Mary Ann 2

Thanks everyone.  Some good recommendations!  I wasn't sure it would be available on board or the same price as some things you can do ahead of boarding are more onboard.  In the end, I braved calling Princess and surprisingly was only on hold for 20 minutes. She didn't know, so she texted someone.  They said it was 3 blowouts, but had no answer for why I couldn't book all 3 and said to just book the first day and time and go to the Spa when I got onboard to book the others.  We shall see if it works out as I went ahead and booked it. The worst that can happen is that I ask for a refund the first day if it's not what I/they thought. If it is 3 blowouts, it's a better price than booking one at a time.  I have no idea what nights formal nights will be after the first one (which passengers on the Emerald Panama cruise say is the second sea day though just a guess for a different ship and # of days).

Anyone tried to book the Spa Hair Service called Blow Out, bundle of 3?  I can't figure out how one gets to pick 3 nights.  After I pick one night, it charges the full amount, so when you pick the second night, it charges that full amount again!  Are we supposed to just pick the first night?  I hate to hold on a call with Princess as the last time I called about Spa Services, they disavowed any connection with it and said it was all done by spa company.  So they couldn't even answer my question.  We are going on an 18 day cruise and this is the first time that I have seen this service offered.  It would save $, if I could figure out how it works.  I don't know whether to trust them that once I am onboard it will get sorted out (last cruise I had some issues with pre-purchased service).  It may be so new that no one knows??

Sorry about asking for formal nights when you already answered.  I couldn't find your post again and thought this was the next cruise from that post.  Sorry!!

Did you have 3 formal nights?  I saw a reference on the third day to a formal night.  When were the other 2?  You mentioned a production show the night you were in Panama City I think.  Was that a formal night? Trying to figure out when they might be on our Panama cruise in April.

I have one more question.  How do you find out the names of the Captain, CD, and other staff for the ship and time you will be on the ship?  Seems preferable to be able to use a name rather than "Dear Sir" for the invites.  Do you have to ask online for someone on the ship to help with this?

5 hours ago, srice said:

I have heard from Princess about scheduling a M&G.

 

First, to answer the question asked by @Mary Ann 2 the minimum group size is 10.

 

Second, Group Onboard Services has hired additional help and is training 3 new hires.  

 

Third, send requests for M&G scheduling to grouponboardservices@princesscruises.com.  If requests are sent to an individual's e-mail address and that person is out of the office, no one else will see it.  

 

Fourth, the department is open Monday - Friday 8 am to 5:30 pm PST.

 

Hopefully this information will be helpful.

Thanks so much for this info!!

16 hours ago, Eaglecw said:

How much did he charge you go to the airport?

 

We had no traffic issues and were charged $124.80 while someone else on our cruise with 4 (it was only the 2 of us) people was charged $48 to go to the airport!!

I was a nervous wreck trying to make an early flight this past summer in Seattle.  It's a long way to the airport.  The front desk couldn't believe that EZAir had scheduled us so early and told us not to take the Princess shuttle, but to walk off and take a taxi.  So we did and made it easily, though the taxi driver over- charged us; so ask ahead of time or be sure to take a flat rate rather than metered taxi (I don't think he turned the meter on as I didn't see it going and just gave us a ridiculous amount).

On our Nov. cruise out of LA, the Elite pre-boarding lounge was open and even had some coffee and tea and pastries until boarding time.  We were called first to board.

Is there a minimum number of guests to hold a Meet & Greet for Princess to arrange a room? I thought that I had read that you had to have a minimum of 50 signed up online for the Meet & Greet.  Is that true?

Definitely not a good sign. Last time it happened to me I was able to look at the American Airlines website and see a flight change before EZAir even got around to telling me.

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

What was the WMD theme, please?

Was there a theme? Do you mean what wine we had? I know it wasn't Yao Family Wines which I thought the Majestic was going to have.  Right now I can't access my photos to see the 2 wine bottles, but if that's what you mean, then let me know and tomorrow I'll have my husband get on his fancy photo editing program to look at the pictures.

23 hours ago, seagunthera said:

Great to know, thanks!  Any other fun culinary/alcohol events on your voyage?  A few years back I remember going to a daytime wine/tasting event which was fab. 

Pretty sure there were the normal wine tastings - one free for Elite and one for $25.  We didn't go to either, so don't know any more than that.

Winemaker's was Tuesday and Chef's Table was Wednesday (we boarded on Saturday).

There was a Chef's Table and a Winemaker's Dinner on our early November Majestic cruise.  No galley tour but otherwise, it was the same.  Chef's Table was amazing!  We liked the food on Winemaker's, but were disappointed there were only a few wines actually. 

some great fares if you can sail in next several months

23 hours ago, pris993 said:

Are you sure only once?

