cityguy300

On 9/4/2023 at 7:09 PM, cityguy300 said:

 

That does seem to be the average rate for a taxi from the BWI area.  I read one article that cited a $35 flat rate, while others mention metered taxis only from the airport (one said it was a flat rate to the airport, but that doesn't affect me).  Some recent CC posters reported paying more than $50 from the airport or train station, versus under $30 with Uber.  I'll probably take a ride share.

I'll answer my own question now since I'm waiting to board, to add another data point for future cruisers. 🙂

Lyft from Linthicum area airport hotels was $17 this morning.  Uber was maybe a dollar or two cheaper, undiscounted.  So much better than the rates I'd seen or even my own test quotes in the days leading up (I thought it would go up on a boarding day).

42 minutes ago, leen50 said:

Last year we took a taxi from the terminal to BWI for $35. I don't have any other info but Google does.

That does seem to be the average rate for a taxi from the BWI area.  I read one article that cited a $35 flat rate, while others mention metered taxis only from the airport (one said it was a flat rate to the airport, but that doesn't affect me).  Some recent CC posters reported paying more than $50 from the airport or train station, versus under $30 with Uber.  I'll probably take a ride share.

2 hours ago, leen50 said:

We've stayed BW on Dorsey several times. In May they had a shuttle. I can't guarantee that for you. You can contact them if you want to make sure 

Thanks, I spoke to someone at their front desk.  There's a complimentary port shuttle for package customers, otherwise it's $40.  I'm guessing a taxi would be less?

Has anyone stayed at either the Dorsey or O'Donnell BWs recently, that can confirm if a shuttle to the port is still provided?

I just contacted the Conference Centre one to see if the shuttle was complimentary without a park-n-stay package, and was told they didn't have them to/from the cruise terminal or airport!  No explanation that they'd discontinued the service, or that it was only offered at another BW, so not sure what to think.

It was in the Concerto dining room on Royal last month.

2 hours ago, sunsetme said:

anything new? I have seen so many Princess shows, entertainment has been mundane. Please tell me there is something interesting on Royal this Alaska season.

Does Colours Of The World count? 😋  "Can you feel it?  Can you FEEL it?  CAN YOU FEEL IT?" 🤪

No, it's just the above show plus Sweet Soul Music and Encore.  Libby was on both legs of my B2B (as well as my first Alaska cruise 12 years earlier, so guessing she's a regular!).  Otherwise, lots of game shows and trivia as mentioned, and the naturalists on Glacier Bay day.  Comedian, vocalist, the soprano from Encore.

35 minutes ago, disneyochem said:

Also, how is the turnaround handled in Whittier?  Will we have to get off or can we stay on since we will have cleared customs leaving Vancouver?

Did the turnaround in Whittier a few weeks ago, and other than getting a letter and "Transit" card (to help self-identity if you did leave the ship to walk around) in my cabin a few days earlier, it was no different than a port day.  No need to gather anywhere, no doing the TV muster again, etc.

Mind you in my case it was a single 14-day journey, whereas you might need to go out and back in because you're technically doing another leg (with a new medallion).

Royal Princess NB on June 25 was supposed to be about 2,300; SB the following week was a little less at 2,200.

On my side of my deck, I noticed at least 10 balconies in a row without names on the door, and then only intermittent names thereafter.  The reduced numbers made the most difference in the buffet and theatre, neither of which had the "finding a seat" issues of the past (not even the usual embarkation feeding frenzy in Horizon Court!).

The dining room and up top during glaciers looked normal-ish to me -- but I knew realistically they had to be lower numbers, as there were never waits for tables or difficulty navigating any public area.

17 hours ago, SightCRR said:

I thought that they have been using the forward dock for a while and it was the aft dock that was using the tenders. 

I could be all goofed up.

Ovation in late June RRA. I MET THE PRESIDENT OF ROYAL CARIBBEAN - YouTube

At 16:00 explains about the tenders. 

sightcrr

Depends if by "forward" you mean the dock closer in-land.  I'm guessing so, because both times I was there on Royal Princess (last week and the week before), we had a ship "in front" of us (both ships pointing in-land).  Last week it was the Solstice, which as far as I could tell was using its dock.  We being further out, had to tender around it (and even delay tendering back around 5:30 PM, as it was departing at 6 PM).

Smaller ships that were there the same days as us, including Grand-class ones like Crown last week, were docked in the more convenient locations directly in front of town.

