Live From the Caribbean Princess - 4/5 - 4/12

[stemie]

Great reviews and photos.

[Angela7500]

I can't remember if anyone had sneakers. If they did, they took them off for the water part. DH had his on I believe, but he didn't go in the water. They were fine getting to the water parts. If you have a sporting goods store by you, you can get the waterproof shoes pretty cheap. They were $9 and worth it. I hate stepping on rocks and other funky stuff in water. :)

 

Thanks Lora! Yep, I was more worried about the hike/walk to the gorge and the springs. I think I'll be fine with my tennies..I'll just take them off when I get in the water.

 

So, Lora.. was the water really as cold at Ti Tou Gorge as everyone says? I think I'm going to have to just jump right in or I'll never want to get in! :eek:

[LoraJ]

It was pretty cold at first. However, after about a minute or so, it was fine. Kind of like going in a pool after being in the very hot sun. You won't even notice once you get used to it.

[burnstracey]

I can help you with this one, CanuckCruizer, as I just did the 14-day itinerary myself on CB from 03/22-04/05 (i.e. the two weeks before LoraJ).

 

The dining room and buffet menus were identical both weeks (the one advantage being a chance to sample whatever we missed the first week). The production shows were identical too, in case you were interested (three in total, two of them repeated the following night).

 

On the 2nd formal night, don't forget to ask for the baked escargots if you like that stuff. They were not listed on the menu either time, and for some reason both servers only mentioned them in passing just before taking our orders (like they didn't really want us ordering them but were obliged to mention them, lol).

 

FYI, I think you'll find the vast majority of your fellow cruisers will be there for one week only. When we "disembarked" the first time, I overheard someone say there were only 185 of us "in transit" passengers on the ship. Your cruise card will only be valid for each one-week leg, too (just as well, since the cheap laminate they use starts peeling from the get-go).

 

You'll basically have to redo everything on your 2nd Sunday except get back in the outside check-in line and unpack! Princess really treats this like two 7-day legs.

 

Huh! I'm very surprised by this. If they sell it as a 14-day, then why don't they treat it that way?

 

Question for Lora's itin. (Aruba, Bonaire, Dominica, etc.) Are most (if not all) the ports within walking distance of beaches? I guess what I'm really asking is, would somebody that thinks they won't like cruising (CRAZY first-time cruiser person!!!) that doesn't want to spend extra money on the shore excursions that would rather just "chill" on the beach at every port enjoy this itinerary???

[Whitewings2]

Thank you so much for posting from your trip. We go on same trip on May 3rd so I'm really interested in your post. I'd really like to know how you planned dinner with a late muster. Was everyone trying to get in the restaurants at the same time, before or after the muster? Did they have a sail away party? If so, what time? I can't wait to see the new atruim area. Last time I was on the CB was 2006, so it must look so different. Appreciate hearing about your first night. Thanks in advance.

[cityguy300]

Huh! I'm very surprised by this. If they sell it as a 14-day, then why don't they treat it that way?

 

Well they can sell it as a "14-day" since it is two distinct port itineraries (shipboard repetition notwithstanding), and it's cheaper than booking two separate back-to-back 7-day cruises. I didn't like the fact, though, that we had to go through the disembarkation process in the morning like everyone else, minus the room clearout. It was also offputting to see 95% of our fellow passengers leave -- it made it feel like the end of our voyage, too -- but of course that couldn't be helped.

 

I had hoped that given the whole checkout thing that we would get a double Captain's Circle credit (like we had booked two separate cruises), but no such luck. :D

 

Question for Lora's itin. (Aruba, Bonaire, Dominica, etc.) Are most (if not all) the ports within walking distance of beaches? I guess what I'm really asking is, would somebody that thinks they won't like cruising (CRAZY first-time cruiser person!!!) that doesn't want to spend extra money on the shore excursions that would rather just "chill" on the beach at every port enjoy this itinerary???

 

None of the beaches are within walking distance of the ports -- and I'm recalling both weeks (ten ports in total) I was there! They are within walking distance of the main towns, though -- often right in the heart of downtown -- if you just want to walk around, eat, and shop a bit.

