vampiress

i'm well impressed with your spare packing.  i do not have that ability.  i do tend to wear almost everything i bring though.  i've already put aside everything i want to bring for outerwear, i haven't yet packed underthings and bathroom supplies.

i'm localish, i live near pasadena.  but i've never parked at the pier nor at a hotel.  i usually just take a lyft or the blue line becuase when i calculate the parking and cost of a lyft, it is almost the same. I also typically go down the night before and spend a night in long beach so i don't have to deal with commute traffic on the 110,   but i see you have some mobility impaired travelers, so that won't work for you. 

it might be worth it to just park at the pier.  trying to park off site for a little less and then having to schlep from pier to car sounds like it might not be worth your while or comfort.  i think the real thing you have to consider is post cruise, what is going to be easiest on you and your travel partners.  dropping people off to check in is easy, but dealing with disembarkation after waking up early is a different story.

i wondered if it would be rough getting a tender on this trip with cabo being the only stop.  we choose to do an excursion to todos santos, so i assume we will get priority on tender. 

i couldn't look away, yet the sound of the tug crunching on the dock structure was cringe inducing.

i wonder how that happened, because isn't a harbor pilot in charge? i guess someone confused zig with zag  someone isn't have a good day.  eesh.

1 hour ago, Daniel A said:

I wouldn't pay anything extra for a mini suite over a deluxe balcony on a Royal Class ship.  

oh tell me why?  i didn't accept the offer, but i'm curious of the reasoning.

local here, i like to spend the night in long beach and then take a lyft over to san pedro.i live far enough that i don't want to deal with commute traffic in the morning to get to pier, and i consider the night before the start of the vacation.  san pedro and crown are fine, but be aware, san pedro pretty much close sup show at 5pm and you will have trouble finding things open.  this is why i stay in long beach. 

i will say, if you stay at the crown, do try the happy diner, it is delicious, i loved the pumpkin pancakes https://happydinersp.com/

On 9/30/2019 at 12:49 AM, geoherb said:

Be careful that anything you stick to the door doesn't damage it. Our neighbors had rubber cling decorations for fall on their door. After they took them down, you could still see where they had stained the door. It's been over a week, and the stains are still there.

oh yeah, keep away from those jelly clings, they look cute and work amazing for windows but ruin paint. 

and i know they are concerned about fire hazards, so i keep away from the tissue paper ones.  i've been finding some made out of felt, i have a couple of small garlands and trees for winter holidays, and i now have some halloween decorations.  i also have some mylar pirate decorations.  all fold very compact and are easy to pack and weight next to nothing.  you can really get creative with a couple of bucks at a dollar store.

honestly, i know i've seen it, and i know i've lauged, but i can't say any of them have made an impression on me.  the only cruise director that made an impression was one on carnival.  and it wasn't a great impression, he signed off every one of his announcements with "bye...i said bye"  or something similar and it was so annoying.

the offical line is to carry it onboard, but porters will take it from you if they see it and send it on in with the luggage.  as long as it is easy to scan and access you should be fine either way.  they really just want to make sure you haven't tried to sneak on alcohol.

i usually bring a case of sparkling water to keep inthe room.  we do drink the ship water, but sometimes i like the sparkle.  i usually put it in a small roller with nothing else and send it onto the room with my other luggage.  i've not been called to the naughty room but i guess that is always a possibility.  the reason i do this is then i have the small roller to walk off with our last night stuff and souvenirs because we usually drink all of the water.. 

a free drink, which would probably be around a $12 value is what will make you leave princess after cruising enough to get to platinum? 

thanks for this comedy gold thread tonight.  i have yet one more thing to add to my list of things to giggle about when i cruise.

if you have AAA, they can take your passport photo. i've also use cvs before.

i'd do it now.  you have time and of you do it quickly, you will get it back before the holiday mail rush.  you need to do it anyways, might as well do it now for piece of mind and so you can think about your next next cruise.

i generally hang something on my door with a magnet.  all of my cruises have been during a holiday or birthday, so finding a decoration was not an issue.  i've seen some people hang a dry erase board.  there are tons of ways to make your door stand out that don't take a lot of luggage space

well darn. i was excited about side quests when we reach plat 😄

i admit i pack to much.  i pack for day and night, and then a sweatshirt or sweater.  but usually i'm local to port, so it doesn't matter. what takes room is i do need several pairs of shoes because of my foot and ankle problems, i have to be able to account for swelling. 

but as someone said, i do limit myself to what i can mange myself, which is normally a checked luggage and a carry on, probably rolling so i can put my case of sparkle water on the way in and any souvenirs or my last night's clothing on the way out. 

Partner has to pack and manage their own luggage 🙂 

use the medallion or use the card, you are still being tracked. the rfid won't stop you from being tracked.  you are still making transaction with your card, and they still have cameras and staff everywhere monitoring you. 

*shrug* if it makes you more comfortable and enjoy your cruise more, fine. 

i personally don't care since i know they are tracking me anyway, so the medallion isn't a bother to me.   and i'll need my phone with me anyways so i can take pictures, and listen to my audio books.  not everyone finds technology a hassle.

oooh i'd love cruise themed cross stitch.  i wish they still did that.  i do try to attend the crafty sessions, but the knit natt is usually before i want to be personable, so i'm hiding on my balcony in my pjs

nothing about your supposed behavior is a loyal customer p22.  i'm going to guess this person and the other one complaining about the coffee cards hardcore are big and bluster on the internet and nothing in real life. internet tough guys.  and if they are this obnoxious in life, i'm sure their vacations are always ruined because of their actions which they blame on everyone but themselves.  rude and selfish.

5 hours ago, WisCruiser2 said:

As I understand it, you got an "upsell" offer, not an "upgrade." An upgrade is at no charge to you

they called it upgrade more than once in the email. whatever it is called, i didn't accept it.

i just got an upgrade offer not comped:( move from deluxe balcony to mini suite for $129pp.  i'm not sure there is a lot of benefit for me in this, so i'm passing.  we are 19 days out.  i wonder if i will get a better offer or if they will comp upgrade me.  i'm not against the upgrade, i'm just not feeling it right now

i think it might be hard for them to figure out what is a surge protector and what isn't, so i purposefully go for the outlet extender type rather than the strip type.  i found mine on sale after christmas one year, it has 3 plugs at the end of a 6 foot cord, nothing fancy. 

2 hours ago, steelers36 said:

Has anyone ever asked a MD why this is done?

my best guess is i tend to see the people manning the elevators and directing people are not your typical front of house staff.  i feel like i see more entertainment staff and maybe maintenance people, so they might not know better if they don't normally direct people and are just staffing a spot for basic traffic control,keeping the embarkation elevator lobbies clear.  easiest thing is to direct everyone to lido where there are few rooms and lots of wide open space and food.

just a guess, but it seems to jive with what i have personally observed

still no surge protectors.  outlet extenders/power strips with no surge protection only.

portable batteries should be no problem at all.  i bring 2 and a usb hub so i can charge my portable batteries and phone at night.

i know i know, people don't like mobiles in use on vacation, well i do, i use it as my camera, my reading device, my game device.  it's how i relax.

wow internet tough guy threatening to be a jerk to staff and steal things.  were you expecting sympathy?