Specialty restaurants on Emerald Princess

[Daisyloo]

Is it possible to pre-book dinner in a specialty restaurant on Emerald Princess prior to sailing? We did it on our 2 cruises on Holland America ships. I found an old thread from 2008 that says no it can't be done, but does anyone know up to date info for this?

Also, we pre ordered a bottle of liquor for our stateroom prior to our Holland America trips from their website - is that possible with Princess?

Thanks,

Pat

[Pam in CA]

You can't pre-reserve a specialty restaurant on Princess; you'll have to wait until you board. Yes, you can pre-order wine. Go to the "Gifts & Services" section on the Princess website, download the form, fill it out and fax it in. You can also call. You can't order online.

[Daisyloo]

Thanks Pam. Appreciate your quick reply.

Pat

[Daisyloo]

Pam,

Another quick question if I may. On our last 2 Holland America cruises, I prebooked all our excursions on line over the course of a month or 2. As they were booked I had to provide my visa # and I was charged for them right then. I kind of liked that as I had prepaid everything prior to the cruise, so no big bill at the end. What does Princess do? I booked a clamshell for Princess Cays and wasn't asked for credit card. Do they just link to our onboard acct. and bill us at end of cruise, or as they have my credit info. for my onboard acct. will they bill it to that right now?

I appreciate your obvious expertise -it makes it easier for us newbie cruisers.

Thanks,

Pat

[chamima]

Pam,

Another quick question if I may. On our last 2 Holland America cruises, I prebooked all our excursions on line over the course of a month or 2. As they were booked I had to provide my visa # and I was charged for them right then. I kind of liked that as I had prepaid everything prior to the cruise, so no big bill at the end. What does Princess do? I booked a clamshell for Princess Cays and wasn't asked for credit card. Do they just link to our onboard acct. and bill us at end of cruise, or as they have my credit info. for my onboard acct. will they bill it to that right now?

I appreciate your obvious expertise -it makes it easier for us newbie cruisers.

Thanks,

Pat

 

They'll bill it to your onboard account. If you want to feel it's paid for before you sail you can always "gift' yourself $$$ via the same section Pam referenced.

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/onboard_credit/Index.jsp

 

 

Speaking of credits

Does anyone know if we can still send ourselves casino credits to cash in once we get on the ship?

In the past we would put some money on our charge card prior to the cruise and once on the ship could cash in these credits to have cash to spend on the cruise (without that 3% fee). I seem to remember Toto had a problem with that this fall.

Anyone tried it recently?

[Pia1913]

Pam,

Another quick question if I may. On our last 2 Holland America cruises, I prebooked all our excursions on line over the course of a month or 2. As they were booked I had to provide my visa # and I was charged for them right then. I kind of liked that as I had prepaid everything prior to the cruise, so no big bill at the end. What does Princess do? I booked a clamshell for Princess Cays and wasn't asked for credit card. Do they just link to our onboard acct. and bill us at end of cruise, or as they have my credit info. for my onboard acct. will they bill it to that right now?

I appreciate your obvious expertise -it makes it easier for us newbie cruisers.

Thanks,

Pat

 

Unlike HAL and other cruise lines, Princess does not charge you in advance for shorex reservations. You will find your tix in your cabin and will then have the option of keeping them or cancelling them. And yes, all charges will be on your shipboard account and billed to your credit card at the end of the cruise.

 

They'll bill it to your onboard account. If you want to feel it's paid for before you sail you can always "gift' yourself $$$ via the same section Pam referenced.

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/onboard_credit/Index.jsp

 

 

Speaking of credits

Does anyone know if we can still send ourselves casino credits to cash in once we get on the ship?

In the past we would put some money on our charge card prior to the cruise and once on the ship could cash in these credits to have cash to spend on the cruise (without that 3% fee). I seem to remember Toto had a problem with that this fall.

Anyone tried it recently?

 

Yes, just fill out the form in the gifts and services section (page 18) and either fax or snail mail to them will the amount of casino credit you desire. You can even call it in, but I like a paper trail. I do it on every cruise.

[Daisyloo]

Thanks for all the info.

Pat

[Stevesan]

Is it possible to pre-book dinner in a specialty restaurant on Emerald Princess prior to sailing? We did it on our 2 cruises on Holland America ships. I found an old thread from 2008 that says no it can't be done, but does anyone know up to date info for this?

Also, we pre ordered a bottle of liquor for our stateroom prior to our Holland America trips from their website - is that possible with Princess?

Thanks,

Pat

 

 

No worries. Precruise reservations aren't necessary.

I disembarked Emerald last month, did a B2B. Crown Grill, the steak house, was nearly empty every evening. I didn't check Sabatini's, Italian, but doubt reservations are a problem there.

The dining venues:

http://www.princess.com/learn/ships/ep/amenities_publicrooms/index.html

[Daisyloo]

Thanks Stevesan. Much appreciated.

[1 HappyCruiser]

Although the Specialty restaurants were very good in the past, on our last Emerald cruise in Nov, the food was so good in the regular DR that spending extra money was totally unnecessary. Of course if you've go the extra many & just want to try them that another story, but either way you won't be disappointed.