Papa Yoda

C750 balcony is shallower with two beams - definitely inferior to D738/739 deeper with one beam.  Both are covered.  We've stayed in both on similar ships.  Recommend D738.  We're in D739 on Sapphire next week.

Kinda dumb, the old app showed the no charge on the last page, the new one charges your card -- I never let it sit long enough to show a credit I guess, I cancel as soon as the charge shows up.  Seems a waste for them, to do it that way especially without a note saying that's what they're doing - typical Princess shenanigans,  We usually go to Sabatinis so we stop in there on our embarkation walkaround and see the person at the desk, could do the same at the other one.. 

On some of our Medallion cruises, the machine would log us out and bank our funds if the Medallion was "too far away" from the machine - even while we were sitting there.  While we do make sure to bank any money before leaving, I suppose based on experience if you just get up and walk away the machine will log you off and bank your money.  I may try it with a small amount left.

On 2/13/2024 at 3:11 PM, DShock said:

Pinnacle RCCL cruisers but this itinerary was perfect. So we just booked this one.  Always wanted to see this part of the world but at this point in life we absolutely hate long flights.  So this one is perfect.

We will need to figure out all the new Princess Medallion stuff but have time to do so.  One of the things we love about Royal is their Coastal Kitchen.  Anything like that on Grand?  Is there a Roll Call for this cruise?

Check out Sabatini's

Menu is on Princess website

My biggest issue with pre-ordering Medallions is getting my picture to come out right, too many times I wind up looking like Charlie Manson or with an "up the nose" selfie....

Right, not routers or repeaters.  Cisco Aironet Access Points are in some cabins (suites especially - behind the TV) and on the ceilings of passageways.  As noted they are white boxes some with a blue light on (hopefully).  They home back to ethernet switches in the electrical closets.

There are none on cabin balconies.

We hit about $400 with Premier just by opening our cabin door.  One hit was $250. 15 day Hawaii cruise a year ago.  And we do appreciate the better wines...Sadly, Fortuna Luck didn't give us the 5 grand, or a free cruise, or even $100K at the end of cruise drawing.

29 minutes ago, victory2020 said:

Thank you so much for these great pictures! Helps me make my decision

That is a picture of the balcony of an aft Vista Suite - on Sapphire that would be a picture of D738.  The D741 pic is correct.

ETA - we've stayed in the equivalent to D741 on other Grands and it does have a queen bed or 2 twins.  

13 minutes ago, jagoffee said:

 

I thought the same thing.  (Like Apple Pay) but the above post makes it seem otherwise.  

I believe you are right - the 3rd party is this Radiqal LLC outfit.  At least CC info is going to them and not every merchant out there. 

This thread: 

I haven't read the whole thread, but I'd figure that PCL is acting as a Credit Card clearing house / transaction processor, no CC numbers or PII are given out to merchants.  They charge shoreside merchants a transaction fee.  The only way they could do that was if they were processing the transactions themselves, not your CC company.

ETA:  Shoreside Medallion charges go to your onboard account, not your CC.

15 hours ago, Thrak said:

... The next 5 segments of the cruise are all in AUD and I don't want Princess adjusting my money to AUD. I will take it out via the casino before the end of the first segment.

I think you have to cash out your Casino account at the end of each segment if they are booked as separate cruises and not a single cruise, Casino accounts don't carry over (at least they didn't) like shipboard accounts. 

Or did you mean to clear any OBC / credits?

I tend to cash out every time I play if the cage is open.

1 hour ago, pugbeary said:

Sounds like it will be fun!!!   Maybe it will become a regular thing for me😀

... except for the hostess Fortuna Luck: 

2 hours ago, TCTXCruiser said:

Do you know if the room service dinner menu includes the special items in the MDR on formal nights too?  

Yes - any MDR menu item.  

We won just under $500 on "door prizes" on Sapphire last December, so the premier package (sort of) paid for itself with OBC.

C'mon, it's a 20th anniversary cruise, even if you think it's a waste, the experience is once in a lifetime for them.  Or have them try for Chef's Table (another one of a kind experience), < $100 each including wine!

Knowing and being parents, the all cash idea is likely to result in them not spending it.  Buy them a couples massage or something they would never consider buying for themselves.

We trade out spirits for vodka and gin. Beer for anything other than two Xes. Still have a few dozen Sky vodkas

On 3/8/2023 at 10:38 AM, JimmyVWine said:

I'm not sure what a "leftover guide" is.  The companies that are being used all have multiple guides.  It's impossible to predict if the person assigned to "Tour #2" is going to be better than the guide who is assigned to "Tour #4".  It's not like the tour companies are pulling people out of line at the unemployment office.  Maybe the "best guide" was scheduled for an off day that day, but pulled back into service because of the need for all hands on deck.  

True story:  we were waiting on line for an excursion on Maui (Road to Hana).  We got into an elbowing match with this couple who insisted "they were there first".  Upshot:  we got a van with a smaller group and a better guide,  So don't let karma get in your way, be cool and hang loose!

We're signed up for the Tracy Arm excursion and Hump Island Oyster Farm (Ketchikan).  Our Tracy Arm excursion in 2017 was redirected to Endicott Arm due to ice in TA (late May).  We enjoyed the excursion and had a great time anyway.

Did Hump Island in 2019 and loved it. Small family run Oyster farm partnered with a kelp farmer - the best Oysters and a good time at the touch tank -- DW likes to grab the sea cucumber.  Helped them pull star fish off the oysters in a cage that had got dropped.  2019 was the first season for this tour. If you appreciate oysters this is a great tour.

If it's offered on your cruise: we really enjoyed the Hump Island Oyster Farm excursion in Ketchikan.  It's pretty new.  A neat family run Oyster and Kelp farm.

Adelsheim Pinot Gris

Belle Clos Pinot Noir

I ask servers for a "good" wine glass and they go to Vines and get one, true on 2 ships since restart (Grand and Sapphire).

One note regarding access in Explorers, try to use the port side entrance just aft of the elevator banks, you can get to a table much easier than going up the ramp by the bar.  Same for Club Fusion, enter port side.

Would they be able to carry/drag it just through security?  You carry it to there, then they own it though the wine check - if any, then once it is in the boarding area, you can carry it on the ship for them.  I'd be happy to do it for them - wink wink nudge nudge. Or would they trust you that much?

I.e. no one cares if the wine was carried by them from end to end, only though the checkpoint..

9 hours ago, Ken the cruiser said:

Good to know. The Caribe VS balconies do look a little shallow. We'll focus on the ones on the Dolphin deck. Thanks!

 

 

NP!  We have spent a few days in Dolphin VS and love them.