hm9912

We are on the Dec 9th Crown sailing. Final payment is due 9/25. The itinerary includes 3 totally devastated ports and one very badly damaged port. We are also booked on the Jan 13th Circle Caribbean on the Caribbean which also includes 2 devastated and one very badly damaged port.

The following islands have been totally devastated:

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos; St. Martin; St. John; St. Thomas; St. Barts; Barbuda

The following islands have significant damage but not total devastation:

Antigua - bad, but not as bad as Barbuda; but being used as a relief/recovery staging location for Barbuda so not exactly an attractive vacation spot; St. Kitts/Nevis; Puerto Rico

 

Princess HAS to make some decisions soon because many people like us have final payment dates approaching and would like to know what we'd be paying for, ie., what ports will be on the itinerary. I spoke with Princess Customer Relations (on their direct number) yesterday and again today. I was told:

1) They are not extending final payment dates.

2) They may or may not change itineraries (this is nonsense -- they absolutely have to for many of these islands).

3) If they do change itineraries, no decisions have been made as to where.

 

I asked them, as I also posit here, in what other situation in life would you toss a few thousand dollars over to someone and not know what you're going to get in return for that money? I doubt there would be any such situations where any of you would be willing to do that. It is ridiculous for Princess to hold hard and fast to non-refundable final payments without advising people where they will be going. It is also disingenuous on the part of those of you who see no problem with it.

 

In my opinion, it is not acceptable to be put on a Western Caribbean itinerary for the same money as a Lesser Antilles itinerary. I don't necessarily want to cancel; I’d just like to know where I'd be going BEFORE I pay for it. If they say, for instance, Barbados, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, etc. as replacement ports for our itineraries with St. Kitts, St. Martin, Antigua, Turks and Caicos and St. Thomas, that'd be fine. Montego Bay, Cozumel and Costa Maya, wouldn’t. At least not at the current fares we’re paying for the cruises.

 

For those of you who are saying that we have to go to these islands to spend money to support them, I ask simply: how? Spend money on what? And where would you spend it? There won't be any stores in which to spend money. There won't be any restaurants in which to eat or bars at which to drink. It is a nice sentiment to want to support them, but not realistic.

 

These islands have been totally wiped out, not just damaged. Most of them will not be re-built within THIS Caribbean season and some maybe not for a season beyond that. Certainly St. Martin, St. John, Barbuda, and Grand Turk will not be “open for business” this year. These ports don't have, and won't have for a long time to come, any electricity, running water or working sewers. The airports and hospitals were wiped out. All the materials they need to rebuild have to be shipped in and the shipping lanes may need to be re-dredged.

 

And, I'm sorry to say this, but it is already the case that widespread desperation is setting in for the residents of these islands, and violence is already breaking out. It may very well not be safe for well-intentioned, but vulnerable, tourists.

 

We live in Southeast Florida, the original anticipated target of Irma’s wrath. So, unlike most of the country, we've had nothing but wall to wall 24/7 coverage of the hurricane on every station (even on PBS) for over a week. All we watched as we shuttered up our homes and did the final prep of our hurricane kits was what was coming our way and what it did to these islands. If we were aware of what took place in these islands, so was Princess.

We are currently booked on two upcoming Princess cruises.

We are not cancelling, and we don't care where or whether they make any stops.

We had an unannounced visit from the upgrade fairy earlier today for one of our upcoming cruises.

We will have a good time on both of them.

Howard

that's where we are going for Thanksgiving.

I hate sea days on Princess. They are very boring if you have a kid and it's raining.

Our three grandchildren are anxiously looking forward to their first cruise.

They love rainy days, stomping in puddles, making mud pies and just being kids

Even rain on the beach does not disappoint them.

We will all have a great time no matter where the Regal stops.

Howard

Yes...I'm among that number who fought for over a month to get our double points in May...

 

 

1) Don't waste time calling the ph # on the back of the card. That goes to someplace in "Timbuktu"...and accomplishes NOTHING. Instead, call the Managers number - 866-928-3106.

Thank you rgmacm53559937

I charged our upcoming 10/26/17 Princess Cruise back in July and after two messages sent to customer service I still had not received my double points.

I just called the number you provided and within five minutes I received my double points. The manager that I spoke with informed me that points for on board credit must be made prior to fifteen days of the sail date.

