GRAYTech

I see the lotus conditioner but how about the shampoo? Is it included and just not in the picture ?

Years ago we were on a ship sponsored excursion (Swim with the Dolphins) so my 2 young kids, wife and I were all wearing bathing suits / t-shirts flip-flops. Didn't take the passports and had about $20 bucks with me. Bus broke down on the way back so we didn't get back to port until shortly after the actual departure time. They waited, we boarded and they pulled up the gangway behind us. I don't think they would have waited if it was an independent tour.

Ever since then the passports come with us as well as some cash and the port contact information. We split up the cash into various bags / hiding places and I carry the passports in a water tight bag in my cargo shorts zippered pocket.

We are always "prepared" to be left behind and hope it never comes to it. It would have been a disaster had it happened that day the bus broke down. Maybe the port authority would have helped us but I wasn't aware of who to contact or where to go with 2 young kids in tow.

They won't move the drawers, at least I have never heard of it. You pack your bags and they bring the trolley for your hanging stuff.

Simple, quick and easy. One of the ships officers move us between 2 vista suites.

Buy duty free wine/ liquor on your first leg and will be delivered to your cabin at the end of your first cruise as expected. Now I'm not suggesting you break any rules but if you give it a little thought you can be well prepared for your second leg.

Love doing B2B. Enjoy!

I order the MDR beef the first lunch and have never been disappointed.

Indeed, a great way to start the cruise and avoid the HC chaos.

To all the people who have received an upsell offer. Are you all past customers or was it a 1st time on Princess for anyone?

I think it was our second Princess cruise and no offers since then. It came via phone from our TA at the time.

I don't know the answer to this but I always thought it's tied to the room you have booked at the time. That someone else wants your current room so a discounted rate to move up is a win-win for Princess.

... But beware, once you go suite, it is very, very, difficult to go back to even a mini-suite cabin. I can attest to this from personal experience.

We did an upsell to a suite about 10 years ago and haven't sailed in anything less since then. Being bitten by the "Suite Upsell Bug" is a real possibility. I think it may even be a part of Princess strategy.

If you can swing it I'd go for it especially if it's an aft Vista Suite.

Trivia with a table full during the afternoon BOGO was a blast although it did make the late dinner seating, well, late.

Relax, enjoy and don't plan to win. Just have fun. No cheating!

Unless you are using Princess EZ-Air I would suggest flying in the day before.

Too much at stake when a 3 hour delay could cause you to miss the ship.

As always Chengkp75 makes some good points.

I'll add when my kids don't want to muster I remind them of the Costa Concordia that didn't muster and hallway placards weren't in English and as Chengkp75 points out the only route you know is now blocked by fire. Yikes, what they must have went through.

Mustering before leaving port is the gift the Concordia pax that lost their life gave to all of us.

We agree with all that plus the "special pricing of the drink of the day" in the Club 6 or Skywalkers venue at happy hour.

Forgot about that and agree. We always had one or two and enjoyed the kicked-up appetizers they served. With late TD dining it was great to sit, relax and have a little something to eat and drink prior to dinner.

Grand Turk was cancelled during our January cruise. Too windy to dock so it does happen but not very often at a non-tender port. 40 knot sustained gusting over 50 knots. Captain said even if he could get docked safely it was so windy he feared he would have pax blown off the dock walking into port.

Captain made the announcement, turned the ship and headed back to FLL at a slower pace to time our arrival correctly.

I hate to disappoint a newbie to platinum, but you will probably find the regular line up shorter than the preferred boarding one.As the saying goes 'Preferred Boarding' now days is 'Two a penny' no advantage to getting to your cabin sooner.More platinum and Elites on board than newbies.

I agree "preferred boarding" used to matter much more (years ago) and it still does go a little faster once you hit the terminal. The tray of sweets, coffee and water they put out are a nice touch while you wait.

IMHO the free internet time Platinum gets you is the one thing we enjoy the most.

Elite level liquor, laundry and priority tendering will also make a difference once we get there.

Yes I agree, if you want the flexibility to eat at 6:00PM or 7:30PM ATD is the way to go but with it the potential wait times etc. To me don't choose it and then complain about it, not that you are. By choosing late TD (8PM) we are always back on board in time to clean up for dinner. Really works for us. Catch an early show on a sea day and enjoy a late show after dinner. Again, this is just what works for us. Never an hour wait, always prompt service, favorite beverage is on the table when we sit down, food is always hot. I think the waiters have too many tables on Princess but that is a topic for another thread.

