jeeper2

13 minutes ago, CaliforniaDon said:

 

The check arrives in a plain envelope and looks very much like junk mail. It is from some name that has nothing to do with Princess, so be careful!  Good luck.

It certainly does look like junk mail!  I almost tossed some refunded Future Cruise Deposits that I wasn’t expecting!  I now know to be careful if I expect an Onboard Credit refund!

29 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

I know of, at least, 4 of my immediate family members who have not had covid yet.  

I know more people who haven’t had Covid than people who have, including hubby and myself.  I just don’t understand it, but it’s a good thing!

19 hours ago, GTJ said:

I assume that you're staying at the YWCA Hotel Vancouver, located at 733 Beatty Street.

 

1. Yes, it is easier to have a taxi driver take you from the airport to the hotel, compared to having to navigate yourself from the airport to the hotel. The greater ease will be reflected in the higher fare for taxi service. The hotel is in taxi zone 8, to fare from the airport to this zone being 34.00 CAD. In comparison, SkyTrain requires is a 2-zone fare, 4.45 CAD, plus a 5.00 CAD surcharge for boarding at the airport, or a total of 9.45 CAD per person.

 

2. Using SkyTrain, change at Waterfront station to the Expo line, then alight at Stadium-Chinatown station. It might be challenging finding a taxi late at night. The taxi fare would be exceptionally low because you would be traveling just over one block. a distance of less than 800 feet (about 0.15 mile). The taxi fare should be 3.50 CAD flag drop, plus approximately 0.40 CAD for the distance traveled, or a total of 3.90 CAD. It would also be a very easy walk, primarily because of the short distance involved. The sidewalk is well-maintained and reasonably safe to travel upon; it is unlikely that you would get injured in walking the just-over one block distance.

Thank you for that very helpful information.  A number of years ago we took the Sky Train from the airport and enjoyed every minute of the experience, even having to transfer to a bus to be near our hotel.  Unfortunately, being a bit older and with some physical limitations, that doesn’t appear to be a good option.  

My questions:

There will be four of us, with luggage, heading somewhere near the cruise port.  Are there taxis, private services, or Ubers, that would be able to take all of us together?  
Thank you! 

1 hour ago, SAKay said:

I don’t know if this will help you, but here’s what I do. My husband gets the military credit. Our investment account is in both our names. When I bought the stock it was automatically in both our names. I always just print out the one page from our account that has the CCL stock. At the top I just cross out his name with a sharpie, along with all other info I don’t want Princess to see-account number, other stocks on the page, etc. I just leave my name, date , and the CCL stock showing. Everything else is blacked out. Works every time.  Military credit is in his name and stock credit in mine.  I just did it for a cruise next Mar 2024. Hope it continues to work this way ! 

I don’t even remove my husband’s name from the certificate.  I have always been the one to request the shareholder’s credit and it has always been assigned to my account, with the military credit to his.  This was still  true for my last two requests submitted since the announcement.  It should remain the same in the future…key word “should”!  😊

27 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

It’s easy, really.  Leave on the auto tips and let Princess distribute them as they and the crew have contracted.  Give extra cash to those who have gone above your expectations and you feel deserve the recognition.  Perhaps, offer a little something to the people who deliver your room service orders, even if only a couple of dollars.

It’s completely up to you and you won’t be judged if you just leave the auto tips in place and choose not to give extra cash.  It’s your vacation and your money, so enjoy yourself.

If you should decide to remove the auto tips, then we’re gonna have a problem.  Please don’t do that.

Very well said!  

20 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

More often than not, it is easy to figure out CC from context (or thread title). 

 

But I do blame it on texting, tweeting, or other social media.  Grammar, punctuation, short cuts, capitalization, and grammatical marks (periods, apostrophes, etc) have been thrown out with syntax.

 

I am more bothered by posters using interchangeable condensations like FCD/FCC or Princess calling a cabin a mini-SUITE instead of a "balcony".  At least they changed it to "Reserved Class" to make sure everyone understood that they are moving to a "CLASS" society.  Oh, the glory days of the Titanic or Queen Mary in Long Beach.

 

As for me, I still have to ask someone who sends me letters what those letters mean.  I do know LOL, BTW, TA, but CVP?   I dislike changes.  

I totally agree that it should be easy to figure out CC from context.  
 

FCD’s and FCC’s are a whole different ball game!  I always knew the $100 things I purchased onboard to be used as FCC’s (Future Cruise Credits), to be used as deposits as well as obtain onboard credit.  Not too many years ago I was made aware that these were FCD’s (Future Cruise Deposits). It finally clicked for me since all the Covid cancellations took place.  I now know that FCD’s are what I buy on board and now expire, and are refunded, after one year.  FCC’s are granted as either Goodwill FCC, which expire as of a certain date, and Cash Value FCC’s that have a Book and Sail by date attached!  Acronyms are so much fun!

On 4/25/2023 at 4:37 AM, iamaqt2 said:

All the people on the Lido deck were tanned and skinny.

You could always tell the scenes that were actually filmed onboard with actual passengers in them!  What a difference!  😁

On 4/3/2023 at 5:33 AM, Coral said:

Does this really surprise you? I don't plan on using either of those features if I get the Plus package in the future. I don't remember people saying "I wish they would create these outrageous desserts" or "I wish they would now charge for fitness classes". They probably did charge for a few previously. Just not something people seemed thrilled about - I think most would have preferred the $50 Plus package with out these 2 features.

I do think cre8tiv1’s post was tongue in cheek, but I certainly agree that most (if not all!) would have preferred the $50 Plus package without those two features!  😁

On 3/30/2023 at 6:08 PM, jaycruising said:

Sandia en Fuego 

Yes!  Right up there with Dirty Banana! 

