13cheermom

Anyone know anything more specific as to what the changes in coding and pricing will be going forward?

Yes and hope you never use Princess gift cards to make any of these payments, because that is another nightmare to recover refunds on cancellations.  I finally just filed it away and went back about 4 months later to check the balances on the original gift cards.  It isn’t worth my sanity to get but so worked up about any situation, lol.  Good Luck to all!

On 7/6/2023 at 9:54 AM, linaka625 said:

I've noticed that I can log in after 14-16 attempts.

Thanks for the tips, it took me about that many tries, lol.  We had to cancel a cruise right before final payment and never received any cancellation letter or indication that it was done.  Thanks to this thread I was able to confirm that someone actually did  take care of it.  Good Luck to everyone!

I have been dealing with a partial refund to credit card and cash refund check since February.  The specialist says she has processed the refund twice now, each time stating 5-7 business days for card to be refunded, however still no refund showing up.  We are now going on 100 days and counting.🤣.  Guess their 5-7 days is different than mine. 🙃

5 minutes ago, 808cruisers said:

Can you use a Princess gift card for excursions? 

Yes you can, I just did so his morning and used over $1K in Princess gift cards for our cruise this fall.  Just make sure you get someone that knows how to apply them correctly in the system.

Just a quick reminder that you CAN use Princess gift cards to purchase excursions before you sail.  I know it says somewhere that you can't, however we have in the past and did so again this morning.  You do have to inquire with the rep. you get if they know how to do this.  It is a different part of system than the regular credit card screen.  But don't let them tell you no, some are not trained and familiar with how to do this.  Also EZ-Air can also be paid with gift cards as long as it is paid at the same time as your final payment for your cruise payment.  Can't be added after cruise is paid for though.  It can be frustrating trying to get rid of gift cards to redeem when not all employees are trained to do so.  

12 hours ago, compozer said:

Thanks Cobbler76.  I appreciate you taking the time to explain it to me.  That is a good deal!!   Even if you have to join AARP, it certainly would be worth the $16 a year.

 

I use my AMEX card for payment and receive a very nice OBC.   I wonder how many dollars I can put on these AARP cards and still get the OBC.    

 

Has anyone tried to pay just their EZ air with them?   Our flights total $16,000 so that would be a great savings.

 

Thanks again for your fast reply.  

So you have to be careful and have EZ-Air added to your total booking and pay everything at one time.  One time I had my EZ-Air cancelled and I had already prepaid all with gift cards, so once it was cancelled it got refunded back to the gift cards automatically.  However when I went back in to add the new EZ-Air booking, it wouldn't allow me to use gift cards on just that purchase and I had to pay with a credit card.  

I just wish they would get this shore excursion thing figured out.  A payment is a payment in whatever form of card it is.

On 3/28/2023 at 10:54 AM, beg3yrs said:

My experience is that you need to call and that's fraught with peril. If you don't get an agent who knows how to apply GCs to excursions, HUACA (hang up and call again). My first call was with an agent who did not apply the GCs correctly and I ended up being overcharged. On my second call when I discovered the error, the agent almost got it right. On my third call I got an agent who knew what to do and fixed everything. I don't bother paying for excursions ahead of time with GCs anymore. In the big scheme of things, for me, the big savings are paying for the cruise and air (yes I know they're not for air but my TA has always applied them). The hassle of calling for excursion payments isn't worth the savings, especially as we already get 10% for our CC level.

 

All that said, sometimes if I want an excursion that I'm confident won't sell out by embarkation, I'll just book it on the ship and pay with GCs there. Caveat that excursions often increase in price as the sailing date approaches.

