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When the Caribbean Princess goes into dry dock, I would think the TV's will be changed out to the interactive ones as this will be the third ship using the new Medallion system.

I was on her in January and could see some of the issues you brought up. You should try again after dry dock. I am looking forward to doing just that in the fall. I don't know if the systems will all be up and running by then, but the new mattresses TV's and other goodies should be there.

Hi Leslie & Dave!

We were on for the same Jan 6 - 28 with you.

Yes, there were folks there working behind the scenes.

Two men were in Churchill's taking pictures and making notes on every piece of furniture.

LuLu

Hello, LuLu! We too saw some evidence of work being done behind the scenes. I can't wait to see how she turns on in the fall when we reboard! Can I last without cruising till then?

Making PTO as we speak!

Well, what do you know???? You can learn something new every day! No form. How wonderful!

Thank you for the education!

Crown Grill is our first choice followed by Sabatinis. Tried the Crab Shack on our recent cruise aboard the Caribbean. They did try very hard to accommodate my food allergy but the crab was over cooked and rubbery. However, the shrimp they made special for me were great. We won't go back. Ultimate dinner is no in my book. I am allergic to alcohol so it would be a big waste of money. My other allergy is to all forms of pepper. Hard to book a dinner and have them cook mine without pepper! We are very happy with the Crown Grill every time.

My husband and I got back from our annual winter warm up cruise a few weeks ago. We thought we would both be retired by now so booked B2B2B- a total of 22 days. While on the first leg of our fantastic time in the Caribbean, we decided to book a Trans Atlantic this fall with some new friends. All four of us went to the future cruise office to make it all happen. At the same time, we all asked for more future cruise credits. DH and I wanted two apiece and our friends each wanted one. We still had one in our 'bank' to use to book the TA.

The officer took great care of us and was very efficient. She put our paperwork aside for the FCCs, saying she would deal with it later as there were many more people waiting to see her.

That night, or the next day, we received in our mailbox an envelope with our names on it. I opened it just a bit and saw that it was from her and had up at the heading, something about our future cruise. I did not take it out and read the paperwork. (Here is the warning!) I put the envelope in the folder to take home with us. OPEN AND READ THESE. DON'T PUT AWAY!

Forward about 20 days later when we are home and looking through all the papers and stuff one always accumulates while on a cruise. The envelope is opened to see that yes, there is the paperwork for our next cruise, but nothing about the FCCs.

I go to my Princess profile and they are not there either. DH looks at the VISA bill and we weren't charged.

As we were discovering all this, we had decided what we would do for next winters cruising and were ready to book. (We like to do so early so we can pick the room of our choice.)

So, I gathered all my information and paper work and started to call Princess. Each time (there were 8 calls back and forth) I got on the phone with them, got the name of the person 'helping' me, the time the call started, and the length of the call. I kept a calm voice each time, explained the story each time, walking each person to the latest chapter and how things were still not correct.

I am happy to say that after those 8 calls, we got our FCCs, have booked our winter 2018 cruises, using the FCCs, and, I think because I kept my cool, we were given some extra onboard credit for our time, and an apology for it taking so much of our time.

Lessons learned- Always, ALWAYS read those papers in the envelopes! Get things taken care of before you disembark at the end of your cruise.

If something does happen, and you need to call Princess about it, have your facts in front of you, keep calm, and walk them through it. Keep records as it just might take more than one call. If you are not happy with the representative you are speaking with, ask to talk to a supervisor. Never raise your voice.

All is as it should be, we are happy with the outcome and have chastised ourselves for not looking at those papers when we got them.

Princess- sorry I messed up too. Thank you for understanding and talking care of it for us!

1. Makes lists for the pet sitter.

2. Make lists for the house sitter.

3. Let children know our number and where we will be.

4. Clean house.

5. Make interesting meals using up what is left in the refrigerator.

6. Work at my semi full time job.

7. Lay out clothes and things to take.

8. Check the roll call to see what those I've been talking to are doing to get ready.

Make copies of all the hotels, flights,excursions I've booked.

