Island wannabe

I have booked a cruise for Feb 2025 with the plus package.   Looking to upgrade to premier and when I went in to upgrade online it requires immediate payment for the upgrade.  I’m assuming if I phone Princess they will just add to and I won’t pay for it until final payment.   Anyone else experience this online ?  I was just trying to take care of this quickly by upgrading online but not at the cost of immediate payment.  

37 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

It looks to me like they have expanded the sanctuary and put the pool in there.  Maybe someone can confirm?  I didn't see a retreat area on the deck plans.

I mean I would love a pool in the sanctuary area but I would also love to be able to get in to sanctuary each time I cruise.  Not always so lucky lol

2 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

No adults only retreat area on this ship?  Seems to be more RC like.

Do you mean no adults only pool??   Those are the only pools I visit so I hope that’s not true.

On 1/8/2023 at 10:16 PM, kanadakid said:

Thanks for the heads up - I think Margaritaville and a bit of shopping in the compound will do nicely for this stop.

 

Just confirmed with Margaritaville HQ today that the Falmouth location has permanently closed 😢

I just confirmed with Margaritavile HQ in an email that their Falmouth location has permanently closed 😢

Yay!   A live from the Regal.   We board on the 22nd, first cruise since Jan 2020 so super, super excited !

We just had our bid accepted from a BW to a DB for $60 (CAD $) pp for a 7 day on the Regal in January.   Our bid for a premium deluxe balcony was turned down and for that I also bid the minimum (I can’t remember exactly what the bid was - maybe $75 pp).  I’m happy with this as we actually started with an obstructed balcony for a really great price, got a free upgrade to an unobstructed balcony, and are now in a deluxe balcony all for about $1,800 less than what the deluxe room is current selling for.    Our first vacation in 3 years, so yes I really am doing a happy dance.

On 12/5/2022 at 12:05 PM, thinfool said:

Wife was (very) positive for covid on the Sky a couple of weeks ago...midway thru a 7 day trip.  Princess tested, confirmed result thru their medical team.  We were isolated for the last 3 days of our trip.  A sweet gal in the pursers dept was assigned to coordinate with us.  We survived well, I was negative and could roam the ship.  Anyway, as we debarked our gal from the purser gave us letters of FCC, carefully telling us to be sure to keep the letters safe so that we could prove we have the Princess approved credits to use on another sailing.  (must use within 1 yr)  Wife is still positive, but the test line is fading a little more each day.

How did they handle your disembark?  Did you have to wait to be escorted off the ship once the other passengers had disembarked. ?

1 hour ago, ler said:

If you want to reserve 2 loungers in the sanctuary, do both people have to be there or can one person book both loungers as we are in the same cabin?

 

Thank you

One can book for both - I always run up and book for my husband and myself.

10 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

I certainly agree that the WMD is a great value and enjoyable event.  My wife doesn't like to go anymore since she drinks very little wine.  Since we had a rare (for us) balcony on the Island earlier in November, I decided to go for the UBD (just $10 more pp) and it was excellent as well.  A nice treat even though we actually ate inside the door instead of outside due to the cool temperature and breeze.  (The WMD is only on the Royal and Sphere Class ships).

 

we love the UBD too but have done it a few times and we like to do at least one new thing each time we sail.   Also I find I can no longer eat all the food in the UBD so it is now a bit of a waste (just from the food perspective) for me.

oh yum yum!  We've never tried the Winemakers Dinner but have always wanted to and have seen it advertised in the patter.  We'll be on the Regal in January - do we just call the Dine Line when we board and ask to be put on a wait list, or do we wait until we see it advertised?

Just now, LACruiser88 said:

Call the dine line once you board.

Thank you

How would one sign up for the Wine Makers dinner?  Call the dine line or do you wait to see it advertised?   We are on the Regal in January for husband’s big birthday.   We’ve done the balcony dinner a few times, specialty restaurants a lot, and think the Chef’s table would be waaayyyy too much food for me to enjoy.   Have always wanted to try Winemakers dinner though.  

On 5/15/2022 at 4:23 PM, Happiest when cruising said:

Yes, we were too. We didn’t use Uber or Lyft as we are from Canada and don’t have a phone plan for the US. 
There was also a large minivan type vehicle in the parking lot saying he would take people to the port for 25.00 per person. So, when I saw a cab waiting, we walked over to see what the charge was, since it was per taxi…we took it. 
 

We also paid 22.00 , from the airport. That also seemed high, the meter read, 17.25.-  when I asked about it, he told me there is an extra charge to go between the hotels and the airport….and the airport and the port. I wasn’t about to argue after a long travel day. But..he got the same 22.00 he would have, had the fare been accurate. 

