Excursions and drink package questions

[cali-croozer]

I am looking at a Mexican Riviera cruise this fall and only one of the ports show excursions (just 2); the others say "no excursions available at this time, check back later".  Does this mean they are sold out already?  Also, debating on the drink package (plus one, that includes wifi and  tips).  Are you able to use the drink package as soon as you board the ship (San Francisco) or do you have to wait until sailaway?  Thanks in advance......

 

[wineforhealth]

7 minutes ago, cali-croozer said:

  Are you able to use the drink package as soon as you board the ship (San Francisco) or do you have to wait until sailaway?  Thanks in 

 

Yes you can get drinks on the package as soon as the bars are open

Edited August 2, 2022 by wineforhealth

[Papa Yoda]

 

Maybe your cruise will be canceled?  (sorry - I hope I'm just kidding)

 

Likely all excursions have yet to be opened.  If they were sold out they'd show and you could ask to be waitlisted.

 

Yep, you can order drinks the second your feet hit the deck.  You will have to pay city/county/state taxes on list price until out to sea.  If you order with the app and choose "My Location", the server will chase you all over the ship.

 

Edit to add:  with the drinks package, they will deliver to your cabin, best upgrade yet.

 

Edited August 2, 2022 by Papa Yoda

[Mike45LC]

The “Medallion App” never worked for me ordering a drink.  It was much easier to walk up to the nearest bar (there are lots of bars throughout the public areas of the ship) to order and pick up in person.

[Papa Yoda]

42 minutes ago, Mike45LC said:

The “Medallion App” never worked for me ordering a drink.  It was much easier to walk up to the nearest bar (there are lots of bars throughout the public areas of the ship) to order and pick up in person.

 

Sorry to hear that, we were on Grand in April and it was so cool to order a beer while lounging at the Lotus Spa pool where it's a schlep to a bar and where the crew never wanders by.

[DallasGuy75219]

3 hours ago, Papa Yoda said:

If you order with the app and choose "My Location", the server will chase you all over the ship.

Theoretically.... I ordered a Bloody Mary with breakfast on the Regal last month.  Never received it but it showed "delivered" in the app, the whole time I was seated at the same table.

[caribill]

5 hours ago, Papa Yoda said:

 

Yep, you can order drinks the second your feet hit the deck.  You will have to pay city/county/state taxes on list price until out to sea.

 

 

If you have a package, you do not have to pay the local taxes because you are not paying for the beverages at the time you order them.

 

If you do not have a package and order a beverage, then the local taxes will apply.

[skynight]

9 hours ago, cali-croozer said:

 Are you able to use the drink package as soon as you board the ship (San Francisco) or do you have to wait until sailaway?  Thanks in advance......

 

Your accounts will have the package loaded and you can use it from the time you step on the ship. Believe the package may expire at 6am on your final disembarkation day, but not fully certain about that.

[Steelers36]

13 minutes ago, skynight said:

Your accounts will have the package loaded and you can use it from the time you step on the ship. Believe the package may expire at 6am on your final disembarkation day, but not fully certain about that.

A guest should be able to get morning coffee.

[NavyVeteran]

7 hours ago, skynight said:

Your accounts will have the package loaded and you can use it from the time you step on the ship. Believe the package may expire at 6am on your final disembarkation day, but not fully certain about that.

This experience is pre-pandemic and pre-medallion, so I'm not absolutely sure nothing has changed.

 

My drink package was good until I left the ship. I had a Bloody Mary for breakfast included in the package.

 

The 15-drink limit is from 6 am to 6 am, so it restarts at 6 am each day. Theoretically, you can drink 15 alcoholic drinks with the package between 6 am on disembarkation day morning and when you get off the ship. I haven't personally been able to reach the 15-drink limit on disembarkation morning, but it may be interesting to try.🙂

[Sail away MK]

As for excursions, I always book independently in Mexico.  Check Viator for some starting ideas.

[edgeman61]

The excursions not showing is probably an issue with the Princess website.

 

It happened to me a couple days ago, no excursions showed for any port.  The next day the excursion selection was populated (though some were sold out).

[FLConnie]

On 8/2/2022 at 4:50 AM, caribill said:

 

If you have a package, you do not have to pay the local taxes because you are not paying for the beverages at the time you order them.

 

If you do not have a package and order a beverage, then the local taxes will apply.

We always have the drink package on various cruise lines and have had to pay taxes on embarkation day while in port if in the US

 

[janroatan]

Do you pay taxes on debarcation morning?(Bloody Mary 🙄)Have drink pkg.

[dreaminofcruisin]

17 hours ago, FLConnie said:

We always have the drink package on various cruise lines and have had to pay taxes on embarkation day while in port if in the US

 

 

We saw this on Carnival on Embarkation day, but have never seen it on Princess.

[Thrak]

On 8/3/2022 at 11:13 AM, FLConnie said:

We always have the drink package on various cruise lines and have had to pay taxes on embarkation day while in port if in the US

 

 

Florida is noted for this. You "may" be able to have the charges removed at Passenger Services.

[scott4020]

I have never been charged taxes on Princess with the package.

Fun note: if you cruise out of Texas you can only get Texas alcohol until at sea (but that is how I discovered Tito's). 

[LouCoop]

How does the countdown of 15 drinks work for a couple. Usually my husband goes to the bar and orders 2 drinks (1 for me and 1 for him) will they count this as 2 drinks on his account? 

Do we have to both order drinks so his account doesn't overflow?

We are first timers on the drink package so really don't know how all this works out.

 

[memoak]

14 minutes ago, LouCoop said:

How does the countdown of 15 drinks work for a couple. Usually my husband goes to the bar and orders 2 drinks (1 for me and 1 for him) will they count this as 2 drinks on his account? 

Do we have to both order drinks so his account doesn't overflow?

We are first timers on the drink package so really don't know how all this works out.

 

Take both medallions to the bar and they will be charged to each account. A long time ago an assistant waiter decided to put all of our dinner drinks on mine and I almost ran out in the casino. Luckily the casino host provided some extra drinks. And we had a talk with the waiter