phabric

13 minutes ago, SSAtlantic said:

It was definitely 5pm and 7:30pm for October on Caribbean Princess. I was able to book all nights in Coral dining room for a specific time. It was very easy. 

Want to know what you had to did to be able to book dining for Oct?  I am waiting to book for Sept 26, 2024 on the Ruby, Elite and paid in full.

I have Sept 26, 2024 cruise and not showing dining yet

I had booked for November 2023 Mediterranean and Israel cruise.  It took Princess awhile to cancel the 2 ports in Israel and a few more months to add 2 new ports and excursions.  Many passengers were disappointed and cancelled.

The Paralympic Olympics starts August 28 after the Olympics finishes maybe that is why your excursion was cancelled.

43 minutes ago, BamaVol said:

Princess excursion pricing is somewhat dynamic.  You’re not likely to pay less than the excursion operator charges, but you will pay what demand dictates. I have watched prices go down as well as up.

 

If you are a gambler, you can always wait for the sheets that appear a day or two before you arrive in port.

They are usually excursions that are not selling and you would not have picked in advance.  If you wait there might not have any excursion left.

3 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

@phabric Keep checking your sister's excursion.  It may drop back to original after the sale.  Too bad she didn't have a screen shot or other "proof".

We already had a 20% Sale for Hawaii.  Princess checked for my sister if there was going to be a Sale and it doesn’t show for any.

42 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

Since we drive to Haleakala from our house, I checked Viator & to go there it’s $359. So having the Maui Ocean Center aquarium & a meal included, the Princess price is reasonable…particularly if eligible for the elite 10% discount.

 

Looking at all Maui tours prices are high possibly due to recovering from their economic disaster after the tragic deadly Lahaina firestorm. For the most recent month that I have read about, the number of Maui visitors has decreased by 25%.
 

For my Spring 2025 cruise, Royal Princess could not dock in Kahului because the only pier for cruise ships was already booked by another cruise line and thus the ship will be docked in Honolulu for 2 days.

 

Makes me feel good that Princess price is not too bad at $329.95, I am Elite so will get the 10% discount..

My sister tried to book 2 days after I had booked,  the excursion list page showed $329.95 and when she click to the next page, it had jumped to $394.95.  She is only Platinum so no discount.

4 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

Unless this is a helicopter tour, you might be able to do better with an independent/on your own tour.  Which tour is this?  Maybe @Astro Flyercan chime in here.  

 

IF...it's to Haleakala or Road to Hana, I would definitely use a ship's tour.  Too much can happen that you may not make it back to the ship (especially if it is the last port).

It is - 

Best of Maui, Haleakala Center and Maui Ocean Center

8:30am-3pm with a meal

When we were going to Lahania, the price was lower with no meal.

I have B2B cruises for Sept 2024

1) Vancouver to San Francisco (3 days)

2) San Francisco to San Francisco (14 days)

1) Post cruise excursion is $74.95.  Since we are staying on the ship, can not take.

2) Post cruise excursion was only listed last week for $139,95. A difference of $65 for the same description of the excursion only 14 days later on cruise #1.  Now same excursion has jumped to $169.95.  A difference of $95 form the cruise #1 post cruise excursion.

2) Princess changed ports - Lahania to Kahului.  It took 2 months for them to add excursions when from their email would be listed in only a few weeks.
9 excursions were only listed on Saturday.  I purchased an excursion on Sunday for $329.95.

My sister on Tuesday tried purchasing the same excursion.  The excursion showed $329.95, when she clicked to pay it jumped to $394.95 within seconds.  A difference of $65.

My sister called into Princess.  She was told “Princess has no control of what the tour company charges”, my sister said “how can it change from one price with click to the pay page and jump $65” reply “Princess has no control of what the tour company charges”.

As the excursions as in US$, and I Canadian, I have the exchange rate on top of the all the new increases.

40 minutes ago, Dohmacc said:

 

Thank you for the detailed report of your experience with International Friends! It sounds like for the 3 sites, once you arrive, you're on your own (ie audio walking tour, not live guided tour), and just told to meet back at the bus at a designated time?

 

Yes, we were on our own at each site to see at our own pace and were given a time to return to the bus.  The guide talked all the time about what we were to see on the bus between each of the different stops.  The only time he didn’t talk was from Windsor when the London hotel people were switch to the small van and there was not much to see/talk about going on the highway.  Once we were in the London area, he did point out some places of interest.

I took International Friends after a cruise from Dover, that guide mentioned that they were not allowed to be a guide inside the different attractions but he talked about what we were going to see.  I took a Princess, Rome post cruise excursion and the guide was not allowed in the attraction, she talked about the attraction before we entered on our own and met up with her at a certain time.

On your other thread, about not purchasing Windsor tickets through them. When I was at Windsor (one time with International Friends and Princess post cruise tour), there was a line to purchase non group tour tickets.  We went through the group entrance and only waited a few minutes mainly waiting to go through the security screening.  The guide adjusted our return time once our people started to go through.  I was able to see what I wanted to see, have an ice cream cone and get back to the bus on time.

I have a cruise booked with Princess - 12 day Canary Islands for Nov 2025.  You could book the same cruise as 28 day cruise.

I could not find my 12 day cruise or the 28 day cruises under Find A Cruise.

It turns out Princess is no longer selling these cruises.  A British travel company has taken over selling them.  I have read they are bringing on some of their own entertainers.

