jimksact

Yes, I am in the process of trying to get someone to listen to how this is being handled by Princess.  The good news is I was able to get Leonardo Royal Hotel in Southampton to confirm the reservations and to say they have been paid!  They sent me confirmation email but with completely different confirmation numbers but I now have direct confirmation from the hotel, printed out.  Of course, I also had the “medallion class market and Princess logo” on the other confirmation.  This was a big hassle and I want Princess to know what is happening.  There I have vented enough!  Thanks for listening everyone and your suggestions have helped.  Will let you know if Princess ever gets back to me.  Evelyn 

Well here goes - so far I have sent four emails to Leonardo Royal Southampton Hotel and finally got a reply.  They have said I have the reservations for October 6.  But, even though I have asked if it was a paid reservation, they have not responded.  I also finally got thru to Medallion Class Market representative and she said, “yes, the reservation was made and they have a confirmation from the hotel”.  However, when I asked for a copy to be sent to me, “it was policy not to because other peoples names were on it”. I even tried saying block those names out and just send me mine.  But no go!  I am half way there - now waiting for hotel to confirm they have been paid.  I can’t believe how badly Princess set this up.  I will never call Princess sales line again.  Evelyn 

Thanks for all your suggestions.  I have emailed the hotel to see if there are reservations in my name and it has been PAID.  Waiting for a reply - will give it 24 hours because of time differences and it is a weekend.  But——I really want to give an earful to Princess lines - who?  The person I spoke to was very nice - but I want the right people to know what is happening.  I am still mad Princess doesn’t seem to know or care and that this is so mess up.  Evelyn 

Ok everyone, I am completely fuming about this Medallion Class Market app/website. Here’s my story on March 21, I thought I called Princess lines for help with another matter instead I got a very nice guy who SAID he was from Medallion Class and he could help me with any problems, which he couldn’t.  But asked me about where I was staying - Leonardo Royal - and asked about my rate.  Now I felt I was talking to Princess.  He then gave me a better price by about $25 x 2 for the exact same room.  Ok.  Paid with my cc.  Got confirmation with a number and Princess lines logo on all papers.  Called Princess today and asked about transfers was told they do NOT have this hotel in their bookings and no bookings located in my account!  I went thru the whole story and gave confirmation numbers and NO ONE at Princess was told about this 3rd party affiliation.  They said I have to go thru This website.  I am furious that Princess let’s them use their logo - they say they are Princess lines- but when you go the access your account they never heard of them and then they don’t NOT stand behind their passengers who are being misled.  I tried calling the number listed on my confirmation and first just ringing and then was on hold three hours with being cut off!  Any suggestions?  Thanks Evelyn 

On the contrary, Widebay, I love reading your postings. I just don't have any insightful information to past along to other cc. But I really enjoy your hints. And, we are going to Singapore in March, 2015 so your posting helps. We won't be able to get them all done (my husband walks with a cane) but we will try!

Evelyn

Thank you for all the help with staying in Cambodia and with the help with my husband's walking ability. I will be looking up the info and hotels but I am feeling that it is possible to enjoy our stay there and also see the sites we have heard so much about. Again, thank you for your help.

Evelyn

Hi, and THANKS for all your suggestions. We are going on Celebrity next March, 2015 and wanted to go to Cambodia after the cruise from Singapore. Here's the catch for me - my husband walks with a cane and we know it can get difficult navigating steps/stairs at temples, etc. with the suggestion of Diamond Hotel or other hotels, do they have elevators or first floor rooms? What about booking tours thru the hotel or should we book before we leave? Also, I know it is too far ahead but was it easy to book to Cambodia and then back to US? Lots of questions so thanks in advance for any help.

Evelyn

Hi Evelyn, The tours for Smile in all 5 days in Vietnam cost $910.00 US including the Rex Hotel in Saigon. I put together a group of 8 that kept the cost down in all ports. We were Southbound and we did a Half day in Halong Bay which was Great! A lot of people opt for more time in Halong Bay and missed Hanoi due to the long distance from the port, but we all wanted to see Hanoi and I'm glad we did. There email is thi.smiletours@gmail.com.

As far as Bangkok, Chobs contact is Chob@thaitourguide.com and we paid about $245.00 US per couple for the 2 days of tours. Ask to include the Elephant rides on the 2nd day (it is about an hour out of town and close to the Floating Market, which was a great experience). I cannot say enough about our tour guide there.....Ms. Pu. She was a gem! Gave us a small gift at the end and bought us different foods to try along the way.

See the postings under: Millennium Asia, Feb. 16, 2014. I started this early last year when I was researching for this trip. You will find Itinerary for tours posted by ALLA on the last few pages. By the way, both Chob and Thi ALWAYS responded to my emails within 18 hours with my many questions throughout the year. I did have to wire a deposit to Smile tours and not for Chob. No problem! I hope this helps. Feel free to email me at messengerc21@yahoo.com with any further questions! Best Regards, Mark Messenger

Thank you, Mark! Your information is great and I will be contacting your guides and mention your great reviews.

Again, thanks for your help. Evelyn

We sailed on the Millennium Southbound on 2-16-14. I arranged all tours with private guides. The best one was Chob for Bangkok, ask for Pu as a guide! She was the Best I've seen in 45 Cruises! In Vietnam we used Smile Tours with Thi as a contact. All great as well! We spent the night at the Rex Hotel in Saigon.....Do yourself a favor a stay there! Great Hotel! They upgraded us to a suite and the Hotel is fantastic with a great breakfast included. We stayed at the Marriott in Bangkok, and I would stay at the Sheraton on the River if I came back. Both Smile Tours and Chob were Great to deal with!!! Any further questions, I'd be happy to answer! Mark

Hi Mark, we are booked next year on the Millennium and we will be going to Bangkok and Vietnam. I would like to get the details to contact them and costs if possible. Could you email or answer here? Jimksact at aol dot com

Thanks, Evelyn

We just completed two private tours of these areas and thought they both were extraordinary.

 

The first tour was Halong Bay and this is the second time we have visited this area by Junk Boat. We made the arrangements through the tour company who we booked our Ho Chi Minh Tour with and they utilized a colleague for the Halong Bay Tour.

 

We were in the same size Junk Boat that we were in two years earlier through the cruise line and rather than having 30 or more people on that ship, there were only 4 of us with a crew of 4 people including the tour guide. This made it very easy to see the views inside and up top outside and from side to side and unlike say a cruise line tour on our private tour we went into one of the largest caves for about 45 minutes. Everything was great and they met us at the tender pier (driver and tour guide) and drove us the 8 minute drive to where we picked up a small boat (could still hold 10 people easy) for a short drive over to the Junk Boat. Our tour was supposed to include what I thought was a snack and we had a seven course meal.

 

Most recently we completed a tour of Ho Chi Minh City and this was our third time there. Our tour was outstanding and we saw places that we have been to before (we wanted to do that) and we also saw some places for the very first time. Our tour guides was outstanding. He did a terrific job of answering each and every one of our questions, of getting us to the sites in a very logical order (for example we visited the Chinese Temple first before most tourists got there), would point out the perfect spots for picture taking including locals to get on camera, was very kind and courteous and knowledgable, and was very flexible in allowing us not only to change some things up during the tour but to also add in another site we wanted to see in lieu of another site.

 

If you have additional questions, please let me know.

 

Keith

Hi, Keith I am on a cruise with Celebrity next year and would like to get your guide info and how to contact them. We will be in HCM City and Halong Bay also. Jimksact at aol dot com

Thanks, Evelyn