kiwimum

From another Grandmother who paid all expenses for an Alaska cruise.  If you did not input your own credit card info on the App for onboard expenses your can go down to Guest Services and have your card input.   We recently did this for our Alaska Discovery with no issues.   
Another suggestion, if appropriate, have Guest Services give access to all cabins in your party.

Enjoy your family trip.  Memories.
 

1 hour ago, GJCruiser said:

Those are new since this past winter. We were on the Sapphire to Antarctica and they were not there. Though our weather was horrible so few were outside!

They were definitely on the first leg of the December 1 Antarctica cruise last year.  Never had a reason to use them on the second leg as the weather was dreadful.

18 minutes ago, JRG said:

 

Bolding is mine.   What is not boldly stated here is that cruisers are being re-directed to a Country which is dangerously classified by our State Department,   for the sole purpose of avoiding what is essentially a 'fining structure' designed to support some aspects of cabotage.

 

Thank You United States for your Adoptive Interpretations of the law which endangers US citizens and citizens from other countries not to mention the fact that is costing us in the wallet and we are losing the last day of the cruise or most of it to satisfy this law.

 

The needs to amend the PVSA act properly outweigh the needs of the few who were designed to benefit from this but are not.

 

 

Absolutely do not agree.  Everyone knew boarding and disembarking was in Ensenada.  This was in the early 2010.   At no time did we feel unsafe. The reason for the horrendous statement was the cruise line had made arrangements for all the buses to go through Otay Mesa crossing.   When you have 40+ buses showing up for Immigration the delays were extended.  I definitely would do it again.

Years ago we travelled back and forth to Hawaii on the Celebrity Solstice from San Diego to Hawaii.   Check in was at a hotel in San Diego, boarded buses and we transferred to Ensenada to board the ship.  Similar on boarding in Hawaii, disembark in Ensenada, bus to San Diego.   Everyone with the exception of ships company was required to bus transfer to San Diego (Casino, Art, Spa, shops staff included).   Southbound transfer was okay with the exception of the buses that got lost.  Northbound was horrendous because of the border crossing.  The ship dead headed to San Diego to board the next cruise as it was not from one US port to another.  
PVSA at its finest.  

6 minutes ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

Not flying coast to coast for a four day cruise or even a seven day cruise.  I realize we are going from LA to Seattle, but if the la to Vancouver is ok because it ends in Vancouver and the Vancouver to Seattle is ok because it starts in Vancouver and Vancouver is this considered a distant port, why the violation?  I assume it would still be a violation if we eliminated the La-La portion and added a Sea-Sea Alaska portion on the back end?

Vancouver is not a distant foreign port.    You could disembark in Vancouver and board a different ship, no violation. Or you could take the Princess transfer from Vancouver to Seattle and visit your daughter.  LA to LA and Seattle to Seattle are closed loop, boarding and disembarking same port.

Good luck and hopefully you can work it out to visit family.

10 minutes ago, arizonaperson said:

Nice, I have never seen these. I guess I need a cruise.

The Sapphire had far better double loungers on our December cruises than the ones on the Crown.   Adjustable back rests.

Definitely a violation.   You are going from Los  Angeles to Seattle.   No distant foreign port visited.   You could do the LA to Vancouver with no issues.

58 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

You lose all around. My TA is frantically working on trying to get me my cabin of choice. I should have had on board ONE try for me.  Too late now.

 

Latest issue.  Can’t use FCD because date expires before 2025.  Need a credit card hold.  Meaning no OBC.  What good are FCDs?  Aren’t they suppose to be valid for any future cruise if BOOKED  by expiration date?  

I used a FCD purchased in 2022 that has been recycled several times and expires 10/24 for this booking.  No issues.  The expiration dates are book by dates.   So anything in your inventory should be available to place on the booking.  

7 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

I still can’t.  Might check with on board ONE tomorrow. 

I would go to the Internet cafe and see if you can log on there.  Have had issues being on a cruise and unable to access to Elite booking in the past.   If you feel comfortable let me know the cabin you are interested in and I will check if it is still available and the very inflated prices.

27 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said:

My TA and I can’t see it.  She is trying to get me my cabin of choice. It’s still early and hope something becomes available. Goes to show you Princess needs more than one run. 

