mtnesterz

If you meant a bigger issue than the risk someone starting a fire at sea, I can assure you from experience that in that moment of smelling smoke, hearing the ship's alarms and looking out at the landless sea, the problems of the world pale to insignificance.

Since it's the same port don't know if you'd need a Route Deviation Form. If they want paperwork, that's what to ask for.

From the Princess website: "Don’t worry about documenting the highlights of your cruise; leave that to the professionals. As part of this fare, you get unlimited digital images taken by our onboard photographers and three prints of your favorites. There’s only one souvenir that’s priceless – memories." Sort of implies that anything taken by the ships photographers would be available, including those as you disembark at the ports. As to the three prints, I'd be asking what size is meant, a 2x3 wallet, 5x7 or 8x10?

The original post mentions they use a CVP. Our CVP answers his direct phone or back to us very acceptably. Emails respond quickly too. Consider finding out who yours is. 800 901-1172. Some are good, some not so, but better than waiting on hold 2 hours.

Cannot say from personal experience, but the way it is supposed to go is after two years unused, the money gets refunded to you automatically. We never waited that long, but we share your frustration with the current state of cruising. Would another line be any better at this point? Likely all lines have the same hurdles/challenges. Don't know a quicker way to refund. Added: if you get an answer from your CVP, please post.

Deleted. Same answer given as Lucky TGO

It would not depend on the ship, but the facilities at the port, which deck is used and the tide. Some ports have a sissors gangway, making any change in elevation easy to negotiate. The ship does take along a gangway wide enough for a wheelchair. When the tide comes in, the incline would be a challenge. You can't argue with the moon about the tide, so just ask a crewmember to asssist.

Malibu and Pepsi would be too sweet. Try a Cuba Libre. The lime juice negates the sweetness of the Pepsi. A step further down on sweetness is an English Cola. Which is cola, lime juice and gin.

For charging, there were USB ports on the nightstand lamps on our recent cruise, a Royal class. Not 100% certain for the Enchanted. Standard cabin power is F type. I think C will fit. Bathroom can alternate C or A (no U-ground.)

Staggering amount of debt. By no means am I a financial guy, but based on Carnival's numbers, this would be like every single passenger, on every Carnival owned line, paying $1000/passenger cruise day, for a year's worth of scheduled cruises. We like Princess, but not that much.

Itinerary should be the decider. If you like history and immersion lectures, go to Panama. If you've never been there, then a sampler circle tour would be nice and like the adventure excursions of western side of the Carribbean. With the Enchanted Princess, any of what we call the Royal class due to their size, will come all the personal care you'd expect to get at your local DMV. The buffet is simply an excercise in how fast food can be slung out. Every meal is like feeding an Army Regiment. The Caribbean Princess was designed for the Caribbean. So it has no cover over the pool deck. I haven't done the new locks. I'd go the Emerald cruise, but tax sure is high on a Panama cruise!

According to @Thrak, this is what is happening: "...Just got off of Royal Princess. The very first drink my wife ordered was a glass of wine. Turns out she ordered a $13 drink so we got charged $1.18 -- the extra dollar and the 18% gratuity..." The answer is, no. You don't need Princess Premium. You just have to do the math and figure out what it's worth to you.

If they don't arrive, you will receive new ones at the pier. We received ours at the pier and the wait for this was insignificant. Yes, the Medallions are linked to your account. The device itself does not hold your information, except what is visibly imprinted on the face, but a code similar to a license plate on a car. If you get a new Medallion, they simply change your account at the pier to link to the new device code. Same thing if the battery goes dead, or you lose it. You get a new one. More comcern to me is that if your Medallions arrive at home after you embark and someone gets your mail, they will know you are on vacation and when. Suggest that you have someone trusted pick up your mail.

Curious what you saw as, "bitterly complaining." The OP asking about the terms and conditions of the new program, where to find the wording of the program, what prizes are awarded and when, the question of how to enter, "unlimited spins," or the jokes about the sparkling wine?

Don't need Cliff Notes. The pertinent point here is number 6. There is an entrance fee. Which I've read elsewhere, not directly from Princess, is a one time US$20. Sorry if I'm off on that number. The entry fee is covered by the package to my reading. This ploy of trying to obfuscate the value of the package by adding a chance at a prize does not appeal to me.

It all comes down to pricing theory. People want good value, so they offer a premium package, which is expensive but inclusive. People won't buy that, but more will buy the Princess Plus to buy into what they think is value. About 50% of people buy Princess Plus now. Watch that number go up. Same reason there's three sizes of popcorn in the theater. The middle size is the best seller. The "smoke and mirrors" is intentional to make comparison difficult. For a teatotaler, or internet vacationer, or envelope tipper, it makes no financial sense at all.

As a complete aside. What kind of dog is that? Looking for a dog.

On the Grand in March there was a tray of tokens in the laundries. Soap, and machine use was free. We had brought dryer sheets.

Princess isn't Premium. They are mass market. What kind of premium line makes you do everything yourself?, ie. the Medallion Tipping is not indicated on premium lines. Pricing reflects that. A check yesterday on a big TA site: NCL, MSC, Carnival, US$ 60/100 day HAL, Princess 75/130 day. Cunard, Celebrity, 130/200 day Oceania, Azamara, 230 plus Seabourn, Silversea,... If you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.

For your comparison, we have sailed on RCCL and X, but we are Elite with Princess. On RCCL every single day we were at the services desk for some problem, and no-one could help. It was always up to someone, somewhere up the line. We called it, "The Nation Of No." A play on their slogan at the time. At Princess, the problem will get addressed, now. Everyone makes it their businesss. On RCCL, it's no one's job. The Princess experience is similar to X, though there are more daily activities on Princess, food might be better on X. They are equal in that the volume of their entertainment is punishingly loud and no amount of complaining can turn it down. Bring earplugs either line. The biggest difference is that disembarkation on Princess is flawless, a well oiled machine. X disembarkation was chaos on every cruise. A re-invention of the wheel it seemed.

If someone steals the Medallions from your mail, they know when you will be on vacation and can easily figure out for how long. You also know the morals of the people with that information.