cruisingguy007

Yikes! Complete real time gps tracking? Creepy for sure but kind of intriguing with all the metadata that could be complied. That is an insane amount of data to have at your fingertips.

What Essiesmom said and they have cameras everywhere, including the cabin hallways. It would be a very short cruise if someone were to do this. It would take them all of 5 min to figure it out. Someone would have to be a bonehead to do this. It would make a great video though when that person is bounced from the ship lol.

It's in a sealed envelope at your room door. In the meantime, you can use your boarding receipt to buy any drinks/sundries before the cabins open up and you get your sign and sail card.

Nah, if we need to be flexible then the cruise lines need to be flexible too. They have hard lines and I have hard lines, I'm not interested in cruising with a mask and if worse came to worse, I'd initiate a charge-back and be done with that line if they tried to force my hand. One way open ended conditions/contracts are generally unenforceable, despite what many believe. Obviously, I'm talking about before embarkation day, if you're mid cruise, you are a bit stuck.

Thanks, I'll pat myself on the back since I'm my own TA..lol. I also tried to warn others on the FCC but many were blinded by "free stuff" to recognize the downsides of converting your cash into company scrip.

Correct. I have never taken a cruise credit of any kind and won't.

I got refunds for four cruises when they went to masking, so yes way. Granted, I never took cruise credits or company money so that may be an issue for those that have. I rebooked three cruises after they went back to mask optional and have taken one. I'd certainly cancel the other two if masks were required and I would expect to be refunded again, just like last time.

We had the last cabin on 7 starboard (7453) before the Havana area, an extended balcony L room, that backs up against the staircase I believe you're talking about, but it was marked "crew only". It was frustrating because I had planned to use that as well and all indications/maps showed it as accessible but it was not. The folks in the Havana cabins that were further back also had to use the hallways to the main aft stairs/elevators so I don't think there was another way even though is shows on the map like any other stairwell. I also had no lounger on the balcony, it was replaced with an adjustable "sun chair". I requested a lounger and it was shot down. Hopefully, you get a lounger or two. Have a great cruise!

There may not be cruising in a year if that's the case. Unvaccinated are already excluded from the customer pool. If they exclude the vaccinated who don't want to have a masked vacation on top of that, plus all the folks who don't want the headache/uncertainty of pre-cruise testing, potential port changes, quarantine etc, you have excluded a huge percentage of your customer base. Some may enjoy half empty ships but it's simply unsustainable, especially when billions in the hole and leveraged to the hilt. They'd have to quadruple the fares at min and raise prices onboard even further to operate ghost ships successfully. The whole business model doesn't work with ghost ships.

I booked cruises and won't cruise with any mask mandates, even for free. They know many won't sail with masks and I'm sure they'd issue a refund if you booked when masks weren't required and they made a huge change to reinstate them. I'd bet this has something to do with jurisdictional nonsense and not necessarily Princess itself. Folks shouldn't be afraid to book, I just don't see any line refusing refunds if they change the rules, it would create too much ill will for established customers and that isn't good business sense. I also don't see any line adopting this approach fleet-wide and shooting themselves in the foot with floods of cancellations. They have the option for sure, but folks should have the option to cancel as well.

I'm sure the insurance will be the same also now that it has a documented fire/damage and loses plausible deniability of unforeseen hazard potential and operational integrity. Slap some duct tape on her and get her back out would be great for the line but I don't think it's that simple.

And some said it could be fixed like it was nothing. The bets have been placed, don't laugh just yet. Fifteen year old ships are long in the tooth and the maintenance requirements are much higher/costly. Even places like the Bahamas prefer registering ships 12 years or younger for a reason. It's not too far fetched to think a ship that has some age, has been rode hard and put away wet and now has fire damage would be scrapped. Especially, in the current debt environment.

Dion't worry. No one will call or text you, it's simply a tool to facilitate information and minimal communication. Most people want to get away from calls/texts/emails, keeping it in airplane mode will facilitate that. Ironically, some people make this very claim and then pay extra for a internet package, go figure. I don't get the internet package so I can truly getaway but still use my phone for photos and hub app. It's not quite the same as being "connected" IMO.

