SiliconCruiser

In simple terms ... YES, just like your original token.  I lost my first token on the our very first medallion cruise. When we got to the dock, I told the "security" person who waved me by.  As we approached the dock, there was a desk representative who was walking briskly (okay kinda running) who was bringing a new medallion to me. (she already knew who I was from the pictures that had previously been submitted. It takes a long time for them to make a new medallion for you, ... like maybe a minute, but sometimes 2 if there are issues.

You might find out that the CEO doesn't care what your concerns may be.   His objective may only be to increase revenues.

2 hours ago, uncleboo said:

I will be on the enchanted princess do they have lunch in the mdr? Thank you 

The forward dining room on the 6th floor has been open for lunch on Turnaround day on every cruise that we have been on.

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

I see plenty of tables with same people there each night on REGAL, so at least Private TD table arrangements are possible.

 

If you're going to the same dining room at about the same time every night, the dining room staff will recognize you and will often have a preferred table waiting for you and usually with the same wait-staff.  That happened on our last cruise, even when the head waiters would assign another table, the hostess would interrupt and tell them what table we were supposed to be at.  One night we were over an hour late and they still had that table waiting for us.  So a lot may have to do with the people who are working in the dining room.

2 hours ago, luvtravel said:

I don't mind at all older ships as long as they are kept in good condition.  We have reservations on the Island Princess - and old ship.  I am concerned - not because its old - but the company doesn't spend $ to improve the plumbing system for instance. I don't mind worn fabric on chairs, etc., but  I do not like hearing about so many sewage smell areas and bathrooms/showers being unusable for a day or two.  I wish they would switch out this ship for a newer better maintained one prior to the 28 day cruise.  The Island Princess also seems to have the highest # of covid cases....

Is this sewage smell just something you've heard or have you experienced it? I ask, because 3 years ago we had that sewage smell on a number floors in the aft cabin area on the Island.  At the time, the crew was saying that it had been a problem for at least 2-3 months.

3 hours ago, Nightowl11 said:

When I looked at several cruises and categories and different dates that have the Love Boat Sale Banner that includes the WiFi, Crew appreciation, Drinks, etc., You have to choose the Princess Plus option and pay more.  This is the same as that has the other banner for the up to 30% off.   I was under the impression that the Love Boat sale included all those things for free, at no additional cost.  That for the Love Boat Sale special, you would get the WiFi, Crew appreciation, drinks, etc at the Standard price.  What is the point of saying it is a sale, when it actually is not?  

 

I don't drink alcohol but my sister does, so how is paying for the plus beneficial to me?  I was thinking since it was included in the package at no additional cost, then I would just not use it.  Can 1 person pay the standard and 1 person pay the plus? 

The short response would be "shell game"

But the long and short of it is that both people must buy the Plus package at $50 per day.  The break-even point is for each person to consume at least 3-4 alcoholic drinks per day.  But you can consume up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day or one person could drink up to 30 drinks per day if they drink their cabin-mate's allocation.  But they also have daily meetings for friends of Bill W and Dr. Bob on board.

30 minutes ago, pris993 said:

I did 15 days on Coral, missed Crown Grill, we eat at the buffet all 15 days, which was fine.  We don't do MDR anymore, either buffet or Crown Grill.  I like the Grand, Ruby, good to hear you like the Crown.  I hear it is being transferred to my home port of San Francisco in 2023.  Have something to look forward too, since I am not a fan of the Royal, which is here now. 

I like the Royal class ships, but the Royal looks like it is headed to Australia after the Alaska season next year. Ruby will winter in Galveston before returning to San Francisco for the Alaska Season and then winter in Ft. Lauderdale.  But the Crown and Ruby are both Crown class ships.

2 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

Also, I wonder if here have been times when MSG was used onboard.  That is also a killer.  During that one cruise that I mentioned, it was the one where, like another poster mentioned, everything tasted just WAY over salted/seasoned.  And I wonder if this might be a reason why?

Of course they use MSG, it's institutional cooking.  And they also use pre-processed and frozen food that may contain MSG.

45 minutes ago, tjcox9 said:

Just curious as I understand the Island does not have USB plugs. THX!

The only ships that have USB plugs in the lamps beside the bed are the newer Royal class ships.

On 10/13/2022 at 10:46 PM, harryfat1 said:

Seafood was pretty good - note they serve you.  Can't touch that...

 

 

Was that just this particular dish?  We were on the Ruby in July and everything in the buffet was self-serve.

Check here https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/food-and-dining/dining-options.pdf for a listing of the dining options on every ship and the up-charge for specialty dining venues.

2 hours ago, Suncitycruiser1925 said:

Am I able to to use my phone using wifi calling for texting and phone calls while on the ship without any cellular charge (if on airplane mode)?  I have used my phone this way when out the country and it worked great with no extra charges, but I do not know if it is the same on the ship?  Thanks in advance.

Your carrier may assess foreign long distance charges if the wi-fi connection is outside of the U.S.  But if you're in the U.S. it shouldn't be an issue.  In Alaska, I even received a very important call about the extended warranty on my car 😂🤣.  For foreign connections, I generally use a Google Voice number to call back to the U.S. (free), as well as for calling numbers in the country that I might be in (their foreign rates are ridiculously low, like about 2¢/minute to call a landline.)

2 hours ago, Kay S said:

Grandma's Coq Au Vin.

I'll second that, along with the ridiculously soggy interpretation of Duck à l'Orange.

8 hours ago, mtnesterz said:

Thanksgiving dinner. 

The chefs are from other countries and have no idea what American food is supposed to taste like.

