CalLuvsCrusingToo

Well, we can't wait any longer for the end. ;)

We get on Grand tomorrow.

Thanks anyway.

Thats too funny.

Heres where ship cabins & hotel rooms differ.

I always put hotel room service trays or cart Back out into the hall.

Of course, I also use the Napkin to cover the tray.

Just sayin.

Thanks for the info. I just logged into my Personalizer & ordered

2 x 6.90 for our cruise this wknd. Thats a pretty good price, considering

what it costs to Buy bottled water ON the ship. Thanks!

Also, we LIKE Crystal Geyser. Even better.;)

I am not a particularly adventurous guy, but I have walked into Ensenada from the cruise port multiple times. Yes, I definitely stay on the streets where I see plenty of other gringos.

 

I can't say that the vendors are overly agressive. I find that a courteous "No, thank you" with a big smile works just fine. If I'm able to engage my brain quickly enough, I'll say, "No, gracias." :)

 

Here's something that I have noticed. Drivers are very courteous to pedestrians. Every time I walked up to an uncontrolled intersection, cross traffic stopped if I gave even the slightest indication that I wanted to cross the street. I would be interested to hear others' opinions on this.

I would agree with you, drivers seem to be on the Lookout for people who don't know where their going. And they actually STOP. lol

Try to do that in SF, & you will be run over.

I used to think like those who avoided Ensenada in the past., but I think its gotten better. Only saw a few chicklet kids, with their mom.

Other than that, we weren't bothered just walking around town with all the other ship folks.

We will be there in about 10 days, and plan to get off the ship again.

I got 4 between now & end of June.

Princess next weekend, then 3 NCL's.

I'm spent. ;):eek::D

It was my understanding that UNESCO has already issued their ultimatum. They have said that as of February 2017 if Italy has no plan in place to restrict cruise ship traffic that Venice will go on the endangered location list. What does that mean exactly, if they get put on the list? Will they just tell the cruise lines no more ships? We are booked on a cruise leaving from Venice on April 23, 2017 so I am concerned for a lot of reasons. I understand the issues that the Venetians are facing and I know a solution has to be found if Venice is to be saved. Then there is the cruiser part of me that says, what is going to happen to my cruise that I have already put out tons of money on? This is my first trip to Europe and I've waited a lifetime for it. It's all kind of scary to me. :(

I thought I read in the Roll call that you are on same cruise as us,

that ends in Venice April 12?

Either way, I'm concerned after reading this story too.

We don't want to hurt their ecosystem.

And Last thing we want is a Protest when our cruise ends.

And how safe will it be to tour, or leave the ship, or go to the airport?:cool:

Will Venice be the next, don't go?

I just received a complimentary cabin offer in the mail from Casinos at Sea last week. When I called to book the Getaway for November, I found that the complimentary cabin was really not free. In addition to the Port Charges and Taxes of about $150(which I expected to pay) they added a PROCESSING fee of $200 plus another fee of 20 something. I have sailed three other times with NCL in a complimentary cabin through CAS and never paid those additional fees. It seems that NCL is being not so honest in how they present these offers ever since they started all of these pick up to five free offer deals. This really rubbed me the wrong way, I felt like my intelligence had been insulted.

 

Around the same time, I received a Pack n Play offer from Carnival. They tell you exactly what your offer is without any hidden fees. I booked a cabin (I sail solo) for $200 plus Port charges and taxes and I will receive $100 back in OBC. This is the fifth time I have gone with Carnival in the past two years.

 

I do enjoy NCLs ships but Carnival has become my go to Line.

I haven't gone back to Carnival, yet......

But I wanted to backup what you said about the Admin Fees NCL charges nowadays.

Agree, my past Freebie Ncl comp cruises from CET did NOT include any addl Admin fees, like an extra $250 for no good reason.

But they do Now.

It does make me take pause.....:cool:

Got $650 in casino cash for next cruise (but no free cabin) from this last cruise. And another Sands offer for a free cruise if I go Nov 3-13. Had to say no. So many cruise opportunities, so little time!

