Torfamm

2 hours ago, MudderBear said:

Will be bringing Euros with me.  But, I was only able to get big bills.  I'm thinking of bringing US single dollars with me.   Can we tip in Europe with US Dollars?  Like if I wanted to tip say $22 dollars, can I do it in Euros and two singles?   

 

Also, I am under the assumption that only US citizens tip over in Europe.  So, my other question is, why do Americans tip if other nationalities don't?  

The ship staff will be happy to accept Euros or USD. Off the ship, there is little tipping in Europe and credit cards are widely accepted. You won’t even have an option to tip most times with cards. With cash, I wouldn’t expect to tip much except change that I’d be getting back after paying in Euros, not amounts like $22. 

Americans tip because they don’t feel at ease with local customs and their culture is that tips are expected. They just do what they are used to. It might surprise some Europeans but it’s not insulting to them.

Service charges are already included in many restaurants in Europe. Normally only small change is left. For example, if lunch were 46 Euros and the service was good, I might leave the change from my 50 Euro note or the 1 Euro left from an 5 Euro note after paying 4 Euros for a coffee. Taxis would be similar.

A tour guide might be tipped. I’d use Euros though and not worry about small bills. If a guide does a private full day tour and perhaps sets up equipment or handles special arrangements, a tip would not be unusual in many European countries. It’s up to you to decide.

7 hours ago, DrSea said:

I had to stand in line for something else. But multiple people were in line for that fee. I saw at least 3 different parties have to get it changed

It’s always surprising to me that so many people go wait in line when they could just send a message and continue their time.

2 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

 

On 4/14/2024 at 2:30 PM, Torfamm said:

The big difference I see is that with select dining in the past it wasn’t possible to make reservations for individual nights  in the MDR ahead of time at all. You had to wait and try to phone the “dine line” the same day that you wanted the reservation. 
 

 

Expand  

What do you mean by select dining, the current DMW system does enable you to book ahead of time and at a different time every night, and different restaurant.

 

I was answering a question about what is different now from when traditional was available in the past, before Dine My Way was introduced. At that time you could not make individual reservations ahead of time.

7 hours ago, DrSea said:

The front desk said that ocean now fee is correct if you order just the sharps container on the discovery Princess 2.5 weeks ago. 

 

Don't say you weren't warned when standing in line for 30 min to try to remove that fee 

If so then maybe only using the phone to call housekeeping is best. 

If you do need to contact Guest Services again, there’s no need to wait in line. You can just send them a message using the Crew Chat feature in the app 

3 hours ago, p.pete said:

Hmmm - this is not the understanding that I had built up in my head!!!  I was aware that there were 'drinks packages' with the same name - but actually what you're saying is that if we buy Plus onboard the *only* option is the drinks-version of the same-named package.  So there is no way to purchase 'Plus' onboard and for that to include wifi and gratuities?  [but it costs the same per day as if you had purchased it in advance as a Plus cruise fare - which is doubly sneaky if they make it sound like you're upgrading to the same thing for the same price, but actually it's of far less value]

You can add the Plus or Premier package at any time after booking or during the first day or two onboard for the same $60 and $80 as at booking 

23 minutes ago, 555 said:

The fee is waved only if you have a package from what I understand. Otherwise the first time you activate it there is a $14.95 charge. 

Did I misunderstand it?

That is true for ordering food and drinks. The example given of a request for sharps container triggering the fee is different.

3 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

 

Agreed, but a couple of cruise lines are doing something about this:

 

* Carnival (the cruise line) has non smoking casinos on some of their ships

* Celebrity doesn't allow smoking in any indoor areas - including the casino

Royal Caribbean also introduced non-smoking casino floors on some of their ships about a year ago. 
 

I get frequent surveys from the Ocean Players Club and they often ask about smoking. My sense is that the issue is on their radar and they are coming to the conclusion that just like all guests, majority of casino players don’t want to be exposed to second hand smoke. 

7 hours ago, DrSea said:

The app is trash, and it is somehow getting worst. 

 

You can locate your shipmate, and that is the only thing useful thing about it.

 

Also, if you use your app to order towels or a sharps container, you will have to pay the 15 dollar service fee. Just ask your room Stewart for it

There has been no charge for ordering those items in the app or by phone in my experience, nor is there supposed to be from what I’ve been told. If you were charged the OceanNow activation fee, it was in error.

That brings me to what I find to be helpful features in the app. Being able to see and screenshot your folio is both helpful and saves a ton of paper.

Also, if you do have any issues, crew chat is a great way to resolve them without having to physically visit guest services.

22 hours ago, alwalaska said:

Someone complaining on another cruise lines forum said that with the Princess app, you could see the menus for the whole voyage so that you could pick which nights you would prefer to do specialty dining or the buffet, etc.  Is this true or an exaggeration?

I have seen the menu for the full voyage once, about a year ago. Since then it’s only been available day by day.

6 hours ago, DrSea said:

 

 

Both age and nationality are factors. Hence we have multivariate analysis. 

 

 

I think the other factor might be itinerary. On a port intensive cruise with long or overnight stays in port like Southeast Asia or Europe, many take full day excursions and may not even return to the ship until 5:00. In those areas lunch is also served later. Perhaps at 1:00 or even 2:00.
 

I think fewer people will be ready to eat at 4:30 in the afternoon in that case than on a Caribbean or even transatlantic cruise. 

Gratuities for waitstaff, cabin steward, etc and drinks up to $15 are all covered by the Plus package. Basically all services in the package.

If you visit the spa for example, there will be additional gratuities added to your charges for services there. If you purchase a $20 glass of wine, you will be charged the $5 difference above included cost plus an 18% gratuity on that $5.

