We went on the Ambassador Ambition North Cape and Land of the Midnight Sun in July last year. I was surprised at how many men went for either a tux or suit on formal nights. Although I did take one with me I just dressed in a shirt and tie with suit pants. I was not out of place. Quite a few others did the same and a handful even dressed dressed casually.

I would say on our cruise 2/3 tux or suit, and the rest mainly shirt and tie. Many men lost the tie and jacket after dinner. It's your holiday, if you do not want to wear a tux or suit then don't. I do not recollect any 'smart nights' only formal or casual.

1 hour ago, ace2542 said:

I am with NCL test 2 days before cruise and 1 day before flights. By boosters do you mean the upcoming THIRD booster shot?

I can only suggest that you read the link that I put on the post for Princess USA. 

It clearly says that. 'Up to Date' is "Received all recommended COVID-19 vaccines, including any booster dose(s) when eligible at least 7 days before embarkation" 

You are therefore up to date if you have had the original two shots plus any other booster that you have actually been offered and had at least 7 days before you depart. 

If you have not been offered a first or second booster  then as wowzz says above this does not mean any boosters that are upcoming in the future, so you are up to date. If you have been offered one booster and have had it you are up to date. If you have been offered the over 75 booster and have had it you are up to date. 

I am cruising ex Southampton next month, I have only had one booster and I am up to date because no other jab has been offered to me. 

33 minutes ago, acmar said:

 

 

 

The latest Princess requirements for UK departing cruises is HERE

 

Either option is OK as they are both supervised, but the Lateral flow is an Antigen test that is both faster to get the result and cheaper than a PCR.

Many places say that their tests are accepted for Fit to Fly and that may be true. We are not flying though.

As you can see in the link, Princes specify "Medically Observed" which many Fit to Fly tests do not appear to be. However the tests offered here are all done by their staff, all you need to do is turn up.  If you are fully vaccinated and boosted you can have it done any time in the 3 days prior to embarkation although we have booked ours two days prior.

 

I am sorry but just noticed that you are flying to the USA. It does not appear to change anything but I tried to edit the original post but the system does not let me do so.

The latest Princess requirements for UK departing cruises is HERE but I suspect that is not a lot of use to you as your sailing is not covered.

The Princess USA testing requirements are HERE

Either test option is OK as they are both supervised, but the Lateral flow is an Antigen test that is faster to get the result and cheaper than a PCR.

This link says that an Antigen Lateral Flow) test is OK for entering the USA, so It appears to satisfy everybody providing that you are fully up to date with inital vaccinations and boosters.

39 minutes ago, ace2542 said:

So which test would be required the PCR or the Lateral Flow?

The latest Princess requirements for UK departing cruises is HERE

Either option is OK as they are both supervised, but the Lateral flow is an Antigen test that is both faster to get the result and cheaper than a PCR.

Many places say that their tests are accepted for Fit to Fly and that may be true. We are not flying though.

As you can see in the link, Princes specify "Medically Observed" which many Fit to Fly tests do not appear to be. However the tests offered here are all done by their staff, all you need to do is turn up.  If you are fully vaccinated and boosted you can have it done any time in the 3 days prior to embarkation although we have booked ours two days prior.

On 4/19/2022 at 3:05 PM, ace2542 said:

We need assistance with doing the Covid test for upcoming cruise next month fly/sail USA 1 night so test 1 day before fly 2 days before sail. The problem I have is that we CANNOT in big letters as written we CANNOT do the test on ourselves recording it on a iphone or whatever. The technical know how and wifi needed to do this is beyond us. Everything here in on a hard line cable no iphone no wifi or anything like that. The test has to be done to us at a centre like a randox or a boots or superdrug or somewhere in Liverpool that will assist us.

 

Opnions please. Thanks in advance.

Try 

https://www.dam-health.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwpImTBhCmARIsAKr58cyhfJ25VSZdmqswMLaAbJT3l8CGfr2VnL2aC0TD1Wi5eOhVHyxe1SMaArOxEALw_wcB

They have 2 clinics in Liverpool

Automated reply from Princess UK on 26 May

"We are currently experiencing high volumes within the Guest Services team, we will endeavour to respond to you within 14 working days, however please be assured that your correspondence will be responded to within 28 days in line with our ABTA guidelines upon receipt of your correspondence."

No doubt that will be changed to 56 days shortly.

34 minutes ago, Aulanis said:

That is good news - did you deal direct with PCUK or via your TA?

I am getting worried as PCUK is getting more & more difficult to contact

and Princess keep changing the goalposts re claims.

We were in Oz on a cruise when it was cancelled  and they cant seem to work

out the number of days or the percentage of refund. Also they dont seem to

want to pay for our return air fare, so not happy with them at the moment.

I selected my option from the email that Princess sent on 12 March. I had an immediate confirmation email stating my selection,  about a week later updated the TA with my choice. Trying to get updates is a waste of time.  PCUK said contact TA and TA said they don't know! Last update from the TA was last Friday when they were told that they could confirm receipt of the option request -but no processing had yet been done or timescale could be given. 

I think that I read that all claims are being handled in the US now.  I believe it is true  that admin wise that they are in total disarray and overwhelmed. However Initial delays were undoubtedly caused by lack of liquidity but that now seems to have been sorted - at least until next year.

There is absolutely no excuse for the lack communication or the ever shifting goalposts. Tell me 3 months from the outset and I could live with that, but not 30 days, 30 working days, 60 days, 60 working days etc etc. 

