45, and not to arrive early.  We were hoping to board early and get to know the ship a bit before the 4 PM departure out of Seattle.  But, if we can't, we can't.

Is this a new policy?  I have seen a number of posts regarding when folks arrive to board and they are all over the place.  

Thanks in advance for any recent experiences.

Just planning my daily walks...............

Where are specialty coffees available on the Star?

I have been looking for info on different pages to see what the shore access is in ports.  We are sailing with a scooter.

Can anyone answer how the Star normally makes port at Ketchikan, Skagway, Juneau, and Victoria?

13 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Not on a Princess ship. Perhaps you were on HAL or some other line.

Nope, Tahitian Princess.  Pretty sure I can recall cruise lines and ships.  We were amazed and astounded at how inexpensive buying liquor on board was.  

9 hours ago, GuardCruisers said:

Thank you!  I did find it with your help.  Yep, things are not like they used to be!  Wow, high price for 1/2 of a fifth.  Not such a good deal anymore.

Last time we sailed (Tahiti, 2006?) we could order a liter of Stoli vodka for $20.  A liter of Crown Royal for about the same, maybe a bit less.  That was LITERS, not 1/2 of a 1/5!

6 hours ago, memoak said:

or Oregon where the liquor prices are set by the state - if something goes on sale it is on sale everywhere

LOVE Oregon prices.  Will be doing some shopping tomorrow.