Princess cruise "hacks"

[consmarci]

Saw this on the Carnival board and thought it was brilliant! Does anyone have any creative ways of "legally" making things better or more interesting on board....

 

ie: The guava juice at breakfast is awesome.  We always take a larger container of it back to the cabin frig and mix with our alcohol for delicious cocktails. 

[Ombud]

1 hour ago, consmarci said:

Saw this on the Carnival board and thought it was brilliant! Does anyone have any creative ways of "legally" making things better or more interesting on board....

 

ie: The guava juice at breakfast is awesome.  We always take a larger container of it back to the cabin frig and mix with our alcohol for delicious cocktails. 

I do a few things:

1. I get a large latte in a "to go" cup + the regular glass mug. I hate to taste plastic when drinking coffee, the large to go = 2 regular size coffees. This way I maximize my 15 free lattes (I drink 2 each morning at Sbux)

2. I order orange juice from room service, mix with my 187ml sparkling wine, excellent mimosa = free

3. Don't frequent buffet means no weight gain

4. Open internet, open gmail, log off internet and I can read / draft responses without using more than a minute 

Edited May 4, 2019 by Ombud

[consmarci]

Absolutely, Princess is great. We are Platinum on both Princess and Carnival. Carnival has a great product for those that don't want "frat boy" experiences. For us, sailing in a spa room is a quiet, lovely way to travel. No frat boys there! You can also bring wine on Carnival ships.

 

When I was new at cruising...it was threads like this that were helpful as new cruisers don't know a lot of things, like that you can bring wine on board or ask for something from the kids' menu even if you are an adult. 

 

We have not sailed Princess in a decade, so that was the intention of this thread, to remind me, and perhaps others of the "secrets or hacks" that we might have forgotten or never knew. 

 

Certainly, no offense intended at all. 

[Ombud]

I've been known to put some people on "ignore." I'm Elite --- yet there were a few thing I did not know until cruise critic so I'm up for sharing. A few things I've learned since joining this site:

- Shareholder's credit

- Military credit

- Why those extra OBCs show up (loyalty)

- Trading mini bar

- Refare cruise if the total price (fare + gratuities - OBCs) drops

 

That's all financial. I've already listed a few non-financial ones

 

[hm9912]

You can request from the head waiter in the dining room for a freshly baked Challah instead of the not so great rolls on the dinner table. Also bread sticks if they are missing. In addition when we traveled with our three grandchildren not only did they place the freshly baked Challah bread each evening but also placed a platter of lox, cream cheese, sliced tomato and onions along with the dozen shrimp cocktail for the eight of us. 

The spaghetti and meatballs on the children's menu makes a nice appetizer which is very good, and the volcano also on the children's menu makes a nice desert

You just have to ask nicely

 

Howard

[MissP22]

15 hours ago, consmarci said:

Saw this on the Carnival board and thought it was brilliant! Does anyone have any creative ways of "legally" making things better or more interesting on board....

 

ie: The guava juice at breakfast is awesome.  We always take a larger container of it back to the cabin frig and mix with our alcohol for delicious cocktails. 

We've been doing that for years now. 

I can't understand why everyone doesn't consider it rather than calling room service for mixers.

[Ombud]

I didn't even know they had guava juice!

[skynight]

16 hours ago, consmarci said:

Saw this on the Carnival board and thought it was brilliant! Does anyone have any creative ways of "legally" making things better or more interesting on board....

ie: The guava juice at breakfast is awesome.  We always take a larger container of it back to the cabin frig and mix with our alcohol for delicious cocktails. 

I don't understand your post. If you want to take any drinks back to your cabin you are free to do so. If you want other non-alcoholic beverages for mixers you can bring them on board. No problem, no restrictions. Passengers can carry on as much non-alcoholic beverage as they want and can consume them in their cabin, or any place else on board.

The example you gave infers that the poster is bringing on alcoholic beverages to mix their in cabin drinks. Princess does not allow you to bring on alcoholic beverages, except wine. If you do bring it on it is contraband, subject to be confiscated and destroyed. It appears to me that the poster you are quoting is not acting in accordance with the cruise line's policy or "legally" as you state.

[JF - retired RRT]

1 hour ago, Ombud said:

I didn't even know they had guava juice!

