cherylandtk

myangel, from what I have been told the beam on the Carribean Princess is truely a very minor obstruction, nothing like on the Crown or Emerald. sue

I understand it is the same size beam. From the various pictures and links posted here, they look the same.

MYAngel, are there actually 2 beams, or one? I seem to get conflicting info.

 

Also, would this suite work well for 3? Possibly travelling with teenage daughter. The bedroom area has a curtain you can pull to separate?

Two beams on the suites, but one is part of the bulkhead so its more of an alcove than a stand alone beam. The picture above shows it pretty well. And yes there is a curtain between the bedroom and the sitting area/sofa.

Here is a picture, click to enlarge.

 

If it were me, I would pick the vent over the beam if I had a BB balcony. If I had one of the suites, the balcony is big enough that the beam is not a huge obstruction, but then you could also sit away from the vent...so it becomes a personal decision as to how much noise might bother you vs. having the beam.....

 

 

I think the 'vented' balconies on the suites just appear larger because they don't have the two beams breaking up the space. But I do think the beamed ones are a little deeper and thus might actually be larger.

I was told ALL must have a passport to cruise beginning Jan. 1, 08. This from my cruise travel agent. I didn't check all the threads so I hope it's not redundant! Mary

Your travel agent is incorrect, although probably just being over-cautious. Having a passport means you won't have any documentation troubles, but it is not correct to say that all must have a passport on Jan. 1 08.

 

My advice would be to go the The US Department Of State website at www.travel.state.gov . Look under the heading "New Travel Requirements For US Citizens". I would rely on the information on this website before I would rely on the information from any other persons...Paul from New Jersey

The State dept website refers you to the DHS website, where the most current information is found. See also page 10 of this thread for links and summaries.

 

My family will be getting passports for our cruise in September. We're going to Jamaica, Grand Caymen and Cozumel. My question is, will we get a stamp for each of these stops or just one stamp upon embarkation? I've done an internet search and can't find that info anywhere.

 

I love the idea of a stamp from each port of call, but I'm afraid that's not how it works. I know someone out there can tell me. Thanks in advance :)

Sorry, but most cruise destinations do not stamp the passports. And you won't get a stamp upon leaving or returning to the US with a US passport. You can ask at the Purser's desk if they will do that for you, but it requires that you leave your passport with the purser so that the local immigration authorities have access to your passport when they clear the ship. Not all ships or Pursur's will go to this trouble, but you have to ask.

Sundress, your passport is valid--so don't worry. You might have to point out the back page where the name is amended, but it is a valid passport until 2012.

My mom and I went and expedited our applications for first time passports on the 13th of August and we still have not gotten them. I hope that we get them intime for our cruise in November.

What does your online status show? Given that the passport agency is caught up from the overload, you should call them up and ask where yours are. And ask to get your expedited fee refunded.;)

Calcruzer, I assume you will be flying back to the US from Acapulco, is that right? If so, then yes, you need a passport.

 

Its still too early to do much more than wait, but if you don't have your passport by exactly 14 days prior to your cruise departure, then call them to expedite it at the numbers listed on the website. You cannot get them to take this action until that 14 day window. But I think you will have it long before then. Try and relax....if possible.

Gingerale is in the soda guns and is therefore included on the soda card. I drank plenty of it last month on the Grand.

Well, perhaps they changed it or its only in some bars--but I had two bartenders on the Grand tell me ginger ale was not available last March. I will leave the answer as "Whatever is in the guns--and it may or may not be what it was available on a prior cruise":)

Coffee card covers specialty coffee drinks in the International Cafe/Patisserie/Lobby Bar (whichever your ship has) and the dining room and is good for 15 drinks, such as cappucino, latte, etc. I think ~$25. Since it is for a finite number of drinks, it can be shared. They punch the card each time you order a drink. Some reports of trying to punch the card for brewed coffee, but generally folks report the brewed coffee is 'free' with the punch card.

 

Soda card is good only for whatever is stocked in the soda guns, basically coke, diet coke, seltzer and sprite. No diet sprite and no ginger ale, since not in the guns. Does not cover cans, or room service.

 

Iced tea is free in the buffet, all day, have not seen lemonade on ship, juice in small glasses is free in the buffet and dining rooms in the am.

