justafem

All non-bar smoking lounges have now converted to arcades. Which makes the only inside smoking area, the casino. And we're going to utilize that EXPANDED space to smoke in public/inside. Want that to go back to normal levels? Tell princess to bring back the enclosed smoking rooms, until then, the casino is now our space. Laws about smoking on deck 7 on ships goes back to bulk carriers/ cargo ships when carrying dangerous goods. Deck 7 smoking is written into those laws. Cruise lines must follow those laws, same as the passengers act (what most call jones act).

I have a 20 year old car. Nothing has ever happened that wasn't caused by a collision. Think of all the money I've saved in car payments, increased insurance and oil changes. I bought the $300 lifetime oil package when we bought the car! Oil changes, fluid refills, tire rotations and complete inspections every 3 months. Still get 43 mpg. I'm happy with my car and will drive it until it dies.

I live in CA, where servers get paid at least minimum wage, currently $16.50 per hour. Our prices are about 10% higher than when we go to Nevada where servers make $2.13 per hour, or federal minimum wage for tipped employees.

Why are you glad princess is removing smoking lounges? A confined space where smoke is contained isn't good enough? Now we WILL use the casino as a smoking lounge. Princess has expanded the smoking section in every casino where the smoking lounges have been removed. All of casinos now have larger smoking sections. Happy now?

What I'm seeing is Princess is converting the dedicated enclosed smoking lounges into arcades. So if smokers want to smoke inside going forward, we'll be in the casino, probably not gambling or playing so slow as to be not gambling. It'll become our smoking lounge. A step backwards if you ask me.

Oh, so you want the smokers/casino players to supplement your cruise costs and make us live in the rowboat. 25% of the world smokes. Stay out of our areas, simple as that.

Princess sells cigarettes, cigars, alcohol, perfume, heck even soap, sunscreen and throw away fashion. All of these have issues. We follow the rules implemented by the cruise line. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. I follow the rules set by the vacation venue I choose. We are allowed to smoke. If you don't like this, you are free to choose another way to spend your vacation funds. If princess changes their rules, I'll make a decision based on that.

Years ago, we had a similar situation. I should have been elite for an upcoming cruise, but was only platinum. Found out that one of our suite stays was only crediting a single credit, not the double credits I should have received. It took 3 telephone service agents for one to finally understand that even though we were upgraded to a suite, it was an upsell, we paid for the upsell and according to the princess website, we were to receive double credits. This was way before the bidding process, where they tell you, you won't get additional credits, old rules. I think what the issue is, is that you'll have 14 credits when boarding for the first leg and the double credits bring you to 16. I think the system is trying to award elite on the first leg, even though that's not what's being questioned. And the bookings are tied together, so it only sees ONE booking hence 2 credits. It's a poor programing thing. You'll never have a problem after this with loyalty, you'll be elite forever. I don't believe the casino offer has anything to do with the issue, that's just a shiny object for the loyalty dept to grab onto as an excuse, it makes sense until logic kicks in. Glad it was resolved. That's what princess is known for when we have reasonable requests.

For us, we get the plus package. Rarely have the same servers, so that's not something we worry about. I get $100 in $1's. If I get a drink, any kind, there's $1. I don't tip my steward much, if at all. Sometimes I go home with $50, sometimes I go home with nothing. It's my choice as should all tipping be, nobody elses business.

I just found out I have this same dilemma for a cruise in 2 weeks. Cruise is booked under friends name under a casino offer. I had the same offer (which I've since used on another cruise), but we chose to book under her name. Now she's not going. I'm tempted to show up, using the delayed excuse and see what happens. I want to go!

You can keep the same medallion or go to the service desk and get your new color. Are you getting status by cruise days or cruise credits? That makes a difference, if you're hitting by days during the second leg, as unlike carnival, princess doesn't upgrade status during a cruise. But if you hit the 15 cruise credits on the first leg, you should get elite on the second. FREE LAUNDRY! That's all I ever wanted!

Those are from a 3rd party travel agent. They change their name every couple of years, because of the poor reviews. I don't trust them.

Every princess cruise I've been on this year has had free playing cards in the library/game room. And you can get free pens at the service desk, just ask, they'll give you several if you want.

The suites and elite gatherings have discounted drinks from a very limited selection. That's the only happy hour that still exists.

Got off the Ruby 10 days ago. Marlboro were $60 a carton, buy 3 get 1 free, or $45 each. On carnival a month ago, they were $260 for 5 cartons, or $52 per carton. Definitely stick with princess on the pricing! Never been stopped at customs, but I'd tell the truth if they asked.