skynight

O'Malley's is casual dining https://www.princess.com/content/dam/princess/corporate/pdfs/restaurants-dining-venues-on-board.pdf.coredownload.inline.pdf

I think you are thinking about Future Cruise Deposits, FCDs. They cost $100 each. Booking, not sailing, must be made within one year of purchase. They are individual. If you are a couple then each one must have the FCD if each wants to receive the benefits. They are fully refundable if not used. When used the $100 is the full deposit (world cruises excepted) and you will receive some OBC according to the cabin type and length of the cruise, see below. Purchase of FCDs goes directly to your credit card, not to your on board accounts. "Upon making your new booking, the appropriate shipboard credit will be applied.* Future Cruise Length Per Person Shipboard Credit* 17 - 44 Days $125 Inside, $125 Outside, $150 Balcony, $150 Suite 11 - 16 Days $75 Inside, $75 Outside, $100 Balcony, $100 Suite 7 - 10 Days $25 Inside, $25 Outside, $50 Balcony, $50 Suite 3 - 6 Days $15 Inside, $15 Outside, $25 Balcony, $25 Suite"

I didn't have any issue with mine on the Ruby earlier this year. It was cold. In balcony cabins the fridge is adjacent to the outside wall/balcony door. The curtain sometimes blocks the fridge vent making it less efficient.

Yes, U.S. law requires every passenger to clear immigration in San Diego. The standard practice is what you describe happened on your Celebrity cruise. Everyone must clear. If everyone pays attention it goes fairly quickly. But, there are always those that don't believe it applies to them. Princess should be able to locate them using the medallion location system. If you pass through immigration and leave the ship you will not be allowed to return until everyone has been processed. If you do not wish to leave the ship you may be held in the terminal until all have cleared. It's the same procedure as b2bs at U.S. ports. Yes. All passengers, those remaining on board and those disembarking, will be required to clear immigration in San Francisco. Those continuing on will have specific instructions in their cabins. Read and follow them exactly.

You can bring rice.

I looked up the excursion you mention and the excursion details. When you add up all the travel and time at site minutes it adds up to 4 1/2 hours. I would imagine that it takes a little longer. The details don't seem to allow for unloading and re-loading the van at all the stops, and for things like those bathroom lines and delays. So maybe 5 hours. I can't see the start and end times since I am not booked on this cruise.

If you receive free laundry you receive it. If you do the dollar math it cost a lot less to just send your laundry out and pay the extra 10% for excursions then it does to book extra cruises. My point is book cruises because you enjoy them and can afford them. Don't book just to gain loyalty levels. As an elite myself for many years, there is very little benefit.

I have seen the 50ml Sky vodka at retail for under $2. Wholesale and tax free maybe $1.50 or less. Fairly certain Princess' alcohol purchases would be tax free. I would expect the real cost for 8 bottles is maybe $12 or less. Dos Equis cost me about $1/bottle retail. You can figure all the soda and water probably under $10. On the high side the total cost of a mini bar set up is $24, and probably less than that. I don't know the current federal alcohol tax on distilled spirits. They used to be $27/proof gallon.

Not strange. Princess' mini bar cost, not menu price is maybe $25 & that's stretching it. One bottle of wine is probably a $20 bottle.

I do not believe any plus benefits are pooled. They are individual. Maybe, just maybe, if you go to the spa together, your cabin mate may be able to use two classes on their account. You would have to try it.

From someone that has been elite for almost 15 years. I have been reading through many of the posts. My opinion. Don't buy your way by booking extra cruises just to become elite. Book cruises because you enjoy them.

To add, I don't know your exact itinerary, but most of those South Pacific islands including Hawaii are in the tropics. So you get the strong sun no matter when you sail.

I have sailed similar itineraries twice, once from Sydney to L.A. and the other RT L.A down to the South Pacific and return. The sun is on the equator The 21st of March and September. There are no cool times. It's hot all the time with strong direct sun.

On boarding day there will be staff all over selling the plus and premier package. Just go to one of them and purchase the plus package. The charge will be posted to your on board account and will net against any OBC credits. Remember that the 1st and 2nd passengers in the cabin must have the same plus upgrade. Princess excursions are the only items you can use OBC pre-cruise.

Mini bar usually contains 8 x 50ml spirits, 2 bottles beer, plus 10 non alcoholic beverages which are normally 2 diet cokes, 2 regular cokes, 2 Perrier, 2 plain water, 2 tonic waters. You can trade any alcoholic beverage 1 for 1, for another alcoholic beverage or any non alcoholic beverage. You can trade non alcoholic beverages for different non alcoholic beverages, example get all diet cokes. If you want wine you can trade the entire mini bar, all 20 items, alcoholic & non alcoholic for one bottle of wine.