Grburkart

28 minutes ago, racj846 said:

 

I booked everything online. Once I reserved everything through their web site, I was contacted by a princess cruise coordinator. He took care of all my needs and requirements and arranged the hotels for me. He put me in the Hotel Esperia Presidente. I asked for two nights pre cruise and three nights post cruise. He had those arranged in minutes and, apparently, there is a princess desk at the hotel. 

It was all arranged by them. Made it easy and no TA. 

Also to add to this, transfers between airport/hotel/ship are all arranged as are the return legs of this service. 

Glenn

To edit this, when are you in Barcelona? I’ll be there in October for a sailing on the 13th. 

6 minutes ago, kennicott said:

 

It is 158 miles from Fairbanks to Mount Denali. It is 133 miles from Anchorage to Mount Denali. Having spent 5 winters in Fairbanks and having viewed the mountain from there and having lived now for 55 years in Anchorage and view the mountain almost every nice day, it is better from Anchorage. However, neither is very good. Best views are from the south side and a lot closer, unless you do the NPS tour on the north side into the National Park. Try the McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge on the south side.      

Thank you for that and I am envious of anyone who lives in Anchorage. What a marvellous place to live. I’ve lived in Anchorage for a few months and it’s probably my favourite city. Two of my favourite places are the City Diner and the back side if the airport (runway). 

Anyway, from the eyes of a tourist, Fairbanks is a unique place that deserves the attention of visitors. As far as McKinley goes, even if you’re at the foot of the mountain, it’s hit and miss whether you even get to see it, but I do agree with you that the Anchorage side of the mountain is the view of choice. 

Glenn

Please forgive me in advance but I’m relatively new to CC. I actually can’t believe that there’s so much Princess bashing on the Princess board. I’m proud to be sailing on Princess so it becomes disconcerting to me. 

If I don’t like something, I’ll change things to improve my situation but I sure wouldn’t begrudge others for their loyalties. 

Glenn

??? Huh???

Glenn

If it’s worth anything, on your princess cruise personalizer, at the bottom of the screen, there’s an online chat option. You can ask them that question. 

Sorry I can’t help you otherwise. 

Glenn

Straws are on my “things to buy” list. 

Drinking a milkshake with a paper straw is going to suck! Pun intended. 

Glenn

I have never cruised to Alaska but I drive there every couple years or so. I love both Fairbanks and Anchorage. I don’t now how regimented your time will be but there are certainly lots of things to do in both places. 

If I had to choose, I would choose Fairbanks because it’s in the interior of Alaska and you get to see Denali, aka Mt. McKinnley (sp?). Just a magnificent journey!

In Fairbanks, or just outside Fairbanks, there are the most wonderful hot springs. And just on the outskirts of Fairbanks is the town of North Pole. It’s like stepping into a Norman Rockwell scene. It’s Christmas there year round!

Can’t forget about the Riverboat Discovery either. It’s a great river tour, teaching you lots about the history and ways of life about the local people. 

And make sure you visit the Great Alaska Bowl Company! You can tour their factory. 

Thats just the short version! Enjoy your cruise. 

Glenn

You can find out by going through the motions of booking your flight including seat selection. All you have to do is back out at the last page. It’ll prompt you and it should answer your questions. 

From my experience, I’ve booked my flights in December for my cruise in October. Payment is due when you’re cruise payment is due. 

Glenn

To edit this, and in rereading your post, I realized that you may not be able to check your flights. I don’t remember exactly but it’s something like 320 days before the end of your cruise that you’re allowed to book flights. 

Someone could correct me on that. 

Hey Don, the glass is actually twice as big as it needs to be! 🤪

Glenn

8 minutes ago, RMMariner said:

So many complaint threads right now. There has indeed been cutbacks, but think about why this is.

 

You can book an inside cabin now for less money than a Motel 8 and three meals at McDonalds. The price of cruising has never been more affordable. My father says he was paying more in the 90's than it costs now.

 

Cruising on the main lines is very much a budget proposition. It is now accessible to many more people than it was, but that means the experience is also much different.

 

If you want high end try Crystal. I just checked out an Alaska cruise with them. It was $8000 per person for 7 days. You want high end, it is there, you just have to pay for it.

I’m one of the people complaining about the complainers. I’ll stand behind Princess and trust them to provide me with a good vacation experience. 

With that said, I expect above average service since I paid above average prices for things like a mini suite and other shipboard amenities. I’m not experienced in the cruising world but I don’t think my expectations are unrealistic. 

I think, from the aspect of luxury, my cruise will be as luxury as I make it. 

Glenn

I’m pondering whether or not a photo package is worth the price for a solo traveller. 

I’ll be on a 22 day Mediterranean cruise in October (Princess) and the package is $199.00 (usd). I really don’t care to come back with a bunch of photos of myself so I’ll be taking a chance to, hopefully, have group photos with people I meet who are total strangers at this present time. 

So the question is do I take a chance for getting my money’s worth? Are some of the photos candid? Are photographers throughout the ship/shore to capture a “Disneyesque” experience? 