Not sleep. . .. . .

I always bring a bottle of pump soap to use at the sink in our bathroom, a box of my favorite tissues as I find the ones there to be too thin, my own shampoo, and use the small bars of soap to wash with. I never use the stuff in the showers.

We went through a full bottle of the pump last month for our 22 day trip. I usually just leave whatever is left for my room steward to use or do with what they want.

I called Princess earlier this week. maybe if we all call them, they might get the message???. .. . . . . .

Just spent 22 days on the Caribbean. I use insulin as well as Victosa. No problems. Fridge worked just fine.

I also bought a travel cooler bag to fly with that you could then leave your insulin in the fridge. Go to Amazon or such online and find one there. Be sure that you watch for the first day so as not to freeze your insulin. I've heard of that happening as well.

We now use the ribbon method. I found a 1 inch wide very bright, odd patterned, grosgrain ribbon to attach to each bag. Tied in knots with a tail of about 6 inches seems to do the trick. That along with name tags. . .

I am sorry to hear about your suitcase. From experience, do keep records of your calls, time, dates, and who you talked with each time. I just had an issue and after two days of calls (6 for about 4 hours of my time) got my issue taken care of. Yes, a suitcase will take time to locate, but keep on them and I am sure you will have your suitcase back soon or satisfaction.

I too called Princess today on another matter and then added my frustrations about the website.

Duane, the rep I talked with explained that the site doesn't lie Apple products. . . use Crome. . . IT. . . yada, yada, yada. . . All of it malarky!

A website should be friendly to all systems!

PS, didn't have satisfaction with my two hours on the phone either. I will wait to see if it gets straightened out at 10:00AM EST tomorrow as promised. If not, I will start a new thread.

I always buy a foam pump bottle of a nice smelling hand soap that has antibacterial stuff in it. We used a full one in the 22 days were onboard last month. Much easier than the bars you are given.

So I'm not going crazy!

My Macbook - no entry using safari, but using Crome, yes

Husbands Macbook - he can get me on his using safari

Work - has a PC - can get on using what evert they have installed

My iPad - works with what software it came with

Still crazy after all this time. . . .

I've had some issues trying to pull up the website for a day now. Maybe they are working on it and updating things?

In my humble opinion. . . you are better off just staying onboard if you do go to the port. Not one of my favorite stops.

Did they have the crab pot? What days? I will be traveling on the 25th and can't wait. This was my favorite meal when I was on the Grand. Also any suggestions for excursions with small kids (under10)in Bonaire? My sister is bringing her Grandchildren.

We also dined at the Crab Pot one night on on of our three cruises. I have a food allergy and they did a fantastic job trying to accommodate it. The staff were all very attentive as well, However, we didn't think it was worth the money (our personal opinion) and would not choose this venue again.

We snorkeled in Bonaire with a private company. It was the best place ever to snorkel in our years of doing this sport. So good, we plan on going again next winter! The company is named after the category of instrument that a flute and clarinet would fall under. I highly recommend them.

Glad to here they're upgrading the NEW TV's ? for the Medallions & internet. I wonder if they'll be new TV's or just retrofit the old ones?

It sounds like the ship really needs a face lift during dry dock.

What did you notice that needed repairs?

Only other things I noticed were just normal wear and tear. Nothing that a deep cleaning can't fix. She's still in good shape, I think!

As far as the TVs, I don't know if it will be retrofits or all new ones. Oh, to have the movies on demand instead of the waiting to see the beginning the next go round. . . Loved how on the Royal that once you started a movie, you could pause it, go play bingo, and come back to where you left off.

Greetings!

We too just got off the Caribbean. We were on for three weeks - January 6th till the 28th. We were in R738. Love the aft of any ship. Here's the scuttlebutt we heard and know to be happening.

DH rode the elevator up one day with the computer geek onboard. He was told that in dry dock, every room will get a repeater so that the internet will work better, and yes, more juice added to it too.

