DrSch

It's possible, I just never noticed it before.

As a TA, (and a fairly technically savvy one) I know how to move around their booking system.  It actually wont show a cabin as available if you put in 2 guests, but if you change it to 3 it will show them.  Once you find the cabin, then after you book the cabin with an alternate cabin, you put it in on the screen where you can change the cabin, and if you are lucky it will change the cabin.  However sometimes it throws out an error code, and you have no choice but to call Princess and ask them to override it, and put the person in the cabin you want..

They are doing this on their website too, it's not just the booking system.  It's either a coding flaw, or they are trying to get the ships to be max passenger again.  This is a recent change to the booking system, never had this problem in the past that I recall

My experience - I had booked a cruise, and it worked fine.. I was like wow, not sure why everyone is having a hard time.  Then I had to cancel that cruise and rebook it under a different booking number to get some FCCs applied.  This is where the nightmare started.

The App only shows the old cruise.  Won't let me link the new cruise, won't let me log onto the cruise just using my booking number.. I've deleted it a few times.  However, on the website, they have a link where you can use the web version of the medallion app, which worked just fine. I was able to get into the cruise, it had all my information, and now shows me that I am in the Green lane.  Still can't get this same information on the AP.

After I deleted it and reinstalled it a few times, I noticed it is now showing me cruises I canceled weeks ago.  Read somewhere in here that someone asked them i their grandkids could help, I would have replied they obviously used their grandkids to write the app

They have a phone number listed to call under delete account on the phone app.  Going to try to call them and see if they can fix this mess.  Not really caring that much as it let me order my medallion and I got a confirmation email, and will most likely not use the app on the ship unless I absolutely have to. Hopefully by then it will have cleaned itself up.

Princess is actually doing this on thier TA booking system as well.  What ends up happening is clients are dumping their travel agents, because Princess can find them a cabin, and their TA can't. 

Was looking for a cabin in a particular portion of the ship the other day for 2 passengers, and all that was available was guarantee.  When I looked in the same area for 3 passengers, all of a sudden the cabins I wanted were available. Booked it with whatever I could find, and called them, and had them move me to one of the cabins I wanted.

1 minute ago, Best Cat Mom said:

We always use American Express as our credit card for the MSC on board charges. The kiosk has never failed to accept it. Another advantage of using Amex is that there are no foreign transaction fees if you're Platinum. One reason to carry another brand of credit card is that not all vendors will accept Amex outside of the US (not sure of your itinerary, that's why I'm mentioning other uses besides the kiosk).

Yeah, pretty much my card of choice, have 3 different ones lol.  Have been to many countries where it was hard to use, so always have an emergency MC and Visa. 

Have not been especially thrilled with the MSC website - the online checkin states you can use American Express, but the site it sends you too doesn't allow it.   So I had to call them to get them to send me the electronic ticket, and have to register the card when I get to the ship (will bring a visa just in case)

And then, purchased the internet package, and MSC billed me twice.  Called them, had them cancel it, they rebooked it, and it billed me twice again.  Have filed a dispute with my credit card.. easier than calling them again.

I've a similar service and test when I was out of the country and needed to take the test to fly home.  If it's the same, they will have you take the test on camera, and watch the results for 15 minutes.  They will then send  you a report by email almost immediately.

Just an FYI.. had the new variant 2 months ago (am fully vaccinated).. started feeling sick on a Sunday, but the home test kits did not show a positive result until Tuesday.  Got on antivirals on Tues, and felt better by Thursday, but continued to test positive until the following Weds.. (about 10 days).  This seems to be the norm with the new variants so don't be surprised if people start getting sick when you are on board. 

Just reviewing the diamond benefits now.  Will need to book things quickly when we get on board

8 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

I guess it depends on a few things - 1) the price they are offering to pre-book.  For example it used to be $39 (when the experience was $65), thus a good deal.  2) If you like the choices in the experience, 3) what it would cost to order what you want if you go a la carte.  If you are not going to order 3 courses plus a side you might be slightly better off going a la carte, but if there a pre-booking offer -- without the sparking wine - you will save money.  

This is what you get for 99.00

• 1 shellfish platter to share
• 1 appetizer
• 1 dry aged ribeye with sauces and sides selection
• 1 chocolate lava cake
• 2 glasses of New World wines

so it's kind of pricey.

This one appeals to me a bit more, and is probably the one I will take, unless I just wait to get on the ship.. this one is only 75:

Anyone going?

First Time cruising on MSC, not not familiar with the restaurants

Looking for recommendations as to if I should pre-book the dining experience, or just go and order from the menu.

The "experience" looks overly expensive, compared to what I have been able to see in regards to the menus.

Anyone have thoughts or experiences with this? 