The minimum leadtime is that '60 day notice' they quote; in reality, it is more often 6-12 months. When they first instituted the WHTI there was all that discussion about whether to include land and sea crossings in the first 2007passport requirement. I think the shortest time frame came down to about three months(?) or so on that one.

 

The expectation (not a promise) at this time is that they will institute the second half land and sea crossing in the middle of 2008. The main holdup at this point is implementing the passcard system, and they want to make this all occur at one time. Passport or passcard for land/sea, permanent exclusion of specific WH cruises, one date for implementation. They also realize they need to give cruiselines several months to update rules.

... Even if they adopt the proposed new rule that would still only give you until summer 2008 before you need a passport for cruise travel, not summer 2009.

Maybe, maybe not. There is a permanent EXCEPTION to needing passports, still assuming the proposed rule is adopted, for RT cruises out of US to Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, Bahamas, for US citizens. (Its on page 36 of 114, section V of the NPRM, second blue link on that DHS press release link you gave above.)

So I'd like to just confirm what I'm reading now -- that regular (NOT expedited) service is running about 12 weeks. Is that right? (I thought it was taking longer.) Is that for new passports, or for renewals? (My wife needs to renew -- we've got over six months to do it, and she's going to do it this week [or else! :)] but I want to be sure we don't need her to go for expedited service.)

Mailed my renewal July 27th, it showed up online as received on Aug. 6 (10 days) and today, Aug 10(14 days), I received an email that the passport renewal has been completed and my passport should be received by Aug. 14 (18 days, 2.5 weeks!). Standard processing.

I just emailed HostMike with a formal request for a STICKY on this.

 

Greatam-Thanks for the great laugh for the afternoon with your MBA story.

Just wanted to say thanks again for creating this thread; I refer to it so often I wish it were made into a STICKY for this forum.

I just read in the AARP newspaper that arrived today something about being within 6 hours from the US ?? Not sure how this would work.it says go to medicare .gov and look up PUB 11037.

:)

Perhaps that is the reference to still being in US territorial waters? I somehow think the physical location is more important in determining coverage than the amount of time it takes to get back.

Penny,

 

You might want to show them this link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html

 

and scroll down to the highlighted words:

THE SOCIAL SECURITY MEDICARE PROGRAM DOES NOT PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR HOSPITAL OR MEDICAL COSTS OUTSIDE THE U.S.A

Yes, Ditto above request :)

Aprilrad, the deck plans show cabins B301-B304 on the Crown to be the handicapped cabins, but they do NOT hold 4 passengers; they each have only two beds. Better contact your TA.

 

As for the rest of your question, you either need to go through the process, laborious as it is, or call your TA daily and ask. Princess does not want to talk with you because you have a TA.

I am looking at the Crown deck plans and the only cabins that are H/C, and hold four, and have a balcony are minisuites. ???

Caribbean jewelery is best considered as a memento or souvenir of your trip. Not an investment grade or once-in-a-lifetime purchase. Quality and value varies widely, as does fair pricing, even within the same store. If you are looking for a good price on a quality stone, schedule a trip to the New York diamond district or go to Tucson in February.

E510 and E512 are over the Explorer's Lounge stage, which does have music and dancing and sometimes Karaoke and art auctions. But they should both be less noisy than over the stage area of Club Fusion.

Who laminated it???? What if the state laminated it at the time of issuance and that is the only thing they issue.

In this case, the state issued the laminated wallet-sized card, BUT its not the only size or way that they issue BC's. As said before, the laminated versions of state-issued BC's are NOT acceptable as travel documents.

Dawn Princess does not go to a distant foreign port (as defined by the act) and therefore pax cannot disembark in a US port other than the one they embarked in without violating the act and incurring the fine.

I understood that the satellite phone call to the ship would be answered by the ship staff, and any messages for the passengers would be taken and left for you as appropriate. It is not a direct line to your room. Phone calls can be placed from your room, via satellite, at nearly any time, but this is dependant on satellite access/availability. Both types of calls cost $8.95 per minute.

Yes, you can take it to the supper club, you may be charged the $10 corkage fee, but your server may not.

 

We usually offer the wine to our tablemates but they usually decline even if they enjoy wine; if you have something special, I think you have a fine plan to enjoy it yourselves.