PescadoAmarillo

Thank you for this. I would love to know what percentage of these “best booking volumes” are being deposited and paid for with non-refundable FCCs.

It’s very difficult to get since COVID. I’m not really even sure it still exists. I’ve applied 3 times in the past 20 months, to no avail. I’ve been told that the review takes place in Italy.

Every time I see that you have posted on a Refundable OBC thread, I look to see if you’ve gotten that straightened out yet. I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. As you know, I chased refundable OBC from Australia cruises for…well, by the time we received the check, it was ten months post-disembarkation. A few years earlier, it took four months or so. I’ve sent copies of our final on board statements to Princess countless times over the years, which makes the accountant in me crazy. That’s why, we’ve given up. They win. We won’t leave a ship with a penny of refundable OBC left on our statement. I won’t buy overpriced crap jewelry or even more overpriced crap “art”work to spend it, but will purchase Clinique items that I use all the time and that really are cheaper than the prices I can get at home.

Thanks for sharing your adventures with your mom. My very first trip to Europe was with my mom, and we returned again together in 2000. I wouldn’t take anything for those wonderful memories. Have a great time!

This paragraph is pure poetry. I wish you much better luck going forward and thank you for posting.

I agree that we had 30 wonderful nights on Princess ships post-COVID. Not exactly the same as the pre-COVID experience, but in some ways even better (due to the lower passenger counts). Our 15 nights on the Emerald Princess, its first post-COVID cruise, rivaled our best Pacific Princess cruises in French Polynesia (our previous benchmark for an outstanding cruise). And this despite the fact that the Terrace Deck right outside our cabin was torn up for most of the cruise (we went with the flow despite the hammering all night long most nights) and even declined a move). We did get the Sanctuary as a replacement for the Terrace Deck, and though it was on the opposite end of the ship, enjoyed it immensely. THAT is the way to treat guests…if you take a major pool and deck right outside their cabin out of commission, offer a replacement. The Lotus Spa pool was algae filled for days until another cruiser personally escorted the HGM there and wrote his name on the algae on the wall. I didn’t mention either situation in my post-cruise survey but instead raved about the ship and crew and officers (especially the HGM Helmut, as personable a guy as you’ll meet anywhere). All this to say that most cruisers really don’t expect perfection. I had been having issues with Princess admin in Santa Clarita for over a year but didn’t give up on the product. But what is happening now, the huge shortfalls in the experience delivered with an attitude by senior management coupled with the Santa Clarita admin issues are what is really hurting them, I think.

I just responded to your post on the Crown thread, but agree with you that it best belongs here, so I’ll repeat it: Very well stated, and interesting that the rep you spoke with admitted that the list and number of complaints has never been so bad. The number of issues we’re seeing here on CC is long and improvement is really not being reported. There are just so many hurdles to jump over when planning a Princess cruise right now that I am actually very relieved to not be participating. The internet, which used to be free for us, and is now $5 a day, is just one of them. I have no issue paying $5 a day for WiFi like we had before the change in February or so. But it’s no where close to that now, despite the president of Princess claiming it’s the best WiFi at sea, with high speed access anywhere, anytime. As I’ve asked before, how many loyal guests will be lined up to pay cash once their FCCs are used up? How much trust has already been lost and will be difficult if not impossible to re-establish? I read many posts like yours here on CC where formerly loyal Princess guests are having second thoughts, and firmly believe that Princess is at a critical juncture where their very existence hangs in the balance. I don’t think you need to lighten up. I think your remarks are valid. I can’t think of one other firm that I would continue to do business with if I’d faced the issues I’ve had with Princess since COVID. There are several companies I’ve dropped for far less (don’t get me started on Pep Boys and Walmart 😆). I understand that Princess is between a rock and a hard place right now, but it is not my responsibility to get them out of it by continuing to give them my money (and especially since they’ve held on to so much of all of our money for so long). I feel most badly for the crew, who I believe are really caught up in the struggle. I’m walking away from a vacation choice. They’d be walking away from earning a living.

