sminfiddle

As for the advice to book the first night complementary specialty reservations ASAP after boarding...what is the best way to do this? Thanks!

I think they can tell when you are dialing from a Suite, so we always called the Dine Line from the desk phone once we were able to get in the suite.

This is the exact opposite of foggy.

How much does the UBD cost? I can't find that on the Princess website. Trying to decide if (as a suite guest) whether to try this or simply offer tips for several trips with different MDR courses. Thanks.

It was $100 per couple for ours a couple of years ago - it is exactly the total amount of the inventory items (cocktails, photo, flowers, $32 champagne) and then the Food And Service are complimentary as a way to give passengers an experience they will talk about!

It hasn't been mentioned so I will.

Afternoon Tea is available for delivery to Suites as well.

You can order for as many people as you wish, but they bring a lot for each person, so tea for Two may be enough for Three or even Four.

Pot of hot water and a selection of bag (Bigelow?) teas is provided. And scones, jam, sandwiches...

A really cool way to host an informal gathering of cruise friends.

In January the Coral DR was serving a lovely lunch from a menu; we didn't see a buffet. The shrimp with avocado was amazing; I'm asking for two when we sail on the CB in April!

Not a bad strategy at all. I may have done that.

I like to buy our Ultimate Soda Sticker from the waiter at this lunch too. You can start using it immediately.

You also get complimentary Speciality Restaurant dining the first night of cruise. Be sure to make your reservation as soon as you get to your suite. Reservations go quick.

Sabatini's each morning for breakfast is glorious, don't miss the fresh OJ! Those mornings you certainly get it your way! The kindest staff ever! Enjoy!

At the Sabatini's breakfast, also enjoy espresso/cappuccino drinks freshly made at no charge and no damage to your Coffee Card.

The breakfast perk is hard to adequately describe. The top A-team elite of the wait staff is assigned to Sab Breakfast plus they enjoy it. This means a great experience and unique memories... they might dance, sing, make secret barnyard noises to confuse kids, help you get something not on the menu like steak&eggs, and we have seen all of the above.

Free boutonnière and corsage for first formal night are real. The Pillow Menu might be mythical - I have a copy but have never confirmed any truth to it.

Room service in a Suite can be afternoon tea or any Breakfast Lunch or Dinner item being served in the MDR. Yes you can play Host in your suite to any number of passengers (Princess likes to get more people exposed to the Suite life of course!).

If you paid to upgrade, you get double credit for the cruise towards Circle status - not the case for free upgrades.

Getting my tux cleaned and returned by the next formal night was never a problem - give a head's up to your steward so they can make it happen. Needed this on second leg of B2B when we really worked the formalwear. :)

Enjoy your suite - I just know you will!

Are people referring to TA's that are people in an agency? What @ online agencies? Can't name them but you all know. I'm always hesitant to try one, but would love to save money!

Yep, I switched a cruise (that we had booked on board the previous cruise) to my online agent I'd used before. This got me a nice rebate check from her agency after cruise completion, and her sincere gratitude.

sminfiddle- did you do the dinner while at sea? Any issues with that? Thank you in advance.

Aft balcony on Emerald deck. We did the first one at sailaway from Cozumel... There was less wind the faster we went.

But that's aft for you.

They know what they're doing and are prepared with tablecloth clips, wind proof candle centerpieces, etc... And prepared to set up inside if conditions dictate.

If on formal night, the photographer may be delayed (UBD comes with a photo op) - on ours, though, it was also "Escargot and Beef Wellington" night in the MDR so we asked for and got some snails in addition to the UBD menu!

One thought is to time UBD to be at sunset (for the aforementioned photo) but that has yet to work out for us.

It's been a lot of fun each time.

Quarters.

Menu, but a couple of my favorite entrées are on it each time we board.

You can also buy your Soda Stickers (aka UKP) from your waiter during this meal which can save you some time standing at a table or worse, standing in line.

There are some cabins that have the UK two-pin sockets in addition to some US two-blade plugs.

It would help to know what type of cabin you'll have as they differ.

We switched to the Embassy Suites from another hotel and did not regret it.

Winn-Dixie supermarket nearby, and the water taxis are walking distance. There's a great seafood shack and a diner close by, and we also enjoyed the hotel's restaurant. I can't remember if the hotel had a free shuttle but the port and airport are both ridiculously close by taxi.

thanks for all the info here.....The Best Weston is the only hotel that I have found that offer a free shuttle but for my stay on 14th March they want a min of a 2 night stay....Hampton Inn offer a shuttle at $10 a person......

 

does anyone have an idea of price for a princes hotel and transportation package please???

 

thanks

Last year, the Princess package for Hobby Airport travel was a great deal - lodging is at the Four Seasons downtown, near all kinds of food and entertainment, and about $130/person with all transport included. Really nice hotel.

It's a good deal, no question. Enjoy the huge bath and closets!

Don't forget to check the "suite binder" for your comp personalized stationery.

