pkster

5 minutes ago, PacnGoNow said:

Best RUMOR I’ve ever heard!

IDK, but it would be great!

Yes, that would be great.  We were on a New Zealand to Australia cruise earlier this year and were pleasantly surprised to find that the casino was smoke-free.  I asked the cashier about it and she said smoking in the casino was forbidden by Australian law.

57 minutes ago, tidecat said:

If they are going to to the trouble of applying for a passport, get both the book and the card. The cost difference is minimal. They are good for ten years.

 

Not sure what the age of your grandchild is, but passports for children under 16 are only valid for five years.

8 minutes ago, MsTabbyKats said:

Washing machines....

On another thread someone said washers/dryers are free....but you need to buy detergent.

True or false?

False.  You must pay for each.  Washer and dryer each require a $3 token.  I believe the detergent is $1.50, but I've always brought my own detergent so not sure.

On 6/7/2024 at 9:18 AM, SCX22 said:

To add, Princess seems to be staggering the release of cabins, rather than offering the real time availability as booking options.  There are some cruises that show sold months to a year in advance, but as the sailing date draws nearer, cabin suddenly become available (not just one cabin due to a cancellation but sections of cabins).

Yes, I've noticed the same.  It seems to me that Princess is trying to create the illusion of limited availability to motivate people to book earlier.  Admittedly this is a very limited sample size, but I've noticed with my sailings increases in availability and prices drops after the final payment dates.  This could just reflect cancellations leading up to final payment, but I think there's more to it than that.

3 minutes ago, pompeii said:

email Jen Wright, or whoever was on the email you received.  That's how I got the pricing for the Star cruise.  Be sure to tell her you tried customer service and they were clueless.  

Yup, e-mail just sent.  How long did it take to get a response from Jen Wright?

3 minutes ago, pkster said:

 

Has anybody received the upgrade pricing options for the August 2024 Greenland cruise?

 

I just called the 800 number and got nowhere with the representative.  He had no clue what was going on and all he kept telling me is I need to wait until 85 days out from the cruise and bid for an upgrade.  I patiently tried to explain repeatedly that there's an e-mail about pricing error which  mentions specially-reduced upgrade pricing and that we need to make a decision by Monday, but he just couldn't comprehend this.  I gave up and ended the call.  Very frustrating . . .

11 minutes ago, pompeii said:

Here is the discounted pricing for the various cabins on the Star October 2025 cruise, per Jen Wright:

 

Hello Susan - 

 

I am including the pricing options below should you be interested in the discounted upgrade.  We can honor the interior room complimentary, meaning at the rate you have already paid, but it does not include the Plus or Premier package.  The offer does include a $200 per person onboard credit.  Should you choose to purchase the package onboard you can use the OBC to offset some of the cost of the package which I highly recommend given all that's included.

 

The rates below are per person, in addition to what you have already paid.

 

Oceanview: $280

Deluxe Balcony:$630

Mini suite: $1050

Cabana mini suite: $1120

 

Sincerely, 

 

Jen

Has anybody received the upgrade pricing options for the August 2024 Greenland cruise?

For my August 2024 Boston-Greenland roundtrip booking, I can see that the cabin has been changed from guaranteed mid-aft obstructed oceanview category to a guaranteed forward inside category and the Plus benefits have been removed.  However, I have yet to receive an e-mail notifying me of these changes.  Is anybody else still waiting for the e-mail?  I've checked my spam folder and don't see anything there either.

3 hours ago, walkingsoon said:

Emerald Princess - Voyage E421

May 3, 2024

"Dear Princess Guest:

Earlier this week an inadvertent error resulted in an incorrect offer for Emerald Princess voyage E421, which allowed you to book a sailing with us for no cruise fare cost.

Please accept our sincerest apologies for this mistake.

In recognition of our error, we will honor the price you have already paid and apply it to an interior stateroom. Should you prefer the original stateroom type, you may purchase an upgrade at a specially-reduced rate. Be sure to act soon as this offer expires May 6, 2024. Please be aware that if you cancel your voyage after that date, the $200 per-person deposit you paid upon booking becomes non-refundable.

