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

[cityguy300]

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

 

Good idea staying the extra day in San Juan -- I had the "privilege" of staying an extra day myself, after the flight got canceled and US Air put all 300+ of us up in the airport hotel. Which took hours to check into because there was only one person at the registration counter, and he took 5-10 minutes per registrant. That after waiting an hour to get our luggage back from the carousel. For a flight they didn't cancel until we'd all been waiting two hours past the scheduled departure time. I was so worried about this sort of thing happening at the start of the trip that it never occurred to me it would happen at the end (which of course was preferable, but still not preferred :P).

 

Also, the airport is a zoo on Sundays. Longest security line I've ever been in, and not enough seats at the gate for all the passengers. I'm sure it's been posted here many times before, but be sure to run your check-in bags through the agricultural scanner before getting into the check-in line, or they'll send you back and you'll have to queue up all over again. Funny how the ship crew didn't think to mention this once during the entire disembarkation process, including the reminder letters they sent days before the end of the cruise. :P

[cityguy300]

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:

 

While I would hate to think we went through all that procedure mid-cruise for nothing, I don't think that was the case. We weren't the only ones who went through it and I doubt any of them actually booked back-to-back cruises (instead of one 14-day cruise) either -- what would be the point? Other than maybe getting the 2nd Circle Club credit... which we didn't get anyway. :p My booking definitely showed up as one 14-day gig, both from the agency and the Princess Personalizer, and it wasn't until I saw my first ship card that I realized the two weeks were being differentiated.

 

I dunno, maybe since you booked directly with Princess you will get some magical all-inclusive experience and only the rest of us who booked independently got shafted, lol. I take it you don't really care about the pseudo-disembarkation or 2nd card, you're only concerned that your credit doesn't vanish at the end of Week 1, right? I have an easy solution then: ship excursions, drinks galore, daily spa sessions, and nightly casino visits. That should take care of your $1,700 in seven days or less, no prob. :D

[CanuckCruizer]

Good idea staying the extra day in San Juan -- I had the "privilege" of staying an extra day myself, after the flight got canceled and US Air put all 300+ of us up in the airport hotel. Which took hours to check into because there was only one person at the registration counter, and he took 5-10 minutes per registrant. That after waiting an hour to get our luggage back from the carousel. For a flight they didn't cancel until we'd all been waiting two hours past the scheduled departure time. I was so worried about this sort of thing happening at the start of the trip that it never occurred to me it would happen at the end (which of course was preferable, but still not preferred :P).

 

Also, the airport is a zoo on Sundays. Longest security line I've ever been in, and not enough seats at the gate for all the passengers. I'm sure it's been posted here many times before, but be sure to run your check-in bags through the agricultural scanner before getting into the check-in line, or they'll send you back and you'll have to queue up all over again. Funny how the ship crew didn't think to mention this once during the entire disembarkation process, including the reminder letters they sent days before the end of the cruise. :P

 

Cityguy - Wow - sounds like you had quite the ordeal! Wouldn't want to have that happen to us - lol! Yes, I have read all the horror stories about SJU and have made a special note to look for the agricultural scanner.:)

 

Let's see - don't know how to quote from another post into this one (my DH is the computer genius and obviously, I am not....) but in answer to your other question - no, we are just not concerned with the shipboard credit sliding away from us, but like you, do not really want to have to get off, get a new card blah, blah, blah....Also, wondering about the internet packages expiring and of course, Princess just keeps telling me the same thing but of course, I trust a live person that just went through it as opposed to the reservation agent who basically does not know!:D Oh, I was also told that, if it did indeed happen to other passengers - it may be a "customs requirement" and nothing that Princess has control over but that doesn't make sense as we are in St. Thomas the day before, not a foreign port.

 

Again, thanks a million for bringing this to everyone's attention!:)

 

Canuck

[CanuckCruizer]

While I would hate to think we went through all that procedure mid-cruise for nothing, I don't think that was the case. We weren't the only ones who went through it and I doubt any of them actually booked back-to-back cruises (instead of one 14-day cruise) either -- what would be the point? Other than maybe getting the 2nd Circle Club credit... which we didn't get anyway. :p My booking definitely showed up as one 14-day gig, both from the agency and the Princess Personalizer, and it wasn't until I saw my first ship card that I realized the two weeks were being differentiated.

