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Princess Secrets they Don't Tell You

philsfun

By philsfun,
in Princess Cruises

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Jeniceves

Jeniceves

Posted
Posted

Don't know if it's a secret, but you can bring on one bottle of wine per person in any port. We bought wine in Barcelona, Cinque Terre, Mykanos and Sorrento to drink in our room. If you take it to the restaurants you are charged a $15 per bottle corkage fee. We actually bought limoncello in Sorrento and no one even checked the bags to see what we were bringing on. It was great sitting on the deck at night with our wine!

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bluebelle

bluebelle

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Under your bed is there is stored more bedding - only found it prior to disembarkation when checking that we hadn't left anything behind. Would have been useful as we did feel a bit chilly at night going through the fjords.

 

You can get cocktails for $2.99 in all the bars after 8.00pm - limited range but includes Pina Colada and Long Island Ice Tea. PC in the Crooners bar was good as it was frozen.

 

Get your coffee card on the 1st day - this entitles you to 15 coffees but also unlimited pots of tea and I think hot chocolate. You can sit in the peaceful surroundings of the International Cafe -get proper tea in a nice pot and save your coffee for when you really need it.

 

You get a lovely hot and tasty cup of tea in the dining room at afternoon tea - the only good tea we got on the ship!!

 

There is another electrical point under the bed. If you forget your adaptor as we did, you can get one from your room steward but this is hit and miss. We forgot ours but Steward told us he wasn't able to get one for us - other passengers managed to get one though?

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skellis

skellis

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When you get to your cabin and meet your steward you can request topsheets for your bed (I don't like having only a duvet over me), extra pillows, ice bucket for chilling wine of champagne, extra shampoo etc., wine glasses, and you can borrow a corkscrew if you want to ask the steward for it.

 

If you want to find out about when your favorite item will be on the menu, ask your waiter or headwaiter, they know and are usually very willing to tell you.

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jonikal

jonikal

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Some of the first things we do after boarding, is we always request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks. Also, another request right after getting to the cabin is extra hangers. Even if they don't have wooden ones, they do have plastic and metal. Easier to hang things up (evening tops, golf shirts, etc) than making piles in the closet. Unpacked suitcases usually fit fine under the bed and leave more room on the floor of the closet for shoes. Another stop we make is a trip to the PSD and have them make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. Finally, whenever we fly to or from a destination to board the ship, we always include a weight hook to make sure we're not over whatever the allowance is when we check in.

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dotheyes

dotheyes

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Some of the first things we do after boarding, is we always request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks. Also, another request right after getting to the cabin is extra hangers. Even if they don't have wooden ones, they do have plastic and metal. Easier to hang things up (evening tops, golf shirts, etc) than making piles in the closet. Unpacked suitcases usually fit fine under the bed and leave more room on the floor of the closet for shoes. Another stop we make is a trip to the PSD and have them make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. Finally, whenever we fly to or from a destination to board the ship, we always include a weight hook to make sure we're not over whatever the allowance is when we check in.

 

 

what is a PSD ? my guess Purser's Service Desk :rolleyes:

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bhopal21

bhopal21

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Oops! Sorry - yes you are correct! They punch the hole so it won't interfere with the strip.

 

They will also do that for you in the casino and give you a lanyard so you will not walk off and leave it in a slot machine.

 

Mike:)

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J&Jtravelcouple

J&Jtravelcouple

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On the larger ships, such as the Ruby, Emerald, Crown, etc., there is a secret door that leads out to a deck above the bridge. It's a great place to be during sailaway. Just go to the Lido deck and go all the way forward. You will see a door on either side. Go through those doors to another door that leads to a few steps leading to this deck. However, these doors are locked while at sea. It's way too windy and therefore dangerous.

 

Locked? Not really, or certainly not always. We went out when the ship was sailing, even in some high winds. In fact, it was so windy one day that I didn't think it was even safe to step out there even given the railing -- not sure we could have held our fitting. Other than that, it's a great place to be for sailaways and good picture taking of the location or people with the location in the background.

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dotheyes

dotheyes

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Here is an up dated list of helpful tips Please note none of these are mine, but all from Princess cruisers This will be my 2nd trip on Princess.

