beckntom

On 8/9/2023 at 8:18 PM, cr8tiv1 said:

Bureaucracy at its finest.  Chatted with Medicare to get help in filling out my claim form.  Got it in the mail this afternoon.  Now it is a wait and see game.  Up to 60 days for Medicare to review claim (to be denied), passed on to my Secondary Insurance, wait for them to send me an Explanation of Benefits...then upload to AON.  Maybe I will know something before my 2025 final payment is due. 

You may need a lot of patience.  My husband had a terrible accident at the Civitavecchia port terminal on November 17, 2022.  He was in Italy hospitals until December 3, 2022, before we were finally able to return home.  I didn't get our trip interruption claim filed until the end of that month because we were so busy with "getting well."  By the time it made it through all the hoops, AON finalized the claim on July 12, 2023.  Never once did they have to ask us for additional information or documentation, which means the delay in the process was all on AON, not on us (or our Medicare/private insurance).

On 4/8/2023 at 7:26 PM, talkorpi said:

It’s funny - the morning after the second port cancellation, people were screaming at the crew and fellow passengers about how horrible this was and how they couldn’t WAIT to get off the ship for good. Now, suddenly, nobody wants to get off anymore.

Missing two ports would not have ruined this cruise for us. Witnessing shameful passenger behavior like this might have.  

19 hours ago, partybarbie said:

My favorites are the Milky Way, the Bugsy, the Cosmopolitan, and the Raspberry Creme Brûlée. I did like the Baked Alaska and Margatini. The Toasted Almond is good too. In the Explorer’s bar, on Ruby Princess, they make a drink called the Mayan Heat. It’s sweet and spicy. I had the first one on the rocks, but liked it even better straight up in a martini glass.

Hi.  I'm always on a search for a "spicy" or "savory" cocktail/martini (other than a Bloody Mary).  I will definitely be requesting a Mayan Heat after reviewing Princess's recipe for it.  Is it shown in any of the pictures you posted?

1 hour ago, chrysalis said:

....and the crossing portion will be down to 1500 passenger.

Oh, that's fabulous!  Since the TA is basically a "cold weather" cruise, I was anticipating throngs of people inside versus out on the pool decks!

On 9/8/2022 at 6:15 PM, Kay S said:

.... After that, I'm gone from Princess forever.  They have completely ruined the dining experience for me.

Our thoughts--and plans--exactly!  The Traditional Dining experience was too important to us.

9 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

The checkin counter. They will direct you

to the correct line, or just ask. At least that’s how it’s worked in the US ports, can’t speak for the foreign ports.

Thank you.  We do board in Civitavecchia.  

7 minutes ago, Tedferg said:

WE have just one cruise booked and went from Blue to Green when I clicked to say 'Pick up Medallion at Pier'

Me, too.  Which now begs the question . . . Where do we get our medallions at the pier?  I don't want to stand in the wrong line for them and then be sent to another line.

48 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

The way I understand it is that people who prefer the tradition dining style can still tailor it to their liking with who they want to eat with. They can also specify a time which has never been available prior. We've haven't chosen traditional in many years but isn't this an improvement? 

Absolutely not for us.  We loved the old Traditional Dining because it gave us the opportunity to enjoy dinner with the same group of people--whom we met on the first night--and get to know them well over the course of the cruise.  We remain in contact with friends from those evenings.  As it stands now, even if you're able to arrange the same table and servers each night at a shared table, you will be with new cruisers each night.  Every night's conversation will begin with the basics, starting with "where are you from?"  It's difficult to make true friends with nothing more than one night of those basic conversations.

We are truly going to miss Traditional Dining.

Your photos are stunning.  Thanks for sharing them AND your report!  Looking forward to being on the Regal in November from Rome to Fort Lauderdale.  And being in Rome for a few nights at the Albergo del Senato!  We do love Rome.

18 hours ago, karabear15 said:

This makes me so happy, as we will be doing a tour with the same company as well as staying at the same hotel.  I can't wait to see the Piazza at night, one of the reasons I booked one of their higher category rooms!

We have "been there, done that"--four tours with Rome in Limo and three transfers (FCO to hotel; hotel to port; port to FCO).  Rome in Limo cannot be faulted for a single thing!  Tours are wonderful, and the company is absolutely dependable AND so prompt in answering e-mail inquiries.  We also stayed at the Albergo del Senato, and were not disappointed in any aspect.  Yes, the piazza is a happening place at night!  So is the rooftop bar with the fabulous views, I hear, if you are there "in season" for the rooftop to be open.  Sadly, we were not, and definitely won't be for our stay this November.  Can't wait!

1 hour ago, Coral said:

If you are looking at August pricing now, it is due to low demand this summer. 

 

They don't know demand for next summer. Prices always seem high when they first come out. Sometimes they go down due to demand, other times they stay high. 

Bingo!

1 hour ago, 1emerald1 said:

Hi Becky, If I'd known that I would have given you my 150 minutes!  Did not use the internet at all.  Hoped you enjoyed the coastal part of the cruise.

 

Your former neighbor,

Sheryl

Hi, Sheryl!  Missed you on the Coastal.  Could have used those minutes because I "burned" mine several times when I forgot to log off.  Internet manager reinstated them, even though he did roll his eyes a time or two.  Hope to see you on another cruise! 

28 minutes ago, geoherb said:

His explanation is that is how Princess does things for passengers on back-to-back cruises on the ships with Medallion Net—treats them as one booking even if booked back-to-back with separate cruise booking numbers. That’s not an acceptable answer for me. I’ll ask the Captain’s Circle hostess when I see her.

