How do you keep track of onboard spending?

[rdsqrl]

. . . the system installed on Celebrity's Solstice class is nothing short of amazing, offering everything from a DVR system that you can stop a movie in the middle and go back later to finish it to video games to PPV movies as well as free movies to port videos that you can watch whenever you like instead of when the ship wants you to watch them, internet access on your TV and so much more that I never even had time to investigate....:D

The way you feel about taking 5 minutes out of your precious cruising schedule to stop by the Purser's desk, get a printout, and glance over it, is exactly how I feel about taking 5 minutes out of my precious cruise schedule to learn how to work the remote to access all that stuff you list in your paean to interactive television.

[Pam in CA]

The way you feel about taking 5 minutes out of your precious cruising schedule to stop by the Purser's desk, get a printout, and glance over it, is exactly how I feel about taking 5 minutes out of my precious cruise schedule to learn how to work the remote to access all that stuff you list in your paean to interactive television.

I guess this works if all you want to do is to sit in your cabin and watch TV. Me? Too many things to do, places to go, events to see, ports to explore, people to meet, books to read, etc., to turn the thing on.

[rdsqrl]

I guess this works if all you want to do is to sit in your cabin and watch TV. Me? Too many things to do, places to go, events to see, ports to explore, people to meet, books to read, etc., to turn the thing on.

Completely agree with you! Although, I confess I do make an exception for Love Boat reruns just before bed, whilst reading the next day's Patter and eating my pillow chocolates!

[dudeagain]

The way you feel about taking 5 minutes out of your precious cruising schedule to stop by the Purser's desk, get a printout, and glance over it, is exactly how I feel about taking 5 minutes out of my precious cruise schedule to learn how to work the remote to access all that stuff you list in your paean to interactive television.

 

The difference being you would spend 5 minutes ONCE learning to use it and I would spend 5 minutes AT LEAST every single time waiting in line to get printed out paper....once you figure out the interactive system it takes all of 30 seconds to review your charges....

 

I realize some don't like change and are set in their ways but change is inevitable and usually for the best....

[dudeagain]

I guess this works if all you want to do is to sit in your cabin and watch TV. Me? Too many things to do, places to go, events to see, ports to explore, people to meet, books to read, etc., to turn the thing on.

 

As I said earlier, I can review my entire weeks charges while my wife showers and be on my way while you are still standing in that stupid line you seem to enjoy so much waiting to pick up much less even begin to review your charges......like it or not the 21st century is here! :D

[ricew001]

Two weeks ago I hit the button on the remote while DH was in the shower and quickly glanced at our sign and sail on the Carnival Victory. I use to teach software so I didn't find it a big deal to figure out. It certainly wasn't time spend in my cabin watching tv. beleive me I maximized every single second!!!

 

I was interested in a very necessary phone call home. (As luck would have it, no cell phone service the day my Dad had a serious health test. I didn't care how much that call costed, I just wanted to know. It was worth any price to hear good news!!)

 

Then I sort of wanted an idea of how much we were spending drink wise. At about $10 per drink, 2-5 times a day, per person I had an idea.

 

We only purchased 4 pictures and a disposable camera so I knew most of my costs were drinks.

 

Just weigh how necessary your budget is to know. do you need to keep a paper notebook or electronic record? or can you guess based on frequent purchases (like our drinks)?

 

I was pleasantly surprised at a $400 sign and sail for the two of us for 4 days. I glanced through and didn't see anything that looked outrageous.

 

hope you have a fantastic time!!

[Pam in CA]

As I said earlier, I can review my entire weeks charges while my wife showers and be on my way while you are still standing in that stupid line you seem to enjoy so much waiting to pick up much less even begin to review your charges......like it or not the 21st century is here! :D

What line? Two weeks ago, I walked up, swiped my card, and my folio printed out. I was in the area anyway and didn't make a special trip. Maybe 90 seconds total. It could have been 60 seconds. Your wife must take a very quick shower. I saw that I had a $147.50 credit to spend in two days. I wound up with a final bill of $15.47. As for acknowledging the 21st Century, I was programming computers in 1964 and was Director of Apple/Boston of the Boston Computer Society in the 90s, so I know a bit about them.

[AndyTheK]

Pam: you have "pwned" me as the texters say. I only started with computers in '62.

 

Dude: The Crown didn't (still doesn't? anyone know?) have the swipe-your-card kiosk this past October. BUT - I never had to wait on line, either. Simple solution: the Purser's desk never had a line at either 7 AM when I went to get our coffee, or at 1 AM when we went to bed after a night in the casino or a lounge. Bonus: since the desk was attended by the same person at each of the off-hours, a little pleasant conversation and a smile or two as an extra.

 

In sum, would I like an interactive system? Sure I would. Can I live without it? Doing OK so far!

