Princess Secrets they Don't Tell You

[Princess422]

More of a helpful hint than secret, I found a cheap plastic suction cup tray works great in the shower. You no longer have to hang your backside over the sink while reaching for your shampoo :eek:

 

I found mine at a local Discount Drug Mart for $4. It is light and easy to pack.

 

http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/webstore/product_page.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524861939861&pfx=pfx_shopcompare&cid=shopping3&mr:trackingCode=571C6FB2-76B7-DE11-93DB-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

 

Paul

 

LOL Paul... I should look into that. I have all but given up on the showers! I usually leave the curtain open and use the whole bathroom as my shower, otherwise the curtain just sticks to me the whole time and there's no room to do anything. Especially - and the ladies, I think, will understand - when I have to shave my legs.

[5326jan]

On the Star earlier this year, I found another way to pay for the coin laundry. The casino tokens work in the laundry machines. So although the change machines in the laundry didn't work, the token machines in the casino did. A very helpful crew member in the casino told me this one.

 

That's funny! We tried to use quarters in the slot machines, but they didn't work! Who'd have guessed you could try the opposite! :o

[ckornuta]

LOL Paul... I should look into that. I have all but given up on the showers! I usually leave the curtain open and use the whole bathroom as my shower, otherwise the curtain just sticks to me the whole time and there's no room to do anything. Especially - and the ladies, I think, will understand - when I have to shave my legs.

 

My wife likes it for her razor as well. I still like the comedian that said showering is like buttering corn. Just soap up the walls and turn.:D

 

Paul

[Bobed1927]

It.s a little inconvenient but I often go up to the Spa to shower. The showers there are great.

[5326jan]

tub and shower.... priceless!

[Morgsmom]

It.s a little inconvenient but I often go up to the Spa to shower. The showers there are great.

 

Agreed!! With a teen in the room sometimes it is the more "tranquil" way to take a shower and get ready!

[Passin Thru]

REAL White Pizza is White cheese(mozzarella) garlic, olive oil, and thin crust. Thets wht you get in Italy if you order it around Napoli.

I Love the Boones farm remark, filled my boots one time with Boones Farm Apple in Dimmitt Texas and cant stand the smell now. (of boots either)

[celticlady]

Dotheyes, thank you for all of your work. I have been compiling a list from posts ,here and there, but you have made my job much easier. Terrific job and most appreciated.

[celticlady]

You can order the same menu that is being served in the dining rooms, on your balcony if you don't want to go the formal night.

We had guests and lobster dinners for all, with just a phone call to the kitchen. None of us wanted to dress up. They came down the hallway with carts of food for us. It was great.

 

 

Was that charged as "balcony dining" or was that free of charge? Just curious. Thanks:confused:

[celticlady]

Was that charged as "balcony dining" or was that free of charge? Just curious. Thanks:confused:

 

 

Sorry, I must have missed the page before this one. When I went back I found my answers. Thanks anyway:o

[mysterygal]

The appetizers and sushi are free in the Vines wine bar but they charge you for cheese. We had a nice server on our last cruise. Since we were the only ones in the lounge, he gave us a plate of cheeses for free after I inquired about them.

[jbu]

LOL Paul... I should look into that. I have all but given up on the showers! I usually leave the curtain open and use the whole bathroom as my shower, otherwise the curtain just sticks to me the whole time and there's no room to do anything. Especially - and the ladies, I think, will understand - when I have to shave my legs.

 

My wife likes it for her razor as well. I still like the comedian that said showering is like buttering corn. Just soap up the walls and turn.:D

 

Paul

 

It.s a little inconvenient but I often go up to the Spa to shower. The showers there are great.

 

Here's a tip I read a long time ago here on the boards, and believe me, it's worth its weight in gold: Take 3 or 4 of those black metal binder clips, and hang them on the bottom edge of the shower curtain. The extra weight will keep it from swinging in and "hugging" you while you shower. Try it - you'll be amazed at how such a simple solution relieves such an annoying problem! ;)

[Orvieto]

Just found this thread today. It is terrific! Thanks to all who have shared and to those who recapped.

Not sure if this was mentioned...a friend uses a universal charger...I plan to get one for our Oct. cruise...supposed to work for camera, phones, etc....may want to check on one.

Saw this idea on another thread....an over the door shoe hanger for use in the bathroom for toiletries, etc.

[Kaibocan]

If you bring your own wine inboard can you bring the already opened bottle into the dining room?

[5326jan]

If you bring your own wine inboard can you bring the already opened bottle into the dining room?

