alfieisgod

The idea that Princess thinks it is reasonable to replace the coffee package - that cost about $35 for a 7 day cruise - with a package that costs $30 per day is very disappointing.  

On 3/11/2023 at 3:32 PM, LACruiser88 said:

OZ!!  Glad to see he’s been promoted to CD.  He was a lot of fun on the Sky over Christmas 2021 - with his tricky trivia and co-hosting the Wake Show.  Hope he will still be onboard for my cruise at the end of June.

Don from Halifax

1 hour ago, caribill said:

Even if your sail date is closer than 4 weeks, it does not hurt to submit for these OBC benefits.

 

The four weeks is to allow for lengthy processing time. Often it just takes a day or two, not weeks.

Can confirm. Requested OBC for shares recently. It was on my account by the next day.  
 

I got that email the day I planned to book my cruise for June.  Reduced the cost by about a third!

Don from Halifax

If you do go in to Edinburgh make sure you give yourself plenty of time.  Even with priority shuttle embarkation you are looking at maybe an hour to get to shore.  On my one cruise they used large shuttles - and they took along time (30 minutes?) to fill up before taking another 30 minutes to get to shore.

Don from Halifax 

On 2/24/2023 at 5:24 PM, lx200gps said:

It probably is a targeted Email, I haven't seen it mentioned elsewhere. Maybe have your travel agent look into it for you?  Surprisingly, when I did the mock booking that saved me the $CAD230, it ALSO showed that the BSE had also been applied to the price, so I would probably get the $US300 OBC as well. Our TA is looking into it for us.

I was looking at a 14 day Alaska cruise for June and was seeing prices at around 2K (as a solo traveller - Inside,  Standard fare). The fare under the Best Ever sale was starting around $1,500.  Got an email from Princess on Tuesday about “CAD at par”.  The price was around $900.  Alaska, Sapphire, June 28,14 days!  Had it booked by Wednesday!  

Don from Halifax

On 5/3/2022 at 4:05 PM, cruisingthomas said:

Paul Chandler-Burns joined the Sky Princess today (May 3) as CD. Andi Sanders (previous CD) unexpected  left the Sky Princess on April 30th, after being “ill” for a couple days. Andi was schedule to be CD for the Apr 30th 14 cruise. Sophie Gideon, Asst CD, seamlessly covered as CD for the week until Paul came aboard.

Sailed with Paul as CD over last Christmas / NY's.  Lots of fun and more present than some CD's.

On 4/5/2022 at 6:51 AM, Musky Ike said:

I am actually I am surprised that they mail them in the US. Seems like an added unnecessary expense. Plus I wonder if any get lost on the way to the passenger or on the way with the passenger to the cruise port. In the olden days we didn't get our cruise card in the mail. Maybe everybody could just pick them up at check-in. 

100% agree with picking them up on check-in.  Never an issue with the old cruise cards.  If I pick it up at the counter I don't have to worry about making it across country with losing the damn think.  Last cruise I couldn't get from the terminal to the ship without losing a brand new pair of sunglasses I was wearing for the first time ever!  At least they were cheap ones.  :)

20 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Well, there you go - it's Sunday night.  I was only on MC App and no notices there about system maintenance or outages.  Thanks for heads up as I had not gone to website quite yet.  I will try again tomorrow or next day.  I never had an issue with Medallion order process before. 

 

I collected my medallion at check-in in FLL for my Dec cruise on Sky.  Added about 30 seconds to the check-in process.  Seems like that is the simplest way to get it into my hands.  

Don

Medallions for Canadians

Any Canadians with upcoming cruises able to sort out the delivery of their medallion?  It’s the one thing I can’t get completed (other than testing results) for my May 28 cruise on the Royal.  The app says that pickup at the terminal is “not available” but home delivery is still not available in Canada,  

Don from Halifax

5 hours ago, peternina said:

The Canadian government has announced that beginning April 1, fully vaccinated travelers will no longer need to provide a negative COVID-19 test to enter Canada.

Princess requirement for cruises to Canada?

 

 

Note that the changes noted above apply in general to people entering Canada.  There are still restrictions that remain in place for people doing a cruise that sails from Canada.  From the Government Public Health Agency:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2022/03/government-of-canada-will-remove-pre-entry-test-requirement-for-fully-vaccinated-travellers-on-april-1.html

• Passengers must take a COVID-19 molecular test within 72-hours before boarding a cruise ship or take an antigen test within one day of the scheduled departure.

