DallasGuy75219

2 hours ago, NavyVeteran said:

However you don't have to worry about the all-aboard time at a tender port - you just have to worry about the posted time for the last tender. If you arrive at the tender location by the posted time, you will be returned to the ship before it leaves no matter how long the line is. You may miss your dinner reservation because of long lines, but you won't miss the ship.

Yes, they will keep running tenders until everyone in line is back on the ship.  It sometimes delays departure when large amounts of guests return at or shortly before the last tender time.

2 hours ago, BamaVol said:

The crew accepts them. And smiles. 

You're opening a can of worms... the "I want to be cute and tip with a $2 bill" vs. "the crew has a hard time spending them because places outside the US (even where they take USD) won't take them" Cruise Critic argument. 🙂

2 hours ago, d9704011 said:

They'd likely accept a $2 Canadian coin and smile too.

Not trying to be one of *those* people from the US, but the crew really prefer USD.  On most ships visiting Canada, USD is the onboard currency and the crew may not be able to get off the ship in a Canadian port to spend CAD.  And if they're wiring money home, that's much easier to do with USD.

2 minutes ago, memoak said:

I guess you can have your own definition of anything but any google search will tell you that there are 2 hemispheres east and Westley based on the prime meridian 

22 minutes ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

That's CBP's definition, not mine. 

6 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Source: US Customs and Border Protection 

https://cbpcomplaints.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1378?language=en_US

11 minutes ago, Potstech said:

No they don"t as the State Dept rep said it was in the Caribbean. Nice try

It really doesn't matter what the State Dept rep said, because Panama requires a passport book for arrival by cruise ship.  Telling Princess at check-in that the State Dept rep said you could cruise to Panama with a passport card isn't going to get you on the ship.

5 minutes ago, memoak said:

And all of Central and South America are part of the Western Hemisphere   So by your definition a RT FLL that visits Columbus is a closed loop cruise requiring a passport. Please check the definition of Western Hemisphere 

That's CBP's definition, not mine. 

But what the two posts above show is that the US Government needs to stop trying to tell people the documentation requirements to travel to other countries, because they can't get it right, at least consistently. Just tell them to check directly with the countries they're travelling to.

3 minutes ago, wcook said:

What would you call the body of water on the northern coast of Panama, if not the Caribbean? 

I didn't say Panama isn't on the Caribbean Sea.

I said Panama isn't in the Caribbean, which is a specifically defined geographic area and does not include Panama.

https://www.cepal.org/en/publications/3243-economic-profiles-caribbean-countries

3 hours ago, DallasGuy75219 said:

Actually... no.  "Closed loop" has a specific definition that does not include every round-trip cruise from a US port.

 

"Most cruises beginning and ending in the same location are considered "closed-loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the United States and travel within the Western Hemisphere."

Source: US Customs and Border Protection 

https://cbpcomplaints.cbp.gov/s/article/Article1378?language=en_US

10 hours ago, Potstech said:

And Panama also requires a passport book as friends of our found out a few years ago. The hard way as they, and others, were denied boarding at the pier.  They had a passport card as it was good in the Caribbean according to a State Department passport rep.

Your friends need a geography lesson... Panama is not in the Caribbean. 

11 hours ago, memoak said:

Sometimes I think people make assumptions based on what some has posted or said. Not all closed loop cruises can be done with a birth certificate. For example partial Panama cruise RT Fort Lauderdale goes to Columbia. I know that you need a valid passport for that country

Actually... no.  "Closed loop" has a specific definition that does not include every round-trip cruise from a US port.

"Most cruises beginning and ending in the same location are considered "closed-loop," meaning they begin and end at the same port in the United States and travel within the Western Hemisphere."

9 hours ago, Mrgoodbar said:

Does anyone know how many bottles of wine can be bought for 1/2 price in the steak house on first night?  Last time I cruised carnival it was 5 bottles.  Thanks!

It varies by ship and possibly even by server.  Carnival's website says "a 50% discount on a premium bottle of wine under $100 value," so you should probably be prepared for someone to be a stickler and limit it to one.

10 hours ago, rolloman said:

I know that has to be frustrating for the servers when people move from slot to slot. However, it is frustrating for the player as well because if you are on a loser machine you gotta move...I always make a point to look for the server I ordered from if I happen to move. Failing to do so more than once will certainly get you on the slow/no service list lol...

It works both ways.... players also get up and leave when they get tired of waiting for a drink that seemingly never comes, usually because the server took too many drink orders at once and/or forgot where the player was sitting.

8 hours ago, Boiler Cruiser said:

The reason I mention this is that if the Police, Customs, or any other law enforcement stop you on the streets of Mexico or Canada away from the ship (on your own), or your ship's tour group, you will need a passport to show them (no carbon copies or cell phone pictures).

More misinformation on this thread.

If this was the case, cruise lines wouldn't allow American passengers without passports off the ship in Mexico or Canada. Nor would they recommend you leave your passport on the ship and take only a photo ID and your ship card/medallion ashore, as they do especially in ports prone to thieves and pickpockets.

The reality is that law enforcement in and around these port cities know some cruise passengers are there (for the day) legally without passports, know that the cruiselines have already checked their documents, and accept a photo ID and ship card/medallion as documentation that you are there legally as a cruise passenger for the day.

1 hour ago, RoperDK said:

I still feel that my RCCL perks are better, especially when combined with the casino program, but to each their own.

☝️This!☝️

Free drinks in the casino + 5 free drink vouchers is practically a free drink package, at least with the way I spend my time on a cruise.

7 minutes ago, ldubs said:

 

Princess cannot override documentation requirement laws.  Allowing BC & DL for closed loop cruises is a rule courtesy of our Federal gov't.

Princess certainly can have its own requirements that are stricter than the federal government requirements. Perfect example is that Princess requires everyone in a travel party to have a passport when minors are traveling with only one adult (21 years and older).

6 minutes ago, memoak said:

I have to question the 98%   Almost every cruise I take is not a closed loop cruise or go to countries that do require a passport. For those people who just take closed loop cruises that is ok but for all of us who do one way cruises such as  Panama Canal a passport is required

And those people are generally experienced cruisers familiar with the documentation requirements, not to mention that Princess sends additional notifications that passports are required for these itineraries. 

11 minutes ago, Jnsplace1 said:

With RealID now live, I've been using my Passport to fly until renewal.   It's worth it.

REAL IDs aren't required for air travel until May 7, 2025.

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

What Princess allows (drivers license AND certified birth certificate may not be what the Port Agents want/know. 

The port agents are more than familiar with people cruising with birth certificates and photo IDs. They're considered acceptable identification for closed loop cruises out of the US, which represent probably 98% of Princess cruises out of the US.

Where port agents may become confused is for round-trip US cruises that go to non-WHTI countries that require passports (like partial Panama Canal transits) and with people with non-standard citizenship or residency status (like permanent residents).  But if people weren't born in the US and are here legally, they should have a Consular Report of Birth Abroad or a Certificate of Naturalization (both substitute for a birth certificate) or a passport already. Their documentation issues with port agents usually relate to not having the right visas or other additional documentation (like green cards fir permanent residents).

For 98% of US citizens on Princess cruises out of the US, the only concern with not cruising with a birth certificate is having to fly back from a foreign country in an emergency. And even that is not insurmountable; it will just take additional time and effort with the nearest US embassy or consulate to get temporary travel documents. 

3 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

While I was searching, I ran across another article that states that a Hawaii Driver’s License isn’t valid in Florida.  Something about their new immigration law.  (In case you are cruising out of Florida.)

"My cousin's barber's brother said they saw on Facebook that...."

Please don't post misinformation if you dont know what you're talking about.

This was a specific type of Hawaii driver license (not all Hawaii licenses), and Florida dropped the restriction in 2023.

https://www.flhsmv.gov/driver-licenses-id-cards/visiting-florida-faqs/sb1718/

52 minutes ago, hurricane0226 said:

what about the fanny pacs

I almost included those. I gave them away or left in my cabin after the cruise, but apparently some people actually liked them.

2 minutes ago, BallFour4 said:

Carnival does not care to more than a casual level about their past guest program. 

My post was about Carnival Corporation, not Carnival Cruise Line.  My point was that Carnival Corporation should care about incentivizing VIFP members who are over Carnival Cruise Line to branch out to other Carnival Corporation brands rather than competing brands.

5 hours ago, Wishing on a star said:

Another problem is the well known issue with Deluxe Balconies not being available to select for less than three guests.  There might be work-arounds for that.  But it is a HUGE problem.

It's the same for all categories.  If there are available cabins that sleep 3 or 4, they won't show up online for someone trying to book a cabin for 2.

On 5/16/2024 at 7:00 AM, Jamman54 said:

Don't get your hopes up. The Diamond Fairy is a short fat guy wearing a pink tutu holding a wand that is held together with duct tape! 😄

And the only gifts he has left to bestow on you are luggage tags and koozies.

2 hours ago, 1025cruise said:

Not a fair comparison. All of the hotels use the same program. The different cruise lines under the Carnival Corp umbrella all have different programs.

You completely missed the point.  Carnival Corporation is leaving money on the table by not incentivizing VIFP members who want to move up to a higher class of cruise line to go to, example, Princess or Holland.  Without some incentive, all other things equal, that member is just as likely to try Celebrity or Virgin.

The major hotel brands get this.  If I'm a Bonvoy member who usually stays at Fairfield Inns but am looking for a better experience, being able to keep some Bonvoy benefits at for example a Marriott encourages me to stay in the Marriott hotel portfolio vs. going, for example, to a Hilton.

12 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

This seems to be a Carnival thing.  This was the practice I encountered on two different Carnival cruises this year.  

Carnival changed to ordering everything at once several years ago.  At that point Royal Caribbean had already been doing it.

If you tell them you're not sure if you'll be hungry for dessert or just politely ask to order separately,  they'll probably accommodate you.

On 5/16/2024 at 6:34 PM, kywildcatfanone said:

This is princess, the cruise line cutting back on spending and reducing loyalty benefits regularly.

And what mass market line isn't?

On 5/14/2024 at 11:23 AM, Gebirgsdonner said:

Curious - you can’t just call after booking and ask what the price to upgrade is? 

If you do it that way, you lose any other benefits of the casino offer if the offer you booked under is expired or sold out and you don't have another valid casino offer to rebook under.

And after final payment you can no longer rebook under a different casino offer without penalty.