snoodqueen

Thanks for the heads up!  I'll just have to wait until the 19th to see the cruises.  I can't open any of your attachments no matter what form they are in.☹️

3 hours ago, BamaVol said:

This was on Sapphire Princess. I believe I have heard Mario is retiring before year end. After something like 60 years with Princess. 

Fifty two years for Mario.  We've sailed with him twice this year on Sapphire and he was less visible last week than in February.  The fellow deserves his retirement - he's done a lot!

Currently on Sapphire heading back to Vancouver.  Apparently a storm is heading our way so we are skipping Ketchikan today and going straight back.  That would be acceptable except the much smaller Volendam who trails us went into Ketchikan as scheduled.  If this storm is so serious, why don't they head home as well?  This is not the first time I've been on a Princess ship that skips ports while other cruise lines don't.  I appreciate not having a bumpy ride but it doesn't make sense that we are told each time that the decision comes from 'Corporate'.  Do they not have confidence in their Captains and crew?  I don't mind missing a port but it irks me when we didn't have to.

On the Grand in May, the luncheon was held in the Crown Grill and the Captain posed with each individual guest for a photo, which we received during the meal.  It is a nice remembrance.

We were in D730 in March for a TA and loved it!  The space is a crew area  but I think it's more for cart storage than anything else.  Totally quiet back there...never heard a sound the entire cruise.   Would definitely book it again!

Wow!  You people really don't understand what we onboard are saying and texasjones so eloquently explained.  This isn't my first cruise, my first TA through the Bay of Biscay or the first time ports have been missed.  The point you are missing is the amount that Princess deems is acceptable and as previously stated, more than once, it is NON REFUNDABLE.  If we don't spend it, we lose it.  I don't know what kind of insurance UK people get but our travel insurance does not cover missed ports.  I am done with this thread.  

And we have been given a whopping $100 US as non refundable OBC for missing 2 of 3 ports.  Very poor Princess.  How cheap of you.

Thanks.  If anything further comes your way, please post it!

Sounds great but can't open it.  Why doesn't Princess just post it on their website?  It's bad enough I have to pay double+ to sail solo but the exchange rate they're using right now is too high.

I just got off the Crown and we skipped Astoria due to the weather.  When I asked at Guest Services yesterday about getting the port charges refunded, the fellow said he hadn't heard anything about that yet!  It has always been refunded within 24 hours of the missed port.  Does that mean Princess kept it instead?  Don't know how much it was but times a couple thousand passengers keeps a few dollars in Princess's pocket.

16 minutes ago, njguy_south said:

Thanks for calling my statement a crock. I dialed the Canadian number for arriveCan (1-833-283-7403), and when I asked what would happen if I arrived and had not completed the app., that is what I was told. Thank you for calling me a lier and full of crap!!!!

I work at the airport with CBSA and no one is arrested for having a problem with the app.  It's quite common when people arrive at the port or airport to not be able to complete the information required.  Apps don't always work the way they should.  You would only be pulled aside if you simply refused to do it.  Even then you would simply be denied entry.   If someone really told you that then they are using unnecessary scare tactics.  I'd call back and see what another call centre person told you.  These aren't CBSA officers answering the phones.

On 6/11/2022 at 1:07 PM, njguy_south said:

Not that it is Cunard's problem that all visitors to Canada by cruise ship (even for a port stop) and other travel means, must complete the Canadian Government's ArriveCAN within 72 hours of arrival.  I called the ArriveCAN help number, and the agent did verify that this is true; my cruise is r/t NYC on July 1 with a port stop in Halifax. If the ArriveCAN application is not completed WITHIN the 72 hour window, the passenger will be arrested and placed into quarantine.

 

I was surprised that the Cunard website -- and even when I was completing all of the Check-In information online -- said absolutely nothing about this.  Know that Disney Cruise Line, Princess, Seabourne, etc., ALL tell passengers this on their websites.  Cunard does not.

 

I called Cunard and spoke to a very helpful and knowledgeable staff member. She apologized for it not being on their website nor in any of the forms I completed online. She stated that passengers will be told this information WHEN ONBOARD and within the 72 hours of arriving in Canada. We will need to complete it when we are onboard, with the fantastic Cunard wifi. (I am just hoping and praying the wifi works for ALL of the passengers and crew who must upload this information, including passport information and photos of our vaccination cards; otherwise, a lot of people will be arrested and quarantined!!!)

What a crock!  No one is 'arrested' and quarantined.  You could possibly be denied entry into Canada or ASKED to quarantine if you cannot/will not complete the ArriveCan but Canada does not arrest you.  

After every shore excursion, 10% was refunded to my onboard account.  You have to actually go one the excursion before you get the refund.  They did not do it for the debark tour though. 

