MagnoliaBlossom

I was so glad when NCL reinstated the MAP. We used it extensively before they discontinued it around 2010. It is a tremendous deal, Princess only offers $100 OBC, CCL has a 10%discount but only to active duty military (they used to give it to all veterans). Now, if we could get them to reinstate the AARP discount, too 🤣

Never pass up a chance to earn a few bucks. At least this one provides significant benefit to the passenger.

I’ve never seen NCL advertise their card onboard before. Carnival has done it for years, always surprised me that NCL didn’t seize the moment, since they obviously will do anything for a buck.

Yes, I think I’m confusing Food Republic with Indulge. Thanks for the clarification.

Okay, they’ve changed the site since I looked at it last, which I rarely do because I never ever use points for OBC, you leave too much money on the table. But, here’s how to do OBC. Click on the rewards tab. next to the box with your point balance is a photo on the right side with a beach or ship or some other pretty picture, it changes from time to time, and says something like redeem points. Click there. You will see the option for OBC. Click that and you choose how many points you want to redeem. But as someone else said, you’d do better to use your card onboard and get triple points, then when your statement comes use points for a statement credit.when you use points for OBC you lose the ability to earn those triple points.

We will be on the Prima in February and I’ve read confusing reviews about Food Republic. I thought it was a free dining venue, but I’ve heard people talk about spending their OBC there. Can someone give me scoop about that? Thanks, MB

I remember my grandmother talking about that, but I’d forgotten it until now. I’ve been to weddings where charms are baked into the cake and have a ribbon attached. Several young women are chosen to pull a charm. Can’t remember what they were but cute little things.

You should see 15,00 points plus whatever other charges you have on the card on your next statement. The points will just be one number, meaning, “bonus points” is already calculated in.

Being a New Orleans girl, I recognized the babies right away. Originally a dried kidney bean was placed in a king cake to represent the baby Jesus. The person who got the bean in their piece of cake had to host the next king cake party. As time marched on, the bean was replaced by small unpainted babies. when lawyers began running our lives, bakeries no longer baked the baby in the cake, but gave you one that you could insert yourself, if you so desired. of course, unless the cruise is filled with Louisianians, folks would probably be creeped out about it. My granddaughter owns a Jeep and it is a thing with Jeep owners to leave ducks on fellow jeepers cars. I didn’t know that but now I always look at Jeeps near me at stop lights and some are all ducked up! Fun to watch. We are taking her on a family cruise (first cruise) in June and she is looking forward to ducking about the ship.

Many fail to remember that young people are “immortal”, nothing is ever going to happen to them even though we read about bad decisions by youth resulting in bad consequences. Add to that, peer pressure is huge in that age group and most likely they had friends who had sailed with BC only and no problem, and what young healthy person thinks they need insurance - that’s for old, sick people,mright. So they made a poor decision to believe the sail sans passport, they failed to buy travel insurance, and they rented a scooter. They had the trifecta of the decision/consequence lotto. I feel for these girls. Last I read one was discharged but the other was being held until her bill was paid. She will get home and I’m sure there is a consulate in Mexico that will aid her getting her through immigration. It will take time and time is going to be money for her. I

Yes, I’ve been reading about the changes. We are mostly we are Diamond on NCL and CCL but it looks as though Princess is quite different than both of those. We were feeling a bit bored with our cruise experience and decided to spread our wings and see if Princess was the great cruise experience we remembered.. of course, across the board, and especially post COVID so many things have changed. Not sure many of the changes are for the better, but that’s “progress”.

Apply for a second card. I have multiples.

Yes, we are familiar with Texas liquor laws. Being a New Orleans girl, it took some getting used to when we moved here 🤣

We are white wine drinkers and wondering what the current offerings are on Princess. TYIA MB

Oops. 🥹

Go to your account. Beneath the amount of points there is verbage like “click here to redeem” It will show you a window with choices earn or redeem, click redeem. You will have three choices in the next window, gift cards, travel, and cash. Click on cash. There you can choose a drop down menu that will be statement credit or check. it has changed over time. It used to show you all the options on the first redemption box, but some programmer decided it would be cute to make it multiple steps rather than one user friendly option.

We have 5 cruises on Princess but for a variety of reasons, we have been cruising other lines for the past 16 years. Our neighbors re big Princess cruisers (the ones on the other side are Royal) and their great fare stories piqued our interest, and that we can sail them out of Galveston. So we got a $500 balcony deal and said “let’s go,” Things have changed a lot over those years so I have a few questions. 1. How is muster handled? Is it a view it online before yu can get you E-docs, like NCL, or go to a five minute life vest demo as soon as onboard like Carnival, or something else. 2. It seems that the alcohol policy allows 1 bottle per person. Is that correct? Thank yoy

For standard trip insurance, I buy from Steve (who is the agent on the Travel Insurance board). Great people, very knowledgeable and no pressure at all to buy. I used to use IMT, but after the incredible service from Steve, I don’t use anyone else. His company is The Trip Insurance Store. as to evac, we have a policy through EA+. (Emergence Assistance). It is about $200/yr and they offer incredible services. We recently upgraded so they will evac you for not just medical reasons but political unrest you might get caught up in abroad. we also have an ambulance policy through MASA, which will get you home from anywhere in the world. From Fixed wing to rickshaw, they get you home at no cost. And it covers all ambulance and medical transportation costs. Fortunately, I’ve not had to use the evac service on a trip, but I did use the ambulance service at home five days after we purchased the policy 😳. I never even saw the ambulance bill. Paid in full.

I make my own pods so we can have a good cup on the balcony.

I did but it’s been five or six years ago. Don’t even remember the particulars.

Yep, we e seen them all, too, but at least is a mostly feel good show. Except for the drama, but, whatagonnado? Last night we rewatched the Viking xxxx (forget the ship) but it was the Norwegian Fjords and the scenery was beautiful. Saw some places we will see in 2025.😃

NCL is returning to Galveston this fall. We are booked on the Prima in February.

For those of you who love to watch the Smithsonian Channel’s “Mighty Cruise Ships”, there is a marathon today. At noon, CDT they will air back to back episodes until 9:00 pm. If you’ve not discovered this program check it out. Of course you will be on the phone with your PCC before the. Ishtar is over. 🤣. One of my favorite episodes about The Royal Clipper is n and it is very interesting

The usual offer is 20,000 points so when the 25,000 pops up, you’d be wise to take advantage of it as they don’t come around that often. I think the last one was last fall.

I have six cards.