damiross

13 minutes ago, Steelers36 said:

...., but if I had the funds to cruise in a Suite, ...

Again, just because someone is in a suite doesn't mean he is Mr. Rockerfeller. Some people could be saving for years for a true cruise of a lifetime.  Then Princess, changing course in midstream (no pun intended), decides getting the last dime out of passengers is the only way to go.

I am just hoping that I am not making a mistake by not cancelling my January cruise before the final payment date.  Who knows how many more changes will be made in the next few months, even to those of us with premier packages.  (Normally, I wouldn't have gotten the premier package but i was given a good casino package that included premier).

5 hours ago, CruizinSusan70 said:

  That 2% reduction just cost me $300.00.

Not really.  You are still saving hundreds.

16 hours ago, PacnGoNow said:

They have not updated the verbage on that page.  But, you did pay the increased amount. 

Yup, I just checked it.  I show 2 gift cards at $100 each bought today.  It shows the cost of $90 each.  But my credit card account shows $92 each.

I would love to go on a UST but I think the price is overblown.  I just want to see the bridge, the engine room, and (being the geek I am) the server room.

I really do not have any need or want for any of the "trinkets" you get such as the chef's jacket, picture, personalized note pad, etc.

I wonder if the prize can be changed to OBC.  My wife and I are not foodies.  I have the feeling one or both of us will win the Chef's table! 

6 hours ago, beg3yrs said:

You didn't have to join AARP, just AARP Rewards which is free. Oh well, enjoy the membership.

Yes, I know but as I mentioned, one day AARP may start requiring membership for the card. I didn't rejoin until after my 4th gift card was bought. 

I figure $12 is not a bad fee.  I can get the following members-only gift cards.  I also looked at discounts offered by membership - turns out some are pretty good.

9 hours ago, SCX22 said:

 

 

Princess is aligning themselves with the other mass market competition to pay off their debt.  RC, X, and Carnival have been charging for these amenities for a long time.  If the competition can get away with it why can't Princess?

I don't know why companies that do what every other company does aren't charged with conspiracy to limit competition.  

I actually rejoined AARP because of the cards.  I have saved $120 on my fare so far.  I figured that at some time, the Princess cards will be available for members only.  So, after $12 renewal fee, I'm still ahead by $108.

Look up the word "Princess" in the dictionary. The newest addition to the definition is "the nickel and diming by a cruise line"

Look up the word "Princess" in the dictionary. The newest addition to the definition is "the nickel and diming by a cruise line"

On 8/7/2022 at 10:20 AM, 2Oregonians said:

Also, I want to get a 6 pack of soda cans to enjoy at the end of the day.  I started the ordering process, but haven’t paid yet.  I don't see where you choose what kind of soda.  Has anyone done this?  When do I choose what I want?

Get the classic soda package is  my advice.  It includes canned sodas .Order 2 or 3 sodas from room service.  You may be able to order more; I only did 3 at a time on my last cruise.  You also get other items.  It's more than just the soda only but if you have OBC, you cold order it on the first day of your cruise using OBC.

From the Princess web site (my emphasis)
 

What is Included

• The package includes all, fountain sodas, and cans of soda and juices (excluding the fresh juice bar), mocktails, and smoothies as per the menu.
• The package may be used on our Private Islands and all onboard Food and Beverage Venues and other areas such as the Theater or public spaces that offer beverage service. Selections and service are limited to that venue’s menu offerings and operating hours.

Package Details and Qualifications

• There is no age restriction for purchases of the Classic Soda Package.
• The Classic Soda Package is USD $14.99 per day plus 18% service charge (totaling $17.69 per day) for all itineraries except Australia. The package is AUD $23 per day which includes a service charge for all Australian based vessels. A tax may be added at the time of purchase for certain itineraries or ports of embarkation. You will be charged the full amount for the complete voyage at the time of purchase.
• The Classic Soda Package must be purchased for every day a passenger is sailing. Partial / Pro-Rated Packages or segments of a guest’s voyage are NOT accepted, although some exceptions may apply, such as the World Cruise. These exceptions, IF applicable, will be displayed in the Cruise Personalizer at the time of purchase.
• The package is offered onboard on day one and day two only.
• The package is NOT available for pre-purchase within 3 days of sailing.
• The package is NOT refundable or transferable once purchased onboard, and for advance purchased packages, NOT refundable or transferable within 3 days of sailing.

