HogTide

$500.00

Last June we were on the lame and slow Crown for one of the 7 day Alaskan trips. A couple of weeks after returning home, and after a ton of negative publicity, Princess offered a limited time Future Cruise Credit equivalent to 50% of the cruise fare paid.  Now that we have reservations for a cruise in June, my TA and a representative of an insurance company tell me that the FCC value must be considered in the cost of our policy.  I have always thought insurance was to protect you from risk of loss of value. The only loss that I face in this situation is my share of the fare after FCC is applied by Princess.  This FCC is not the result of a cancellation, but is "a gesture of concern for your experience and gratitude for your understanding" according to the Princess letter.

Has anyone else run into this situation and understands it better than me.

Our family group of 10 is considering a June cruise from San Pedro.  I am looking at flights into Long Beach nonstop from Nashville and will greatly appreciate any recommendations/comments regarding transportation between the airport and port and any recommendations on hotels in the area.  Please offer any Pro/Cons on this approach.  Thank you for you consideration.

On 7/16/2022 at 6:47 PM, CineGraphic said:

 

Shouldn't faithful customers see some sort of empathy from the company when paying full price for a sub-par product?

CEOs command lofty salaries to deal with such problems. Some succeed, others fail.

 

In the hospitality business, I would much rather deal with a company that limits the number of customers they have in order to provide the proper service.

Princess has chosen the opposite, choosing to cut-back on services instead.

Great and appropriate response!!

Following our week on Crown last month I started reading CC reviews on lines other than Princess, with a focus on Celebrity. I quickly found many complaints that mirror those on the Princess forums.  The article that turned me away from Celebrity was a report on the Celebrity Apex quarantine zone, which consists of small cabins with a window and no opportunity for fresh air.  The author did state that she was kept comfortable and received prompt responses to all calls during her 10 days of isolation.  I do give Princess big praise for the balcony quarantines. As burned out as I am with Princess management, clearly it may not be any better across their competition but I remain very attuned to everyone’s new discoveries.  Looking forward to your reports!

I have been wondering where Padgett's bosses are hiding out.  Where in this problem is Jan Swartz, where is the President of Carnival Corporation, and where is the Carnival Board of Directors???  Are they simply distant observers of this sinking?

Just off the Crown last Saturday...very disappointed with leadership decisions to keep this ship in service. As stated by so many last month, the crew is outstanding, working so hard to please the guest.  So many excursion cancellations due to late port arrivals.  Sunday was an intended sea day, Monday turned into a sea day because we did not get to Juneau until around 5 PM, Thursday was a scheduled sea day, and Friday turned into a sea day since we arrived in Victoria around 8pm (engines could not overcome head winds over night). On Monday all the MDRs were closed for lunch which just overwhelmed the Horizon Court and the grills.  We only had Afternoon Tea twice.   We were a family group of 13 that practiced very good mask protocol, and since leaving the ship on Saturday 8 of the 13 have tested positive.  We left one in Seattle.  IMHO it was not the cruise that we were looking for, and given hind sight I would wait.  This may have been our last Princess Cruise!!

Thank You!  Thank you for your efforts. We will be on after you with a group of 13 family members, some on their first trip to Alaska. The grandkids are already disappointed in anticipation of the excursion cancellations!  I hope someone that came on today will let us know what time Arrival Group A has allowed to proceed through check-in. Our best wishes for all to have a safe/healthy week!!

2 hours ago, byucruiser said:

Confirmed with Princess, and the excursion company that the Crown will not arrive in Juneau until 5:30 PM for the cruise dates: May 30th, June 6th, June 13th, June 20th. The excursion company sent us the notification alert they received directly from their cruise travel partner and scheduling operations.

 

Now looking for last minute excursions and not much available and nothing really runs after 5:30 anyways. 

Will you please share that notification alert you received...it could be useful someday soon!!    Thanks

Thank you Crow9 for your efforts. Our family group of 13 will follow you on the 4 June cruise and we are anxious to hear of your experience. Wishing you the best!!