No, I don't. Individualism and choice is not the same as forced/compelled behavior. They are the complete polar opposite and a lot of damage has been done by those in the groupthink who think their choices are superior to others, associate choice with a political position, assume those who choose not to wear a mask are anti vaccine and on and on. I hope people remember this, especially the youth, who were least at risk and last to have their personal choices restored/respected, and never forget the intolerance, name calling and belittling that has occurred when one side forced their will onto the other and ridiculed/shamed folks who didn't agree with them.

For the sniffles and a headache? Hell no. Most would be better off without it and letting your immune system do its thing. This drug may extend infection time and is no covid panacea, though many believe it to be. Sure makes bank for Pfizer though.

Yes, unless married, then a marriage certificate would be needed.

^^^Yes, I won 200 points. THANKYOU5K for 5K points.

There sure is! One-way masking with quality 95's has worked for decades in the medical field. Seat-belts, helmets and condoms also work if only one party wears them. It's called PPE for a reason. It seems more and more apparent that some just want everyone else to mask because they are uncomfortable not being part of the herd. Forcing everyone to wear face coverings at this point is ridiculous and will hurt the cruise lines, just as they are struggling to survive and finally have cruisers coming back in sufficient numbers. Then you have to factor in all the unvaccinated folks that would cruise but can't cruise on top of that. If they return to mask mandates and the passenger counts recoil again, it would be the death knell for the industry. It's probably best for all who love cruising to keep the mask optional option going, the entire industry may depend on it. None of us wants to see the lines go under. Get yourself some 95's, they are handing them out freely in every state in the USA and wear one if you believe it will keep you safer. Everyone should decide for themselves, it will help keep businesses (including cruise lines) open and keep jobs/demand. Mask mandates do the opposite. Choice is a good thing and groupthink isn't always the universal truth. Happy sailing!

I wouldn't take any posted info as a fact right now, the onboard experience may be different. It was for our last cruise and the kids club was very limited for the younger kids, for the older teens, it's normal, younger kids, not so much. It's definitely not normal (aka "how it used to be").

Congrats! That's awesome!

Indeed, doesn't seem to be stopping covid, it's just an added expense. Hopefully, it's gone next year or sooner.

Nah, probably correct. Not much has changed, it's pretty much the same as it's always been but vegetarianism goes in and out of popularity. I know plenty of "vegetarians" who still eat meat occasionally due to convenience or bordem with restrictive dieting. Though, they still virtue signal and call themselves vegetarians. "Flexitarian" is the new en vouge couture fad at the moment. Taking in account all the fads (ovo, lacto, pescatarian etc etc etc), it probably is closer to 2%, 5% at best for true vegetarians. Everyone has a plan and good intentions until they get hungry. 😃

https://help.goccl.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/3593/~/suite-amenities-and-perks Priority Water Shuttle Boarding / Priority Debark at Ports of Call with Arrivals Later than 9:30amGuests can take advantage of priority water shuttle service from ship to shore (multiple departure times may be possible) so they can explore ashore as quickly as they want to. For ports where we do not use a water shuttle, to make debarkation as smooth as possible, we also offer priority debark at ports of call with arrivals later than 9:30am.

Good point and my problem currently. Sure, one can do it, but the costs get higher the older you get (physically). Slow mornings, poor sleep, nausea during breakfast and drinking again to shake off the night before and "get your monies worth" can be an issue. I suspect some may not have the same "drinking opportunities" in everyday life and may go a little nuts while on vacation. Others may just simply be bored on sea days and figure there isn't much else to do, well, besides trivia, bingo, gambling or sun soaking. I think it's different for everyone but I do think age, as well as how people live in everyday life, play a integral part of making up "value" from one person to the next. I enjoy drinking less and less these days, or the pain/consequences rather, the pleasurable feelings are still great, the heartburn, terrible sleep, interactions with prescription meds, and general maladies after a night of imbibing, not so much lol. The scales certainly keep tipping as the days/years keep ticking.

Don't try and play travel agent/coordinator, it will only end in frustration. Just link your bookings for dining and that is it. If folks want to join for dinner on some nights, great, the more the merrier! If not, that's cool too. It's simple as that, the rest, just play it by ear and let everyone decide for themselves. Trying to get several parties on the same page is an exercise in futility. It won't happen and it will just be frustrating for everyone, especially you. Get them on the ship, the rest will happen naturally. Same with excursions, mention what you are doing but let each sub group make their own choices and decisions. Good luck, you're going to need it..lol. 😁