cr8tiv1

Yes, @ecs66, I was affirming your comment. Couldn't have said it any better.

It would help others if OP gave a few more details. Caribbean voyages would not be my first choice on any cruise ship. What were you expecting that you didn't research about first?

Initially, when cruising restarted, during the first few months smoking was not allowed in the casino. It was wonderful. “Old News” The current, updated policy is printed on their web site, but has not been in enforced. I will be inquiring on my next cruise. I invite all to do the same. Now back to regular programming. The Grand/Gem class ships will have a “Meet the Officers” cocktail hour on the champagne pour night for suite passengers only. Nice nibbles, free drinks, and intimate gathering. Flowers are a hit and miss. Got them a couple of time. Got them late into the cruise. Didn’t get them at all. I was told they were thinking about plastic orchids. I was told they were an allergen. Who knows.

@NavyVeteran is correct. Round trip Seattle to Seattle. PVSA Closed loop with NEAR foreign port (Victoria). You can’t embark in one US city and disembark at another US city without first stopping at a DISTANT foreign port. If doing a one way to/from Vancouver, then PVSA does not apply. Get on/off at any US city. The key is that your Alaskan voyage can’t embark/disembark at two different US ports. That is why repositioning short cruises go through Vancouver before starting/ending the Alaskan season LA to Vancouver, SF to Vancouver, Seattle to Vancouver. That is why b2b repositioning cruises don’t work. Been there, tried that. An exception might be that Princess will absorb the PVSA penalty instead of passing it on to the passenger, if using EZ Air. Most domestic flights (except for Southwest and holders of airline credit cards) will charge for baggage. Most international flights will allow at least one bag free. The exception being US city to Canada. Treated as domestic flight. (US to Japan:1 bag free on Japan Airlines/US to Montreal:charged per bag on Delta, Business Class US to LHR:2 bags plus 70 lbs per).

Thanks for the large font. What is a "first side suite". Are you in a mini-suite or aft suite? I love the Caribbean Princess. Enjoy your cruise. I am looking forward to hearing your comments.

Princess has offered "tours" that are "on your own". They are providing you transportation to and from point of interest. When Princess docked at Kahului, they would offer and, in my opinion, expensive bus ride to Lahaina. In Japan, they offered a shuttle to the nearest town for anywhere between $20 - $30, round trip. In Boston, they offered HOHO buses that would pick you up at the cruise terminal. More expensive than picking up a HOHO in the city. Many of their excursions are mere transportation.

Good thing you were confined to your quarters....at the other end of the hallway. And you had someone else wheel DW from here to there. You are so law abiding.

@NavyVeteran...lucky you. I was "advised" by the nurse that I "should" not imbibe. And I had the Plus bundle. Different cruise, maybe different nurse, same Medical Center? hmmmmm.

I guess I did not making myself clear: Grand/GEM class ships: Grand Princess and Caribbean Princess have Window Suites on Deck 6 midship forward. Royal class ships: Sky Princess, Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess have Window Suites on higher decks/way forward.

I have it printed out and am bringing it on my next cruise ! Not that I don't trust Princess........... I also have printed out that Princess' smoking policy includes a few nights (usually formal) where smoking in the casino is prohibited. cough cough But my next cruise is with Princess Plus.

I need to retract my $5 charge while in a suite. I was left a voice mail (therefore AI translation has spelling errors). Sorry you have to open the PDF to see the explanation of waivers. Concierge Services.pdf

Totally agree 😉

Correct, I would stay away from the Window Suites on the Royal class ships that have them. I don’t remember which ones since I’ve avoided these ships. They are too forward and too high.

Glad you don’t want them. More for others. Are you referring to WS on the Grand/Caribbean? Definitely would stay away from them on the Royal class ships. Just curious. Why?

And I was told by a "reliable" Floridian. To the OP...you will have lots of time to get to the airport, if you use UBER or Lyft.

I have also found that international air fare is usually better with EZ Air, along with the benefits of the fare being flexible/changeable. Please keep in mind that: EZ Air does not turn the booking over to the airlines until it is ticketed, either at final payment or 45 days prior. You can still log in and do everything with the booked airlines. You can request early ticketing, but that will lock in your fare. Often times, EZ Air has no control of the airlines making changes to equipment or schedules. I often have a flight changed due to the airlines making these adjustment. Be diligent and keep a watchful eye on your account. It will have big red letters if there are changes. Sometimes, they send you/TA a notice. EZ Air will work with you. Just be patient. It takes them time. To be on the safe side, I would book an overnight stay incoming. This time I have days booked at both ends.

Your best bet is to take your bag to the garage (one level below the street). There will be porters there to collect your bag. If you are being dropped off by a car service (uber/lyft/taxi), be sure to have them drive down into the garage. Most will want to drop you off in the front of Canada Place (Pan Pacific Hotel).

Lucky you! Enjoy. Hard to go back to other staterooms after you have been spoiled.

I want to thank cruise critic poster for their sage advice...to ALWAYS get a copy of your medical records while onboard if you visit the medical center. It will cost you $28 and alleviates a lot of headaches later. I'm sorry my post won't help you now. I hope you will be able to find some department that will be able to produce these records for you.

My travel mate was going to try to get on a California Coastal out of LA with just a driver's license. I made her drive home to get her passport. At the cruise terminal, I asked the agent about JUST a driver's license and he told her she would have been denied boarding. Some closed loop voyages may allow a driver's license AND a certified birth certificate if the passenger was born in the United States. Too many ifs/ands for me. I'm glad we drove (in the opposite direction) to pick up the passport she left at home.

Alan often works as a SFPD officer manning the port. Like any other US port, you will need: Your medallion Photo ID Go through security, again in order to re-board the ship after check in. I can see that any carry on luggage maybe be the issue. Princess has done away with timed arrivals so as long as you can check in - in a timely manner, you could probably leave the ship and return. If this were the case, I would drop EVERYTHING off with the porters and just take a back pack with you.

I was advised that taxi's from Port Everglades were regulated. Not so on my last cruise. There is a long queue and you sort of get whoever drives up next. His meter "didn't work". I would take an Uber the next time.

Unfortunately, this will come at a cost of $5 since you have to pick up the phone to place your MDR order. I was finally able to get a definitive response from onshore office through an email. Seems to be another Princess failure. No charge for tea service though, if Elite. Not sure about suite.

Depends on the airline you choose. Go to their website to check on cabin category and baggage fees. Japan Airlines from US to Japan/Economy: 1 free bag ANA from US to Japan/Economy: 2 free bags Also check to see if this is a code shared flight. Normally, the rules apply to the airline that owns the "aluminum tube" since that is where you will check in.

Princess has yet to replace the really good Room Service Chocolate cake with butter icing. The MDR doesn't even offer a good plain old chocolate cake. How hard could it be to bake a chocolate cake with butter frosting?