jmadams

7 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

From Wikipedia........

 

Boxing Day is a secular holiday celebrated the day after Christmas Day. It originated in the United Kingdom and is celebrated in a number of countries that previously formed part of the British Empire. Boxing Day is on 26 December, although the attached bank holiday or public holidaymay take place either on that day or two days later.

In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect "Christmas boxes" of money or presents on the first weekday after Christmas as thanks for good service throughout the year.^[5] This is mentioned in Samuel Pepys' diary entry for 19 December 1663.^[6] This custom is linked to an older British tradition where the servants of the wealthy were allowed the next day to visit their families since they would have to serve their masters on Christmas Day. The employers would give each servant a box to take home containing gifts, bonuses, and sometimes leftover food. Until the late 20th century there continued to be a tradition among many in the UK to give a Christmas gift, usually cash, to vendors although not on Boxing Day as many would not work on that day.

thx

 thanks,  I didn’t know the dates.  people seem to  celebrate early. Went to a Mexican restaurant today and they had all of their day of the dead decorations out.  made me feel better about bringing a bunch of decorations with me because I guess it’s not too early.

on a side note, i’m still confused by boxing day.  I know it’s a holiday the British celebrate after Christmas Day but I don’t know why.

If I were actually cruising on Halloween I would bring a costume. I’m just going from October 14 to the 19th so I’m not expecting princes to do all that much.   However, the day of the dead should be celebrated in Cabo. My daughter-in-law likes Day of the dead decorations so I’m hoping I can pick something for her up in Cabo.

Another sister of mine is wearing her Sally costume from a nightmare before Christmas. 

It might also because because they’re currently doing massive software updates and changes to their platform. If you go to the App Store and look under the developer of the MedallionClass™, go to their site you’ll see they’re developing these apps and connectivity for three different cruise companies, same parent co.

2 hours ago, vampiress said:

everything i'm bringing to wear next week is skulls, bats, crows or ghosts.  🙂  for me everyday is halloween, but i'm going to live it up on the cruise.

 

 my sister just got her nails done in black with Halloween accents.   i’m just wearing a Day of the dead shirt and another skull shirt.  I tend to wear more harry potter clothes 😎

thx

Has anyone ever been able to see any bioluminescent  sea critters (jellyfish, algae)?   Would the lights from the ship prevent us from seeing anything? 

Does anyone know if they can make skinny (low sugar) versions of drinks like margaritas and piña colada‘s? 

I had a bad car accident years ago and damage my right arm, can’t crochet or knit anymore but I can still do Cross stitch. Maybe I should bring a cheapie Crosstitch or embroidery kit with me. I already have a Halloween horror coloring book I’m bringing.  One of my sisters likes to color with me. We used to do Crosstitch together but  she manages an LA library and never has time. ☹️   i’ve never been real good at just sitting still. I need my iPad or something else to do...

 I am so glad other crafters cruise. 

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

Also if you use something like the OP suggested wouldn't it require a unlimited internet package? 

Yes you do or it could cost you a quite a bit.  I’m embarrassed to admit I bought myself one for my phone  and didn’t realize my sister bought a package for all four of us.  I will use the second one for my iPad.   You can only register one device per account but you can set your device up as a temporary  Hotspot.

I’m really hoping I can get my internet set up why I wait to embark.  Its not real clear how you get your passwords  and connection info,  from my stateroom?   Too much to hope that they’ll automatically detect me.

Will most of the features of the new MedallionClass™ apps work while I’m waiting to embark or do I actually have to wait until I am on the ship?  I wanna try and see if I can use some of the apps that way if I have any problems I can ask for help at the CC sail away party!   Plus I’m gonna have to show my mom how to use them.   She was unable to do the OceanReady® herself.

10 hours ago, Dublin_Ca said:

You mentioned an Apple TV, have you tried just using the Apple Digital Video Adapter on the iPad?  Plugs into the lightning port and it provides an HDMI & a lightning port (for charging while watching).  This would eliminate having to take the Apple TV.  This is the setup we use when traveling.  Our November Hawaii Cruise on the Grand will be my first test on Princess.  We last used this on RCCL’s Anthem.  

