Ombud

@Strauss1020 I stand corrected. I'm on night 14 of a 21 night cruise from Sydney to Yokohoma & there has not been a production show with a story line. Just 2 'variety' shows to date; plus pianists, magicians, comedians, and a hypnotist. OPAt least they shortened the shows to only 30 minutes to fit in 3 a night. Gotta find the positives.

@nzrainbow (also posted on Au/NZ board) where did it drop off? Hoping to get near North Quay ferry stop or Anzac plaza

@nzrainbow where did it drop off? Hoping to get near North Quay ferry stop or Anzac plaza

This is where you lose me. PLEASE EXPLAIN! I always paid for gratuities, drinks, and learned how to avoid wifi fees as 250 minutes was never enough. I still pay for gratuities, drinks, and wifi in port. The wifi change was instituted by a change in technology not a money grab by any of the cruise corporations. So, in effect, no change. Is it because if I want those awful over-the-top ice creams I can only have them for free in MDR after lunch & dinner? Is it that I have to get to the theater early to get the seat I want just like before? Or is it the constant advertising for the add-on packages? Yes that is irritating but so easy to ignore A big change (actually huge) is that I no longer get a warmed block of tofu when wanting protein? I appreciate the vegan menu. But to get back to OPs issue: The cruise lines have evolved. Suggesting Azamara or Viking

Help me understand what the change is: > Less dressy / stagnant 👍 > Have to purchase Plus or Premier to have gratuities, wifi, drinks rolled into fare. Ok. Really confused here as I ALWAYS paid gratuities & drinks (so no real change). > Is this just re-upping the b?!?hing about those 250 minutes at daily up speed? 😂 You LIKED dial up speed? The entire world moved on. > different entertainment / activities? 👍 > focus on vegan & vegetarian dishes? 👍 PCL isn't my parents cruise line anymore & Princess just wants / needs to attract a different / younger clientele. I wish all of you who long for 'the good old days' to find whatever you feel is the best value for your $€£¥. There's no going back

That's subjective. I prefer the new Princess. It was getting stagnant (just as long as were mentioning our totals on PCL only .... it's 55 for me with 4 booked on PCL / fewer on other lines as they're upping their game maybe on the new sphere class / we're RCCL when family going / cannot get my early 40s son to book anything without an amusement park 😅🤣😂). But it's great that you found a cruise line that doesn't feel like a downgrade for you. Me: I actually like not having to pack a suitcase for a 3 hr formal night 3-4 times on a cruise. I prefer just one 22" case and slumming in jeans, flats, and shirts. Will upgrade to 'fancy top / pants' for that formalish night. Just give me a good beer or glass of wine, guitarist or horns, and some lecture of some sort (cruise next week is all about pirates). Will miss SD Gastropub for dinner (that tomato soup & grilled cheese is so good) but at least they're keeping the Irish Pub 🍿

Did they have the make your own sushi, udon miso, and Ramen station in the buffet?? Love that menu in post#6!! (Just booked Singapore -> Tokyo [Yokohama] February 2026)

Its not unlimited on HAL. It's 1 or 2 nights based on cruise length per post #30. I'm still confused as to how this is different from Plus / Premier other than replacing over the top sundaes with excursion OBC. Adding: is this bc not enough ppl book Plus / Premier OR ppl don't drink as much as thought so it's more profitable OR CC is getting ready to increase packages across all lines ? (C, HAL, PCL etc)

Can you shed some light on the Princess shuttle? Prepay only? Other options? Are there busses waiting at the dock or do I need to buy a ticket from the excursion desk onboard?

Can you shed some light on the recent Princess shuttle? Prepay only? Other options??

Any info on: HOTEL PRINCIPADO? Looks like its close to the terminal.

@Cruise Raider FWIW I agree 100%. Wish I had known about this before booking but not much I can do about it now

Booked 2 this morning & no OBC. Well outside of FCDs. Will need that shareholder OBC but they know I'll repeat without any promo code

There was last November. See posts 165 & 171

So it's like a loan .... maybe check your FICO to see if it shows up??

Actually I am getting 250 obc on all of my future cruises that I can use however I want (onboard or not-to-be-stated) meaning that at the very least I, a standard fare cruiser, can disembark without a bill and recently with $s. So I've gotten $1100 and getting $750 so far for a total of $1850 on an investment of $650. I consider that pretty sweet!! Adding: that's since October 2022. So 18 months??

@Thrak thinking of it. Thats why I haven't booked anything for the summer. Its more like one of these but with a 7 lb (his) & 20 lb (mine) dogs

Best stock 'dividend'??? The stock does not currently pay a dividend. It previously (several years ago) paid $ .25 per share. That's why dividend was in quotes 😅🤣😂 I got $1100 obc for owning shares that I bought for 650 with at least another 500 this year.

One of our dog friends is doing just that ... Driving from SF Bay Area up to Canada thru to Alaska and explore in a converted minivan. I'd go but not great at car camping. Will still be a summer to remember / bucket list trip

My upcoming cruise is sold as a 2 day + 19 day but I booked as a 21 day. Do I get 1 or 2 minibars??

Best stock 'dividend' out there! Bought at 6.50 in 10/2022, have received 1100 so far, getting 250 in 11 days, and another 250 this fall. All tax free!! Of course, the incentive to continue with CC lines has worked for them but it also works for me 🤑 Someone said they shortened the timelines for applying for it. Used to be whenever but now it's must cruise within 3 months???

Yes Future Cruise Compensation (FCC) is my money but it doesn't have OBC. Future Cruise DEPOSIT (FCD) is also my money and it comes with OBC. If the cruise has extended (overnight) stays in a port that has expensive excursions I've gotten a lot more OBC (Lima for instance had an overnight stay, $2000~ overnight excursion to Manchu Picchu, voyage had a very large amount of extra OBC but I didn't have to go to Manchu Picchu to get the OBC.) forget exact amt but it was $××××

I always have at least 400+. That's 150 from FCD and 250 from shares. Add in a Specialty Dining voucher on my next cruise. But it's been a few years since a CVP had obc to gift out. My previous one retired 12/31/22 and that was the end of that.

Yep. 1000% Some places are just better off as land based trips.

Do you have insurance in case its lost or delayed? Mine gives $500 to cover until bags catch up. Frankly if I can find a Marks & Spencer i can probably replace clothes & wine for $500