So why is it that some don't have a clue how to process the gift cards.  I mean it should be on of the steps in taking any form of payment for any services that Princess offers.  I called yesterday and said that I had several excursions in my personifier that needed to be paid with gift cards.  The guys response to me "Well I am sorry unfortunately we only accept gift cards branded by the Princess name", which I then responded "Yes these are Princess Gift Cards", I mean what other kind of cards did he think I would be using??   Then he preceded to ask for expiration dates for the first card, of course there are no expiration dates on Princess Gift cards, so I knew he didn't have a clue of how to process them.  I finally asked him if he wanted the 4 digit code, and his response oh sure will try that.  He then proceeded to tell me that weren't going through.  He then puts me on hold for like 10. minutes and says well according to his research, excursions can't be paid with gift cards as well as EZ-Air either.  So I knew he was clueless, and told him he was incorrect and I would call back and talk to someone else.  Can't Princess train their employees on simple things like taking payments, after all isn't the what they need now is more revenue coming in????  It shouldn't be that difficult to do simple transactions like this and so frustrating and time consuming.

15 hours ago, Chelle621 said:

My mom and I always bring our own.  The little individual international delights work the best. 

This is what we also do all the time.  They are nice and small and fit in a pocket to just grab before you leave the cabin and go to eat. They also don't need refrigeration which is good as well.

1 hour ago, TravelBluebird said:

had to go on a lazy Keto diet beginning of this year; the inactivity//emotional eating after my ankle break put the pounds on.  

I know the feeling, actually suffered a broken ankle and lower leg back in 2012, you can't help but gain weight when you are immobile 😂.  Glad you are venturing back out again, we went on our first European cruise a year after my accident and it was great.  Did have to rest my ankle in the evening due to swelling at times, but overall it was the best thing for me to get all that exercise.  Try to just take it slower and you will be fine!  Following along . . 

Thanks to OP for this post!  It just gave me an idea for a gift for my new grandson, by the time we go in October it will be perfect for him 🥰

When we were on the Emerald Princess, they actually had scones and jams and similar tea type deserts available at the buffet area.  Just happened to walk through and notice it, so we would return on other sea days around same time to see if they were offered.  Just a nice way to enjoy the tasty treats without the tea if you would like. ☺️

On 2/17/2023 at 12:16 AM, damiross said:

The quickest way to ensure I do not tip is to have a tip jar right next to the register or a "suggested tip" on the credit card screen.

I agree with this, since when do I need to add a tip when I have to walk up to a counter and place my order on a kiosk and have to return to the same counter to pick up my own food, and then when I am finished eating I have to clear my own table and dispose of my trash.  The staff has done nothing but prepare the food and that's it.  We are more likely to offer tips when it is not expected or thrown into the mix every time we turn around.

3 hours ago, ocean happiness said:

Does The Emerald Princess have sinks at the entrance of the buffet to wash your hand?.  I think I read the Ruby did not have the sinks.  Thank you

Emerald does, we sailed on her last March 2022.

So we are more long-term Carnival patrons, however were told go Princess for Alaskan cruises.  So we booked Princess for Alaska in 2020, however we all know how that ended up.  But we also had our ship changed prior to cancellation, which has never happened with Carnival.  Then fast forward to re-scheduling for a Panama Canal cruise with Princess for March 2022, and again had ship changed before sailing.  We now have a Canal/New England cruise booked on Princess for this October 2023, and just hoping nothing gets changed on this sailing.  We enjoyed Princess cruise ships, and feel they have a little more upscale decor over Carnival and will sail again.  However we just got off the Carnival Mardi Gras and must say we loved the ship as well as everything it offered.  I would love to sail on one of Princess larger and newer ships and hope they don't change the ship on me, lol.

We also had them late January/Early February cruise on MG.  They were delicious and very close to the originals in New Orleans.  Once we ordered them the first time, they became our go to after dinner snack.  Loved the way you could order them to go on a covered plate and take them to wherever you wanted to watch evening entertainment.  Definitely don't think they will be removing them from the menu, since everyone seemed to be enjoying them.  Now there were a few other items on Emeril''s menu that I wouldn't order again.  

3 minutes ago, nimiq said:

If anyone has good amazone ones with pictures would be appreciated .

