pjrockman

When it works, it provides a 4% return if you use it exclusively for Princess purchases. This is based on 2x the points on Princess purchases and 2% back if you use it to pay over 4K in Princess purchases within the appropriate time period.

However, that said, our remaining statement charges on our last cruise in April and our payoff this month on our next cruise both took an email to customer service to get the double points. I never called, just hit the email button on my online account and explained the date and charge. Both times the additional points showed up within 14 days. Though you shouldn't need to do that, it worked out quickly for me without time on the phone.

Hope that helps. Safe Journeys, Paul

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Haven't ever done the Mexican Riviera, and I'd would prefer a different time of year maybe not so close to possible a spring break but that was the latest sailing available. That time I spent two weeks on Royal Princess I was very comfortable on her.

 

 

 

:cool:

Hey, Dave.

Though it was only the 5 day and it was on the Ruby, our first visit to Cabo was on April 26 this year. It was not crowded at all and it was very clean with not a spring breaker in sight. Enjoyed the port, but missed the Royal Class.

Congrats on your health and job....welcome back. Still in the western side of the State?

Safe Journeys, Paul

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And Princess can tout increased bookings to investors which may also have a higher percentage of cancellations due to passengers only risking a $1 deposit.

And supply takes a healthy hit, so initial prices can stay high on the 2018/19 schedule.

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Thank you for this. We are planning to bring my father's tux, do you know if dry cleaning is also included?

 

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We always give my tuxes and DW's gowns to steward as soon as we can, so they can be pressed after the packing ordeal! Then they are ready for the formal nights. We find this to be the best suite perk for us.

Enjoy.....hard to go back! Safe Journeys, Paul

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I believe that it is just different on different ships, different schedules and different Hotel General Managers. I have been in numerous Suites on the Royal and Regal on cruises ranging in length from 3 to 10 days. We've gotten the free specialty dining on all but one of those (a 5 day Caribbean). The one surprise was that we got it on the one 3 day in the Caribbean. We just got it on a 5 day in October to Canada. Always got it on the 6 or more days.

Sometimes we got the rose corsage and boutonnière on the short ones, sometimes not. So, I think that it is mostly determined by the Hotel Manager and Ship. It doesn't bother us, as we are always happy with what we get.

Oh, most of the time (lately) we got 3 umbrellas, but never used them. And, sometimes strawberries, sometimes not!

Enjoy. Safe Journeys, Paul

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There was a recent Cruise Critic article on tipping which suggested definitely not tipping extra in the "for fee" venues such as Crown Grill as a gratuity is already included in the cost of the meal. Same thing with drinks where the gratuity is automagically added on.

Hate to jump in on a tipping thread, but when you are making reservations now for Crown (or others) in your cruise personalizer, it lists the $29 price and says 'price excludes gratuity'. Noticed it after they started allowing reservations for specialty dining. I snapped a pic of it on my iPad, but doubt that I will be able to post. However if you have a current cruise scheduled, go to your personalizer, hit specialty dining at the top, hit make a reservation at Crown and it is in italics.

Just thought that was interesting. Paul

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Thanks everyone. If I have any issues I'll just deal directly with the airline involved.

Hopefully, that works. We are using EZ Air for the first time next month. After I made the EZ Air reservations, I understood that if I wanted to upgrade to a higher class than Economy, I was to contact the airline directly. I did yesterday and the United person put me on hold and came back to say that I needed to contact Princess to make arrangements for an Upgrade. So, I went back and tried to change Air arrangements in Personalizer, and it said to contact airline for any Class upgrade?!?

Oh well... Good Luck, Paul

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I insist on bringing my 'Service' Towel Animal on my cruises...

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Thanks, Dides.

Really enjoying your thread. Look forward to more.

Thanks, again and Safe Journeys, paul

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11:00 a.m. is perfect. You should be able to check in as soon as you arrive and boarding should begin before noon.

Thanks, f-mattox. We will also be going out of San Pedro for our first time next month. We are 'regulars' from Port Everglades, but we've been gathering info on LA and San Pedro for our first foray to/from that port.

Safe Journeys, Paul

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We were also on this cruise. We also love the Regal and Royal ships. We had early fixed in the Concerto and had our best pair of wait staff to date. Our only complaint was the usual move up by 15 min (6:00 to 5:45) was moved up 30 min to 5:30. This was pushing it a bit. However, we were out by 6:45 each night. Head waiters smiled and waved, but never came to the table, but we never really needed them because of our able servers. We thought of switching to late fixed when we found out about the 5:30 time change, but now are glad we didn't based on your comments.

We enjoyed the entire cruise. Ate at the Crown Grill twice and the Crab Shack once. All meals were great.

Thanks for sharing your comments.

Safe Journeys, Paul

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Life is about the class system. Some people drive Bentley's some Pontiacs, some people pay $5 million for a house some pay $100k. Some people book suites and some book insides just the same as some people book business class and some economy. The new club class is no different to everything else in life, you get what you pay for.

Agree. Or even something simple like a sporting event, concert or broadway....the choice between the peanut gallery/nose bleed seats or seats with a view of the action, based of course on price. We've been in both categories in various stages of our life; and much prefer the view!