I think I have the adapter you’re referring to. I got one so I could hook up a projector to an older iPad. I was playing It’s a great pumpkin Charlie Brown on my garage one Halloween for the trick-or-treaters.  Sometimes it’s easier just to watch stuff on the iPad by yourself but harder with others.

11 hours ago, fredflint said:

Yes we are the weird people that in the afternoon will go back to our room to relax and watch TV.

 only a cool person own a Komondor Mr. Flint 🙂 ( my apologies if it’s a white puli)

There’s other content to watch besides streaming. I download movies to my iPad and play them back on my Apple TV to watch with my family.   I have enough to binge watch two series.  I’m probably only going to stream Survivor because Boston Rob is back.  I am going to be on the Royal on a Mexican cruise.  It’s been recently updated so everything should be current.

Sounds like a hassle. I’ll be in a mini suite, don’t need a shelf but I have to change the input.   This is a problem I sometime encountered at hotels. The remotes don’t allow you to switch the input and TVs have few buttons.  I’ve been able to access ports and change inputs in some nursing homes and hospitals. 

Cruise lines that cater to kids probably have accessible ports for video games. Hotels near Disney and other parks offer this feature. 

Does anyone know if the television sets on princess cruises have accessible HDMI ports?  I am sure people bring Roku‘s, Kindle fire TVs, and Apple TVs etc, right?

I am new to cruising and I really want to sleep on my balcony at least one night. Anyone ever do this? I was thinking I could take the mattress from the sofa bed and put it on the balcony. I’ve read you can also request an extra pad for the sofa bed to make it softer.

If I’m sleeping inside, will it be convenient/a good idea to leave the door open? I have read people prop the door with a chair or sometimes bring bungee cords or duct tape.

I have a problem with insomnia. Is the cruiseship empty at night?  If I am on one of the decks walking at 3 AM will I be alone?   I am really glad the international café is 24/7,  I’m used to having hot tea anytime I want… 🤓

Does ON refer to the Ocean Now app?

Thanks everyone for your responses. When I go to a Disney park, I make some thank you envelopes and pre-stuff them with tips before I leave home.  I’ll do the same thing this time!   I will also grab a bunch of thank you cards for my family and I to fill out.

OK you guys are really clearing things up for me and yes it is my first cruise. I probably should have just asked how much cash to bring.  I really don’t know what standard tipping protocol is on cruising.   At a hotel I plan on tipping daily.   I will let my Stewart know that family members are in the cabin next door. I’m going to ask them to open up the balcony.

When do you guys use cash on the ship? 

I read some people bring gifts to leave their Stewart’s. I am doing a mid October Cabo cruise, so Halloween/Day of the Dead is coming up. 

I want to give our steward an extra tip to make sure I get good service. What’s considered a good tip per day/person?  My mother and sister are in the next room and I want to cover their tip also. Do you think we will have the same Steward? They are not connecting cabins.

I may not eat in the same dining room twice on this cruise.  I was thinking of going to the purses office and just increasing my tips to 20% and not bring cash with me for extra dining/drinking tips. What are most people do to make it easy? 

Thanks for your help guys. Your tips are very useful. It makes my planning fun!

Jean

Thanks everyone for your helpful responses.

I am a first time cruiser checking out deck plans.  It looks like there little access to the outdoor Promenade Deck.  Can I get on the deck from the Princess Theater?   I saw an older version of the deck plans for the royal princess where you could. It looks like it’s now completely blocked off. The plans make the Promenade Deck look like four large balconies.  😞

I don’t see any public lower aft view balconies.  Anyone know why princess chose to make the outer lower decks on larger ships almost inaccessible to passengers?  Is the Skywalk suppose to be a substitute?

Jean

13 hours ago, idahospud said:

On the Royal right now. Straight out of today's Patter...only the ones open today on embarkation day, I think.

Thanks for the Patter clip idahospud.  Princess must have recently renamed the Piazza Bar to Good Spirits at Sea on Deck 5. Their website deck plans are older.