 

Fascinating how molehills quickly grow on this board. :):)

 

Shalom from Tel Aviv. Andy.

[berniece2000]

With all due respect, I believe that the issue here is that passengers are all different and a good business response on behalf of princess would be to offer options whenever possible. Personally, I would be more interested in viewing my account on the tv - probably as part of our bedtime routine. I'd rather this than going to a specific area of the ship to obtain a paper copy (wasteful!).....that's going out of my way and wasting time,where the tv option would be a 2 minute breeze in a location I have to go to each night anyhow.

 

Having said that, we don't have to agree on how or whyir even if we keep track of our accounts.....but wouldn't we all agree that we should have the option to do it in the way we prefer?

[knittinggirl]

First, is to limit your charges so you don't have as many lines to look over. We know that on Princess, we're taking a huge hit right away with the excursions and gratuities. Not too worrisome, since we get the use of our money for four to six months, and not the cruise line. We brought our wine and don't shop onboard much. After so many cruises, they all have the same stuff.

 

We save the receipts, and if they don't provide a receipt, we keep our camera handy to take a quick shot.

 

We get copies of the account every day or two. If there's a problem, we discuss it right there, and take a business card of the employee and write the notes on the back.

 

Never made the connection between interactive TV and Pay-Per-View, but it makes sense.

 

One last suggestion, be sure to check your cruise card after each purchase. One couple learned they'd switched cards with another passenger, and they discovered it when they found a bunch of charges they hadn't made. RCCL reversed the charges, and gave them a new card.

[dudeagain]

What line? Two weeks ago, I walked up, swiped my card, and my folio printed out. I was in the area anyway and didn't make a special trip. Maybe 90 seconds total. It could have been 60 seconds. Your wife must take a very quick shower. I saw that I had a $147.50 credit to spend in two days. I wound up with a final bill of $15.47. As for acknowledging the 21st Century, I was programming computers in 1964 and was Director of Apple/Boston of the Boston Computer Society in the 90s, so I know a bit about them.

 

Weren't they called "abacus's" way back then? :D

[4cats4me]

Weren't they called "abacus's" way back then? :D

 

LOL!

I'd like to weigh in on this debate. I have cruised on 11 Princess cruises,

then I went on a different cruise line and was very impressed with the

interactive viewing of one's expenses.

I WAS overcharged $71 on the Emerald in '08, so I can't stress ENOUGH

the importance of checking your bill.

I did like swiping my card on the Sapphire last year to get a printout of

the bill, because I too hate waiting in long lines:mad:

However, I wisely asked for a printout of my bill 2 nights before the end

of the cruise.

However, that did nothing to remedy the situation I had on the Emerald

of the overcharge of $71, American dollars. I was drinking an Appltini

at the bar in the back of the ship, while at the same time, apparently

I was in the gift shop charging $71 of merchandise. It was an input

error. You have a 4-digit # on your cruise card, and the clerk entered

the last digit incorrectly; hence, I was overcharged.

So, of course because this happened on the last night of the cruise,

I noticed on the final bill the error, and I DID have to wait in a long

line the morning of disembarkation, so there was no way to avoid

waiting in line, as the "print your own bill" theory was toast on the

final morning...

Anyhooooooooo, the purser had to manually go through all the paper ticket

slips to make sure that I wasn't lying, or trying to rip PRINCESS CRUISES

off, and she finally came across the right slip, and identified the error

as their error. I was told that the refund would show up on my credit

card. I think it took two months before it was refunded back to my

cc, but it was refunded.

So, I would much prefer interactive system very much.

I have a 15-day to Hawaii booked for 2012, and the more I think

about it, the more I might cancel. Princess is kind of boring....

same old shows, ssame old food, same old people.......

same ol same ol.

Maybe it's time to go on Holland or back to my beloved Celebrity

[ibfern]

Weren't they called "abacus's" way back then? :D

 

I'd be impressed if you knew how to use an abacus! I wish you would stop insinuating that the people who watch their charges are old, this is not really true. And even if you use an interactive TV to peruse your account, if there are problems you will need to deal with a "live" person which means the pursers desk.

 

Meanwhile Dude are you certain you can actually add and subtract? I notice (as a math teacher) dudes like you usually can't even count change!

[ibfern]

What line? Two weeks ago, I walked up, swiped my card, and my folio printed out. I was in the area anyway and didn't make a special trip. Maybe 90 seconds total. It could have been 60 seconds. Your wife must take a very quick shower. I saw that I had a $147.50 credit to spend in two days. I wound up with a final bill of $15.47. As for acknowledging the 21st Century, I was programming computers in 1964 and was Director of Apple/Boston of the Boston Computer Society in the 90s, so I know a bit about them.

 

Wow Pam I am impressed!

