mamaboss

We have been in suites for the last 2-3 cruises due to accepting upsells. Now I am spoiled! I wouldnt pay regular price though. In a couple weeks we will be in a suite, aft on the promenade deck, Island Princess. When I tried to book an accessible mini suite they offered this suite at same price so I took it. I have not heard anything good or found any pics of this suite since I booked it. I will be posting my opinion with pics. For me it is the space I love most.

16 minutes ago, GottaLuvCruising said:

Does Princess have a children's menu for dinner in the MDR?  I'd appreciate any info.  We booked Regal Princess with our 9 and 6 year old granddaughters for spring break.  

Yes they do! Hamburg, hotdog, spaghetti and such. I have been known to get a volcano from the kids menu! Maybe someone can post a menu for you.

2 hours ago, lives to cruise said:

One thing I have not seen mentioned here are the canapes  that you can order every evening.  Are they worth it?

 

On our upcoming cruise in March, it will also be our first time in a suite (window) so I am really enjoying this thread.

In my opinion, no. They have a few my sister in law likes.

7 minutes ago, nukesubsailor said:

My only disappointment with booking a penthouse suite is that I have never been offered an upsell or upgrade.  I imagine that is because the owner's suites and grand suites sell out early.

Yes, I think your right. We booked one of the aft suites on the promenade deck of Island for next month because I happen to hit a really good deal. It has been booked for more than a year. I was hoping they would offer a upsell to a different suite but no such luck. You can't find much info on those suites and I have a feeling they are full of vibration from being added later. 

Another vote here for the suite breakfast. Such a wonderful start to your day! Nukesubsailor is right.....very hard to go back, even to a mini! We have taken upsells to a full suite for about the last 3 years so gonna miss it next year. Enjoy all your Perks and the suite!

1 minute ago, Almighty188 said:

First of all, thanks for the replies.   Will be on the Grand Princess.  The only other question I have is for drinks, do you have to drink it there or can you take the drink with you?  

If by drink you mean soda or mocktail, yes take it anywhere you want. We usually get a mocktail on the way into the theater for example.

1 minute ago, Almighty188 said:

Interesting.  It has been too long since my first and only cruise on the Carnival Triumph in 2012 when I bought a drink, I don't remember if the coke came in a cup or in a can.  The reason I was asking is if you go to the bar or the regular free included dining, the only thing you can get charged for is the beverage if you didn't have the package but if you went to a specialty restaurant, you are obviously there to eat as well.  So if you have the package, there is a sticker on the card?  I kept thinking it was all electronic and there was nothing that you can physically show you had the package.

 

I didn't buy the package last year but every year prior. At that time there was a sticker on your card. Just show the waiter in specialty dining and he will bring you a soda.....no charges. If the system has changed since last year I'm sure someone will chime in. If you are on a medallion ship, Caribbean or Regal, I can't help. I have no clue how that works.

12 minutes ago, Almighty188 said:

Thanks! Do people who pay for soda's get the same small drink glasses?   One other question I had was if you were eating a meal in a specialty restaurant, do you actually need to let them know that you have the package since if you were having a meal in the specialty restaurant, won't they just charge the total bill including the covered beverage to your account or does the computer system automatically remove the charge for the covered beverage?  

I believe if you order, say a coke, and don't have the package, they bring you a can of coke with a glass of ice. I assume the specialty restaurants do the same as the dining rooms and go to a bar and get a glass of soda for you when you show them your sticker upon ordering. I always buy the package and never saw a charge and then deleted charge for soda in a specialty restaurant when ordering.

Great review so far! Looking forward to more....we sail her in about 6 weeks.

This past Feb. I only saw 1 line. As we made our way to the back of it, we were stopped by an agent and placed in an area for handicapped. My mom was in a wheelchair so we waited there about 10 minutes and we're in. I dont know if that was a one time thing or if thats where wheelchair passengers go now. In 2017 we hunted for the elite line and finally i ask someone if they were in the elite line. That was the wrong thing to say! She told me no and the  one line is for everyone and we needed to go to the back. Others were snickering (probably cause I mentioned the terrible "elite" word) as we made our way to the back of the line. I dont think I'm  better than anyone else, I just thought I was  blind. Lol! We usually arrive at the port about 10:30 but maybe we will get there around 10 so we're not so far back.