Turkey was a salt lick, who salts turkey? Everything else was cooked to mush... and salty.

We walked out and had a hamburger on deck. Happy Thanksgiving!

The food served on Princess ships must be created from a central source (probably American,) and it is served across the board on all of the ships.  It's been my experience that there is a consistency in the food regardless of the ship, and the food in all the MDRs are the same.  In many cases you can even predict what will be on the menu on any particular day of the cruise, including the theme nights (previously known as Italian night and American night.)  The line cooks are given a set procedure as to how each dish is to be prepared.  Think of it as institutional food served on table cloths.  How else can you maintain consistency feeding a population of up to 3600 people.  Not surprisingly, one of the Cruise Directors did tell me that the crew usually has a broader variety of food served to them, since they are on the ships for longer periods of time than a passenger on a 10 day cruise.  I'm sure there is also greater variety for passengers when they are on trans-oceanic cruises as well.

I equate the new muster drill to the safety briefing on airlines.  First-time cruisers will be written off as necessary casualties if the forbidden should occur.

Ask them for compensation for the disruption to your cruise.

Canned sodas cost too much to be included in the drinks package.  Only 3¢ fountain drinks are included and you don't even want to know how much the alcoholic beverages cost them when they are dispensed from the duty free bar bottles.   But you can bring back soda (and usually beer) cans from port calls.  Most of the time, you can even bring back bottles of wine and liquor to your cabin from port calls if you don't declare then when entering the ship if you aren't blatantly displaying them .  If you don't see the liquor desk at the security checkpoint, you'll probably even be able to bring back liquor in their store bags with the gift wrapping.

Princess never puts anything on sale.  They just re-arrange the sales pitch, just as you might experience at a car dealership.  They're gambling on a gullible marketplace.  But of late, they seem to be focusing on an even more gullible marketplace; the generation following the demographic that was their primary focus.  i.e. they think your kids are even more susceptible than you are.  Bear in mind, as we express our farewells to the Greatest generation, the Boomer generation has to step up to the plate and protect our issue. 

49 minutes ago, AZjohn said:

I refer you to Princess presentation regarding ADA upgrade bids only upgrade to ADA cabins:

https://www.facebook.com/PrincessVPSales/videos/1484592348657993/
 

Thanks neighbor!  Guess they wised up.  The last time we tried that (pre-epidmic) we were told that we would go into a "guarantee" status and may end up in a regular cabin (per both Princess and our TAs) 

It would appear that they are saying that ADA would only go to ADA, but given Princess' track record for veracity and the fact that it is on Facebook would suggest that it should be approached with caution.

We once made the mistake of booking a regular cabin (the price was attractive,) and it was for a 15 day Hawaiian cruise.  After 4 miserable days in a cabin with little space for the wheelchair, having to fold the wheelchair to get it through the door, we were fortunate enough to have been able to access (beg) for a cabin that was being vacated since the couple had decided to catch a plane in Honolulu and go home.  We were only made aware of it because the couple told us (their friends and neighbors traveling with them in the adjoining ADA cabin knew a couple that I had attended grammar and high school with.)  Even then, Princess was reluctant to move us to the ADA cabin.

We used Michelangelo because we had a Plaza level cabin right off the Piazza, it was a simple walk from our cabin to the dining room, but we had to use Da Vinci for lunch or breakfast.  Actually we seldom got up early enough, so we usually had breakfast up in the buffet.

1 hour ago, habita said:

My husband is going to need a wheelchair for embarkation. I remember seeing people being transported on Princess wheel chairs by crew members.Do I need to make a reservation, or hope that someone will be there to take him?

They have crew that will take people on and off the ship, but that is all.  Once you're on the ship, you'll have to get out of the wheelchair, when you leave the ship, you'll have to make your way to the gangway and they'll transport you out.  But on some port calls, you will exit from the 4th or 5th floor with a short gangway and there will be no wheelchairs available but they will have people to ensure that you are able to walk the short distance safely.

17 hours ago, AZjohn said:

If in an ADA cabin and making bids you will only be upgraded to another ADA cabin if you win. You will not be placed in a standard cabin.

If you bid, you go into a guaranteed status, there's no guarantee of an ADA cabin.  There aren't many ADA cabins on any of the ships.  Even on one of the Royal class ships, like the Majestic, there are only about 34-35 ADA cabins.  And very few for those who seek Interior cabins.  ADA cabins on some of the more popular cruise routes may be booked up a 6-9 months in advance.  That being said, we did manage to get a "Drop & Go" fare in an ADA cabin to Alaska this year (dumb luck!).

18 hours ago, FrugalVoyager said:

 

Who you kidding? A 15 day cruise in November to Hawaii on the Royal starts at $2500 per person ($160/day). Get out of here with your $50/person babble.

$999 for 15 days comes out to 66.60 per person per day.  There were lower rates earlier in the season.  Presuming that a balcony is the minimum cabin that can be booked is presumptuous and misleading.

1 hour ago, AZjohn said:

If in an ADA cabin and making bids you will only be upgraded to another ADA cabin if you win. You will not be placed in a standard cabin.

 

I honestly don’t know if this helps or hurts your odds in winning.

 

Cheers

They once tried to give us an upgrade and it was not to an ADA cabin and when Princess was contacted, the phone agent couldn't figure out why it should make a difference.  Please note that this was pre-pandemic.  These days it might be met with "who cares".

4 hours ago, 1cruiselvr said:

Yes. It’s part of the bidding agreement. No choice in cabin and you can’t change your mind once the bid has been accepted. 

I wondered about that.  Since we require an ADA cabin, I suspect none of this upsell business would be beneficial to us.