Cruise Raider

I've always thought that tipping the porters at the terminal should be $5 per large bag and $2 - $3 for each small bag given to the porters. I believe this info came from a Trip Advisor tipping guide I used to have. Perhaps the ones that turn around and comment about people being cheap is from learned behavior ... they may try to guilt people into tipping more. However, that seems sufficient to go by this standard. I've not ever had one of the porters be rude in the past. They always thanked me and off they went.

I usually only drink wine so that would be three bottles all to myself. I would be blotto if I did that. haha

Just of note, it’s not an ‘all you can drink package’ but limited at 15 alcoholic drinks and no sharing with others is allowed. But, it is hard to reach that limit within a 24 hour period.

No, I think you are safe looks like the Crown will be coming to SF the following month (October 2023). Well, anything can happen but this is what it looks like at this point.

And don’t forget that Princess also is home porting a ship in San Diego. That will be my first choice over LA. I’ve sailed on the Crown a few times when she was newer, one of which was plagued by problems. Seems like one can still have a great cruise on her but she has so many issues. I wish we could get one of the newer Royal class ships here for several years. Celebrity probably won’t put a ship here in SF, as they just couldn’t fill the ships without just about giving them away in the past.

The Ruby is headed to Galveston in December of this year. In the meantime, we are getting the Royal here. I wish she would stay. I love the Royal class ships. But, Carnival is also home porting one of their ships in SF (at least for now) so, it makes sense that they don't want to leave one of their larger ships here in SF. The Embarcadero is such a mess when there are two ships in port at the same time.

I believe it’s true. Looks like the schedules for the America’s are also posted for 2023 and 2024 on this forum. So, the Crown appears to be coming on a cruise from Vancouver to SF on or around October 19, 2023 and will stay in SF for awhile. I’ve really loved the Ruby being here and am so excited about the Royal being here this Sept. Oh well. I’ll probably book on the Crown when she gets here, although, she’s not my all time favorite ship in the Princess fleet. I might find myself heading down to LA a bit more often, even though San Francisco is so very close.

Looks like she will be in SF in mid to late October 2023.

But even if they are over that amount, you only pay the difference. That’s my understanding of it.

It is definitely per pizza. Well worth it if you like pizza. One pizza will easily feed two people.

I believe the point being made here is that you could never use room service for drinks from the package without being charged but now you can. I love that I can order a glass of wine while I am getting ready for dinner without sending my DH out to retrieve it for me to ensure it is covered under the PLUS package.

The whole pizzas, even on ships without GiGis or Alfredo’s, for $3 each are far superior to what you can get at ‘slice’ up on the pool deck. They will bring them with the condiments you order in little ramekins, as well. We ordered salads and 3 pizzas for our group while on the Vista Lounge while watching the NBA finals. Figure it will be about 45 minutes from time of order to receive it. Also, a tip for the delivery is customary. So fabulous! We had pizza leftover and had it for breakfast in the cabin the next morning. Still great!

I went through a few of these bangles before I figured out the solution. The large seemed to unclamp very easily and the medium pinched my skin when trying to secure it. I ended up getting the large and just slightly bent the metal to make the clasp more secure. BTW, they kept exchanging it for me until I got the right fit. It is now perfect. I also use one of the silicone ones for going to the pool and other outdoor activities. Both work perfectly now.

I can report that it is larger cabin. It is very comfortable in size and your cabin door is near the elevator vestibule so you will always be able to quickly peek your head out for a view of the weather. Be aware it is directly across from the elevators, though (on the Infinity) so you don't want to open it if someone is changing in the cabin. We thought it would be noisy but there were never any issues with that.

We were on the Ruby last month and stopped at Prince Rupert instead of Victoria for the day. It was actually a very welcomed stop for us as we've been to Victoria many times in the past. It might be disappointing for those that have never gone to Victoria as there is so much to do and see there. But, we made the best of our time in Prince Rupert and actually enjoyed the stop there. We are returning again this month and planning on walking the Rushbrook Trail while there. It look beautiful. If we have time, we will also stop in the museum in town. It's very small but something we still want to do. Also, check out the Sunken Gardens. It's such a beautiful place, but is also small. There are some excursions there that might be of interest but think they are very pricey, especially when compared to ones you can do in Victoria.

I’d rather cruise more often in a less expensive room than in a huge room less often. that’s just me. You should do fine with family and I would also suggest being close to the public decks. The time we actually spend in the cabin during waking hours is so little … but, it’s just the two of us. For three, I think I might look for an oceanview with n inside right across the hall. But, if that’s not affordable, I’d still with the original plan. You should still be able o get out on deck or t the public areas just one deck down.

Maybe use it for an upgraded package, never stateroom or even your flight … I would hate to see them just go to waste.

I wouldn’t give up that room … it’s very likely you won’t have any smoke at all. We were in an aft facing suite on the Caribe and just noticed an occasional whiff. We have been on the very aft cabins on the port side and never once noticed the smell of smoke.

We are on a cruise in a month and I am bone dry on the FCDs. I had two for each of us just two months ago.

No smell in ours either ... luckily, because there was overflow. Our room steward told me not to use the toilet anymore. I said, you mean until the end of the cruise??? Not going to happen!! I marched right down to the guest services desk and told them that was unacceptable but in a nice way. I know our room steward was upset about us moving rooms but it was so nice to be in a cabin where everything worked. We booked that same (new) cabin three more times since then. The toilet worked, the hairdryer worked, the safe worked, the TV worked ...

Us, too!! The Discovery Princess will have this for April 3rd, 10 night sailing out of LA according to the attachments above. I am contacting my CVP about this one asap.

The Diamond Princess is not set to start back up again until September of this year.

Ouch ... that would be a hard room to move from, too. Except, a flushing toilet is a must have amenity. We were on the Ruby in a starboard side room just forward from the aft stairs on the Caribe deck. Two days of toilet issues and I was out. Luckily, it was during the reduced capacity sailings so there were plenty of other comparable rooms available. Plus, we got to meet one of the most wonderful guest services staff members and we had an ally from that moment forward.

Alina is wonderful. Always with a great smile to greet us at the Michaelangelo when we went for dinner.

We’ve gone in early Sept many times and it is our preferred time of year to go. We went once in mid to late Sept and it was one of the best cruises ever but the weather was crazy cold, windy, rainy (sleet). The stores were all having sales but post pandemic, they might just be closed down.