Gretchendz

Odd. It has always been:

 

OBC from CCL Stock

Sailings of 6 days or less $50

Sailings of 7 - 13 days $100

Sailings of 14 days or longer $250

 

We have a 14 day cruise booked next year and are definitely showing $250 OBC from the Shareholder Benefit on the personalizer.

Current shareholder benefits info

Does anyone know of any cruises that are not sold out? Paul Gauguin shows as sold out. I have been googling but to little avail. Is anyone aware of any others? Thanks in advance.

I'm planning a northern lights cruise. This was very helpful (especially the video). Thanks!

We're booked on the Californian coastal, first time on Emerald but been on 6 other Princess Ships. Coral is our favourite.

We loved the Coral--and were nervous about going on the Emerald, fearing it would be too big. Just got back from the 30 day S. American cruise. I would say Emerald compares well to Coral. Very similar features and layout--it's just bigger. Our cruise was sold out but only once or twice did we feel crowded. Even with 3,000 people there are enough distinct areas and activities that it keeps people dispersed. Although beware of ambling on the promenade deck--the power walkers will mow you down and cast you overboard :)

Did it have the almond paste inside or just the flavoring? Sound like something I should get the DW. Of course the TheRabbit (AKA the cookie monster) would have to pick up a few cc or oatmeal. OK, you got me, a dozen or so.

Almond paste :)

New secret: (don't tell anyone!)

(Just of the Emerald). The almond croissants, at the International Cafe, are fantastic--especially when warm from the oven. As word got round the ship (30 day cruise) the line got longer each morning... :) They ran out completely some days.

The chocolate/vanilla mousses in the afternoon are great too.

What a great thread! Our first cruise ever was on the Fairwind to Alaska in August1986. My father had died in May and my mom decided she was taking the whole family (3 siblings, 3 spouses, my niece, and my 8 month old first child). The crowd was older so my baby was virtually the only child anywhere in sight. He was so poked and prodded and grinned at that he started to freak out about strangers after a few days.

The crew was great; the food amazing. Fresh pasta daily and wonderful pizza. I fondly remember the formality at dinner and the baked Alaska presentation. Also, in those days, they had a real midnight buffet almost every night and it was amazing!

I had thought my grumpy husband would hate cruising--instead he loved it more than I do :)

Thanks!

Question--if you take the offer at a lower amount and they later sweeten it, do you get the better offer or the one you took?

I prefer to sit as mine takes quite awhile....mine's coming with me for sure. Thanks for the replies!

It was quite generous. One cruise up to 18 days or two cruises totaling 18 days anywhere Princess sails worldwide. We get our cruise fare applied as refundable OBC on the new cruise and all OBC and other perks like free gratuities that were part of the original cruise move to the new cruise. The amount that we paid for taxes, insurance, and Princess EZ Air rolls to the new cruise and we won't pay anything more for the replacement costs, but we'll get refundable OBC if the amounts for these individual items are lower on the new cruise. They offered a very generous allowance to cover out of pocket costs for any other non refundable arrangements that we had made. We don't have much there but I've sent in the receipts for what little we did have. And we get a cabin upgrade on the new cruise (if available) on the replacement cruise(s). We had booked a mini suite so we'll get a full suite.

Very generous! As much as I am emotionally committed to our upcoming cruise, this would be hard to say no to :)

Thanks for this--on Emerald at the end of the month and was debating whether or not to bring my little Babyliss...it's coming now ")

We were on that cruise and accepted the Princess moveover offer a couple of days ago. There were a total of 12 people on our roll call who accepted the offer and others got the offer and declined. Given that the Cruise Critic population represents a small percentage of those on the ship, it's not a stretch to assume that they significantly oversold this cruise and offered very attractive deals right out of the gate to entice people to cancel.

Just curious--what was the offer?

If I download movies onto my laptop or tablet, is there an hdmi connection available to the tv? (Emerald Princess)

Not good news.

 

Who even still has a fax?