Some may be outdated or not on all ships/just for general help

enjoy

GRAND PRINCESS TIPS

  • Check out the Sanctuary $ (search the boards for description using the word Sanctuary) but you have to get there as soon as you get on board if you want to reserve for the entire cruise.
  • Also Chef's Table is fantastic ($75 per person) but it includes all wine, food, a cookbook, a photo, and a rose for the ladies. I have done it twice and once on the Ruby, and it was the highlight of the cruise. You have to call the DINE line and ask to be put on the list, and there is no guarantee you will get it
  • Ask your travel Agent to fax a request for the egg crates for bed tell them you want a top sheet as well, as I don't like the duvet cover without the top sheet.
  • I always ask for a terrycloth robe and usually get it
  • Most of the evening entertainment is focused on Deck 7, Promenade, with the Princess theater, Crooner's piano bar, Wheelhouse, Explorer's and Club Fusion. But, the entertainment on Deck5 in the Piazza also offers an alternative. For a really lovely place to have a pre-dinner or sunset watching cocktail, try the little area outside (aft) of Adagio. Also, Skywalker's offers incredible views if you prefer to be indoors.
  • The International Cafe on Deck 5 is not the only place that you can use the coffee card. Use it in the dining rooms for espresso based coffees, and also on a few of the bars on Lido deck for same and brewed coffee. If you ask at one bar and they don't have same, they can tell which ones do.
  • In the morning, you can get waffles at the pizza stand.
  • Princess makes lovely ice cream and sorbets, which are on the luncheon and dinner menus. My favorites are the pink grapefruit and honeydew sorbets. They also make lovely soufflés.
    If you want a breakfast (or for us hot tea) delivery before the times that are listed on the order card, just write in the time you want delivery. It will arrive on time, or most likely a few minutes early.
  • Most importantly, don't disembark without a couple of future cruise credits.
    Have a wonderful cruise!
  • On our last cruise on the Grand we learned that you can have escargot anytime but you need to let the dining room know 24 hours in advance.
  • That's true for most dishes. I know we missed crab legs as they were the same night as our chef's table. So the maitre D took the order for us for the next night.
  • I don't know about the bigger ships, but the small ships have ice cream at the buffet from 3:30 to 4:30 each afternoon
  • If the ship has "Scoops" or an Ice Cream Bar on the Lido Deck, the ice cream there is now free and they have discontinued the free ice cream at the buffet. Thankfully, I was able to get free chocolate or vanilla hard ice cream at Scoops since I didn't care for the soft-serve. If you don’t like the cones, bring a small, empty dish from the buffet and tell them you have a wheat allergy. They'll put the ice cream in the dish.
  • At dinner, you can ask to see the menu for the next night, if you don't like what is on the menu you can ask for something different and they will make it for you, they are very accommodating. I also ask for fresh berries for dessert and they are usually very obliging.
  • Many people think that the salads, sandwiches, and pastry in the International Cafe cost extra, but they are free!
  • You can order a complementary plate of assorted stuffed olives at the martini bar.
  • If you bring wine onboard you can pick up wine glasses at any bar or just leave your room steward a note to always leave clean glasses in your room.
  • If you pre purchase internet minutes before you leave you will get free minutes based on the package you pick.
  • If you are staying in an interior stateroom leave the TV on the bridge cam channel it will give the illusion of a window and if you leave it on all night it will serve as a night light.
  • On all the cruises we've been on, we have asked for Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice in the MDR at breakfast, and there was no charge.
    Much better than the frozen concentrate
  • This no longer exists. They now charge for fresh squeezed. Sorry!
  • Cookies and milk about 3pm.
  • Onion soup is available every night
  • I use room service as my wake-up call. I hang the request on my door before I go to bed, they knock on my door at the time I request and they have coffee and pastries for me.
  • Yes they have pineapple juice

`` I have requested it on the card you fill in for room service breakfast. It isn't one of the choices on the card. Sometimes I get it and sometimes not.

  • Yes, you can bring wine, soda and water on board with no problem....enjoy
  • volcano dessert, available on children's menu basically a huge banana split – yum
  • - books in the library are free to borrow, as long as you return them before you get off

And has anyone mentioned that if you've finished with your own book, there is a little cupboard in the library for 'passenger exchange'? This is open even when the rest of the library shelves are locked and - particularly at the beginning and the end of the cruise - you can find an interesting selection of those paperbacks which people have read and don't want to carry home.

