Gardyloo2

Hi, I’m looking for advice on Las Caletas in Puerto Vallarta. The ship excursions are sold out and we booked through the tour’s own site. My adult daughter called them and the tour operator said they take cruise ship pax independently all the time. But today we got an email “warning” us that we may not be able to get off the ship in time for the tour and their transport is away from the dock area. And they recommend all ships pax take the ship’s tour. Can anyone comment on this? It’s been many years since I’ve been to Las Caletas, and we did an independent tour there easily. Is this warning real or is it because the cruise ship wants to book the trip themselves (at a 25% mark up)

Thanks for all the input. We are indeed sailing on the Discovery early next month. Our Medallions have shipped and we have one more item to add before my partner is ready for the Green Line. I'm all set myself We'll probably drop off our bags with a Porter then park the car. Easier than lugging our stuff through the parking lot.

I’m looking for info about the boarding process in the Port of LA. Last month I was on a HAL cruise out of Miami. Boarding was so easy: walk up to a kiosk, let it scan the passport, and walk right on the ship. It took about 10 minutes from the time we walked in the door to stepping onboard. Most of that was walking up the ship ramp. Yes, we’d prefilled everything before going, and it was smart of them to use the passport-gotta to have a passport to get onboard. Miami is a huge huge destination; is the Port of LA as technologically advanced and easy as this? Or do we get in the giant lines while they check everything like before COVID?

Hi there, they'll keep you supplied. Best if you ask ahead of time so they can have the ship well stocked. Last month I used the chat feature on the Princess website and asked that way. Very easy to do. Happy sailing!

This is what I want to do but the TA was unable to do it. I'll probably go to the service desk and see if they can at the same time I remove the baby's crew appreciation so it won't hit my credit card. Baby's parents are generous tippers and they're aware of how much extra work he may be for the room and wait staff. They'll take care of the baby's tips I talked with the TA this morning, final payment is made and it's too late to make room rearrangements, so we'll roll with what we have.

This makes a lot of sense, thank you. I'll talk with them and the TA and see if it's not too late to make the change. The TA said I might be able to get it for myself only, once we get onboard, but your solution would be easier.

Deferments vary depending on who has jurisdiction, but I've always been able to reschedule. These days it's usually online, and you can even pick the date you want to start serving. Good luck!

This spring we’re going on a Princess cruise. I haven’t been on Princess in over 20 years, but was just on HAL two weeks ago. I'm looking forward to it. My son and his wife are going with me; my technical cabin mate will be their 22 month old baby. We have adjoining mini suites and the baby will be sleeping with them. Our TA said it’d save us money since I'm a solo traveler. My question is about Plus: I want it, they don’t and there’s no point in the baby having access to any of the features. They plan to pay his gratuities in cash. Has anyone been successful in adding Plus for one person under any cicumstances? I’d say normally no, but maybe the baby makes a difference. When I went into the cruise personalizer it wanted to charge me for both of us.

Thanks FOPMan, they've been trying for a while, but I'll keep checking. I'm in the west near Santa Barbara. Thanks for replying and best wishes

We haven't been to the Caribbean since well before COVID. We'll be in South Florida and the Caribbean for the next two and a half weeks, but not Sint Maarten. I'm out of Guavaberry liqueur (Vaanilla) and would like to bring some back; has anyone seen it on any other island? Is it at all possible it might be at a bar on board?