wallyj

I believe the Spa services on both lines and actually most cruiselines are provided by the UK based company Steiner and they should be using/selling the same products on board. I believe they carry the Elemis brand of skin care but may have others

Hi @Senga, would you provide sailing date and cabin number and if you can what issues so I can relay to Kimberly, also if you can your names, but cabin number and sail date she can look up, I think. She is leery of me posting her contact info on a social media site.

Hi @nini, I just woke up today in Whittier, to check for replies. It is very cloudy and looks like rain soon. Breakfast in the dining room was 6-8am, as they shuttle early to get those off doing the land tours. I booked the cruise as 14 days as it was offered as 14 day or you could book the 2 seven day segments NB or SB and hope the same cabin is available. Princess does reserve separate inventory of cabins for the 14 day . I think the condition of the ship is fine. Spent 29 days on Grand since the Sept 2021 restart in Los Angeles last year and the crew are still great , although all mostly new crew as many finished their contract that were on last year.

Hello, currently on the Grand and thought I would share what has been going on this past week. We have had mostly cloudy weather. Ketchikan was drizzling in the morning but it stopped and was just windy and cold for the rest of the day. Juneau was overcast most of the day but was still pleasant. Skagway started bright and sunny but then turned overcast by mid morning. I believe we were scheduled to be docked at RRF(railroad Forward) but wound up docking at the Broadway dock. A smaller Regent ship did dock at RRF and I think it was a Silver Seas ship that was docked next to us. I was told the NCL SUN was supposed to be in port with us but is still being repaired from its run in with a ‘growler’ The ship passenger count is only about 1485, with just over 1000 bluebies(first time on Princess), there are only 58 elites so laundry is taking the normal 1 day turnaround. The cutoff to make the MTG event which was a lunch was just 150 days. The Captain and some staff were there to greet us, but we were told no pictures will be taken. Production shows are British Invasion and Sweet Soul Music. Today, Princess Prizes were awarded in the Piazza at 7:45 pm. They already had the winners names and cabin numbers on the prizes so they are drawn I guess in secret somewhere before so the Prizes are not drawn ‘live’. They gave 4 $25 prizes, one $50 prize and then one $100 prize, followed by a Grand prize of $5000. Fortuna Lick was present and you had to see a Casino rep to claim your prize so it appears this program is connected to the Casino? They say you can win a cruise, but did not explain how or which prizes are awarded based on ? Some guy is super lucky as he won the $50 prize AND the $5000 prize, as he was present in the piazza to claim the prizes. I wonder if he was contacted to show up to this event as the photo department was there to take pictures of each ‘winner’. I will try to check this thread, if you have any questions, in Skagway, internet was not working till about an hour after leaving port. Ok reception in Glacier Bay and College Fiord.

I am currently on the Grand Princess and we were scheduled for RRF(railroad forward)but we docked at the Broadway dock 2 days ago. There did have a smaller Regent ship at RRA(railroad aft) without tendering. I believe the NCL Sun was scheduled but still out of commission because of hitting a ‘growler’.

The ‘suites’ breakfast is only on your milestone and not every cruise once you hit 750. The first milestone is recognized at 500 and then every 250 days after, it is not till 750 that you are invited to ‘suites’ breakfast was the point I was making.

Making the MTG cutoff precovid gave you the opportunity to have a usually nice lunch or cocktail party with the Captain and senior officers. Now, you get a photo op with the Captain and some officers may show up but they no longer stay and sit at tables. Milestone cruises come with some nice amenities, like a flower arrangement, bottle of decent champagne, certificate recognition at Captain circle party and starting at 750 days milestone, you get to enjoy ‘suites’ breakfast in the specialty restaurant. With the elimination of the loyalty OBC based on cruise credits, cruise credits as I said really are not important after reaching elite if you do not qualify by number of days. Your reply to my post said Princess does not count Days, but credits, I was informing those that may not be aware Royal handles solo’s differently and as most other cruise lines base their loyalty on ‘days’ not cruise credits, the faster accumulation of days not credits is more beneficial.

Hi @Ombud, Princess DOES count cruise days or Cruise credits to determine your Loyalty Tier, whichever benefits you as some passengers only take longer cruises opposed to multiple cruises, so someone can take a world cruise and another longer cruise and reach ‘elite’ after only 2 cruise credits. Number of ‘days’ is also important in determining the Most Travel Passengers/Guest. Your milestone cruise used to be determined by cruise credits but is now determined by number of days sailed, so cruise days is still an important ‘marker’. Unless Princess creates a new higher tier, after you reach 16 credits, they don’t really help you. Doubling cruise days would be more helpful reaching milestone cruises and making MTG cutoffs.

Hi @geoherb, RCL does have an internet benefit, for Diamond 80+ points you get one free 24 hour period of ‘surf’ internet or the equivalent value dollar discount which is about $26, and cruises of 6+ days you will get $10 discount on fill a bag of laundry that is normally $34.99, at Diamond Plus 175+ points you get 2 twenty four hour internet or the equivalent value off any other internet package which is about $52.98 value. You also receive 1 free bag of laundry per member. RCL also states you are only suppose to put t-shirts, underwear, , socks and shorts and PJ’s, anything else is charged at regular price. YMMV, as others have posted they have put polos and other items in the ‘bag’ and were not charged. RCL beats Princess as a solo traveler as they give 2 cruise points per night when you travel solo, as princess does not double ‘cruise days’. Royal’s top tier is Pinnacle at 700 points, which will give you free internet for you entire sailing and 6 drinks a day up to $13 value per drink. Also you get a free 7 day cruise at 700 points and every 350 points thereafter, so it depends on what amenities are more important to you.

If you booked before April 1, this year, you qualify for the best price guarantee, the fare difference will be OBC. RCL and travel agents have a portal to process this and should be able to do while you are talking with them. Bookings after April 1, reprice only before final payment.

Princess eliminated the ‘free’ minutes for Platinum and Elites when they restarted and updated the loyalty program last year. The internet benefit is 50% off the daily or voyage rate.

This is very common in my experience with the cashiers on Princess lately. They will cash out just the ‘whole’ dollar amount, especially if you are not at the end of the sailing. It may be to keep them from dealing with a lot of ‘change/coins’. You can always ask to be cashed out for the full amount and you should always receive a receipt. it may also be a way for them to keep you coming back to the casino and might be tempted to play more

EZAir allows you to book flights for each individual passenger, so you do not need to have the same return flights. Not all cabinmates are from the same household, thus each can book whatever flights from which airports are right for them. when booking flights you check which passenger you want to book, each can have different itineraries. Go into EZAir and you will see. EZair has pluses and minuses, understand if it benefits you or you are better booking separate/direct with the airlines, you can also mix match booking only one ways with EZAir and the returns on your own or vise Vera’s and using EZAir for only one passengers if the other itinerary is better booking direct. Many passengers like the ‘flexible’ fares on EZAir which mean you do not pay till final payment and can cancel/rebook without penalty up to 45 days before your flight or cruise whichever is sooner. Booking direct, you are subject to change fees . Please research if EZAir is your best option and why. Everybody has different priorities.

@KKB, if shareholders not posted by Tuesday, yes, try live chat again and remind them your sailing is only 4 days away on the 9th and you have submitted previous requests. Unfortunately, reports have been it is taking 3-4 weeks, but some recent reports of only 1 week, so YMMV.

@KKB, I suggest you try ‘live chat’, a couple weeks ago I booked a cruise leaving in 2 weeks, the chat agent checked with the department and said they were working on requests sent about 3 weeks earlier and it was reported here on cruise critic requests were taking about 3-4 weeks. The ‘live chat ‘ agent said if I waited on line they should be able to get the request processed while I waited. It was done in a few minutes, so have ready the email time and date you sent your last request and they should be able to find and process as your sail date is very soon.

