gardenbunny

Just glad you found out - if you had not kept being persistent you may never have connected the dots that the refund was on your former credit card number!!  

Glad someone started this topic.  I was able to complete everything but allowing husband to use my Princess Visa card like we always do!  With all the issues I have been reading about with that app, I just figured it was one more thing.  Tried several other times on different days but  same message 🙃. Gave up, decided to check in at port.

Alas, this week I tried again and SURPRISE, everything was noted as Complete and Green Lane.   Go figure!!! 🤣

I have been told from friends just off Sky (first time on Princess since Medallion) that the Medallion works great on board and they loved the ship’s technology. 

I am reserving my opinion until we board Enchanted Dec 30…..

Thank you so much!

We are leaving on Enchanted Dec 30 out of FLL.  My sister lives in Ponte Vedra.  We live in Atlanta.  Driving down on 28th and getting CVS test at 4:05.  Then driving to FLL on 29th to stay overnite.

This is only my second test.  Had to do the testing to go to Maui this past February.  And had to use one of their preferred testing providers.  Paid $150 each for it.  But it was so worth it to have a month in Maui during whale season.

Have not been on a cruise ship since early Jan 2020 on the Coral to So America and Antartica!  Finally cruising again — and on a brand new ship - woohoo 😁

I know there have been topics about this but searching gave me thousands of posts.  Yikes.

So, can anyone tell me if I buy a 4 device plan can I use it for my iphone and ipad - and spouse can use it for his iphone and ipad?  Or do we each have to buy a plan?

Thanks so much

PS. I have had success today using the App!  So wanted to go ahead and pre purchase - we are Elite so I understand we will get 50% OBC of the cost.

Just now booked CVS on line for rapid test in Ponte Vedra FL.

 My sister lives there and we are all going on Enchanted Dec 30.  We live in Atlanta - driving to FL 12/28, staying with sister for CVS test, driving to FLL on 29th staying at hotel by port.  Board on 30th!!!

Can’t wait…..

We are booked for Dec 30.  When we read a post a couple weeks ago we decided to book ship excursion “just in case” - and if things changed we could cancel.  Will hold tickets until the final day allowed to cancel for refund.  Unless St Kitts restricts again - you never know these days!  

But good news…looking forward to seeing posts on how things were.

Enjoy

On 12/11/2021 at 3:03 PM, Hlitner said:

On 12/11/2021 at 2:08 PM, skynight said:

I thought the Gastropub charge was $12. Has it been increased?

Clearly listed onboard as $18!

 

Hank

Looking forward to being on the Enchanted Dec 30!  I forgot Gastro Pub is a specialty venue - I thought it was like an Alfredo’s - 

Oh well - is that $18 charge per person?

1 hour ago, wowzz said:

Sorry to be a pooper, but cruising is the worst possible way to explore anywhere. Yes, you get a flavour, but you only see locations near the cruise terminal. 

How can you visit London, Madrid, Ayres Rock, Moscow etc on a cruise. 

Decide where you want to go, and don't be constrained by the need to cruise there. 

I do agree with you to some extent.  It wasn’t until we retired that cruising became an affordable way to see the world - knowing full well it would be a glimpse. The longest trips we could take while working were 2 weeks and an occassional stretch for 3 weeks.  As age begins to catch up with you and living out of a suitcase all of a sudden becomes a chore, but you still want to go and see - cruising  helps bridge that gap.  

But we have had no regrets on those 2  100 days on each  WC - being able to have had a glimpse of 88 countries (and counting) and all the continents has been a dream come true I never thought I would do.  

Places that we  know we do want to spend more time, yes, we do as land trips or as Alaskanb, strategic planning pre/post, or cruises that offer multiple days in port.  We had 3 full days in Capetown So Africa in 2019 and did so much.  We were able to go to Moscow on our Baltics cruise by high speed train and enjoyed that experience. For now, that was good enough to see the Kremlin, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and the GUM Department store.

I have been to London, Rome and Paris  6 times - and will always go back to those places that I enjoy as my “favorites”.

Cruising does not work for every place or everyone - all I was pointing out is that it has advantages if the limits work for you.

I am a HUGE fan of travel - my favorite quote… “Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.”. Michael Palin

8 minutes ago, howielovescruisin said:

Just off the Emerald a few weeks ago. When you make your dining reservations on the APP it will ask if you want a private table or a shared table.

Good info - DH and I prefer to do shared - thanks!

