pjrockman

Great News for you and your parents. My parents got us hooked on cruising. Sadly, they had to hang up their sailing shoes several years ago due to their health. We do miss them on our cruises now, but wouldn’t trade the memories for anything. Enjoy your time together...I know you will.

Looking forward to hearing about your cruise on the newly refurbished Sapphire. DW and I will be on her in October on nearly the same cruise in reverse. Toulon replaces Monte Carlo on that one.

Enjoy, treasure, and Safe Journeys. Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Princess Anniversary Sale (December 5, 2017 - February 14, 2018)

 

It’s important to ALWAYS remember your anniversary. The same goes for our own anniversary – so we’ve decided to mark this annual occasion with a sale! The Princess Anniversary Sale features all destinations, Summer 2018 - Spring 2019, and some pretty big enticements!

 

• Up to $600 FREE Onboard Spending Money per stateroom‡
  
• FREE specialty dining for ALL guests††
  
• $100 refundable deposit per guest
  

As Always, MCC, Thanks for the heads’ up. I appreciate you always giving us advance notice of the next sale including the dates and terms.

Thanks again, and Safe Journeys. Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

As others have said, 90% Red Hook, Brooklyn. However, from an airport perspective in NYC, it doesn’t really matter. All three airports are equally (in)convenient to both ports. Most will choose which one based on price and flight.

Hope that helps.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I just got an upgrade offer and will be in my first (and probably last) fancy pants suite. Where is this concierge?

On the Royal Class ships. The Concierge Lounge is located on the Riviera Deck near aft by the Penthouse Suites.

Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

It has continental breakfast in the morning and snacks in the afternoon. Always has juices and an espresso/cappuccino machine. All of that is self service. Also, quiet place to read or use tablet. Nice size. Finally, it is staffed by a concierge with posted hours and is only available to full suite cabins.

The actual concierge (Staff Member) is our favorite amenity of the lounge. After we board and eat lunch, we head to this lounge to make all of our speciality dining reservations. What used to either be a long wait on the DINE line, or a run around the ship to the different dining venues to make reservations, is now a comfortable seat while the concierge calls around and secures our reservations. We always get the best times through the use of the concierge.

Hope that explanation helps. Enjoy, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We did not like the Carambola Beach Club. It was way too crowded and cramped. It also took a long time to be served at the bar. Also, we never went in the water because of the crowd. We stayed about 3 hours and left.

Pros: convenient, cheap group taxi ride; easy to reserve a front row set of chairs on their website; nice changing room and bathroom facilities.

Cons: way too crowded; long wait for bar service; front row of loungers became second and third row since folks that didn’t pay for chairs and an umbrella all crammed up front; and, tensions were running high along the beach since it was so crowded.

We were going to eat there, but chose to go back in town and had a great time in town, including eating at a food truck in the Central Park .

Hope that helps a bit. It was just our experience this past January. Maybe it was an off day.

Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums[/url

Ahh...my mom and dad’s favorite meal of the week in the MDR on the last day of most 7 day and 10 day Caribbean Cruise....Roast Tom Turkey and all the trimmings for Mom and the Meatloaf for Dad.

They had to retire from cruising 3 years ago due to health, but DW and I order it to continue a wonderful memory. And, to take a picture to share with them when we get home. Still brings a Smile!

Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Yes it was a bit stressful and not sure if i would recommend as it was tight.

 

 

 

Car service we used was http://www.rome-airport.net cost was 134euro (this was one we found but may have been cheaper options?)

 

We used City Wonders Tours formally Dark Rome Tours for the Papal Audience Tour. The tour guide was very good got us good seats and gave s a great description about the history of St Peters square and the vatican. this was US$82.86 for the 2 of us.

 

 

 

For the Coloseum tour we used a tour company called Vatican Tours and we did the tour that included the underground tour. Thuis was very good and cost was $65euro each.

 

 

 

Regards

 

Wayne

Great information' date=' Wayne.

Thanks a bunch.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Congrats, Tuffy.

Sounds like it worked. What car service, and tour operator did you use and what were the costs if you don’t mind saying?

Thanks, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Kubies,

I do not normally say search when someone asks a question. But, right now, I am on my mobile and can’t link the appropriate thread. This issue was discussed in great detail on a recent thread where someone racked up $2k in roaming charges. That thread should help explain more than you even wanted to know.

Someone else will link the thread, I’m sure. Or, just hit up my recent posts since I chimed in and it will lead you to the thread.

Good luck. Paul

Name of thread is Princess LTE Fees are a Rip-off. Or something like that.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Sounds like St Thomas will be open this year. So, no, it won't be "some time."

On ours, I noticed the change to Martinique from Dominica in the Calendar and Planning tab in my Personalizer last night around 10:15. Then I received a revised Booking Notice via email from Princess at 12:27 a.m this morning. We book directly with Princess.

Hope that is helpful.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thanks, Astro Flyer and Colo Cruiser.

I appreciate the info.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

As a follow up, were the TVs on the Sapphire also upgraded to the larger 40” screens as well? Just curious, since the Ruby’s system hasn’t been updated yet.

Thanks for any info. Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I'm certain that it wouldn't cover room service or liquor delivered to the cabin. I hadn't noticed the 2 rums on the list of liquors delivered to the cabin before now.

Trust me, the Bacardi was there. We have pre-ordered bottles of rum many times before AIBP. Because we always found it odd that rum wasn't included in the Suite/Elite mini-bar. So, we had to order it, I suppose!!

Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I, likewise, think that the basic drink prices will rise to be commensurate with the increase or they will lose a lot of the package purchases by folks like DW who is borderline on per drink including water and coffees. However, the swing was the cans of diet soda.

I did notice that the bottles of wine went up about 10% a week or two ago. But I can only vouch for the previous cost of Dom was around $205 with grats and it became around $225 sometime recently. Others will need to verify if that is true for other wines. Of course, since there is no longer a limit of $100 to get 40% off a bottle, the Dom will be around $168 with the new 25% with no apparent limit....unless that is a loophole that they will revise....

Still happy with the advance notice provided on CC. Thanks all.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

A beeline is not necessary, but we tend to do it early in the cruise, so that we can see that it gets credited correctly.

Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Just wanted to say that I am enjoying this thread and stories. (Unusual, lately.)

No dinner for us, but Captain Oliver renewed our vows for our 30th last year on the Royal and it was very personal. It was also special, because he made it a point to come up to us at every event thereafter to chat. Captain 'Bob' was out and about on the ship a good amount and we found that quite nice.

Thanks for starting the thread.

Safe Journeys, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We're either proving how nerdy we are, or how old we are, could go either way.

Old! Let's not even talk about carrying your set of data punch cards to computer lab...

Sent from my iPad using Forums

God save me from people with emotional investment in their phone brand of choice. :) (Frequent topic of coworker bickering.)

Beats arguing over PL/1, Fortran an COBOL....

Sent from my iPad using Forums

....no deck chairs right by the pool when I get up at 11:30....

....can't reach the toilet paper.....

....can't find 12 seats together in the theatre 10 minutes after the show starts.....

Sorry....couldn't resist

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I think I should have avoided the site tonight.....a $2,000 ATT Bill that was Princess' fault, a claim for a $20k free cabin and a revived 4 year old 'No' Royal promenade deck thread....

Hmmmmm

Sent from my iPad using Forums

On Princess I have never connected to the ships cell service when in port because its not activated until the ship is away from land. I use my cell all the time while in port and have had a local signal. I have use land based cell towers many times after the ship leaves port. Sometimes the ships cell service is turned on pretty quickly and other times if the ship is close to land it does not come on. I have never seen it enabled while in port.

 

 

 

 

Have to agree to this. Our Kids can't wait to turn their ATT IPhones on as soon as we are pulling into the port at US St Thomas. It is easy to tell when to let them 'turn them on' so to speak. Also we used the 10 dollar a day ATT plan for the first time when we went to Cabo overnight on Princess and we never charged more than $10 for that 24 hours we were docked in Cabo (before they added the free Mexico and Canada portion to our plan). Again, no problems.

Oh well. Live and learn.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I just received an offer for a Princess Barclaycard. I've read all the small print and looked at the Princess Barclay website but can't find any info on how the points earned transfer "towards discounted, reduced and even free cruises." I've also read on CC that people are having a problem receiving the correct amount of points from Barclay..

 

 

 

I'd appreciate input from anyone who has the card.

Hello,

To answer your question directly, it is a fine card if you use it exclusively for Princess purchases, including cruise fare, end of cruise statements and pre and post cruise payments and/or purchases. These purchase points are 2x. Then, you can redeem at 2% (thus netting 4%) if making a $4001+ charge (Princess charge) within 180 days of when you want to redeem. I just did and redeemed 80000 points for a $1600 statement credit.

Yes, since April or so, there has been a quirk in their system to wit the points for such Princess purchases weren't (and still aren't) being doubled. Each of my 4 purchases since April were fixed with a simple email. The last one was fixed in a 12 minute phone call to a very pleasant customer service rep, where she also effortlessly redeemed my desired points for my above mentioned statement credit that appeared on my account in 3 days.

Sure, Right now it's a small inconvenience, but they are working on it. So, simple answer, it does work as they say for a maximum 4% return for a statement credit.

For me 4% works. I recently have received an offer for 5% on travel (different card), but the rules were too long and complex to waste my time.

Hope that helps. Safe Journeys.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Thank you, rgmacm (OP).

I used your phone number to get the last of my three separate double points deficits and also to redeem my points at the 2% level for a statement credit. Took only 12 minutes and the customer service lady couldn't have been nicer or more efficient. She was also very apologetic.

The first two point deficits only took a week to resolve through email, but since I wanted to redeem my points, I used the resolution number provided by the OP. It worked great.

It actually made my day.

Thanks again, and Safe Journeys. Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums

I did not say you receive points for redeeming points. I said you receive 2% when redeeming - $2 for each 100 points redeemed.

 

My calculation was a little off but the result was correct, since you receive one point for each dollar, or two points for each Princess dollar. If you spend $5,000 on Princess, then you receive 10,000 points. When you redeem at 2%, you receive $200 (or 4% of the $5,000 spent).

 

On the BarclayCard website under Rewards & Benefits > Using My Points: Look under Statement Credits for the answer to the question "What's the best redemption value among eligible transactions?"

Thanks, Navy Veteran.

That's what I have been saying...4% on exclusively Princess purchases with the 2 + 2 on $4001+ purchases. However, I have been waiting to redeem because of all the ongoing points' problems. I have been waiting to call until they fix my last double point shortage. The more I read, I start second guessing myself. I have a qualifying purchase for the 4001 and I have 80000 points. Accordingly, I should get a $1600 credit, right?

Thanks, Paul

Sent from my iPad using Forums