Howard

How do you make a Cruise Countdown on your profile?

 

Paul

Here you go!

https://www.cruisecritic.com/vbulletin/countdown.cfm

You can save the link in your misc folder on your computer

Howard

We are considering going on a Princess Cruise to the Caribbean next year. We went on a Princess Cruise to Alaska in 2016 and we enjoyed it. The only issue we have is with the set menu in the main dining room. On other cruises we have taken, the cruise line offered chicken, fish and steak for dinner, and other optional entrees. On the Princess Cruise that we took, they offered chicken, fish and ground round. This was not a problem with us, because we chose the other entrees.

Can anyone tell me what the set menu is on Princess Cruises to the Caribbean?

If you are unhappy with the menu choices you can always ask for the children's menu.

There are some tasty choices on there.

I tried the spaghetti and meatballs once as an appetizer and it was very good.

Howard

We're getting ready to book a TA on the Regal for April , 2018 and were thinking of inside cabins mid forward on deck 15 or 16 so we can have close access to the outside decks. I do have a little problem with motion sickness but usually Dramamine takes care of it. Was hoping someone had some experience with being on those decks. I know it depends on the weather, but in normal seas has anyone experience very much motion on those decks? Thanks in advance for your response. :)

We were on the Caribbean Princess on a TA in 2015 on deck 5 in 40 foot waves in the North Sea. The waves were slapping up against the port hole and the drawers in the night stand were opening and closing all night. We eventually fell asleep and enjoyed the ride. If you like a roller coaster enjoy the ride.

Bring bungie cords to secure anything that moves in your cabin.

Howard

I just got back from the Post Office where I sent my passport info. I came home and realized I only submitted 1 photo! What a dummy I am! What will happen, one website say's to submit 2 copies and another say 1, both the US Department of State.

 

What's gonna happen?

 

Thanks!

When I renewed mine a year ago, I went to my local library. They take the photos, take the fees,and submit all the paper work. It didn't take very long when I received my renewed passport in the mail.

They do this every day.

Howard

I realize that the prices for all things go up, but it seems that Princess cruises have really skyrocketed in the last few years. I really like Princess and have been on 4 of its ships and Id like to go back...but its become very pricey. I used to be able to get balcony rooms for around or even under $1000 pp for 7 days, now they seem to start at $1500. What's changed I wonder? Its a shame.

Think of it this way. Perhaps it keeps the riff raff away?

College students looking for a cheap cruise are going to go elsewhere to drink excessively, throw up and become loud and obnoxious.

When traveling on the road staying in the cheapest motels that allows pets and smoking usually makes for a less than pleasant experience. Fleas from animals, perhaps bed bugs, and a smelly room gets you a cheap price.

Howard

Tell him his teacher got sick because she is a drunk.

;)

I don't think so. She is a nice teacher

You can ask this question or any other on the roll call for this cruise, so everyone can help you, as many have sailed this cruise before

On the Regal Princess leaving New York to Fort Lauderdale on 10/26/17 can anyone who has taken this Halloween cruise before confirm whether there is any rough water on the way to the Caribbean?

We have our three Grandchilden ages 5, 4 and 2 1/2 on their first cruise.

The five year old happened to mention to his Pre-School teacher that he was going on a cruise soon.

She told him on her last cruise that she got sea sick. What a horrible thing to say to a five year old who has never been on a cruise ship.

Now he is worried and asking if he is going to get sea sick?

Howard

So much paranoia about something so simple. I wonder if there was this much uproar about going from a metal key to a key card that can "track" every time the door is unlocked and who unlocked it.

Similar reactions to the EZ-Pass toll transponders when first introduced and the Metro-Cards that replaced the old subway tokens in NYC some years ago. Some Co-workers initially refused electronic deposit paychecks years ago and would rather stand in line at a bank to cash a paycheck because that was the way their father did it. My late father-in-law had radial tires removed on his last new car because he wanted bias-ply tires because that is what he always had on his cars.

I just printed boarding passes for a recent flight but I saw younger travelers using their smart phones to check in instead of printing a paper boarding pass so as a senior citizen I'll have to try that next time.

Now I have a question regarding the medallion.

Previously wearing a cruise card around my neck occasionally my DSLR camera battery would disable the cruise card after wearing the camera around my neck.

Has anyone ever had a similar problem using a medallion?

