dreaminofcruisin

45 minutes ago, Pajay1962 said:

We will be on the Princess Sapphire in June, going from Vancouver to Whittier. I have arrangements at the Shrine of St. Therese in Juneau to renew our wedding vows. We have an excursion through Princess to Mendenhall Glacier prior to the renewal, so I'm wondering if I HAVE to return on the Princess Excursion shuttle to the ship from Mendenhall, or do they allow us to not return with them? The reason for this question is we pass the Shrine when going from Mendenhall to the ship. I'm thinking of getting transportation from Mendenhall to the Shrine, and then to the ship. This would save us a lot of time. Does anyone have any experience with something similar?

If you are going to get your own transportation from Mendenhall to the Shrine anyway, maybe you should save the money for the excursion and use it for a car rental....assuming you can get a car at the ship somehow. Then you could just take the car to Mendenhall on your own and travel to the Shrine when you are ready to go.

Just a suggestion.

The 'usual' canned soda selection includes: 

Coke

Diet Coke

Sprite

Root Beer

Orange Soda

Tonic Water

Club Soda

Ginger Ale

Also included are: Red Bull, Perrier, San Pelegrino and Mocktails.

That being said, there are no guarantees all cans are always available on all ships. There are random reports of 'other' varieties showing up. I think this usually happens in Europe where some substitutions might be made. (You can find entire threads on Coke Zero, which seems to randomly show up mostly on European cruises.)

Regardless of whether or not you feel like tipping above the amount of included gratuities....the MOST important thing you can do if you have exemplary service from a crew member, is mention them in the post cruise survey. I have been told by several of them that this plays into their bonus pay and time off.

I'm 'in the middle' on the additional gratuities. If I have a steward, server and/or bartender that provides better than average service, I might give them a few dollars at the end of the cruise. Some cruises I find no one that fits the bill. Last fall on the Enchanted, I nearly ran out of my tip cash as there were so many that were outstanding!

Interesting situation. I'm sorry I don't know the answer, but if it was me...I think I would try it and see what happens.

Good luck!

Welcome to (posting on) cruise  critic.

6 hours ago, LACruiser88 said:

 

Apparently, Canadian rules only allow one open bar per deck while in Canadian waters.  We had never heard of this ridiculous rule!  We walked to the Crown Grill Bar and found it 5 people deep with a line down the hallway!

 

 

This has been true for many years. We first heard of it on an East coast Canada New England cruise in 2017. At least you will only be briefly in Canadian ports. On our cruise it was several days.

Why not get 2 mini-suites next to each other?

Big enough in the couch area for 4 of you to sit and socialize in either cabin.

On Royal class ships there is a curtain between the bed and sofa area for the early risers.

As long as you stay away from the fire doors, the balconies can have the partition between them opened up.

Do pay attention to your email though. We have had them change our departure terminal (notifying by email) as late as the day before..... 

It sometimes takes a day or so to get the email which contains the FCD. If you are planning on booking while on the ship, do it at the beginning of your cruise. I haven't tried the new app, but the old app made it so easy to just do the purchase in the app.

9 minutes ago, jean-lynd said:

I have read that if you keep your ice bucket in the fridge and keep the outside cabinet door open it keeps it nice and cold in the fridge. I will see if that works in July!

You might have to request the ice bucket from your steward.

Our last few cruises, there has been no ice bucket unless requested.

8 hours ago, Potstech said:

How do you link them all together?

When I read this I realized this is a good question as I haven't done this yet in the new app.

I'm going to need this when my reservations get wiped out for the new dining.

I found this in the New App thread....I can't try it as I don't want to mess up my reservations, but this was someone's suggestion:

You click book dining…pull up the MDR you want, look at the date, see top right corner. Person outline with a +.  Click on that and add the other person’s booking number.  Select the person/persons you want to add to your reservation.

Good luck!

45 minutes ago, latebuyer said:

Is there a fridge in the room where I can put cans of pop? I appreciate peoples responses. I know some can't understand those of us who don't get packages.

In addition to the fridge in your room, if you like your drinks on ice, you can request ice by asking your room steward. I  think it is also an option to request it on the app.