I retired in 2012 and DH 2015.  We had done numerous land trips in Europe but waited for retirement and did 2 world cruises on Pacific Princess - 2017 and itinerary change in 2019.  Both allowed us to see so much of the world in 200 days.  We have filled in gaps with Land/Cruise Baltics, 14 day Australia/New Zealand, South America/Antartica, Greenland on a Canada cruise, A 2-day stop in Iceland from Southhampton to NYC,  and northern lights in Norway.

They were all excellent and all on the bucket list.  Booked for 2023 will finish up the wish list for Japan and Egypt/Israel.

If you have the time it is so cost effective to do WC.  Board and unpack once, your hotel follows you and food and entertainment included!!  Not to mention the great comaradary with like minded travel/adventurers.

Go where you have always wanted to see and you can’t go wrong 😀

3 hours ago, erber said:

We had to order our medallions through the MedallionClass App. We received an email confirming our order. We got them about two weeks before we sailed and did get an email when they were shipped as well. We were on a November 19th cruise on the Regal. I do not believe they are automatically sent.

ok. - I will look at the FAQ section for more info.   Thanks.

I have been getting emails recently about our cruise - general info stuff to make your cruise more…. “fill in blank”.  I usually scan and delete.  I will pay more attention to see if any mention to order your Medallion.

1 hour ago, Ferry_Watcher said:

Remember - there is a ship manifest that will have your name and stateroom listed. 

Please don't stress about this.  If you have someone (family, friend, teen neighbor) who could help you print out a copy of your boarding pass, that would be helpful, but just having your passport swiped at check-in will bring up all the info needed.

Shoreside staff are very friendly and helpful.

I remember when we used to take the paper BP and would show it to lady/gentleman at check in desk - and they would say they did not need it and just take our passport!!

 It was good to have to show to use the Elite check in line but obviously that is not needed any longer.  Do they even have a separate line as  you approach terminal building??

LOL.  I use the few Medallions I have as magnets!!

Duh.  Hadn’t really thought about this - lightbulb moment - I presume they are automatically sent now??

Back in the day we had to order them.  I still have the ones we had gotten for our March 2020 that was canceled!

We leave December 30 - as comments stated above, I should look for email and then arrive within 10 days - 

Absolutely - well said roxievegas!

 I think Princess and all the major cruise lines didn’t think all this new technology (whether it works or not) through.  Considering the age demographic for the majority of frequent (AKA the retired people who have time and money to cruise several times a year) cruisers, many of us are not that tech savvy and really don’t want to be!  

We go on Enchanted Dec 30.  I am going to give the app a try - haven’t even downloaded it yet.  If I get it to work, I will check in with it. If not, I  will wait til I get to port.  I will use it to open the cabin - but don’t really need any other features.  

Oh wait -  I guess I have to make a time for dinner??   I liked the old assigned time.

The first formal night was truly a mixed bag.  I wore my Tux and DW had a nice black outfit but we were among the minority.  We saw everything from lovely formal wear ( one couple wore Tails and a full length gown) to jeans.  Most men at least wore a decent shirt (many with a tie) with many also having a jacketand the Ladies had everything imaginable including outfits DW would not have worn even inside our home 🙂

It was inevitable that true “formal” was on the way out even before Covid.  I will miss it - even though I had started slowly changing from long gowns to cocktail dresses, or very dressy pants and sparkle tops.  In the good old days it was a chance to play “little girl dress up” as an adult 😁. And my husband even got into the tux and/or white dinner jacket - with fancy bowties and pocket scarf !!

It will be easier to pack, for sure, but I hope they never allow shorts 😲

My “wish” would be a package deal for non-drinkers - free wifi, free gratuities, and a soda package.

On very rare occassions we have taken a deal with a drink package because the fare was better but such a waste when all we drink is soda. Don’t use special coffees, wine, liquor.

Being elite, DH will get a couple beers in our bar set up that we exchange for canned drinks and his few beers.

Even though we now have to pay a little for the wifi pkg, I am OK with that.  I remember several years ago we were on the Regal, I think, when they were bringing out the MedallionNet and the cruise included free wifi for all.  I must admit it was so nice that it was always there, no logging in or out - or forgetting to log out and all your free minutes were gone!  Remember that nightmare?!

So we will use the OBC refund to apply against excursions or maybe a specialty restaurant.

Hlitner is spot on.  

