Florida Paesano

I've experienced this same situation since trying to book a cruise on the website for 3 days. The only way I was able to get the cruise booked was by calling the toll-free number for Princess.  I have also experienced the browser issue previously but I've been unable to book using either Chrome or Edge browsers even after both clearing the browser histories and restarting my laptop.  I'm going out on a limb thinking it's PCL's IT department striking again.  Bottom line is my advice is to call and book over the phone.  Also, if you have a Princess Cruise Vacation Planner and are able to reach that person then that's another option.  

Just got off the Sky yesterday (2nd-9th March) sailing - no bags on that sailing per room steward.

Got one on the Sky in December.  It was branded as Holland America and the person delivering it to the cabin said it was because we had purchased the coffee package.  We did not get one on the Regal this month and also had the coffee package.  It appears inconsistent in how/when they are given. 

1 hour ago, ontheweb said:

A little bit of money as you say, but a lot of ill will that Carnival (and Carnival alone among the lines owned by Carnival Corporation) is producing. They have taken a marketing tool and turned it into a negative factor. JMHO.

Well stated and I couldn't agree more.

I'm not certain my current experience is the same as yours but I have not been able to get this same type of payment history information with gift cards I purchased (from Allstate Rewards.)  All (6) of the gift cards I received had zero balances.  So far, Allstate Rewards has pointed their finger to place the blame of not being able to get this information from the vendor they use to purchase and process the gift cards and have not shifted the blame claiming Princess is not providing them with this information.  Upon my initial call to Allstate Rewards, the representative raved about how Princess was excellent at keeping these records and always so prompt at addressing inquiries regarding the gift cards.  Just days from being a month from my initial phone call to Allstate Rewards, I had no choice but to dispute the charges on the credit card I used to purchase the gift cards.  I'm hopeful the credit card company will be able to get a favorable resolution for me.  If you purchased your gift cards with a credit care, I can only suggest exercising the charge dispute option if you are having trouble with getting this same information and hope you are also successful.  I will not be ordering any items from Allstate Rewards again. 

On the Horizon in September, the two of us were assigned to a table for four and there were two women already seated at this table when we arrived.   I'm not sure who had the more surprised look on their faces, us or them.  We never sat down and just went to the Maitre'D and were changed to another table that allowed us to distance from others not in our travel group of two.  On the Sunrise in September, the two of us were assigned to a table with eight others. Again, we asked the Maitre'D for a table that allowed us to distance and were accommodated.  I was surprised we were not initially assigned a table only for the two of us given the reduced number of passengers on each of these sailing.  It's ironic because pre-pandemic we almost always were assigned a table for just the two of us when we were hoping to meet others during MDR assigned dining.  

We have used Walgreens twice now in both September and October and always received our test results within an hour of taking the test.  The quoted time to receive results has always been given as within 24 hours but it has never taken this long. Maybe the result times vary by location/area but we have been very pleased with our testing experiences at Walgreens. 

We just had a similar need and experienced and was unable to get in contact with our Cruise Vacation Planner as well despite calling their extension and leaving a message after having sent them an email requesting contact four days prior.  I ended up just calling the sales number listed on the website and reached a very pleasant representative after a very short (couple of minutes) wait on hold.  The rep was able to cancel our original booking and get our funds moved to a future cruise that we had already selected.  Interesting that within an hour I saw I had missed a call from the elusive Cruise Vacation Planner.  We will just continue booking our own Princess cruises now.  Hope you have the same good results as I had if you opt to call the sales/book a cruise number/option.  

2 hours ago, ScottsSweetie said:

I'd be curious to know if people receiving or not receiving the email has anything to do with booking through a TA. I booked on-line myself at Carnival's site and received two identical emails about 3 hours apart on the day this new protocol was announced.

Booked directly with Carnival and have not received any email advising of this new requirement from either Carnival or our Carnival PVP.  As others have noted, I get all of their other email so they have my correct information.

8 hours ago, ontheweb said:

I wonder if it is the same with Princess. The difference being that Princess would allow you to use that OBC precruise for excursions if it showed up before being onboard. (Come to think of it did show up early on the 2020 summer Princess cruise that we booked that of course never sailed, but you never know what has changed post Covid.)

