willcruiseanythyme

On 2/11/2024 at 3:52 AM, happy42cruise said:

The bidding process just started a year or 2 ago (sorry not positive which year) & changed slightly after it originally started.  Currently there is a chart that shows when you can start bidding IF you can bid that starts around final payment date (go to the Princess site to find it).  When you can bid you input your last name & booking # then upgrade options show for you.  Not all cabin categories get offered to you (in my experience) so if you are in an inside you probably won't be offered a suite upgrade.  There is a minimum bid per person (NOT per day) & you can bid up from the minimum.  There is a meter that says poor to better as you decide on your bid amount.  You must input a credit card & if your bid is accepted you will automatically be charged & a new cabin assigned.  You do not get a choice in cabin.  You possibly could request a different cabin if there was one in the same category still available but that hasn't been confirmed by anyone.  There also appears to be a new facet where they contact people by email with a counter offer

Thank you for the information!

Without sounding clueless...ok, I will, how and what are these "bids" to get an upgrade?  It's been several years since we were on our last cruise and I never remember hearing about bidding for an upgrade.  I do remember actually getting an upgrade without even asking once - from a porthole to a balcony but I thought it was just random luck.  We aren't sailing until next February but I'd like to know the process for the bidding please...

Greetings!  I know you have already finished your cruise but I am curious about the weather this time of year in each port.  I have family members who are going with us on this cruise but at the END of February next year and they are concerned that it will be too cold to snorkel or go into the ocean.  Granted every year is different but I am wondering what your experience was during your sailing as far as temps go?  Thanks!

Ok, thank you.

I'm curious if someone to tell me about the Eastern Caribbean cruise through D.R., St. Thomas, Tortola, and Stingray Cay - specifically which side of the ship would be best to view each port and water around them?  Port?  Starboard?  Did anyone book one and wish they had a stateroom on the other side instead?  Thanks!

How do you reserve this?  First day onboard at the restaurant itself??

We are getting ready to sail out of SD and we are staying at the downtown Best Western.  We are paying about $170 after taxes and they offer breakfast.

I will be seeking out a grocery store of some kind near the hotel or port to stock up on bottled water!  Hopefully there will be something nearby.

Hi,

Can someone tell me where the cheapest place to buy some bottled water to bring onboard our cruise near the San Diego cruise port would be?  We are staying at the downtown Best Western too so if there is something close to that, that would be fine too.  Please don't tell me to buy the package offered onboard.  6 bottles for $24 would cost way more than I am willing to pay. I only drink water and sometimes iced tea - so this is a necessity. Thank you.

Getting ready to cruise on the Oosterdam in a week and was wondering if someone can tell me how easy it is to call home using our cell phones while onboard.  It's been awhile since I've called from a ship.  To not incur phone charges, we keep our phone in airplane mode, correct?  Then take it off to make calls?  We have verizon.  First hand knowledge would be greatly appreciated! Thanks for your help.  (In the past, I've gotten different answers from my carriers that I don't know if I really trust their answers anymore.)

I'm replying to my own post...cancelled this excursion through HAL!  Will be going to the Melia ME instead for half the price and on a swimmable beach!

On 9/21/2019 at 9:41 AM, TMR2 said:

There is this Resort Day Pass at the Melia Me https://cabosanlucascruiseexcursions.com/excursions/cabo-san-lucas-resort-day-pass/ Its $45 for adults but you get a $30 food and beverage credit, towels, lounges and use of the pools and beach.  They have a higher priced option if you want watersports activites . I think its a pretty great deal

We are doing this excursion on Oct 8th.  Hoping for a fun time!  Much cheaper than doing it through the ship AND you can swim in the ocean here.  Not all beaches are swimmable in Cabo.

7 hours ago, RuthC said:

I don't recall ever reading about such a site on this forum, and never heard of one otherwise. 
Are you referring to performers on for a long period of time? Or guest performers on for one or two nights, then move on?

I'm referring to magicians/comedians, etc.  I saw the website a few years back but now I can't find it.  It was great because you would know who was going to be on your cruise.

26 minutes ago, Crew News said:

 

I was remiss in not stating how much a laundry bag holds for me:  three shirts, two pair jeans, two pair socks, pajamas, underwear, and handkerchiefs.  If clothes are lightweight, such as worn in Caribbean, more should fit in a bag.

Very helpful, thank you! $7 per day seems very cheap! Why would anyone not take advantage of this?! Means I can pack less!!

1 minute ago, Crew News said:

 

If you check the box on the list for "Unlimited" on your first laundry submission, your account will be charged $7/day for the number of days on your North American cruise in a single payment.  You will find a blue laundry bag and laundry list hanging in your closet when you board and will receive a new bag/list when your laundry is returned.  If you need more bags, your Room Steward will provide them.

 

FWIW laundry bags are cloth with a drawstring which means you can stuff a lot in them.

Thank you! 

9 minutes ago, Crew News said:

 

The laundry list link above has not changed since I posted it years ago.  Unlimited laundry is priced per stateroom and you can send as much as you want, just ask for more laundry bags if you need them.

I realize I can send out laundry using this list. What I am asking is in relation to a previous post where you prepay a daily cost for unlimited laundry while onboard. I'd like to know if that is still offered, and if so, which day will it be offered.

I've been on past cruises where a brown bag is distributed midway through a cruise as well where you pay one price for as much as you can stuff in the bag. I'm looking for bulk options, not pay for one or two items.

I remember awhile back there was a website you could go to in order to find out who will be performing on which ship and when. Anyone know what it is? TIA!

Is the unlimited laundry offered on the first day of cruising? Does everyone in the cabin have to pay for this or is it per stateroom? Thank you!