 

off topic… we wouldn’t stay at the Hilton again. We arrived around 8:45 pm, so nowhere open to eat onsite after we quickly dropped off our bags.
It had been a very long day, coming from BC, Canada. 
The only option for a sit down breakfast was a buffet…which we were trying to stay away from, and the cost was 26.00 p.p. I’m sure it was tasty…but since we were heading for the ship, we just didn’t need it. So..that’s why we walked to the delicious place for a lighter bite to eat. 

we stay at the Renaissance so always eat our breakfast at the same bagel place.   We really like it.

34 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Give it a day or two

to update the cancellation and new booking on the app.  It updates first on the website, followed by the App.

Ok thank you.  I’ll try that

So I cancelled a cruise today and booked a new one.   Logged into ocean medallion with my new booking number.   When I try to book dining, it keeps showing my old booking number.  Deleted the app twice, logged in each time with new booking ref and still showing old booking.   Any tips? Tia

5 hours ago, Maizie_Mouse said:

Thanks for that info 😊

I always cash mine out at the casino.  Put what ever OBC is leftover on your casino account and then cash out.  It has never been a problem.  

3 hours ago, Sprocket said:

We cruised on the Sky in 2019 and loved it.  What is Soleil, never heard of it?

 

I think that's one of the AT dining rooms

5 hours ago, Zombatar said:

Wow, thanks for the info. We have never sailed on princess but have booked sky princess in the autumn of next year. Looks like we shall cancel now even though it means loosing our deposit as it sounds as though they have gone the same way as P&O and cheapened everything. Oh well back to the expensive lines!!

but this is one review - why would you cancel based on one review?   People are more likely to post a negative review than a positive.  Take it with a grain of salt unless you see alot of similar reviews.  We were on Sky, pre-Covid however, and absolutely loved the ship.  Of course I understand that post-COVID things may have changed, particularly given supply chain issues.

On 2/19/2022 at 10:14 AM, Eglesbrech said:

I can understand where Majortom is coming from as tipping is not a big thing here in the U.K. because servers get a reasonable wage and tips are just a bonus for very good service above and beyond.

 

I am a firm believer that when in Rome do as the Romans do so when I am in the USA, Canada or on a cruise ship I tip. I leave on/ prepay the autograts and then leave a bit extra in cash in the speciality dining and elsewhere if the service is good (which it usually is).

 

I am a frugal Scot and so I don’t spend a penny where a happeny will do however in the USA vernacular used by DCThunder above I am not cheap. Frugality to me means getting the best possible price for my cruise, flights etc, not stopping tips.

 

We Scots have a reputation for being mean, we are not mean, we are just careful - but not at the expense of others.

Love this 

On 2/18/2022 at 3:27 PM, majortom10 said:

Dont you think that is a sob story just to make you feel guilty in giving a tip. I have been cruising for nearly 25 yrs and heard so many sob stories and sorry but I think the staff are playing you just to get money out of you.

Omg.   Considering where they come from, their stories are likely true.  Maybe some will say things to get sympathy but I prefer to think the best of people.  $5 or $10 is nothing to us that are so lucky to live in the western world and spend so much on vacations. We don’t tip extra to everyone  - but there are definitely some that we just click with and we are so happy to provide a little extra to them.  It means much more to them than it does to us 

On 2/18/2022 at 4:02 PM, majortom10 said:

Is that on top what was automatically added to your onboard account if so you have tipped her twice.

 

And ?

17 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

 

Your post note above reminds me of the original "mega ship", Sovereign of the Seas, slightly smaller and launched in January, 1988.  We were in St Thomas the week of its first call and it was quite a sight to see this "monster" come sailing in to the dock.  Now, it would be called a "small ship", compared to the typical more modern ships of today.

 

wow that brings back memories.   My very first cruise was on Sovereign and had me hooked on cruising ever since.  But back then you were greeted as you entered the shop by staff wearing white gloves, and they would escort you to your cabin and carry your carry on!!

4 minutes ago, wcflats said:

I am seeing almost no stops at Saint Maarten.   In fact have only found one cruise listed in 2022 for that port.  Am I missing something or is there a problem with that port now?

Enchanted is stopping in St. Maarten every second week.   Is that what you are seeing?

6 hours ago, HaveDogWillTravel said:

Just a note about the comment regarding premium brands of drinks not being covered. Any cocktail $12 and under are covered.  Many of these are made with Grey Goose, Bombay Sapphire, Makers Mark and the like which I consider to be premium. I have always gotten anything I have asked for (within reason of course!) at any bar on any Princess ship and almost always it has been covered.  If a drink costs over $12 you just pay the difference.  This is brand new and I am pretty excited about it!

I was surprised (and happy) that the bartenders always poured me Grey Goose without me even asking when I was on the drinks package.  I too consider that premium.