Deisemum

The contactless payment is Ireland is up to €50 otherwise pin no. required.

I embarked on a cruise out of LA last month.  We stayed 2 nights in the Holiday Inn LAX prior to the cruise.  It was just over 5 mins from the airport by free hotel shuttle bus.   

I picked this hotel because I was able to be collected the following morning and brought on a full day tour of LA.  The tour covered all the main tourist attractions and I was able to book the tickets at the ticket desk in the hotel foyer the night before the tour.  It cost $85.  This is the tour   

https://viptoursofcalifornia.com/shop/hop-on-hop-off-24-hours/

I got an uber from the hotel to the cruise terminal and it cost $32 plus tip.

I got back last week from sailing on the Sapphire Princess cruise same itinerary as the Crown sailing you have chosen.  We docked about 1.5 miles from the town centre. 

As it was drizzling when we got off the ship the riverfront trolley wasn't running so we walked into town - easy walk as it's level.  The weather cleared up and the trolley started running then.

I was on Sapphire Princess this week and our room attendant gave me tokens for the washing machine and tumble drier when he saw me going to the laundry room.

I was on Sapphire Princess until 2 days ago and there were lots of board games available. I did notice some knitters but didn't pay much attention to them.

On 4/8/2023 at 6:22 PM, LACruiser88 said:

@Deisemum  Say Hi to Red and Milana for us!  (Rafael & Debbie)

 

Wow!  We were off at 7:45, so just before you.  I'm so sorry it was so bad for you guys.  There was no line at the ICE counters when we went through.   

Red says Hi

On 4/7/2023 at 8:16 AM, LACruiser88 said:

@suekel  It was very nice meeting you guys!  Welcome Home!

Following your recommendation we're loving Vines and my husband is enjoying the Spellbound red wine. I just hope it doesn't run out 😂

Thanks to everyone who provided so much info while I was planning my holiday. I booked an Uber from the Holiday Inn LAX to the ship, it was my first time using Uber, it arrived within 2 minutes and we were dropped off by 11.35am, it only cost $33.

I was expecting to be queuing for ages as we were group G but we walked straight through security, checked in and collected our medallions and walked straight on and were seated in Crooners within 15 mins of being dropped off. Well impressed.

Well I'm in LA, arrived last night after 3 nights in San Diego and 2 nights in Las Vegas prior to that.

So looking forward to tomorrow's cruise.

I've booked Times Square Suites post cruise in mid April.  The reviews I've seen so far have been very positive.

I've loving this thread, getting excited now as I've gotten the green lane on the app and making dining reservations.

Just interested in other peoples opinions, do you stick to the one MDR or try a different one every night even if the menu is the same?

12 minutes ago, wowzz said:

Yes, but the price cap restrictions will obviously still apply. So any drink under $15 is included, anything over,  you pay the difference plus 18%. So a $17 drink will cost you $2.36. 

Thanks, I cannot wait now.

I'm going on my first Princess cruise in just over 3 weeks time and have the plus package, is Vines included in that package?

I've booked the Times Square Suites Hotel post cruise next month.  It's got a lot of very positive reviews.

On 3/9/2023 at 9:11 PM, eyern1 said:

We will be arriving by air in the evening a day and a half before we cruise out. Should we try to stay downtown or in some other area? We plan on sightseeing the day before we leave but I have no knowledge of the area at all. I'm looking for something economical but clean.

Loving this thread, some great travel tips.

I'll be travelling to the US and spending a week in Las Vegas, San Diego and LA before embarking on a 6 nights cruise to Vancouver then spending 3 nights there before flying home so need to include lighter and warmer clothes so plan on doing laundry in San Diego and on the ship or wait until in Vancouver as our suite hotel has a washing machine and tumble dryer in our suite.

I need to get a new lightweight dressy black trousers and have a number of dressy tops to pair with it.  I'll wear my trainers travelling, pack a dressy flat black pair and flat sandals.  I stuff packed shoes with socks to utilise space and it helps the shoes keep their shape.  I use hotel shower caps to cover shoes to keep everything clean.

I pack travel size toiletries and have mini clear plastic bottles and tubs to decant my regular products and keep in a toiletry bag along with sachets of dioralyte, plasters, compeed blister plasters and cold sore patches, tweezers and travel size hairbrush toothpaste and toothbrush.

I line my luggage with plastic bags and have kept the clear plastic bags clothes are returned in from the dry cleaners to pack outfits in as it reduces creases.

I live in Ireland and have only heard of one of those listed "stars".  🙂

Bacon and cabbage is the traditional Irish dish not corned beef and cabbage.

Also heads up Patty's Day is an American thing which most Irish people take offence to,  a lot of Irish people informally refer to St. Patrick's Day as Paddy's Day. 🙂

I'll be on the Sapphire on April 6th from LA to Vancouver.

Thank you for your help.  I'll download the app.

 Thanks for all the help.  I thought rideshare and taxis cost a lot more.  We are embarking on the cruise on Thursday 6th April.

How much should I tip a rideshare or taxi as we have a different tipping culture in Ireland? TIA 

If I may jump in here and ask the reverse please, I'm staying in Las Vegas, San Diego and LA before embarking on a cruise out of LA. I'll be staying in an airport hotel with a shuttle to the airport before the cruise.

Is it possible to book a transfer from the airport to the ship with Princess transfers if I get the hotel shuttle bus to the airport even if I don't have flight details?

Thanks for the replies.   We won't drive, too used to driving on the opposite side of the road.

Had been thinking of getting the Amtrak train from Oceanside to Union Street then getting the flyaway airport bus to LAX airport and hotel shuttle bus.

Thanks, plenty to think about.  We're staying in the Holiday Inn near LAX.  

Hi

I'll be in Las Vegas and San Diego before heading to LA for two nights before embarking on a cruise from LA to Vancouver.  I'll probably be staying outside San Diego.  I'm just wondering about getting from San Diego or Oceanside to LA by either train or bus if it's a good alternative to flying.   Apart from the airfare shooting up in price recently I'm thinking it may be a scenic trip plus after a transatlantic and two internal flights easier on my circulation.

Any feedback appreciated as I'm not sure on what the train or bus service is like.

On 2/5/2023 at 11:48 PM, KLM3164 said:

Your comment has sparked another question for me. If I go to a country such as Australia or Japan where tipping isn’t done and may be considered rude, what do people from these same countries do when they come to the United States where tipping is expected for good service? I’d love to hear from anyone who lives in a country where tipping isn’t customary. 

I'm in Ireland but lived in the UK too, there's tipping in both countries but nothing near the level as in the US.  It's mostly in restaurant/cafes if you've been served at your table - not self-service, hairdressers or maybe a taxi if for example the fare comes to €9 most people will round it up to €10.  €10% is the customary tip.  Restaurants serving a table of 6 or more may charge a 10% service charge but then you wouldn't tip as well.

I'm going to the US, Mexico and Canada next month so I will be paying the customary tips though I'm bamboozled by who to tip and how much to tip.  I'm going to have to take note so I don't offend anyone.

Having worked in hospitality in Ireland when I was younger it was rare for US tourists to tip apart from on coach trips and hotel porters.