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1 hour ago, memoak said:

Or just don’t book on board. We do everything through our CVP

That was pretty agreed to by everyone there -- big thumbs up for CVP.  Maybe you can save money by doing it on board (IDK), but is it worth the headache?

Sis and hubby were on Caribbean Princess last month, trans-Atlantic.  We all used WhatsApp to communicate with each other.  Amazingly clear calls and texts.  Wifi calling should be equally do-able.  Even though technology can make you tear your hair out at times, when it comes to cruising it has improved SO MUCH over the last five years.

On 12/22/2023 at 10:30 AM, Tonye60 said:

Why does Princess put there worst rated ship on world cruises

Also, it's a narrow ship and perhaps can access some ports that the larger ships can't.

On 12/22/2023 at 10:30 AM, Tonye60 said:

Why does Princess put there worst rated ship on world cruises

Didn't know that.  "Island" is my favorite Princess ship.

On 2/8/2024 at 11:32 PM, wallyj said:

Princess has contracted with O.N.E.

There was a thread similar to this one a couple weeks ago.  The consensus was that ONE is dreadful.  Arrangements were wrong.  Money was messed with.  Trips were cancelled that shouldn't have been.  It makes you wonder ...  It was suggested that PAX check future trips frequently to see if they're even listed, because some had disappeared.  Anyhow, FWIW...

Technology ... you can live with it, and you can't live without it.

On 6/8/2024 at 10:47 AM, helenb said:

We boarded Regal Princess today (June 8 ) and went to lunch in the dining room. While we were there, a few waiters were pushing around big carts of canned cocktails, and trying to ‘sell’ them to people (they were included in the Plus package).

Sounds cheesy, and not an upscale venue of any kind would do.  (Just MHO.)

10 hours ago, Cruisemeister2002 said:

due to access and size of ship.

Didn't they know how big the ship was before setting the itinerary?  😀

It's sort of funny, really.

I didn't know that Sapphire has Family Suites.  Have seen them on other ships, and they look great!  Will have to investigate.

5 minutes ago, Spudd said:

You can add them as traveling companions

Thank you.  That makes sense.  Now we have to find that option in the app!

We travel with another couple, and always have dined together in MDR, early seating, same table.

With the app -- even online -- how is this handled so that both bookings can "connect" to each other?

6 hours ago, Kay S said:

Old habits die hard.

Nothing to do with habits.   Some resent the loss of personal privacy in all walks of their lives.  It's a legit issue.  Sadly, it's an issue that we're stuck with, having slid down that slippery slope over the last 10 years.

3 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

That date was more than 3 years after CCL CEO Arnold Donald announced Ocean Medallion at the January 2017 CES show & it was scheduled to begin on Regal in November 2017

Wow.  And in 2020 it still WAS a problem.  And 2024 still IS a problem.  Thanks for the history; I had no idea theMedallion went back that far.

On 6/3/2024 at 5:41 AM, jennybenny said:

I too have a problem with the app, but it's been a problem for me for some time. 

I don't recall the Princess technology ever being top notch.  I think our first exposure to it was back in Feb. 2000 when the whole Medallion thing was fledgling.  It was terrible.  It appears nothing has improved.  Maybe Princess isn't hiring the brightest and best when it comes to technology.

When I was involved with developing new programs (we hadn't heard the word, "app", then), the testing we did before rolling it out live was extreme.  If there was even one small failure, we tried to duplicate it to make it easier to identify/fix the problem.  Hundreds of failures every day with the Princess app.  To quote my Sunday School teacher, "That ain't riiight".

We sail in December.  Maybe everything will run smoothly by then.  If not, I'm sticking with my PC and printed pages.

My sister was on at 14-day trans-Atlantic last month on Caribbean Princess.  She said the Starlink internet was excellent. We spoke daily via WhatsApp, and had no problems at all.

2 hours ago, Wiseask said:

every other rep spoke in such heavily accented English they were unintelligible (at least to me), and with apologies to them I had to hang up

Yes.  I have to do that, too, i.e., hang up..  And it's one thing trying to understand what they are saying which is bad enough.  But there could be important things that you're telling them -- and they don't understand YOU.  I don't get how farming out customer service is a big win for Princess.

On 6/2/2024 at 5:03 PM, Wiseask said:

I was told that on board their ships there is a Wi-Fi hotspot that’s available for me to use for free.

If only ...

There isn't.  Wifi costs on the ships, one way or another.

It's astounding how much bad information is being disseminated by Princess reps.  Sometimes it's ignorance.  Sometimes it's because many are ESL and don't completely understand callers' questions, and/or are unable to convey info in a way callers can understand.

19 hours ago, JamieLogical said:

This is everything I usually get into my carry-on

That is truly impressive!

2 hours ago, doghog said:

We could never do carry on as one of our 3 pieces of luggage

My sis and her BIL just returned from a 14-day TA cruise, and then 14 days in England, each one with only a carry-on and a personal item.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that.  Our elderly neighbors take long cruises often, and each one only takes a carry-on and a personal item.  They only go on Disney.  Once I asked them to explain their packing tips, but have forgotten them.

I watched  a YouTube of some chick making a video of her packing in a carry-on for a 10-day cruise.  It was like the opposite of a clown car.  Her bed was covered with all she was going to pack, and I'm thinking, "No way!"  Then she did her thing, and she packed it all into her carry-on.  

For myself, I would not want anyone but me doing my laundry.  Dry cleaning ... OK, but not laundry.

3 minutes ago, Scottdalfonso said:

People wear shorts to dinner out at home all the time. Also, rules on hats have changed and people wear them for different reasons,

You're right about that.  People are becoming more uncivilized all the time.  Lowered standards and elevated tackiness is a great achievement.

(There are official rules on hats?)

8 hours ago, doghog said:

Better to have the clothes and not need them, than need the clothes and not have them. 

That's true.  One reason I like Princess so much -- the ability to do your own laundry easily.  You can pack lighter if you want to.  In December, we're going to try the carry-on only thing instead of checking bags at the airport, and having crew manage them at the port.  We'll see how that goes!

Thank you for the review.  We'll be on Enchanted in December -- our first time in that shop.  Can't wait!

33 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

What were you expecting that you didn't research about first?

I guess you mean, what was the OP expecting ...?

You're right.  Over-research everything if at all possible.

1 hour ago, doghog said:

Airline luggage costs has nothing to do with our decision on what we pack. We have always taken three 26 inch checked luggage. We always stayed and still stay under the airline weight limits. 

That works for you.  The reality is that luggage cost has something to do with other people's decisions on what they pack.

On most airlines, there's a fee for checked luggage.  Some people don't want to pay that, so stick to fewer pieces and/or just carry-on.  Less luggage = less room for clothes only worn once during a short cruise.

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

Shorts and tshirts and ball caps are not appropriate in the MDR at dinner IMHO.

Agree 100%!  I can't imagine that anyone would think that's appropriate in any way.  (I always say the same about what I see people wearing to church.)

Ball caps!  In April, my 21-year-old nephew showed up at the church for my mother's funeral wearing one.  I told him to take it off.  He said, "I always wear it."  I said, "Not today!"  He took it off.