We had a 2 weeks long trips in July and another in late September in USA (in the south and west) and still had to follow the protocols in every city, national park, attractions, restaurants, hotels, public transport, etc.  

Covid is a virus - plain and simple - and a virus changes.   The flu virus has been around for decades - and even with a flu shot (aka “vaccine” - that people choose to take or not) it still kills thousands of people in US and worldwide every year.

Covid will be among us for years to come.  If people are waiting to travel, or even return to a normal life,  until there is no more Covid,  I believe you will be waiting a long time - but it is your own personal choice.

I have chosen to get my shots, be cautious, follow the rules when asked, and live my life. When you get in your 70s there are fewer years to enjoy - so I am not wasting them. I have 9 cruises booked beginning this December to October 2023.

Thanks to all who are taking their vacay cruising time to write these incredibly helpful Live From….posts. For those of us still waiting our turn - DH and I have 37 days until we board the new Enchanted Princess Dec 30 - it has been so much fun to read about all the experiences and reviews for the trail blazers being back on board. (or should that be wake blazers. 😆)

Congratulations on your wedding and have a great time on the cruise.  Will be following every day.

PS - have not been on a cruise ship since we stepped off Coral Princess in Santiago Chile Feb 7, 2020.  Withdrawal has been horrible!

19 minutes ago, Bgwest said:

Having been caught up in the dizzying refundable/non-refundable wifi quagmire on our recent Emerald trip, and since there isn't a discount for booking excursions early and there always seems to be "20 seats remaining", we've decided to hold off on booking excursions until on board.   

 

I hope this way they'll just give us 10% off the top to begin with so we don't have to worry with ensuing battle. 

Thanks so much for explaining the excursion Elite discount.  We are on Enchanted Dec 30. Saw someone posted 3 islands would not allow passengers off to walk around (which we wanted to do), so I decided to pre book.  Once word gets out, all those “20 seats” might be taken quickly.  I would rather have something and cancel, than nothing.

Have to be even more flexible during Covid than usual!!  But cannot wait to cruise again 😁

27 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

Wish I could afford them.

We have always wanted to try Oceania and found a reasonable deal without all the “O” add ons for Feb 11-23 because it was going to St Barts!  

4 hours ago, msmoger said:

 

 

Thanks for sharing and the heads up.

Same here.  We do not board until Dec 30 but are in St Lucia on Jan 4, Barbados Jan 5, St Kitts on 6, 

With the fluidity of protocols changing, think I better book something.  Better to have and cancel vs. not have anything.

We have been to these before, some more than once, but these are some of my favorites.

Being back on board for first time in 2 years is going to be good, but wanted to get off also 😀

Get quite a chuckle from your posts!  Having been to all these places, great to see recent photos!  We did spend 2 nights in San Gimignano - one of my favorites - but anywhere in Italy is good!  If I have one picture of doors, flower pots, churchs, narrow streets, stairs, shop windows, etc etc - I have 1,000 - and I love them all!

And also great to see pictures of the Quest - know the floor plan by heart after 2 WC on Pacific Princess.  Looking forward to 2023 when we have booked our first and second Azamara cruises to Japan and Israel (Ancient Civilizations).

I can so relate to being out of sync traveling again.  We did an American Queen trip in July from Memphis to NOLA on the Mississippi and a dude ranch in Grand Tetons in October and I was seriously travel “rusty”.  But cannot wait to be on the new Enchanted Princess December 30th!!!  I am thinking it will finally feel like home 🛳.  I had no idea that travel withdrawal would be this bad.

I saved your link and will be reading them!

16 hours ago, ShopperfiendTO said:

Although you haven't asked, a tip I offer when travelling to Japan is for you to ensure you have cash on you when you land, so you might want to watch currency trends and exchange when favourable leading up to your departure.  Although the country is hyper-technologically advanced, it is still very much a cash society.

Good to know they still use cash.

After numerous cruises in foreign ports (and 2 WC) we always get foreign currency from our bank before we leave.  Learned that lesson on our first WC - now we don’t have to worry about finding ATMs, having enough to buy small magnet souveniers, using public transportation, tipping guides,  get a soft drink or snack…

Plus, we had a breach on our ATM at a Deutsche Bank in Bellagio on Lake Como - $800 was taken out of our account!!  Our credit union was able to trace it back to Italy and put our money back.  And even though it was an inside ATM, credit union said it probably had a skimmer.  I have been scared to use one ever since.

And we take unused money back to bank after trip and convert back to US