sminfiddle

The topic is "how do I prevent unauthorized entry..."

If you accept the Passage Contract, you accept Section 13 which states:

You agree Carrier has, at all times with or without notice, the right to enter and search Your stateroom, personal safe or storage spaces, or to search You, Your baggage and/or personal effects at any location.

Which means there is no such thing as unauthorized entry by Carrier (Princess employees).

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Look up Chocolates Kaokao. Lots of reviews on TripAdvisor.

It's not a long "tour," about an hour, but very interesting. Definitely cultural. It works out well with a trip to a restaurant in town.

Online reservation required for the chocolate tour. You can employ a taxi at the cab stand at the port.

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I think I'll get some for the next cruise.

There's no problem turning them into cash at the purser's desk 24/7. For $10 bills if I so desire.

Plus I want my kids to see some for the curiosity. :)

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We saw a credit listed as "GOVT" for about $23 sailing the Caribbean Princess from Houston. It appears the first day.

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Probably a complete waste for us. I've seen pictures and read threads about this and I don't think either of us could do justice to the amount of food that is served. The experience would be great but there must be a tremendous amount of uneaten food.

You should try it. I'd estimate there's no more wasted food than from a couple of average MDR tables. And less than at Sabatini's before the menu changed.

Definitely not a COMPLETE waste.

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Hello, is there a noises issue in E732 due to being right above the club? Also, is the tub in the room a hottub w/ jets?

 

 

 

Thank you.

No, they shut down the entertainment in Fusion Lounge earlier than in Explorers or Crooners, probably because of the Emerald aft residents and past complaints. So unless you are going to go to bed around 9:00, it is not an issue.

Yes, the bathtub has jets and I used that feature a couple of times last cruise. (Come to think of it, it worked more reliably than one of the aft deck hot tubs, and you can definitely make your own tub hotter as well!) Bath salts are provided. The tub is longer than my standard-issue Kohler home soaking tub. Nice!

If I needed to relax right before bed, the balcony with its view of an endless jet of sea foam, and the constant whhhooooossshhhh of the wake, would have me hypnotized in just a few minutes. More than once I'd fall asleep right there, no matter how jazzed up I was minutes before.

We were in E733 on Crown and Caribbean Princess and now we doubt that any cabin could surpass that. The long walk to spa/theatre/Vines/IC was the only drawback (and some see that exercise as a positive!).

Enjoy!

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Question: Do they have any short term parking???

 

We are taking my DD and SIL to the port and doing the tour of the ship excursion. I do not want to pay $80 for a few hours!!!

 

For the Bon Voyage Experience, day parking is in a short-term lot adjacent but separate from the main, paid parking.

Unlike some other ports, it's FREE.

Looking forward to your review...

Can you please tell me how to get to the viewing deck above the bridge? Hopefully we can do this when we get on board next week.

Lido deck (Deck 15), all the way forward. There's a door on the port side between L104 and L106, and one on starboard between L103 and L107.

Not much retail in downtown Houston.

Huh? The hotel has a walkway to the "shops at Houston Center" - just get there Friday...

http://m.shopsathc.com/DirectoryByCategory.aspx?Id=MTM3

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The last time I asked on board, I was told the bar codes are not used for anything yet.

Ever curious, I just scanned the bar code from a recent luggage tag - It was just the Booking Number plus the Ship Code:

6M7XXGCB

[6M7XXG] [CB]

One of the best deals seems to be the Princess hotel transfer package that uses the Four Seasons downtown. Until it books up. The hotel is well placed for eating and shopping etc.

The downside is maybe missing embarkation lunch.

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The dine line is usually DINE on the phone -- 3463

That was what I thought it would be, but on the Caribbean Princess it is 6219.

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I just read on another thread that on some of the ships "personalized stationary" is one of the suite perks. Does anyone know if this is on the Crown?

 

Any photos?

 

Thanks, guys!

