Tedferg

3 hours ago, happy cruzer said:

So why do you resist using ear protection?  Yo will not have to get action from anyone else?  Just curious to know what the objection is?

I am searching for a better analogy, your comment is like me complaining that the roof leaks and you suggesting I buy an umbrella.

1 hour ago, memoak said:

If the CA goes to the crew and you remove CA then you are taking money from crew it doesn’t matter if you call it salary or tips. That is all semantics   And yes I have many friends who work on ships who have told me that if enough people remove CA then it affects there total compensation 

I made my comment based on HaveDog's and other's comment that crew stated that CA is factored into fixed salaries and not distributed as a bonus. I support CA for the general crew population. 

12 hours ago, reedprincess said:

Medallion shipping, since you obviously didn't have it shipped to your home.. 

Yes, this is straight out of Catch 22 🙂 'You did not have medallion shipped but if you did it would have cost you $10, but since you have the Plus package, it would not have cost you $10. So here is a $10 refund.'

17 hours ago, memoak said:

Unless you are prepared to tip everyone in the buffet who gets you a drink or every server in every restaurant and everyone at guest services you does something good for you then you are stiffing lots and lots of employees. There are rayons of people you may never see who make your cruise better are you prepared to just start handing out tips as you walk down the halls ?

This is purely for conversation, because I agree with you. However, if salaries are predetermined then they are not affected if a person removes CA and if that person tips an amount similar to CA to specific people, they are targeting rewards, not saving money. The 'behind the scenes' employees are not stiffed.

2 minutes ago, Princessfan20 said:

 

Agree and volume is such a subjective thing.  

You do not need a decibel meter to detect that you cannot hold a conversation with your table mate two floor up in the Piazza. Nor to detect the deafening shouts in Princess LIve!!!

The Staff member also set up both of our iPhones on WiFi, so very helpful. You also get a $10 refund each. And beware that you might be charged for initial drinks until the system records Plus. Crew Chat or Guest Services will remove these charges on request.

Very informative, thanks. Apologies if I am misreading this.

It makes sense that salaries are fixed and depend on the overall fleetwide pool. Therefore removing tips would not affect an individuals pay. This seems to support the idea that removing CA and tipping individually does reward those who affect your own experience - or am I confused.

BTW it has never occurred to me to remove CA.

8 minutes ago, Over from NZ said:

That problem is in your head lol. It's only the accent that sets the expectation - if he had heard an Aussie Twang or a Kiwi accent.. he would have known he was getting nothing but a verbal tank you 🙂 

Could not agree more, just making the point that it is sometimes hard to know what is expected. As stated earlier, I went with the expectation that tips were NOT expected. But receipts with Tip Suggestion and Tip Jars at cash registers mad me say Hmmm.

On 11/3/2023 at 10:38 PM, Over from NZ said:

And that is why Kiwis and Aussies wish you Americans wouldn't tip over here. The more you do it.. they more they start to expect it.. and now in some of the touristy type towns we're finding businesses are asking us if we want to add a tip. And the answer is "like hell no you cheeky buggers! Do I look an American tourist?? No!". lol. 🙂 

I do hear you, but in Sydney I called for help getting our luggage downstairs from the room. The bell boy came, loaded two suitcases on the trolley and at the door, smiled and asked, ' Will there be anything else Sir?'. I said, 'No Thank You' but I have to say it felt like a tip was expected.

BTW I was trying to use the cabin TV as a touch screen until Steward told us to use the remote 🙂

50 minutes ago, yarramar said:

You may also have found that the cashier will just touch the final price for you on the machines display.

Good point, I only noticed the tip suggestion after the transaction when I looked at receipt. Cashiers always just closed it out after tapping. It is also the American in me that felt obliged when doorman handled luggage, called for a taxi etc.

Just finished a cruise including New Zealand and post cruise in Sydney. Many counters had Tip Jars, Tour Guides stood by the door thanking passengers and gladly accepted tips. Every receipt I received in Sydney had a suggested tip ~10%. The tip was always ignored by the cashier at check out, except one restaurant asked me if I wanted to add a tip. The doorman who handled our luggage and booked us a taxi gladly accepted my $10US tip.

I am not trying to be controversial, just stating my experience.

