Princess Cruise "Secrets" 2019

[rugerdog]

17 hours ago, neverbeenhere said:

preorder liquor for your room, around $18 for 375ml (12oz) good for two to eight drinks.

 

Is there any difference between pre-ordering it and getting it once on board?  Or is it not available unless you pre-order.  

 

And I like your "two to eight drinks" description.   

[neverbeenhere]

4 minutes ago, rugerdog said:

 

Is there any difference between pre-ordering it and getting it once on board?  Or is it not available unless you pre-order.  

 

And I like your "two to eight drinks" description.   

 

No difference. 

[2 cruises a year]

On your computer or device, WITHOUT accessing the Internet via your minutes, you can type in princess.com in the address bar and browse the Princess website without using your minutes.  This can come in handy for searching cruises and whatever else you might want on the Princess website for free.

I also go there before signing into my paid minutes to see how well, or poorly the "reception" is.  If you can't access Princess.com for free, you probably won't be able to access your email and burn up valuable minutes trying.

[rugerdog]

5 minutes ago, neverbeenhere said:

 

No difference. 

 

Okay, thank you.  I think it would be convenient to order it ahead of time, one less thing to remember to do once on board.

[TwoCruisers]

21 hours ago, gottagocit said:

No, it must be used while onboard. 

Yes, you can cash in OBC.

Here is an answer I gave recently to a question about cashing in OBC from stockholder credit: (This cruise was on the Pacific Princess 12/22/2018 to 1/5/2019)

 

“On my recent cruise on the Pacific Princess I had over $600 in OBC. Some of it was from the Princess promotion, some from the stock holder credit and some from other sources. All of the credit is lumped together and I can’t tell which is which.

I used some of the OBC to pay for Princess tours, some for the Steak house and I also took out $100 on each of two nights in the casino. One night I lost my money and the other night I cashed it in. So yes you can use the OBC in the casino.”

[TwoCruisers]

This information is specific to the Coral Princess and I imagine also for the Island Princess.

 

If you want an excellent viewing point for things like going through the Panama Canal there is an observation area at the front of the ship on two decks. If I remember correctly they are decks 9 and 10. Go all of the way forward in the interior hallway and you will come across a door. Go through it and you will have an exceptional view. This door may not be accessible while sailing, except for slow speeds such as going through the Panama Canal.

[nukesubsailor]

28 minutes ago, rugerdog said:

 

Okay, thank you.  I think it would be convenient to order it ahead of time, one less thing to remember to do once on board.

It has been a couple of years since I pre-ordered booze from Princess.  When I did , I found a voucher for my order in my cabin when we boarded ship.  I had to call room service and tell them I had a voucher for the bottle.  When it was delivered I had to sign the voucher and give it to the delivery person.  So pre-ordering saved no time but finding the voucher in my cabin did serve as a reminder.

[63 Super Sport]

On 1/22/2019 at 6:15 PM, trbarton said:

If your willing to be upgraded only to the next category like from Balcony to Mini Suite, have your booking marked “Mita Upgrade” which means you’re only interested in the next higher category. I do this every time I make a booking. I do this every time I make a booking. 

 

Tom😀

Hi Tom-

Will you discuss in more detail? What if you have an assigned cabin # BB Balcony? Does this mean only to a Mini Suite what about a suite???? Thanks.

[hm9912]

On 1/22/2019 at 10:59 PM, neverbeenhere said:

The volcano has fruit, just request straight up ice cream. 

Love them

 

 

 

Howard

[Cras108er]

17 hours ago, TwoCruisers said:

Yes, you can cash in OBC.

Here is an answer I gave recently to a question about cashing in OBC from stockholder credit: (This cruise was on the Pacific Princess 12/22/2018 to 1/5/2019)

 

“On my recent cruise on the Pacific Princess I had over $600 in OBC. Some of it was from the Princess promotion, some from the stock holder credit and some from other sources. All of the credit is lumped together and I can’t tell which is which.