 

That said, there are tons of cabbies selling their services at each dock, and it usually only cost a few dollars per person to get to the beaches (maybe $15 tops, for a more distant / exclusive beach). Or for roughly the same amount, you can get a 2-3 hour island tour for your group that will be significantly cheaper than Princess' own tours. We did this on most of the islands and it sometimes cost as little as $10 per person for a shared minivan / safari bus tour.

[fun and breezes 2]

Thank you so much for posting from your trip. We go on same trip on May 3rd so I'm really interested in your post. I'd really like to know how you planned dinner with a late muster. Was everyone trying to get in the restaurants at the same time, before or after the muster? Did they have a sail away party? If so, what time? I can't wait to see the new atruim area. Last time I was on the CB was 2006, so it must look so different. Appreciate hearing about your first night. Thanks in advance.

Whitewings2, you should join us on the roll call for the May 3rd sailing. We have a great group. I'm thrilled to see the new atrium too, and can't wait to see the new improved Caribbean Princess.

[Sunny AZ Girl]

Thank you so much for posting from your trip. We go on same trip on May 3rd so I'm really interested in your post. I'd really like to know how you planned dinner with a late muster. Was everyone trying to get in the restaurants at the same time, before or after the muster? Did they have a sail away party? If so, what time? I can't wait to see the new atruim area. Last time I was on the CB was 2006, so it must look so different. Appreciate hearing about your first night. Thanks in advance.

We are also on the May 3 cruise! We have a large Roll Call of very friendly people. Come over and join us!:D

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=19083980#post19083980

[CanuckCruizer]

cityguy300 - UNBELIEVABLE! It sounds like Princess is up to their old tricks again. I booked this cruise directly and I booked a 14 day cruise (NOT a back to back) with ONE booking number. I then transferred it to a travel agent, who, repeatedly assured me that it was not a back to back, but one sailing with one booking number. (Let's just say that we have been burned by Princess a few times before, including not one, but two cancelled cruises by them - this one is the third time lucky - we hope! Anyways - saying that I don't trust them is an understatement....) Thanks for the heads up cityguy, as I have called Princess at least 3 times (as you get different answers each time as most people know:)) and I have been told each time that it is ONE cruise, with ONE booking number and our shipboard account will be ONE shipboard account and we will not have to be reissued new cards and we will NOT have to disembark in San Juan as it will a "port" for us and we can get off if we choose.

 

Besides the fact that this is an inconvenience that we didn't anticipate (and that is why we didn't book it as a back to back), we are very concerned as we have a very large shipboard credit which we intended to use for the 14 days - if this is indeed up in 7 days - we will lose a substantial amount of money as there are no refunds (this was also learned on CC as Princess swears that they refund you if you do not use your shipboard credit - lol). So, I guess I will be on the blower to Princess in the morning....

 

So, we are grateful to you, cityguy, as you may have saved us from losing hundreds of dollars.....:D

 

Thanks very much!

 

Canuck

[CanuckCruizer]

cityguy - Here's a laugh for you - I just called Princess as they are still open and was told (adamantly, I might add) that I am booked on a 14 day sailing, with one booking number and I DO NOT have to disembark in San Juan halfway between the cruise. The agent and her supervisor told me "that the person that was giving me this "misinformation" was undoubtedly on two seven day cruises back to back and that is why they had to get off." I give up is all I can say! lol I, of course, told them that you were on a 14 day sailing and were actually upset that you didn't get the two cruise credits - haha. I was told to call Customer Relations in the morning. I will let you know what happens.

 

Again, I cannot thank you enough for bringing this to our attention.

 

Canuck

[cityguy300]

Hey CanuckCruizer,

 

Well just to make sure we're on the same page, I'll describe my booking & mid-cruise experience in a bit more detail...

 

We booked online as a single 14-day cruise, with one voyage number and a 14-day itinerary that listed all the islands we were going to. Nothing in the documentation suggested it would be treated like two 7-day cruises. When we checked in on the 22nd, we got our cards with a "B" 3-digit voyage number but I didn't notice until we were on-board that it was only for 03/22-03/29. When I went to the pursers' desk to get this fixed, the lady indicated this was normal and that we would get another card at the start of our next leg.

 

I don't know how the other 14-day passengers booked it, but on the 29th we all met in the Explorers' Lounge at 10:30 AM as per the letter we had received in our cabins ("Since you'll be continuing on with us next week, blah blah blah..."). There weren't a lot of us -- just a few dozen -- but the rest had probably just left the ship earlier for their day in port (which you were allowed to do, but then you wouldn't get your new cruise card until you came back).