Very well stated, and interesting that the rep you spoke with admitted that the list and number of complaints has never been so bad. The number of issues we’re seeing here on CC is long and improvement is really not being reported. There are just so many hurdles to jump over when planning a Princess cruise right now that I am actually very relieved to not be participating. The internet, which used to be free for us, and is now $5 a day, is just one of them. I have no issue paying $5 a day for WiFi like we had before the change in February or so. But it’s no where close to that now, despite the president of Princess claiming it’s the best WiFi at sea, with high speed access anywhere, anytime. As I’ve asked before, how many loyal guests will be lined up to pay cash once their FCCs are used up? How much trust has already been lost and will be difficult if not impossible to re-establish? I read many posts like yours here on CC where formerly loyal Princess guests are having second thoughts, and firmly believe that Princess is at a critical juncture where their very existence hangs in the balance.

Yeah, I read the chair posts with much interest. We never even used the chair by the desk in our inside cabin except for when I blow dried my hair. But we are former campers, and tent campers to boot. Straight back chairs are a luxury we have managed to do without. 😁. Now, two recliners….there were many days I would have welcomed those.

I agree, though they won’t have gratuities, as they’re booking in Australia on Australian cruises. I kind of doubt they have Princess Plus too.

Inside cabins, when you’re on board for that long, are actually a respite. They’re quiet, they’re cool and they’re great for sleeping. They really help you to have some “home-type” privacy on a ship with thousands of people (and that does become an issue after a certain length of time). Balcony cabins are loud, and the layout is not as conducive to long term living as an inside set up as two twins. I’m sure mini suites and suites would be much better, but when you’re cruising for months (years) at a time, you’re talking three to four or more times the cost. Most people who can afford to spend a year in a suite on Princess probably aren’t on Princess, but a more premium line.

Having cruised for a fraction of that amount of time (5 months max), I missed people and high speed internet desperately. When we had such great WiFi speeds on the Ruby Princess for more than 3 months in Fall 2019, I thought that might be a game changer, but, in the end, it doesn’t replace people. I guess I need more purpose in my life, but certainly understand the appeal of long term cruising…in a pre-COVID environment.

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Thank you! It doesn’t say they plan for time off the ship but they live in Brisbane so maybe they can take care of things at home and medical and dental appointments on turnaround days. I (really) hope COVID is kind to them, and that they enjoy post-COVID cruising as much as they enjoyed it before the pandemic.

We quite often have experienced the same ship in the same port berthed in different directions.

My husband received his FCC the day he was liberated from quarantine. No letter, no notice, it just appeared in his Captains Circle account that day. 7 days times the cruise fare per day (no reimbursement for taxes and fees). He also had Princess Plus and there was no additional credit for beverages he would have gotten for free anyway under quarantine. He applied it to a cruise a few days later so I never took notice of the expiration date.

Definitely no juice bar on Princess. They do blend yesterday’s fruits and veggies and have them in small glasses in the buffet. They’re not bad, particularly the green ones, but, though they do list the ingredients, and sugar is not among them, they taste suspiciously sweet to me.

Couldn’t have said it better myself, and I feel the exact.same.way. Sending you warm wishes and healing vibes.

Many ships have had greater than 0.008% breakthrough cases, considering that nearly everyone on board has been vaccinated and most likely boosted. I would guess most sailings have had a number of cases higher than that. Either cruise ships are astoundingly unlucky or that number is very low. The subject here was self-quarantining. One could argue that you shouldn’t expect a FCC for that, since you’d not be reporting it.

Yesterday was a better day for her.

That standard room service menu is going to get kinda old after about day 2 of a 5 day quarantine.

I agree with this. We encountered the same thing on the same route on the same ship (Ruby Princess) pre and post COVID. Something has changed. Couple that with the fact that we are now paying for WiFi, it’s disingenuous for the president of Princess to claim they offer high speed WiFi on their ships anytime, anywhere. It’s simply no longer true.

That’s your problem then. No, as far as I know, Princess has remained firm on those expiration dates. I’m sure they want them turned into more revenue producing opportunities through on board spending sooner rather than later. They probably also want them off their balance sheet. Nah, I’m on here every day for at least a few minutes. My time is not that valuable. 😉 I feel badly for the TAs who are expected to spend hours chasing these things for no additional income when, on this, at least, Princess has communicated the terms very well.

Well thank God. Eliminating the testing eliminates the virus, right? Wouldn’t want to have to wonder if the person in the next coach seat on a 12 hour flight has COVID.

Kitty, enjoy those twins and other grand babies! I love getting the updates from you about them. “Mine” are heading off to college this summer…I’ve updated in my blog. The years are too short!