Has anyone ever been to the Solmar Beach Resort?  By the pictures it doesn't look very spectacular.  Plus it's on the Pacific Ocean side of Cabo.  I just wonder if the ocean is swimmable there and if this is going to be worth it.  I really enjoy a resort day when I have access to their pools/beach/etc.  I booked this excursion through HAL before they listed which resort it would be at.  Now I'm second guessing my choice.  Any info from first hand experience would be appreciated.

Thank you all for the replies. Sigh...I guess not much has changed. I wish the cruise lines would place VERY visible signs stating the no saving rules with times. Then it would be easier to point it out to the joggers.  Oh well.

We will be sailing on the Oosterdam next October to the Mexican Riviera.  I haven't sailed on HAL in many years.  Can anyone tell me if the chair hogging/saving has gotten any better since that time?  I absolutely hate getting up to get a lounger next to the pool by 8:00 AM or I miss out.  They always seem to be saved yet no one is sitting in them.  It's vacation, I'd love to not have to get up there so early.  Thanks!

I was on the Reflection in January and it was also awful on my cruise. By early morning all chairs (both in the sun and in the shade) were either saved or someone was in them. The pool deck butlers were actually telling people if they wanted to save their lounger to leave personal items on the lounger, because if it just had a towel, they would take the towel. I couldn't believe that the pool butlers were not only condoning the saving of loungers, they were telling folks how to save them.

Oh that is awful!!

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Thanks for the work on the review. It's disappointing to hear of your wait staff experience. Does anyone know if the staff stays with the same ship all year? We are on the Reflection this summer, and I want to keep eye my out for Ali if he is still on board.

Well, it all depends on the contract he is on as to whether he is onboard when you sail. I don't know if they ever move sections or not but our table was just to the right as you entered the dining room. #115.

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So, allow me to review the one specialty restaurant that we dined at...Tuscan Grille. Now, we decided to dine here the final night of the cruise because we were fed up with Ali and didn't want him hounding us to give him a good review. Sad that we felt we needed to do this but...oh well. So, the only seating we could get was 8:30 that night. We arrived there a couple minutes early but were seated pretty much right away. The extra charge for this restaurant was $45 pp. After being seated, our waiter showed up. He first asked us if we had any kind of drink package. We had the classic. He then walked away. He came back with a tray of different kind of bottled waters. He filled our water glasses with the cheapy water bottle which was fine. No ice. Seemed weird though that this establishment instead of filling water glasses with normal water like the MDR did, they used whatever package water you had. Wonder if you had no package would you get slum water??? I'd have preferred the regular pitcher of water so I could actually get cold water with ice. Anyway, I digress. While pouring our waters, he went over the menu with us. Would have been fine but he had such a thick accent...I think he was actually Italian, that we could only catch every tenth word or so. Half way through his spiel, he proceeded to lose his water trays balance and dumped water from both types of bottles all over the table, our feet and the floor. We were very gracious about it as this could happen to anyone but he quickly walked away, got a few napkins, came back and wiped up the table and then was gone again. For a long time. By this time, the other tables around us (who came in after us) had already ordered and were getting their appetizers. When our waiter finally returned, he took our orders. He never actually finished going over the menu with us but that was ok. We already knew what we wanted. My husband really just wanted a great plate of spaghetti of all things (it was, after all, an Italian restaurant) and I opted for the Lobster rigatoni alfredo. We ordered our appetizers as well. So off he went to put our order in. During this time, the bar steward came over and asked us if we wanted anything from the bar. My husband didn't but I wanted a Diet Coke. So then the waiting began.....and continued....and continued....FINALLY, after talking to the table next to us, since they had already finished their appetizers and ours, as well as our waiter, had never surfaced. I was hoping to also get my diet coke. But no. After a good 15-20 minutes, finally our waiter returned. I told him that I had ordered a diet coke and it never came. He didn't seem to know anything about it. All the while I saw the bar waiter chit chatting away at other tables. I also asked our waiter if he had forgot about us. Not sure if he understood or not...

So we finally got our appetizers. We both ordered the crab cake. It was very good. My husband ordered the soup and I ordered the caesar salad, both were ok. Then we waited some more. I don't know if the spilled water really threw him or what but it was starting to get ridiculous. Every table around us had already been served their main courses even though we were first in the restaurant of our four separate tables. Finally! Our main course arrived. My husband said his spaghetti and meatballs were just o.k. He only ate one of the meatballs. My lobster dish was good but nothing outstanding. Maybe we should have ordered steak? On to dessert. Nothing looked over-the-top great to either of us so he ordered the pistachio creme brulee and I ordered the lemonchello cheese cake. His tasted burnt! It was awful. The regular creme brulee in the MDR every night was very good. This was sub-par. My cheese cake was good but couldn't taste any lemon to speak of. Our waiter brought our bill, we paid, and that was that. Good experience? Not really. Would I go back? No. Oh well.

Enjoying your review. When in St Kitts how did you get from the ship to the Marriott? And back? Thanks.

We took a taxi from the port. It cost us $12 for the two of us and it was a full van. That is the price they quoted us. HOWEVER, on the way home we paid $6 for the two of us and there were only 4 of us in the van. Another couple at the resort told us they only paid $6 on the way over as well. So....the moral of this story is, it might pay to ask around or walk further out into the port to find a cheaper taxi...

We had same wait staff, Ali and Ryan, on our 3/4 sailing. Same drill. Treated us with marginal service at best, then asked for a good review. He did not work well with Ryan. Tables around us were getting the royal treatment from what we observed. He engaged us in conversation one evening and we thought we turned the corner. Nope.

Did you mention him in your questionnaire when you got home? I feel vindicated now that someone else went through this although I am sorry for your experience as well. It's really too bad. I actually felt sorry for Ryan. We could tell he was hardworking but he had no time to chat with us. Oh well.

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