 

I dunno, maybe since you booked directly with Princess you will get some magical all-inclusive experience and only the rest of us who booked independently got shafted, lol. I take it you don't really care about the pseudo-disembarkation or 2nd card, you're only concerned that your credit doesn't vanish at the end of Week 1, right? I have an easy solution then: ship excursions, drinks galore, daily spa sessions, and nightly casino visits. That should take care of your $1,700 in seven days or less, no prob. :D

 

 

I originally booked directly with Princess, then I added a TA to get the price down so our cruise is listed as being booked with the TA as a 14 day, one booking number deal. So, I do not believe that I got some "magical all-inclusive experience" - lol lol. Oh yeah - I could easily spend all the money the 1st week (I am a shopaholic after all) but then we would have to live like paupers the 2nd week!:eek:

 

Canuck

[kobicleo]

Great pictures. I'll be on the May 10 voyage. I'm staying at the Courtyard by Marriott pre and post cruise. Please let us know how the whole CP trip was. Have a great time....

[CherylsCaribbeanTravel]

LoraJ........... Great review and photos. Took me right back to our time onboard.

 

Thanks for doing the 5K Walk for the Cure with me. Memories I'll cherish for a long time. Wasn't it beautiful walking the deck as we sailed into Grenada!

 

Cheryl :)

[burnstracey]

Great pictures. I'll be on the May 10 voyage. I'm staying at the Courtyard by Marriott pre and post cruise. Please let us know how the whole CP trip was. Have a great time....

 

 

Hi Kobicleo...welcome to Cruise Critic [your very first post!]

Come on over to our ROLL CALL thread ~ I'm on the 5/10 itin. with you! There's a bunch of really fun folks over there and we're getting together for a "meet & greet" the first day @ Sea. I hope you can find us, but if not, pls. e-mail me & I'll send you the link!

We'll be waiting for ya! ;)

[tipsy]

Best coverage of a cruise I have seen. Fun finding folks I know too

 

Hi John, you & I keep finding each other ! you're right, this is a wonderful review and is making me really excited about our cruise in 2wks !!

 

She's very kind to be doing this for everyone.

 

Debbie

[LoraJ]

Hi Leslie!!!

Of course I remember you. :) I am so excited for you. You are going to have a great time on the cruise.

 

 

Cheryl,

It really was a great view during the walk. I think I will always do that event on the ship. next time I will train for it and do more laps. Can't believe how out of shape I am.

[mea718]

Was the 5K walk the morning of your sea day? I'm assuming it will be in the Patters the night before.

[Maraprince]

Heard that the CB will be used as a hotel for the upcoming summit! Have you heard anything on board about this?

 

 

MARAPRINCE

[CruiseDan]

Heard that the CB will be used as a hotel for the upcoming summit! Have you heard anything on board about this?

 

 

MARAPRINCE

 

I believe you heard correctly....It's in Trinidad this week and sailed out of SJ empty on Sunday. We're on the May 3 sailing which is booked solid as is I believe the May 10th since several who were book on the CB this week had to move to an alternative date.

 

Glad we booked when we did as the cabins disappeared days quickly after that....:D

 

Dan

[LoraJ]

The 5K walk was Thursday morning before we reached Grenada. It started at 10am.

 

Cheryl and I talked to some of the crew about the ship being used as a hotel in Trinidad during our refreshment party after the walk. They really did not have much in the way of details at that point as to how the crew would be utilized. The entertainment staff was told they can't go up on the public areas. So I guess no Bingo for the guests.

[CherylsCaribbeanTravel]

The 5K walk changes days depending on itenanary. So, for our southern week it was before Grenada. I've seen it in the patters listed for immediately after all-aboard in Bonaire also.

 

I've made the 5K walk a tradition since they started offering it on HAL. It reallly is a great experience. Lora: I'm glad you enjoyed!!

 

I flew out of San Juan at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. The CB had ALREADY left port heading to Trinadad, as did the CArnival Liberty which will be docked next to her and used to house the media. They wasted no time on the turn around!

 

Cheryl :)