dreaminofcruisin

We did this cruise in 2019 and really enjoyed it. We found the majority of the people on the cruise were Brits (we're American), many of whom did this cruise on an annual basis! Everyone was very friendly. We mostly did Princess excursions on this cruise because we wanted easy transportation to the wineries and to Puerto de La Cruz, but in Madiera we found it very easy to go on our own. This is from my notes from this port: We got off the ship and walked to Center City (about 1.6 miles) and got on the cable car to go up to Monte. When we got off the cable car, we went to the Jardim Monte Palace which is right next to it. This is a very large beautiful garden. It is very hilly with lots of paths, so we got lost in our wandering through a few times. Included in the price of admission was a Madeira wine tasting. I wasn’t crazy about the taste, but when in Madiera, you have to taste their wine. At one point, we could also see the Basket Toboggans going down the hill. We sat and watched them for a while. After we were done in the garden, we went back and went down in the cable car. We walked along the water and sat in the park area a bit before going back to the ship. Also, just since you haven't cruised before.....we did find the 1st day or 2 of the cruise was a bit more 'bumpy' than some cruises. You might want to be prepared with some dramamine until you know how you react to it. We have never had a problem with bumpy waters, but I know many do. It's a great cruise! The port areas are all very happy to have cruise ships so they are very welcoming!

For those of you who have been following this you tuber saga of her EZ air fligths....she posted another video this morning from someone being charged $840 after requesting early ticketing online with no option to back out..... 🥴

The other thing not asked....which has become much more important with Omicron. What KIND of mask? If, when people indicate they were wearing a mask, it is NOT N95 or KF94, they might as well have said they were not wearing a mask..... No judgement, just saying.....

If you go to the Medicare.gov website and enter your zip code etc., it will list the Medicare Advantage or Medigap options available for your area. On the right side of each option, it lists Benefits. One of those Benefits lists whether or not it covers "Worldwide Emergency" or "Foreign Travel". You could then call that particular company and find out exactly what that means.

So.....the speculation was that 2024 Caribbean might be released with the new Premier Beverage Package. So far....nope..... Any TAs out there heard anything? 🙄

I think it will be really interesting to see how well this goes over for Princess. Just from reading posts it seems there a lot of people (like us) who REALLY like Princess Plus and though I don't like the increase in price, I can 'probably' still cost justify it. Then it seems like there are a lot of people who went with Princess Plus at the old price, but were just going to try it out and see if they can justify it. This also might include those who don't drink or only drink very lightly. For them, the price increase might be too much. I guess there are a few who would go for the Premier plan, but I think Princess got so excited about the number of people who found value in the Plus plan, that they wanted to add another option. I can't cost justify it. Like others, don't need photos, rarely do specialty dining and think the contests are very strangely designed (even if I had any interest which I really don't). Maybe this would be a good 'sale' option for Princess? Buy Plus, but get Premier during the Sale! Anyway....it will be interesting... My biggest fear is them degrading the value of the Plus plan in the process. As both a customer and stockholder, I think that would not be a good thing.... ☹️

Huh. Well that's interesting. Strange, but interesting. Not "really" surprised though.....Princess really seems to have some problems with implementing their new ideas.... 🤪

If you literally mean '2 weeks' when you sail, you should be good! The new Premier package doesn't start until sailings starting June 25th and later. 😊

The nicest thing about the P/E/S pre-dinner thing is when it is in Skywalkers on the Grand Class ships! Especially if it's during a sail-away! Really pleasant way to enjoy it.

Perhaps you were thinking of the antigen test needed to Embark the ship in some places like Southampton? That is still listed as $60. https://www.princess.com/plan/cruise-with-confidence/cruise-health/frequently-asked-questions/uk-southampton-cruises/?accordion=covid-test-prior-to-boarding

There is some 'speculation' that 2023-2024 cruises might be released May 25th when the new Premier (Beverage) Package becomes available and the price goes up for the existing Plus Package.

We were just on a Carnival cruise with DGS--(age 5 - first cruise). We had to 'learn' this idea too. As much as we think we're wonderful company....the kids often would rather spend time with other kids. He had such fun meeting other kids in the kids club and then thought it so cool when he would run into them with us in the buffet or off the ship at a beach. I think a mix of both works out well! Years ago, when my DS went on his first cruise---age 12, his favorite part of the cruise? Having the upper bunk in a mini-suite! You just never know what they will think is fun...😃

Here's the description from the Deck Plans on Princess' website: The luxurious Mini-Suite offers approximately 323 square feet of comfort and a separate seating area with a sofa bed for lounging or sleeping a third passenger. The spacious balcony is approximately 57 square feet and the bathroom offers a combination tub and shower. Some Mini-Suites also have a pullman bed to accommodate a 4th passenger. It is stored in the ceiling and pulls down. (The steward does this for you.) I don't know that ALL of the mini-suites accomodate 4 people, so if you have been in one and not seen it in the ceiling, it may be that your mini-suite only allowed 3 people.