We have also had success many times by leaving a message that we definitely want to take advantage. She calls back and if more than 1 cabin is available we pick which one we want.

I am sailing Island in Feb. I always enjoy Crown grill but not sure about the Bayou. I like a nice baked potato with my steak and don't see that on their menu. I have 2 free dinners this trip so hope something strikes my fancy! Definitely not a Sabatini person.

We are also staying in one of the added accessible suites on promenade deck aft. Hoping for the best with vibrations, rattles etc. My thoughts are any cruise is a good cruise for me so none of it will be a big deal.

"Rock beds"? Are you meaning the heated tile loungers? If so, they most definitely do have them in the Thermal Suite. It dies cost to use the Thermal Suite, unless you're in a suite.

 

If you mean something else, help us out with what you mean..

I'm sorry, yes I mean the tile loungers. My mom calls them rock beds and guess she has brainwashed me! She will be very happy to hear that! We are booked in a suite so she can enjoy all she wants. I have no idea how I missed them before. Thank you!

I sailed the Island some years back and don't recall the rock beds. Sailing again in February and my mom loves those beds. I told her I thought they didn't have them on this ship. . Can anyone who has sailed recently confirm this?

Congratulations! Enjoy your cruise!

After 9 Princess cruises, we've never received an upsell or upgrade offer. But I wonder if it's because we always get minisuites or full suites? I would think that the odds are better if a lower category is booked. Right?

All but one of our upsells were from mini to full suite. One was balcony to mini and it was free. Problem with taking the offers is I am now spoiled. I'm always trying to get a deal on a full suite. I was kinda shocked when I tried to book a handicap mini suite cause my mom was with me, I recieved a pop up message saying "we are sorry, the category you selected is sold out but you can select this handicap full suite for the same fare". Naturally I took it. The selection was one of the new cabins put in the back of the Island so probably noisy as heck, I'm not complaining.

I've never sailed Carnival and am in the process of gathering all the info I can to book for 2020. The Havana sounds like something interesting. What is a cove balcony?

Excellent review! I have also been thinking about straying from Princess just to mix it up and see what else is out there. We have only cruised Princess so I am a bit hesitant, lol. Thank you!

That's the usual airfare treachery: if you keep checking the same flights from the same IP address, the fare will rise. And rise some more. Try clearing your cache and check the price again. Or just have your brother check for himself--he might find an even lower price than you paid if he has no history of searching EZAir.

Now that's some food for thought! I didn't think of that. So I booked on a tablet, if I use my laptop to check I may do better or my phone?

Hi all! Just wanted to share what luck I don't have, lol. I book everything for myself and separately I book for my brother and his wife. I went in and booked flights I wanted for myself, logged out and right back in to my brothers to book.....his price is 56.34 higher than mine. I'll just have to watch for a lower price. Again, I appreciate the feedback you all gave, thank you!

Thank you all. Just the kind of info I was looking for. I realize times change, can't be helped when you book so far ahead. I think I'll go for it. I assume you can cancel anytime prior to final payment but I'll read up on it first.

I normally book my flights with the airline or travelocity. Maybe 3 years ago I decided to go with EZ Air as it was much less expensive. My flights changed probably 4 times in about 5 month period of time without any notification. The times changed to what I could live with so no problem. I am OCD about checking all my reservations, that's how I knew it. Then I started reading complaints so I panicked and cancelled the flights and booked thru travelocity. Now I am considering EZ Air again.

Has it changed for the better in the last few years? I understand flights will change when you book 6-9 months prior. I also understand I need to keep track of my flight changes myself. However some complaints I read a few years back were regarding flights cancelled for no reason, ect. Anyone have any thoughts on current bookings with EZ Air?

Excellent comparison! We have been looking for another line other than Princess, just to mix it up some.

I did not know this....thanks for sharing!

Anyone know when allegiant will be releasing Feb. 2019? I'm new to them and don't see anything on their website like Southwest.