Cruise Raider

Are you sure they are empty or did the passengers just ask to have their names taken off the screen by their door? I’m just assuming that is how you counted the empty cabins.

If it were me, I would choose Princess. So, I say this after sailing on a side by side on both Celebrity and then Princess. Celebrity used to be our favorite cruise line but hadn’t sailed on her since a year or two before CoVid hit. Celebrity certainly has its great features but we just felt like our cruise was a bit on the boring side. Princess is just so much more fun and has some great activities scheduled throughout the day and evening.

Wow, I’m surprised but good move!

We have cruised on Princess more since the resumption of cruising post CoVid than ever before and loved everything about it since then, even more than before. I don’t want to things to go back to ‘the way they used to be’ when I first started cruising. I like all the new entertainment and activities where I can do as much or as little as I wish. I love the more relaxed dress code. I love there is no more smoking on the balconies. I really love the beds. I love the all the alternate dining venues and I really love the smaller portions of food served. I love the size of the deluxe balcony cabin on the Royal class ships. I love the easy check in and disembarkation. I love the new muster drills. I love the medallion. I Iove being able to order food and have it delivered wherever I am, locate my DH, bookmark activities, check my folio, purchase a future cruise deposit, use crew chat, etc, etc etc, right from the app. We are into our third decade of cruising, so not newbies, and I never wish to go back to how cruising used to be. I love what it has become. I will continue to cruise for as long as my budget and body allow me to do so. I can assure you, most of those will be on Princess.

We’ve tried that and just didn’t think they blocked the noise adequately for us. We are very happy with the sound machine, though.

I tease with my friends that I think it may be a delayed manifestation of CoVid. So few seem happy anymore. I’m happy, my DH is happy, my family is happy .. I guess we are just grateful people. It makes for a happier life! Other than my favorite Chardonnay only being sold by the bottle now instead of by the glass, I have so few things, if any, I can even think of to complain about when it comes to cruising!

These complaints do not appear to be substandard products or services … just a lack of appreciation / gratitude! I try to just pass on by but really thought by the title of this thread, this one might be a little different. The things people are getting mad, upset, furious, indignant over are bordering on ridiculous.

Well, not meaning to direct this at you but, complaining sure hasn’t seen a cut back!

We have gone to the WineMakers dinner 3 times in the past when it was $40 a person. Wow, it was so good! They even served me Chilean Sea Bass, which was phenomenal. Sadly, we wouldn’t return now since the price has tripled. Not only is it hard to eat that late, it is a lot of food! We have heard that the Chef’s Table serves even more food and that would just not be a good match for us.

The stores where we live don’t provide bags (sometimes they don’t have them, other times we have to pay for them) and we always just got used to taking all our own bags everywhere we go. I never expect a bag to be provided so, we never see it as a downgrade, much less get mad, if I don’t get one. It’s better for the environment anyway. Again, I am pretty sure they will deliver them to your room if you don’t want to carry a purchase around without a bag.

Don’t spend your precious cruise time being mad .. they will always deliver it to your room for you. Or, you can take your own bag with you and just pack it in there. Very simple solutions are available.

Things are always changing so not sure if this has changed, but how do you cancel a booking on off hours? I’ve not found the ability to do this online.

I have always been able to use my package on the last morning of the cruise in the past. I recently was on the Discovery Princess and had a wonderful B2B cruise. But, I noticed something odd that I thought was just charged in error, now I’m not sos sure. On the turnaround day between our 1st and 2nd legs of our cruise, we had two specialty coffees and two mimosas between the two of us. We had a charge of $30+ on our folio. I went to the front desk and they removed the charges. We each had a cup of specialty coffee on our final disembarkation morning and saw that we were charged for the coffees. It’s not that big of a deal, I just thought the packages remained in effect until you disembarked. I know they run from 6 AM to 6 AM for a 24 hr period but, of course, we can’t use any of this on the very first morning of the cruise. I did order my coffees around 7:30 AM that morning. Anyway, I asked the question in the post cruise section on the website and they are refunding my $10 for the coffees. More than that though, I’d like to know if the packages shut down on the last night of the cruise or if they remain in effect until you disembark. I get they don’t want people to linger on the ship enjoying a coffee or mimosa on that last morning. Just curious if anyone else has experienced this or if it was a one off?

I love the Chilean sea bass served in the crown grill.

I get that but for over $600, I’d take the chance. Maybe try to get a good CVP down at Princess to book it for you. Then, cancel yours while you are on the phone with them and have them move the cabin as soon as you cancel your booking. It’s still a risk but like I sad, one I pod be willing to take for that savings.

I have used them with an outside TA many times in the past.

We had trouble on our last few cruises as well but what we’ve noticed is that this year, we’ve been able to get reservations at the restaurants we’ve wanted at the times we’ve wanted on every cruise once onboard. It appears (and this is just my assumption) that they may only be allowing a certain number of reservations at the specialty restaurants and save ample seating for those with the premier packages to book the specialty restaurants in advance. I think they were pummeled with a lot of complaints about packages that included specialty dining but no seating available.

Now, I’m trying to remember exactly what happened and in the sequence it happened .. since I probably won’t log back in for at least another three month, I hope to get it exact! I downloaded the app for Stock Perks and it asked me to set up my personal information. Since that was optional, I skipped those fields and went to the next screen. I still had to give my name and email (maybe my date of birth but can’t recall). I was then prompted to verify my account holding my CCL stock. I choose PLAID and choose my brokerage firm. From there, I was transferred to a third party site to log into my account .. and it stated so much. After it was verified that we had at least 100 shares of CCL stock, I was taken back to the original screen on Stockperks. Within a minute, I was informed by email that my stock had been verified that I could redeem (I think that’s is the word they used) my request for OBC. I went back into the Stockperks app and clicked on Eligible, then on Princess cruises and then redeem perk. The nice part is, once you’ve been verified, it takes you right back into the redeem perk area .. and like I said, if I have any other cruises to apply it to after 3 months, I will probably have to repeat all the steps from above. BTW, I did this on a rather new iPad, if that makes a difference. I never had any glitches to hold me up.

Look at your travel summary (you can find this either on your personalizer on the Princess website but also now on the app) to find out what is included and what is not. If you don’t have the premium desserts or fitness classes included, you are on the old package. I’ve found that the app will oftentimes charge you for the medallions even when you have the shipping included. Instead, I love out and try back on a later date. It’s a weird glitch but hasn’t bothered me much as it always catches up and we’ve gotten them shipped as included every time. if possible, come back here and let us know how it all worked out for you.

I've also seen it offered at Sabatini's both alone or as an ingredient to another cocktail. And yes, they do make a Bloody Caesar onboard. I like them with some horseradish added as well as spicy. Otherwise, their Bloody Mary is actually better.

I do like when Princess has solo offers. I sure hope those haven't dried up now that cruising seems to be back at full capacity.

Sounds like a solid plan to me!!

You all are just the best! I just logged into my Amex card and have an offer for Princess: $175 for $700. yay!

Many many thanks!

We just recently disembarked from the Discovery and I agree, Rock Opera was better than ever. My DH wasn’t excited to go as before, he felt it was a little too much opera and little rock. He loved it on this most recent sailing. I think you are right, the singers (and dancers) seem much more talented (not that they were bad before .. this group is just better). I am absolutely mesmerized when they sang “Sound of Silence”. Wait until you see Spotlight Bar .. wow, just wow!