How about land restaurants or hotels (or even rooms within a hotel)? All the same principle....all categorized by price.

No problem with the concept.

Paul

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I'll take some requests today if there's something specific on the Regal someone wants a pic of. No promises, but I'll do my best.

The rainclouds have moved on, so we're back in the sun.

As usual, great thread, CanadianBurger. Thanks.

Always appreciate the food, food and food pics. As you do, I also go to the MDR, then a quick trip to the buffet to catch up on what I may have missed....

Just got off the Regal in October and back on her next month, so love the food pics.

Thanks and Safe Journeys. Paul

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Nope. I asked here.

Touché.

Yes, we did it all of the time for our kids, while we were across the hall. Win, win.

Safe Journeys and enjoy your privacy. Paul

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Thanks, I think I'll keep the mini bar for rum/coke for DH and vodka tonics for me and order the water.

Couple things:

1. You can also order 375 ml (half of a fifth) of Bacardi White for $17.50. We do it for DW's convenient rum and cokes while preparing for dinner. Really not that outlandish considering.

2. Suite priority tendering is hit or miss based on crew since we were on three separate Royal cruises in a Full Suite tendering to Princess Cays each time. First time we were told to go straight to the Tender area, great. Second time we did the same and we were politely, but firmly, escorted by security back to the mass dining room and given a priority number, not bad. Third time we went to the dining room and we were given the same number that everyone else was getting which was three tenders after we entered. Each time we showed our Suite cabin cards.

So, go in hoping for the best and go with the flow.

Safe Journeys, Paul

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You should be paying attention during the muster drill, not playing games. It is extremely important to know what to do in an event of an emergency. People will blame it on the cruise line for problems, but what about those passengers who failed to pay attention during the drill?

They'll be the first to file their lawsuits.....

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Interesting. I thought that this sounded familiar. In September, OP started a thread titled something to the effect of: Influenza on Princess getting worse?

However, in that thread it was 4 out of the last 5 cruises instead of 7 out of the last 8. So, in the last two or so months, 3 more cruises were taken? And each flu lasted for a month?

Sometimes, I should listen to myself and skip a thread.....

Good luck in the cottage.

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Another vote for Kelly's. They also do take-out very well. Got in our hotel at 8:00 p.m.; ordered fried whole bellied clams, fried fish and a lobster roll; and picked it up in 15 minutes. They packed it perfectly with all of the needed trimmings and utensils. Place was packed with people waiting for tables. Walked right in, paid and left with some great New England seafood. Fish and clams were especially good.

Hope that helps. Paul

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That is tied to your Capt Circle number. So you are doing it properly. You can see your Captain Circle Number when you are logged in.

Exactly, Coral. Thanks.

I've even tried to get my dad's price by telling them about the difference in price and they simply said, it was tied to that CCN. I get it. I check on my brother's as well and many times there are three different prices. Marketing strategy is marketing strategy....whatever works. I never feel slighted. I book when I find a good deal in a cabin that I like. I consider anything else, like a later price reduction, as an unexpected, yet welcomed bonus!

Safe Journeys, Paul

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Many times people who have not cruised in a while or do not have a cruise booked seems to get better prices than people who cruise all the time or have a cruise booked.

 

 

 

I get emails,for a friend,with her captains circle number,as she does not have a computer and used my email for correspondence.Many times her rate is lower than mine.It is aggravating to see that.

Yep. My parents haven't cruised for about 5 years due to their age/health. They were long time cruisers. I maintain their email and Princess account. I always get on and check their price and it is consistently lower than mine. We still cruise a couple times a year. It only makes sense that Princess is trying to get them back to the sea.

Doesn't bother me...just wish they could still cruise with us. No better times than cruising with your family. They still want to hear about everything when we get home.

Anyway, Safe Journeys. Paul

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This approach is now a gamble. Princess is cracking down on this practice. There are several recent threads on it with comments that go as far as saying that accounts are being frozen if you don't gamble with it. Again, how it may be handled may be based on ship, casino manager, itinerary, etc.

I put credits on my account, but most of mine ends up in the casino!!

Since it is hard to tell what is fact, conjecture or rumor at this point, I just caution you to not count on the money during the cruise unless you plan on using it in the casino.

As most have noticed, the statement's accounting has changed quite a bit in the last year. Princess is keeping a closer watch on what credits go where and how they are being credited and debited.

Paul

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There was a lengthy thread on this 9/28 host jazz beau started.

 

 

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Oops. It took me a while to type on my iPad! Sorry to repeat.

Paul

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Yup. It really isn't better. We used to get double points on all Princess charges and 1 point for all other charges. As you can see, now you only get double points if you spend around 4 grand. :mad:

I don't believe that is true...still 2x points on all Princess purchases (plus other cruise lines, un-named, but most likely CCL lines). It is a complicated mailing, but there is an extensive thread on it from last week with a Host (J) and carbill explaining it quite well. That is how I understand it, as well.

Search Princess Visa and that thread will pop up.

Hope that helps. Paul

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According to the PATH site (http://www.panynj.gov) you plan looks just fine for Friday.

Thanks, 138east.

We've used PATH for most of our visits to NYC/NJ, but just wanted to make sure that these stations were still operating after the accident.

Thanks, Paul

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