Cruisemeister2002

We cruise on Sky later in the year, I understand that once the final demand is settled a few days later a passenger is contacted with regards to bidding for an upgrade. We are currently inside. Anyone ideas as to the sort of money to offer for a balcony upgrade ?

We are Elite and enjoy the 10% off goods in the shops. It's good to wait as although I am not totally familiar with Princess I presume they have as with P&O day's where they have sales of goods and there's bargains to be had. Plus of course any other spending you do also gives you 10% off. We have gone for the Plus package, this will be our first cruise we have taken up such an option therefore I would hazard a guess that when onboard we won't be spending anywhere near what we have in the past. As for laundering I doubt I will have much use of this service. Maybe a couple of dress shirts. The desserts look interesting although I doubt we'll get through two a day. There's also the two casual dining we get in the package and a mini bar comes with Elite status which is o.k. as we like a drink prior to going to a bar for a pre-dinner drink. I hope I haven't confused you by mixing Elite status and the Plus package which of course are totally separate.

As far as I am aware the new system doesn't kick in until after the 14th of September. Therefore I'd be amazed if Princess cancelled dining arrangements for those cruising before then. Also I believe that no arrangements can be made until final payments are made.

I cast my mind back to a P&O cruise I took last year. First time ever I gave our cabin steward a £5 tip (around $7.5) as I thought he was very good. Although I had prepaid service charges. Bad error I am afraid he just got worse the longer the cruise went on. I preferred the old system of tipping those who personally serve you, but can understand that if everyone onboard just tip their cabin steward and their dining waiters that many staff miss out although they are still serving us in the background.

Don't know how strict Princess are, but I have brought onboard bottles of wine, snacks, fruit and bourbon and rum on P&O ships without question.

You are correct. In the UK collection of the medallions only takes place in port. I do believe however that dependant on what level of tier you have reached, we are Elite (Not personally, you understand) boarding is prioritised. Although we are Caribbean tier with P&O and that didn't make any difference last year as the ship was late into port and it was every person for themselves on check in.

Have a cruise booked on Sky Princess for later in the year. A day after the new arrangements come into force in fact. I do believe that I will not be contacted by Princess with regards to what dining we require until after we have paid the balance. We were quite pleased to see they had reintroduced the fixed time dining as apart from one cruise where we didn't have a choice due to late booking we have always gone for second sitting. I understand that the times on Princess are different to P&O, as P&O are 6.30 first sitting and 8.30 second sitting. Please correct me if different but aren't Princess 5.30 or 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. ?

I appreciate if weather conditions are bad that a port of call is missed. I can't speak for Princess cruise lines as I am unaware of how many ports are missed for other reasons. We have in the past sailed with P&O from Southampton. Last year we were on a 35 night cruise from Southampton. I'm not a great sea day's person although I appreciate if you sail from Southampton to the USA, Caribbean also taking in Cozumel Mexico, Belize and Roatan that it's inevitable that there will be a few more sea days than sailing to the Med with stops at Virgo Spain, Lisbon Portugal or Gibraltar. However our 35 night cruise was supposed to have been 6 days before our first port of Bermuda. Due to the Captains crystal ball we were told three days into the cruise Bermuda would be missed. Therefore it was ten days before getting to Freeport Bahamas. Stir crazy was putting it mildly as the entertainment on the whole was dross and the only speaker of any note throughout the cruise talked about photography. The food was poor, except Speciality restaurant Sindu (Indian cuisine), immigration at New Orleans a shamble. The first day for some turned into a few hours as it was 16.30 in the afternoon before some got through. Various other things too numerous to mention made it a very poor cruise. Sailing back was 6 day's to Ponta del garda in the Azores then a further three to Southampton. If I and the wife could have flown back we would have from Port Canaveral, but she's unable to fly.

I have heard of the new arrangements and it blends in great with what we like. Fixed dining, second sitting. I doubt though we will be asked for our preference until I have paid the balance which is on the horizon as Princess have emailed me with a reminder.

Nothing to do with future cruises and hotels etc, but we went on P&O's Ventura many years ago one evening we returned to our cabin and found a P&O dvd in the slot outside our cabin. Apparently someone had instructed staff to put these dvd's outside people's cabins and charge to their account. Suffice to say there was a huge queue at the reception desk the next day demanding a credit back to passengers accounts. Having read many articles on this forum I have come to the conclusion that many things are not explained to passengers as they should be and not all ships adhere to what a passenger is entitled to as with packages where some things seem to be charged on one ship and not on another.