In further recognition of the inconvenience, we will convert your original $200 deposit into an onboard credit (non-refundable). You can use this credit for purchases in our bars, boutiques, or photo gallery, as well as for dining, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

To manage your booking
Please call us at 1-800-774-6237 for assistance with your reservation and all related arrangements.

We appreciate your patience and understanding, and look forward to your sailing with us.

Best regards,

Jen Wright
Vice President, Contact Center Operations
Princess Cruises"

 

At least they're sincerely apologetic.

Has anyone inquired yet as to what / how much the "upgrade at a specially-reduced rate" is?

I just took the leap and booked a Cabana mini-suite.  The total was $570 for two ($400 deposit that converts to OBC plus $70 port fees).  I see the following in the travel summary:

Does this mean we got the Premier package as well?!?!?

9 hours ago, wallyj said:

Yes, it has been reported that shareholders OBC is converted to AUD at 1 for 1 where $250 USD becomes $250 AUD which for US citizens is an unfortunate exchange. This is an unfortunate quirk/protocol for down under sailings for non Aussies.

Interesting . . .  So what happens with the $16 USD daily gratuity?  Does it convert 1 for 1 to $16 AUD as well (like the shareholder OBC)?  Or will I see the $16 USD daily gratuity converted to ~$23.52 AUD (using current exchange rate)?

Hello all.  I'm from the U.S. and booked on an upcoming Royal Princess cruise from Auckland to Sydney.  I've read that for Australia/New Zealand Princess cruises where the on-board currency is AUD, that gratuities are already part of the cruise fare and no daily gratuities are added to your folio.  Can anybody clarify for me whether this applies to all passengers, or just citizens of Australia and New Zealand?  Thanks.

24 minutes ago, WestLakeGirl said:

Why do you need to pay for the flight before Final Payment?  And if you must, then you should probably contact the travel agency you used to see how to make the payment

I don't need to pay it before final payment.  I just want to be ready when the time comes.  I thought I would be paying the Flights by Celebrity airfare directly to Celebrity, but from some of the other responses it sounds like I need the travel agency to refresh my reservation to include the flights and then make the airfare payment to them.

I have an upcoming cruise on Celebrity.  I originally booked the cruise on the Celebrity site, but subsequently had the reservation transferred to a certain big box travel agency.  Fast forward about 8 months, and I just booked a flight through Flights by Celebrity on the Celebrity web site.  It was a risk-free fare, and I chose the Pay Later option.  I now see the flight details on the Celebrity site, and I can see it on the airline site as well using the record locator.  What I can't figure out is how do I make the payment for the Flights by Celebrity reservation prior to the cruise final payment date?  I can't find a Flights by Celebrity payment link anywhere on the Celebrity site, and the confirmation e-mail makes no mention of it either.  Does the Flights by Celebrity reservation need to be transferred to the big box travel agency as well???  Thanks in advance.

Here are some more pictures

12 minutes ago, shiner6 said:

I saw a post from John Herald somewhere (sorry, I can't find it), but I remember being excited because it said that cabins were getting a refresh. It also confirmed the Heroes Tribute Bar and the Farenheitt rumors.  If I find the post, I will try to update you. 

 

On another note, I just booked the Chef's table for the first night, anyone else going? 

Were you thinking of this John Heald post from 4/28 on another certain site?

On 2/24/2023 at 1:40 AM, gumshoe958 said:

It’s very easy to do on your own by train.

 

Just get to the nearest main station to the port (Blankenberge) by taxi, tram or cruise line shuttle bus, then there’s an hourly direct train to Ghent which takes about 45 minutes.

We've been to Brugge before and were considering going to Ghent on our own that day via train.  The problem is the limited time in port with the ship not arriving until 10:00, so I figure it might be closer to 11:00 by the time we can disembark.  I've also read that you cannot walk straight in and out of the terminal, but need to be bussed instead.  I don't know how much time that all takes.  For the time being, we're booked on the only Carnival excursion to Ghent called "Panoramic Ghent by Canal Boat."

3 hours ago, sailing canary said:

Coldplay - Music of the Spheres World Tour. May 24-27.

Ah, that explains it . . .  I figured something must be going on with so many of the hotels already booked.

On 7/27/2022 at 8:08 PM, SUESEABE said:

It's 30 days. Info on Celebrity site under FAQS - Reservation Transfer along with Form.

