mamaboss

I have did btb twice, separately booked. Onboard credit and debit carried over both times. I also worried about the non-refundable obc but they assured me all would be good and they were right.

Can anyone comment if this ship has refridgerator in the balcony rooms?

Fantastic job! I have family sailing her in a few weeks. First timers on Carnival Line. Can anyone verify if the standard balcony cabins have a small refrigerator in them or just suites? Thank you again for the lovely report and photos!:D

There are a few threads about Kory, here's one. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2511224

It seems that folks either love him or hate him.

Like Bert Stratton. Cruisers either love him or hate him.

The Elite/Platinum free minutes depend on the length of sailing.

• Voyages 7 days or less, 150 minutes
  
• Voyages 8-20 days, 250 minutes
  
• Voyages 21+ days, 500 minutes
  

For the Medallion preview sailings on the Regal which for now go through the end of December 2017, they are offering Platinum and Elite in all cabins unlimited internet only on these sailings. As they said, they can change this if it gets overtaxed.

Thank you, I'm clear on it now. I used 250 minutes because I usually book 8-10 day sailings so it's what I'm used to.:)

I believe they will eliminate the unlimited soon as ships are ready. :(

MojoJones,

 

Thank you so much for the reply - it's very helpful.

 

I have another two questions:

1. You mentioned Elite/Platinum gets free internet for one device - can I switch between my iphone and laptop (but only one connected at a time)?

2. How long the 'free' will be for E/P passengers ? till they iron out the bugs or just your cruise only ?

 

Again, thank you so much for taking time asking Qs for us and answering our Qs.

I guess I missed something or am not understanding what I'm reading. Right now elite have 250 free Internet minutes. Am I understanding if you are in a medallion cabin the Internet is unlimited for now? Other elites will still have their 250 free minutes?

Thanks Mamaboss. The body pillow sounds wonderful. How is the shower? Just a regular one? And is the whirlpool very big? Lot of counter space in the bathroom? Is the deck furniture padded? So many questions. first time in a suite.

Shower is great! Definitely larger than a balcony shower. Whirlpool tub is very deep. I never used it so can't comment on jets. I know the lounger is padded but I can't remember if the table chairs were. We loved the suite! I have a suite booked on Island for 2019 I'm hoping will be as nice as penthouse suites. I can't get any info on them as they are handicap suites aft that were added when they took out Universe lounge. Keeping my fingers crossed!:D

We took upsells twice on Riviera deck, once in 408. You could hear chairs being moved around early in the morning. I am a light sleeper. Annoyed me a few mornings. I am up usually at 6 am anyway on a cruise but 3 or 4 was a bit too early. I used earplugs and then had no problems. The bed was very comfortable but that was almost 2 years ago. You can request all kinds of pillows. I had a body pillow and a couple feather pillows. Balcony is very narrow in my opinion, but long. One end had a table with 4 chairs and the other end had a padded lounge with a small table. Balcony is covered as I recall. I am hoping for an upsell on my upcoming Feb. cruise. I would book this cabin again if the price was right. Enjoy!

Upgrade or upsell? Just curious as it seems early for either one.

Best part of staying in a suite for me is Sabatini breakfast and ordering main dining room dinner in when you just don't feel like going to dining room but want what's on the menu. I also enjoy having the padded lounge on balcony and fresh flowers in the suite. There are other Perks but those are my favorites. Enjoy your suite!:)

One of our upsells came mid October for an end of February cruise. Only reason I remember this one clearly is because I had just landed in Vegas for a short vacation, checked my phone and saw an email from my TA. I called her back on the way to baggage claim and we took the upsell. This is the only time I recall getting an offer before final payment.

You got me curious. My February back to back cruise is 13 days total in a mini-suite. I also booked a night stay by our home airport and 3 extra nights in Fl. Adding in airfare and meals while in Fl it comes to about $300.00 a day per person. When Las Vegas was my vacation destination I spent about 500.00 a day and did not have a strip view hotel. I don't gamble much on the ship but neither of these vacation costs include play and shopping money so cruising is a better value for me, and much more relaxing. For others, like singles, maybe not.

Agree with leaving them in the cabin. Ifor you have a balcony and food smells I put it on the balcony minus any napkins or whatever could blow off the tray. Our Stewart has always removed them. Sometimes if I see him I will ask him to remove them.

I have also sailed a couple of times in suites booked under Sip & Sail with a specialty restaurant promo. The specialty restaurant on the first night that comes with the suite is not listed in your personalizer. The one listed is the one from the promo. I have never seen the first night suite specialty restaurant listed on my personalizer.

You will need to call when you get on board to reserve your restaurant for the first night. If you don't call, they may call you -- but don't count on it.

They will assign your promo specialty restaurant to a specific restaurant at a specific date and time. However, there is no problem calling to change it.

