argenta01

Are you really saving that much money by cramming 4 in an inside, rather than getting 2 insides???? :eek: I'd be doing some price checking. ;)

On our recent cruise the casino & PSD ran short of dollar bills & drastically limited how many they'd give so try to get them early. I might bring a roll of dollar coins for our next cruise.

I don't think I would bring the dollar coins. They are not real popular and often mistaken for quarters. Especially since most will be foreigners and not familiar with the coin. Just my 2 cents, for what that's worth! :)

Before each cruise I go to the bank and stock up on small bills. Lots of ones and fives. This way I'm covered from the airport through the cruise should a tipping occasion arise. ;)

Small bills often come in handy in port when shopping and you don't want a lot of foreign change.

Typical breakfast tip, $2 cash.

International Cafe is open 24/7 as well. But the idea of breakfast just arriving at your door on those early morning ports is just the best ever!

I agree. Room service is the way to go with early morning ports. No battling the crowds in the Horizon Court. I enjoy sipping my tea as I get ready. Be sure to order extra juice as the glasses are really small, maybe 4oz. I need at least 2 just to get the morning pills down. :eek:

Hi Patricia !

I was looking at CC and my eyes caught your name. Congrats on the upgrade. We are going on the Golden Princess May 24th. Have a wonderful cruise ! Any other cruises for the fall ? We are doing a b2b on the Regal in Nov. The first is the US inaugural and the second is the Carib inaugural. Quite an active roll call also . Judy and Len are leaving next week for the Baltics.

Sali

Hi Sali, yeah, I was really surprised by the double upgrade. About 2 weeks ago Princess offered us an upsell to a balcony for $199 each. We were happy with the first upgrade to the OV, and would rather spend the money on excursions, so we turned it down. Then yesterday they gave us one for free anyway!! It was such a plus that our TA was able to get us a 'downgrade' to the cabin of our choice. :D

I'm taking the TA on the Emerald Oct 25 Southampton to FLL. I have to wait until I get on the Coral to pick up a few more FCC's.

We will have to compare notes on AK when we both return. Bon Voyage!!

If the OP booked through a TA then they won't have access to the payments/credits area.

Even if you book with a TA, like I do, you can now see all OBC. Once in the personalizer, just click on the "Payments & Credits" tab. It should look something like this. I booked under that promotion also.

Onboard Credits for this Booking Credits are in U.S. Dollars (USD)

Onboard Sales Promotion $25.00 $25.00

Shore Excursion Credit $100.00 $100.00

Shareholders Benefits $100.00 $100.00

Total Onboard Credits $225.00 $225.00

P321 is in a great location. Quiet hallway. Very convenient to International Cafe, MDR and all that goes on in the Atrium. The cabin has a large picture window. :)

Congrats on the upgrades. Have a fantastic cruise.....:):):)

 

Bob

Thanks Bob! I hope we have the same luck on our TA with you in October on the Emerald! :D

We are leaving this Sat on the Coral to AK. Originally booked an inside on the Baja deck and marked it ‘no upgrade’ because we picked that cabin for a reason.

As the date got closer, we noticed still lots of availability. Called our TA and asked her to remove the ‘no upgrade’.

Sure enough, a couple of days later we were upgraded to an ocean view on the Plaza.

This morning I looked and saw we had been upgraded to a balcony on Aloha. Did not like the location, so called TA and got us moved to an aft balcony on Baja. Could not be happier! :-D Thank you Princess and my awesome TA!

We are looking at rooms p334 p336 do you know how loud the casino is

I have had P334 and loved it. I never heard anything from stablizers or anything else. It was very quiet. Super location for access to the atrium, IC, and MDR. I would stay there again. :)

Usually odd numbered cabins are on the starboard side and even numbers on the port side. Since 635 is an odd number I would say it opens on the starboard side. I would verify with Princess to be absolutely sure.

I agree, that makes perfect sense. :)

I would turn down the MDR any night of the week for German Night at the buffet. :D

Love the schnitzel, spaetzle, red cabbage and especially the bread station that evening. The large soft pretzels are a must!!!!

I read if we turn in the elite mini bar that you can get 2 coffee cards.

 

My question: Can I turn in half the mini bar and get ONE coffee card?

I asked about doing that recently and was told 'no'. It's all or nothing. It was the Captain Circle Host I spoke to.

Many years ago Princess used to sell the scrapbook itself with the ships name on it. They no longer carry that. It is just a plain generic book. The paper they sell is not Princess specific. Does not have any logos or ship specific stuff. You are better off with Scrap My Trip.

Just take lots of pictures and save the Patters and flyers to use as embelishments.

If they do happen to have any scrapbooking classes, they will be run by a 20 something who never made a scrapbook in their lives. You will only make one page. Card making is the same thing. They usually give you a kit with punch outs that you glue together. One time in March we made Christmas cards as those were the only kits they had. You will also be doing lots of waiting for things like scissors and tape runners. :(

Hello.