 

Bookings may only be transferred to a Travel Agent up until 30 days from creation if the request is made outside of Final Payment period and the booking is not paid in full. If a booking has a ChoiceAir ticket and the transfer request involves a change in currency we cannot accommodate a transfer. If you would like to transfer your reservation to a travel agent, please complete this form.

The Direct Guest to Agency transfer information above is applicable to U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Caribbean bookings only.

Does anybody know what "The Direct Guest to Agency transfer information above is applicable to U.S., Canada, Bermuda, and Caribbean bookings only" means?  Does this mean that Europe cruises cannot be transferred to a travel agent?  Thanks in advance.

16 hours ago, sfred said:

 

 

Correct all around!

 

@pkster - that is indeed Kotor Montenegro.  In the photo from the ship, about two thirds of the way up the mountain is Kotor Fortress.   Back in August 2020, in post 163 page 7, I submitted a photo of QV from the Fortress, and @Host Hattie correctly identified Kotor.  It was a great climb with stunning views, and we felt well justified in having dessert at dinner that evening.

 

 

@bluemarble, you are correct that the other ship in port that day, occupying the berth and just out of view to the left in the photo from the Fortress, is the Fred Olsen Braemar.  The photos were taken on 28 Sep 2016 on our trip from Civitavecchia to Venice.

We were there in 2016 as well.  We did the hike up to old fortress too, and yes, the views are stunning.  Kotor was not originally on our cruise itinerary.  However, there was a failed coup attempt in Turkey right at that time, so Kusadasi and Split were dropped from the itinerary and replaced with Rhodes and Kotor.  Although I was disappointed we didn't get to go to Ephesus, I really liked Rhodes and Kotor.  Getting to Kotor is like sailing through a fjord, which is quite spectacular.

7 minutes ago, sfred said:

Unfortunately I have long since ran out of new unseen port pictures, and it has been good fun investigating the new recent contributions.  While we are waiting for more, here is an alternative view of a port already on our seen list.  A while back, I contributed a picture of this Cunard ship from this port.  Here is a reverse photo from the ship back to this location.  We were at anchor and tendering due to the other ship occupying the berth.

 

99% sure that's Kotor.

I'm shocked.  I e-mailed a request for shareholder OBC yesterday.  I received the approval e-mail from Carnival today.  I double-checked in the Booking & Order Details, and the OBC is indeed there.

6 hours ago, JimmyTheSaint said:

We travelled from London to Dover Priory on Friday 10th June for a cruise to Norway. There were 5 taxis waiting at the train station when we stepped off the train. A five minute drive to the cruise terminal, 10 minutes to complete embarkation, easy peasy.

 

Same again getting off in Dover, no issues. Maybe we were lucky or others recently have been unlucky.

Did you return to London by train from Dover Priory as well?  If so, what time were you off the ship and which train did you take?  I'm trying to figure out if I should book the 9:49 non-stop to St. Pancras, or play it safe and book the 10:49 train instead.  Thanks.

9 hours ago, jerseygirlinAZ said:

Nevermind.  I think I get it.  Just go get tested more than 10 days out and bring the positive test with us in case we don't test negative two days out from the cruise, correct?

If you want to go the Document of Recovery route and forego the pre-cruise testing, then yes, you'll need to get a positive viral test result from a certified laboratory.  If you still plan to do the pre-cruise testing and you're worried about still testing positive even though you've recovered, then yes, definitely get the lab-certified positive test as a back-up.  From the Carnival web site (https://www.carnival.com/legal/covid-19-legal-notices/covid-19-guest-protocols):

Document of Recovery

Guests who have recovered from COVID-19 within 3 months of their sailing date do not need the required pre-cruise test if they are at least 10 days past their positive test result date, have no symptoms and produce document of recovery from COVID-19. A Document of Recovery is accepted from both fully vaccinated and unvaccinated guests (with a Carnival-approved exemption) and consists of a paper or electronic copy of the positive viral test result from a certified laboratory (dated no more than 90 days prior to the sailing date).

57 minutes ago, ontheweb said:

I think it is more remarkable that you were only on hold a minute or two than she was able to add the OBC on the spot.

I guess it was the "perfect call"!