Disembarking Royal Princess right now after two weeks.  Elite, no Plus, and checked the pricing in the Internet Cafe on embarkation.  It was $7.50/day (50% off regular) even then, and prorated accordingly every day thereafter.

If there was a Day 1 sale pricing, it wasn't available from the Cafe terminals or Medallion app onboard.

Try the Live Chat again, until you get a rep willing to process it for you.  Several of us got ours applied a couple of weeks ago using that approach (two of us even got the same rep, back to back).  You'll have to wait while they (or an associate) checks for your email with the documentation, but they'll get it done.

For me, the internet was the big win with Platinum (RIP), the laundry with Elite.  Conveniently my Elite status kicked in on the second leg of a B2B, so I definitely put it to the test right away!

The mini-bar is also nice if you're like me and never buy a drink package, but want something sweet other than iced tea and breakfast OJ to drink occasionally.  Although after accepting the default setup the first time, I made sure to swap out the airplane-sized liquors with pop, beer, Perrier, and bottled water.

From the upgraded bathroom amenities, the only memorable one to me was the Febreze-like spray.  I still have some old ones I keep in my travel caddy to spritz on longer, non-cruise trips, lol.

36 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

I have seen the Cruise Credits in the History list for many years but don’t recall when it began.

 

Currently there are no new elite perks to look forward to receiving. Before restarting cruises Loyalty OBC began at $25 for 21 cruise credits going up to $100 at 50 cruise credits. However the Loyalty OBC was eliminated so the number of cruise credits now has no value unless the OBC is reinstated or another perk based on cruise credits happens but think that both are highly unlikely to happen.

I didn't mean the past cruise credits earned, but future ones to be earned.  I've never seen that before; it would have taken some of the suspense out of checking my account, post cruise, in the past.  Right now it tells me I will earn 4 credits after my upcoming cruise, which answers my initial question.

The lost $25 is a bummer because this was going to be my first cruise to earn that OBC just for being "loyal".  And no, I doubt they'll reinstate it anytime soon.  I'd rather Carnival Corp reinstate its dividend first!  I think I got 1-2 payouts before they cut it.  At least I'll finally get shareholder benefits this sailing.

I last cruised with Princess in 2018 and had forgotten I had a $25 loyalty OBC to look forward to on my next cruise... until today, when I also learned I wouldn't be getting that money after all, lol.  Only I thought it was a one-off at 21 credits, not an ongoing OBC that actually increased over time -- so now I'm more bummed. 😋

While I do have another new OBC to look forward to -- the shareholders one -- I agree that, combined with the lost internet, it's a bit of a slap in the face to loyal cruisers.  These are not expensive perks, and many pre-Platinum cruisers probably don't even know about them.  But as others have said, they did provide a small incentive to choose Princess over other lines with the same price & itinerary.  And once you know to expect them -- and have experienced them -- it is frustrating to suddenly find them gone.

If they pull the free laundry one day, I'm not sure Elite will have any worthwhile benefits left.  10% off at the store, canapes, and wine tastings are the sort of junk "perks" I expect from other lines.

40 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

For many years now have automatically received a cruise credit for each segment of a longer booking that could be booked as shorter cruises. As a solo you’ll get 2 credits for each 7 day cruise whether booked as B2B or as a single 14 day cruise. Four credits which since you’re already are at the elite level means nothing since Loyalty credit was eliminated.
 

If you go to your Captain’s Circle Cruise History you will see the number of cruise credits for all cruises including future cruises. I had a 28 day cruise that could also be booked as 7-7-14 days and received 3 credits.

 

You will receive an elite minibar for each segment of your cruise even when booked as 14 days. I call room service near the end of the first cruise to have them deliver my preferred setup for the second cruise which eliminates another swap.

 

Is that Future Cruise credit under Cruise History new, because I've never noticed it before!  I'm trying to think now if I ever looked at that page after booking but before cruising (I definitely checked after each cruise).

Regarding your other comment ("...means nothing since loyalty credit was eliminated"), I'm not sure I know what you mean.  Do you just mean that since I was already Elite there were no new perks to look forward to (and now a few eliminated since last time, unfortunately)?  Or the $25 on your 21st cruise, which unfortunately for me (if it was eliminated) would have been this cruise, since I have 19 credits now.

1 hour ago, skynight said:

Not correct. No matter one booking number or two each 10 day voyage counts as one Captain's Circle credit. 