I suspect that these requirements will be changed shortly but as it stands now, the Government of Canada does not require me to get testing to enter Canada, no testing is required to fly one end of the Country to the other (Halifax to Vancouver) for my next cruise but….. I need to be tested to leave Canada on a cruise ship (but not to return to Canada on that ship).  

Does that make any sense to anyone?  Didn’t think so.

Don from Halifax

On 9/20/2021 at 4:43 PM, memoak said:

The princess drink package includes tips on drinks -

Can someone clarify this comment on tips.  I read it as saying there will be no service charge when I get a drink with the package.  In other words - If I get a $10 drink I would NOT be charged $1.80 for the service charge.

Thanks,

Don from Halifax

On 11/27/2021 at 12:04 PM, gardenbunny said:

My “wish” would be a package deal for non-drinkers - free wifi, free gratuities, and a soda package.

On very rare occassions we have taken a deal with a drink package because the fare was better but such a waste when all we drink is soda. Don’t use special coffees, wine, liquor.

Being elite, DH will get a couple beers in our bar set up that we exchange for canned drinks and his few beers.

Even though we now have to pay a little for the wifi pkg, I am OK with that.  I remember several years ago we were on the Regal, I think, when they were bringing out the MedallionNet and the cruise included free wifi for all.  I must admit it was so nice that it was always there, no logging in or out - or forgetting to log out and all your free minutes were gone!  Remember that nightmare?!

So we will use the OBC refund to apply against excursions or maybe a specialty restaurant.

I would consider that package if it was available. I would never get my money’s worth from the plus drinks package - but I always get the soda package. On my last cruise (in the before times) I got free unlimited wi-if as a perk. It was great being able to use it without watching the clock.  I would be hard going back to a limited package.  
 

Don from Halifax. 

On 11/24/2021 at 4:43 AM, dides said:

Natalie Costa is now the CD on Regal Princess so have included this below with the other updates

 

SHIP	CRUISE DIRECTOR	ENTERTAINMENT DIRECTOR
Caribbean Princess	DuVaul Gamble (as of 11/28/2021 sailing)
Coral Princess
Crown Princess
Diamond Princess
Discovery Princess
Emerald Princess	Jody Miles (as of 11/6/2021 sailing)	Kelvin Joy (as of 11/6/2021 sailing)
Enchanted Princess	Dan Falconer (as of 11/10/2021 sailing)	David Pitchfork (as of 11/10/2021 sailing)
Grand Princess	Gary Golding
Island Princess
Majestic Princess	Kevin Tugwell (as of 9/29/2021 sailing)
Regal Princess	Natalie Costa (as of 11/24/2021 sailing)	Neil Rose
Royal Princess
Ruby Princess		Frenchie Desduquois
Sapphire Princess
Sky Princess	Aaron Hawkins (as of 10/21/2021 sailing)

I cruised with Natalie a couple of times.  She’s great.

Thanks for the info.  I’m a regular Coke man myself. 🙂

I have seen a number of posts about using the Medallion app to order drinks with the Plus package - but not about using it with the soda package.  On my last cruise - in the before times of December 2019 - the app had the feature that allowed you to have a drink delivered to you - but I can’t recall if there was any way to order a drink without being charged.  

Has anyone been onboard recently who has been using the app to order drinks that can tell me if the app knows that you have the soda package - or a coffee card - so you don’t get charged for it.  

Don from Halifax

On 10/23/2021 at 4:07 PM, Steelers36 said:

OH, right!!  This is true if booked directly with Princess.  If booked with a TA, then that section doesn't show, along with cabin pricing and taxes.

 

Nevertheless, OBC should be shown in the Credits section of Personalizer.  If not there, I'd be asking TA or Princess where it is.

Thanks to you (and others) for your comments.  I now agree I should have a $100 credit for both legs of my B2B - and they do not show in the Credits section of the Payments tab.  I will be following up with my TA.  I am a Banker — can’t lose out on free money!  😜

Hello all,

I have just booked a BTB on Sky for Dec 18 and 28 with the current Fall Frenzy deal.  That deal refers to “up to $200 onboard spending money”.  I have attached the ad and the related Terms & Conditions.  What I can’t find anywhere is “how much”.  