 

I think you would still be expected to pay the corkage fee. Unless it was a very special bottle, you'd probably be better off drinking it in your room and buying a bottle from the wine list. If you don't drink the whole bottle at one sitting, they will serve it to you the next time you want it.

[poodlewamp]

being a long time cruiser...a few little known secrets

 

 

1. If you do not wish to pay the added gratuity, just go

down to the pursers desk and have it removed. We prefer

to tip on our own.

 

 

2. When you get to your state room, ask for robe & slippers

plus a bed topper, and upgraded pillows....you won't be

sorry !!!!

 

 

3. Tipping cash to the bartenders goes a long way. You

get better drinks..and some freebies besides !!!

 

 

barb & ed....( 19 cruises) ~~~~

[bozemanman]

being a long time cruiser...a few little known secrets

 

 

1. If you do not wish to pay the added gratuity, just go

down to the pursers desk and have it removed. We prefer

to tip on our own.

 

 

~~~~

 

 

Sorry to tell you but if you remove the auto tip, the employees are required to turn in any other tip you give them, into the tipping pool:eek:. If however you leave auto tip on, they may keep the extra tip you have given them:).

[PescadoAmarillo]

Regarding shaving in the shower, I tried several ideas to keep me and the water in the shower while doing it, but finally gave up. We take any used towels, line the bathroom floor with them, and then I open the curtain, prop a foot on the toilet and shave, then switch. Yes, the water gets out, but not as far as the vanity and really not much on the toilet. It seems the lesser of all evils, plus it keeps the yuck off the shower curtain.

 

Those it's not really a Princess secret, I second the caddy that suctions to the shower wall. I haven't yet sailed on a Princess ship where this doesn't stick (it doesn't on most Celebrity and RC ships...slides right down). I keep all my shower supplies in mine, freeing up that tiny shelf for DH. I pack it with socks and undies and it takes up virtually no extra space in my suitcase.

[BayCalif-Ariz R Us]

Just found this thread this morning. Reminds me that I should repeat my also popular thread 'HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR CRUISE CRITIC BROWSING' (hint: (1) eliminate people's signatures, some of which are reeeeeely long. interesting the first couple of times you see them, kind of annoying after that and (2) increase the number of posts you read per page - sometimes when things are slow it seems to take forever to move from page to page.

[BayCalif-Ariz R Us]

OK back on topic. I don't think this "secret" was covered earlier and it is for people who like to try different ethnic or specialty foods. You will have many filipinos serving you on your cruise - the cooks, cabin stewards, DR waiters etc. There is nothing they like better than when someone orders one of their traditional meals. That is how I discovered "Adobo" - a rich stew with chunks of either beef or chicken. You have to do this in advance. You are encouraged;) to order "a lot" just in case you're really really hungry - like order for four when you're only eating it yourself. That leaves a lot of leftovers which I am assured don't go to waste:D. I asked for a serving to be delivered to my cabin just in case I got hungry later:rolleyes:. In case I didn't, I did have a cabin steward I liked a lot:). I forget what the other dishes are - pancit is their rice, very good, has vegetables. At least on the ship I was on, the lumpia were not good - that's their eggrolls. Even the filipinos didn't care for them as they were deep fried dough rather than the traditional wrapping.

 

So the condensed version of this tip is: Try new authentic ethnic dishes. Ask what specialty dishes the cooks prepare when they're home, but can't prepare onboard unless requested by a passenger. Order a lot so there will be leftovers.

[BayCalif-Ariz R Us]

Unless they changed the conditions within the past year, coffee cards never expire as long as you have at least one punch mark left unpunched. That gets you free brewed coffee in the coffee bars in perpetuity. I know becase I have been carrying around the same ratty old brown coffee card for many cruises. I don't mind the "syrup" served in the DR, but DH prefers the fresh brewed so each morning I stop by and get him a large coffee from "Princess Bucks". A nice tip at the end of the cruise is appropriate here.

[5326jan]

Just found this thread this morning. Reminds me that I should repeat my also popular thread 'HOW TO SPEED UP YOUR CRUISE CRITIC BROWSING' (hint: (1) eliminate people's signatures, some of which are reeeeeely long. interesting the first couple of times you see them, kind of annoying after that and (2) increase the number of posts you read per page - sometimes when things are slow it seems to take forever to move from page to page.

 

 

I do find all the extra stuff on a signature interesting, but once is enough. :rolleyes: I would love to know how to remove those and add more to each page!

[Princess422]

The appetizers and sushi are free in the Vines wine bar but they charge you for cheese. We had a nice server on our last cruise. Since we were the only ones in the lounge, he gave us a plate of cheeses for free after I inquired about them.

 