Follow up to my rant!  I went online looking for testing sites in SF that I would be able to walk to from my hotel.  Either no appointments available or $250.  I then checked the YVR website and looked and behold, the testing they used to charge $150 for had dropped to $79.  That I could do.  Still not happy with Princess's lack of communication but I am breathing easier and looking forward to boarding on Sunday - negative tests in hand!😁

I just got off the phone with Princess and basically the response was 'too bad - that's the way it is'.  If I don't get another antigen test, I was told that I will be left at the pier.  Princess is not offering free testing at the pier for anyone other than toddlers and that it would be $150 person.  Totally unacceptable.  There should have been notice to us arriving on the first ship into Canada about this at least a week ago or offer to do the test for free.  The update may have gone onto their website yesterday but I'm sure Princess has known for a little longer than that.  It isn't their fault that Canada has stupid requirements but it is their fault for not informing those sailing on the ship.  I am steamed!

It would have been nice to get this information in an email!  I sail from SF to Vancouver on Sunday.  Took the required rapid antigen test to fly to the States tomorrow which was, according to the Princess website a couple days ago, also good enough to board the ship.  On hold with Princess right now to see if they will be testing us for free prior to boarding or if I'm expected to run all over San Francisco looking for a testing site at another cost to me.  Princess dropped the ball on this one as far as I'm concerned.  People sailing in a couple days of new rules should have sent this info out so contingency plans could be made. 

I agree with you completely!  I know there will be many people here who will leap into the conversation telling us to not be picky or ungrateful.  How 'blessed 'we are to be cruising at all and how so many others can't/won't cruise right now.  Well, I work hard to earn the money to cruise so yes, I may be luckier than some but not blessed.  In the beginning I could understand shortages of supplies...I get that.  It's worldwide and a fact of life right now.  However, Princess needs to stop using Covid as an excuse to be cheap and cut back on those little extra touches.  You cannot catch Covid from the chocolates, pens, paper pads, bathroom bags of goodies, etc.  If you and I can buy the same things at our local stores, surely Princess can do it too.  We still get that cheap blue bag with each cruise.  Maybe they could throw a chocolate and a pen in as well!😄

I got a similar one a few weeks ago telling me that the new pricing was about $120 less.  My original PVP is no longer available and it took until today for someone to look into it for me.  Have a new PVP so waiting to see if Princess is going to honour this lower price.  I think if they are telling me there is a better deal, just change it and don't make me call and beg for it!

Why do Americans think it's harsh and restrictive that Canada requires a negative rapid test result the day before flying into the country?  It's exactly the same rule for anyone flying into the US.  I've done it several times and have no problem following entry requirements.  

On my cruise it was Aloha port forward.

I was just on the Grand and got my PCR done onboard.   I went to Guest Services to change my debark time to an earlier one because I expected to do as Princess states on their website and debark sheet - get luggage, exit terminal, get test.  Guest Services asked if I wanted to have it done onboard (of course!) and I made an appt. at the medical centre.  Easy.  It was a pleasant surprise and I am happy I asked.  Only place testing was being done at San Pedro is beside the Iowa - a far distance to go dragging luggage.

I just called Princess and asked about getting an upgrade - paid or complimentary - for the Grand on Oct. 14.  I know bookings online are closed but no harm in asking, right?  I was told that I could ask at checkin or Guest Services onboard if there were any cancellations.  I explained that there were only 3 cabins booked around me and the ship was definitely not sailing full so it wasn't about someone cancelling or something suddenly opening up.  I usually get pretty good people when I call Princess but this one just kept repeating over and over about cancellations.  Do they even look at the ship availability before saying no?  Disappointed in the response but I'm getting what I paid for so not worried, though an upgrade in an empty ship would have been a nice treat.

2 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

It's not a problem as long as don't stick the vessel up and touch the nozzles

I agree.  Not everyone is a dirty germ carrier people are making thermal mug users out to be.  Mine is washed with soap and hot water in my cabin before going to the buffet, as are my hands once I get to the washing stations.  In 20 years no one has ever said they were not allowed and I have asked buffet stewards, managers and officers if it was okay to use refillable thermal mugs.  Things might be different right now but pre-covid it was just fine.  Think how many hands touched the ceramic cups, riffled through the sugar packets, handled the coffee/water taps, got ice and then dumped the scooper back in the ice bucket.  My spotless mug was not an issue.  Enough said on this topic.

 Cruise Raider - We've always gotten our own tea/hot water/coffee at the buffet in our thermal mugs, no matter what ship or cruise line we were on.  Making up two of those little cups they have and then pouring it into my mug would be messy (I tend to spill!) and a waste of time/cups.  The exception has been when there has been a  norovirus problem and even then the crew took our mugs and filled them for us.  I'll leave it at home this cruise.  Thanks for responding.

Thank you to everyone posting live from the Grand!  You've answered a lot of questions and it's much appreciated.  I am boarding on the 14th and would like to know if you are allowed to get your own tea/coffee in the buffet?  I always have a thermal mug to put my tea in and really don't want to pack/bring it if I can't make my own tea.