Boiler Cruiser

For an upcoming cruise out of Southampton, my wife and I are flying into Heathrow 2 days before the cruise. We are staying in the designated Princess Hotel in London, so we have arranged the Princess transfer to the hotel. On the day of the cruise, we are taking the Princess Transfer from the hotel to port of Southampton. Our flight back to the US leaves Heathrow early in the morning, the day after we get back to Southampton, so we are staying at a hotel at the airport.

Ultimately, of course, it's depends on how comfortable you are leaving the ship and setting foot on foreign soil without proof of citizenship with you. The universally accepted document is your passport. If you, god forbid, get into a situation where the local authorities want to see your identification and papers, and all you have is your birth certificate or DL, then you have no proof of citizenship, and it will complicate getting back to the ship or, in a worst case scenerio, getting ahold of the US Consolate. I'd rather be accused of being overly cautious, than take the risk. I never leave the ship without my passport.

This is what I have found on line about passport requirements in Mexico and Canada. For entry into Canada, you need a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced driver's license. This is detailed in https://www.afar.com/magazine/do-you-need-a-passport-to-go-to-canada as follows. "Do you need a passport to enter Canada? Yes, Americans need a passport to go to Canada, or an appropriate alternative document. And that’s whether you’re flying, driving, sailing, biking, taking the train, or walking into the country from the United States. The policy that requires Americans to have a passport or equivalent document for transiting between the United States and Canada was passed by Congress in 2009 as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) “to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States.” Under this initiative, a passport is considered the standard document for international travel. It replaced previous forms of identification, such as a standard driver’s license or birth certificate, which were previously accepted for crossing the U.S.–Canada border." For entry into Mexico, all US Citizens must have a valid passport. This is detailed in https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/2016-04-09-20-40-51/tourism/1601-3-know-before-you-go "All citizens of the United States must present a valid passport when entering Mexican territory by any means of transportation. There are no exceptions for minors. Stays less than 72 hours within the border area, do not require an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM). Tourists" I hope this helps. I never leave the ship in a non-US port without my passport.

For entry into Canada, you need a passport, NEXUS card or enhanced driver's license. This is detailed in https://www.afar.com/magazine/do-you-need-a-passport-to-go-to-canada as follows. "Do you need a passport to enter Canada? Yes, Americans need a passport to go to Canada, or an appropriate alternative document. And that’s whether you’re flying, driving, sailing, biking, taking the train, or walking into the country from the United States. The policy that requires Americans to have a passport or equivalent document for transiting between the United States and Canada was passed by Congress in 2009 as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) “to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States.” Under this initiative, a passport is considered the standard document for international travel. It replaced previous forms of identification, such as a standard driver’s license or birth certificate, which were previously accepted for crossing the U.S.–Canada border." For entry into Mexico, all US Citizens must have a valid passport. This is detailed in https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/eua/index.php/en/2016-04-09-20-40-51/tourism/1601-3-know-before-you-go "All citizens of the United States must present a valid passport when entering Mexican territory by any means of transportation. There are no exceptions for minors. Stays less than 72 hours within the border area, do not require an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM). Tourists" I hope this helps. I never leave the ship in a non-US port without my passport.

The law changed a couple of years ago. You now MUST have a US passport to enter/ return to Canada or Mexico. The reason I mention this is that if the Police, Customs, or any other law enforcement stop you on the streets of Mexico or Canada away from the ship (on your own), or your ship's tour group, you will need a passport to show them (no carbon copies or cell phone pictures).

I was on the Royal about a year ago, and had the Premier Package, but I think my experience will be the same for Plus. Gelatos did not charge for any ice cream or cake.

I have Platinum status. I had made some dinner reservations for our September cruise to Norway, but they got removed from the Princess App when they did the most recent maintenance. I think I read somewhere that I will be able to make reservations again starting June 17. Is that correct? If not, when will I be able to remake my dinner reservations for this cruise? Thanks.

t&atravel, I did as you said and my in-laws showed up on my app for dinner reservations as you said. I gather that now that I have done it for one dinner reservation, their profiles will pop up each time I make a dinner reservation, regardless of restaurant. I can then add them for each reservation, as I make it. Thanks for your help.

t&atravel, I did as you said and my in-laws showed up on my app for dinner reservations as you said. I gather that now that I have done it for one dinner reservation, their profiles will pop up each time I make a dinner reservation, regardless of restaurant. I can then add them for each reservation, as I make it. Thanks for your help.

My wife and I are sailing to Alaska with her brother and his wife on the Caribbean Princess in 2025. Each of us have our own booking numbers since we made the bookings separately. My TA just linked us with my in-laws as traveling together. This will give us the opportunity to make dinner reservations as a group of 4, even though we have different booking numbers. Apparently, according to my TA, we can also make excursion reservations together, as well. My question is, now that we are linked, how do I bring them up on my new Princess App, so I can make dinner reservations for the four of us at a 4-top? Do I make a reservation for 4 at Sabatini's or the Crown Grill the same way? I think there is a way for their profiles to show up with ours in the "Reserve Dining" part of the app, so we can reserve one table for 4. I don't know how to pull them up, though. How do I make a reservation for the four of us at one table on my Princess App on my phone? Thanks for your help.

My wife and I are sailing to Alaska with her brother and his wife on the Caribbean Princess in 2025. My TA just linked us with my in-laws as traveling together. This will give us the opportunity to make dinner reservations as a group of 4, even though we have different booking numbers. Apparently, according to my TA, we can also make excursion reservations together, as well. My question is, now that we are linked, how do I bring them up on my new Princess App, so I can make dinner reservations for the four of us at a 4-top? Do I make a reservation for 4 at Sabatini's the same way? I think there is a way for their profiles to show up together with ours in the "Reserve Dining" part of the app. I don't know how to pull them up, though. Again, is there a way to do that so I can reserve a table for four? Thanks for your help.

My DW and I are on a cruise to Norway on the Caribbean Princess later this year, which includes an overnight stop in Alta, Norway. There are excursions for the first day (and evening), but no excursions available for day 2, even though we do not leave until late at night. Have any of you had experience with Princess and this port? Will there be excursions available to day 2? If so, when will we be able to sign up for them. Thanks.

For those who have cruised on both Carnival and Princess, can you tell me what the difference is between the Princess Mini Suite and Carnival's Suites? Does Carnival have an equivalent accomodation to the Princess Mini Suite?

I have not been on a Carnival Cruise, but I have been on several Princess Cruises. Princess has drink packages, as well as combo packages, such as their Premium and Plus Packages that include more than just drinks. Does Carnival have drink packages that include wine, beer and liquor? Do they have packages that include Wifi, Specialty Meals, etc.? How much do they cost? Thanks.

I have been asked to give advice about cruising in Alaska, since I have had the wonderful experience. But I would like to know what others have to share on the subject. What advice would you give someone who is looking forward to booking their first Alaska cruise? What should they consider when choosing a cruise line? What kind of accommodations? Should they do a cruise tour for their first cruise to Alaska, or just the cruise itself? What time of year is best for booking an Alaska cruise? Any other advice or recommendations?