PaperSniper4

On our next cruise in March 2023 I have about $350 of OBC. Only about $150 of that could be refunded if not used. The rest is a Princess OBC which I must use for the cruise or lose. I want to book excursion<s>, but I only want to use that Princess OBC, I no NOT want to pay now. Recently I made reservations at the Crown Grill and my credit card was charged, not my OBC. That did not make me happy. I ought to know this, but I can't remember: If I book an excursion now, three months before the cruise, will they use my credit card as they did for the Crown Grill or my Princess OBC? If the former, I will just wait until I'm on the ship, but of course I risk the potential of no space on the tour. Doug

Thanks. Our problem is we land in IAH so late the night before. Even if we wanted, it'd be too late to do the 90 minute or so shuttle to Galveston. Too bad Princess doesn't have a Houston "hotel to ship" shuttle the morning of the cruise, but we passengers are spread out over dozens of hotel probably and it'd not be worth it. We are looking at a non-cruise line shuttle which is priced under $150, but I have not gotten confirmation yet. After the cruise we have more problems with transportation; our flight from IAH for home departs about 2000/8PM, so the Princess shuttle would arrive at the airport too early. I don't want to have to kill around 8 hours in an airport! So we're looking at doing the Princess "Houston" excursion, which concludes at the IAH airport. Not cheap at $100 per person, but it's a way to kill time.....hopefully more comfortably than at the airport. At least we have some Princess non-refundable OBC for that. Doug

We're doing the same, flying in the day before we sail, and staying that night near in a hotel not too far from the IAH airport. Your $27; that was from where to the ship? I think I read you stayed the night in Galveston, correct? I am still trying to get confirmation on our transport from our IAH hotel to the pier....it sure as heck won't be $27 per person!😩 Doug

Consider both. There are benefits to Princess' "vacation protection" insurance as far as self cancellation go, but their medical, evacuation, etc coverage is a bit thin IMO. Doug

Makes total sense to me! I just wish NOLA had more cruises, and lines other than Carnival and NCL. There are occasional RCI cruises also, but not often. And of course, NOLA cruises are like Galveston cruises: the same basic itinerary each time. There are some exceptions, but not many. But we are more into the "cruise ship experience" at this stage anyway I suppose, and often do not even step off the ship in many ports. Doug

Rats. I must have been thinking of another cruise we had booked for awhile, an NCL also in March. I switched from that NCL cruise from New Orleans to the current PCL cruise because I found out we could use a $500 Princess FCC. I am just too Scottish to let that FCC expire! We prefer Princess over NCL anyway. The benefit to NCL for us is we can drive down to NOLA much, much, much easier than flying to any other cruise port. I hate to fly commercial! Doug

We also have no problem with these bonus sea days as long as it's not a port we really wanted to visit. We LOVE sea days! But on these western Caribbean cruises which we take often, canceling a port is not usually a big deal. I do sympathize with the those ports though, I realize they really look forward to us spending some time and money with them!😉 Doug

We like Costa Maya. We're taken maybe 8 cruises that were scheduled to dock there, but at least half were cancelled due to winds. I'm hoping we can get there on our March 2023 cruise, but we'd not be surprised if we get another "bonus sea day". Doug

Out of NOLA on NCL we paid state tax (we had the Beverage package). Most folks forget it's a long, long time down the Mississippi River until we're out of state jurisdiction. But that only added a couple of dollars for that first evening. Doug

Thank you! Wish more folks felt as you do. Doug

Depends. From Galveston, for instance, no. From Cape Everglades, yes. I believe some California cities might be the same. Doug

Ha, that's how I got my current Kindle, my sister felt the same as you. 😎

Ha, those are the EXACT words my wife used before I got her a Kindle. You are in good company though; my sister feels the same way and my father did also. Actually, I did also until I saw how convenient the Kindle was.....now I have one Kindle and three Fires.😎 Doug

One word suggestion: Kindle, or another two words, Kindle Fire. My wife used to bring 3-4 paperbacks on our cruises. I suggested a Kindle as a Christmas present one year; she declined. The following Christmas I got her one anyway, and she's never without one now! I eventually got one also although I don't read anywhere near as much as she does....I like it also! Especially with the threat of covid and quarantine, we load up about 5 or so books "just in case". Doug

Thanks for posting that morning cabin service menu. I see 0630 is still their first time available. We usually go for that, I figure we'll have a good chance of our coffee and rolls arriving close to that time......few get up that early on a cruise!😎 Doug

Can you please tell me when cabin service starts in the morning? Maybe a photo of the times available and what items? We are early risers and always have our coffee and croissants on the balcony before heading to breakfast....or skipping that meal sometimes. Doug

Just bring foam ear plugs and you will probably be okay! We booked one deck up (Dolphin) and on the starboard side, same aft location with that extended balcony. Funny thing was, when I booked the cabin a month ago, the port side cabin reported to be noisier was already booked. I didn't look at the Emerald deck. We have booked that cabin (ours, not yours) on two cruises on the Ruby or her sister ships and had to cancel them, so this will be our first experience with the extended balcony. Honestly, I am not expecting that much. We've always been happy with a mini-suite on the Dolphin deck, but a balcony on the Caribe deck with the large balconies is our second choice! Doug

That's why we never book our mini-suite on deck 8 aft, but one deck up on the Dolphin deck. Our cabin is far aft on the starboard side; I hope we won't hear the club. I'm a pretty light sleeper....but then I always travel with foam ear plugs just in case. 😉 Doug

----Deleted my questions------already answered above! Have a great cruise, looks like you're off to a really good start....mostly. I'll have to remember to NOT use cabin service the first night! Doug

Oh really, only for 6 days? Then I can't complain!😎 No problems paying for a drink at the bar or just having wine in our cabin. We're on the same cruise as you, 19 March 2023. We're flying into IAH late the night before, staying in a nearby hotel, and using Salt Water Moms (I hope, waiting confirmation) to shuttle us to the ship the following day. Are you on the 19Mar2023 Ruby Roll Call? Doug

Ha! On our precious cruises with a drinks package, yeah that little bottle would have been not nearly enough! We "forced" ourselves to have at least 4 drinks a day to "justify" the package cost. 😉 But if prices go to high, my Scottish blood will assert itself and I'll some how get by on a couple of those .375l bottles of scotch for the entire cruise. I just wish Princess had a decent selection. In past cruises when I ordered those little bottles, it was Johnny Walker Red or Cutty Sark I believe. Both do contain alcohol, but the are better suited as shellac thinner IMO.😩 Doug

Hopefully that's no longer the case, to loose an entire day of the drinks package.

Thanks. Couple of hours....must be around 15+ miles. Are you saying that before than time we could still order something (Princess Plus) without paying that Texas tax, but that the variety might be limited since it was liquor purchased by Princess in Texas? We'd typically have a glass of wine for my wife and a gin martini for me....so not too particular about the brands. Doug

We've gotten off track.....forget about the beverage package. I have been asking about cruises BEFORE we used Princess Plus, but AFTER I used Rum Runners. For instance, if prices for Princess plus (or just the cruise itself) get too high, I'll go back to the non-perk/beverage package, base cruise fare and just order those small .375l bottles for cabin delivery and consumption. Between a couple of those, plus the two bottles of wine we bring when we board, we are unlikely to need to purchase anything at the bar, or use cabin service for individual drinks. Does that make more sense?😎 Doug

We're on the Ruby from Galveston March 2023. I am curious how passengers will know when we're outside "Texas waters"? We'd like to have a pre-dinner cocktail which would be around 5PM on departure from Galveston. Any idea? Doug