pris993

It has been a long time since I had a balance to cash out. If I had one that they would not give in cash, I would go to the casino. I would ask to talk to the hotel manager on board, first. After all this is your money, I would go up the chain of command.

I have simply gone to Customer Service desk, the night before and requested the credit in cash, never had a problem with a refundable credit.

I would cash out a refundable credit before leaving the ship too.

All mini suites sleep 3.

As someone who cruises out of SF often, with seniors and folks with ADA limits, I am shocked at how the port staff is totally nonresponsive to providing support to ADA passengers when they must wait in line. Several years ago, I stood in line when a ship arrived late, had a family (wife, husband very weak and old, plus adult daughter) behind me in line. Shore staff refused to allow the daughter to get a folding chair from inside the terminal for the father to sit on for hours. Seeing this, I have purchased on Amazon a collapsible stool for my DH who is 90 and can't stand for more than 1 hour in line for our next boarding in SF in December. Folks with disabilities and mobilities issues need to come prepared, no assistance exists till you enter the terminal in SF. I looked on the SF port web site to see if there was any reference to ADA assistance, found none other than parking. I was born in SF, for a city that promotes itself as liberal and progressive the lack of attention to this area at the port is very disappointing.

My DH has family in Europe and the MIddle East, so we did about 15 Mediterranean cruises over the years. Never did one that I did not like. We usually explored ports on our own, easy to do in the Mediterranean. We booked our first one in the l980s, from Venice to London. At the time expensive for us but we loved it so much we just kept going back. My advice is pick an itinerary of interest, research the ports and just go, you will not regret it.

We had both on the Grand before the pandemic. Both excellent... would love to have again,

Sounds good, appreciate the report on boarding, going in December on Royal out SF. Planning on not going early to pier, maybe around 12 noon. Love the Ruby, did a 10 day to Mexico in February, enjoy it a lot. Have a great cruise and good luck in the casino.

While I think a lot of good ideas have been posted here. I really agree with the above comment about getting a good brick and morter store front Travel Agent who knows cruising to help you. I am cruising with my 90 yr old husband who is very senile. Because of his needs we no longer go to the MDR or anytime dining. We prefer to go to the buffet for dinner, go when it first opens usually around 5:30 pm. Buffet is less crowded at that time and we enjoy the quiet and views, sunsets. Hope you have a great trip.

I have been cruising for 40 years, I know most of the answers. LOL When we first started to cruise not much info readily available. Today, easy to find, computers have taken the mystery out of cruising if you want to do research.

We would not book a cruise if we were concerned about personal safety. We have had folks tell us some cities were not safe but did not have that experience when in cities we were warned about. Ref the question regarding daughter is way too vague. Might depend on the age/maturity of the daughter. Today I read about parents who finance travel for spring break and HS graduation parties outside the USA. In most cases, I would not do so. It is less about specific ports and more about risk in general that young people face.

Wonder if this is a result of bad proofreading on part of publisher??

Even without lots FF status, I have found airlines helpful regarding changes, especially when airline changes flights and new flights don't work with connecting with cruise arrangements.

Do what works for you. The last time I booked with a TA, needed to change my ticket mid-way through a trip, I had to buy a whole new ticket, ticket I had was nonrefundable purchased by the TA. I was in Tele Aviv trying to get back to San Francisco via Paris. Lucky for me, Air France ticket agent referred us to an air charter company. Otherwise, I would have paid a lot more. From that point on I book my own air and know what I have purchased and in a better place to manage problems that come up. This was the 2nd time I got burned by a TA. Another time, I was in Florida, wanted to make a change, found the TA purchased the ticket as part of a block, 6 months before we booked with the TA. Once again, had to purchase new tickets, being in USA less expensive.

Suspect a supply issue. When I was on the Ruby in February, in Crown Grill for dinner 4 times over 10 day cruise, I order mushroom with I like only once. What we got looked like canned or frozen mushrooms??? I can do better at home. Rest of the meal in Crown Grill okay, had a very thin rib steak too but more enough food.

I stopped booking air with TA or cruise lines years ago, when airlines would not deal with me directly while traveling. Booking air myself, directly with airlines, if a problem comes up airline works with cruise passenger better than this.

I have stayed at a Marriott at Heathrow, if that helps.

LOL, well it good to know how others feel about it, if you elect to do it. No surprises that way.

It is not about my personal standards, I am responding to those on this thread that are concerned about the personal safety of those with limited mobility dodging plates in the hallway. I have never had a Room Steward tell me to put dishes in the hall by the way. I have actually had Stewards gladly remove dishes when cleaning the cabin.

Another option. Room service, do it yourself, no reason to leave dishes in hallway.

Joint the roll call board for any cruise you are on, I believe folks on the roll call organize meet and greet with cruise lines. I have not attended one in years but do read the roll call for cruises I take.

I will be going on my 31st cruise in December, what you described is something I have seen on Princess often for years. I book a mini suite so no suite. My Dh is very picky, the housekeeping manager often comes and spends 5 minutes early in the cruise after we have given our steward our special requests. Enjoy it not that unusual. When we cruised in January this year on the Ruby, all the staff on board went out of their way, they were so happy to be back working. The crew and staff are what makes Princess the best of us.

If dishes bothered me that much in the hall, I would call Room Service to come get them. I take care of my own dishes and ignore the rest.

Did I say I put the dishes in the hallway? No. I call them to pick them up, they come knock on the cabin door and I hand them to them with a tip. The ones you see in the hallway, are put out there by passengers who probably don't call Room Service to pick them up. Room Service has never told me to put the dishes in the hallway when I call. Hotels sometimes do but that has never happened on a cruise ship.

I have often gone to buffet and made a plate and taken back to cabin for both my DH and myself. If I don't have covers (I have saved my Room Service breakfast) just put another plate on both dishes and stack on top of each other. Very easy to carry back to cabin. We preferred to eat in our mini suite cabin vs noisy buffet. I would call Room Service order coffee after the meal and then have Room Service clear away our plates, very simple. Of course tip Room Service for doing so.