3 hours ago, deadzone1003 said:

Isn't it all about perceived value?  If you are wine drinker who normally drink higher quality wines, then the Plus package will taste like "swill".  By going to the Premier package, are you getting that value?  Everyone has different perceived value by going the package route rather then purchasing by the bottle or bringing your own plus paying the corkage.  If you find the plus package wines acceptable and you drink alot of it, then the value is there.  You really don't know until you start drinking those Plus wines that it is of acceptable value to you or not.  Everybody has different taste.  

The wines I drink at home are usually in the $10-$15 /bottle range, not exactly high end.

I have yet to find anyone who likes the Canyon Road whites. It's a shame since many of the wines we drink at home (under previous drink packages) are wines that we found on Princess and liked so well that we now drink them at home. I'd happily pay the few extra $s for the ones over $15, but even then the white wines by the glass are really limited.

It does seem like the selection is better for red wine drinkers. The whites are the ones that are really lacking.

2 hours ago, smwg said:

Maybe they couldn't find you.  That happened to me once in the buffet area.  Lots of people to look through.  I finally went to the area where the table cleaners put the dirty dishes and asked someone there.  Sure enough, they had my drink and were still looking for me.

With the old version of the app, someone mentioned there was a way in the app that lighted up when they were trying to deliver it. I don't know if that is still true. Maybe watch for a server looking lost, turn on your flashlight on your cell phone and wave it in the air?.....

🤪

I should also add for white wine drinkers, the Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio included on the Plus package is Canyon Road for cruises from North America. That is really swill and undrinkable for me (and nope not a high end wine drinker).

For cruises from Europe, on the Plus package, they were offering Adesso Chardonnay and Tini Pinot Grigio and I found those much more palatable.

1 hour ago, HMSDingy said:

Can you choose glasses on the regular wine list or does it have to be only on the Plus selections. 

You can choose glasses on the regular wine list.....IF they are sold by the glass. Unfortunately, the ones sold by the glass are a very limited number. If you find one by the glass you would like that is above the $15 limit, they will just charge you the difference plus 18% (tip) of the difference, so usually just a few dollars total.

I think 'officially' Princess states you can bring on up to 12 cans at embarkation. However, I would be really surprised if they stopped you from bringing on a few cans that you pick up at a port stop. (Bring a small backpack with you off the ship.)

33 minutes ago, CenTexan said:

First time to have Plus package. I have never used the Ocen Now feature in Princess app on previous cruises.

 

So if I am in the theater waiting for a show, should I flag down a waiter to order drinks - or just do it through the app?

 

What about for sitting at the pool?

 

Thanks.

Our last few cruises we haven't seen any wait staff in the theater. Sometimes they set up a little portable bar at the entrance. We usually either pick up drinks on the way to the theater, or go get our seats and DH goes out and gets us each a drink....since we usually have to show up 30 minutes early at a minimum anyway.

6 minutes ago, HMSDingy said:

Ok but the wines on that 2024 list that I found have many wines that are sold here in Montreal. For example the list has an Attems Pinot Grigio at $11 per glass. That wine sells here for $20 and there's also a Mionetto Prosecco sold here for $18 also at $11 per glass. I've had the prosecco before and it's not too bad. 

Where have you seen this list that has Attems Pinot Grigio?

I haven't seen that on a ship in a long time....

7 hours ago, 90scruzer said:

 

 

While we on the chat may agree that 20 seems "old enough", Princess has always had the policy that someone in a cabin must be 21 at least for as long as I remember.   Formerly had to do the same thing, ie. split the children (and us) between rooms, or sail in same room.   It's cramped in a regular balcony, but doable (although it may be that no room capable of sleeping 4 people is available).

Here's from the Princess website:

Age requirements
Guests under the age of 21 years must travel in a stateroom with a guest 21 years or older who shall assume responsibility for their care during the cruise. For family groups booking multiple staterooms, the minimum age for each stateroom is 16 years of age, provided they are traveling with a parent or legal guardian. We are unable to accept group reservations for student or youth groups that do not conform to our minimum age requirements. Each guest agrees and warrants that he/she will supervise any guest in his/her care at all times to ensure all policies, along with all other rules of the Carrier and ship, are strictly adhered to by all guests under their supervision.

https://www.princess.com/en-us/faq/pre-cruise#prepare-for-your-cruise

If someone is doing a 'Live From' on the ship you will be going on and they post the Daily Events paper aka Patter, that would likely give you a good idea of the activities that might occur on your cruise. If it's the same itinerary, likely very similar. If it's a different itinerary, at least it will give you an idea as the ED and CD seem to do the scheduling.

