RickEk

It's fixed now...

Hey folks, can't we get the terminology correct, especially when CC experts are replying? It may be confusing for newbies and infrequent cruisers. This thread is about FCD's (Future Cruise Deposits) and they are different and have different rules and attributes than FCC's (Future Cruise Credits).

 

As for the poster who mentioned their TA checking with Princess, I'd be looking for a different TA if they don't even realize a very basic Princess booking rule.

You are quite correct, but it appears most folks here use them interchangeably...

We primarily cruise on Princess and have Anytime dining when not traveling with family. We attend the GLBT meeting and if we hit it off with some folks, we'll arrange to go to dinner together. Works just fine. :)

We were surprised too. We never heard any announcements in our stateroom - but don't know if any were made throughput the cruise. Maybe we were wandering around outside? Glad we didn't need. Thanks for info. Traveling with my 13 year old nephew to Alaska 7/12 and want to make sure we participate.

Wow...I don't see how you could not have heard it. Seven short blasts followed by one long one. It's broadcast throughout the ship, including the staterooms. We did a b2b on Golden Princess and it sounded in our cabin at the start of the second cruise (we weren't required to attend). Extraordinarily loud. :confused:

We slept in a bit. Went to the IC for my breakfast sandwich and a tall latte which I enjoyed on my balcony. Cool and sunny weather, clear as a bell. I know some prefer to be closer to the coast to view scenery, but I am always awed and humbled by the vast open ocean. I attended a lecture by the naturalist, Michael Modzewleski. I appreciate his great knowledge of Alaska, but (no flaming, just my opinion) was turned off by him. He came across, to me, as a cross between a self realization guru and smarmy sideshow huckster. Probably has something to do with his late '70's style, but I just couldn't get into him. Again, I know he is loved by many, so please realize this is just my opinion.

I agree with you about Mr. Modzewleski... overly dramatic. Very knowledgeable, but wow, he makes melting ice seem like the second coming. :)

You can use as many FCC's as you want on one booking, but you only get OBC for the first two FCC's used.

Thanks for all your efforts and review...

I just received an "Emergency" notification about my cruise. I was wondering if it was canceled. It turns out it was a health advisory.

 

HEALTH SCREENING ADVISORY

 

 

 

In recognition of continuing concerns regarding the Ebola virus, we wish to advise you that we have adopted boarding procedures and screenings following collaboration with international health authorities. We are screening for any guests or crew who have visited or traveled through countries with a US CDC Level 3 Travel Warning (Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea) or had physical contact with or helped care for a person suspected of having Ebola within 21 days of a cruise departure date. These individuals will be denied boarding. We are also monitoring bookings for any guests coming from these countries. Princess Cruises has in place robust medical protocols that are consistent with public health guidance. We are monitoring the situation closely, along with our colleagues in the rest of the travel industry. Guests seeking more information on Ebola can visit the World Health Organization's website at http://www.who.int or the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/. Should you have any questions about these travel requirements, please call 1-800-774-6237 to speak with a Princess Guest Relations agent.

It seems that most all cruise info such as this is an "Emergency Notification"... probably so that folks will read them, especially in matters where boarding may be denied if they don't do what is required.

Bon voyage! And how strange that your air was messed up like that. The tickets should have mirrored your boarding passes. Weirdness. Glad that it was straightened out.

Just called Princess. They changed in about 3.4 seconds..

That's good...sometimes those computer gremlins have fun messing with us. :p

It's called the "gateway" and if you ever book directly by calling them, they'll ask you where you're flying from so they can input it correctly into the system.

Suddenly we can't access any of our booked cruises through Cruise Personalizer.

 

Have attempted to contact them via email. Of course, there is no response as Princess again show their total disregard for passenger relations.

 

Does anyone out there have an email address for anyone in a position of responsibility with Princess, someone who might actually respond to a customer. I know the whole concept is complete anethema to Princess, but is there anyone there who might listen to a complaint. Please post if you have been fortunate enough to actually come into possession of an email address to a live, caring person at Princess.

Wow... bad day? You do realize that the call center/customer relations departments aren't 24/7? Call in the morning...

