Cruise Raider

We cruise out of SF quite often and are going in a few days. So, if there are any updates, I will come back here to post about them. With that being said, the way it usually works in the port of SF, or at least at Pier 27, there is no priority given for the security line. Once you get through security, you will be directed to the green lane or blue lane for check in. The green lane check in stands are in the middle of the room and are there for those that have their medallions. The blue lane check in is against the wall and are for those that have to pick up their medallions at the port. Sometimes, the blue line moves faster than the green line and vice versa. Anyway, once you go through check in, you are guided to a specific area to be seated if they haven’t cleared the ship for boarding yet. There is a small seating area for elite and suite passengers that has a table set up with juice, water, coffee, tea and danishes. When the ship is cleared for boarding, those on a B2B are let back on first. The passengers in full suites go next, if there are any special groups, such as wedding parties, etc., they go next and then elite status passengers are allowed to board. Boarding usually begins around 11:00 AM but could be later depending upon delays from the previous cruise. We usually get to the port between 10:45 and 11:15 AM are usually have no or very little wait in that lounge area once we’ve passed through all the steps above. If you’re at Pier 35, which I don’t think you will be, all bets are off! I avoid cruises that leave out of Pier 35 at all costs.

Yea, there is. Go into the link where you can place a bid, enter your booking number and your last name. From there, you can see your previous bid and modify it or cancel it.

I completely agree with you on that point!

I just want to mention some possible reasons why there is now a charge for room service: - It’s now an industry standard and Princess still has better pricing on it than throughout the rest of said industry - people have been bragging about calling about getting anything you want delivered even if it’s not on the menu (just saying’, that has to be extremely hard on the staff and a lot of extra work as that item may not be in the room service pantry so the staff has to run around the ship to get that special item from the buffet) - the app was developed, especially after the CoVid restart, to include anything to be delivered to one’s cabin, but that was during low capacity sailings so still doable. Now the ships are filled to the max, I cannot even imagine the challenges. I understand that kids were ordering one soda at a time either by phone or via the app over Christmas break. By the time they order got to the room, another one would order something else. But, I don’t think it is just kids that do that. - the beverage package items, including specialty coffees are now included for delivery via the app. Now, we all know people are not supposed to share those packages but I understand that many do, especially when delivered to your cabin. I’m sure there are a dozen more examples I could give you where the passengers have brought some of this on themselves. The fact is, everything is more expensive no matter where you go. I said it and stand by it!

It sure is .. we really hate flying anymore so, either we pull up ourselves by the bootstraps and go on a flight or we just cruise out of SF and go to wherever it happens to be sailing. We like the latter option much better. And, BTW .. I think solo cruise prices are the same deal as you’d get with the single supplement being completely erased. But, I have a feeling you already knew that. I don’t know why any solo traveler would actually want to pay double .. BTW, I’m still waiting on the new listing and will post it when I see it.

It really is a small cost when you compare it to what you get for the price you get on Princess. I haven’t always been a ‘Princess cheerleader’ but I do think they have done an amazing job since the restart. We cruise an average of once a month and for us, it just does not get better than this. I always buy a package fare but am on one of the older packages so will have to pay the fee for our activation of the OceanNow feature on the app. I have no problem in doing that .. the expense is small in comparison to what you get. Heck, I have sticker shock every time I walk into the grocery store or Costco, go to put gas in my car .. much less go out to eat here on land. The SF Bay Area is an expensive place to live so, I guess the $15 charge is really a very small drop in the bucket when all is said and done.

Hoping this will help

That could be. We just like cruising from the west coast, preferably out of SF, and many of those go on the solo supplement list. The ones to Alaska never seem to make it onto that list unless it’s really early or really late in the season, though.

I’ve gotten complete solo supplements on several cruises last year. They now usually set it at at least 20%, though.

I haven’t cruised on HAL in a very long time but X used to be our favorite cruise line about a decade back. We had a cruise planned a few years ago on the Eclipse and it was canceled due to a charter. No problem, we rebooked it for another sailing. The same thing happened again to the new cruise we booked. They kept adding onboard credit to our booking. Then, they canceled three more sailings due to CoVid. One last move to another cruise as they swapped out our ship .. but now I was up to almost $1000 in OBC. Long story short .. we were just kind of bored on Celebrity. There wasn’t really anything wrong with the cruise but it wasn’t what we’ve come to love on Princess. A couple of things we really missed were no medallion and ordering food in any other spot except for your cabin. Plus, the room service charge is $12 per order on Celebrity. The only venue that served food were the MDR and upstairs on the Lido by the pool and buffet. Cafe Al Bacio only serves sweets .. nothing like the IC on Princess that serves a variety of small plates. There also wasn’t one piece of shrimp to be found in the buffet. The wine choices that we could find on Princess under the plus package were only on the premium package on Celebrity. There were really a lack of activities to participate in during the day. Anyway, there were some positives about Celebrity so don’t mean to make it sound like it was a bad cruise line. Everybody should try different things to see what they enjoy the most. For us, after cruising on many different lines, Princess is what suits us best!