Passenger 3 is on a sofa bed. Passenger 4 is on an upper berth.

Having had covid after a (Carnival) cruise in March, I am totally convinced that you cannot keep it off the ships and if it's there, I think it might be "chance" (or your immune system) if you catch it or not. 7 of us together on the cruise...2 being young kids, so we pretty much were all together everywhere. Only 3 of the 7 got covid. I actually think I got it from DH, since I was home for 8 days before testing positive. DH tested 3 times before testing poistive (5 days after disembarking). I tested 4 times before testing positive. We both had symptoms, but if we hadn't tested as often as we did (and we did not test daily), we might have not known we were positive. Others might have no symptoms, but are still spreading it. Soooo...is cruising a risk? Yup. Is it going to stop me from cruising? Not unless another more deadly variant shows up. I have a Princess cruise (finally back to Princess! after over 2 years!) booked for August and another for October...one is international. My only concern is getting quarantined on the ship (which would stink...but I'll take my chances) or testing positive before flying back --- unless the U.S. finally drops that requirement. I think you just need to be aware if you are cruising, that there is a good chance it will be on the ship and you may not be able to avoid it, no matter how diligent you are. The good news is that we aren't hearing of huge numbers of hospitalizations or deaths like in the beginning. Just an aside though....we actually think we might have caught it on a shuttle bus to the airport, or in the security lines at the airport, or on the plane....just because of the timing...but...who knows?

It seems to me that some of the launderettes had a sign stating how long the washers and dryers took. If they don't, they should.....that way, one could easily set a timer on their phone. That's what we always do, so we know we will get back when it is finished.

Your room steward will be happy to provide more hangers if needed--just ask🙂 . (Doesn't solve your wooden hanger issue though.)

We did a Carnival cruise with an unvaccinated toddler. She easily got the exemption since she is not old enough to be vaccinated. However, my understanding of the exemptions given on Carnival....I know...might not be the same as Princess...but just some food for thought.... Carnival said they couldn't give exemptions (at that time--March) until a few weeks prior to the cruise. The reason for this is that they need to know how many people are sailing before they know just what that number is that they are taking 90 or 95% of is.... Just a thought....

According to the Terms & Conditions it is still just the addtional..for now anyway, https://www.princess.com/ships-and-experience/food-and-dining/beverages/ (Click on View Plus Beverage Package Terms and Conditions) Terms and Conditions Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices. Non-alcoholic drinks do NOT have this limitation nor do they count toward this maximum. Items selected that exceed the $12.00 USD or $16.00 AUD price are charged according to the difference in price.

So...there is this under the FAQ: https://www.princess.com/cruise-deals-promotions/plus-premier-cruise-packages/ 3. Do all 4 guests in a stateroom receive all items in Princess Premier? YES, however when this package choice is selected it will automatically be defaulted to the first 2 guests in the stateroom. Should your 3rd and 4th guests want to opt in to receive the items they will need to contact Princess or their Travel Advisor to have it applied to the booking. For guests under the legal drinking age, the Coffee & Soda Package will be applied before sailing and they will not be eligible to win prizes in Princess Prizes. It is really unclear if this means that if the Premier package is selected, guests 3 and 4 get nothing? or get Plus? or what? On a past cruise with my grandkids, after pushing back at my TA and having her call Princess a couple of times, there was an option to book Plus and have guests 3 and 4 have nothing. There was a 'code' for this and it it had a lower cost. However, it was not very well explained to most of the Princess reps who answer the phone, so it took a lot of work. It would just be nice if one could select options by person.....

".. along with prizes won on every voyage that range from a cruise for two in a balcony stateroom, onboard cruise credits from $25 up to $250, wine tastings, and chef's table dinners. " So...if you are winning these prizes, you better win them early in the cruise since you have to use them while on the cruise, especially if it's a shorter cruise....such a strange idea this whole contest thing is.... 🙄

See post #8 in this thread. We think it was just a poorly worded press release. Soda, water and specialty coffee still included.

I haven't found any good TAs that give me more than I can do myself online for the most part. (I read of people on CC who have found good ones--congratulations to them!) I do have a CVP now and I have found her VERY responsive if I want to book a cruise. If I have an issue for her to deal with.....it takes MUCH longer for her to respond..... ☹️

Thanks SOOOO much. I have sent emails MANY times to the cruise critic help box asking for this and no one ever did it or responded. I love this feature!

I've never seen many 'drunken fools' on Princess.... Just to clarify....the 15 drinks per day ( or 10 in your example) is ONLY counted for alcoholic drinks. You can have 50 lattes and sodas, if you are so inclined.....