It was in E733 on the Crown last March and the Caribbean Princess two months ago. It is as EightFurryPaws describes it.

See also post #12. :D

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My thought also.

 

There were several other things also but I don't want to get too picky.

Oh go ahead! If you can't be picky in a Suite, then where?? :) Anything not specific to the Royal?

In December on the CB they still provided personal stationery (it was concealed in the "Enjoy Your Suite Benefits" binder so I didn't find it either until last day), the flowers were still a full arrangement and changed weekly, and only the Loofa Scrubber was missing from the expected bath amenities.

On my sailing they were transitioning from the Eucalyptus Shampoo to the 2-in-1 though. I said I liked the old formula so Stewart gave me a big supply to take home.

Cabin and balcony still the old size too :)

 

And I also am really debating if I want to book any more suites - they have cut back on so many things.

Besides unlimited internet, what things?

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Can the elite bar setup be exchanged for a coffee card?

Yes, but you get two coffee cards.

Call Room Service for this exchange.

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I'm curious what is on the menu for breakfast?

The menu is short, everything on it is good, and espresso/cappuccino drinks are no extra charge.

A tray of the day's pastries will be offered to you, about 8-10 items.

Ask the headwaiter for anything else, with one-day advance notice he can arrange for anything (steak, asparagus omelette, etc). Probably can't do ackee-and-saltfish but practically anything.

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Use it for anything on this menu - but anything under $2.22 is cheaper to just sign for it than to use a punch.

Brewed coffee and Mighty Leaf tea are served without a punch, subject to the barista's checking the dated back of the card.

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Most stores/restaurants in the tunnel are closed on the weekend. And access to the tunnels is limited.

Yes, true, it's better for the "day before" guests.

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We love Mambo Seafood but it's not a candle-light quiet experience. More like a pier-side market (without the pier) that cooks really REALLY fresh seafood any way you want.

Near Hobby Airport: 10402 Gulf Freeway, Houston, TX 77034

Or go to Kemah Boardwalk and pick a place that suits you, those are all waterside. Sounds like you would like Landry's.

"T-Bone Tom's" was a big hit with some fellow cruisers but it's not right on the water.

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I'm local and would need to know your transportation plans before suggesting too much.

If you will have a car, check out "The Orange Show" as it is unique and something not to be found anywhere else in the world. Maybe after cruise as it is on the way in toward town.

Agree with the recommendation of the Montrose area as Houston's funky shop zone. There's also a Chinatown (two really - south of downtown, and west side's Alief), tunnels that run under downtown, and a fully-packed Museum District as well.

One of the best things here is the varied and affordable FOOD so for best results bring an adventurous appetite.

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Call the Candlewood and ask them about the shuttle services they have been using. They went from driving their own van to using 3rd party companies, I spoke to Donny (about 3 weeks ago) and they are comparing the results from a couple of companies. Donny was the Candlewood's shuttle driver when we cruised in December.

Then contact those services and ask about a Hobby to La Porte transfer.

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The only way wine can survive the checked route is to use a wine shipper.

They work well. Ours had a footprint on it when it arrived in the cabin but all bottles were fine! No it wasn't completely full, but we had four adults and more than 6 bottles so needed the 12-bottle size.

Cheers

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Here's another idea. Go by the Photography desk and ask one of the female photographers for a referral to a good Spa person for makeup.

I guarantee you the photographers look closely at more faces thru the cruise than anyone. They'll likely know who "gets it right" with cosmetics... If you're lucky one of the photogs will adopt you and do your makeup on formal night (would have to be early as they have a lot of setup for all those formal photo ops)!

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You'll have a great time. Your sail date will miss most of the Spring Break craziness and also is away from the higher fog risk season.

We sailed on the Caribbean Princess two weeks in December and are getting back on in late May.

I'd sail Princess with less advance notice. I plan less and less each cruise, and am happier and happier. :)

Just need enough time to submit the Stock Holder's onboard credit request...

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