 

 

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My friend got $350 towards a Princess cruise from Casino play on the ship,

vs. mine was Comp Inside. Friend didn't play as much as me.

As far as Ven/Palz cruise/stay offer? I will go retrieve another one.....

Basically, will Check in & get the freebie Inside cruise.

(NOT do all the play to upgrade).

I was going to Pass, but were already in town for SEMA, staying next door at Harr. :rolleyes:

My last cruise was May on the Gem. On my last night I won $1250. I gave an id, received cash and a tax form. No taxes were taken out, so I have to pay at tax time.

Unless you have Losses to cover it. ;)

On some cruises we have actually lost weight or stayed the same. We find walking up and down those long hallways so many times during the day, using the stairs instead of the elevator (if we're only going a few decks), walking around the decks at night, and all that trudging around ports and on excursions...well, that's a lot of excercise. When we do 2 weeks on the Gem in November, I'll wear my Fitbit. Then I'll know how much I really walk. p.s. We are oldsters but we try to stay in shape.

Were kind of in the same situation.

Some cruises I gain 2 pounds, and others I've LOST 2.

Were Not big gym people, just walk alot, TRY Not to overeat, and definately Do stairs whenever possible......

I think the gaining has more to do with Wine and Martini tasting events.

No horror story here I guess. :o

First time in over 20 years we booked an inside cabin. We've been to the Mexican Riviera quite a bit so we opted to purchase the least expensive guarantee. We are saving for our Hawaii land vacation next year. This should be interesting. Still waiting on cabin assignment.

We always get Inside comp, and I pay upgrade to OV or Balc.

This is our First time, taking the Inside & keeping it.;)

I've gotten a W2G win almost every cruise, with different Lines.

(VP or Slot win in excess of $1,200)

Never have they deducted anything from my Win amount. (maybe different for Canadians, I don't know)

And I've Always been given the W2G form while sitting AT the machine when they Paid me.

No problem! Here's how it works. Basically, you have to take the cruise between Sept 30 and Dec 31 of any given year that you are platinum. So, this year, once you are platinum, you can call and see what you qualify for. But--like I said, you have to cruise before the end of December. I assume they do this since tier levels reset every October 1 for MLife. So, re: planning in advance, as soon as you know you are platinum for the next year, you qualify and can call, if that makes sense. Here's the link with the info, if that helps--you also get free internet, drinks in the casino, dinner at the specialty restaurant, etc. on the cruise as well:

 

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentWithGallery.do?pagename=mgm_partnership

 

I would encourage you to call and see what they want to give you especially if you are Platinum purely because of gambling. I am Platinum half because of gambling but half because I spend a lot of money at Mlife hotels, haha! Obviously they are much more impressed with people who gamble more so they may offer you more.

 

Unfortunately, I am getting ready to take my first NCL cruise next month (Getaway) so I can't compare with RCL (yet). I will say that I do like RCL a lot, the service especially so I really hope NCL is just as good!

 

I hope this helps--if you have any other questions feel free to ask. And if you call them--let me know what they offered you!

 

Karin

Thanks for the info. I just earned Plat last week. But like I mentioned in

earlier post........ Not sure I want to be Newbie with RC or whoever Mlife uses. Cuz I also get NCL & Princess comped. I might call just to see, but sure seems a RUSH to have to cruise by the End of THIS year? :eek:

Did they bring aboard Ranger Elmer Fudd to TALK over the ships Loud speakers for hour & hours while in Glacier Bay?:mad:

We enjoyed the Bowling lanes on Pearl, and would love to do Alaska again

on that ship.

But the nonstop LOUD blather of the Ranger, ruined the Tranquility of it for us.

Hoping you Didn't have that experience since you didn't mention in Review?

I wrote email to NCL, and personally told the Officers at the M&G, how

disruptive it was.

Elmer Fudd could have easily spoken in the Lounge, where people wanted to hear it. It DIDN'T need to be broadcast over the entire ship for HOURS.