I used some of the OBC to pay for Princess tours, some for the Steak house and I also took out $100 on each of two nights in the casino. One night I lost my money and the other night I cashed it in. So yes you can use the OBC in the casino.”

 

I too have cashed in OBC.   I was surprised when they allowed it on the final day, as I had heard that you couldn’t. Had also heard you couldn’t use it for tips. Turned out I was able to do both.  Just go to the customer service desk at the end of the cruise. 

[JasmineB]

On 1/22/2019 at 6:30 PM, 63 Super Sport said:

We bought CCL thru TD Ameritrade in Dec at $46 now $55. Plus the OBC.

 

Is the OBC per person or per cabin?  If it's PP, does the stock have to be in both spouses' names?

[63 Super Sport]

32 minutes ago, JasmineB said:

 

Is the OBC per person or per cabin?  If it's PP, does the stock have to be in both spouses' names?

It is per cabin based on cruise length - 6 days or less $50, 7-13 days $100 over 14 days $250. The person who name is on the stock account will receive. Our account is joint - so I can you either mine or my hubby's name.

 

 

[Almighty188]

On 1/22/2019 at 3:30 PM, 63 Super Sport said:

We bought CCL thru TD Ameritrade in Dec at $46 now $55. Plus the OBC.

You forgot the dividends which is 3.7% or $0.50 per share.  

[Almighty188]

On 1/22/2019 at 9:00 AM, nukesubsailor said:

I told my advisor to buy the shares.  If your advisor advised you not to make the purchase, he may not have been aware of the onboard credit benefits you receive from the cruise line.  He may have based his opinion solely on the dividend yield or his guess about the future market price of the stock.  At today's price, the onboard credit you will get for a 14 day cruise will cover the cost of 4-1/2  shares of the 100 shares you must buy to get the credit.  The dividends you get will help recover your cost of the stock also.

Remember, your advisor is just that--an advisor.  You are the one who makes the decisions.

 

The reason advisors advised you not to make the purchase is because it wasn't a security they are promoting.  Since advisors get paid for securities they recommend by the company which is why they don't care if you make money or not as their job is for you to bring your assets to them and for you to buy what they recommend to you as they make money from the recommendations and they usually require you to hold the security for a certain period of time too.   I know someone who used Edward Jones and they keep recommending things to buy so it gets bought but they would not let you sell it until 5 years later as they will not even accept your instructions to sell.  Another friend used Banc of America Investment Services, Inc. which was before Bank of America purchased Merrill Lynch.  The advisor sold them Mutual Funds and it was losing money big time and even 6 years later, they won't let them sell saying that they have to keep it there for a full 10 years or something.   A advisor really doesn't use their own skills to recommend things as they use what's on the list supplied by the Chief Analyst.  As for the dividends, even at 4%, it will take you 18 years to recover 100% of the cost of your investment.  And at 3.7% which is the actual dividend, it will take 19.5 years.  Regardless, it's better than putting the money in the bank even for the dividends alone and the depends on the actual return on the stock price itself.  If you cruise though, then the return is higher.  The shares you own will mostly be in street name as it's owned by the brokerage firm where you are the beneficiary owner.  Otherwise you will have the stock certificate in your hand and it has to be delivered to the broker before you can even sell the shares should you need to.  Make sure when you buy for the dividends, you look at the dividend-ex date and your shares need to settle on or before that date or else you won't be eligible for the dividends for the next dividend payment date.  

 

[Almighty188]

On 1/19/2019 at 5:50 PM, Stonewolf Cruiser said:

For desert in the MDR, request a volcano.  It won’t be on the regular menu, but your waiter will gladly grant your request.  Make sure you have room for a LOT of ice cream.

Thanks for the tip, took some time for me to find the name of it as I saw it on page 4 first.   Can one actually request more than one dessert at the MDR?  I mean if I saw something else I want, would that be a problem?  

