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Oops sorry - cruising Princess …

Thanks @arxcards - when I looked yesterday at personaliser it wasn’t showing currency … but just checked again now and it shows - Princess IT glitch/fun 🫣

Princess 

So glad to hear people’s positive refund experience … will share from an experience I had last year.

We had email from HSBC literally 3 days before flying out to Europe for a cruise so I decided I’d check direct with Princess staff onboard re the validity of the email a few days later as it didn’t feel right.

We do lots of scam/cyber training at work and I was fairly sure it was a scam as there was a deadline and the reference number on it was not anything to do with our past or recent cruises. HSBC was part of domain name so that had made me pause.

Guest Services on board had the Finance team investigate and what I had received was confirmed a few days later as a scam - ref number nothing to do with Princess and refund was to go into my Paypal a/c according to email letter.
 

Princess GS staff said they do not ever refund into PayPal accounts and the US office confirmed they had seen this scam just arise based on their real refund process (which is also HSBC as well as cheques). 
 

Hi - having a blank moment so hopefully fellow Aussie based cruisers can remind me!

Booked cruise for Europe sailing (departure port UK). Cruise paid shows in AUD, understand purchase prices when onboard ship is in USD.

To prepay gratuity in advance of cruise - is the amount shown in personaliser AUD or USD?? 
Didn’t prepay last cruise(😩) so paid USD daily onboard but drawing a blank re currency for prepaid. Thinking it is USD but not confident.

Note: to be clear - am not going down the tipping rabbit hole just currency question.  
 

@YVRteacher Yvonne, I have enjoyed being on your journeys with you, peering through your lens vicariously from my lounge room. Your reporting style, musings and photographs was something I’ve enjoyed reading/seeing every evening. I am sure that your students get transported and learn so much in the classes you teach.   Thank you!  Safe travels home.

Step away from the desserts/premium ice cream?

Love this thread …

Jo

I echo what @Ken the cruiser said - we sailed suites and have been in RC mini suites and really enjoy it - the staff always efficient and we never had a wait of more than a minute even at busy times.

Thanks for reporting the issue and for CC resolution - was driving me nuts yesterday using my iPad but was ok on phone.

Our PVP is great - sent email cob Friday (not urgent just wanting info some time following week), she responded via email would call me first thing Monday and 7am my time on Monday she rang and we now have another cruise booked, reduced refundable deposit and some OBC … we are happy!

As an Aussie when we travel overseas with Princess we pay gratuities - that isn’t part of the Plus/Premium inclusions for us as we pay less for the package … of course $A/$US FX rate not factored 😩.

If you book shore tours via Princess the price you see online is US$ … I got caught out once.

@TrixieBel love that when FX rate goes our way😁

Out of curiosity was your new booking considered a re fare (and assume you had refundable deposit?)

Jo

Thanks for posting about excursion prices - a tour in Alesund in September (troll path)went up in price by USD150 pp a few weeks ago from when I first saw it and I checked this morning after reading here and it had dropped down USD100pp - with AUD FX rate being not great I jumped on this price change (thanks OBC)!

OP - thanks for your review of your Sky experience.  I don’t post often but do read these boards a LOT - everyone can have a different experience even on same ship same time - it helps me read the plus/deltas to form my expectations.  
 

Like @PacnGoNow we did Enchanted too - 21 days in August - great ports, food was good (loved Catch); staff were so friendly and helpful. Newer ship so everything sparkled. First time in Reserve Mini Suite (DH loves full suites so this was a test😁).

We were a little concerned before we went after reading many reviews of Princess changes leading up to departing (we are long term Princess cruisers but it was our first cruise since the world shut down) as our departure was Day 1 of THE major package changes … next trip is on CP in Sept 24 and I’m seeing mixed comments about ship due to age but that staff are fantastic. 
Agree with lots here that cruise industry is not what it was pre 2020 -…. but cruising is my happy place and maybe I might try other lines depending on experience and itinerary 🤷‍♀️
 

We have flown ANZ a few times long haul including Perth-Houston return and highly recommend the 787 business class. There are 18 business seats and configuration was 6 seats on the left of the plane not facing any seat but angled to middle and seats middle/right staggered towards each other. Fully flat bed really comfortable (better than our recent SQ A380 IMO). The food and wines were great and service always exceptional.