But it was obvious "the Ranger" wasn't going anywhere,

from the sounds of the Hotel Mgr.

So we are booked on a different Alaska line next year.:cool:

I just noticed they actually booked it already . They had D308 reserved for me before I even called in.

 

 

Actually the key to getting decent comps is not just throwing lotsa money at them. The money is avoid the slots and machines, as you are designed. To lose on them.

Get to know the hostess, know the supervisors. Lower your bets when they are not looking, when they are raise them. The track you by the time you play on the tables, and have a formula to work out how many hands and bets you place.

I usually allocate $1000 for gambling per cruise, and rarely lose more than that. Most of the time you will break even, and sometimes take extra home.

That's part of the experience, they have comped me specialty dining and excursions all the time. Drinks are a given too

That's been our experience, but Not playing on the Tables.

Non-gamblers have a hard time understanding how much they think you need to Play in order to get comp cruises.

If you're NOT into Gambling? Then don't worry about it.

For us? We usually budget & play some in casino most days.

I almost always come back ahead or break even.

And with the Play I've cycled thru? I get Comp offers for Future cruises.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat. :D

Does anyone by chance know how many points one needs for a bounceback cruise offer for a 5 day cruise on princess? We are booked for this October on a free cruise with $800 casino cash and am wondering if I should get an offer to book our next one for January or I should use my free inside from Tropicana casino and upgrade to a balcony and cruise Carnival .I guess I should call carnival too and see what we'll qualify for comp wise as well

Not sure if this is what youre asking...... but my Last Princess cruise I earned over 8,000 points in casino onboard. This gave me an Inside Cruise for a week, yada...... Princess only gives you about a Month to book it.

But approx a year to use it.

To be honest, I thought that Casino play should have been worth better cabin? oh well.

Were using it on another Calif Coastal in Oct.

First time I booked what I was given..... INSIDE. ha

Figure if I get offered a cheap upgrade?

Then we'll move to another cabin.

But I'm kinda Over paying upgrades for cabins if I don't have to.:p

Gamblin 101.......Always play Max.

If you can't afford a certain denom.? Go lower.

But whatever denomination you play? Play Max. Period.

Speaking of which, does anyone know if Princess cruise vouchers are combinable? Like can you combine vouchers to upgrade cabins, etc?

Has anyone tried doing this?

(I know with NCL vouchers you can combine Husband & wife vouchers on same cruise for a cabin upgrade. But they WON"T let you both book a cabin under your own name & bring family on the same cruise. Doesn't seem fair, if you both earned one. And you got to pay Port/taxes on everyone anyway.)

Back to my question, is Princess different with their vouchers when you have more than one, or spouse got one also?? Thanks

Ended up using my Palazzo cruise certificate for an already booked cruise next spring by cancelling and rebooking (rebooked to a nicer interior) Between actually winning at the tables and the cruise savings, I am ahead several grand. It is ALL good.

 

 

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Good deal muggo!

Was going to tell you, I still haven't decided on future Princess cruises yet,

from Ven/Palz offer.

And then yesterday, I get another "come & get your free Princess cruise for two" yada........ only THIS voucher is at our local casino, like 15 mins from

our house. So I don't have to go so far to get it.

Think this is the second time I've gotten one from them, but last one I let

lapse.

Its funny, you go thru years of struggling to go on a cruise..... and now you got them throwing at you. Its a nice cycle to be in.

I've been putting on 4000 - 6000 points a cruise and they've been giving me a balcony each cruise. I book through my NCM Caesars host, so I don't know if that makes a difference. Next time, I should try CAS directly and see what they offer.

This sharing of Info really DOES help. I am beginning to re-think my Booking ways...... like going to CAS directly to see what my offers are....before getting anymore Cruise vouchers from CET (I'm Diam., mostly VP player, and usually pickup vouchers in Vegas or Tahoe) which have Always been for Inside cabins.