 

Everyone's stuff stayed in their cabins, but we had to march down to the terminal and pick up our new cards at a desk there. These had a new "B" 3-digit voyage number and 03/29-04/05 datestamp. After some standing around they told us we were free to go -- I think most people did as we did, exiting the terminal and catching a taxi to Old San Juan for $10. When we came back, we just skipped the procession of new passengers lined up and waiting to check in, and went straight to the security check-in through a separate set of doors.

 

BTW, if your cruise was like mine you'll find the ship is swarming with Canadians... but more from my end of the country than yours. ;) I'm from Mississauga and at the first afternoon tea, my table was made up of people from Scarborough, East York, and Niagara Falls! Later in the week the comedian in the Princess Theatre even mentioned Mississauga by name, as he had grown up there and commented at how unrecognizable it was these days, lol.

[CanuckCruizer]

cityguy - What are you still doing up? lol lol

 

Yes - you booked exactly like us and again, I cannot possibly thank you enough for telling us all this information. Because of future cruise credits, a goodwill cancellation credit (had to fight for that one!) and an onboard credit we purchased (we were able to get Canadian at par for shipboard credit because we booked when the dollar was at par) we have a shipboard credit of $1700. There is no way that we will be able to spend that in 7 days so we have to make sure that it is good for the whole 14 days.

 

Important question - I am assuming because you were issued new cruise cards for the 2nd leg - that you had to pay your account at the end of the 1st leg?

 

Lots of Canucks on your cruise - well, we can handle that!:D

 

Thanks again SOOOOO much!!

 

Canuck

[cityguy300]

Thanks for the heads up cityguy, as I have called Princess at least 3 times (as you get different answers each time as most people know:)) and I have been told each time that it is ONE cruise, with ONE booking number and our shipboard account will be ONE shipboard account and we will not have to be reissued new cards and we will NOT have to disembark in San Juan as it will a "port" for us and we can get off if we choose.

 

Well Canuck, I won't dispute what they described above except for the card reissuing part. Your original card wouldn't last the whole two weeks anyway -- I had mine replaced for peeling laminate a few days in, and it was still toast by the end of the first week! Ditto for my parents. I don't know if it was the equipment or just a gold-vs-blue card thing, but I sure didn't have that problem on my first Princess cruise.

 

Other than that, you do have one uninterrupted shipboard account for the whole two weeks (although they issue you a "final" statement on the first Saturday night). And you're free to leave the ship anytime on the first Sunday as an "in transit" passenger, but if you do it before everyone else has disembarked then you have to see someone in the terminal for a temporary pass and to retrieve your new cruise card on the way back.

 

Have a good trip! :)

[CanuckCruizer]

Thanks Cityguy! What does not make any sense is that if it is only one shipboard account for the whole two weeks (which is actually good news for our shipboard account!) - then, why on earth, are they issuing another cruisecard between the two legs (so to speak)? How bizarre!!!!! So, if we opt to get off and not wait to meet in the Explorer's Lounge at 10:30am - when we get back on - does that mean that we have to queue up with the masses again? OMG - if I wanted to have the B2B headaches of getting off again - I would have booked the two 7 days separately - lol. And I totally agree that if we are made to do this AND have two separate cruisecards - that we should get two cruise credits!!

 

Again, I can't thank you enough for all this information - even if I don't like what I am hearing!:D

 

Canuck

[cityguy300]

cityguy - What are you still doing up? lol lol

 

No Canuck, what are you still doing up?? Figuring out ways to blow through that $1,700 credit? ;) I wasn't expecting to see a reply from you between posts at this hour, lol.

 

Important question - I am assuming because you were issued new cruise cards for the 2nd leg - that you had to pay your account at the end of the 1st leg?

 

I still have to clear the tab with my dad since we charged both cabins to his $US credit card, but I don't think they actually processed the charges until the end of the trip. I had thought otherwise since we got a "final" statement at the end of the first week... but the balances were still there the following week (hope they didn't double charge us, lol).