I don't intend to put you off and maybe our experience was one that not too many encounter. We went on Ventura last March/April 35 nights to US and Caribbean, taking in Mexico and Belize and Roatan. To say the cruise was a disaster was putting it mildly. From start to finish not a cruise we cherished in any way. Cabin changed the day before so had to reprint labels for cases. Ship five hours late into port so huge queues at port. Got on ship, went to cabin, wrong cards to open door. Had paid £400 for a Celebration package. Nothing in cabin. Took 17 days of the cruise to sort out. Part of that was a formal photograph with frame. No photographer onboard, then when one was available, no frames. Again part of package a facial or massage at the Spa. They weren't aware of change of cabin. Got to New Orleans, immigration a nightmare (not P&O's fault) but it was supposed to be two full days, some never got through until 4.30 in the afternoon. Food was poor, except the meals we had in Sindu. Back to when we arrived firstly at our cabin. A huge line of cases, half not ours. The last one when we were going to bed. Problems at Miami with airbridge. People coughing and spluttering onboard and norovirus as a section was closed in the corridor with people in white overalls spraying carpets etc. One deck many were moved due to flooding as some pipe had burst or broken. Might have known as didn't like Ventura first time around although that cruise was way better than the one just explained. Cruising this year, but have switched allegiance to Princess as we have heard better reports of them. But as I say everyone has a different view/experience of a particular cruise. I suppose it's sods law that out of 17 cruises one might be less than satisfactory.

Was it the last one when th NYPD arrested you ? Kidding of course.

Yes I remember a few years ago a hurricane followed us up the east coast, we went up the St Lawrence river where it bypassed us and went up to St John's Newfoundland. We got in, but apparently they had it pretty rough and a gentleman had died. That was the second time we had encountered a hurricane, the first time we didn't dock at St, John's but steamed off into the Atlantic where we caught the tail end of it. It was a bit rough, but the up side was that a swimming pool at the aft of the ship was empty and I was able to sit and watch and had the pool to myself.

What's the price in dollars and are Publix to be found in most places ?

A question for all our American and Canadian friends. What's the weather like in mid September and early October from St. John's Newfoundland, through Main and New York ?

Do you like it ?

Don't know if this wine get's to the US. But I really like a red called 19 crimes imported from Australia. I am also partial to Chateaux neuf de pape from France , but that comes in over double the price of 19 crimes which can vary from around £7.50 to £9 a bottle with the Chateaux at around £20-£25 a bottle. Will be disappointed if you can't get a decent glass of vino collapso onboard for $15. First time virgin for the Plus package as we normally go P&O and have never had a package deal before.

Some of these "Special" meals are no different to the normal meals and for a celebrity chef to put his name to them is a bit dodgy if you ask me. Since we started sailing back in 2002 P&O standards have dropped significantly and whilst some may say cruising is cheaper now if you take all the things that have gone it should be.

Last year we were on Ventura for 35 nights and had seven formals, this year we are trying Princess and for a 31 night cruise it's five formals. It causes me some confusion that Princess can do the pond crossing, both back and forth in five nights and yet P&O take six and last year due to missing the first port which was Burmuda it was ten nights, ghastly, as was the whole cruise. Also why don't P&O inform passengers of formal nights like Princess does, we knew it was five formals when we booked last year. O.K. they don't tell you which nights, but due to sail days you can hazard a good guess, like four of them will be two crossing and two coming back.

Booked our very first Plus package for a cruise later in the year. Usually a P&O customer, but due to a cruise experience last year that I don't wish to repeat have changed allegiance to Princess and as I say booked the Plus package. Didn't get a deal on the package, but the cruise for the same grade cabin and the Plus package is now £1,600 or around $1990 more and we may bid for an upgrade which I believe can be done around five days after the cruise balance is paid.

Sometimes I believe there's a misconception that the prices offered onboard are better than you can get elsewhere. They rely on a feelgood factor. Hopefully you are having a wonderful experience, de-stressed and in holiday mood so you go and book a future cruise. The cruises on offer are tempting and I am not saying that the deals aren't good and the OBC helps. However our upcoming cruise I booked direct and now it's £1,600 more for the same grade cabin and plus package. Or around $1990.

Perhaps we should all go with the Flo then ? I have booked our first night on Sky in Estrella as well. I think maybe, although no expert, that cancellation of bookings may take place after balances have been paid. Our cruise funnily enough departs the day after these new arrangements come in.

Not trying to be a "Know it all" but my take on this is if you haven't as yet paid the full balance which is normally due around 3 months prior to departure then you won't hear anything until the balance is paid. Might be completely wrong. Just my own idea on this.

I see your point and like yourself have never had a package before, although I have indulged in what on P&O they call a Celebration package which doesn't include an allowance of drinks, fitness classes, casual dining. But does include a champagne breakfast in your cabin, bathrobes and slippers, presentation champagne flute, formal photo and frame, 2 x Speciality restaurant visits, a facial or 50 minute massage and two desserts in your cabin for around £400. However this year we are cruising onboard Sky Princess and have ordered the Princess Plus package. As with yourself I do question whether I am doing the correct thing as neither myself or wife drink huge amounts, neither of us participate in going to a gym and although I like ice cream, my wife can take or leave them. As for gratuities until they became as they are now we only tipped our cabin steward and main dining room table waiters.

Possibly due to final balances being paid as Princess have emailed me to say after the day the balance is due I will be contacted to tell them my dining preference.