Good luck

2 hours ago, BGIBOY said:

All,

 

I live in the UK and were due to sail on April 4th.  We completed our form on March 12th, selecting option 2, Refund & FCC.

 

Today I checked my Princess account and FCCs have been applied - good news. I therefore checked with the TA regards the refund element but nothing received yet - not so good news but a little more confident we are being dealt with.

 

Regards FCCs and appealing to the experts on here, how are they allocated? We are a family of 4, 2 adults & 2 kids, but only I have a Princess account log on currently. To see all FCC do I have to create accounts for each of us - they have membership numbers or does it just go to the lead booker?

 

Thanks and good luck everybody with getting your refunds.

 

 

Also UK

Selected option 2 on 15 March for Ruby 4 April cruise.  Used on line TA

Sometime last night FCC has been posted to both our Captains Circle Accounts. No confirmation email received from either Princess or TA 

Choose option 2 on March 15 for a 4 April cruise.

FCC is now showing in our Captains Circle accounts. Looks like it went in sometime during last night.

15 hours ago, ceilidh1 said:

 

 

Is this what you were after?

I will not consider any 2020 or indeed any future date cruise until I receive a full refund and FCC for my cancelled 35 day 4 April cruise.

No   April 4

0

7 minutes ago, Reina del Mar said:

 

We tend to do longer cruises with a few days pre and post cruise but still manage to take formal wear.  We usually have 23kg each hold allowance, unless we fly with Emirates when it is 30kg.

 

We sometimes need to buy or take an extra bag to come home, when we have bought  lots of things...cost is under £100 which does not seem prohibitive in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

Were it a matter of £100 we would take an extra case, however Etihad want $624 for 20 kg one way- that includes 20% early booking discount! The tux and evening dresses will be staying in the wardrobes and we will follow the guidelines that Princess give.

Thanks for the packing tips but we already employ them all.

On 11/5/2019 at 1:28 AM, The Mikado said:

Because, for all intents and purposes, there are no longer any dress codes. 

Mainly correct.

Here are the guidelines for packing

I think this reflects the modern day problem that air travellers have.

I have a 35 night cruise coming up, and several days pre and post cruise. The total luggage allowance is 23 kg checked plus 7 kg carry on.

The cost of any extra allowance is prohibitive.

7 hours ago, Astro Flyer said:

 

Here are the fleetwide prices & generally they’re available on cruises of 10 or more days.  I always purchase it from our dining room waitstaff so they’ll get the benefit for selling it.

 

On the Royal in April I was able to purchase a wine package on a 7-day cruise but don’t know if that’s a fleetwide change.  You get a punch card which can be used in any dining room but can be consumed anywhere onboard.  If you want a wine that’s over $45 you pay the extra amount.

 

Gold Package (wines up to $45 per bottle list price)

7 bottles -- $217 (average of $31 per bottle)

10 bottles -- $290 (average of $29 per bottle)

12 bottles -- $336 (average of $28 per bottle)

Ū

Are those prices with or without the 18%?

Thanks

And then 

18 hours ago, arizonaperson said:

Dress Code 

During your cruise, you should dress the same way you would do ashore. Leisure wear such as shorts and t-shirts is appropriate on board and on shore excursions in a warm climate. Depending on your itinerary, we advise you to bring sweaters and jackets for chilly evenings.

Keep in mind that it could rain and that you need correct clothing for visits to religious sites. On deck, sandals with rubber soles and sneakers are ideal.

There are two recommendations for evenings and dinners:

• Smart casual:
  Dress the same way you would do for a visit to a restaurant at home. Skirts, dresses or trousers with t-shirt or blouse for ladies, trousers and shirt or poloshirt for gentlemen. Shorts and swimwear are not allowed in the restaurant.

• Formal:
  Evening gown, cocktail dress or pantsuits for ladies, suit, combination or dinner jackets for gentlemen. Princess Cruises offers formal wear rental on all cruises.
•  
• Your husband may or may not get away with not wearing a suit jacket on formal nights . I say bring one just in case and try it one night and see if it works without a jacket -it’s really truly the only way to know. Of course the dress code on Cruise critic has been said over and over a lot of different ways. So probably up to you what actually happens. And I do believe the formal dress code is only in The traditional/anytime dining rooms ,but I could be wrong about that. I’m pretty sure the specialty restaurants every night it’s smart casual. The buffet ,pizza, & or  grill is casual.
• 3 formal nights for a 16 day/ night cruise.
• Julie

And then there is this.

https://www.princess.com/cruise-tips-vacation-ideas/cruise-destinations/cruise-tips-advice-and-information/tips-on-what-to-pack-for-a-cruise.html

See last paragraph. 

But why did you get a reduction in your price? Did NCL telephone you to advise the price had dropped?

More often than not I book with a US agent and after establishing the base price of the cruise at time of booking I monitor the price drops using an online site who email me every time there is a price change. This service is easy to set up and only costs a few dollars.

Just paid for out next cruise and had a price drop applied a while ago and another about a week before paying. Remember though that there is the currency conversion to factor in and this can result in a price increase or saving-this time for me it was a saving.

Not all lines allow you to book with a US agent if you live in the UK, but at the moment there is no problem with NCL.

It appears to me that US cruisers have a far better deal than those from the UK with regards to the booking conditions and in particular, cancellation and price drops, although I have argued and received price drops with UK bookings. Each time I have been reminded that they are under no obligation to give the price drop but did so as a goodwill gesture.

Hi

Just wondering if we have any members who have stayed in one of these cabins and if so what they thought of them.

Thanks