I have called Princess and even emailed Customer Services, asking if my cruise is still sailing, both have say “yes, you are sailing”.

I wonder what this cruise will be like!!!

I have B2B cruises-

1) Vancouver to San Francisco (3 days)

2) San Francisco to San Francisco (14 days)

Cruise 1) has a post cruise excursion for $74.95

Cruise 2) only added their post cruise excursion last week for $132.95

The description for both itineraries are the same.  
 

Why is there such a jump in the price for the same itineraries?

1 hour ago, Dohmacc said:

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you! Good to know regular taxis are readily available at the cruise terminals. And thank you for the info for International Friends. They do service our ship (Disney), but looking at their packages, I notice that two of their tours have the same cost:

 

A) Southampton to London via Stonehenge (112.5 Best Rate Adult)

B) Salisbury, Stonehenge, Windsor to London (112.5 Best Rate Adult)

 

From what I can tell, the B tour does NOT include admission price to Stonehenge, but the A does... So I guess that explains why A and B cost the same, despite B going to 2 more sites?

 

It seems like A stops longer in Stonehenge also (2 hours vs. 90 minutes)... 

 

Just from a value perspective, I'd lean toward B... but do you think the longer Stonehenge time is worth it and/or the additional stops in Salisbury and Windsor would be to short/rushed, not to be worth it?

 

 

 

I purchased tickets for Stonehenge and Windsor through them.

I took International Friends from Southampton to my London hotel.

- Pickup was at our Princess dock, around 8-8:30am, not sure of the actual time.

- Salibury - we were let out outside the gates and were given a time to return to the bus.   I had enough time to see what I wanted to see.  Guide said, you can pick up something to eat as we were not stopping anywhere for lunch.

- Stonehenge - we were given our ticket and told a time to return to the bus.  Bathrooms were near bus parking lot.  Took the shuttle bus to the stones. At the shuttle bus drop off, there is a Visitor Center,gift store, bathrooms, small food cafe with seats.  I bought a sausage roll and a drink there.

- Windsor - we parked at the train station.  There is an elevator to the upper floor.  The guide walked us pasted a few stores, across the street to the group entrance and was given our ticket and time to return to the bus.  You go through security screening like at an airport screening - belt off, conveyer belt for other items.  Near entrance, can pick up free audio set.

When we return to the bus, guide said they had moved the passengers for the London hotels drop off, my luggage had been moved over to a small van as the large coaches are not allowed in London.

They dropped us off at the door of my London hotel (Premier Inn Waterloo).  We arrived around 5-5:30pm, I can’t remember the actual time.

I think this is great way to see another part of Britain and then being dropped off at the door of my London hotel.

I have taken them after cruise out of Dover to my London hotel.

www.internationalfriends.co.uk

Were your excursions with Princess or private tours?

I have been to Gibraltar on my Mediterranean cruise and took a private tour - saw the monkeys, caves.

Since we just walked to the private van and not looking around the dock area, I can’t remember if there was anything near the ship to walk to?

2 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Thank you for that.  

You should still be able, if your cruise personalizer shows it as 2 cruises, be able to book 2 one ways, if you use the website.  Using each booking number.  Did you try the website?

 

That should give you 5 days before the outbound and

5 days after the return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have paid for my 2 cruises and flights. I had booked on Princess website.  I check the flight prices daily and won’t be able to now.  If I was booking today, it would harder.

Recently their sales are for new bookings so no refaring.

Enjoyed reading your review.

2 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

So, the change became effective somewhere between June 16-20, 2024, it is definitely in effect now from what I’ve tried.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I check my flights daily in the morning.  They must have changed sometime on Friday June 21.

I have B2B cruises with 2 booking # - Vancouver-San Francisco and San Francisco-San Francisco.  On the app, shows as 1 cruise so must be linked.  Paid final payment for both cruises/flights.
 

I booked EzAir flights on day they are available, with 1 day pre cruise and 1 day post cruise. Flights Toronto-Vancouver and San Francisco-Toronto under 1 booking #.

Now, can only book 5 pre and 5 post cruise for the first cruise. Cannot book 2 cruise under the first cruise as before.

Now, 2 cruise only shows booking for the 2 cruise and cannot change airports.

Now, instead of booking myself, would have to get agent or call in to book.

On embarkment day, check out International Friends.  They pick up at certain London hotels with a stop at Stonehenge then dropped off at Southampton dock.

www.internationalfriends.co.uk

Presently, I have not received any email.  I have B2B cruises Sept 26, 2024.

It was posted on the other Dining thread, that on  Twitter stated that the date is now is July 1 for booking dining reservations.

I had  dining reservations for my B2B Sept 2024 and Nov 2025, they are disappeared..

1 minute ago, Host CJSKIDS said:

My CVP posted this today on their social media page. I'll let you know if she posts anymore info.

 

 

Good Morning! We have received information that the new updates for dining are delayed. If you are sailing after September 14th, you will not be able to make main dining room reservations. As soon as I have word that dining is open, I will post here.

Thanks for your patience.

Thanks for the update, so frustrating to have to keep checking the app with no results.  My cruise is Sept 26.

On Facebook, a person called in and was told the app is not ready and no date given.

On Facebook, a person called in and was told app is not ready yet, no date given.

Not open for my Sept 26, 2024 cruise , yet?