Saw Premium Economy and the chairs quite wide with semi recline - they also have sky couches (3 economy seats into sort of couch - popular with couples or families).

@PacnGoNow - my PVP responded to my email query - the cancelled cruise had not been fully cancelled their end for some reason so has now and she confirmed it would reflect in App in a few days … 

Thank you so much

I’ve done a search on CC but cannot find an answer to a glitch I’m having with the App on my phone .. coming to those of you who have multi cruises booked.

Last week we decided not to proceed with a booking in 2024 and cancelled that with my PVP and used FCC to book another cruise with the PVP.

However on both the Web Cruise Personaliser  and App, the old booking is showing. When I go into the App and select Add Journey to add my new booking reference, I get an error “no booking number found”. However I was relieved to see it’s on Princess Web Personaliser.

Is there a way to remove the cancelled booking off both Personaliser or App … or has the PVP who cancelled missed something?

I had removed the App and reinstalled but it still shows.

Jo

Dirty Banana has our vote …. Lemon Drop Martini and Frozen Margarita come in joint second

We are on a Mediterranean cruise in September - my package was changed over to Princess Plus by Princess and I also get the pre-pay gratuities button. We always prepay on past cruises but I  haven’t selected it yet due to mix messaging I’m seeing in CC - Rickays, thanks for your comments here.

Totally agree with what PurpleTraveller has said re tipping here.

Last year we did a 8  day bus tour to Alice Springs (as part of The Ghan train Darwin - Adelaide). While not sure what tour you are doing might have some info/photos of interest.

We were there late April and didn’t have any issues with flies (albeit maybe I’m just used to them😁)

Uluṟu is such a spiritual place I feel, Kings Canyon is a work out but exquisite scenery of the bush and well worth it, Simpson Gap is great. Million star dinner is unforgettable … but subject to cloud cover on occasion.

Alice Springs has a few nice hotels.

I drove past your floating home in Fremantle on Saturday and  wondered what was happening with the ports of call and voyage based on recent events. Safe travels and I’ve enjoyed your reviews thus far.

Thanks, I’ll go back to the thread you mentioned and have a look. 

Can I ask, cabin size comparison on Viking to ie Princess in same type room - is it similar?

Haven’t researched Viking yet so will do that.

Enjoy your cruise and thanks.

Jo

Been reading lots of the threads re World Cruising.  DH and I are looking at planning a WC 2022/23and waiting to see what routes Princess will offer for that year as we have status with them.

We are looking at up front costs, what may be extras vs what’s included in other inclusive cruise lines plus room size comparisons. I went to an online TA site and saw they gave OBC  over and above what some of the cruise lines show on their sites but then discovered that TA had some Princess WC priced but specified did not include gratuities so I’m a little confused.

Has anyone done a WC with Princess in recent time and what did Princess include as standard for WC?  We are thinking of a mini suite or balcony all depending on what the final budget looks like. Appreciate any advice/tips you may have and I’ll keep reading threads.

thanks

Jo

Our first cruise we’ve had a mini suite on Royal Caribbean  and saw the full suite next door to us and thought “yes please” .... took another cruise this time on Celebrity but again in mini suite. Finally booked a cruise on Princess’s and booked the long awaited suite and have gone suites for all of our cruises on Princess since.  Love the extra space inside, the specialty restaurant on embarkation, breakfast in Sabatinis (mostly), the shower in bathroom and the other perks said by others.

However went on Majestic last March - room was great as usual however the balcony on that ship was quite skinny compared to others that we have had mid ship. If that’s all I have to complain about well that is not bad hey! Going on Enchanted in Suite mid year so expect similar sized balcony to Majestic. DH doesn’t like noise as super light sleeper so stern cabins never been an option.

Next year we are on Grand in CC mini suite - due to length of cruise sector (28 days)  and we are Elite which gives us laundry and a few other things; I decided not to book a Suite. DH after that cruise is sure to let me know future room choice 😄.

As to worth it well as others said, I agree that it all depends on the individual traveller and the value they place on how they like to travel and how many cruises. We fly a long way to cruise some routes so for us it’s a yes as we try to do 1 cruise/year.

Happy cruising all!

Jo