55 minutes ago, memoak said:

I don’t understand why your TA put the minors in separate cabins. At those ages and proximity of staterooms that should not be a problem. You should be able to move people around. If you are taking a plus package you have more options that way. Is your agent a TA or a Princess CVP ?  I would think a good CVP should be able to straighten this out in advance. You can always get your medallions reset for different staterooms but if you have packages you may also be able to save some money on rearranging people 

This is spot on.

Your sons are old enough that you should be able to book them into one stateroom and you and your DW in the other. That way if you book a package, you only need to do it for yourself and DW. Regardless, you can have guest services make the medallions for all 4 of you have access to both staterooms if that is what you desire.

11 hours ago, Hillmom said:

Currently on the Sapphire Princess 24 days into 32. I'm a red wine drinker. Lest you  think Snooty red wine drinker, I'm talking grocery store and Trader Joes. The wine by the glass does not rise to that level. I guess this also applies if you're thinking you can order by the glass without the package. 

  I'm not a big drinker so 15 drinks is ridiculous. There is a Zin at Vines that qualifies under plus, but it is only available there.  Also pours are (generally) VERY .... tight, stingy, small. Also you must arm wrestle for a decent wine glass.  Apparently guests steal them....sigh.

Now I am quite liking the coffees and waters Plus includes, and ymmv...but wine drinkers be advised. 

I'm a white wine drinker and agree also that Princess selections in Plus are pretty pathetic.

Regarding the small pours....since it sounds like you aren't likely to hit 15 anyway, you can always ask for a 'double' when you order a glass of wine. They will 'charge' you for 2 drinks, but you will at least end up with a decent pour.....

25 minutes ago, no1racefan1 said:

We took this excursion on our first cruise in 2006. I spent so much time out on the platform taking pictures! You're supposed to take turns so everybody has a chance to be outside (it's small) but hardly anybody else ever wanted to go out there, so DH and I spent about half the ride out there. It's so cool!

Do be careful and hang onto your phone/camera when outside. We took this excursion in 2004 and one thing I remember about it was there was a woman who accidentally dropped her camera while on the back of the train. All of her trip pictures were on it and of course she was devastated as it was gone.

😮

3 minutes ago, CRUISEWITHH said:

What is the benefit of using AARP gift cards?  Are they discounted if you buy them from AARP?  How much of a discount can you buy them for?   At target I get a 5% discount when I make a purchase.  Is there any other way to get discounted gift cards?

8% - if you buy a $500 gift card, you pay $460

It's thru AARP rewards, so for the Princess gift cards, you need to join AARP Rewards (free), but you don't need to join AARP.

19 hours ago, glhman52 said:

My question is regarding the AON Princess Vacation Protection policy. Does anyone know, if one must disembark due to a listed medical condition, and being US citizens, and we disembark in a US port, is the $941.00 one must pay our US Government to disembark as per the VSPA covered under our policy? Have been getting either “Don’t know” “Not sure” etc… Because ALL cruise ships are registered in foreign countries, we, as US citizens HAVE to pay these fees to be “allowed” off the ship. 

2 hours ago, glhman52 said:

As it worked out for the folks involved in this “hypothetical” It was indeed the immigration team, All wearing flack vests, multiple handguns and multiple officers from immigration which received the payment at the time of the departure.  Along with multiple crew members going through customs, they were also required to be present at the immigration office on board and after all others were processed, they were then questioned, charged $941.00 per person to be enabled to exit ship IN a US port( Hawaii).  

This is pretty confusing. I'm not sure what the "listed medical condition" would be that would require one to leave the ship early. It sounds like it was not considered a medical emergency, but more a decision based on a medical condition? I think there is enough information missing here that it is difficult to understand why they would have been charged unless the ship personnel did not think it required disembarkation. If it truly was an emergency, one would think it would follow logically that the fine would be waived....

but then I am making assumptions....