Snowbird

We just returned from a partial Panama Canal cruise last week. We had a balcony cabin, category BD. There was no barrel chair in the cabin, only the desk chair. When we met with our cabin steward, we requested an additional chair, without stating a preference for type of chair. When we returned to the cabin following the muster drill, a barrel chair was in the cabin. It was in very good condition and was very clean. We used both chairs frequently throughout the 10-day cruise. 

We use something very similar to the wheeled insulated bag shown in the photo jennybenny attached. We usually have it full of sodas (both cans and 2L bottles). We’ve always put one of the luggage tags provided by Princess on the bag; it’s made it to our cabin every time. Found out the hard way though that you sometimes need to be very careful opening those cans or bottles after they’ve been jostled around on their way to our cabin. 😂  At cruise’s end, we either use that bag to pack purchased souvenirs or, if we don’t need the extra packing room, we just fold it up and put it out with our other luggage. 

I have openly carried a can of soda into the dining room many times; no "sneaking it in". Never had a problem. I've also requested a glass of ice and was furnished with same with no comment whatsoever from servers.

Is it really worth the hassle??? Sounds like a lot of work to save a couple of bucks... Only saying...

It really isn't an issue of saving "a couple of bucks". It's because of the fact that only Coke products are available on board. I have a difficult time drinking caffeine after a certain time but the only diet soda available w/o caffeine is Sprite and I don't care for it. So I always bring my own and it's whatever I prefer.

Sea conditions also play a part in tendering. During our stop in Cabo last month on the Crown, the swell was enough for the captain to delay tendering. No passengers were allowed to tender until the captain ascertained that it was safe to do so; tendering didn't even begin until 9 am.

We'll be a group of 4 adults and their luggage, getting off Grand Princess on Dec 20, 2015. Our flight isn't until 6 pm. Is there a car rental location near the cruise port in San Francisco (either walking distance or a very short cab ride)? Our thought is to rent a car and have a leisurely lunch somewhere before heading to the airport. With a rental car, we'd have someplace to store our luggage while we have lunch and perhaps drive around a bit. We would then need to return the rental car to the appropriate office near SFO mid- to late-afternoon. Thanks.

We just got off the Crown Princess on Oct 3. Cab from San Pedro to Orange County Airport (John Wayne airport) was just a few cents short of $100, excluding tip. This was a regular yellow cab.

Good idea!! Never thought of RS! I love potato ships. :D

Darn auto correct!

I know that sandwiches ordered from room service come with potato ships. I believe last time we ordered a sandwich from RS, we simply asked for extra chips. Don't see why you couldn't just order chips only from room service.

Thanks, everyone, for the info. Think we'll just be proactive and visit the CC host during the first cruise; hopefully s/he will be able to make sure the transition to Elite goes smoothly. And Peety3, as current Platinum members, we already get preferred boarding, so that isn't an issue. Again, thanks for all the good info.

We have a cruise booked for this fall, at the completion of which we will reach Elite level. We have another cruise booked which begins only 2 days after the completion of the one during which we reach Elite. Will we receive documentation confirming Elite level before the end of the first cruise, while we're still on board the ship, or does that happen following the end of the cruise? And if confirmation of Elite level occurs after the cruise, will Princess have adequate time to update our loyalty level to Elite by the time we embark for the second cruise? I asked this question of our cruise planner but all he could confirm was that we "should" be eligible for Elite at the end of the first cruise. Thanks in advance.

Can someone please refresh my memory regarding the amounts of on-board credit that are applied in conjunction with the use of a Future Cruise Credit? I know the different amounts are dependent on length of cruise and cabin category; just can't locate that information on the Princess website. Thanks in advance.

Just did 3 back-to-backs on the Caribbean Princess in January. These were short Caribbean cruises (4- or 5-day). We had to change rooms each time, different decks. We had to pack everything in suitcases, except for the hanging items. No mention made of leaving things in drawers. We were instructed to vacate room by 9:00 am and meet in one of the dining rooms at either 10:15 or 10:45, forget which. All in-transit passengers had to disembark as an escorted group to go through immigration and then reembark as a group. We were allowed to enter our new rooms as soon as we reboarded. All luggage was moved for us, but as I stated, we had to pack everything up in suitcases, except for hanging items. On the first turn-around day, our luggage was waiting for us in our new room; on the second turn-around day, we beat our luggage to our new room, although it came within about an hour. Since we did not accompany our luggage to our new rooms, each time we carried our valuables (jewelry, ipad, etc.) with us. We've since decided that unless we can stay in our original room, we won't do back-to-backs again -- just too much hassle packing up and unpacking multiple times.

Got a couple of B2B cruises coming up in Jan 2015. They're short - 4 and 5-day cruises. My question: on formal night is Beef Wellington served along with lobster? And if so, is it also available in Cafe Caribe if we choose to skip formal night? Thanks.

We boarded the Island Princess on Oct 27 for a 15-day Panama Canal cruise. Boarded around 12:15 and were able to eat in the Bordeaux DR for lunch. There were very few people in there and they closed the doors promptly at 1:30. Not sure if it was listed in the Patter as being open; I knew it was open so didn't even check the Patter. I do think they try to keep the fact the DR is open on the down-low though. It was the first cruise for our traveling companions and when we met them in the atrium before going into the DR, they said they had asked a crew member (not sure who--maybe their room steward) who told them the only option for lunch was Horizon Court. Took some convincing on our part that we could indeed go into the DR because the other couple insisted it wouldn't be open.

We were on the Island in April of this year for a partial Panama Canal cruise. My sister and BIL were in D201, the furthest forward cabin on starboard. They hated it. Yes it had a little more room, but every time the ship docked, they got lots of noise from the (I guess) forward mooring station. Said they could hear lots of banging and other noises from below; guess it was probably the ropes being pulled to shore for mooring and possibly the anchor chain. On a couple of occasions, they said they were awakened around 4:30 am by the noise. They got this cabin because it was a pretty cheap price but said they would never choose one that far forward again.