We submitted requests for the Shareholder benefit to both Carnival and Princess just after 7am EDT this Monday.  I happened to be logged in to my Princess account later in the day at 3pm EDT to check something on one of those cruises and noticed the Shareholder OBC had already been applied. Wow that was fast.  I'm expecting Carnival to take a while from what others have been reporting. Hope you and others experience this same quick service from Princess.

No

This OBC offer is nothing but a scam.  Approved on the 16th November 2020 but still not applied to booking and Princess representatives are claiming it has already been applied.  Cruise Vacation Planner not responding to my inquiries regarding this either.  If others have been successful in getting this OBC offer applied then I am happy for you.  I'm glad I held off sending the letter of appreciation to the Princess suits I was going to send on behalf of Princess extending this offer.  I'm very dissatisfied with Princess' customer service and this scam of an offer, in my opinion, has only created ill will.

I was approved for this credit and after about two weeks the OBC amount did show up under Onboard Credits.  Our Cruise Vacation Planner said he would get it applied to our newly booked (prior to the 7th of December) November 2021 (3 day) cruise.  Not only did this OBC never show as having been applied to the booking, it is now gone from the Onboard Credits and today the entire booking is gone also.  I have not received any communication from Princess that this sailing has been cancelled.  

FWIW - I applied and was also verified within just a very short few minutes.  Our Cruise Vacation Planner advised that it may take up to the 7th December for the OBC to be posted.  I'll be checking online myself but nice to know our CVP has set a reminder to check himself on the 4th December too.  

You're welcome and glad you were able to find the numbers.  

You can always do a mock booking and when you get to this section select the "Forgot your VIFP Club Number?" and search for the numbers this way. (Screen shot below edited to show fields to which I'm referring.)

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Country of residence

 

State of Residency

55+ years old

Military/Select Promotional Programs

Show rates for VIFP Club or Past Guest

Forgot your VIFP Club Number?

I see cruises out of Miami for various dates throughout December 2022 right now.

3 hours ago, bury me at sea said:

Good afternoon all.  For 5K

 

DRIVEWISE2020CASH

5K thanks to you 🛳️

My recent (July and August) requests by email were denied.  I received a reply via email advising the shareholder benefit request is not accepted by email and that I need to fax or snail mail the requests. After sending the requests by fax, the I noticed the OBC was applied within 7-10 days.   

On 9/2/2020 at 11:41 AM, CineGraphic said:

Yes there is, and it's plainly printed on the required form.

 

688962538_PrincessShareholderRequestFormFinal.pdf 156.42 kB · 6 downloads

 

Thank you for providing this info including the Shareholder Request Form.  I was able to open this one and download it.  Appreciate your guidance and appreciate Princess allowing the request form to be submitted via email!  

38 minutes ago, EllaDuChien said:

Zena - I was able to call and get my Final Payment pushed out to 30 days.  Maybe that would at least give you a bit more time to decide.

I called and was only able to get my final payment extended 7 days (yes, just one week.)  This extension was of no benefit to me and the final payment would have still been due prior to the ultimate cancellation of October sailings.  I have read of EllaDuChien's and other's experiences which resulted in more of an extension.  So, if you do call requesting an extension and do not like the answer you get, you may want to politely end that call and redial and see if you get better results from another representative. YMMV.  

I won't take a test.  I have nothing against being tested. However,  given the current false positive, false negative, accuracy factors,  a negative test result does not indicate anyone is truly negative.  If exposed to the virus and still within the incubation period for it, a negative result would mean nothing to me.  I love cruising but will wait for at least a vaccine and/or effective treatments.  

No, I will not cruise if a mask is required.  

3 hours ago, PhillyFan33579 said:

That’s one thing that worries me about Carnival, they are terrible at enforcing their own rules (MDR dress code, smoking in non-designated areas including balconies, allowing passengers to save lounge chairs for hours, allowing people with Cheers to share drinks, waiting in ports for over 2 hours for people who are late returning to the ship, etc.): Carnival’s focus on having Fun at all costs and looking the other way when passengers violate their rules will be a major hurdle for them when they resume operations. 

 Well stated and I agree it will be a major hurdle for Carnival when operations resume.  Carnival is very negligent about enforcing their own rules.  

I'm looking at the website right now and cruises to Caribbean destinations are available.  I am able to do a mock booking and get all the way to logging in to complete the booking.  Maybe it was another website glitch?