buckeye7

I think you are correct. Both minis and balconies have the same size closet - nice and big! But the shower in the balcony cabins is really small.

Just a general tip ... When I plan a big trip, I start a google doc and share it with my husband or co-traveler. I copy all travel info there, including cruise, trip insurance, flight, and hotel info. Then I make a table that includes each port and start populating it with ideas and advice about what to do in that port. Then we can begin to narrow down our choices and solidify our plans. Check the Ports of Call and Roll Call boards on Cruise Critic (as has already been advised) and also Trip Advisor. You may decide on a combo of doing ports on your own, arranging private tours or transportation with other shipmates, or Princess excursions. We've done all 3 depending on the situation. I will say our favorite Princess excursion was a simple one in Tuscany that was a trip to a local farm where they served us pasta dishes and wine. It was so beautiful, so relaxing, and so fun. It didn't sound like much but so glad we booked it! Enjoy your fun year of planning and then a great trip!

I’m sorry to ask a repeat question but I have searched previous posts and still don’t think I understand. We sail in early July. When I view my Travel Summary, I see “Room Location Upgrade (1)” for myself and my husband. I usually click “No Upgrade” but perhaps forgot to have TA do that. Is there still a chance they could move us? We are in a Dolphin minisuite on the Emerald. I don’t mind being moved a bit towards midship but don’t want something drastic like a higher level deck. I guess I’m just not sure if the travel summary means we already got a lower price for our category or if they might move us. Thank you! ⚓️🛳️

I don’t know about the cruise you’re taking, but I’ve seen ocean views sell out before balconies. The cruise we are taking in July sold out of ocean view a long time ago and still has balconies available.

Somewhat related topic: my birthday is noted in our “celebrations.” I don’t want anyone singing to me in the dining room! Do they do that automatically? Should I remove the celebration?

Oh, bummer! We do carry-on only but it's still a pain to roll around a bag! : ) Thanks for the response!

Does anyone know if Princess still offers EZ Check and if so, do they offer it in Boston? We end our cruise there and have a later flight so would love to not have our suitcases. Thank you!

We sailed on the Royal and booked a mini-suite, but made sure it was one of the midship "bump out" balconies, so we had a nice decent-size balcony. You can see which mini-suites are bump outs on the deck maps. We agree that Princess should have addressed the shower curtain issue in balcony cabins!

You might try Princess again and book one the newer ships. We were on Royal last year and it was great.

I don't know if you wear contacts, but you are allowed to use 2 quart-sized bags if you bring contact-related products. Sooo.... I use the 2nd bag for a small saline and eye drops, then use several contact lens cases filled with products (face lotion, etc...) I have honestly included a few other liquids in that bag and never been questioned (been doing this for years.) I did just purchase these containers as I saw them recommended on another site. Haven't tried them yet. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZB81N4X/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A34U6OVSB8M3KV&psc=1 Also, there are nice drug stores all over in Europe with every product you would need! Common brands too.

Anxious to follow along, as we’ll be on the Emerald in July. We sailed her many years ago and I like the larger cabin / balcony size compared to the new ships. If you eat in any of the “casual” restaurants (Planks and whatever else) we’d love to hear if they are worth it.

GIve the numbers and PINs to your TA and they do it! : )

No worries! Sometimes it’s helpful for a topic to come up again in the feed for newer readers or as a reminder for those preparing for a trip. I knew about this, but hadn’t remembered to add a bit of painters tape to the packing list.

Are they happy with us taking food out of the buffet or do we have to sneak it out? It’s absolutely fine! It’s all yours for the taking, anywhere you’d like to take it!

Just a note to say that we don't usually eat any meals at the buffet either, but it's really nice to grab a plate of hors d'oeuvres from the buffet and take it somewhere to have with a glass of wine in the late afternoon or before dinner. They have cheeses, veggies, etc... Stroll through during the less busy hours and you may find something that hits the spot!

Does anyone know if they will refund the $10 shipping charge once onboard if you buy the Plus package aboard? We were planning to use shipboard credit to buy the Plus package.

We have $275 OBC from our cell provider T-Mobile. It doesn’t show yet, but they assured me that once you board, it shows up and is available. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm also an introvert and I love cruising in Europe. I don't love Caribbean cruises as much, where there tends to be more focus on partying by the pool. I also didn't love cruises before most stopped having set dining times and being seated with strangers. We cruise Princess and always get a table for two. We have a great time seeing sites without the hassle of packing up and arranging travel between sites. There are always plenty of quiet spaces on the ship. Traveling in Europe can be sensory overload and the cruise ship is the perfect place to unwind in the evening. I think you will have such a great time!!

Now I just got the email about the app as well.

I wonder if they are doing a “soft opening” and trying to make sure the new system works with no glitches before they direct everyone there.

Weird because I just sent mine through email the old way and got this automated response, with no mention or link to a new system. "Thank you for submitting your request for Carnival Corporation Shareholder Benefits. Due to current high volumes, please allow up to 21 days for processing. You will receive a confirmation once the benefit has been applied to your booking."

Oh my gosh, this is great news! Thank you for the quick replies!

Hi Everyone, I have tried to find this out from Princess, but no luck with contact yet, so I thought I'd see if anyone has info. I know Princess changed their rule and you can now buy the Plus package once onboard. Does this mean I can use any onboard credit I have (including Shareholder) to purchase Plus? Thank you!

I'll be disembarking from the Emerald in Boston, just as you are ready to board her! We were on the Emerald years ago but not recently. From comparing the older ship staterooms to the newer ships we've sailed recently, I think the rooms may be larger on the older. At least it seemed to me that the mini-suites were larger on the older ships. For our medallions, we used watch bands meant for Apple Airtags. There are lots of options on Amazon if you search it. Hope you have a great cruise!

Sorry if this has been recently asked (can’t get Search to work), but I’m wondering if anyone has heard what types of sales Princess might offer on Black Friday. Has it always been $1 deposit or do they change the sale every year? Thanks!