 

[Almighty188]

On 1/14/2019 at 7:38 PM, neverbeenhere said:

Other old advice...

 

future cruise deposits purchased while on a cruise. 

 

Princess allows re-faring your cruise up until at least final payment date. Watch out for change in perks/benefits.

 

Wine is fine, but liquor is quicker. 

 

It is likely Princess will offer a bonus gift card with the  purchase of a gift card at Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. You will need a coupon code at the time. Watch cruise critic boards for the code. 

 

Beverages available for free all day.

Water
Coffee like product
Hot tea
Hot chocolate - maybe
Iced tea
Lemonade

 

available for free in the morning 
Milk 
Chocolate milk
Juices - Tom, Orange, Apple, cranberry cocktail,
prune, others(ask)
Soy milk
Other beverages (ask)

 

 

Where can one get the beverages available for free all day in the middle of the night should one need it if all the dining venues and bars are closed since I thought International Cafe only had the specialty coffee and the premium tee which aren't free.  For Hot Chocolate, I thought that wasn't free and was only included in either the Unlimited Soda & More and the Premium Beverage packages?   

[Almighty188]

On 1/14/2019 at 7:53 PM, TracieABD said:

Room service is free... except for the pizza- they will deliver a whole pizza for $3

 

According to this:
https://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review.cfm?ShipID=54&pgtype=dining
 

Room Service: The ship's free room service menu is surprisingly extensive. Choose from soup, salads, sandwiches (with choice of french fries, potato chips or coleslaw), hot dogs, hamburgers, beef chili, lasagna, Moroccan veggies with pita bread, and a selection of desserts.

Breakfast can be ordered via a card that you fill out and hang on the outside of your cabin door handle after selecting a desired delivery time. Our meal arrived on the dot, the food was hot, and it was just as we had ordered it with special requests -- no banana yogurt, no bacon, etc. -- honored flawlessly. (One note: The bacon that comes on the bacon, egg and cheese English muffin is Canadian bacon, which took us by surprise.)

Room service also has for-fee options that include a whole pizza ($3), assorted canapes ($10–14), a vegetable platter with dip ($6), cheese and crackers ($12), shrimp ($14), guacamole with tortilla chips ($8), and chocolate-dipped strawberries ($8). Alcoholic beverages and soda are also available for a fee.
 

 

 

[Almighty188]

On 1/22/2019 at 7:59 PM, neverbeenhere said:

The volcano has fruit, just request straight up ice cream. 

Speaking about which, my mom would only eat plain vanilla ice cream without the chocolate and the fruit, how does one request a plain vanilla only volcano without the other stuff?  

 

 

[Almighty188]

On 1/22/2019 at 12:51 PM, neverbeenhere said:

Scooby snacks
Bar pretzel and the like mix

Thanks for that one.  I always thought Shaggy and Scooby ate a lot of things as far as Scooby snacks are concerned. LOL.  

[Almighty188]

For those who want more details on the Carnival Cruise Lines Shareholder Benefit of the Onboard Credits, visit http://www.carnivalcorp.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=140690&p=irol-sharebenefit and click on the link that says:
"Click here to view our Shareholder Benefit."

[Almighty188]

Credits to Merela on the forums here, these are what you can order from the MDR which is really the kids menu:
 

ALPHABET SOUP

Pasta letters swimming in a sea of chicken broth

 

GARDEN SALAD

The Power Rangers flex their muscles on the greens plucked from the Princess vegetable patch

 

SPAGHETTI SNAKES

Slippery, slithering rattler noodles with meat balls and tomato sauce

 

HIGH SEAS HOT DOG

A real "Wiener"! Our plump, 100% beef hot dog is served on a bun with all the condiments, including coleslaw, potato chips or steak fries

 

BUCCANEER BURGER

The juiciest quarter pounder afloat. Served plain or with cheese and a big side order of French fries

 