👍

[JF - retired RRT]

47 minutes ago, skynight said:

I don't understand your post. If you want to take any drinks back to your cabin you are free to do so. If you want other non-alcoholic beverages for mixers you can bring them on board. No problem, no restrictions. Passengers can carry on as much non-alcoholic beverage as they want and can consume them in their cabin, or any place else on board.

The example you gave infers that the poster is bringing on alcoholic beverages to mix their in cabin drinks. Princess does not allow you to bring on alcoholic beverages, except wine. If you do bring it on it is contraband, subject to be confiscated and destroyed. It appears to me that the poster you are quoting is not acting in accordance with the cruise line's policy or "legally" as you state.

Perhaps the poster is in possession of a mini-bar. Hmmm???

[Mapu]

11 minutes ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Perhaps the poster is in possession of a mini-bar. Hmmm???

Juices are only served at breakfast and that is the reason to request extra and take it back to your room. I like cranberry juice (never had guava juice) and like to have cranberry juice and vodka. We are elite and have a mini-bar but only soft drinks, beer and water in addition to the alcohol are provided. It would be nice if there was an option for bottled juice.

[happy cruzer]

Ok, trying to stay on topic.

 

Room service breakfast on the door hanger is continental.  However there are some nice sandwiches on the 24 hour room service menu.  So we select the continental items we want and write in the choice from the 24 hour menu such as club sandwich.

[CruzinNoony]

3 hours ago, Mapu said:

Juices are only served at breakfast and that is the reason to request extra and take it back to your room. I like cranberry juice (never had guava juice) and like to have cranberry juice and vodka. We are elite and have a mini-bar but only soft drinks, beer and water in addition to the alcohol are provided. It would be nice if there was an option for bottled juice.

 

We met on the Pacific going to the Amazon!!  If I remember, you were getting off and we were getting on. 

 

Anyway, I have been ordering cranberry juice on the room service menu for years along with my coffee.  I order 4 at a time and using my little funnel, pour them into a water bottle and use them in the evening for a mixer for my (elite mini bar set-up) vodka.  You have to write in the cranberry juice because it isn't one of the options.  There is no charge but if you order it later in the day, I believe there is a charge.  

[Ombud]

On Caribbean in 84 days. Requesting extra cranberry & orange juice for am room service. Nothing else. Just cranberry or orange / sparkling wine 

 

Thank you, Conmarci, for starting this thread. It would be nice if Moderators would pin it 

[Thrak]

5 hours ago, JF - retired RRT said:

Perhaps the poster is in possession of a mini-bar. Hmmm???

 

Or has purchased alcohol from room service. Not all in-room alcohol is smuggled aboard.

[Mapu]

1 hour ago, CruzinNoony said:

 

We met on the Pacific going to the Amazon!!  If I remember, you were getting off and we were getting on. 

 

Anyway, I have been ordering cranberry juice on the room service menu for years along with my coffee.  I order 4 at a time and using my little funnel, pour them into a water bottle and use them in the evening for a mixer for my (elite mini bar set-up) vodka.  You have to write in the cranberry juice because it isn't one of the options.  There is no charge but if you order it later in the day, I believe there is a charge.  

So true but you shouldn't have to play that game. We will do the same as well as ordering lemon and limes.

On one cruise the Maitre D sent a pitcher of cranberry juice to my cabin after I questioned it being removed from the menu.

[Ombud]

24 minutes ago, Mapu said:

So true but you shouldn't have to play that game. We will do the same as well as ordering lemon and limes.

On one cruise the Maitre D sent a pitcher of cranberry juice to my cabin after I questioned it being removed from the menu.

Comes with plastic wrap over it in room service.

 

I order Tawny Port or another after dinner wine in MDR -- can't bring it all onboard 

[Steelers36]

For a long cruise, an "over-the-door" multi-pocket holder is a terrific thing to have and use.  I think they may have been created to hold shoes, but they are invaluable for holding are sorts of things.  Was terrific to have on our 60-night cruise.  Doesn't take up much room to pack and easily fits over the top door frame of bathroom door.  Not something Princess has on board, but something you can do to enhance the in-cabin experience.

[jondfk]

I think this may qualify as a 'hack'.