  • - popcorn during muts(MUSIC UNDER THE STARS)
  • - always ask for what you want, the staff try to accommodate to the best of their abilities
  • I bring packets of Crystal Light [so light to carry] and mix it with water and ice from the buffet and, I'm all set with my drink.

You can bring an insulated mug [also very light] and use that to put your ice tea or your soda in. We also bring cans of caffeine-free diet coke.

  • One of the dining rooms will be open for lunch on embarkation day although you are usually directed to the buffet. We think the dining room is a better experience and starts the cruse off perfectly.
  • No one has yet mentioned what we thought was a Big Secret! Our TV on the last 2 cruises wouldn't shut off so called pursers desk. They talked us through how to unplug it, leave it alone for a minute and then replug! Now that in itself was great but, when you open the little door under the TV for the plug, well, there are extra outlets not being used! This was great when the shortage of outlets to recharge everything we needed to recharge was a problem! Not any more.
  • sit at a slot machine and insert your cruise card (which is also your cabin key) and ask for money from your account to be loaded to the slot machine. The charge that will appear on your account is the amount you asked for with no service fee added. If you go to cashier a 3% fee will be charged. When you are finished at the slot machine, be sure to upload any remaining money to your cruise card (actually, it is to a ship's computer so if you lose your card, the money is not lost -- the cruise card is the vehicle to identify yourself). Then you can bring your cruise card to the casino cashier and ask to be given cash for the money that has been uploaded.
  • I like being able to launder my own underwear.
  • Dumb and Dumber on some of the ships with the really good C/D's.
  • The white pizza day.
  • The grilled chicken on the LIDO deck at a table for two. The spa/wave pool without the wave machine going

· If you want to find out about when your favorite item will be on the menu, ask your waiter or headwaiter, they know and are usually very willing to tell you.

· And beer. We were told beer is not considered alcohol, go figure, and allowed to bring on board at every port. Once not even in a bag.

  • When you get to your cabin and meet your steward you can request topsheets for your bed (I don't like having only a duvet over me), extra pillows, ice bucket for chilling wine of champagne, extra shampoo etc., wine glasses, and you can borrow a corkscrew if you want to ask the steward for it.
  • Some of the first things we do after boarding, is we always request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks.
  • Also, another request right after getting to the cabin is extra hangers. Even if they don't have wooden ones, they do have plastic and metal. Easier to hang things up (evening tops, golf shirts, etc) than making piles in the closet.
  • Unpacked suitcases usually fit fine under the bed and leave more room on the floor of the closet for shoes. Another stop we make is a trip to the PSD and have them make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. Finally, whenever we fly to or from a destination to board the ship, we always include a weight hook to make sure we're not over whatever the allowance is when we check in.
  • Under your bed is there is stored more bedding - only found it prior to disembarkation when checking that we hadn't left anything behind. Would have been useful as we did feel a bit chilly at night going through the fjords.
  • You can get cocktails for $2.99 in all the bars after 8.00pm - limited range but includes Pina Colada and Long Island Ice Tea. PC in the Crooners bar was good as it was frozen.
  • Get your coffee card on the 1st day - this entitles you to 15 coffees but also unlimited pots of tea and I think hot chocolate. You can sit in the peaceful surroundings of the International Cafe -get proper tea in a nice pot and save your coffee for when you really need it.
  • You get a lovely hot and tasty cup of tea in the dining room at afternoon tea - the only good tea we got on the ship!!
  • There is another electrical point under the bed. If you forget your adaptor as we did, you can get one from your room steward but this is hit and miss. We forgot ours but Steward told us he wasn't able to get one for us - other passengers managed to get one though?

Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

 

· 17th St is the main drag that runs by the terminal which is on the corner at Eisenhower Blvd.

There are quite a few hotels within a long block or 2 of the port.

The Renaissance/Hilton Marina are right on that corner.

· I would recommend the Hilton Marina. It is literally 2 minutes away, has shuttle service, and you can catch the Water Taxi to almost anywhere in Fort Lauderdale AND you can watch the other ships sail in and out right from their pool area! This is a great hotel and I use it every time I cruise out of FL.