Any thoughts are welcome. 

Glenn

2 minutes ago, Alaska05 said:

Thanks for all the info.

I know at least Delta, United and probably American have an additional more restricted Economy fare that you don't get to choose your seat when you book.  This is not offered on all flights.  Below is from the United website:

 

I just wanted to make sure Princess was not booking the more restricted Economy fare.  Sounds like I better talk with them direct to make sure.

I learned something today! Basic economy... who knew. Lol

Glenn

I was just on EZAir checking flights from New Orleans to Barcelona with American Airlines and they allow seat selection at the time of booking. (Sailing in October)

Glenn

2 minutes ago, STREETKING said:

Glenn, when I book EZA I have 2 options, Flex (which allows you to change or cancel your flight up to 45 days from departure) or Restricted ( pay now and non-refundable). The 3 airlines that I can choose from (American, United, and Delta) do allow you to choose your seats at the time of booking and there's no extra charge for doing so.

 

Brad

Thanks for that, Brad. It’s all subjective to which airline you use, I suppose. WestJet (Canada) doesn’t give you that option but they do let you select your seat for a fee.

Glenn

Some airlines such as KLM allow you to select your seats upon booking. Others won’t, however, some airlines charge extra to allow you to select your seats. 

I’m not familiar with “basic” economy as it’s worded. I know of economy and premium economy. In premium economy you can pick your seat at booking with no charge, of course. 

Glenn

18 minutes ago, pris993 said:

Trust me Glenn you will be pleasantly surprised ... it is never as bad as some say.  Just do what you enjoy and move on if that is working for you.  Some years ago, we had a head waiter in the mdr   that was not the best, we suffered through 10 days with thinking it would get better.  Never did.,  after that I said, if something is not working we will change what we are doing, there are lots options... that approach works out well for us.    Happy cruising.  

I posted something similar in a different thread and like that post, this was my attempt at sarcasm. It seems that there’s so many posts and threads dissing Princess that it makes me wonder if there’s anything that this cruise line is good for. It’s frustrating reading at times. However, outside of this website, I am so excited for my adventure. I’ll enjoy every second of it. 

And happy sailing to you as well!

Glenn

5 minutes ago, getting older slowly said:

well I am going to enjoy my next two cruises one in a couple of week and one in December, regardless, of what changes, as long as my cabin is still there with the bed, and they can serve us food and wine .... I will be veryy happy...

If one lets all the little things get to them, they will have a bad time...

but it does give them plenty to write about as well as complain about.

 

and Glenn you will have a great cruise on princess, it is all in the mind..

 

Can not wait to be back on board

 

Cheers Don

Thanks Don! I am very excited about my cruise. Outside of this facade I’m showing on Cruise Critic, I am giddy like a little school boy. Everything is set up for my liking. 

Happy sailing!

Glenn

1 hour ago, OCruisers said:

 

Thanks, Glenn, for posting this.  

Please let us know how it worked out for you when you return.  

For sure I will let you know. I sail on the Emerald in October. 

Glenn

3 minutes ago, Kingofcool1947 said:

 

Agree.   You might as well stay working.  Why spend good money only to have such a miserable cruise.  

King

That was my attempt at sarcasm. There’s so much negativity towards such trivial things. Thread after thread after thread is about how Princess sucks. There’s gotta be something good about this cruise line. 

Glenn

After reading some of the posts in this thread, I think I’m going to have such a miserable cruise. All this talk about cost cutting is just like I was at work. Might as well stay working. 

Glenn

Poor food, poor cleaning, poor atmosphere, poor people. Geez Louise, I’m ready to cancel my cruise. It’s going to be a miserable existence! 

Glenn

My experience is that I booked a hotel in Barcelona through Princess. They’re putting me in a 4 star hotel and it was way cheaper than anything I found on Expedia or booking dot com., and a centralized location with ship and airport transfers. 

I’ll be in Barcelona 2 days pre cruise and 3 days post cruise. 

Glenn

I’m on the fence here. 

I work hard for my money and I chose to spend a big portion of my disposable income on a cruise to the Mediterranean on the Emerald in October. I took the initiative to book a mini suite and I also chose anytime dining and even booked high end excursions as well as several spa treatments. 

Not to bore you with any of this but I ensured myself that my vacation is going to be better than everything I have at home. So I don’t think it’s fair for anyone to compare something to what we have at home. If we don’t have expectations of better service on a cruise ship then we might as well stay home. 

Having said that, the frequency of bedding changes isn’t a priority of mine. 

Glenn

To edit this, please excuse the grammar inconsistencies.

5 hours ago, Aus Traveller said:

Bookings can be transferred to Princess, but maybe in this case, EACH of the participants would have to do it.

My guess is the participants are contractually obligated to the specific TA and would be at risk of losing their deposits.  

Glenn

5 minutes ago, Scottygirl1 said:

I've bought mine - hopefully they won't cancel it and change to minutes!  I got the Premium package.

 

 

In comparison, here’s mine. 

Glenn