I was referring to those that make a "standing" ATD reservation for the length of the cruise. I guess those too could be at different times but the implication was it was for the same number at the table at the same time each night of the cruise. If so, why not TD dinning for them.

So I'm not bashing ATD, more defending TD diners that do not crash ATD and shouldn't be grouped together as the cause of many of the issues with ATD.

I'm sure TD diners do crash ATD but I would like to stick up for us late TD diners that have never crashed ATD. If we are hungry before 8:00PM a trip through the buffet, sushi and a wine at Vines, a treat from the IC. Never crashed ATD. If we wanted the frustration of ATD we would have selected it when we booked.

As other posters have noted there are lots of ways to solve the ATD wait time. I also don't get it. If you have to wait at 6:00PM why not select early TD dining? Same is true if you are troubled by waiting at 7:30PM for a table. Late TD dining solves the problem with zero wait time. If you are there to share a table to meet people then pick a non prime time to go.

I do agree however, why allow ATD reservations? If someone reserves a table every night at the same time what's the point of "anytime"? What's wrong with eating early or late TD in that case?

Tubing on the White River is something our family still talks about to this day. The guide was singing Jamaican songs, flowers were falling from the trees. Stopped at the halfway point and had a Red Stripe for 25 cents. (50 cents if you want a cold one)

It was one of those magical moments we won't forget. So yes do a tour of some sort, if you just get off the boat and wander about it will be filled with pushy vendors and touchie-feelly braiders.

You are correct, Elite doesn't mean much if you book a full suite. Looking at options and was wondering when the Elite kicks in. Sounds like a B2B, short cruise or even a short cruise followed by a longer cruise would work if my wife and I want to get away without the kids with us in a mini suite.

Really like the Vista Suite but it's too much $$$ if it's just the two of us when a mini or balcony would be just fine. Having the Elite perks would sweeten the lower cost cabin options.

This is a bit OT but is there any way to get the Sabatinis breakfast and ordering room service from the MDR other than being in a full suite ? Those are two things we would miss not being in a full suite.

We have 14 cruise credits. Looking at the website it says Elite status "starts with your 16th cruise".

If we book a full suite (2 credits) does that mean our next cruise we would be elite or do we have to complete that cruise for it to counted.

Sky is falling, sky is falling.

Vista Suite includes free same day laundry. You can order anything from the MDR when they are up and running and enjoy it on your balcony. Be specific though when you call, if you want salt/pepper for your eggs say so.

Priority tendering, better table location in the MDR and first night free specialty restaurant seating for all in the Vista Suite.

Ohhh, and the view you will get sitting in the loungers on your balcony. When we can we do a Vista Suite and love the experience.

I don't recall the exact numbers but the last few days of most cruises we have been on they do offer the "package" deals and have also dropped the price of the standard offerings nearly in half.

They have also roamed the pool areas offering special pricing if you go with them at the time. Know what you want and then watch for the price point you are willing to pay.

MDR beef lunch entre and brewed coffee are pretty tough to beat. The buffet zoo on the first day is something to avoid if possible. In fact we only buffet during "off" hours throughout the cruise.

You will love the aft Vista suite. In fact you will love it so much you may never cruise in any other type of room again. Don't forget to use the laundry service and order room service items from the MDR.

One could argue a side balcony would mean you are sitting facing the shore would be a better view. However, the aft suite will give you a 180 degree view that includes both shorelines as you go through the passages.

If it were me I would keep the aft Vista. Having breakfast on the balcony while moving through the passages would be something to remember.

Airplane mode and then turn wifi back on will allow you to use the ships wifi to access the "Princess@Sea" app. Electronic patter, ship charge account etc. If you don't want any of that just leave wifi off too.

I would go to the Verizon website and add the travelpass to your lines. That way you can visually confirm that it's really on the line so no surprises. Once you get in port take your phone off airplane mode and it will connect to the cell network and you will get a text saying the travelpass has been activated.

As Thrak said, another option may be wifi calling. Either through Verizon or we also have Magicjack which worked well too. If your cell plan is unlimited it's probably easier to travelpass for $2 and just use your phone as you normally would.

Princess needs to put a little VOOM in it's step and spend less time saying no you can't do that. Instead, let's drop the price and let you do anything you want as RCCL has done.

Sure it's $$$ but it's possible technically. Jump into the year 2017 Princess.