Our room steward said there are folks onboard now, already working behind the scenes. It all can't be done in 11 days. Beds will be changed out, new sheets and bedding along with mattresses.

This ship will also be wired for the new medallions that will start soon there after. Interactive screens will be added all over and the new TV system like on the Royal will be added, we were told.

The railing along the 16th deck around the aft pool was all removed and revarnished the last sea day.

saz25, we walked by your room many times a day, for three weeks. Your room was located across from the galley they use for the buffet and the dishwashing area for the same. The smells you had were from that. Especially the dishwashing area. It happens.

Somewhere in the second cruise, we walked out of our cabin to a small waterfall along the outside walls and drips from the ceiling. It was taken care of promptly. Things like this happen. It was after a rough sea day that this took place.

The last sea day of the last of our cruises, we went up to have breakfast in the buffet and the port side was all shut down and heat was pouring out. The air was definitely turned off. That side remained off limits the rest of the time. I noticed the galley on our floor had the door open and heat poured out there as well. We were told there was a water leak somewhere and they had to turn the air conditioning off while things were repaired. I can't imagine having to work in there!

Things are happening! We will be back on for the TA coming back to the states this fall and can't wait to see all the updates!

We just did this yesterday. Our flight was to take off at 11:33 AM. We decided to keep our luggage with us and walk off with it in the morning. Took the 8:15 selection and when we got down to the holding room at 8:00, were told they had already released all walk off groups! so we left the ship, grabbed a taxi and were at FLL in 15 minutes on a Saturday morning with 5 ships in port. With our tip, cost of the cab was $20. Had time for a coffee and some time on our iPads before the flight.

I too was on this cruise. I saw your submarine being towed away from port as we were docking!

We took a private snorkel trip and it was the best snorkeling we've ever done! Highly recommend this port for this alone!

My husband rode an elevator with the man in charge of the internet on this cruise and he said while in dry dock, they will be putting repeater in each stateroom! Amen to that! Our steward said that they already have engineers and folks onboard doing things as it all can't get done in 11 days.

Yes, bedding will be changed out, new TV's the rooms will be wired for the new medallions, interactive screens put in all over. . . lots going on.

We were also on the cruise before this one and the one after. The one after had problems with the Horizon Buffet. There was some sort of water issue with flooding, forcing them to turn off the air conditioning there and in the galleys. A very hot situation for all the cooks and staff working in those areas.

She is really in need of this dry dock, but is still a very seaworthy vessel. We will be back onboard after all the changes and can't wait to see new look she has!

You could watch the ships come into port with web cameras. There is one on each ship as well as cameras posted around the docks.

One. Or two as it was a 5 day/4 day. We signed up as a 9 day on The Emerald.

I envision your Santa inside someone elses cabin decorating their home away from home.

Maybe we all have learned an important lesson. . .mark the back of your decorations and take a photo too.

Then an APB or AMBER alert can be put out and the missing santa/decorations?

May the rest of your cruise go more smoothly and be a wonderful experience.

It took six days. The credit has been posted to our upcoming cruises! I'm really getting excited now!

normally i have experienced very quick turn around with when I fax it and when it gets posted (usually within a day).

 

But I sent ours in this past Monday for three cruises in January and it still has not been posted.

 

I am guessing with the US holiday it may be a little later than normal.

 

Vickie

This is what I was thinking as well, Vickie! My husband who worked with big business, is guessing that Tuesday will be the day it pops up as nothing will be getting done right now because of Thanksgiving. That will be the week mark and I will then have it resent then.

Just checked. My cruise for Dec. 5 says "Shareholders Benefit".

 

"Customer Goodwill" is usually when Princess is giving you OBC because they did something wrong and want to reimburse you for it.

How long was the turn around from time faxed to time posted. I know sometimes it is just a day or so and at other times it is a week or so. Was just wondering what it was running now. I turned in ours on Tuesday and it still hasn't posted. I know, I'm just excited and want it done. . .I'll give it a week and then try again. . .