Mingus

There seems to be few "redeployments" for the Ruby.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2313631

Wonder what's happening??

Mine have been blank twice now. :)

Ditto ;)

Thanks!!

Back on topic, on our Crown cruise 2 weeks ago I called Room Service to swap the ENTIRE mini-bar setup for 2 coffee cards, they sent someone out with the 2 cards within like 15 minutes and he also took the contents of the mini bar with him. Easy!

Was the voyage number and ship name marked on the back of the coffee cards or were they left blank?

Coki is great for snorkeling - loads of fish (and people when the ships tours hit).

There are bathrooms available for the people at the beach but the ones at Coral World are for the paying customers only.

Look for the huge shark, when snorkeling ;)

The free showers & bathrooms at the beach are clean and very handy.

Is it really that much of an imposition to ask someone to put on a long sleeved shirt and pair of slacks?

(Which is really what the limits of the formal night designation have become.)

I totally agree!!

We have a US road trip in March and again in May, maybe I should just cash out more USD at this wonderful 1.1 Exchange Rate :D

Yes, definitely ;)

 

Questions:

1. OBC that I purchased can be use to pay my Princess Shore Excursions, correct? This was really the main purpose why I Google about OBC when I discovered I am only paying with a 10% exchange rate in CAD.
   Yes, anything you charge to your shipboard account will reduce your OBC.
   
2. We now looking for some USD cash to be use as tips for our shore excursions, hence I start reading the Cash Out at Casino posts. Should I purchased the CC or convert them from OBC when I aboard? I guess I am asking which way is easier?
   Casino credits are the easiest. You'll receive the casino credit vouchers in your cabin, which you then take to the casino cashier. They'll give you cash, which you can use as you wish (no gambling even required).
   
3. Once I got my money in these Casino card(s), to cash out, I can (1) go to the "CAGE" (Cashier) to get cash OR (2) go to a Slot and play a few round (lose a few dollars) and the Cash Out at the machine. Am I correct?
   No slot play required with casino credits.
   If you purchase OBC, then you would need to transfer OBC to your casino account (which you set up on your cruise card), play some slots, then cash out at the cashier.
   
4. Leftover OBC at the end of the trip, assuming over $25, can I get them refund to the No FX VISA that I have provided on file? Or will it going back to my AMEX I used. Or only option now is go to Casino and Cash out or let them send me a cheque in USD.
   They do not refund to your credit card on file (even though it states that on your final folio).
   It's best to cash out any remaining OBC, otherwise you'll receive a cheque (US$) in the mail, in about a month.
   

 

Thanks.

See above.

Had booked a Mini-Suite guarantee for a March 2016 cruise on the Royal Princess. Was not expecting to hear anything on the cabin until January, but received word today that we have been assigned C325 for the cruise. Is anyone familiar with this location. Looking at pics of the ship and have it fairly pinned down as to location. Do not see any issues. Curious if anyone has opinions on this cabin/location. Thanks!

We had C321 back in October. Had purposely chosen this cabin for the following:

Close to the forward stairs

Cabins above and below

Somewhat close to mid-ship (without being mid-ship, and no stairs)

Being mid-level (easy to go down to MDR, IC, going ashore and easy up to HC, Lido, MUTS)

Goofy 559

Quick question, if I purchase casino credits, can I go to casino to withdraw US dollars ? and is there a charge to do that ?

When I was on Celebrity Solstice, I could withdraw us cash in casino, but they charged us 5% to do that transaction.

 

My friend who is sailing with me, her booking was in CAD $$, so she can purchase shipboard credit at the old Princess exchange rate of 1.20, new bookings are at 1.35 for Cdn currency,

 

I was thinking of buying shipboard credit in her name and then get her to withdraw cash for me or transfer to me.

 

My booking is in US dollars so unable to take advantage of purchasing sbc in my reservation.

 

Any thoughts will be welcome,

Your friend can purchase casino credits on her booking (C$ at 20% exchange) and cash in the vouchers (which will be in her cabin) at the casino cashier and receive US$ and no fees involved.

She can then do as she pleases with the cash....no gambling even required.

Purchasing shipboard credit requires transferring some of that OBC to your casino account, gambling a little (eg. slots) then cashing out at the cashier.

Sounds to me like 5 feet of open space is fair game for anyone who wants to stand there. People are certainly interesting as to what they consider their personal space.

