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Josie2

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Posts posted by Josie2

    For Canadian cruisers on Princess - OBC question

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    It's been several years since we cruised Princess - usually X these days. However we have two booked on Princess this year. How does pre purchased (by me) OBC work on Princess? Can I cash any out (without having to use the casino and pay a fee) or can it simply be refunded to my credit card if not used? With the Canadian dollar sinking lower by the hour, an exchange rate of 30% is looking like a great deal now. I assume if I buy $500 US and have $100 US left I can take that as cash or have my credit card refunded $100 US.

     

    TIA

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

    All inclusive beverage package

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    Is there a daily limit on the number of drinks allowed on the Princess program ? On HAL there is a 15 drink max per day. When you are picking up several waters, special coffees etc. it can get close though we've never exceeded !

     

     

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    Princess Pricing Strategy

    in Princess Cruises

    Posted

    Although Platinum status on Princess, we have not sailed Princess for several years, our last dozen or more cruises have been on Celebrity. However, we now have two booked on the Grand Princess - primarily due to itineraries we wanted.

     

    One is a 15 day SFO-Hawaii return route (we did this same cruise 10 years ago from LA). That is in October this year. I booked it late in 2016, got the all inclusive beverage package, and the price has only increased since then, to about $600 pp more than what we paid, with no beverage package. I understand demand for Hawaii cruises is likely quite high, and these prices will likely continue to increase.

     

    The other is a 10 day Mexican Riveria in March 2018. I just booked this last week. I obviously figured it was a decent deal, and it qualified under the Anniversary Sale for $400 OBC and a free specialty dining. On Monday, the price had gone down by $400 for the cabin. I called and had no problem getting the new price, same perks. On Tuesday, I saw the price had gone down another $400 for the cabin, so I will call this morning to secure the new price.

     

    I'm not complaining, and I don't mind monitoring prices myself on an almost daily basis - but am just wondering if recent experienced Princess cruisers have any insight as to how Princess sets/adjusts prices - I am surprised to see two relatively significant price drops, in two days, on a cruise thats more than a year out.

     

    BTW - of course, absolutely no problem getting Princess to adjust the price on my first call, and I would assume the same result today. Just trying to get some tips on what to watch for and perhaps when.

     

    Any insight welcome .... thanks.

    Is it reasonable to have to vacate cabins at 7am on disembarkation?

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted · Edited by Josie2

    We are pretty easy going and are just so happy to be on our cruise (like many, we both work long hours) that we don't sweat the small changes that have been made over the last 5 years since we changed to Celebrity. We have been really well-treated onboard and have had some amazing cruises.

     

     

     

    We started in AQ and enjoyed that, but made the mistake of booking an S1 for a TA. Like they say, it is hard to go back. The suite experience has gotten better over the last few cruises and we have been pampered beyond belief. We have come home happy and relaxed and very positive about the Celebrity experience.

     

     

     

    Unfortunately, we have been priced out of the suites after one more in an S1 next week (if they can get the higher prices for suites, more power to them), but are excited to have AQ booked for the next few cruises. We know we will still be pampered and have a great time, no matter which cabin we are in.

     

     

     

    This 7 AM push to get us out of the cabins hits me differently than the other changes. Debarkation day is depressing and stressful, especially for those of us who have many hours of travel ahead of us. This change feels to me like Celebrity just doesn't care about the customers. If what others on here have said is correct, they are saving money by cutting back stateroom attendants, but making us pay for it.

     

     

     

    If what people have reported is true we will have to wake up earlier, lug our luggage to breakfast, fight with the masses at breakfast, compete for seats in the waiting areas because everyone is leaving their cabins early and potentially wait in lines longer to get off. Yes, we can ask the cabin attendant if we can stay longer, but we hate to put them on the spot - we are the type that follows the rules and would probably be more stressed if we stayed past our welcome. We are not young, but are healthy enough to do all of the above and would survive, but do we want to end our dream vacation this way? As we get older, I know we won't want to end our vacation that way.

     

     

     

    For the first time in 5 years, we will be looking at other options for the future - hopefully can find a similar or better overall experience with a less stressful last day. Not sure if this will be a deal breaker - we will see how debarkation goes on Feb 5th.

     

     

    Perfection.

     

     

     

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile appperfection.

    Xpress pass for travel companion

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Thanks for input to all. I will try to do this in advance on line, and try to reconfirm when we check in at pier, and as fall back position my brother can swipe his card when they check in and we can sort out at guest relations. As you know arriving separately it can be difficult to meet up in the boarding chaos.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

    Xpress pass for travel companion

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    Hello. We are travelling with our nieces in April and I want to set up their account on our credit card. I assume I can do this when I check in on line (we made and paid for their reservations). We will be arriving/boarding separately - if I give them their Express pass that I will print for them linked to my credit card - I assume they can check in and board without need of showing any credit card ?

     

    Any experience with this ? Thanks.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

    Just Embarked the Equinox. IMPRESSED!

    in Celebrity Cruises

    Posted

    I'm sure the $7.75 OBN will be used up with the mysterious post disembarkation phantom charges that we always seem to accrue, including on the Equinox last month. We disembarked with $49.20 in OBR. Within a few days our credit card was credited, for $27.60. We called, as we always do, were told it was "stateroom amenities", we said we didn't have any such amenity, it was refunded no problem, as usual. But why does this keep happening ...

     

    Thanks for a great review. We are back on Equinox in April.

     

     

    Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

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