We had a great cruise, Honolulu to Sydney and thanks for recommendations here. Hobbiton from Tauranga was a wonderful experience, Grace Hotel was great as was Top On Tap Off for ferry and light rail. Reminder: You do need to tap off, it was very easy to jump off the light rail and forget to do this. I believe they charge for the complete ride if you do not tap off. This did not matter going to Circular Quay since it was just two stops and we were at the end of the line, but on return journey, there were lots more stops after we got off. Even then, the full ride is not expensive.

We also did both loops on the HoHo bus in Sydney, a good way to get a feel for the city and suburbs.

One thing to be aware of is that the Plus package might not kick in immediately when purchased onboard. So first day drinks might be charged to your account. Check account on second day and have them removed,

We had a great cruise, Honolulu to Sydney and thanks for recommendations here. Hobbiton from Tauranga was a wonderful experience, Grace Hotel was great as was Top On Tap Off for ferry and light rail. Reminder: You do need to tap off, it was very easy to jump off the light rail and forget to do this. I believe they charge for the complete ride if you do not tap off. This did not matter going to Circular Quay since it was just two stops and we were at the end of the line, but on return journey, there were lots more stops after we got off. Even then, the full ride is not expensive.

We also did both loops on the HoHo bus in Sydney, a good way to get a feel for the city and suburbs.

I think there is a disconnect between Princess people who feel there should be a party atmosphere and passengers who spend much more time in the Piazza and want a more tranquil experience.

20 minutes ago, memoak said:

The violins are usually the quietist log all the music. When the have a 8 piece band with a screaming singer is when I run for cover

I agree, probably we were overloaded with the violinists, they did use the electric violins rather than standard instruments and volume was turned up. But, yes, those screaming singers are way too much.

As a separate comment from the nose, when they had fitness / line dancing etc.. many seats were occupied with towels, water bottles etc.

We think Princess Piazza is great and on our one Celebrity cruise we missed this central location to grab a drink and people-watch. The noise level defeats this Princess asset!

Also on this 20 day cruise, they had a pair of violinists, too loud, appeared too often, and mostly inappropriate music choice.

On 10/30/2023 at 10:03 AM, mk-ultra said:

  Viola.  Green lane finally.  Weird.

On 10/30/2023 at 10:25 AM, satxdiver said:

  Viola, green lane.

Good to see Viola was so helpful. 🙂

2 hours ago, Bgwest said:

Just Google “Cruise Ducks”. 
I tried to paste a link but cannot from my present location. 

OK thanks, I found a lot of info.

Old subject, we just completed a transpacific on the Royal. Great cruise, however, I must complain about the volume level from the entertainers in the Piazza. Could not hold a conversation with DW from two decks up. Also the hosts for bean bag toss and similarly in Princess Live - they have a microphone but still see a need to shout! Volume in main theater was OK.

First time I've heard of this. On Royal recent transpacific one day there was a blue duck, balanced on the display by the elevator. I thought someone had lost a key chain and so left it there. @Bgwest can you elaborate please.

My initial point is that I didn’t know what to expect, perhaps we just go to shuttle point. The shore rep that should have helped us had a sign for a large Princess group, she was only concerned with them. 
 

I saw other passengers were greeted and escorted to the shuttle. I know what to expect in the future. 

 We booked first Princess Transfer In Honolulu booked our own flight, not EZAir. So wondering how it would work. I had seen a rep with Princess sign on previous trips but assumed that was for large groups on EZAir. Got to luggage carousel and no one there. Went to Info desk and was told to look for a person in white shirt with blue design. Found one asked for Princess transfer and she said to see a lady outside eventually found her. She asked for flight number, checked extensive list and said we were not on her list and sent us back inside found original lady and noticed she had a Princess banner in her cart. She said she was really busy with a large Princess group. We were hot, humid and a little ticked off. She eventually checked her list and found us!, She called dispatch and said they would meet us outside. After a further humid wait another couple turned up with a rep in similar uniform, he convinced the shuttle to take us as well. 
 

complained to Guest Service and they refunded the transfer fee. 
 

I am posting this because we did not know what to expect. You should be met at the carousel by a greeter. 

We just completed trans Pacific, Vancouver to Sydney, we boarded in Honolulu. Strangely we only had 2800 passengers since they only had guaranteed cabins for weeks before sail day. We had booked 2 top at 6:40 every night. Never a problem coming early or late, thanks to being partially full. Interestingly third MDR Symphony was listed as Anytime No Reservations needed. This supports @Steelers36 comment that all MDR are not available for reservations.