They are going to Belize, instead of Grand Cayman

Any Information would be greatly appreciated:

My 83 year old mother and I are scheduled for the next cruise, December 6 - out of Houston. We have done this cruise before and did not have any problems, but .... Texas weather being what it is you never know.

 

We are driving down from San Antonio so there is no airfare, but we are scheduled the night before at the Marriott in Houston - through Princess - and have bus transfers to the port on cruise day - through Princess. We also have the Platinum Vacation Protection from Princess, which I have never needed to use before so I don't really know what it covers.

 

 

One of the posters remarked that if you did not purchase a full package from Princess, including Air Fare, they basically left you stranded at Bayport. :confused:

 

Is there anyone who knows what happened to those passengers with my same situation? Did Princess keep their bus at the terminal and put the riders back on the bus and take them to a hotel after it was determined the ship was not going to make it? Does the Platinum Vacation Protection from Princess cover costs of the hotel and food with receipts?

 

I would not expect food to be provided, but since my mother must eat every 3-4 hours I will definitely be bringing a 6 pack of her Ensure in my carry on. This posting has been extremely informative to me. I have traveled a great deal, by many different methods - not just cruising, so I know that being flexible and having a "go with the flow" attitude is best. However, hanging out for a day at the Bayport Terminal with my mother - Oh Dear! :eek:

You are good to go. With an overnight hotel, transfers and platinum insurance... if there is a fog problem, you will be kept at the hotel until the ship is boarding, and if there is an overnight delay, you will stay in your room (or a similar one). Princess Reps at the airport and or hotel will keep you up to date.

As of 5 minutes ago, the Holiday Inn Express La Porte has rooms available. Not sure how much longer they will, but currently they do

Got off the phone with the Princess Insurance carriers. They were informed that the ship is not getting in tonight, and that they will be hopefully getting in late tonight or sometime tomorrow.

Have clients on the ship, and as their TA was checking for them. If you are waiting to get on the ship, and have Princess Insurance, get a hotel and the cost of that, plus the transportation to the ship will be covered. If you do not have insurance, I can not tell you what will happen.

The new # for status updates is 866 246 6161

Any benefit to booking this ahead of time, or should I wait and get it onboard?

Do they still make you sign for each drink with the package?

Can someone let me know who the Sr. Staff on the Emerald Princess are currently?

Specifically interested in the current Hotel Manager and Passenger Services Director.

Thanks

I would suggest you get with Papa Hogs. www.papahogs.com They have a pier / area for shore diving directly in front of their shop, and give shore divers dive bouys to take out with them.

Contact Roatan Sun Splash Tours.

Steph will set it up so you can dive, while your wife goes to the beach / snorkels, tours the island, and then have the two of you meet up at a nice private beach for lunch and cocktails afterwords.

http://www.roatansunsplashtours.com

Has anyone did the scuba diving with the sharks? We will be on the Navigator of the Seas in March. It's not a ship excursion but my husband and I thought it would be the highlight of our trip.

 

I contacted a few places I could find on line but only one, West Bay Tours, responded and said they were booked for the week we were going.

 

Any other suggestions?

 

Thanks! :)

There is only one operator in Roatan that does the Shark Dives. There are lots of tour companies that sell his dives, but only one actual dive company.

They do two dives a day, one first thing in the morning and one at 11:30 am. Odds are, since you are on a ship, that you wont make the first dive, so that leaves the 11:30. If they are saying it is sold out, odds are it is.

Go on the regular dives. The reef in Roatan is beautiful, and the current is very calm compared to Belize and Cozumel.

They are doing this to match Ship Time. Unfortunately it is only for the ships that are coming from the East.

Ships coming from TX will now be totally confused.

They were doing this because ships were getting there at 6:30 in the morning central time, so now the ship will be there at 7:30, and its better for the cruisers because things will be open.

The locals in Cozumel are NOT happy about this either. Many of them live in Cancun, and on the mainland, and commute via ferry to Cozumel. Now they will have to leave their homes at 5:30 to be on the island by 7:30

And as for those of us cruising from Texas. Ship time will be central time.

So now the ship will arrive at 6:30 ship time, it will be 7:30 Cozumel time, and then we get back on the ship at 4:30 Cozumel time, and all of a sudden it's 3:30 again when we leave for the next port.

I have jetlag just thinking about it.

Not sure how this will affect the tours that leave Cozumel and go over to Playa.

Can anyone recommend a fishing charter? There are none off the ship and so many on the Internet!!

 

TIA!

 

 

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If Papahogs is doing a fishing charter, I would recommend them.

http://www.papahogs.com

Sorry just re-read the thread

LOL, I just noticed the date that was posted.. Guess I was a bit late in answering?

On the same token, when you are returning from Cozumel, and are sitting at the airport and the official person comes to you and asks you to fill out the hotel and vacation experience survey card, please realize you are giving your information to the time share companies so they can market to you when you get home.