The cruises were available for booking around 8:00am Pacific this morning.   We are booked in our desired location.   Does not look like heavy bookings as of an hour or so ago.   Prices are definitely higher than in the past LA round trips.

2 hours ago, ATSEAMYLIFE said:

Temp's will be about the same all year around.  The difference between the coldest in the winter and the highest in the summer is 14 degrees (not NOLA).  The main difference is the marine layer and if it ever burns off during the day.  It can be 68 and clear blue sky which feels hot or it can be the same and overcast then feel damp and cold.  Plan for both.  

As someone who lives in San Diego, temps in January should be mid 60’s during the day, mid 40’s at night.   Days will be sunny.   Current temps are in the mid-80’s - low 90’s. 

2 minutes ago, MudderBear said:

Is it just open for Elites?

Yes.

Has anyone been able to actually print the port guides after downloading from the App.

36 minutes ago, Tedferg said:

We share a pizza at Alfredos, so does that mean we are each charged a visit?

My guess, yes.   Two seats occupied, 2 charges.   

Any recommendations for a SIM card to use when visiting Norway.   

We, group of 8, utilized Port Valet out of Seattle in June after disembarking the Discovery.   Princess made enrollment in the service very easy.   The issues we had were being charged for bag fees when entitled to free baggage as activity duty military and flights booked with airline credit card.   The exemptions were listed and checked on the enrollment form.   Found the baggage fees were from a company called Bags Inc out of Florida.   Port of Seattle has contracted with Bags Inc.   After a couple of emails finally ended up with a response from Bags Inc who sent a check for the $280 baggage fees.  One of our bags did not make it to our final destination but was delivered 2-3 days later at 4:30am.

Would use Port Valet in the future as it makes disembarking chaos so much easier.

1 minute ago, fpsphil said:

Sapphire has a few weeks in the Caribbean before it heads south from FLL. 

Thank you,  I did not expect her to go down that way.

49 minutes ago, fpsphil said:

Kinda bummed they aren’t doing the repositioning to Antarctica direct from LA on the Sapphire. I’ve been waiting for these to come out since that was going to be our big adventure that year but ohh well we’ll have to work around it

I think there may be an error in the schedule.  There is no way Sapphire can do the same route in 17 days.  I would assume the 1 December would be LA to Santiago, very similar to 22 and 23 schedules.

We have carried limes and lemons on board with no issues when embarking in LA.  Have also purchased in various ports.   

Cruised out of Seattle in the Discovery last month.  We spent the pre cruise night at SeaTac hotel, Red Lion.  No amenities to speak of, was clean and comfortable.  Group of 8 so we reserved 3 rooms so everyone could stretch out.  Two rooms were connecting.   Shuttle available from terminal to hotel, but I think walking is just as easy.   Walking distance to a couple if restaurants, liquor store,   Reserved Seattle express for pick up and return to airport after cruise.   Would definitely do it again.   Price, location, cleanliness great.

To get to the question, we had a pick up at 12:15pm.   Arrived at the port with absolutely no lines.  Luggage drop off was efficient.   First  check in before upstairs was swift.   No waiting to pick up medallions.  6 of our party did not have passports but did not delay checkin.   From dropping luggage to boarding, maybe 20 minutes.

We do not need to be on board to have lunch in the dining room.

Screen shot from Vacation Planners Facebook page.

56 minutes ago, BabsinTX said:

And I already told my TA to book our cabin on July 26.  Dang.

Bookings open July 26 for elites.

1 minute ago, Desert Cruisers said:

Maybe either option is okay in Liverpool but don't say "British Open" in Scotland. Very touchy subject.

No we were there for the Scottish open also.   Same as the US Open being referred to as Open in the country in which it is held.    
 

As someone who is actually at the tournament it is referred to both ways.   The Open and The British Open.   

B

19 minutes ago, danny8826 said:

 

Thank you.  

 

 

You and I are thinking of the same cruise. That's why I mentioned that in my previous post that we are considering the Dec 19, 2024 date.  

 

Before you make a decision on what cruise to book, take a look at the airfares.   We do not fly coach, usually Business, did fly premium economy once and never again.  On researching flights, found it as less expensive to cruise from LA to Santiago than flying BC.   I took into account all our OBC. 
Do your homework, look at all your options.  Flying out of BA on your return, look at flights the day after or so.   Far less than expensive for us BA-DFW-SAN.