Exclusions and Limitations

On 7/17/2023 at 12:11 AM, antsp said:

They have done, since forever, is that a concern 

I have had no issue with our name on the door.  Well, technically, to the side of the doorl

On 7/12/2023 at 7:03 PM, DiRonT said:

Our favorite cruise ever because of all the sea days.  It was surprising to us though how many people were "going crazy" after about the 4th straight sea day coming back.  We LOVED it!!!

I'm looking forward to our Hawaii cruise in January.  The majority of the days will be AT SEA!

On 7/10/2023 at 6:08 PM, PrincessLuver said:

I really miss the Princess CSR's before this recent change.  I wonder if Princess just let all that experience, knowledge of product and goodwill go.  I feel sorry for those agents if that happened and what general incompetence customers get when they get put through to Princess' new call center.

They probably did.  I was a victim of my company firing me and 1799 other people with lots of experience.  The CEO, for the first time in the company's over 100 years history, hired a CEO from outside the company.  She, just like whoever decided t get rid of American based CSR, prefer lower pay over great experience.

I remember my first cruise in 2015.  The service I got from the CSR was the best.  Now, on my next cruise (January 2024) and the cruise I just took in April of this year the CSR service ranks about 5 out of 10 stars.

4 hours ago, Bronston said:

on the contrary!

 

Hapag Lloyd, on certain cruises, allows the passengers…..while at sea, to vote on differing routes/destinations. Majority vote wins.

Not sure if these are offered anymore.  In any case, the cruises originated from non-USA ports.

3 hours ago, mthomp5 said:

hi @damiross, was your card not charged because you had dining credits to use?

Card not charged.  I did see pending charges on my card but these came off in a couple of days.

On 6/28/2023 at 7:11 PM, mlmbar said:

 My daughter works for a major online travel company that represents  major hotels and airlines. She deals with clients' issues onsite.  Her company has outsourced to SA and India./  It is awful! They make major mistakes that she has to unwind. They lie because they don't know what they are doing and often just flat out refuse to do something. There is noise in the background and it is very unprofessional. My daughter works from home with four kids and a dogPoint is, this is not unique to Princess.   

Definitely not unique to Princess. I worked for UPS.  They hired some CEO from outside of the company (first time in the company's history).  She sent 1800 AMERICAN job s to India and Costa Rica.  The person I trained in Costa Rica via phone was not even at the beginning level of Excel (a vital part of the job).  I had to tell him several times while training him that he had to reduce the background noise.

In my case, I don't mind spending more in order to get better service, especially when it comes to be spending thousands of dollars like I do with Princess..

On 7/2/2023 at 6:45 AM, New2cruise2022 said:

Are there sugar free options for the coffees?

Yes. It's the way I have my coffee.  Just ask for black. (not being facetious - I've drunk black coffee for so long I think I would die if someone added sugar to it)

8 hours ago, JoRoy218 said:

Am interested in getting Princess gift cards through AARP. Is this still a thing?

Yes 

For the Princess gift cards, no AARP membership is required.

Go to https://www.aarp.org/rewards/discover/ then select Redeem. then All Rewards

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

CCL stock closed at a post-pandemic high today.

 

Company: Carnival Corporation
Ticker: CCL
Exchange: NYSE
Last Trade: $17.29
Change: 1.4
% Change: +8.81%
Volume: 96,007,140
Day's High: $17.48
Day's Low: $15.88
Previous Close: $15.89

Of course they did.😃.  I sold all but 100 sales last week.  I still made a decent profit, though.  

I'm not one for bottled water in daily life.  I can see its usefulness in travelling or as part of an emergency kit.  If the tap water is too bad, I figure filtered water (think Britta) is good.

The best way, by far, is to get your water from Diet Dr Pepper!

Kirkland water is bottled by Niagra Bottling

5 hours ago, XBGuy said:

 

I know how to pronounce FUBAR and SNAFU.  Can you fill me in on the pronunciation of the other two?

 

 

 

That was interesting.  Thanks,

I've never heard DOD pronounced anyway but D O D
 

deletedf

What I do for abbreviations/acronyms is to spell it out the first time give the abbreviation: e.g. Princess Cruise Lines (PCL)

By the way, there is a difference between abbreviations and acronyms.  All acronyms are abbreviations but not all abbreviations are acronyms.  An acronym is an abbreviation that can be pronounced (e.g. NASA).  An abbreviation is not an acronym when you cannot pronounce it or it usually isn't pronouced (e.g. PCL, COD).