[mytime53]

ibfern--thanks for my first LOL of the morning (good thing I didn't have coffee in my mouth)!

 

Dudeagain, I don't know how much you make an hour, but if I choose to work for the day I get $20/hour. On my 2 week cruise, I spent less than 30 minutes TOTAL finding and getting corrected a $32 error. So that was a rate of $64/hour. If I got paid $64/hour at my sometime job, I'd choose to work more often. Oh, wait, it still wouldn't be as easy or enjoyable as stopping at the Purser's desk on the way to my morning coffee (no line) and having a pleasant "good morning" chat with the personnel there, looking over the statement while the barista pours my coffee, teasing DH about the champagne, non-alcoholic beer, and kahlua (3 drinks he would never order) he was drinking at Crooners when he said he was late meeting us in the Princess Theater because he couldn't find us, and then returning to the Purser's desk to point out the error (again, when there was no line).

 

To make up that $32, I'd have to drag my sorry b*** out of bed at some awful hour to work 2 hours (to make up for taxes, etc.) So make fun of us all you want, but there might come a day when you will become one of "us"; someone who prefers to keep the money they have rather than have to go earn more to take the place of money that was "lost" due to lack of digilence!

[dudeagain]

I'd be impressed if you knew how to use an abacus! I wish you would stop insinuating that the people who watch their charges are old, this is not really true. And even if you use an interactive TV to peruse your account, if there are problems you will need to deal with a "live" person which means the pursers desk.

 

Meanwhile Dude are you certain you can actually add and subtract? I notice (as a math teacher) dudes like you usually can't even count change!

 

Well you SHOULD be impressed as I do know how to use an abacus! I don't know if I insinuated that everyone who watches their charges are old but if the shoe fits.....for all you know I may be "old" myself....my point is that Princess should get into the 21st century and get the interactive system installed.

 

And "as a math teacher" just who are "dudes like me"?... and if they can't count change isn't that the fault of "math teachers like YOU" :eek:

[ibfern]

Well you SHOULD be impressed as I do know how to use an abacus! I don't know if I insinuated that everyone who watches their charges are old but if the shoe fits.....for all you know I may be "old" myself....my point is that Princess should get into the 21st century and get the interactive system installed.

 

And "as a math teacher" just who are "dudes like me"?... and if they can't count change isn't that the fault of "math teachers like YOU" :eek:

 

Dudes like you who will pay a charge that they might not have actually charged because they "wouldn't notice or frankly even care anyway" are the ones I am referring to!

 

If "old" refers to people who can afford to take many cruises a year because they are careful with their money, then YES the shoe fits for me. How about you?

[dudeagain]

Dudes like you who will pay a charge that they might not have actually charged because they "wouldn't notice or frankly even care anyway" are the ones I am referring to!

 

If "old" refers to people who can afford to take many cruises a year because they are careful with their money, then YES the shoe fits for me. How about you?

 

Nope...not old nor have to be careful with my money to cruise several times a year! :p

[Catnip]

Maybe it's time to go back to my beloved Celebrity

 

:) :) Right on!

[The Big Booper]

The thing about Princess' bookkeeping that gets me is that they still hand write many receipts for sales such as booze. Most land-based restaurants would not dream of doing that and will reject cards outright that don't swipe properly because of the potential of error when someone has to manually enter the card info; the cc companies charge far higher use charges for manual entry transactions if even allowed. It costs money and time to investigate discrepancies, which don't happen much with swipe transactions.

 

Posters here report that frequently they don't even get receipts for manual entry items. I wonder how much Princess makes on these transactions??

[chasetf]

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

 

Keeping a notebook and writing down all the charges, waiting in line to review my charges, inputting all my charges on my cell phone, keeping my receipts and adding them up manually, not charging anything or even printing out a bunch of paper from a machine at the pursers desk to manually review them one by one???????....

 

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! need I say it again???? :(

 

NONE of these options fit ANYWHERE in my precious cruising schedule....!

 

..................... you have NO IDEA what you are missing, the system installed on Celebrity's Solstice class is nothing short of amazing, offering everything from a DVR system that you can stop a movie in the middle and go back later to finish it to video games to PPV movies as well as free movies to port videos that you can watch whenever you like instead of when the ship wants you to watch them, internet access on your TV and so much more that I never even had time to investigate....:D

Thats my 3 cents!

We all make choices. What's important to one is not to another. I find spending my "precious cruising schedule" going to the purser to check my balance mid cruise in not inconvenient.

 

But I also do not understand why watching a movie or playing a video game would be important. To me that is wasting my "precious cruising schedule". ;)

 

That's my 3 cents. :D

[Janet Foster]

I downloaded an app to use on my iPhone. Called "Ship Mate - Princess Cruises" I will use this (with my phone in airplane mode of course!)... it has a layout of the ship and everything.. I think it will be great.