sirclean

3 to 4 drinks a day. IT sounds like a lot, and IT IS ! But it is not like you are drinking all day long, or that they are large drinks! You can sample something and if you like it, order another (they are not necessarily big). I can say that when we went on Discovery over Thanksgiving, it worked out for us. My Bride discovered that there was a hot chocolate desert drink in the Main Dining Room. She would then sample some drink at another bar, and maybe a drink after the Big Show of the day. Could we keep up such a pace for 2 weeks? I dont know! Still, a Dirty Banana, for a day or 2, a Toasted Almond, a Lemon Drop Martini, maybe a Baileys Irish Cream, St. Germain Cocktail or Frangelica a time or two over the trip..... Maybe there is a beer that you would not otherwise get or try? But I do understand, when you add up the cost and write it down to be $1960!!! It can make you think twice. IF the break point is down to 3 drinks a day, that is at least $30 a day (times 2 for both of you)? Then maybe it is cheaper to pass on it and save some money. But it is a bit of a vacation, and it is possible to get carried away and end up not saving anything! Remember, if you buy a drink outside the drink package, they add an 18% tip. (At least I think that is the case). Bottom line is that it IS a lot of money. There may be a cheaper way to go, but if this is a rare splurge, then you may enjoy it! You may not fully enjoy all of the aspects of the trip and opportunity if you say 'no' to the package. IF there are things you may want to try, this may be a great opportunity. Anyway, IF It were one week, I d say it is probably worth it!! Can you keep up even 3 drinks a day for 2 weeks? It is not a challenge (though some think that the challenge is not 3 but 15 drinks a day!!) Let us know what you decide, and then come back after the trip and let us know if you regret either decision?

"What is clear though, is that whilst you may be able to have an "escorted " visit, you cannot just randomly walk through the area. " I wasnt escorted. But it is not like there were a lot of places to get lost! It was the top deck, outside area. It wasnt a busy time of day, and I asked a lot of questions about the place.... I was looking to see if that was a place to be in Alaska when the ship goes to Glacier Bay. (And off the topic, Discovery wont be a ship I will choose to take on an Alaska Glacier Bay itinerary. I want to be outside where I can see the glaciers calving without watching it through colored glass, and while you are outside, it is surrounded by thick, green tinted glass. So perhaps after asking a lot of specific questions, they let me walk around the deck. It didnt take 5 minutes, but no one walked with me.... again, only one way in or out, so it wasnt like I could stow away up there!) .

"Take an few extra laps around the ship if it's of concern.😝J" Take the stairs! I have a bad knee, and live a sedentary life, but I try to start at the bottom (Deck 5 or so, and try to take the stairs. 2 flights the first day, 3 the third.... and work my way up to walking up as many as I can get to over the week.

"You can't really pass through, as it is a dead end. You will be stopped at the entrance. " I was on Discovery in November (Thanksgiving week). I asked a lot of questions at the desk about it, and they let me walk around it, so while you can not 'pass through' (meaning 'enter one end and exit the other' you can visit).

In the MDR (before COVID mind you), I had sometimes ordered steamed veggies. I know I could get steamed carrots, broccoli, and maybe squash. There was never a problem to get it, but I ve only sailed once since COVID and did nt ask on the last trip. I leave next week for a week, so I may order some then if nothing looks particularly great, or if I m feeling that my bulk tonnage is increasing too much, too fast! (I can not imagine how that could happen with a drink package and otherwise the fresh baked bread and almost mandatory deserts each night!

Sailing Soon out of Galveston. Anyone got any updates? Will I be keeping up with work, or getting up EARLY to try to upload my email? Recent experiences?

I have used one in Alaskan ports. My cellphone plan is good within the US, so even in Alaska I can connect to cell service in port. I have taken it to the Lido Deck and sat outside on the dock side of the ship (facing town). It has been useful. Good Luck

In November on Discovery, they had a reception (Elite/Platinum) reception. The most traveled people must live on ships! Even the 3rd most had more than 2 years on a ship and were way behind the first! The first and second place people didnt even show up! It was a good evening. I believe that there was a lunch, but the travel days to qualify was way high. I dont think that I would survive long enough to travel enough to be competitive with the 'free' lunch. (insert gripe - especially since the bonus credit for people with more than 21 cruises was lost to COVID)

It is WAY cheaper to take a taxi or uber! It is pretty fast too.

You get some beer, some soft drinks, bottled water, and sparkling water. In addition You usually get 2 each of four drinks (8 mini bottles) {At least that is what I remember}. You can swap any of the mini bottles for any of the other mini bottles (They dont have rum, though). You can swap the mini bottles for beer. You can swap alcohol for soft drinks. (so you can swap beer and mini bottles for soft drinks/water/sparkling water. ) You can swap soft drinks that you like for those you dont (given that they have them.... dont ask for Dr. Pepper!)

Great News Update! It is Tuesday. It is in there now! Probably will never again mail one in!

"They have amazing French onion soup and fettuccine alfredo in the main dining room. The French I need soup is available daily as a favorite. " we sailed on Thanksgiving Week on the Discovery. I tried the French Onion soup. In the past, they made it once a trip and it was wonderful. Over Thanksgiving week, when it was every day, it was not at all good. It tasted as if it was cooked in a factory, stored in a plastic bag and stored for some time until needed. I may order it on the next cruise, but just a small sample. In the past, I would have ordered 2 bowls and that may have been the most of my meal. But since it became every, the quality wasnt good.

I will wait a week so that I dont have both at the same time. If I had more time for the first I wouldnt worry, but I figured I would avoid any chance of confusion! IF it goes through by Tuesday, I ll process Alaska's trip on Wednesday!

Fortunately Bobbie Gentry has first hand information! I was going to add that it was my understanding that you can only get that while on board. IF you just got off, you may be able to call and tell them that they made a mistake and that you thought that you noted 2 but only got one. They may correct a 'mistake' but wont sell you one unless on board. I try to keep at least 1 always available, but will buy 5 at a time when I am low. Never had one refunded to me!

I just submitted it. I got an instant reply that it may take 21 days to process! Hopefully it will get done faster (as we leave in 14 days!) My fault for waiting! IF I dont have the credit by Tuesday night I will fax it over and hope it gets done then. But I will set a reminder for the Alaska trip! That one is 2 weeks so $250 and there are excursions that may eat that up. For this trip, not sure I will have too many expenses with PRincess Plus. Thank you everyone for the information and the help! I will report back to let everyone know of the success or failure of emailing with so short a time to boarding!

Hmmmm.... My understanding is that the protection plan covers you from when you leave the house until you get back, even if you didnt use EZ Air. Ive tried to close this post, and I keep getting myself in circles. I suggest that you call Princess soon and ask, Then be sure you come back and post the answer!

My favorite itenary is Glacier Bay (Alaska). Ive done it several times! I like that Princess is very invested in Alaska (with their hotels and Cruise Tours). I like that they are calm, especially when compared to the 'fun ships' of the sister line. The food has always been good enough for me! As I have cruised nearly 30 times now, I have sampled just about all of the meals and I know what I like, and what to pass by. Ive sampled nearly all of the deserts and can probably do without them now and not feel like Ive missed something. (Especially as I age and have problems reaching the table ... cause my tummy is pushing the table away, if you catch my physical predicament! ) I REALLY like the entertainment! They have good variety and a stage show just about every night and they rotate enough so that I dont see the same show every trip (because I dont go THAT often !) I like that there are families, and that the children/teens have a place to go and hang out on their own, and the ship is not a moving water slide, or go cart track! The comedians are clean, (though I could take it if they were 'salty'), but I dont have to worry that anyone will be upset by them. But the number one reason is Alaska! Glacier Bay is the place for me, and they do it well!

I suppose that I could bring a brokerage statement copy to the ship too, but that would mean waiting in line. Anyone done that? Any comments about that process?

We depart in 2 weeks, and I have been busy, busy, busy. Too busy to fill out and submit the form, and I just tonight realized it! I know that i can email the information, or I can fax it (on Monday). Which is more likely to get processed? Thanks for the answer! I am sure that it has been discussed over and again, but everyone is so fast and goo here that I am sure that Ill get the right answer faster than I can find it!

My first thought was the the low, low price was the 'nothing included' price and the other price was the 'best sale ever'/Princess Plus fare. But the Princess plus would be $60 a day more per person per day. So for 19 days, that would be only 1140 more. (or 2280 more) before taxes and port fees. So the original price of 2879 per person, plus 1140 is 4019 per person or 8038 total, which is now in the 8200 neighborhood. Of course there could be other problems as others have indicated, but my first read was that they saw the low fare price and upgraded to Princess Plus. I hope that they reply to let us know the resolution.

I have no first hand experience with Carnival. I can tell you what I have heard on Princess from those who sail Carnival, though. Remember that the clientele is different. Carnival are the 'fun ships'. There is a lot more of a party scene. Princess is more sedate, and aims for an older group. (And Holland America, I understand, would be an even older crowd!). So the last folks I talked to about it were met in the Bellini Bar of Discover over Thanksgiving. My Bride and I were celebrating our COVID delayed honeymoon, and the other couple were on theirs. (Im 58 for reference, and the other bride we were talking to mentioned her 20 something children - to give you an age zone). She commented that after 10, Discovery was 'dead'. On Carnival, the parties would just be gearing up! As Im 'old' I can say that by 11, Im lucky to be awake! so I could not handle a 'Fun Ship'! As for the rest, I could not tell you as I dont know about Carnival. Ive seen water park features on Carnival ships, and those dont really exist on Princess. But do tell... What did you like most about Carnival and we can tell you how that compares on Princess.

As an Elite Level cruiser, I dont worry about the cost, but on our last cruise, My Bride didnt sign my name (Or have me sign the form as Id asked) and I had to get it backed off, but a not big bag was billed at over$25!. So the first day may be a good time to get laundry done in the washing machines on board. There have been discussions and recommendations to use Tide Pods brought from home.

Note that they do restrict the OBC to one person per cabin, so even if both of you own 100 shares, only one can get the credit.

I was on the Discovery over Thanksgiving. I dont smoke. I didnt gamble. I think, as others have said, the casino becomes an indoor smoking area. Whether you gamble or not, you can light up, and people do. I didnt find that the games offered were exciting enough for me. In my experience on other ships, they dont offer fair odds, and they will have other, so called, "fun" versions of games that make the odds even worse! (There is some blackjack version that removes all of the 10s! Well, any card counter knows that is the worst time to play as the chances of the house busting are minimized. While the players are less likely to bust, neither is the house!) Anyway, the games offered didnt excite me, and they often only had a few tables of any sort open at a time. Seldom were/was the craps table open, and I didnt see what odds they were playing, or if the payouts were modified. The bottom line for me was that the smoke was definitely a drawback and not overcome by the games they offered.

For that drop down bed, someone is going to have to climb up and down a ladder. Is there a weight limit on that bed? If there is, is/are the one(s) under the limit able to climb up and down? It sounds like you will all have a fun trip! Whether you will repeat such an adventure would be good to know! But you will certainly be creating memories to laugh about later. ... how much later will be determined by the memories!