Lady Arwen

You really can wear what you want,  You like dressing up?  Go for it!  You like business casual?  That works, too!  You prefer country club casual, no tie no jacket?  You’re in!  There is no longer a dress code enforced, so as long as you don’t try shorts and flip flops, although some of our members did that too, you will be just fine,

Enjoy your cruise!

1 hour ago, MsSoCalCruiser said:

On my last cruise with Celebrity we had a cabin toilet that would not flush for 5 days on a seven day cruise. I would rather be charged for specialty dining. 

My money would be on one of the M class ships.  Had some issues myself at one time.  Since we now only sail on E class, we’ve had absolutely no issues whatsoever. 

3 minutes ago, tulok said:

Traveling with another couple and we were able to book one speciality (for four) but they used my package. The system wouldn’t let the other couple book for four using their credits. We could do 2- tables for 2, but not four. IT at its finest. I used the chat feature, we never went ahead and paid for the included specialties, and the agent was able to book 4 for our time without charging. Yes, we double, tripled checked and it’s there no charge. Try chat. I wouldn’t on a holiday weekend as it may be new agents but I have had great success using it. 

Good advice!

2 minutes ago, pzsdd6 said:

No conspiracy theories.

It’s just slimy business practice. Princess may not force OBC on anyone, but when given the choice of instant OBC or wait a potential 90 or 120 days for a refund, most will choose the OBC. Princess plays the numbers, each OBC is just additional cash flow for them.

Once again, I hope karma bites down hard!

Since you are already so resentful, I’m concerned that it will affect your total enjoyment of your cruise.  I would try to calm down and relax.  Please try the app again.

4 minutes ago, pzsdd6 said:

At the end of the day, as posted above, it’s not life or death or anything close.

It just frosts my you know what’s, that 1) they think we are fools and won’t notice, 2) they do it because they can get away with it and there’s nothing we can do because of their cruise contract. My only hope is that karma bites them all good and hard!

Why don’t you try using the app again.  Follow right to the end.  You may see the payment requirement  just fall off before entering your credit card #.

3 minutes ago, pzsdd6 said:

Stick to your guns, they are still stink!
Try Celebrity, that’s where we have been for the past 4 years, not a single problem or regret.

We’re re Elite+ with Celebrity and I know that they also have issues with some things.  No cruiseline is perfect, even the luxury lines have problems.

1 minute ago, pzsdd6 said:

And there you have it folks!

Thank you for your comments. 
I was told by several people that know, Princess does this on purpose. They want to give it back to you as OBC so that you will spend it on the ship, that way they make money 2 ways. They go out of their way to make it difficult. Not that this is anything new but it’s all about the money, they get it up front as much as possible and then make it a pure nightmare to get your money back. Some things never change.

I know it seems that way, but since most people use the app successfully, such as myself, and others requested OBC because they wanted tu use it onboard or requested a refund to their cc.  Princess does not force OBC on anyone.  I would not be looking for conspiracy theories.  

We are also sailing on Enchanted with the Premier package.  Booked two specialty restaurants and the app acknowledged that the reservations were included in the package and I was not prompted to pay.

Apparently, it does not work for everyone and we don’t know why.  It’s a known glitch in the app and Princess seems unable to fix it.  However, most people have reported that once onboard the could make the reservations with no charge or pre-pay on the app prior to sailing.  Most people have received the payment back as OBC or chose a refund to their credit card.  Personally, I would pre-pay and make the reservations.  
 

The call centre is definitely an issue.  I have a Princess Cruise Vacation Planner, who takes care of everything for me, and I’ve never had to call the general reservations line.  A good travel agent can also get things done on your behalf.  No charge for either a TA or CVP.  I suggest you avail yourself of their services.  Refunds are generally processed in a couple of weeks, not months.

You can call Princess and see if they’re willing to do anything for you.  Don’t count on it.  If the price had gone up, and many times it does, Princess doesn’t request that you pay more.  After final payment, Princess is not responsible for refaring the price of your cruise.  You can certainly try because you never know!

Regal for us, too.  Emerald is fine, but Regal is, in my opinion, much nicer.

Another YES for these cabins.  Spacious cabin with sofa, large bathroom with tub and shower combo.  Lots of storage.  Best of all is the huge balcony!  Perfect for viewing in Alaska.  The ship travels quite slowly touring around the glaciers, so it won’t be too windy for you out there.  At night and sea days it will be a little rougher, but not enough to cause a big problem.

However, I will say that if you suffer from motion sickness, be prepared because the forward high deck cabins do feel the motion of the ocean.  I would take whatever motion sickness meds that you doctor recommends or even the patches or SeaBands.  
 

Enjoy your cruise and your mini suite!

Just wanted to add a little to your post.  Hal Koningsdam is a Pinnacle class ship and Nieuw Amsterdam is a Signature class.  NA is one of our favourite HAL ships.  Not new, but in great shape and the perfect size.  I would jump at the opportunity to sail on NA so close to home.  Royal Princess is okay, but was never a favourite.  

Totally enjoying your review and your pics are wonderful!  We’ll be on Enchanted in August and this makes even more excited!  Thanks so much.

l

What a great report!  Brings back lots of memories when we sailed on this itinerary.  I love Regal Princess, one of our top fav cruise ships.  Thank you for taking us along with you!