2 hours ago, kb4683 said:

A few years ago we did a 14 night that was also sold as two 7 nights.  When we got home read here on CC that you can get credit for two if also sold as one.  Called Captain’s Circle and indeed did get credit for two cruises.  Got us to the now defunct Loyalty OBC.

My question on this is, do they (reliably) give you double credit for B2Bs automatically, or do you still have to chase it down after the cruise?

My first Princess cruise was in summer 2008.  Booked a solo, got 1 credit.  Booked another solo in early 2009, shortly after they changed the policy to 2 credits; it was a B2B, but I only got 2 credits, not 4.  This seemed normal to me until I read, maybe a couple of years later, that even with just one booking number, people got credited for each leg.  

Since then I've booked two actual back-to-back cruises once, but not done another 14-day-from-two-7-days until now.  Two questions: will I see 4 credits automatically... and will my Elite mini-bar be refilled on turnaround day? 😄

Just now, caribill said:

 

That number has not been valid or working for several months.

I'd ask if there was a replacement number, if I hadn't already gotten the issue resolved -- and know now to just use Live Chat over any phone number!  At least the sbpcl@princesscruises.com address is legitimate, since the rep was able to retrieve my info from there.

13 minutes ago, Cuedon said:

I've taken to keeping a copy of my statement for the relevant time frame, making sure I have a copy of the email I sent out, and just taking care of it on board... Seems to work out smoother that way. 3rd time so far that I've had to do it this way due to unresponsiveness, and no issues yet. (They've also never asked to see an attempt at getting it beforehand, like the email... I do, however, often bring snacks to the service desk since I'm there a lot.) 

Wow that's good to know that's even an option.  I would have assumed you had to get it sorted out with corporate before boarding, or no dice.  Not that I wouldn't at least try once on board... but I wouldn't feel good about my chances without at least proof of prior emails/faxes.

Anyway, I had my other party on this trip try the same thing with Live Chat, and it also worked out!  Looks like I just got a difficult rep this morning.

21 minutes ago, Ombud said:

@cityguy300i went onto chat just now and asked them to check that line. 'Reena' asked if I could email now .... did so .... she said she'd just get it on. DONE ✔ 

OMG I tried after I saw your message and somehow got Reena too!  She processed me right away, after asking what day I had emailed mine, and checking it out.

I wouldn't have tried without your verification, so thanks.  This morning I tried to bring it up at the end of another chat -- and got grilled over what I had sent it, who I sent it to, etc.  When the rep quoted the regulation about the brokerage statement being within three months of sailing, and I said mine was from April, he argued that was only two months... *****?

Anyway, glad we're both taken care of now, phew!

23 minutes ago, Ombud said:

FaxZero failed!! No idea if its due to Princess or FaxZero. Will call back next Friday. If that doesn't work will ask CVP or Customer Service for assistance 

Was definitely working yesterday at (661) 753-0180.  Did you click the confirmation link in your email, and the second notice told you a few minutes later it failed?

I wonder if it's tied to the failed phone line (or if that's been happening a while).  Maybe the office decided to cut off all communication, lol.

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

Anyone know of a free fax site?? 

I've used FaxZero successfully.

10 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Spoke to someone at 800 872 6779 ×1 who asked me to give it another week. But she did notate it in my file. 

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind.  I wasn't even going to do the fax until next week, but now that I see how "responsive" their contact line is, I'm glad I started following up earlier!  I'll give it another week too.

13 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Emailed May 9th. 

I emailed and followed up with a fax a few days later, wondering if that would expedite the process.

I was prepared to stay on the line a long time just to get a "be patient" brush-off at the end, but at least then I could ask if they received my request (and that the paperwork checked out, since this is my first time claiming).  Now I'm wondering if there's even anyone there. 

34 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Hi. I am used to getting it a few days after I submit the request. Might be concerned about nothing but when would you call?

Booked drop & go cruise last Monday

Emailed request last Monday

Still not processed

Boarding 6/26/22

Sailing the day before you, and if by "last Monday" you mean last week (not this past Monday), then you've been waiting a week longer than me.  Literally tried calling the number just before I saw your post, and I get disconnected every time I punch in the extension.

Just now, Justprettynpink said:

We recently submitted ours and it took about a week to show up

Thanks for the data point.  I was thinking a week would be the right amount of waiting, too.  If they process it on the spot, great; if they assure it takes, say, "up to two weeks", that gives me some time to follow up again.