Daniel A

If that particular excursion was booked by using OBC which you already had, then they're just returning the refund to the original source of payment. Is the $1100 being used for other excursions or additional packages or specialty dining experiences? Whatever, if you don't spend the $400 OBC and it is refundable OBC then it will come back to you either in the form of a check or credited to your original source of payment after the cruise. If non-refundable OBC was used to book the Brussels excursion, then you use the OBC or lose it. I had 5 excursions cancelled on a Holland America Cruise (actually it was ten because it was excursions for both of us) and Holland put it all on my folio as OBC. I didn't spend that money and got a check in the mail about two weeks after we returned home. I'm sure you will be made whole.

In the Cruise Personalizer, click on "Check-In." There should be a blue line "Dietary Requests" under your name. Click on that and check the box for "Distilled water (for CPAP machine use ONLY)" Princess does not charge a fee for distilled water. Per Princess: "Note that for US domestic sailings, advance requests must be received no later than 35 days prior to sailing date. For international sailings, advance requests must be received no later than 65 days prior to sailing. For late requests, we cannot guarantee availability onboard."

I used to be able to pre-order a bucket of five cold beers to be in my stateroom on embarkation day. I was able to purchase a small bottle of liquor to be in the stateroom, but I cannot find the option to pre-order beers to be waiting in the stateroom upon our arrival. I do see where you can get the 5 for 4 bucket of beer as part of a Celebration Package, but I'm not about to spend $99 for five beers. Did they simply move that option somewhere else, or did they eliminate that option?

Wonder all you want. It's not your concern.

Check your luggage tags and make sure they reflect the correct stateroom number. 🙄

For me, they also split my shareholder credits with my wife. I'm slightly irked with O for doing this. My brokerage statement clearly shows me as the sole owner of those shares, my wife's name doesn't appear on any of the paperwork. The whole stateroom account is on my credit card, not hers. I just think it was pretty presumptuous for them to decide to share my OBC with her. After all, she could have been my sister in the cabin with me, not a wife. Not a big deal, but it was a curious decision on O's part.

We are looking at having a family member pick us up at the Port Everglades terminal after our cruise. What does she need to do to pass through port security in order to meet us curbside at the terminal? In the past, we needed to show our boarding passes when embarking, but she wouldn't have one for our disembarkation. TIA

I stay at the Rodeway Inn & Suites Fort Lauderdale Airport & Cruise Port. The room rate includes airport and cruise port shuttle service. I just booked a room in February using a AAA rate and it cost $169.00 The airport shuttle runs until midnight on weekdays and 1AM on weekends. If you call the hotel front desk, you can get a recorded message describing the shuttle in more detail. (754) 755-5645. It's not the fanciest place but they have a restaurant and the rooms were clean. It isn't a flea bag but it isn't a Hyatt either.

I am an extrovert and DW is an introvert. The problem is that when I meet up with others who are a good fit socially, DW shies away and decides she wants to go and hang out on our balcony. I may be able to stay for one more drink with the others, but I now can't stay as long as I would like as I don't want DW feeling ignored and left alone - even though she was the one who decided to leave where we were and return to our cabin. I will never win this one so, I fall back on 'Happy Wife..." 🤷‍♂️

If you're getting $250 OBC, you will be on a longer cruise of 15 days or more. After a few days onboard, check your stateroom folio to see if the Shareholder credits are being used. I'm not sure about how O does it, but most lines will use up non-refundable OBC first before delving into any refundable credit. My TA OBC is always refundable, so my Shareholder credit will go away first.

There is a sales concept referred to as "FOMO" which stands for Fear Of Missing Out. You see it in practice all the time on television ads. "When they're gone their gone... Hurry, while supplies last.. etc.. This is the same thing. Create a sense of urgency to incentivize consumer action.

No, the promo says the second guest sails free.

I've received a few emails saying the second guest sails free promo will be ending soon. I don't really have any more details as I've been deleting them without really reading them. Maybe that's what the TA meant.