CHICK-CHICK-CHICKEN FINGERS

A hands-down favorite at Princess Cruises dipped in BBQ sauce or ranch dressing

 

FISH STICKS

Swords from the sea wage a winning battle with ketchup or a creamy tartar sauce and a heap of shoestring potatoes

 

LOVE BOAT VOLCANO

A mountain of ice cream erupting with heaps of hot fudge, sliced banana and whipped cream with a bright red cherry on top

 

CRUISE CHIPS

A delicious, chewy cookie packed full of rich chunks of chocolate to be scarfed down by themselves or as a sandwich with vanilla ice cream

 

FRUIT SALAD

The fresh, juicy colorful mix that makes Barney big, strong and happy

 

ORANGE JUICE, APPLE JUICE, OR A GLASS OF "MOO" (We have chocolate syrup too....)

It seems like the Love Boat Volcano is not the same as the Volcano posted earlier as the fruit is different.

[jagsfan]

35 minutes ago, Almighty188 said:

Thanks for the tip, took some time for me to find the name of it as I saw it on page 4 first.   Can one actually request more than one dessert at the MDR?  I mean if I saw something else I want, would that be a problem?  

 

Nope, get three if you want. The Volcano is filling, though. 

[jagsfan]

14 minutes ago, Almighty188 said:

Credits to Merela on the forums here, these are what you can order from the MDR which is really the kids menu:
 

ALPHABET SOUP

Pasta letters swimming in a sea of chicken broth

 

GARDEN SALAD

The Power Rangers flex their muscles on the greens plucked from the Princess vegetable patch

 

SPAGHETTI SNAKES

Slippery, slithering rattler noodles with meat balls and tomato sauce

 

HIGH SEAS HOT DOG

A real "Wiener"! Our plump, 100% beef hot dog is served on a bun with all the condiments, including coleslaw, potato chips or steak fries

 

BUCCANEER BURGER

The juiciest quarter pounder afloat. Served plain or with cheese and a big side order of French fries

 

CHICK-CHICK-CHICKEN FINGERS

A hands-down favorite at Princess Cruises dipped in BBQ sauce or ranch dressing

 

FISH STICKS

Swords from the sea wage a winning battle with ketchup or a creamy tartar sauce and a heap of shoestring potatoes

 

LOVE BOAT VOLCANO

A mountain of ice cream erupting with heaps of hot fudge, sliced banana and whipped cream with a bright red cherry on top

 

CRUISE CHIPS

A delicious, chewy cookie packed full of rich chunks of chocolate to be scarfed down by themselves or as a sandwich with vanilla ice cream

 

FRUIT SALAD

The fresh, juicy colorful mix that makes Barney big, strong and happy

 

ORANGE JUICE, APPLE JUICE, OR A GLASS OF "MOO" (We have chocolate syrup too....)

It seems like the Love Boat Volcano is not the same as the Volcano posted earlier as the fruit is different.

 

[Almighty188]

10 minutes ago, jagsfan said:

Nope, get three if you want. The Volcano is filling, though. 

 

That's awesome.  Saw someone posted the lunch menu from the Grand Princess from December 3, 2018 on the Mexican Riviera and it had the following:

 

Anyone have any recommendations on this list because they all look good... LOL

[thegoaliegirl]

1 hour ago, Almighty188 said:

That's awesome.  Saw someone posted the lunch menu from the Grand Princess from December 3, 2018 on the Mexican Riviera and it had the following:

 

Anyone have any recommendations on this list because they all look good... LOL

 

Based on my experience in the fall on the Emerald I would not recommend the Apple Tart Tatin. Maybe it was a fluke but it was dry apple on dry pastry crust- no whipped cream, no glaze or flavoring, nothing. It was horribly bland and looked nothing like the photos you see if you do a google search. I'm a big fan of their souffles but they were out for lunch. Even though they were on the menu, they just didn't have any that day. That embarkation lunch was an off day in the MDR.