Returning to Princess after 16 years

[MagnoliaBlossom]

We have 5 cruises on Princess but for a variety of reasons, we have been cruising other lines for the past 16 years.   Our neighbors re big Princess cruisers (the ones on the other side are Royal) and their great fare stories piqued our interest, and that we can sail them out of Galveston.  So we got a $500 balcony deal and said “let’s go,”

 

Things  have changed a lot over those years so I have a few questions.

 

1. How is muster handled?   Is it a view it online before yu can get you E-docs, like NCL, or go to a five minute life vest demo as soon as onboard like Carnival, or something else.

 

2.  It seems that the alcohol policy allows 1 bottle per person.  Is that correct?  
 

Thank yoy

 

 

[rjack22]

Muster is handled by viewing a short video once onboard.  You can watch it on your cabin TV, SmartPhone, or Tablet.    You also have to physically report to your muster station and check in by swiping your medallion.   Thats it.  Very easy.  You can do this on your own timetable before sailing.

 

You are correct on the alcohol policy.

Edited September 13, 2023 by rjack22

[Lady Arwen]

No muster drill as in the past.  You watch a safety video in your cabin and then check in at your assigned muster station.

 

Every adult is allowed to bring on one 750ml bottle of wine with no corkage fee.  You may bring on more bottles, but you will pay a corkage fee, which I believe is $20.00 per bottle.  Someone will correct me if that’s incorrect.  You are not allowed to bring on bottles of liquor.  We always purchase the Plus Package, so not as familiar with the rules as other members will be.

[Lady Arwen]

This is a duplicate thread.  Could a moderator please delete.  Thanks.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Oops. 🥹

[Torfamm]

1. You watch a muster video on your personal device or cabin TV and check in at your muster station once onboard the ship.

 

2. One bottle of wine can be brought aboard at no charge by each passenger. Additional bottles can be brought onboard but there is a corkage fee of $20  per bottle

[skynight]

Yes, 1 x 750 bottle of wine per adult without corkage fee for use in your cabin may be carried on. Additional bottles of wine are subject to a $20 per bottle corkage when boarding and are marked.

If the free bottle is brought to a public area it is subject to corkage. Other alcoholic beverages are not permitted to be brought on board.

Actual practice: People pour the free wine into a glass and carry the glass to a public area.

Sometimes there is no check point on the pier and you just walk on. The same public area corkage rules will apply, but you could wind up with additional free cabin bottles.

If you have the standard fare then you will pay for all beverages on board, you will be charged the daily crew appreciation which is $16, $17 or $18, depending on cabin category, per person per day. If you want wifi that will cost you, I think, $10 per day per device. That is the 1/2 price rate for platinum loyalty level passengers which you are as you have 5 previous cruises. The Plus fare to me is worth it as it doesn't take much drinking to break even. 

[Thrak]

On 9/13/2023 at 3:37 PM, Lady Arwen said:

This is a duplicate thread.  Could a moderator please delete.  Thanks.

 

If you want a mod to take action the correct way is to use the "Report" option from the menu on the upper right of the post. This will always get a response.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 15, 2023 by Thrak

[Lady Arwen]

3 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

If you want a mod to take action the correct way is to use the "Report" option from the menu on the upper right of the post. This will always get a response.

 

 

 

 

Thank you!  I should have known this…….senior moments all too frequent.  lol

[MissP22]

So many things have changed in 16 years.

Are you in for a surprise. 🙄

 

[ExploringTheGlobe]

On 9/13/2023 at 5:20 PM, MagnoliaBlossom said:

We have 5 cruises on Princess but for a variety of reasons, we have been cruising other lines for the past 16 years.   Our neighbors re big Princess cruisers (the ones on the other side are Royal) and their great fare stories piqued our interest, and that we can sail them out of Galveston.  So we got a $500 balcony deal and said “let’s go,”

 

Things  have changed a lot over those years so I have a few questions.

 

1. How is muster handled?   Is it a view it online before yu can get you E-docs, like NCL, or go to a five minute life vest demo as soon as onboard like Carnival, or something else.

 

2.  It seems that the alcohol policy allows 1 bottle per person.  Is that correct?  
 

Thank yoy

 

 

Being from Texas, you probably already know we have some weird liquor laws.  Something to note going out of Galveston, if you do have a drink package, it can not be used for adult beverages until after leaving TX waters.  Princess does give a $25 credit to those with a drink package to balance it out.  Also, TX only allows Princess limited alcohol options while in port. 

[MissP22]

2 hours ago, ExploringTheGlobe said:

Something to note going out of Galveston, if you do have a drink package, it can not be used for adult beverages until after leaving TX waters.

That's something to keep in mind if you do a B2B trip out of Galveston.

[skynight]

3 hours ago, MissP22 said:

That's something to keep in mind if you do a B2B trip out of Galveston.

Pick up some cap on beers during the cruise and keep them in the fridge for turn around day.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

Yes, we are familiar with Texas liquor laws.  Being a New Orleans girl, it took some getting used to when we moved here 🤣

[MagnoliaBlossom]

23 hours ago, MissP22 said:

So many things have changed in 16 years.

Are you in for a surprise. 🙄

 

Yes, I’ve been reading about the changes.  We are mostly  we are Diamond on NCL and CCL but it looks as though Princess is quite different than both of those.  We were feeling a bit bored with our cruise experience and decided to spread our wings and see if Princess was the great cruise experience we remembered..   of course, across the board, and especially post COVID so many things have changed.  Not sure many of the changes are for the better, but that’s “progress”.