 

‘Thanks

Sea Ya 

‘Eric 

Type in the description above and they will come up, not sure if I can add a link on here, lol.  

Try on Amazon, search for Fitbit zip watchband, silicone various colors. I ordered a set of these for my family to use and worked great last year.  They have the metal watch buckle so are adjustable for all sizes from small to larger wrists. Will take with us this October for our next Princess cruise.  

So glad it worked out for you!  Now the hard part, once you sail in this type of cabin, you won't want to book anything else. 😂  But seriously the room layout is much better as Jamman54 posted above.  And the bathroom layout is easier access as well and not in the way of the closet area. We always enjoy the aft area that is close to the aft stairways and elevators.  Enjoy your cabin!

1 minute ago, OceanZena said:

lol now you got me second thinking if I should just pay the $275 to get that cabin! I do love that it has a big lounger to lay on. My balcony last week did feel a bit cramped with the 2 chairs and little table squeezed into it so a lounger to lay out on would be a treat! 

 

And since I do spend a lot of time relaxing and enjoying the balcony, i'm starting to think it may be worth the extra money after all. Decisions decisions....

Actually those rooms use to be the same price as a regular balcony on all ships at one time back before covid. We would always try to book them way out because there were so few of them.  Then they realized that these were better rooms and increased the price and renamed them as a premium balcony (or something similar in name) on the dream class ships and up.  They are still worth it and we enjoyed the different layout of the room as well.  The $275 sounds like a good deal to me!

I would definitely try!  I used to have a PVP and then she left the company so have just been calling in to the regular # and dealing with different service reps.  I have had good luck with most of them and if I didn't agree with their knowledge I would just call back and talk with someone else.  Not sure I will ever go with a TA or PVP again.  I don't blame you about the airfare to Australia, would love to go but can't justify that long of a flight for that $.  Now Europe, isn't cheap but definitely worth it, and am ready to go back, it has been about 10 years, but we loved it!  Good Luck!

7 minutes ago, OceanZena said:

Thanks for the advice, but noise is not an issue with me. I'd sleep like a baby if I were right on top of the dance club lol. I never had the L shaped cabin before and I like what I see of them on you tube videos. 

 

 

 

 

You will love that cabin, we love the L-shaped ones with the extra balcony space.  They usually have a lounger on them to really relax.  We have had them on Deck 6 & 7 and had no issues with them.  It would be worth the upgrade price for us in a heartbeat.  Hope you can snag it while it is available, they usually book up fast, someone must've cancelled or upgraded.  Good Luck in getting a better location!

Have to agree, the location also on deck 11 is mighty close to the waterworks area, might be noisy at times.  We usually prefer lower decks and more midship to avoid movement.  Look at the deck plans yourself and compare and determine what location works best for your family.  

Yes, last March we had an excursion that was paid for with gift cards that got cancelled once we were onboard the ship.  It went back to our onboard account so I went to guest services and inquired as to how we would receive the money back.  I was told it definitely was refundable funds that would be sent by check within a couple of weeks of returning home.  I was definitely surprised because was sure it would be reloaded as a gift card (original form of payment).  We did receive a check for the full amount of refunded excursions within that timeframe.  It was a pleasant surprise. 😀

On 2/23/2023 at 12:03 PM, Lady Arwen said:

As I mentioned, my CVP said it is possible on some sailings, depending on the date of sailing, the itinerary and ship.  You are one of the lucky ones.  For me, it’s really not a big deal to just rebook a few excursions.  I don’t book air with Princess.  I refuse to sit on hold to get through to a regular reservation agent.  I call my CVP and either talk to her or leave a voice message.  She takes care of everything for me and I like that.

So funny thing, when I looked at the specific terms for the new rate it also stated new bookings only?  That's why when I got to the specialist, I asked if it was doable rather than stating I wanted the reface.  Oh and I was only waiting for about 30 minutes, which is fine, I put my phone on speakerphone as I continue to work and do other things, lol.  Sometimes it can pay to get different agents who are better at their jobs than others.