 

I just wish Princess had given us the extra Circle credit since I would have been a Platinum member now! Especially after reading about your massive on-board credit -- either you're a really sharp negotiator or they really screwed you over last time! :D

 

Anyway, you're welcome for the info and I hope it comes in useful!

[CanuckCruizer]

Cityguy - It is only after 11pm here in Vancouver - lol! Just to clear it up - yes, I am Platinum, but, don't get excited - we did get a cancellation goodwill credit (they DID cancel one cruise on us - we booked another and low and behold - they cancelled that one too! And they never informed us of either cancellation. We had to cancel air and rebook, change holidays at work etc.etc.) but it was NOT a huge amount - lol. We also had future cruise credits and I purchased a large amount of shipboard credit to use (because I got it at par instead of paying the 1.25 exchange rate).

 

I will be calling "Customer Relations" tomorrow morning to clarify that our shipboard credit will be "good" for the whole 14 days and NOT expire after the first seven!:eek: When I originally bought it - I was told by 4 different Princess agents (can you tell that I trust no one? hahaha) that it was fully refundable if we didn't spend it - then I come on CC and everyone says if you don't spend it - you lose it! So, I call Princess back - finally get someone (on the 5th try) that knows what they are talking about - who confirms that CC is right - totally non-refundable!!:eek: But then, Toto (a very helpful member) tells me that I can get some money back from the casino by opening a slot bank (or whatever the correct term is) so we might have a backup for NOT losing money! lol (Thanks again Toto!)

 

Hopefully it will all work out but it is VERY frustrating to be told a number of different stories!!!!

 

Thanks again!!!!:)

 

Canuck

[cityguy300]

Thanks Cityguy! What does not make any sense is that if it is only one shipboard account for the whole two weeks (which is actually good news for our shipboard account!) - then, why on earth, are they issuing another cruisecard between the two legs (so to speak)? How bizarre!!!!!

 

My assumption at the time was that they had no such animal as a "14 day voyage" in their system, just consecutive 7-day voyage codes. But yeah, I couldn't reconcile the need for new cards with the way everything else worked either.

 

So, if we opt to get off and not wait to meet in the Explorer's Lounge at 10:30am - when we get back on - does that mean that we have to queue up with the masses again?

 

I wondered about this same thing -- which contributed to our not being in a rush to leave the ship early, lol. They may have had a little desk in the terminal just for returning passengers, but if they did I didn't notice it. Mind you, since we already had our new cards we went through separate doors straight to security, and so didn't walk past the throngs inside waiting to get to the check-in counter.

 

OMG - if I wanted to have the B2B headaches of getting off again - I would have booked the two 7 days separately - lol. And I totally agree that if we are made to do this AND have two separate cruisecards - that we should get two cruise credits!!

 

Ain't that the truth! Right now, getting my Platinum status is the only thing tempting me to go with Princess one more time -- I'd really like to try a different cruise line now. :D Too much deja vu being on the CB after sailing on Emerald last year. ;)

[CanuckCruizer]

Cityguy - That is too bad that they wouldn't give you the Platinum status as it WAS 2 different cruise cards - bummer!! I would be upset too! We haven't been on Princess since our honeymoon 4 years ago - we hope the food is better now - lol - but from some reports - that could be questionable.:eek:

 

I just hope we get it all sorted out so we don't have to worry about anything. We were planning on getting off to spend the day in OSJ, shop, have lunch and actually stay for dinner BUT if we only have temporary cruisecards, we may want to get back to the ship "sooner rather than later" to get our new cards - lol!

 

Again - cannot thank you enough for the heads up on this and I am sure that you have helped a LOT of people as well!

 

Happy travels to you!

 

Canuck

[cityguy300]

Canuck - OK, last reply for the night as it's 2:30 AM here and I have to be at work in six hours, lol. Just so you know in advance I'll be breaking the chain of replies after this... ;)

 

I wouldn't worry about cutting your time in OSJ short just to get back to the terminal. The Pan Am Pier is right on the other side of the harbour from OSJ and it only took about ten minutes to get there by taxi. Plus the ship isn't leaving until 11 PM (just like on your arrival day, except you won't be schlepping bags this time ;)). In fact, one letter we got in our cabins (from Freddie, the resident port & shopping expert) actually recommended staying in OSJ into the evening to enjoy dinner -- a nice contrast to all those reminders to be back on board early. ;)

[CanuckCruizer]

Cityguy - You ARE hilarious!:D lol I had nightmares about Princess last night:eek: We have been to San Juan many times before (but stayed only one time, the rest were just port days) - we are going one full day ahead and staying one day after at Isla Verde, so we wanted to spend the day in OSJ in between. We won't cut it too too short but I believe all aboard for us would be 9:30pm so we would probably head back at 8:30pm just to make sure we got our new cards - lol. We have never been at the Pan American Pier before (only piers in OSJ, the new pier for the FOS, and some other pier for the NOS which was "supposedly" the Pan Am pier but now we know that it wasn't as it was really close to town).