8 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

The entire fleet is stuck on March 26, so it can't be an issue on any individual ship.  This has to be systemic or a decision made back in the home office.  Anyone have any insight? 

I was wondering the same thing!

4 hours ago, Princessfan20 said:

Wow.  Talk about cutbacks. No shrimp cocktail? ☹️

Or any of the “always available” items!?!  Lois

On our recent Discovery cruise only $100 was indicated as non refundable.  Of that hundred, I used all but $1, and anticipated a check from Princess for $800.  Less than two weeks later we received a check for $801. Hmmm.😊

On 12/15/2022 at 6:10 PM, LawDog61 said:

I would love to see them bring back LA-Alaska, RT.  We did that in 2019 and it was great.  We did the 10 day. out of SF this year and it was great too, but not worth the flying and hotel stay for me

Oh yes!  We had two LA-Alaska bookings canceled and have been so hoping they would offer that itinerary soon.  There were so many people who expressed displeasure when the first trip on May 30, 2020 was cancelled, due to the transfer of the Golden to P & O, that Princess offered another on the July 3, 2021, subsequently canceled due to Covid. I’m sure it would be a popular itinerary and I don’t know why they haven’t brought it back.  Lois

This is a beautiful, very professional, presentation!  Wonderful memories!  We’re boarding her tomorrow. Lois😊

On 10/1/2022 at 10:21 AM, Dar & Bob said:

For us it was only $40 pppd extra on our last 2 cruises. The gratuities were $15 pppd -so that left us at $25 pppd - one coffee and a couple of glasses of wines and we were at break even.  Bottles of water, sodas and several other cocktails made it a deal for us. I also don't like to think about the fact of spending money once on board.  It's one and done.

Yes, it was an easy decision T $40 pppd.  I would have to really think about it now.

On 10/5/2022 at 9:35 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

I made it to the second commercial.  I recorded it, but don’t have high expectations for the rest.  It made me miss the original Love Boat even more. 

I didn’t make it beyond the introduction.  I have it recorded but seriously doubt I will watch it.  I did suffer through the “The Real Love Boat Kick-Off” on YouTube, though, as painful as it was.  Princess, what are you doing?!

In my opinion the convenience of Club Class is great, but not worth $30pp/day.  😊

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Is there any one who does like the canapes?

Not these days!  I used to enjoy them, though, particularly the ones with prosciutto! 

On 12/30/2021 at 7:35 AM, LACruiser88 said:

There is one very annoying new addition since our cruise last month.

 

They have added a motion sensor LED dome light on the ceiling in front of the closet/bathroom door.  It is extremely bright and is very shocking in the middle of the night, when going to the bathroom.

 

They also added 8 inch long LED motion sensor light at the bottom of the two bed nightstands and the refrigerator cabinet.  Also, the most annoying at night!

 

We always travel with a roll of black electrical tape to cover uncovered peep holes and annoying lights.  So, I took care of all the sensors!  Our room steward told us her supervisor could cover them or we were welcomed to do it ourselves.

 

Btw, we are in a mini-suite.

The strip lights beneath the bedside tables are okay for me, but that light in the closet area?!  It’s way too bright in the middle of the night, and I much prefer controlling it during the day!!!

1 hour ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

All of those suite amenities were done away with BEFORE the pandemic (2019).  Elite and upgraded suite items are still given out (without the gold bag).  Q-tips are by request. Floral arrangements have been replaced by an orchid plant. No more fruit bowl (by request), no chocolate strawberries/pillow chocolates, after dinner mints).  No stationary (Hotel Manager said no one wanted them any more/I do).  No canvas Princess bag but given blue bag.  No sewing kits. No postcards.  No playing cards (long gone).

 

 

Very sad.  Ten plus years ago we had free Internet in our suite, but that has been long gone.  Oh, and corsages and boutonnières on one formal night.

On 11/30/2021 at 11:11 AM, XBGuy said:

 Being a man of habit, I ordered a cheeseburger and fries.  Mrs. XBGuy ordered a veggie burger.  Our burgers arrived, and I enjoyed mine quite a bit.  Mrs. XBGuy took one bite from hers, and pushed her plate away.  That was all she was going to try.  When the server noticed that my plate was pretty empty but my wife's meal had been barely touched, she knew something was wrong, and asked if she could replace the dish.  My wife declined.  We have a regular sailaway tradition on our balcony, and she just looked forward to that,

I’ve heard several friends say, “That is the worst veggie burger I’ve ever tasted!”…doing away with any desire I’ve had to try one!  

Wow!  I hope the “Made in China” isn’t so prominently displayed on the current ornaments! 

10 minutes ago, jenndisney said:

I have heard others are just doing it at the port. 

That is true!  My question is then, how do you select an arrival time?  We like to be at the port early, and in time to have lunch in the dining room. 😊

3 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

We just made appointments at a local CVS (Agoura Hills) for Nov 4th.  They had many time slots...

Thanks for that info!  Hopefully they will still be offering the test on December 27th! 

On 7/18/2021 at 11:31 PM, shellbeachjim said:

We’ve stayed at the Hampton Inn at the Channel Islands Harbor a few times but had no idea it was formerly a Princess Resort. I’ll have to be more attentive next time we stay there. It’s a Hampton Inn, so it’s all about the waffles… 🧇

The Hampton Inn was constructed on the site of an annex to the original Casa Sirena.  It consisted of additional hotel rooms and a separate, small, banquet facility.  They were demolished, and the Hampton Inn built in its place.  You must enjoy that Hampton Inn if you keep returning!  😊