Howard

We are going on a TA cruise in April, 2018. Can anyone comment on the weather for that trip from April 15th to the 21st???

Thanks,

eclue

April was not a good month for the Titanic.

http://wxguys.ssec.wisc.edu/2012/04/16/what-was-the-weather-during-the-titanics-fateful-voyage/

I'm sure you'll be fine.

Howard

Definitely the pub lunch. Also, you can order a "volcano" in the mdr. It's not on the menu, but you can get it. It's a big banana split, and it's been different every time we've ordered one. Depends on who's making it.

The Volcano is on the children's menu.

Tell the waiter what items you would prefer on the Volcano.

Photo taken on the Caribbean Princess

Volcano on the Children's menu by Howard, on Flickr

I also tried the spaghetti and meatballs as an appetizer off the children's menu and it was pretty good.

On my next cruise I'll ask if I can get it with shrimp.

Howard

They sure are. People doing B2B's usually use them in the mornings when no one is around.

On our TA on the Caribbean Princess the laundry room was vacant at 4:30AM. I used both machines and then went to the International Cafe for fresh baked pastries and used my internet minutes which has much faster connection speeds at that hour. I can download the New York Times for reading later.

Howard

Eat, read, nap. :D

I enjoy walking around the entire ship taking lots of photos with my Nikon DSLR practicing using manual mode. On our last TA cruise I took 2k photos including early morning still dark photos of the Statue of Liberty

Howard

I faxed mine last week. It took about three days until the credit was posted to my account.

Howard

FWIW most or all Princess ships have a restricted area for children with programs for multiple age groups.

2012-12-23, My Pictures 122312 088 by Howard , on Flickr

The parents who sign up their children usually see them only for meals.

Children are future Princess customers. Children should be taught by their parents how to behave on a ship, in the dining room and how to dress for dinner.

Howard

It is on the MDR's dessert menu whenever it is available. It is also free and suggest you have it.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Order the Volcano off of the children's menu

Volcano on the Children's menu by Howard , on Flickr

I can hardly wait to see the look on my three grandchildren's faces especially the 2 1/2 year old when they see me order this.

All three love ice cream. They once told us that mom and dad allow them to have ice cream for dinner. Since grandma and grandpa have no rules they once had ice cream for dinner.

Howard

Now that one looks pretty good. The one I ordered a few years ago was completely different.

Each one that you order is different.

Volcano on the Children's menu by Howard , on Flickr

Volcano on the Children's menu by Howard , on Flickr

Custom made on different Princess Cruise Ships

Volcano on the Children's menu by Howard , on Flickr

Thanks

 

Test

 

 

Test from FlickR

After days of trying different photo hosting sites after photobucket no longer allows posting to other web sites without paying I found FlickR

You can order one day ahead of time a freshly baked one for dinner each evening. Much better than the rolls they place on the table.

Challah____0922 by Howard on Flickr

Order this desert off the Children's menu

Volcano___0943 by Howard , on Flickr

To me, that's a lot of children -- I guess it depends on the capacity of the ship and one's expectations. To me, being "relatively free of children" would mean having 2 or 3 aboard.

We are traveling with our three grandchildren all under the age of 5 on our next cruise. Fair warning to the children haters

They are so much fun and have huge appetites. Especially for lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, ice cream, and lots of fruit.

They learned the song God Bless America in preschool this year singing it in their car seats and will be singing it on the Sail-Away as we pass the Statue of Liberty

Howard

Photobucket no longer will allow posting of pictures on other web sites unless you have paid account.

Try www.dropbox.com

Thanks

Test

You can order a fresh baked challah for the dinner table one day in advance

 

 

 

Also the volcano on the childrens's menu for desert

 

Howard

Testing 1234

and a volcano off of the children's menu

Howard

Would someone please talk food!, not money - what are some of the "don't miss" menu items. I am first time Princess cruiser and I know there will always be choices on the menu - would love to know what old timers look forward to when back on board.

 

And did I read somewhere that on the Alaskan cruisers the grill near the pool may have some "unadvertised" specials like crab cakes? That would be good to know!

You can order a fresh baked challah for the dinner table one day in advance

Also the volcano on the childrens's menu for desert

Howard

My favorite is a VOLCANO from the children's menu. It is banana split with you favorite ice cream. I have it every evening!

Mine too!

Howard