 

After cruising many many times, I have always booked within 90 days of sailing and paid the price at that time. So now I am planning a TA in Oct and just want to make sure I am understanding things correctly.

 

If I book though Princess now, since they are having the 3 special, I just put my deposit down. Then pay in full 90 days before. My question is if I need to cancel or change my mind BEFORE the 90 day final payment, I think I get my deposit back right? Be careful, as the deposit may be non-refundable. Some promos do have that as a caveat.

 

Also, this is where I am not really sure the details. If I book on Princess now, if I find a deal at anytime (before fin. payment), with a TA, I can switch my booking to them and get the price they have? Do I get to keep my OBC I get from the Princess deal now? If you try to get a lower price at a later date, the perks applicable to the promo you booked under might not be available. Just because the price goes down, it doesn't mean you get to keep the perks associated with it.

 

I just want to make sure I don't get surprised. I am really hoping the prices come down, which I think they will, but I want to make sure I have a cabin before I start booking airfare.

 

Thanks in advance.

These are are things you need to check with Princess or your TA. Good luck.

I would go for anything out of Ft. Lauderdale over Houston. FLL is close to the port and a quick, reasonable taxi ride away. IAH/HOU are both quite a distance from the port.

Eggplant Parm Appetizer

Diver Scallops

Oxtails with Wagon Wheel Pasta

Fruit Sorbet :D

I somehow found myself without any FCC's when booking the Canada/Colonial America cruise. I was going to wait but the Emerald Mini's were going fast.

 

We'll be cruising in April. Can I buy FCC's then have them applied to an already booked cruise? No

 

Also, how many FCC's can you buy at a time? As many as you can afford.

I want to book a Panama Canal cruise soon.

 

:)

My husband won the karaoke contest two times and we received a bottle of champagne and took to dining room with no questions asked. Someone even told us if you bring your own bottle and its the same brand that Princess has, they won't charge you--not sure about that as I have never done this

By this do you mean, if my one bottle that I bring on board is the same brand as they sell on the ship, they won't charge me a corkage if I bring it to the dining room?

If it comes from the ship there is no corkage fee. I won a bottle in a putting competition and we had it with dinner that very night. I took it to the dining room in the afternoon, they took my cabin number, put it on ice and it was nicely chilled for dinner.

This is an excellent idea. Then there won't even be any question about corkage come dinner time.

Our trivia team won a bottle and we decided to drink it right there in the Wheelhouse after the game. The waiter brought us a chilled bottle when he served us. :)

I have done the Baltics twice. First time in an inside room and the second time in a balcony. I feel this is one trip where a balcony is worth it. Sailing in and out of the ports is beautiful, especially Stockholm. Sitting on the balcony with a glass of wine at sailaway was delightful. Even though it is a port intensive cruise the scenery is spectacular and worth the extra money.

We just received notification today that our return flight time out of LAX to Atlanta was changed. The earliest recomended time is 12:30, but our new flight time is now 12:00. We are Elite so we may be able to get off early??? We cannot manage our bags so walk off is not an option. Any suggestions? Should we try a taxi or Princess transfers. Our disembarcation day of the week is a Fri. so we will hit LA trafic!!

 

Thanks for the advice.

You should be able to make a noon flight. Try Supershuttle dot com We used them in LA and they were great. The van was right outside the terminal when we disembarked.

I did it last month. Did the self-disembarkation, first group at 7am. I was through customs, to the airport, through security, and having a cocktail at the United Club by 8:15am. ;) Easily made my 10:14 flight and have done it many times. Don't let the worry warts scare you.

I have flown twice from Newark to Copenhagen, leaving the evening prior to the cruise, but arriving in Copenhagen at 7am. Never had a problem and Princess was right there to board the shuttle to the ship. Arriving at 1pm would worry me, at least I had a couple hour buffer.

On my last cruise, the steward threw away a souvenir beer bottle I had on the desk, next to the telephone. To me, that did not represent garbage. To the steward it was an empty bottle.

I asked him not to throw anything away unless it was in the garbage can. He apologized. End of story.

I'm sure room service would have gladly brought you more strawberries if either you or the steward explained what happened. Yeah, he probably should have left the flowers until the morning, but it's not like you were going to be able to take them with you anyway.

Turn around day is the busiest, hardest day of the cruise for the crew. He was just trying to get a jump on things. You can imagine how much garbage they must collect on that day! :eek:

If you really wanted fruit, there is an endless supply at the Horizon Court or room service.

Can anyone recommend an 'affordable' hotel in Vancouver for pre-cruise accommodations? Preferably something that has a shuttle from the airport to the hotel, as well as to the cruise port. Thanks