I was able to fax it from my printer/scanner/copier all in one printer. see if you have one with a fax function. I faxed it on Christmas day and got credit the day after :)

The odds are good but still keep your expectations low. If the NL are the main priority of your trip, then a cruise may not be the best option. On a ship you are stuck to where the ship is, and if the sky above you is cloudy, you see nothing. On land you have the option of "chasing the clouds" and find a location with clear sky (which can be far away). Also, the ship moves so it's not always easy to take a picture. On the plus side, the ship is usually in the middle of gorgeous landscape and away from light pollution. Better pick a date with some moon because the moon will lit up the landscape (and will not interfere with the NL if the display is strong).

So pick the cruise if the cruise itself interests you and hope for the NL as an added bonus. Also, maybe pick a date late in the winter season rather than early if you want to have some daylight to see the landscape during the day (but the experience of the polar "night" is also something to consider, so that depends on your interests).

This being said, I have travelled several times in autumn and winter and I have seen the NL on every trip. They were sometimes faint, and sometimes gorgeous. But I worked for them, I spend hours on the deck at night looking at the sky. If you wait for the public announcement you may miss some of the show.

Thank you. Very helpful post.

Thank you both.

The odds seem pretty high of seeing some anyway, if we go in December/January.

We are looking at a Northern Lights cruise around December 2018. I was just looking at the US site, and I no longer see the guarantee that if you don't see them, you get a free cruise. Did they discontinue this offer?

I so agree, the two times we did this trip we spent the entire time enjoying the views. We skipped dinner and got room service so we would not miss anything.

 

I have written extensively in my blog the 2 trips we have done to south america. First was in 2012. Rio to San Francisco. Second was fort Lauderdale to LA 49 days in 2014. Blig link is in my signature.

 

We went to Peru early 2017 for a 10 night tour with a Shaman. That entire 10 days was $3,000 and included all accommodations meals, transport, sites, and ceremonies. It was life changing for the 5 of us on the tour.

 

We flew LAN airlines, yes basic but good to Puno, then Cusco then to Lima. Delays did not happen to us, but do happen regularily due to low level cloud in Cusco.

 

We are heading out next year again on the 49 day cruise. Again we can not wait.

 

Vickie

Thank you--I am putting the room service idea on my notes for the trip--great idea:)

They were very quick. I faxed my info on Christmas Day (don't judge me!) and it was posted by 6 p.m. the next day (today).

Here is what one of the self service laundry rooms on the Royal Princess looks like (just click on the link below) ...

 

https://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-nTGH9b

Thanks!!!

Princess used to use quarters. Over the last two years the ships have all converted to the tokens.

Good to know--thanks! One less hassle :)

It’s as easy or as strenuous as you want it to be. They take you through the side in the late morning and then you go get lunch outside of the park. Then you go back in and up a little higher for the “National Geographic” views. Once you are doing me with that, you get free time to do whatever. My wife and I made it super strenuous as we decided to hike to the Inca bridge (not for the faint of heart as you are way up high on a narrow trail....but the views are spectacular), then we turned around and hiked back to Machu Picchu and then 3/4 of the way up to The Sun Gate on the Inca trail that leads into the park....that was hard....but the view was worth it...and remember, no matter how tired you are, go back up in the early morning...you will be glad you did as you watch the clouds rise up from the valley into the park

Thank you! We are very excited to do this. It has been on the bucket list for very long time :)

Thanks so much--we are doing this in March (except it is the 2 day version). Did you take any pills or anything for altitude sickness? How strenuous is it?

We just got off the MS Spitsbergen round trip Bergen to Bergen. This was our first Hurtigruten. We have done many big ship cruises but love the smaller ship. We sailed with 160 passengers.

 

We found all the dinners excellent, better than those we have had lately on the big ships.

 

Our weather was good once we left Bergen where it rained all day.

 

We mostly went into the ports and walked around but did do some excursions.

 

I think our favorite days were sitting on the top deck in the front of the ship, watching the scenery. I think that unlike a big ship, it's not so much the ports but the scenery that's the reason to sail the fjords. And what is nice about the Spitsbergen is that the whole top deck is pretty open.

 

Would be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Thanks--was smoking on board much of an issue?