Yes, I used the new eZAir yesterday afternoon to rebook my flights. I do like the changes. Very nice.

Improving at least but not even close to what Royal Caribbean shares have done over the last several years.

 

When I first heard about the Shareholder Benefits in each of these companies I grabbed a couple hundred shares in each. That was in 2010. CCL cost me $30 a share and RCL $24 a share. Now CCL has finally hit $50 and while RCL was up to $85 not that long ago but it slid off a bit and has now reclaimed $80.

 

So for me CCL has gone up 66% in 5 years while my RCL is up 333%. An amazing difference over the last 5 years. I am glad that I grabbed some more CCL last October when it briefly bottomed out at $35 as it is up more than 40% in only 9 months. A double benefit for me as it hedged some of my falling (against the US dollar) Canadian dollars and I can sell some of these "extra" CCL shares at a profit for US "cruising money" without affecting my ability to use the Shareholder Benefit.

 

Occasionally I manage to avoid getting burned on the stock market!

 

Terry

An interesting comparison...

http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=ccl+vs+rccl

Not sure if Near Princess Headquarters. If you have trouble reaching them,be patient

It is not... a few miles away.

Have been watching the Golden Princess bridge cam and it appears to not be working. It still shows that they are alongside Ketchikan and the date of June 18th. I have been watching it because we will be going on a cruise on July 11, hope they get her fixed pretty soon.

You mean the webcam, of course?

I do tend to tip above and beyond to the bartenders at Crooners. I find they'll be starting my drink when they see me coming and sometimes a chair will miraculously appear if the bar is full... :)

What does your daily account look like. Is it charged, then credited? Or do you just not see it at all? Thank you.

You'll start off with a credit for the entire amount at the beginning of the cruise and the "hotel charge" will accrue daily. So, in effect, it's a wash by the end of the cruise.

We sail Caribbean Princess in August and have been reading member reviews of the ship. Oh my word! People are not happy. :eek:

 

It can't really be all bad can it? Please, please can I have some positive information?

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2221521

We have our flights booked through Princess eZair and they have us arriving at LAX at 11:25:eek:

 

Although 10:30 would be nice as we would be able to have lunch in the main dining room, I don't think it's necessary we arrive at 10:30, at least Princess doesn't think so:confused:

Princess' official guidelines for San Pedro are as follows:

Latest international flight arrival: 3 hours prior to the ship's departure.

Latest domestic flight arrival: 2 hours, 30 minutes prior to the ship's departure.

Any charge to use the exercise equipment/gym (skipping the spa) aboard the Pacific Princess?

No charge to use any gym onboard a Princess ship. Some exercise classes may have a charge though...

On our last cruise from San Pedro, our car broke down in Valencia (about 1pm)and we had to get it towed back home where we picked up the other car and drove to the port. We were in constant contact with Princess (the in-route number) and we made it to the port about 3:45. They were breaking it all down, but we checked in and boarded with no problems. Luckily, the ship didn't sail until after 5pm.

Hello-

Do the handicapped mini's on the Regal/Royal have covered balconies? Am sailing with my 80+ year old parents & direct sun is not good for them.

 

Thanks,

Chris

Yes, they're covered... get one on the bump-out and you'll have a larger, covered balcony.

Here's a few photos from a friend's cruise in one.

Royal Princess - New Year's 2015 004 by Richard, on Flickr

Royal Princess - New Year's 2015 005 by Richard, on Flickr

I don't believe gift cards and other "temporary" store bought bank cards are acceptable forms of payment. I tried to use several on different cruises (deposit, OBC, gift myself, etc) and was never allowed.

 

I believe it has to be a credit card with your name and a "true" account number.

 

I could be wrong. Have been before, but I am sure I will be corrected.

That's true... I've received gift cards from AT&T and they explicitly say on the back that you cannot use them on cruise ships.

Thanks!

Sorry, no. The legal age for alcohol is 21 on Princess.

Not in all instances... Caribbean Princess and Royal Princess when sailing roundtrip from Southampton have a drinking (and gambling) age of 18, as do all the ships sailing from Australia.