I was on the Navigator earlier this year and had regular interior rooms. Most of them, there is not enough room to walk around to get into your bed from the wall side. I either had the sofa rotated so it’s back was against the bathroom wall or pushed the bed all the way to one side against the wall, I was solo, so did not need bed access for another person. From pictures provided, it appears these ships have a little more room, so obviously it will vary by ship.

No, the percent off offers are ONE time use.

My understanding is yes you still receive 50% discount if you wait to purchase on board but the rates are higher. I seem to recall the daily rate being $15/day so your discounted rate is $7.50 /day instead of $5/day if you buy for the whole voyage. I suggest you buy before sailing and can cash out your OBC, see other threads on how to do in the casino, unless you will only want to purchase only one or 2 days max, which I believe is $20/day so with your discount it would be $10/day, this is when you are not purchasing for the entire voyage but one day at a time.

Unfortunately, in So Cal, Walgreens is NOT offering rapid antigen or rapid NAAT. Both CVS and Walgreens in So Cal offer the PCR tests but we know results can take days, not hours. I see On Point is a third party site that will add ‘proctoring’ to any approved ‘at home’ test, so the ‘free’ tests from the Govt would qualify. The price to add proctoring on their website said it was $14.99. Many of the ‘free’ Govt tests were from iHealth and I do not think you can get proctoring from them anymore, but it seems you can use On Point. I am not familiar with this company but think I saw a few threads regarding if their tests were accepted as they also sell a bundle of the tests and proctoring, in case you do not already have your own.

Hi @fabby50, on Navigator, you can get specialty coffees at Cafe Promenade across from Playmakers and the Plaza Bar up at the Windjammer Buffet makes specialty coffees.

I believe trying to add ‘ proctoring’ to the ‘free government test specifically the iHealth tests is no longer available. I remember reading something like they said this option is discontinued with no timeframe for it to resume. If you try the link to try and add proctoring it says ‘sold out’ as you had to book an appointment. Here in So California, Walgreens does not seem to be offering ‘rapid’ tests (I checked for availability within 3 or 7 days), but do offer PCR, same with CVS, I found only one CVS about 15 miles away saying they still did rapid, all others say no appointments but PCR testing readily available. I asked in April at one of my local CVS minute clinics and was told because the Govt funding was not renewed was the reason the ‘rapid’ testing was being dropped. So Walgreens and CVS rapid testing seems to depend on your States funding in addition to the Government as it appears it is still available in some States and not others.

Plus package has increased to $50/day

Pre Covid, ships were usually sailing close to or at full capacity, so there was typIcally a sign at guest services saying the ship was full and no cabin changes were available. when the ships started sailing again at lower capacities 50-60% and lower, passengers reported getting complimentary upgrades by asking at guest services and this varied by ship. Last December, I was talking to the Loyalty and Events Manager and she shared the hotel manager told her he would not be granting free upgrades anymore as he did not want passengers to book lower categories knowing they had a good opportunity to get upgraded for free. Friend of mine on the Majestic reported about the same time, when they asked for availability of upgrades, they were given a per person rate/ per day for a few higher categories. If upgrades on the ship are available, you will most likely be quoted a per person rate/per day . Occasionally, you will hear of the free upgrade. Pre covid , Princess was known to send out emails to passengers letting them know of a paid upgrade opportunity on a first come basis at a fixed rate, unlike another cruise line that has a bidding system run by a third party..

I believe iHealth is NO longer booking proctoring! If you go to the link to ‘buy’ the appointment, it shows ‘sold out’. I remember reading a post on another thread where IHealth said they were suspending proctoring option with no date for possible resumption.

Hi @Cruise Wonderland, thank you for this info. I was booked on the April 2023 SYD to LA and Princess cancelled this sailing and allowed us to move to the October 2023, LA to SYD , so I am hoping they will allow us to move back! I will be calling them ASAP. I see the itinerary is not yet showing on Princess.com, I figured pricing would not be available, but was hoping to see the itinerary.