Did throw some darts and for better or worse, made a reservation at Candlewood Suites in La Porte.

What I liked about the Candlewood: Big grocery store across the street, family-run, shuttle (12 minutes) to port and back starting at 10 AM, and the Waffle House next door was convenient for a breakfast run.

Cons: I think they may be charging for parking now. And I was disappointed that "Monster Tacos" a block away - an awesome place to eat - was closed Saturday and Sunday.

Try 'Baytown Seafood' if you stay LaPorte too.

Strictly speaking:

"Beltway 8" is a free public road (but has stop lights).

"Sam Houston Tollway" was built on the median of Beltway 8 and is operated by the toll company. (No they are not my favorite organization of all time but I always find their employees to be knowledgeable and polite when I deal with them...)

Freedom of choice, y'all. If you choose to use the Tollway, and if your favorite exit does not take cash, proceed to an exit that does, and take the free Beltway 8 back to your destination.

Fair enough?

Can anyone advise the best way to get 6 none US residents from Houston Galleria area to cruise terminal?

Houston now has Uber and Lyft services in addition to the numerous taxi and limo/van companies. Download their apps and that'll be another option.

I am considering signing up with one of these to earn some cruising money :)

Last year, Princess' hotel package at the downtown Four Seasons was the most appealing because it included parking, transport to/from ship, and you are near (walking distance or clean fast light rail) SO MANY attractions like museums, parks, plays, and music. This Princess package sells out quickly though.

If you want to be across the street from a grocery store and next door to breakfast: Candlewood in LaPorte. Shuttle to/from port for a fee (hotel contracts a 3rd party).

If you mainly want to stay next door to a liquor store: Hampton Clear Lake. No shuttle as of last December but short taxi ride.

This year, expect a lot more hotels to be offering shuttles and cruiser amenities... They see the $$$ going to other hotels and get the picture.

Expect more presence this season from taxi, Uber and Lyft transport services too.

We tried cruising from FLL last spring and compared. While we enjoyed the novelty of Water Taxis, the cruise port experience wasn't All That like some say. My wife is no distance walker so we were having to jump in a taxi for $10 or more every time we went anywhere. (and driving our own car would have incurred mega-bucks in parking fees.) The first hotel was so disappointing we changed to Embassy Suites (a really nice property). Loved Southport Raw Bar but hey, there's no shortage of good seafood in Houston either.

Bayport just needs some more itineraries.

Print and fill the attached form and drop it in the Future Cruise Office dropbox. No appointment necessary...

Future Cruise Credit.pdf

Yes!

$24 a case? :eek:

We've never paid more than $3 a case for real Spring Water (shop the sales).

Wow!

Seriously?

Amazing......

Not THAT serious. I mean, there may be something to the (free) cookies and milk... but they are not pushing carbonated bev's (they come at a price) and definitely not the sparkling water (again, there is a price and you must present the cruise card)... this conspiracy theory fails on the cruise lines that charge for the fuzzy water.

If there were open-access soda fountains on Princess, I'd be more inclined to agree.

... It would be lovely to have her be able to join us at Sabatini's for breakfast, or join us in the suite line for embarkation, join us for lunch on embarkation day, etc., etc.. Not out to "steal" perks, just want to have her with us.

 

All help appreciated.

 

Mary

If she gets denied the Sabatini's breakfast (and this is the one perk where I think that may happen), here's how you could still eat breakfast together. If it's not too cold! ...

There are 4- or 6-top tables outside behind the Crown's Sabatini's and one of the "Princess Secrets" is that you can sit there to enjoy Horizon Court meals. You can ask to be served your Suite Breakfast there while your daughter makes her selections in the Horizon Court and walks aft, down one deck to join you.

Enjoy that aft suite. It's our favorite place to cruise.

Rick

No you can not have Sabatini's breakfast delivered.

 

The suite occupants can have all their dining room meals delivered to their cabin via room service if they like.

 

Mike:)

Afternoon Tea can also be ordered to the cabin by Suites (and Elite status). Enjoy!

What were your experiences with priority boarding upon embarkation?

In the Houston terminal there's a separate Preferred Lounge with comfier seats and breakfast food and beverage items. Very well organized and the Preferred boarders get ushered aboard right after the In-Transit and Special Assistance passengers.

In Ft Lauderdale the seats were the same type as in general boarding, no refreshments, and the boarding line was chaotic: it was split in two, with two Photographers... but one of the shipboard Scan Stations wasn't ready, so after pausing for the Embarkation Photo-Op that line just rejoined the line leaving the 'Preferred' seating and heading for the Photo-Op, around and around in a loop! Very funny to me but not for DW who was DONE walking and standing in line.

Pro Tip: First-Time Princess cruisers who book a Suite should print an extra copy of their Preferred Boarding Pass to ensure they can use the Preferred Area despite holding a lowly Blue Card. Not so much for the Princess staff but for the benefit of fellow Passengers who want to be helpful and re-direct them to the General Population! :cool: