SiliconCruiser

5 hours ago, TN-Mountains said:

We are debating the Blow Hole Express excursion, but it only has a 3.5-star rating.

Not really worth bothering with.  La Bufadora isn't really all that impressive, the ones in Hawaii are much better.  You'll also be pestered by aggressive vendors as you walk down to the blow hole.

I'd suggest speaking to a travel agent  and abandoning any services from Princess.  Sounds like you got sent to an off-shore call center (probably Philippines.)

On 5/30/2023 at 4:20 PM, Kay S said:

It's been awhile since I sat in a PES waiting area with the coffee and pastries.  The last one I remember was SF a few years back.  Do they still exist?

Hit and miss at all ports.

On 5/31/2023 at 11:19 AM, Reina del Mar said:

If every Platinum/ Elite member took guests with them, the line would be huge. You might manage it..but trust your conscience and go in their lane. In fact, it might even be quicker !

Try being an in-transit passenger and having to wait for friends who are first-time cruisers ...  and got 'guarantee' reservations from a cut-rate web site.

On 5/31/2023 at 5:22 AM, Bgwest said:

kinda sounding bitter. Why’s that?

Not bitter, just not sure why people think it a privilege of their Captain's Circle status.  Especially when it doesn't seem to be available at many ports.  My impression has always been that it is leftovers from the buffet and MDRs from breakfast.

6 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Not to callous about it but isn't that their problem to contend with?

New cruisers don't have a clue, they think it is the airline safety video (that they are probably also oblivious to.)  I simply took a life jacket out of the closet of one couple and asked them if they knew how to put it one.  They were bewildered and after I showed them, I'm sure they still didn't know.  I'm sure that they will be the ones impeding my path to a lifeboat.

24 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

Southampton had one a few weeks ago. But honestly, the terminal started allowing people in at 10:15 and the PES people who were there at that time were processed and checked in by 10:25 and boarding began at 10:45. Any PES people who arrived after 10:45 went straight from the checkin area to the ship. At most, one would have gotten 15 minutes to “enjoy” the coffee and pastries. So is it really relevant?  Once you check in you are literally minutes from better coffee and better food on the ship. The PES lounge really affords no great benefit any more. The bottom line is PES people shouldn’t be all that concerned with getting non-PES people into the lounge area and the PES people who are using the lounge area shouldn’t be all that concerned if others are brought in as “guests”. 

Lemme see, leftover coffee from concentrate, watered down juices, stale pastries.  This is what I demand in the PES lounge and they need to keep the lesser ones out.  Quite honestly I'm not really sure when I see one and when I don't, I do know that my experiences with them have been less than favorable.  But the entitled ones do savor it along with their privilege of boarding first.   But then ... we always board before them ... 

They still use the cards.  There was a couple that were new cruisers (absolute 1st time on a ship) and purchased their cruise from one of those online discounters.  Their 'guarantee' cabin had not been assigned when they boarded so they were given cards for boarding, but had to go to guest services to get their cabin assignment and medallion.  I forget how the porters had marked their luggage tags, but they managed get the luggage to their cabin in about the normal amount of time. 

The problem arises with new cruisers who ignore the video (like they do on a plane) and don't have a clue as to how to put a life jacket on, nor what to do in the event that there is an emergency announcement.

On 5/26/2023 at 2:40 PM, Thrak said:

You forgot to mention "Frisco". 🤪

Those are the geographically challenged who think they're in Texas.  Generally they also have other challenges to deal with as well when they're in the City.

8 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Only upon entering the P/E/S waiting area(s). 

Only went into the PES area once while I was waiting for my wife to get back from the rest room.  In San Francisco, they don't seem to have the coffee/juice/pastries that they have for PES at the other ports.  (Don't remember if it was in Vancouver either, but it was a total mess there since most of the people there are seasonal and we were there the first day of the Alaska season.)

I've never seen anyone checking for Captain's Circle status in the waiting areas.

Prince Rupert is not yet developed as a tourist trap.  It is a port that is used in lieu of Victoria for a PVSA stop, because of the whales in that body of water.  That being said, Prince Rupert is a great place to just go and explore on your own.  Nice people, with non-touristy attractions.  There are some van tours that are available and are reasonably priced.

I think it is $2 for fountain and $2.50 for a can plus 18% gratuity.  I usually just pick up a 6 pack at one of the port calls.

Never heard of a "guarantee" for a specific portion of the ship.  It has only been recently that Princess started to offer the lower prices for the 'guarantee' cabins, that had previously only been offered by discount consolidators.  Prior to that, you always had to select a cabin if booking online, as well as booking through most travel agents.  Was also told by a future cruise consultant that the 'guarantee' cabins will almost always be forward or aft, and most likely on the higher decks, i.e. the lower priced ones that people would not pay to reserve.  In our case, we have to reserve a cabin because we require an ADA cabin.

10 hours ago, Laughingbear said:

Hi,

 

I'm going on a Princess cruise that will leave from Los Angeles and has two American ports in San Francisco and San Diego.

 

Princess allows you to bring 12 cans of soda with you in your carry on on embarkation day which is awesome. I plan on getting off the boat at both American ports and was wondering if I can go to a Walmart or another grocery store and purchase some more soda and bring it with me when I get back on the ship to restock for the rest of the cruise? I'm thinking maybe just grabbing 6 cans or a small number like that at one of the two ports. Is that allowed? I can't really seem to find the rules regarding Americans bringing things on the ship from American ports.

They don't really seem to care if you restock at port calls.  Canned beverages are fine, as are beverages in plastic or glass containers.  You'll see a lot of posts that quote "rules" from the Princess web site.  My observations, though, are from real life ... i.e. reality.  Security will be looking for weapons.  Some ports will have two security screenings (I think San Diego may be one of them,) where you will undergo screening by private security on shore, then by Princess security on the ship (they cannot work on U.S. shores.)  In both cases they are interested in weapons (even examining pocket knives that are classified as tools.)  Bottles or cans that may be in your carry-ons (plastic or glass bottles, or cans) do not seem to be of interest to them.

11 minutes ago, Qextor said:

I forgot to mention - each person needs to watch the video on their own account.  So any cabin mate you may have will need to watch the video themselves with their own login.

You can include everyone in your cabin if you watch it on the TeeVee machine.

3 hours ago, memoak said:

 double mini bars since we are also elite, 

Each passenger gets a mini bar setup if they are both elite?!

8 hours ago, edub said:

On a related note, has anyone found a number for Princess to speak to someone about passengers with disabilities? I find that when you call the general number they are unwilling to pass you onto someone who might have this expertise, and all my internet searching hasn't unearthed a number other than the general 1-800 one I've been using.

 I don't think Princess employs any phone agents that are able to provide accurate information. As I understand it, the call center agents that were employed pre-pandemic were all laid off.  The new call center agents either work remotely (from all over the U.S., mostly in states with low minimum wage,) or more likely an off-shore call center (I think it is located in the Philippines.)
But, as for boarding, people who need assistance (wheelchair, or their own mobility devices) are boarded first before Elite/Platinum/Suites.  So get to the port early.
If you need an ADA cabin, book early because there are very few on the ships.  You will need to submit a completed questionnaire to justify your need for the room, including wheelchair (or scooter) dimensions.  Rental scooters will usually fit through the doors of a standard cabin.
If you do not use your mobility device in the dining room, they will park it outside of the dining room and retrieve it when you are done with your meal.
We have always traveled as ADA passengers, on Princess cruises from ports all over the world.  I'll try to answer any questions you might have, and I'm sure other ADA passengers can probably help you as well. 

34 minutes ago, BamaVol said:

I’m not sure there’s a difference between filet mignon and tenderloin. If there is, I’m sure someone will educate me.

Filet mignon is a cut from the beef tenderloin, but it costs much more when it is called 'filet mignon' rather than beef tenderloin.  Educated and alert passengers will notice that there is some version of beef tenderloin served on most nights.  It is not the best quality beef, but it is probably the same as you would get from the Crown Grill for a surcharged price.  Additionally it appears that they've added NY Strip as an every day item on the MDR menu, so you can get an 8oz strip steak now any day of the week (you can also get two of them anytime your heart desires,) as opposed to paying $19 for a 12oz version (without refills) in the MDR or $39 for one in the Crown Grill.

On 5/21/2023 at 8:03 PM, mamamusings said:

Oh, and one more nit to pick—I thought the whole point of the medallions was that staff would know who we are and that we have a the plus package. But at nearly every place we’ve gone, we’ve been asked for our room numbers!

It is to confirm that you belong to the medallion that they are detecting.

2 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

Many people don't realize that the lower level of the theater leaves the last seat out in a number of rows for wheelchair or scooter parking. That allows one to stay in their mobility device while another person in their party sits next to them. It seems that most people just think the few spots all the way to the rear of the theater on the upper level are the only mobility device spots.

From looking at the deck plans, it appears that the Caribbean, like the Grand and Diamond, may not have 6th fl wheelchair access to the theater.  Had really gotten accustomed to it from the Royal class and the newer Grand class ships.  If someone has more information about ADA access on the Caribbean, we'd be appreciative of it; we're doing a B2B NYC to Quebec to NYC this fall.

29 minutes ago, TxChick51 said:

I’m very cold natured, so a little crazy cruising to Alaska, but going for it!

 

Does Princess offer bathrobes in Balcony (BB) cabin and if not, can one get an extra blanket for the balcony?  Trying not to over pack something I can get onboard😉

Bathrobes may be requested in advance or onboard from your room steward.

Extra blankets are usually stored in plastic bags under your bed (ask the room steward to get them for you, they'll know which bag it is in.)

8 hours ago, Coral said:

Someone did post on the last Crown Princess. I skipped last formal night so didn’t check. Thanks for confirmation.

Actually we were told that it would be a $19 upcharge for a second order of Surf & Turf, our waitress told us that just as we sat down (she was always more than helpful, so I don't fault her.)  I should have ordered the NY strip in addition just out of spite, but I had a second order of escargot just like I normally did.  The lobster tail is so puny, it's probably less than a couple of prawns.

The 'twins' on Princess aren't really twins at 36"x75", they're called 'small singles' at 30"x75".  When pushed together they are 60"x75" which is almost the size of a Queen which is actually 60"x80". 

Amazing how those dimensions are still fresh in my mind from selling mattresses for a major department store during college.