 

I am about to call Customer Relations now - have to have my coffee first before my blood pressure goes up!!:)

 

Thanks again!

 

Canuck

[CanuckCruizer]

Cityguy - Just got off the phone with Princess. Now I need some Bailey's in my coffee!!:D Again, I was told that it is a 14 day sailing with one booking number and it is treated as such and no, we do not have two different cruise cards and do not have to get off in San Juan. Arrrrrgggghh!:mad: Anyways - I insisted that she check it out with the ship (especially about our shipboard credit and also our free Platinum internet package - if that ends the 1st week or what now...) and she said that she would call me in a couple of days ONLY if the information that I was telling her was true - lol. Yeah - like I loooove calling Princess, waiting on hold and then making up stories:eek::eek:

 

So, we shall see if anyone calls me back or not. If I don't hear from anyone this week - I will have to call next week and get someone to e-mail me in writing that our shipboard credits will be protected (and that could be like pulling teeth!!:rolleyes:)

 

Thanks again!

 

Canuck

[tipsy]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

 

thank you so much for the postings while on your holiday, a huge group of us are on CB for 5/3 sailing so are very interested in any & all info can get.

 

Enjoy yourselves to the fullest.

 

Debbie

[tipsy]

Thank you so much for posting from your trip. We go on same trip on May 3rd so I'm really interested in your post. I'd really like to know how you planned dinner with a late muster. Was everyone trying to get in the restaurants at the same time, before or after the muster? Did they have a sail away party? If so, what time? I can't wait to see the new atruim area. Last time I was on the CB was 2006, so it must look so different. Appreciate hearing about your first night. Thanks in advance.

 

 

Hi there, you should come over to the Caribbean Princess roll call and join the May 3rd sailing postings, have a great one going on w/ lots of info and wonderful people there.

 

Debbie

[cujochurch]

 

 

Hello everyone. My husband and I are ready to set sail on the Caribbean Princess this Sunday. This is our first cruise on Princess. this will be my 10th cruise and DH's third. CC has been a wonderful source of information for this trip since I have been planning it for just over a year. We were originally going to do a European cruise, but then decided to do this Southern Caribbean route.

 

Our journey started today. After a 2 hour wait on the tarmac at Newark airport, we were finally able to take off. During the wait on the tarmac they stated to show us Marley & Me. Cute movie, but we watched the last part in the air, while trying to eat and I had a hard time swallowing my food while trying not blubber.

 

Everything was fine at the San Juan airport. We had priority bags, which seemed to come out last though. But soon we were on our way to the Marriott Stellaris Hotel & Casino in the Condado area. We had a speedy check-in. Our room is pretty nice. We have a corner room which has two balconies. Wish we were higher, but it's still nice.

 

Once DH is done feeding the slot machines, we are going to walk down the street to Ropa Vieja for dinner. We ate there a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.

 

Here are some photos of our room:

 

 

 

 

 

 

OMG! Hey Lora don't know if you remember me but we meet a few year ago in Atlantic City at RMWFC pre concert party and also from Disboards. Anyway I just found this thread and its great. I will be on the May 10th sailing. DH and I just returned from another trip to WDW!

 

Thanks for all the great pic and info I am getting really excited!

[cujochurch]

OMG! Hey Lora don't know if you remember me but we meet a few year ago in Atlantic City at RMWFC pre concert party and also from Disboards. Anyway I just found this thread and its great. I will be on the May 10th sailing. DH and I just returned from another trip to WDW!

 

Thanks for all the great pic and info I am getting really excited!

 

Might help if I signed my realy name, lol. I will also be celebrating my bday! 39 for me.

 

Leslie