skynight

I never heard of actually purchasing Future Cruise Credits, FCCs, on board in the amounts you are mentioning. Future Cruise Credits are usually provided by Princess for some error or problem. Sometimes passengers charge amounts to their credit card for a booked cruise to be deposited into their on board accounts. This amount becomes refundable OBC. I have, and always purchase myself, Future Cruise Deposits, FCDs. In the U.S. they are $100 each, which is around GBP75. They are valid for one year from the date of purchase and fully refundable. They are used to make the full deposit on a new booking (world cruise has some special terms). The $100 becomes the full deposit. When used non refundable OBC is applied to the booking depending on cabin category and length of cruise, see chart below. What I am thinking has happened is that you made the regular deposit. You or your TA then added the GBP75 after the deposit was made. Thus, no additional OBC because the FCD was not used as the deposit. It was just used as cash. The GBP75 should become refundable OBC. Future Cruise Length Per Person Shipboard Credit* 17 - 44 Days $125 Inside, $125 Outside, $150 Balcony, $150 Suite 11 - 16 Days $75 Inside, $75 Outside, $100 Balcony, $100 Suite 7 - 10 Days $25 Inside, $25 Outside, $50 Balcony, $50 Suite 3 - 6 Days $15 Inside, $15 Outside, $25 Balcony, $25 Suite

This is correct, and I believe it is the only exception. The reason is that passengers have already gone through U.S. immigration in Vancouver when boarding so that there will not be any immigration procedures when the ship reaches its first U.S. port in Alaska. I did not mention it initially because the OP was not sailing this itinerary.

The deck plans do not show what you mention. It is a category BE balcony category cabin, standard size with the standard 9ft x 4ft balcony.

I sailed on a recent ruby Princess cruise with the plus fare. When soda was ordered, cans were provided. I'm sorry I don't know the full menu of available sodas.

My original January ones were removed.

It is standard at first with10 alcoholic and 10 non alcoholic beverages. Once in the cabin you can call room service and trade. It's one for one alcoholic for different alcoholic or non alcoholic, or one for one non alcoholic for non alcoholic. You can also trade the entire mini bar for a bottle of wine.

This is/was correct. As an elite right now I have January cruises booked. I can not access MDR dining reservations. They are blocked. Assume they will open June 17th.

No specific embarkation times. Embarkation usually begins somewhere around 10:30/11:00. Once it begins it goes fairly quickly. Cabin access available around 1pm. One DR open noon to 1:30. I'm not certain about Boston, but in Ft. Lauderdale the slowest part of the embarkation was passing through security.

Some of these postings are mixing up elite loyalty benefits with plus/premier fare benefits and benefits available at the platinum level. Elite benefits are detailed in the Princess site referenced in my post no. 2. Elite benefits include all those for the gold, ruby and platinum levels plus some 10 additional ones.

If you wait until you board the charge will net against any OBC.

Service and crew appreciation is included. No further tipping necessary. I don't carry cash anywhere around the ship. I do have some cash in the cabin. If you order for cabin delivery you might want to provide a few $$. It's up to you.

The way I understand the current situation you will have to wait until June 17th assuming the program is up and running. Previous to this change certain loyalty levels were allowed to select dining when booked. I have not seen rules for the new dining regarding priority or if priority will even be necessary. Let us see what happens from June 17th forward.

1st night specialty dining. You can choose either the Crown Grill or Sabatini's. There will be space available for full suite passengers. Call the dining line once on board. The mini bar set up includes 10 alcoholic and 10 non alcoholic beverages: 8 x 50ml spirits, 2 beers, 2 x 500ml plain water, 2 bottles Perrier, 2 cans club soda, 2 cans Diet Coke, 2 cans regular Coke. There may be some variations. You can trade any alcoholic or non alcoholic item for any non alcoholic beverage. Yes, you can trade any item for Diet Coke. You can trade the entire 20 items for one bottle of wine. Call room service for trades.

Yes, you have unlimited laundry service. Turn around takes up to 3 days depending on the number of elite members on the cruise. On a recent cruise turn around for me was two days. Not too many elites on board. Full suites have next day turn around. Priority water shuttle is nice. If you are going ashore at a tender port during peak times you don't have to plan very much. Just show up at the designated location and your wait will be short. This benefit is for ship to shore only. Shore to ship you wait in line with everyone else. I guess if you are booking Princess excursions the 10% discount is nice. 10% discount on full price items in the ship's shops also nice if you buy stuff. Mini bar of little use if you have plus or premier fares, but some people like the set up. https://www.princess.com/downloads/pdf/cc/captains-circle-loyalty-benefits.pdf

Very difficult to tell. This is the first time Princess is offering these itineraries from New York. My guess, not too many youth. There are no rock walls, surf pools, etc.