I guess they could but people are already riled up about the room service charge. I would look to see what other lines are doing as theirs are always implemented first and Princess then just keeps up with the industry standards but at a much cheaper rate.

Why wouldn’t you just your room steward to fill you ice bucket twice a day when you see them? My goodness, people are gong off the rails with these projections!

Hold on tight … the new listing should be coming out in the next few days.

That’s pretty much what hat I am seeing as well. People sometimes get stuck in that ‘it’s used to be free mentality’ while everything else is going up trifold. Well, it’s just not like that anymore and they can be mad and stay home, try to find something new (like camping) or they can deal with it. The packages are the best deal going! We just upgraded on 5 of our future cruises to the premier package .. such a great deal.

So happy that worked for you! Bon voyage!

We have two different kinds of wristbands for our medallions. The silicone one, it just pops right out through the bottom but the sustainable one, it works a little different. You have to just screw off the top of it, pop your new medallion in and screw it back on.

Very astute observation on your part! That’s exactly what they have done. I do have a question if one has the premier package, are they able to order a whole pizza off the app without the current charge. The pizzas were $3 at one time, so worth it. Then, on a couple of cruises, they were complimentary and now $8. Still not a bad deal but just wondering how they were going to handle that for those with the packages on ships that don’t have Alfredo’s or GiGis.

We like going for the nibbles, which oftentimes, becomes our dinner. Also, you can chat with the future cruise consultants there, as they have taken over the loyalty functions. They aren’t there to book cruises there for you but it’s always a pleasure to get to know them on a more personal level. You might also meet up with others there that you have come to know on the cruise. They have been offering music there, too. I think it’s rather an enjoyable and quiet place to have a cocktail and some small snacks.

I can tell you that was one of the best servings of Chicken Korma that I’ve ever had. Those condiments and sauce were pure perfection!

I really appreciate your viewpoints! I do tend to disagree with one point you made that it’s about the principle vs the amount. It’s almost always, if not always, all about the money. Looking on the bright side, one can still get pizza upstairs by using their feet. Both are still complimentary. You can also not go to the GastroPub for less than it cost before. Plus, the packages now include pretty good options for those that don’t drink any alcohol. Oh and I do agree that we will definitely see a price increase on the packages around the beginning of 2024. I have a 10 day cruise booked for next year with the old plus package price and I’m tempted to upgrade to the premier package right now before that price increase I anticipate.

I think what we’ve all seen is all a lot of drama over a few extra bucks. I’m a bargain traveler and the changes don’t bother me in the very least! I was surprised it took them this long to implement those changes. They’ve had that space open for the GastroPub for so long and it was underutilized. Then, they had Alfredo’s/GiGis that were so over-utilized that one oftentimes couldn’t even get in without a long wait. I think it was a sensible move and fiscally responsible on their part to actually add them to the packages as now people that say the packages just aren’t worth it for them as they don’t drink alcohol, here is another couple perks added to make the packages more appealing to them now. I know many standard fare passengers won’t see it that way but it’s because they perceive it as something taken away vs a real benefit added. Once their ire dies down, they may see it that way. That’s the way I look at it anyway but, then again, I was never angry about it in the first place.

Well said!

We’ve cruised many times on each of those two ships and my choice would be the Ruby, hands down! The Grand is ok, the Ruby is just so much nicer IMO. She is a little newer than the Grand so has a couple more venues to enjoy. The major drawback to the Grand is the lack of the center stairwell for passenger use. It causes such crowds / bottlenecks in front of the photo area. The other factor in choosing is whether or not you want to visit any other sites in LA vs San Francisco. SF wins out there .. the pier is right in the downtown area. It’s pricey but there are so many places to go within walking distance and there is great public transportation, too.

We’ve had elite status for a number of years and I can say, we almost never send out laundry. I only say almost never because my friend asked me to send something out just to see how long it took to get it back. It was back the next day, btw! Other than that, I don’t think we’ve sent out more than 2 items over the past 40 cruises.

So, this is interesting as we’ve always brought goodies onboard for the staff! We even made a full Mexican fiesta meal onboard once to feed about 20 of the staff for a birthday party for one of them. Then, we went on a cruise out of the port of LA in San Pedro and they made everybody dump their food at security if it wasn’t factory sealed. So, previously, I would have said, no problem but now, I am not sure of the answer … but you may have to be prepared to dump it. Such a shame to do with Boudins Sourdough bread! It really is the best. PS .. the Port of San Francisco seems to be a little more liberal with their policies with regards to this.