We were on the Royal this past Oct. and during sail-away, a man had 2 pool towels on the railing to "save the space for his friends".

Chair hogs, now railing hogs....what next??

Then you have to carry $15,000 in cash home with you, to

presumably, pay the credit card balance.

 

Don't lose your wallet going through security!

And there's a $10,000 or more, customs declaration.

However, I've read here (not tried it personally) that the Budget close to the port also has a shuttle.

Just came back from a cruise and used Budget both pre and post-cruise.

The Budget office is just across 17th St. from the Walgreen and they offer a free shuttle both ways.

If you're on a Princess cruise embarking from Pier 2, you could even walk (probably less than 1/2 mile).

Which means they need a signed receipt at the Purser's Desk by the person who actually made the charge.

Yes, they compare your signature with the one on the receipt.

Hi all, just wondered whether anyone is aware if current itineraries are making Dominica? We are scheduled for early Nov, I have a tour booked but having read through the board I am now fully aware of how bad the damage was. Would love to research whether there is some kind of 'day help' type scheme we could take part in, if we are able to even make it there!

Here's an update from Dominica Tourism.

No violation since the 2nd leg of your B2B is Seattle round-trip.

Would not be able to do the B2b this time as it is just a 4 day trip to Los Angeles and it's against the Passenger Vessel Services Act to start in one U.S. port and end in another U.S. port without traveling to what they classify as a "far foreign port". If you did this one and the following you would be starting in Seattle and ending in Los Angeles.

Yes, that's too bad.

Our B2B was 1 night, Seattle to Vancouver, then 10 day, Calif Coastal (Vancouver roundtrip).

We always arrive around 10:30 and boarding starts around Noon.

Porters will start taking bags around 9:30.

There usually will be no porters on these one-nighter cruises.

Last year, we were on a 1 night B2B with a 10 night cruise.

The one-nighter departed from Seattle and we had to manage our suitcases ourselves, through security scanning and bringing aboard.

Some strange looks for so much luggage for "one night" :)

It's been a month since I returned from my cruise. I had a refund and was told it would go back to my credit card. So far it hasn't. How long have you waited for your refund????

We had the same situation earlier this year.

Even though the final statement says the refund will go back onto your credit card, you'll receive a cheque in the mail in about a month (or so).

Same options as always.

 

Book with Princess or book with your TA.

No, this option seems new.

"While onboard, take advantage of a reduced $50 or £30 deposit when booking a 3 - 6 day sailing and receive onboard credits."

Something I have not noticed before in my Cruise Personalizer.....you can print out the Future Cruise Deposit form and it now has 2 options.

also....stay away from the rolls at dinner. once tasted they can not be resisted - so I just stay away from them.

 

and...stairs (or however you regularly exercise)

But....the rolls are SO good, especially with soft BUTTER!!

Thanks - I'll give them some time - I don't want to pester them. With all the different times I've submitted the credits over the years, maybe only once I've seen the credit show as quick as others have posted. I wonder if they credit them based on the date of the cruise, meaning those like me who send them two months out are on the bottom of the pile.

I faxed in a shareholder obc request last week, for a cruise departing in 2 1/2 months, and the obc appeared in my personalizer after about 2 days.

We pre-purchase OBC all the time but have found no way to see the purchase online before the cruise because the system is designed for friends or TA's to purchase "surprises" for you when you board. I don't know if pre-purchased Casino credits are different but regular pre-purchased OBC can't be seen before you board.

 

Terry

We've also purchased OBC (gifted to ourselves) and while you can't see the purchase in your cruise personalizer, you can ask for an email confirmation of the purchase.

I have "gifted" myself money for shore excursions and OBC. When I go to the cruise personalizer these dollars do not seem to be reflected. Am I looking in the right place? Are these $ not reflected since they are classified as "gifts". I have gifted a substantial amount of money and am concerned because I don't see this money. Any advice on where to look to see where I can verify that this money is indeed there?

Since items from the Gifts & Services catalog could be gifts from family and friends, they do not show on your cruise personalizer.

Request for an email confirmation, if you're purchasing for yourself.

You'll receive cards/vouchers for your purchases, in your cabin.

They don't need a dock that takes cruise ships, she won't have any passengers.

They will be working on the Grand, Canada place is not a good spot to load shipping containers of new material.

Anyone know for sure?

We were on the Grand early Apr and the crew said they'll be at Ballantyne.

Warned them it's not a good area, especially at night.