The Princess website is clear that advance booking cannot be used for complimentary specialty restaurant reservations. I would not believe anyone at Princess who told you there would not be a problem getting a refund. They only book a limited number of times in advance, so they keep a lot of times available for onboard booking. If you're in a suite, you have priority specialty restaurant booking, so you should not have a problem getting the restaurant, date, and time you want onboard -- as long as you book early after you board.

Since you will be calling them the first day to book your first night reservation, I would recommend going ahead and booking your other one at the same time. Save a call -- and time on hold for a second call.

Thank you! I will call upon boarding and book both nights. I would trust most on cruise critic than any rep at Princess. Sad but true. Thanks again!

I booked a suite under the promo also offering a specialty dinner but only see 1 reservation for each of us in the personalizer. That is most likely the one that comes with the suite? Where is my proof I have another one included in my promo?

We have done a few 4 & 5 day cruises on Princess. Only time there was a problem was when we booked too far into March and many college students were on board with a free booze package. 😨😨 Wow! That was the only time it happened and even then it didn't ruin my cruise! We now try to book so cruise is ending by March 1 or book longer ones. You don't really know when all the colleges are out for spring break but we never have many kids or college kids prior to March.

We had just dropped our daughter off at airport and wife went in to help her so I went and parked and checked my email. There it was. I had to read it 3 times before I could believe it. Email arrived at 10:48 Mountain time. Wife came out about 5 minutes later, I showed her and we didn’t even leave the parking lot and called our TA.

 

We had quite a hold time getting our TA so I surfed Princess’s site for rooms while wife surfed for flights. We almost always book interior cabins and our favorite is Deck 14, rear. That is where I first looked and there were 8 cabins to choose from. I clicked on balconies back there and there were approximately 12-15 I would say. We decided for $400 more we would do a balcony. (Actually only $350 more when we used our future cruise credits and the extra $50 you get for booking Balconies over interior)

 

By the time the TA answered and got ahold of Princess, the balcony cabins in the eligible categories were sold down to guarantee. We got a BE guarantee. Hope it is at the rear.

 

Cheapest flights my wife could see were $1358 from Boise to LHR one way only. So we had the TA check Princess EZ air and about fell out of the car when they quoted $500.98 each round trip from Boise. Heck, no flights are cheap out of Boise. We jumped all over that, first time using Princess air reservations.

 

We bought Princess transfers from LHR to Southampton. Total price for 15 day cruise in a balcony, port fees/taxes, transfers, airfare $2206 from Boise. Cheapest cruise we have ever been on. With $525 OBC, we can pay the gratuities and have money left over.

I just counted Balcony rooms you can book and there are still 90 left. Lots of mini's left and 3 full suites.

That is so wonderful! Glad you could work it out. I'm jealous! Lol

Is the pub lunch up-charge? (It's OK if it is! just curious.) Is it on all Princess ships?

No up charge. It's actually very good fish! Every ship I have been on had it.

Definitely the pub lunch. Also, you can order a "volcano" in the mdr. It's not on the menu, but you can get it. It's a big banana split, and it's been different every time we've ordered one. Depends on who's making it.

Very good, can be ordered with any combo of ice cream and toppings! Stumbled on it years ago after seeing it delivered to a passenger. It is on the children's menu. Anyone can order it.:)

I also received the offer. No brainer if you want that itinerary! I went in and an aft or forward balcony is as OP stated, 398.00!

I can't take advantage of the offer but anyone that received it and can, should!

I travel with my 91 year old mom with bad knees. We always booked regular balconies or mini's. It is very tight for her collapsible wheelchair. We stayed in an accessible balcony cabin for the first time this year because she uses the wheelchair more now. If you have a handicap bathroom that's a big help. If your husband uses a wheelchair he may have to get out of it to enter the cabin. You will have to decide what he can safely do.

I have searched many reviews and threads trying to find any info on the accessible suites added to promenade aft, PR726 on the Island Princess. I tried to book an accessible mini suite on Island Princess and a message came up saying none available but we will upgrade you to a full accessible suite for same cost. I went ahead and booked it but the only review on the suite was not very good. Seems not too many cruisers are happy with the new changes to Island in general. Am hoping someone can share their experience in one of these suites. Seems strange all accessible mini's were already gone and they offered up a full suite. Makes me think there is a problem somewhere! Lol

Thank you all! Yes, I have experienced Sabatinis breakfast and it is very good! Enough to spoil you! But alas, only Sail suites on a really good deal. 🙁

I just booked a suite for my 2019 cruise. I see club class dining as a perk. If you go with the club class dining is it at any time that you want or do they give you a time?

I read somewhere the Crown was going in for refreshing and medallion installation. I am wondering if this is just talk or does anyone know when she goes in to be refreshed?

Lol! Yes this is a fantastic itinerary. I also love having the 2 sea days on the end. Sad to hear that Crown Grill is noisy. We planning on dinner there a couple times. We have sailed the Royal one other time and really enjoyed it. :cool: