First Day/Night Freebies Onboard?

We have always had soft drinks and bottled water for sale in our frig on 8 Princess cruises.

Us too. That was in addition to the mini bar setup. :)

If you give your room steward a little wink and a nod you could possibly get a couple of extra chocolates on your pillow at night.

I have been on 26 Princess Cruises and other than a couple of bottles of water on the desk with a tag on them I have never seen items for sale in the fridge.

That's because you get the elite set-up.

The so called champagne you get from Princess is totally undrinkable. But I have to say California makes very fine champagne which they choose to name sparkling wine. Never the less I enjoy sparkling wine from California immensely, especially Schramsberg and Mum. Just saying.

Yes headache water. :)

The so called champagne you get from Princess is totally undrinkable.

I agree. :(

I have been on 26 Princess Cruises and other than a couple of bottles of water on the desk with a tag on them I have never seen items for sale in the fridge. If you want drinks you have to call and order them from room service. They are charged to your account when delivered, not when consumed. Maybe you are thinking about other cruise lines.

I thought everyone got the mini bar set up, and had to pay for the items used unless Elite.

I thought everyone got the mini bar set up, and had to pay for the items used unless Elite.

Correct........

I think its really hit and miss. We have had family and friends on different cruises who are not Elite. Sometimes it was there and for the most part it was not. Different ships different policies. :rolleyes:

The so called champagne you get from Princess is totally undrinkable. But I have to say California makes very fine champagne which they choose to name sparkling wine. Never the less I enjoy sparkling wine from California immensely, especially Schramsberg and Mum. Just saying.

No choice. Only the product coming from the right region in France can legally be called Champagne.

I have been on 26 Princess Cruises and other than a couple of bottles of water on the desk with a tag on them I have never seen items for sale in the fridge. If you want drinks you have to call and order them from room service. They are charged to your account when delivered, not when consumed. Maybe you are thinking about other cruise lines.

 

Peanuts & bar mix are available in most lounges when you order drinks. Crooners also has an olive tray with drinks. On many ships, excluding Royal/Regal, sushi or tapas are available at Vines with the purchase of a drink. Fruit @ no charge is available in your cabin, just fill out the card and hang it on the door or give it to the steward. All kinds of food, snacks, desserts, cookies are available at the buffet or the International Cafe and can be brought back to your cabin. Watch the Princess Patter for the Buy On Get One (BOGO) happy hour.

I am not sure if this is fleet wide or specific to individual ships. I do know that a couple of times my Elite bar set up came in plastic wrap. This happened on a b2b. Seemed like a great idea that helped make set up easier. Unfortunately, I always exchange the items in the mini-bar and so they have to make another trip up to the stateroom. Once...I did catch them and changed it before they set up my bar. This also happened while I was in a suite. They had one min-bar set up and was going to bring the other one (for elite) midway through the cruise. I did call them and asked them to just send up 2 coffee cards.

As far as the other items in a regular cabin set up, I know they had water and canned sodas. I had taken my left over sodas (from the Elite mini-bar set up) out of the refrigerator the night before disembarkation so that I didn't pack "wet" soda cans in the morning. I left for dinner. Low and behold, room service came in while I was gone. Much to my surprise, the attendant decided to "use" some of my cans of soda to leave in the refrigerator for the next passenger. I called room service and notified them of the error. I left a note for my steward, AND I left a note for the next passengers explaining what happened. I did not want them to be charged for sodas that weren't there. Then took my sodas back and left just the waters!

You do not have to order drinks to get the peanuts. I've asked for a container on a couple of cruises. They really are good. They have two kinds of nut/mixes. One day I will get brave and ask for some olives and cherries.

No choice. Only the product coming from the right region in France can legally be called Champagne.

Correct!!!

I am not sure if this is fleet wide or specific to individual ships. I do know that a couple of times my Elite bar set up came in plastic wrap. This happened on a b2b. Seemed like a great idea that helped make set up easier. Unfortunately, I always exchange the items in the mini-bar and so they have to make another trip up to the stateroom. Once...I did catch them and changed it before they set up my bar. This also happened while I was in a suite. They had one min-bar set up and was going to bring the other one (for elite) midway through the cruise. I did call them and asked them to just send up 2 coffee cards.

 

As far as the other items in a regular cabin set up, I know they had water and canned sodas. I had taken my left over sodas (from the Elite mini-bar set up) out of the refrigerator the night before disembarkation so that I didn't pack "wet" soda cans in the morning. I left for dinner. Low and behold, room service came in while I was gone. Much to my surprise, the attendant decided to "use" some of my cans of soda to leave in the refrigerator for the next passenger. I called room service and notified them of the error. I left a note for my steward, AND I left a note for the next passengers explaining what happened. I did not want them to be charged for sodas that weren't there. Then took my sodas back and left just the waters!

 

You do not have to order drinks to get the peanuts. I've asked for a container on a couple of cruises. They really are good. They have two kinds of nut/mixes. One day I will get brave and ask for some olives and cherries.

THANK YOU! I had intended to bring cashews with me to enjoy with my Cocktails, but if peanuts are available, which I do enjoy, that means less to bring with me-am trying to make sure I bring the snacks that stop me getting a headache after drinking alcohol, as I will be trying new drinks. I know 1 particular snack is very good at "mopping" up the effect of alcohol for me, some peanuts while drinking at the bar, then back to the cabin for a snack brought from home does mean extra exercise for me-I'm a lazy devil for NOT walking as much as I should, well I won't get an option aboard ship, I want to thoroughly explore and photograph as much as I can! I might bring just 1 small packet of cashews to "enjoy" after my Nightcap before snuggling down and being rocked to sleep by the ship's motion. A friend reckons that's the best part of the cruise, drifting off to sleep!

Crochetcruise :cool:

Just remembered the card you get in your stateroom that you take to various departments to get stamped, and then you enter the card into a drawing for free stuff. DW actually won some SPA treatment once.

I can't remember ever getting a card in our cabin. Would this be the scavenger hunt? I thought we needed to get a card at the desk and just never made it there. Always wanted to do this as I roam the ship as soon as I drop off the carry on case.

Thanks for posting this I will make myself a note to look for the card (wherever it is located) and do it this time :). It always sounds like fun, but I forget with so much going on.

I read somewhere* that ships often offer some types of freebies or at least discounted items (e.g., beverage packages or specialty restaurants - perhaps waiving the fee...?).

 

If there is any credence to this, is there somewhere I should go or some info I can find online or as I board the ship to ensure I know about any such deals and how to effectively snag them?

How about free money?

Once or twice during most cruises, the casino offers free gambling lessons. Usually how to play craps or roulette. Show up for the lessons (times are listed in the Patter) and at the end everyone who stuck around till the end gets a voucher for a free $5 match-play bet. If you're attending with a partner, both of you get one.

Later, when the craps table opens for business, both of you take your vouchers to the table. One of you puts a $5 chip + your match-play voucher on the Pass Line. The other puts a $5 chip + their match-play voucher on the Don't Pass Line. 35 out of 36 times, one of you will win, the other will lose, with a net profit of $5 between the two of ya.

Hey, it ain't much, but it's free money. Well, ya do have to hang around for the 30-60 minute gambling lesson. ;)

I can't remember ever getting a card in our cabin. Would this be the scavenger hunt? I thought we needed to get a card at the desk and just never made it there. Always wanted to do this as I roam the ship as soon as I drop off the carry on case.

Thanks for posting this I will make myself a note to look for the card (wherever it is located) and do it this time :). It always sounds like fun, but I forget with so much going on.

Yes, that would be the "scavenger hunt."

The card for this has been obtained at various times in the past:

o In your cabin when you embark

o Handed to you at check-in

o On the famous (useless) discount book cover in your cabin

o On the famous (useless) discount book cover handed out as you embark

Lately it has been the last of these for us.

How about free money?

 

Once or twice during most cruises, the casino offers free gambling lessons. Usually how to play craps or roulette. Show up for the lessons (times are listed in the Patter) and at the end everyone who stuck around till the end gets a voucher for a free $5 match-play bet. If you're attending with a partner, both of you get one.

 

Later, when the craps table opens for business, both of you take your vouchers to the table. One of you puts a $5 chip + your match-play voucher on the Pass Line. The other puts a $5 chip + their match-play voucher on the Don't Pass Line. 35 out of 36 times, one of you will win, the other will lose, with a net profit of $5 between the two of ya.

 

Hey, it ain't much, but it's free money. Well, ya do have to hang around for the 30-60 minute gambling lesson. ;)

Well, for 60 minutes, that's $2.50 per hour, per person. For me, my time on the cruise is worth more than that. So, not sure if I could call it free. And, if I recall, if a 12 comes out, "pass line" loses and "don't pass" pushes. Then, if a 7 comes out next, the "don't pass" loses for a net gain of 0 and a 60 minutes loss. Thanks for the suggestion, but even for a tight wag like me, it's a pass.

Well, for 60 minutes, that's $2.50 per hour, per person. For me, my time on the cruise is worth more than that. So, not sure if I could call it free. And, if I recall, if a 12 comes out, "pass line" loses and "don't pass" pushes. Then, if a 7 comes out next, the "don't pass" loses for a net gain of 0 and a 60 minutes loss. Thanks for the suggestion, but even for a tight wag like me, it's a pass.

Just a quick correction. In the case you wrote (bolded above), the net result is -$10. Statistically, this will happen just about once every 72 come out rolls. The other 71 times, you end up +$5.

It's just another way to spend some time on your cruise. Consider it entertainment. It's not for everyone. Usually, it's not something even I do. But, it's always good to have options.

Big John I appreciate the suggestion. I have never understood craps so the lesson would be good for me anyway. Not a big gambler but an hour or two wasted, er spent in the casino with minimal loss would be fun for me.

Big John I appreciate the suggestion. I have never understood craps so the lesson would be good for me anyway. Not a big gambler but an hour or two wasted, er spent in the casino with minimal loss would be fun for me.

If you're doing it solo, you basically have a 50/50 chance of losing $5 or winning $10. Them's pretty good odds. ;)

If you plan to play after you use your match-play voucher, stick to the pass/don't pass bets until you get a feel for the flow of the game. Then maybe venture out to taking a flyer on the numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. The lesson instructor will explain exactly what that means.

Good luck!