 

The same thing happened to us on our B2B on the Royal in April/May.  That is, we only got 250 minutes.  But the internet manager quickly rectified the situation when we spoke to him.  You are certainly entitled to the remaining minutes, so keep asking.  I know you will. 😊

1 hour ago, ExploringTheGlobe said:

I hate the new search page also.  I don't find it very user friendly but I found a way around it, at least for now.  I bookmarked the old search address and it allows me to search through the old method.  https://www.princess.com/find/search.do

Thank you SO much!  The new format has been such an irritation for me.  I definitely have this link bookmarked for my future cruise searches!

On 5/25/2019 at 1:15 PM, steelers36 said:

Okay, sounds interesting.  But I am no Martini expert.  With those ingredients how does it even qualify as a Martini?

 

Sorry it took me so long to see your excellent question.  Unfortunately, I don't have the answer.  My guess is because it's served in a martini glass.   

1 hour ago, history_bits said:

 

All this being said, I would strongly suggest that Princess offer a small token as a thank you for filling out the whole survey. Say.... a $25 onboard credit for next cruise? Free dinner for one? I dunno. Something to acknowledge that they know it's long and they are grateful. 

 Thank you for your entire response as it was very enlightening.  I especially liked this part.   I think if Princess doesn't do SOMETHING that validates the time and energy I have expended . . . my last survey may be just that--the last.

The survey is ridiculously long!  And I wish they would tell you in the beginning that you will have an opportunity toward the end to make commendations.  I was trying to squish them in under the various topics before I realized/remembered there would be specific space much later for those.  The survey is really not well put together at all.  And did we mention long?

1 hour ago, NoWhiners said:

Most of my likes/dislikes have been covered but one huge dislike for us--the music in the Atrium is way too loud!! Can hardly hear the person seated next to you. There are so many hard surfaces in that area (all 3 decks worth!), that there is no reason to pump up the music volume. We avoided this area as much as we could. We ended up having after drinks outside Princess Live or in the hall around the corner from the Wheelhouse.

 

This was on the TA and continuation around the BI in April/May 2018. Maybe it's not as bad now?

No, the loud music is still just as bad, and darn it, I forgot to mention it on my survey.  I totally intended to, because it made for a couple of unpleasant Crooners visits.  What a shame.

18 minutes ago, CRUISEWITHH said:

I also felt this way.  Passenger Services were not friendly or informed.  

Those of you who complained on your post-cruise surveys must have been heard loud and clear.  On our recent Royal b2b (4-27 with 5-4), the Passenger Services desk was staffed with the friendliest, most willing to help personnel I have ever seen there.  I was totally impressed and mentioned it on MY survey.  I couldn't have been happier with the smiles and service I received there.

11 hours ago, suzyed said:

What's in the Bugsy?

 

All kinds of good stuff.   I found this ingredient list:  Irish Cream, Creme de Menthe White, espresso coffee, and cream.  It's a great after-dinner martini to enjoy at Crooners.

47 minutes ago, partybarbie said:

My favorite martinis are the Key Lime Pie, Milky Way, Ultimate Cosmo, and the Bugsy.  I also like the pineapple mojito, but I tell them light on the sugar syrup.  

Darn!  I forgot to try that Pineapple Mojito you told me about at the beginning of the pub crawl!  I guess I need to get on another cruise soon.  

My favorite martini is the Lemon Drop, aka Lemontini.  Do also love the Bugsy.

Enjoyed meeting you two.

58 minutes ago, Astro Flyer said:

That was our experience on those B2B 7-day cruises but before purchasing the coffee program we confirmed with a barista that it would carryover to the 2nd cruise.  She recommended going to the PSD near the end of the 1st cruise to reconfirm it would continue on the 2nd cruise which it did for us.

 

Also the 7 bottle wine package we purchased on the 1st cruise was valid on the 2nd cruise.  If not we could get all bottles before the end of the 1st cruise & carry them to the dining room because they were purchased from Princess.

 

I know that you’re aware that these cruises could not be booked as a single 14 day cruise but since that’s often asked have added it here.  Although as you wrote, hopefully this will be the standard fleetwide & not another example of Princess being consistently inconsistent.

Good to hear from you, Frank.  I hope you are enjoying the continuation of your holiday.

Friends and tablemates on a b2b of the Royal on 4-27 and 5-4 reported that their unused coffee packages from the 4-27 cruise carried over to their 5-4 cruise.  I hope that holds true on any Princess ship, but one never knows.

On 5/8/2019 at 4:36 PM, compozer said:

There use to be a sewing kit but we did not get it last time.  And wouldn't you know, I needed it.

I happened to spot these kits on our steward's cart last week on the Royal Princess.  So maybe just ask and ye shall receive.  Or maybe not.  

1 hour ago, CineGraphic said:

I'm booked on the Enchanted 2020 TA, and it's almost sold out already, so when sale time comes around, this sailing wont be included. You can't put on sale, what you don't have to sell. This means no re-faring, no free gratuities, no free obc.

I usually re-fare during the 3 for Free sale, as it's combinable with my casino discount.

I'm not too sure if I'm willing to give up free grats, and obc simply because this is the ship's first time crossing the Atlantic.

I'm considering the same thing (we are also booked on the Enchanted 2020 TA).  Year 2021 might work just as well.  😊