pablo222

21 hours ago, SargassoPirate said:

The library doesn't produce any revenue. Just like a promenade deck that goes all the way around the ship. It's all about the $$$$.

On some NCL, there are sports bar like places on the promenade --- bars and big-screen TVs.

On 10/24/2019 at 12:56 PM, vjmatty said:

 

My dad always said “I’ve never seen a hearse towing a U-haul”

 

😉

He needs to go to more cruiser funerals.

11 hours ago, FloaterBoat said:

I really appreciate your insight! I'm bookmarking this page. Boarding in 11 days.  Will be trying it out then.  We're on for 2 weeks, so fully hoping it works as planned.  We'll stream so much. We watch tv when we turn in for the night, and the shows on the ship get drab after a while. Will be excellent to binge some of our shows and watch movies.

I would be very interested in your chromecast experience, if you have time to post after you return.

Thank you.

On 10/20/2019 at 4:19 AM, bobstheboy said:

I can't think of a worse way to pass an hour, especially if some people have a win at all costs attitude.

How 'bout an hour of dental surgery?

Lots of people seem to enjoy trivia.

8 hours ago, Daniel A said:

You can indicate you prefer to pick them up at the port as well.

That's pretty easy.  

17 hours ago, CineGraphic said:

We had a wonderful time, and as I said earlier, I will request extra towels to place on the floor.

I once saw an interview with Howie Mandel, who is a huge germophobe...

When he checks into a hotel, he requests  a zillion towels from housekeeping, and

simply covers the entire floor.

I think one pool towel would completely cover the bathroom...

On 10/9/2019 at 4:50 PM, CineGraphic said:

No...I have no plans of scrubbing or steaming any floors while on vacation. This is regular maintenance that I would expect Princess to perform on a as-needed basis. Certainly after 15 years as in the case of the Caribbean Princess, it's long overdue.

Obviously Princess is not meeting your expectations as a customer.

Time to try another cruise line!

Maybe you can book with Karateman who is distressed about the water pressure in the shower...

If I were concerned about the bathroom floor -- I would simply put down some towels

to walk on, and go on with my life.

On 9/3/2019 at 3:00 PM, Potstech said:

Want to give them a gift?  Give them a calling card that can be used to make International Calls. No storage needed and they can call their families when they get the chance. This was from several crew members we have meet on excursions.

Most ships now have a monthly, unlimited internet plan available to crew.

Facetime, Skype, Viber, etc.

No need and longer for calling cards...

However, it's always nice to read when someone wants to do something extra for crew...

2 hours ago, jennybenny said:

With the turn around on the current mail it sounds complicated. I’d feel

more comfortable updating the address so there isn’t a trip to Michigan.

If your medallion goes astray in the mail...

And you show up at the port to board, without a medallion...

Wouldn't they simply give you a new medallion?

Given Princess' spectacular service implementing the medallion, I'm sure that has

already happened at least once...

On 10/14/2019 at 9:11 AM, billco said:

Doesn't matter what other cruise lines are doing. MedallionNet is advertised as the fastest wifi at sea.

Princess' MedallionNet and Royal Caribbean's Voom use the same service.

I don't see how one can be the fastest.

Royal Carribbean also says they have the fastest internet at sea:

https://www.royalcaribbean.com/booked/cruise-ship-wifi

One of the two companies must be funnin' us...

I checked the princess link, and they say "The best wi-fi at sea"

https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/ocean-medallion/medallionnet/

I don't think anyone really cares about the best wifi.    Folks say wifi when they mean interenet speed...

10 hours ago, bemis12 said:

 

Honesty and personal integrity usually take a back seat to "free stuff".

I like free stuff.   When it is intended to be free.

But, my mom taught me not to steal.

38 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

I won't use something like that either, but how will they prevent those who don't have the coke package from using them?  Will you have to scan your medallion to unlock the machine?  What's to prevent others from filling up while you are close by?

Honesty?   Personal integrity?

One could send this onboard, and ask for carbonated water at a bar...

https://www.amazon.com/Diet-Coke-Soda-Syrup-Gallon/dp/B00HEXSJDG

On 10/12/2019 at 11:38 AM, Daniel A said:

That's very interesting because PE's web site says only ticketed passengers are allowed into the port without getting a visitor's badge.

There are lots of people entering port everglades.   For instance, what about picking up your friends returning from a cruise?

I have entered port everglades many, many times.    Show government issued I.D.   No problem.

Once, I got a visitor badge that I was supposed to wear.

About 2-dozen times I got a hang tag for the car that showed I was there for only the day.

Now, just show I.D.

