Ombud

54 minutes ago, HotRoot said:

On 4/28/2024 at 2:09 PM, Ombud said:

The table is sometimes there but they just want to check that it isn't hard liquor or tawny port (yes I got it back at the end)

Why do they not allow tawny port?  We brought a bottle of tawny port onboard in New Zealand and nobody said a thing

Staff at table said fortified isn't allowed but that wasn't in New Zealand

5 minutes ago, STEVENJAN said:

I thought they confiscated any alcohol you bring on board at the ports. 

No. There's often a wine table right after security. In heavy wine producing areas (Chile, Argentina, France, Italy, Australia) they don't seem to care about 1 bottle of unfortified wine but charge $20 (A$30) for each bottle over that. Anyway that's been my experience.  YMMV

See you in January!!

7 minutes ago, memoak said:

If everyone took one glass for their stateroom and didn’t return them Vines would run out of glasses. Yes that is stealing. In every cabin I have been in regular wine glasses were in the cabin 

Well they weren't in mine so I grabbed one from Crooners. I am the lowlife that only cruises in a balcony, apparently suites set-ups are different 

17 hours ago, Hillmom said:

Also you must arm wrestle for a decent wine glass.  Apparently guests steal them....sigh.

I didn't "steal," I grabbed one for the bottle in my room bc I couldn't get a glass from my steward (he was too busy). I'm not waiting for a wine glass when they're within reach. Any old wine glass will do. Doesn't need to be Reidel.

Adding: It's still on the ship & I'm home now. If the ship wants to resolve this issue they can let stewards have clean wine glasses in their carts like they have clean highball glasses. They know the minibar is often traded for a bottle of wine (I traded for Charles & Charles Rose)

2 hours ago, Cruise Raider said:

... found Kendall Jackson Chardonnay at Vines and it’s included in the Plus package. Sure wish all the bars carried that over the Flowers Chardonnay.  ....

Kendall Jackson Chardonnay $12

Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay $40

Yeah, more expensive doesn't always mean preferred by individual palates. I prefer Whiskers Blake Tawny Port to Taylor's. (1st choice still Sandemans 20 yr)

Huh. Odd amount to do a card # check. Isn't that usually just $1?

2 hours ago, STEVENJAN said:

Is there a limit on how many bottles of wine we can bring on? I know it is one per person but we want to bring on more for an extended cruise. We didn't book the plus this time  ($6500.00) We are willing to pay the $20.00 corkage fee. No problem. We drink White Zinfandel and Riesling.  For a bottle on board they are like $40.00 each. I pay $5.00+ for a bottle from Winco and the local grocery. so $25.00 would be okay.  We take a glass to dinner and that is enough. We can drink a glass in the room or on the balcony. 

No and factor in that they tend to do 6 pours per bottle so you can factor that in the when determining costs. 

FWIW Kim Crawford Chardonnay is A$18 per glass. 6×18=A$108+18%. For a A$22 bottle. 

BUT my bottles tend to be a lot more (I just used KC as an example as it was the one I took to our roll call wine sharing event). I usually carryon 3+ and am prepared to pay corkage 

12 minutes ago, ernnnn said:

was charged just 1,50$

$1.50 or $1,500?

It should now be $×(the original amount) less the $1.50 (or $1,500) just paid. I have never been able to overpay. If I later change something (like lowering airfare) and have a credit then I am refunded that in a few days, but might have to contact my CVP to trigger it

ANA was Japanese 1st then English Sunday. But to be expected on a Japanese airline

I just ask my CVP. She extended one 4 months for me back when they were good for 24 months. But haven't asked her now that they're only good for 12 months. Still worth a shot 

Don't know if TAs can do it as they aren't Princess employees 

Carnival Corp lines:

Aida - German

Costa - Italian / English

CSSC - Mandarin 

All others (Carnival, Cunard, Princess, PO, POAU, Seabourn) - English everywhere in the world

Just off a 3 wk cruise on the Royal Princess and I saw everything from short shorts to fancy 'costumes' on formal night (think Cinderella not cosplay). The only thing I didn't see were kilts. But this was Australia to Japan 

Now I just need to figure out where to donate my formal dresses as they are obsolete-for-me

5 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I do drink wine almost every night - unless a beer would be more suitable or desirable.  Bottle values vary

I just have 1 glass wine with dinner but prefer my selection to theirs so I carry 1 for each 4 days onboard and trade the minibar for a mediocre-at-best one. Wish I could carry beer on too .... especially Pliny the Younger. But I've been stopped. So I wait until home to have a good beer. I don't like what I've tried. 

Odd thing is they don't care if I add 1 bottle in Australian or European ports. The table is sometimes there but they just want to check that it isn't hard liquor or tawny port (yes I got it back at the end)

14 hours ago, XBGuy said:

transporting wine on a commercial airline is a royal pain

Wine skins easily protect up to 3 bottles in a 22" suitcase (yes I was prepared to pay corkage but they didn't ask)

https://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-14969/Food-Bags/WineSkin

5 hours ago, Sprocket said:

We are also cruising in December-January my husband’s passport expires in May.  He’ll renew in October and then not have to worry about it for the next 10 years.  

Why are you waiting until October? To extend it just a couple of months??

Just off a 21 night cruise .... never had a show with a story line. Unfortunately seems to be the new norm. 

@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

4 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

It is the nickel and diming that is entering into everything

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 

3 hours ago, cruisinsince75 said:

Pay more but get less seems to be the new rule.     

13 minutes ago, Snaxmuppet said:

Princess doesn't seem to care about people... period!!!

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

1 hour ago, landnsea said:

Damn post a comment make a statement or voice your opinion up in here. Some of You People…..

... 19 years 38 Princess sailings this cruise line has changed greatly and not for the good. It is really going down hill from what it once was.  I miss the old Princess 

 

landnse 

John 

Seattle, Wa.

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 

🍿

13 hours ago, OzKiwiJJ said:

Did they not offer the Japanese "Always Available" MDR menu items on your cruise, as well as one or two Asian dishes in the main section of the menu?

 

We cruised on Diamond around Japan last November and I was in foodie heaven with all the Japanese/Asian selections in both the MDR and the buffet. 

 

But it very much depends on what your personal tastes are. I love Asian food, especially Japanese, so it suited me perfectly.  

 

However I have heard there are noticeable cutbacks on the ships sailing out of Australia this season nonot what I want to hear with a 110 night world cruise starting in a month's time!

 

 It would be interesting to hear if many people have noticed menu/buffet cutbacks on US-based cruises.

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)

1 hour ago, phabric said:

With Unlimited Specialty Dining, you will not be able to get any reservations.

 

With OBC for excursions, would you be able to use pre cruise to book any excursions?

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)