Each person with the Plus package can use internet on one device at a time. 

5 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

1. No. $60 for the Princess Plus package includes gratuities on the drink package plus the standard gratuities to the crew. If you buy the standalone Plus drink package, you do pay gratuity on that.

 

2 and 4. Same price on board, although Princess claims the quantity of Princess Plus packages for sale is limited and they may run out.

 

3. Not sure, but it does show like an addition to the cruise fare on your invoice. So it you're in the penalty period for cancelation, I can see how it might be nonrefundable.

3. The package is a part of the cruise fare. It can’t be cancelled and refunded separately.

26 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

I understand what you are saying and aware of it.  I thought you mentioned needing internet because I was thinking you login to Princess web version of the App and would then be able to use DMW.  

I have tried and it wasn’t possible to open the web-based version of the app, at least with my phone and while onboard. The link has never been live onboard when connected to MedallionNet. 
 

I wish I knew why it isn’t possible to manage future cruises while on a cruise

11 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

True, it will be an inconvenience if on a ship without internet.  That would never enter my mind. . Lol.  Hey, I thought "everyone" was on a package.  

 

If it happened to me, I'd find the time figuring not everyone would be on it like a Swift or Springsteen concert.

It’s not about internet. The app doesn’t permit management of future cruises while you’re on a ship and connected to MedallionNet. The old app was the same. I have no idea why that is the case.

I am not excited about spending a port day rebooking 43 dining reservations when I’m vacationing with kids and grandkids that I don’t get to spend enough time with as it is. I do admit it’s about as much of a first world problem as you could ever have though.

4 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

Not so bad if they clean the slate and everyone gets to book again.  You just have to be ready at the GO date/time in order to have best choices.

Except that the app doesn’t allow for management of future cruises while you are on a cruise. It’s always been inconvenient, but now I need to go find wi-fi or cell service so I can spend my time rebooking dinner reservations that they could have just put in whatever dining room is assigned for daily reservations.

9 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

Is it different than the last time fixed dining was offered?  One or more nights we used either the buffet or specialty dining but were assigned fixed seating.

For those that want flexibility,  the change is the opportunity to book times night by night.

The difficulty is going to be early dining times will be booked really fast.  Would think changing a reservation on board could find most times unavailable. 

The big difference I see is that with select dining in the past it wasn’t possible to make reservations for individual nights  in the MDR ahead of time at all. You had to wait and try to phone the “dine line” the same day that you wanted the reservation. 
 

2 hours ago, Arizona Wildcat said:

TDining is same time every night.  Don't want same time each night book the MDR with reservations.   Just want to show up then go to the 3rd dining room.

The question was what Princess means by saying you can “change your mind”

10 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

 It also states the following, 

........

"Now whether guests prefer an early seating every evening, or change things up every night, or even change their mind, these flexible dining options ensure that their dining preference is effortlessly accommodated.”

 

which reads as though you could switch your dining preference mid cruise.

I think that means reservations can be made or canceled for individual evenings. I can’t imagine how they would manage traditional dining for people who don’t want to eat at the same time and table every night

22 hours ago, Torfamm said:

Cancelling all existing reservations is incredibly frustrating. 

And to add to the frustration, I will actually be on a cruise and blocked from managing future cruises when re-booking  cancelled reservations becomes possible. UGH!

2 minutes ago, WisCruiser2 said:

I wonder if they've found that offering everyone a variety of set times to reserve just wasn't working out? We had 7:00 reservations on the Enchanted in February, and the first two nights had a LONG line of people with a 7:00 time. After the first night, we were able to book our same table for the rest of the trip, but had to move to a 7:15 time. Hopefully, this will be more efficient.

 

I also remember that on our last cruise pre-Covid, when it was still Traditional or Anytime, besides the aft DR being Traditional, there was an Early seating in one of the mid-ship DRs, that became Anytime around 7:00 or so. 

I think the negative to 7:00 reservations has been that the people who arrive at 5 or 5:30 may not eat quickly enough to have tables ready again at 7 so people end up waiting a bit. We’ve had much better luck with 7:20

Cancelling all existing reservations is incredibly frustrating. 

44 minutes ago, johnk24 said:

Then you obviously didn't see my other post (#15 of this thread).  If you don't care about that, or don't agree with it, then by all means....use the app.  You do what works for you.

You’re right, I don’t see any great risk from downloading the Stockperks app for the 5 minutes it takes to upload a screenshot of a statement. 

On 4/9/2024 at 11:47 AM, johnk24 said:

That's what i thought as well.  Some other posted "It's way too much work" than the app.  Really?  So, emailing two docs instead of downloading the app, in which you agree to all of the apps intrusive terms,  and then uploading those same docs is "much easier"?  And then you get that app track you and get all of your data to sell to the highest bidder, even if you uninstall it at a later date.  Don't think so.  And if you were ever a victim of a serious ID Theft, like me,  you wouldn't use any app if you had an easy workaround.  

They get the exact same information from me whether I submit using the app or by email. I don’t see big difference.

35 minutes ago, FancyPants21 said:

True but other issues came up in the discussion so are we not allowed to discuss? I thought that is what a forum is for... discussion... it isn't an FAQ!

I assumed it was a given that not everyone would comply with the requested attire since many men don’t even own a tuxedo or dark suit. My apologies.

57 minutes ago, FancyPants21 said:

Yes, that is what it says but it is not compulsory and a lot of people do not wear formal gear.

The poster asked if there will be forms nights and that answer is a simple yes.
 

As for how many will comply with the requested dress code, it’s impossible to predict. In my experience, there are more people in formal wear on cruises in Europe and Asia than in Australia or North America.