 

I learned the following on our last cruise, was new to me.  Now that the specialty restaurants are bookable from the personalizer, the times of 5:30 & 7:30 are NOT available to be booked on the ship - they are ONLY available online from the personalizer.

 

These times are rarely fully filled in advance.  So, here's the hack, if you drift by Crown Grill (or Sabatini's) at say 7:20 you'll often find that the Maitre'd will have 7:30 slots available which were available for online booking but not actually claimed.  And ta da, you'll be seated immediately.  

 

Now, if we all do it, none will be happy, but if we keep it to say just the 30 of us responding to this thread . . . (ha ha ha). 

 

I consider this a genuine 'hack' in that you get a little something you might not actually be entitled too - but you do so by understanding the rules of the game and using them to your advantage.  A genuine 'hack' yes?

[Ombud]

Just now, jondfk said:

I think this may qualify as a 'hack'.

 

I learned the following on our last cruise, was new to me.  Now that the specialty restaurants are bookable from the personalizer, the times of 5:30 & 7:30 are NOT available to be booked on the ship - they are ONLY available online from the personalizer.

 

These times are rarely fully filled in advance.  So, here's the hack, if you drift by Crown Grill (or Sabatini's) at say 7:20 you'll often find that the Maitre'd will have 7:30 slots available which were available for online booking but not actually claimed.  And ta da, you'll be seated immediately.  

 

Now, if we all do it, none will be happy, but if we keep it to say just the 30 of us responding to this thread . . . (ha ha ha). 

 

I consider this a genuine 'hack' in that you get a little something you might not actually be entitled too - but you do so by understanding the rules of the game and using them to your advantage.  A genuine 'hack' yes?

Yep .... unauthorized but desired access (by Princess & me) as they'd rather fill all the tables than leave 1 open

[4cats4me]

21 minutes ago, jondfk said:

I think this may qualify as a 'hack'.

 

I learned the following on our last cruise, was new to me.  Now that the specialty restaurants are bookable from the personalizer, the times of 5:30 & 7:30 are NOT available to be booked on the ship - they are ONLY available online from the personalizer.

 

These times are rarely fully filled in advance.  So, here's the hack, if you drift by Crown Grill (or Sabatini's) at say 7:20 you'll often find that the Maitre'd will have 7:30 slots available which were available for online booking but not actually claimed.  And ta da, you'll be seated immediately.  

 

Now, if we all do it, none will be happy, but if we keep it to say just the 30 of us responding to this thread . . . (ha ha ha). 

 

I consider this a genuine 'hack' in that you get a little something you might not actually be entitled too - but you do so by understanding the rules of the game and using them to your advantage.  A genuine 'hack' yes?

 

We showed up at 6:15 without a reservation to the Crown Grill on the Crown  Princess last October and were seated promotly.  On other occasions onboard the Regal and Royal , we’ve had 7:30 reservations and decided much earlier that we were hungry then, like 5:45-6:15 and were able to change the time.  

These occasions were all on non-formal nights, however. 

[Kwaj girl]

11 hours ago, Ombud said:

I didn't even know they had guava juice!

NOT real "juice'...

More like a thick sweet nectar loaded with added sugar.

[neverbeenhere]

1) using the casino method to “convert” non refundable credit. 

 

2) can’t stand Princess syrup coffee on older ships? Bring individual coffee packets, if you a coffee package is too much. 

 

3) hacks specific to Princess Cruises are tough to come by. While tips to general cruising are easy. 

 

 

 

Edited May 6, 2019 by neverbeenhere
I wanted to change it.

[4cats4me]

I’m a bit confused. OP referenced Carnival in her post, and cited the example of guava juice, which I understood to mean on Carnival.  Is guava juice available on Princess, and if so, where have I been? LOL

 

[aussiebossyboots]

Really interested in this topic.  We are cruising Princess for the first time in January 2020 so any insights, whether we call them 'hacks' or not will be appreciated.

 

We will be on the Sea Princess to Papua New Guinea in a balcony cabin which I found out after booking is mostly covered.  All Ok by us - not complaining.

 

Prior to booking we also didn't know that you could bring 1 bottle of wine per person on board.  And, pay the corkage on additional bottles - bonus.