Thank you for giving us a heads up….appreciate it.

1 minute ago, Cruise Raider said:

Personally, I think the plus package is worth it on Grand/Crown class ships but prefer the premier package on the Royal class ships.  It comes down to the varied dining venues for that decision.  

Great minds think alike! 

40 minutes ago, cruisinsince75 said:

I paid off our cruise today with two gift cards and the remaining $3.22 on a CC.  While I was entering them, I got two of these notices via email. (see below) However, they still showed on the invoices.  Once I completed entering the last gift card, I got an invoice showing it paid in full and the notice was no longer there.  Has this happened to anyone else?  Is that normal and do I need to be concerned,  

THE FINAL PAYMENT RECEIVED WAS INSUFFICIENT TO COVER THE PRINCESS VACATION PROTECTION/PLATINUM VACATION PROTECTION FEE. THE PRINCESS VACATION PROTECTION/PLATINUM VACATION PROTECTION HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BOOKING.

 

I would check your Travel Summary.  Everything you have booked and paid for is listed.  If your PVP is not showing, I would call Princess.

34 minutes ago, PR-Texas said:

We'll be half a world away from our families so WiFi to keep up with them is important.  Lowering gratuities isn't something we would even consider.  We have six sea days so a fitness class or two might be fun.  Having OceanNow so we can order a water or soda delivered to wherever we are sounds like a benefit as does free delivery for room service. Will we use enough benefits to equal the cost of the package?  No clue.  Will I keep up with it.  Absolutely not. For us the biggest benefit is Pay it and Forget It.  We're on vacation.  

I like your thinking!  Exactly us, too.  Cheers!

11 minutes ago, 555 said:

So true. On port days we always were playing catchup trying to at least break even after buying into a package. Even considering coffee, soda & mocktails it becomes a task, not to mention using Wi-Fi which we get free off the ship in most ports.  

For you the package doesn’t work.  That’s fine.  However, for many more of us, they are a great value add a lot to our enjoyment of our cruise.  To each their own.  There is no wrong or right.

2 hours ago, HotRoot said:

We did Quebec City to NYC last October (2023).  It was hot.  We took way too much cold weather clothes.  We had to buy warm weather clothes along the way.  We were in the outdoor pool almost every day.  Point is, you can't predict what the weather will be.

True,  but that’s a rarity in our neck of the woods.  Better to plan for the norm and also take a pair of shorts and T-shirts and swim wear should you be pleasantly surprised.  We’ve seen snow in October.

36 minutes ago, kj_connections said:

I'm looking at Enchanted Princess sailing Oct 2025 to Canada/New England.  I know the weather will likely be cold and the 2 main pools are outdoors. Is there a covered pool that kids are allowed to swim in (that I missed while looking at deck plans)?

 

Thanks in advance

We’re doing this itinerary on Enchanted at the end of August.  As you know, the east coast in October can be quite chilly and rainy in the fall.  We live in Ontario, so the fall colours are abundant where we live in the country.  I would not plan on using the pools or hot tubs in October.

There are some very recent threads regarding Sapphire Princess.  I would suggest you read these to help with your decision.  Some are favourable and some not so much.  Good luck.

15 minutes ago, SCX22 said:

 

If you read EZAir's T&Cs at the bottom of the Air Notification e-mailed to you by EZAir when you made the airline reservation, it clearly states, "A fee, up to the full cost of the ticket...."

 

 

Thank you for posting that.  This should now satisfy the OP that EzAir is not hiding anything and the onus was on them to read thoroughly the terms and conditions.  Can’t get any clearer than this!

13 hours ago, d9704011 said:

Perhaps you should stay clear of generalizing on this topic; in Ontario, this is the law:

 

Where is it legal to smoke or vape cannabis?

The new Act makes it legal to smoke and vape cannabis in the following places:

• Private residences
• Many outdoor public places (e.g. sidewalks, parks)
• Guest rooms in hotels, motels and inns designated as smoking rooms
• Residential vehicles and boats that meet certain criteria (e.g. have permanent sleeping accommodations and cooking facilities, and are parked or anchored)
• Scientific research and testing facilities (if the cannabis use is for scientific research and testing purposes)
• Controlled areas in:
  • long-term care homes
  • certain retirement homes
  • residential hospices
  • provincially-funded supportive housing
  • designated psychiatric facilities or veterans’ facilities

I don’t know of any motel, hotel or inn that provides smoking guests rooms.  If you try to smoke it on the street and especially in a park around kids you’ll hear about it pretty quickly.  We don’t care about the cannabis, we care about the second hand smoke from that or cigarettes.  The other areas mentioned don’t apply to the general public.  Again, if you want to smoke anything, find a remote spot away from other people and be respectful.

2 hours ago, AZaTaz said:

And you basis this on what information? Please indicate where you got this knowledge. I am not trying to be confrontational but I live in Arizona on the boarder and have for my whole long life and spent much time in Mexico.

 As I mentioned in my previous post, my cousin and her husband and children have lived in Mexico since 1980’s.  He’s a doctor and born in Mexico.  Although he’s now retired his colleagues tell him nightmare stories of visitors/tourists being sexually assaulted, stabbing, shootings, kidnapping and murders.  We’ve visited often over the years and they basically guard us when we go out. We were never allowed to go anywhere without one of them with us.  Unless you live there, you have no idea.