· I don't know when you are leaving but we are leaving on 12/8. We booked on Hotwire ( 3 star Hollywood Airport) and got the Holiday Inn Express now listed for $52 per night. Others on our roll call bid through Hotwire on the 3 star Downtown -Las Ollas-Port Everglades and got the Hyatt Place for $59. These rates are for 12/7 but you can check on the descriptions for 12/7 and then look it up for your dates. Both of these hotels have free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise terminal. They do not have free parking while you are on the cruise. I understand that LaQuinta has free parking. Happy hunting.

· We have also stayed at the Hyatt Place booked through Valuetrips - it was a great value. Cost was $89, we used the Hyatt certificates bought through Costco and it worked out about even by the time taxes were added. The nice thing was that there was a shuttle from the airport, breakfast the morning we stayed, and a shuttle to the port - all of the same price. One thing to keep in mind, when we were there they let you start signing up for the cruise shuttle at 3:00 the afternoon before, if you wait too long you'll end up leaving later than you probably want. It really isn't far from the pier so a cab won't cost too much if that’s the case. One other thing, it takes a couple of days to get confirmation of your booking so don't panic if it doesn't show up right away.

Right now they don't have any 2011 prices showing so we are waiting for them to appear to try to get this hotel for our January trip.

· Priceline downtown four star will get you either the Renaissance or the Hilton Marina. Both actually within walking distance of three port but I would not recommending walking. Both hotels are very good. I am currently trying on Priceline for Nov 6 and have been turned down at up to $70. I think it can be had for 85-90. Neither have shuttles but a taxi is only $10.

· We haven’t stayed at Hyatt Place in a few years but have recently seen some not so good reviews. I can get the Embassy for $160 as a Hilton Honors member which is free to join and is a very nice hotel with breakfast and a happy 2 hours included.

  • I am only responsible for typos feel free to correct:D

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MICHIGAN MAMA

MICHIGAN MAMA

Posted
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Thank you, Dotheyes, for your compilation of some very good "secrets". These "secrets" are not just for the Grand Princess, but for most of the ships in the Princess Line. I have used many of these tips when we cruise and I have not been on the Grand yet. Looking forward to seeing some others "secrets" posted.

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2belgiantervs

2belgiantervs

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Just returned from a great cruise on the Emerald Princess 8/22 - 8/29. Bought the ultimate drink sticker (UKP) and was told that fresh squeezed OJ was free with this sticker. Had to put up an argument with the waiter on Monday AM in the dining room about it, but they finally conceded that it was free with the sticker. Didn't encounter any problems about fresh squeezed OJ the rest of the week. One small disappointment - was told smoothies were free. Found out that the green tea smoothies at the International Cafe were NOT. Otherwise, things were great! Happy cruising, everyone.

:)

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Colo Cruiser

Colo Cruiser

Posted
Posted
Just returned from a great cruise on the Emerald Princess 8/22 - 8/29. Bought the ultimate drink sticker (UKP) and was told that fresh squeezed OJ was free with this sticker. Had to put up an argument with the waiter on Monday AM in the dining room about it, but they finally conceded that it was free with the sticker. Didn't encounter any problems about fresh squeezed OJ the rest of the week. One small disappointment - was told smoothies were free. Found out that the green tea smoothies at the International Cafe were NOT. Otherwise, things were great! Happy cruising, everyone.

:)

 

 

Every ship/venue onboard seems to have their own interpretation on these stickers. :(

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dotheyes

dotheyes

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Posted
Just returned from a great cruise on the Emerald Princess 8/22 - 8/29. Bought the ultimate drink sticker (UKP) and was told that fresh squeezed OJ was free with this sticker. Had to put up an argument with the waiter on Monday AM in the dining room about it, but they finally conceded that it was free with the sticker. Didn't encounter any problems about fresh squeezed OJ the rest of the week. One small disappointment - was told smoothies were free. Found out that the green tea smoothies at the International Cafe were NOT. Otherwise, things were great! Happy cruising, everyone.

:)

 

can you give me more info about the drink sticker? ie cost, ehere to buy, when to by etc. (I guess the cost depends on the length of cruise)Is it good for all but acholol drinks???:confused:

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dotheyes

dotheyes

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Posted
Thank you, Dotheyes, for your compilation of some very good "secrets". These "secrets" are not just for the Grand Princess, but for most of the ships in the Princess Line. I have used many of these tips when we cruise and I have not been on the Grand yet. Looking forward to seeing some others "secrets" posted.

thanks to all who appreciate the list I know I will get lots of use from it.

ole ole dot:D

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