Now, I Have gotten some very nice itineraries, like some 15 days, like a couple of you have booked......but we have Not been able to book those long stints, YET.

In the meantime, think I will have to call NCL CAS directly. (although I HATE calling them, its usually 45 min Wait time, IF they ever pickup?)

If there is a good day or time to get someone to Answer their phone in under 45 mins? Please share.:confused:

Listening to Rumblestrip & Videotech's casino comp experiences.....

I think me & Sand&Sail are kinda getting screwed by NCL.:mad:

We play 5,000 points per cruise & get Insides.

Whats wrong with this picture?

Do we need to talk directly to higher ups at CAS? Cuz I've never been

offered anything better. And I'm a NICE person.:p:o:D

I don't get it either.....:cool:

Is Princess like NCL for points? $10 through machines for one point on VP or $5 through machine for one point on slots. I usually play 5000 to 7000 points on an NCL cruise and they have been offering me OceanViews or Insides. (The Inside offers were when I came out ahead for the cruise)

 

I play less $$ on board for a week cruise than I do for a weekend in Las Vegas, but I'm not afraid to play higher if I know they will comp another cruise....just redistributing where my gambling budget goes!

 

Thanks for sharing! Good information to help us plan:D

S&S- I've only done One Princess comp cruise, and our 2nd one is coming up in Oct. I found the casino easy to figure out & had a Host come by nightly.

Since Princess does not give Drink card (or at least I didn't get one) the Host sent over drinks (and water bottles) nightly. We didn't want for anything.

And that was playing mostly quarter & dollar single line vp or alittle slots.

Very attentive.

Like mentioned above, I haven't had that attentiveness on NCL.

Just used my drink card & tipped a dollar per drink, like in regular casinos

and they were happy with that.

NCL ships seemed to have more Up to date games.....UltX etc.

I average 5,000 points per NCL cruise, and since I did 3 in the 12 month period

was Gold level on our May Alaska cruise.

I may get another NCL cruise in before end of March or April? But that would keep me Hot instead of Gold.

Oh well, doesn't seem to matter alot.

I STILL get Inside NCL offers instead of Balc. Only way I get one is Upgrade.:cool:

Maybe when/If I hit NCL Plat.? I might get better? I dunno.

The only cabins I would be unhappy with are the ones with the 3rd and 4th beds mounted on the wall.

I'm more picky about mid-ship, and whats above me, versus 3rd/4th beds mounted.

We had one of those 3rd pass. berths on the wall last trip......

So if you normally would have a queen bed, instead of 2 twins in your cabin?

KEEP your bed as Twins.

Gave us more interior space, and less chance of running into wall berths.

Worked out much better.

Victoria is a beautiful city to visit but the 4-5 her evening stop does not do it justice. It simply serves as the cruise lines means of satisfying the PVSA for Seattle closed loop cruises. To bad they could not come in just a little earlier to give the passengers a real chance to visit.

Yep. We were there 6 weeks ago, most people got off the ship

about 7pm. We were in our room Glued to a movie, I think it was the Intern with Robert Deniro. lol

Anyway, by the time we got off the ship many people were getting back on.

We quickly rode the double decker bus, right off the ship.

Costs $10 each, and includes Return.

Like mentioned above, it drops you off in the heart of downtown with Pubs,

nearby. I wanted tea at the Empress Hotel...... we walked in too late, they were closed.

So we walked & took a few pics of Empress.

Then walked around town, past several pubs & a coffee house, which was busy.

Very walkable & tourist friendly area.

Got back on the Shuttle bus to return to ship about 10pm.

Was a nice little Re- visit of Victoria.

I would agree with those that say save Buchart Gardens for another time,

when daylight, and you have MORE TIME.

colorose.......You didn't mention what Level you are with Mlife?

I'm in the same boat as OP. Almost Plat thru Bell.

Will probably have Plat in near future.

Didn't know they Had relationship with RC?

Do they notify you of a cruise opportunity? Free one?

Egads, not sure I want to start relationship with ANOTHER cruise line. :o