We used the app and got it all working fine for our cruise in August.  All our data was there for November cruise this year and we had a green light as soon as August cruise was over.  When Nov. cruise was over, we now have a green light for Oct. 2022 cruise.  So yes, I only entered the data once.

EZ Air told us something similar in August when I needed to change flights home.  They would change them but wanted some ridiculous amount.  In the end, we just decided if we missed the plane then they had to get us there.  As it turned out, the plane was over an hour late, so we didn't miss it.  I super stressed out over this for weeks and even during the cruise, but it turned out fine.  Hope you can resolve it or let it go.

We were next to this room on the Majestic in August.  There is a plug under the bed and we brought a European plug to use it, but it was going to be quite a feat to get to it without help.  So we called and they brought 2 very long outdoor-type extension cords. We had to unplug and put them under the bed every day as they would have been very hazardous if left strung across the room.  No one offered to tape them down like azbirdmom mentioned, and it would have been the third or fourth time to call them back to the room for something on embarkation day, so we made do.

I would be more worried about getting in!  We were about the 5th couple onboard in November, and I went straight to the front desk, and they called the number to get on the list and handed me the phone.  After he took the information, I asked if we were sure to get in as we had to have been the first to call.  He said that there were people already on the list from so many people "in transit" (they were on the cruise the week before)! I finally understood why we hadn't been able to get in for several years.  Luckily, we were staying in a suite (our first ever), and the suite concierge got us in.  Another reason, it's probably hard to get in normally!

We have also missed the Pub Lunch on our two cruises since the Pandemic.  I was mad that I forgot to mention that in the after cruise survey I just completed.

I also have to use the sink to help me up due to knee issues. I haven't done a mini-suite lately to know how convenient or not that would be.  I had no idea that you could ask for a raised seat, so glad to know that.

We bought beautiful leather AirTag cases.  The women's can be clipped onto a purse loop, and the men can buy a leather keychain to wear on a belt or just put the case in your pocket (the medallion is not very big and could slip out of a pocket IMHO).  Leather colors and some brighter colors for the women's ones (mine is blue).  Will post one example.  I know there are cheaper options, but this leather will last, and we will use them for all future cruises.

https://saddlebackleather.com/search.php?search_query=airtag&section=product

3 hours ago, sandsunsurf said:

If I'd known we wouldn't get charged I'd probably have eaten one a day.  At $15/ea I'd say it's worth trying once, maybe twice.

My husband and I were both charged on this cruise.  I wouldn't count on not being charged!

3 hours ago, ljhershey said:

We booked Princess air with our January cruise so are past final payment.  We have had multiple flight schedule changes.  The most recent change has us arriving at 11:45 pm in LA (2:45 am at our home). What is the best approach to changing to an earlier flight?  Airline?  Princess?  Thx in advance for your thoughts or experience.

 

I truly wish you good luck!  We needed to try to change our flight after final payment this summer ( we booked last minute and had to pay immediately and then realized that the flight they sold us on EZ Air left too early to be sure we would make it from the ship at disembarkation).  They were going to charge us a ridiculous change fee.  American Airlines wouldn't touch it because it was booked through a "travel agency" which was Princess EZ Air.  Passenger Services onboard couldn't believe EZ Air had sold us a flight that early and contacted EZ Air.  EZ Air then dropped the change fee, but were going to charge us an additional $500 as the flights had gone up by then.  We ended up deciding if we were late, then the EZ Air guarantee that we could make it from the ship via shuttle to airport says that they will get you home by rebooking the flight (and I was told it wouldn't be more $).  Turned out our flight was two hours late, and we made it, but there was way too much anxiety about it to be happy with the way it was handled.

Yours is the other end of the cruise - embarkation.  I'm assuming you are flying in a day early so you would actually make the embarkation.  Please report back and let us know if an airline's flight change might be handled differently.

1 hour ago, brisalta said:

 

Exactly how are they going to get goods from Amazon delivered?

I can't tell you how exactly, but there is a system set up so they can get Amazon delivered.  I think it is delivered through the port authority to a ship's officer and they distribute it.  

I actually had to order a power cord for a CPAP on one cruise and had it delivered to St. Thomas.  I spoke to Passenger Services and one of their officers picked it up from the port authority (Princess gave me the address to FedEx it).  

I gave an Amazon card (and also cash) to our favorite head bartender last week on the Majestic and she was thrilled.  She just recently discovered how convenient and easy it was to order from Amazon and was appreciative as many things they can't get at a port and may not get the day off even if there is a port that might have it.  Plus they can use an Amazon card to sent things home for loved ones very easily (with Christmas coming up).  She also loved the treats that we got for her that had been made in her homeland.