It probably depends on MARSEC level.

A couple years ago they moved terminal one and two outside the security checkpoint on eisenhowser blvd.

(or, they moved the security checkpoint further south)

This fun thread has a poster arguing and arguing that this isn't true, even disagreeing with CKJSKIDS and finally realizing that there is

more than one entrance to port everglades:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2489856-passport-card

On 10/13/2019 at 1:31 AM, antsp said:

P and O now include tips as standard due to high removal rates

I wish princess would follow this.

I don't mind paying my share; but I resent paying when others skate...

7 hours ago, Thrak said:

Don't believe them all.

But, if I don't believe them all, I can't believe yours.

What to do, what to do...

5 hours ago, idahospud said:

That was me who spoke to him directly (while onboard a MedallionClass ship) about the requirement to carry a Medallion. I'm currently on my 12th Medallion cruise and it was not a requirement back then and it is still not a requirement. In fact, I went to guest services just last month to get a cruise card, just to be sure it could happen. It can. If you don't want the Medallion, guest services will print a card for you. 

Thank you for checking, and reporting here.

First hand reports are far more valuable than crazy posts by 'some guy on the interenet'.

(who I only rely on for stock advice)

6 hours ago, Haboob said:

But if they still send MOB alerts to the Bridge when a Medallion disappears from a weather deck, and you made a habit of waiting till you were out there to put yours into an anti-RFID  wallet?  Yeah, you'd probably get a "please put it away first or wait till you come back inside" visit.

I'll keep that in mind for my upcoming cruise on the Fantasy Princess...

I the the awesome Global Innovators need to hire some even more awesome Global Testers.

20 hours ago, compozer said:

I just read that the wildfires are close to headquarters so maybe their electricity has been turned off.  

What kind of a company would not have a disaster recovery site, ready to swap in, in such a situation?

2 hours ago, paradiselivin1 said:

By reading the fine print.... 

**3 for FREE perks applies to the below

^††FREE Gratuities are based on the pre-payment, by Princess Cruises, on behalf of the guest.

Not the question.

How can you know that the crew in the tipping pool gets the same amount when gratuities are included,

vs. when a passenger pays the hotel charge?

Which I think was the question of the original poster.

So, that's my question ... how can you know the correct answer?

I'd be surprised if some princess executive (one who does know the answer) would post it here.

Princess has a thousand ways to nickle-and-dime crew, so personally, I wouldn't assume...

2 hours ago, paradiselivin1 said:

They ARE paid. Just not by you. Think of it as folded into the price of your cruise.

How are you in a position to know this?

Thanks.

On 10/4/2019 at 10:28 AM, isosika said:

I've read nearly every post that I can find ref the Medallion, mostly because I've never been on a Medallion cruise but have one coming up.  I am not an inexperienced cruiser, having been on 22 with numbers 23, 24 & 25 booked.  Here is my take after reading everything.

 

The Medallion is NOT being put in place for the passenger at this time but if it doesn't evolve that way the program will be a flop.  It is being put in place for the business purposes of Princess with a few passenger convenient  programs that will evolve to a higher state later.  There are a few niceties now but more will likely be added as the program matures.

 

Agree completely.

The trendy term for what you describe is "monetizing customer behaviour".

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-carnival-te2-orlando-20170109-story.html

On 10/2/2019 at 10:56 AM, Haboob said:

 

If a Medallion was last detected on a weather deck, it either was tossed overboard (which will earn a chat with Security) or carried overboard.

About a year ago, you claimed that security would stop someone without a medallion.

A gentle poster here directly question John Padgett while on board, and reported that there is no requirement to carry a medallion.

Odd that you keep posting the same nonsense...

And, of course, my medallion might 'disappear' when I put it in an rfid shielding wallet.

I would expect zero consequences from doing so.

On 10/6/2019 at 10:19 AM, PaperSniper4 said:

I'm the OP. Hoping for assignment to the Da Vinci. I plan to meet with the Maitre d'  soon after boarding in the hope he can get me a shorter walk to our MDR. When I booked this cruise the distance to the MDR was not an issue; unfortunately, it is now.

 

My experience -- on the first afternoon if you go to meet with the maitre d' ...

There will be a hostess to either give you a number, or seat you in order...

Often they know the details of your assigned dining.   You can verify if they have given you

what you want, and potentially skip the wait.

5 hours ago, Ombud said:

Actually lines are cutting out a lot of single use plastics (balloons,  toiletries, straws, and wouldn't be surprised if there was more) 👍

Please let us know when the USPH updates their regulations to not require food handlers to wear gloves...