roadster08

Elitism is not a concept top of mind for most average Americans. About only group I hear it applied to is to the very best athletes who are a world apart from everyone else. It is important to respect cultural differences when visiting new places. It takes effort on both sides and sometimes that wall appears to be too steep to climb.

In the US people are permitted to express their individuality, within reason. As long as someone is not creating a scene and being a nuisance, they will likely not be criticized. That may not be the culture you are accustomed to, but it's culture.

Also fashionable in1975...

I was suggesting an additional package not a replacement. Some of us are built for distance, not for volume. Princess could make their margin just the same on light drinkers with a lower limit as heavy drinkers with the higher limit.

I wonder if Princess ever considered offering a package with a max limit less than 15 with a lower price or even a previous price. Seems a mini package would be well received. I'm not a heavy drinker either on account of my thin arms.

What happens in Bermuda, stays in Bermuda.😉

Why do this? 😜

The reason cash is still an option in the US is because unfortunately, there are still many who are unbanked. Bank accounts require a social security number that the undocumented don't legally have, and banking fees are expensive unless you maintain a certain minimum balance at all times. My posts often contain dry humor but this one is 100% serious.

As technology does more and more for us, and people do less and less, when to tip becomes less of a dilemma. The trend in the US lately has been to tip less frequently, but tip more when it is warranted. Many chain restaurants are putting kiosks on tables where you can order food and pay the bill without assistance from a server. Have to think that will happen soon on cruise ships too. For example, Americans are eating at home more and less in restaurants, but tipping more than 15% when they do go to a full service restaurant.

In the US system, tipping is what keeps service people from being underpaid. Base salaries are very low assuming they will get tipped to make up the difference over the long run. If they are exceptional, they may even make more than if they were just paid salary. The people best suited for the job are both competent and personable. Those lacking either will quit or get fired. The US way is both effective and brutal.

Although not a tip, when ordering a drink in some local US ports you may also be charged a small local tax , even if you have a package.

Need to be careful, there could be blue dye hidden in them.

With all the cutbacks, it may be necessary to pack for a cruise like for a camping trip.

Curious about casino play that some of you experienced players might answer. On previous cruises on other lines I got feeling that casino was a little looser with wins at beginning of cruise than near the end, particularly more so on first night. Was I just imagining that?

Not yet, but that's coming. When it happens, will post it here.

It's a little unsettling to me that no post February 20th Plus cruisers have confirmed that they have been allowed the new $15 cap on alcoholic drinks. In addition, I have not seen seen anything in writing from Princess that clearly states original $50 Plus cruisers have had their drink limits grandfathered to the new $15. It's just an assumption we have made because the $15 drink limit did not have "New" written in front of it like the other features that were added. On the Princess app it's still says $12 drink limit. Wonder if anyone who has paid the new $65 price also has the old $12 limit showing in their app, or the new $15 limit they paid for. Personally, I think it would have been good business to grandfather everyone with Plus to the new package, but they didn't. Princess just doesn't seem to put a high priority on maintaining relationships right now. Just look at how they stripped down the elite perks.

I consider Plus to now be the poor man's Premier. Honestly, most Plus wines are consumed onshore straight out of the bottle hidden in a paper bag. The trick is to pay the per drink upcharge for Premier, if you are a light drinker. For light drinkers, that is a better value than paying for the Premier package.

Why not challenge the sitters to Rock, Paper Scissors? Old school and less complicated.

Choosing who to cut our food. Sure sign Covid is behind us👍

A link to the Princess Privacy Policy that explains everything about what personal data they collect and how they use it. https://www.princess.com/legal/legal_privacy/

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger brother.

I agree that giving corporations our personal data is helpful when they use it correctly. The problem is when we get mis-profiled based on some one off situation. For example, you search the internet for TVs because you are curious what new features became available recently, but are not really in the market for a new TV. After that, you are bombarded with TV ads no matter where you go on the internet.

Sorry, I guess I should start adding a disclaimer for my dry humor for those who are not brits nor native New Yorkers born before 1985.

I don't know how old you are but just appearing to need a seat more than the people sitting sometimes works for me. Maybe even fake breathing a little heavier and lean with a hand against the wall until they get the message.

Next time you might try a glass of Premier wine with only a modest upcharge for Plus cruisers.