On the Crown there are limited mini-suites on Deck 9 that are equipped to sleep 4.  D632-D733 & a few forward have the pull down.

Anything on passenger/crew health issues....any indications on isolation/quarantine?

Mike please share your Covid protocol other than inside mask.  Thanks to you and LCinLB for your input this week!!

Thank you so much, we appreciate your time & effort!!   How was your checkin process, did they appear to enforce the assigned Arrival Groups?

Thank you Crow9.  Like MarcsSharon we will be on the 4 June sailing.  Looking forward to all you share.  Wishing you a great cruise!!

Jim & Sharon

Our family of 13 is scheduled on board the Crown in June for another trip to Alaska. In December 2020 I never considered the possibility that we would still be under this virus threat 18 months later.  My concern is the possibility that a grandchild might require isolation (DGDs age 19, 18, 17 and DGS age 14). It is inconceivable to me that a ship’s captain would require a youngster to be confined without a guardian/chaperon with them.  Has anyone experienced a situation where an uninfected companion/parent was allowed to accompany their companion/family member into isolation?  Or does anyone have an e-mail contact on the Princess staff that would address the issue?

It hit home for us at 0705 hours on 7 Feb. DW & I had our bags at the back door, due to depart for the airport within the hour when I tuned into the CBS morning news just as they were reporting a Royal Caribbean ship had eight possible virus cases in the NJ port.  Before they later confirmed that the passengers had flu our clock had run down and we decided to cancel our 8 Feb cruise on the SKY.  We had been watching too much news about the passengers on the Diamond. No regrets, we still feel it wasa a good decision.  We are now booked for a Sept 2021 cruise to Alaska, looking for that vaccine!!

Thanks to each of you.    Looking forward to meeting you suekel. This will be our fifth Alaskan cruise, and yes it is the beauty that keeps taking us back!

DW and I are considering a 10-day cruise rt from Vancouver along the Inside Passage to Hubbard starting 15 Sept 2021 (Sapphire Princess).  We would greatly appreciate any comments/recommendations/experiences about such a late seasonal trip.

ABSOLUTELY! I think Jan and her staff/advisors have shined throughout this ordeal that they did not create.  No hesitation, can't wait.

CONGRATULATIONS, would you consider being my TA???? At least TA advisor!!

2 hours ago, 13cheermom said:

Has anyone used this service in Seattle recently?  I know it is available for our Alaskan cruise from what I have read, but wondered if anyone has specific details on how it works.  This will be a new port for us as well as first time on Princess ship, so any details would be greatly appreciated!

This service is outstanding! We used it in June following an Alaskan cruise with 10 family members ( like 15 bags). You sign up early in the cruise, receive special tags later in the week, place the bags in the hallway as normal, and collect them at your flight destination.  We received our boarding passes along with the special tags.  Southwest did require a quick checkin at the ticketing counter, but it was very fast.  Port of Seattle covers the cost.

We could not find a bad one on the whole ship.....even with the help of S&S!!!

I agree with Colo Cruiser's commits, but our family was on the Ruby in June, we had mini-suites D 629, 631, & 633.  The Ruby deck plan shows a fire wall between 633 and 701. The attached photo clearly shows a door between 633 & 701,  of course it was never opened, but I can't imagine that door being there just for appearance.  

We are considering the Southern Caribbean cruise on the Sky Princess in late December 2020.  Since we have not sailed on any of the Royal class ships I am seeking any recommendations for selecting a mini-suite.    We are currently looking at the mid-forward area of the Caribe deck since is has passenger cabins both above and below. This will be a family event requiring three adjoining suites.  I am assuming that the balconies in the Royal class still have connecting door panels that the steward can open.  Any advise/warnings/comments will be greatly appreciated as always.  Thanks

Have been silently enjoying your post...will be on the Ruby in 51 days with our four grandkids...they only know Disney Cruise Lines, so it is time to introduce them to another world.....so glad the afternoon tea is still a great event.