So, now I have an answer to my question. On January 17, 2024, I submitted my Shareholder OBC request for my cruise coming up in September (just about nine months before the cruise.) I got the initial email confirming receipt of the request, but I have heard nothing since. I just now went into my booking, and I can see that they have added the OBC to my account. It was weird how they posted it though. Half was showing under my name and the other half was showing under my wife's name. I signed into my account, clicked on the box "Manage Your Account" and under "My Account: Overview" it was showing "My Next Cruise." Just to the right of the Booking # is a blue field "My Total Credits." When I clicked on that blue lettering, it opened up a new page showing my stateroom number, our names and under that is a gold-colored box labeled "My Credits." Directly below that box is a blue field "View Credits." Click those blue words and a new popup screen will present showing your available OBC. The first line for both my wife and me shows "COMPLIMENTARY SHIPBOARD CREDIT - NCLH SHAREHOLDER" and the amount assigned to each of us. I hope this helps you find out if the credits have been applied.

If you come in a couple of days early, try to take the Circle Line Harbor Lights Cruise. It is a sunset cruise which only goes around the Southern Tip of Manhattan, turns around at the UN building and the lights of the financial district start coming on. It is a breathtaking view of the Statue of Liberty and the financial district buildings at night. You can read more here: Harbor Lights | NYC at Night Boat Tour | Circle Line Cruises Here is a 45 second preview. This is really what it will look like:

That's why I take a limited amount of cash ashore. I don't want to have to deal through a third party I know nothing about in order to get a refund on my AMEXcard because of an issue with the merchant.

Although you would be entering the credit card information into the Princess App, when you enter your CC information into the Shoreside Transactions, you are authorizing Princess to share your credit card info with a different company called "Radiqal Gaming, LLC." I have never heard of this company. I choose with whom I share my personal information, not John Padgett, and I don't have any interest in sharing my information with some other company who may share this information with anyone they choose. No thanks.

Will you be staying at a hotel the night before your cruise? If it is a cruise port hotel, they've probably had requests for Medallions to be shipped to the hotel. Call the front desk or concierge and find out if they'll hold your medallion package until you check in. Worst case scenario would be that you would need to go into the blue lane at the terminal if it doesn't show up when you check into the hotel. (It looks like you were planning to do that in the first place anyway) Just a thought.

Glad to help. This is what these boards are for. I also didn't have to purchase a pre-paid card, I had a rebate visa card from a purchase I made. 🙂

How soon can you apply for the Shareholder OBC? I know they want it at least 15 days before sailing, but what is the beginning of the window period? Thanks

Whatever, the Haven guests will board first. When you arrive at the terminal, you may or may not have a dedicated Haven line for security, but after passing security, you will wait in a Haven (VIP) lounge in the terminal. While waiting in the haven lounge, the concierge and asst concierge will check your passports and boarding documents and you should have an opportunity to book specialty dining and shows. There are usually non-alcoholic beverages and snacks available while you wait. Once the ship is cleared for boarding, the concierge or other Haven dedicated waiter will escort you to a dedicated Haven only elevator and whisks you directly into the Haven lounge area while you wait for you stateroom to be cleared. Coordinate your car drop for whatever works best for you to arrive.

@graphicguy - That's not fair!!!! You are just simply whetting my appetite. 😃

Wow! Keep me in mind if you find a deal like that again!! (Our luggage really enjoys their own bedroom.) 😊

I really like the Haven on Epic. I just wondering if the $4,700 was per passenger or was this a huge deal if it was for the cabin? I am also a fan of the 2BR Villas.

I use an online TA company which discounts my cruises with refundable OBC. When I don't spend it, I get my substantial discount. @RocketMan275 - I have AMEX Gold and they keep trying to get me to take the Platinum. We aren't big air travelers, so access to airport lounges isn't a draw for us. What does it do for cruises? I may have been missing out on a perk as I book all of my cruises on the AMEX card.