I wasn't even aware that there was supposed to be a charge for the cheese at the wine bar anymore, because on my cruise in May, my parents and I had a plate almost every day for free. Then again, we all spent a lot of time at Vines and got to know the waiter really well - and I we certainly spent most of our on-board money there. I wonder if the waiters have the discretion to offer it for free to loyal customers. In any case, I certainly enjoyed the free sushi (with a glass of puilly fume, which I highly recommend to white wine drinkers) as a sort of appetizer before heading to dinner. There used to be a nominal charge (as recently as May 2009, I don't know when they stopped it) so I think even a lot of seasoned cruisers don't realize that it's free now.

 

I think you would still be expected to pay the corkage fee. Unless it was a very special bottle, you'd probably be better off drinking it in your room and buying a bottle from the wine list. If you don't drink the whole bottle at one sitting, they will serve it to you the next time you want it.

 

And on that note, you should also know that you can purchase a bottle at the wine bar - which has a much larger selection than the dining room - and have it sent to the dining room to drink there. (They simply mark it with your cruise card number.) And as the above poster mentioned, you don't have to drink it all at once - whether you buy it in the dining room, the wine bar, or bring it yourself - they will hold the bottle for you at the dining room for as many nights as it takes you to finish it. If you are a wine lover, this is a great way to save money, because you spend less than you would if you were to pay by the glass. Since there are plenty of good wines available, I don't see the point in paying a corkage fee - I take two bottles on board to sip in the cabin before dinner while I'm getting ready, and purchase wine from the ship when I'm outside the cabin.

 

Regarding shaving in the shower, I tried several ideas to keep me and the water in the shower while doing it, but finally gave up. We take any used towels, line the bathroom floor with them, and then I open the curtain, prop a foot on the toilet and shave, then switch. Yes, the water gets out, but not as far as the vanity and really not much on the toilet. It seems the lesser of all evils, plus it keeps the yuck off the shower curtain.

 

That is exactly what I do! And I use the desk as my vanity (more space, outlets for curling irons, etc), so I don't have to keep anything in the bathroom that can't get wet. But another helpful tip for some women: wax your legs before the cruise to avoid the whole shaving thing! It definitely helped me before my last two cruises, although since they were nine days long, I had some touching up to do towards the end. Still, it saves a lot of the trouble of shaving in that tiny space. And if you do have to touch up at some point, if you can tolerate the pain, using an epilator is easier than shaving (Sephora sells one from Bliss that I have found indispensible, especially when travelling).

 

One more thing I forgot to mention - since you can't bring a clothing iron on board, and going to the laundry room to use theirs can be sort of a pain, a small bottle of Dove wrinkle releaser (which you just spray on, and then smooth out the fabric) works very well on minor wrinkles (but not really stiff creases). If you use it when you first arrive and then hang up your clothes afterwards, they're usually fine. And to avoid the really tough creases, ROLL your clothes instead of FOLDING them when you pack.

 

One more thing, which most of you probably already know, but you might make this mistake if you're as dumb as I sometimes am. :o I accidentally de-magnetized my cruise/key card last time, as I kept it in my tiny clutch purse - along with my cell phone. I was not aware that the battery of the phone could deactivate the card, but there you go, so be careful to keep those two separate. On the other hand, it wasn't as big a deal as I thought - I went down to the passenger services desk and they re-activated my card in about two seconds.

[redbaroness]

On our Emerald Princess cruise a couple of years ago there was dinner with the executive chef which was a new program they were starting. At that time you could only register once you boarded the ship and it was extremely limited (8 people and only done twice on our 10 day cruise). There's an extra charge, but you visit the galley during dinner rush, have French champagne with hors d'oeuvres (fois gras, escargot, caviar) in the galley, then we were seated at a special table with the executive chef and maitre'd in the dining room. Candles, centerpiece of flowers, special menu with free flowing wine selected for each course... After dinner we were presented with a group photo, and a Princess cookbook signed by the executive chef. Cost then was $75 per person, but it was worth every penny. We had full attention of the wait staff and the production certainly drew the attention of all the other passengers in the dining room. Food and wine was fabulous.

[UtterCaro]

I do find all the extra stuff on a signature interesting, but once is enough. :rolleyes: I would love to know how to remove those and add more to each page!

 

User CP > Edit Options > scroll down to Thread Display Options > uncheck Show Signatures (you can also turn off avatars and images if you uncheck those buttons) > scroll down to bottom and click Save Changes button.

 

Caro