The Payments and Credits section of my booking does not show any credit from this deal. Has anyone booked with this deal that can tell what the amount of the credit should be??  My booking is for an interior for a 10 day and an 11 day.

Thanks,

Don from Halifax

Thanks for the info.  It's probably a new service.  This pops up when I go to there site:

I am wondering if anyone has heard of this company? 

I came across the website of HealthCertain (healthcertain.ca) - which describes itself as a "...comprehensive Covid Health, Safety and Screening solution ...for some of Canada’s leading film and television production houses, first responder organizations and others." 

They are a new company based in Toronto and have recently opened a location in Halifax offering Covid Testing for travel.  I have two concerns:

 - When I google them, I get their website and some Corporate Registry type sites.  There are no results from anywhere saying 'I used this company for my Covid test".

- They have an online tool for booking appoints - and every slot from today to the end of December is still available for booking.  That there are no slots fully booked seems odd.  (They do say they are available now for walk-ins.)

It looks like they require payment up front (a reasonable $70) so I would appreciate if anyone has any experience with this company that can confirm they are legit. 

On 3/26/2021 at 2:54 PM, windsurferfirst said:

Wondering who the CD will be on Regal Princess when she starts her UK cruises in July.

On 8/8/2021 at 3:31 PM, Steelers36 said:

Not sure either what is attempting to be communicated.

On 8/8/2021 at 3:18 PM, ceilidh1 said:

I don't know what that means? Princess insurance?

Go to Princess.com and then to "Manage my Booking".  At the top left on that page is a big red "Update" button next to the link to the Health and Travel Advisory.  Click that and then "learn more about our guest protocols".  From there you should go to the FAQ "for cruises from the US'.  The FAQ has most of the details.  It will also show which items have been updated recently. 

It was only in the FAQ's that I learned last week that my mixed doses (AZ and Moderna) are not acceptable!  On the other hand, I learned today that I could get an antigen test (quick results) instead of needing a PCR test (up to 72 hours for results)!  That means I don't have to fly from NS to Florida without any test results - not knowing if I will be able to board.

Don from Halifax

I have read most of this thread and I have a minor, but odd, issue that I haven’t seen mentioned yet.  When I select a photo to upload for my profile the end result is a photo that looks like it’s been stretched.  It’s like someone has pulled up from my hair (if I had any) and down from my chin.  I get the same stretched result when I take a new photo instead of selecting a file.  

Has anyone else seen this?  I am on an iPhone.  The attached is the result I get on the app when I upload the photo you see as my cruise critic profile picture.

Don from Halifax 

16 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Ah, but there is a catch for Canadians.  Our governments implemented a huge delay, beyond the science and any other country.  How many Canadians got their mRNA shot within 12 weeks of AZ?  Might not have been possible in many provinces if you were among the earlier vaccinations.

In NS (Halifax) we were getting our 2nd dose appointments automatically booked for 105 days later (about 15 weeks).  Fortunately, when supplies improved, I was able to move up my 2nd dose to about 60 days after the 1st.  Unfortunately, I got a mix - AZ and Moderna.  I do expect the US and Canadian governments will get this sorted in the next month or so.  If not, hopefully a booster mRNA shot will take care of it. 

9 hours ago, Kay S said:

Matt was wonderful.  I sailed with him twice, and he remembered me the second time after three years!  Very sad.

I was on Matt's first cruise as CD after sailing with him a few months earlier as he was filling in for the last half of a UK .  My first time entering the Atrium he greeted me - by name - from 30 feet away. 

He was the most energetic and "present" CD I have had.  He participated in more activities with his team (or on his own), led Zomba classes, and was generally all over the ship all the time.  I can certainly see how a directive to "stick to the scrip" would not fit with his personality.

A great loss for Princess, and for passengers.

On 7/14/2021 at 9:35 PM, Steelers36 said:

I doubt they will ever send out such a reminder.  I am not likely to forget, though.

Nor will I.  As an accountant working in Banking I am a big fan of "free" money. (Yes, I know I had to pay for the shares, but I did manage to get them relatively cheaply.)