aaerobear

Per the title of the post, this was supposed to be about SF, the Grand left on the 13th just about on-time and is doing a 15day Hawaii trip. The ship boarded on-time about noon, there were also about 50+ BVE guests boarded @11:00AM.

A good idea is to bring some laundry pre-treater for grease stains and treat the garment before putting them in the bag. Have done that for years and the stains have always come out.

Seems Princess has now settled on 5pm in the Wheelhouse as the GLBT get together and it is published everyday. (at least it has been on out last 5 cruises) Our last cruise out of houston on the 5th of Apr had about 20+ at the gathering almost every night.

Give it a try, there were several singles in attendance who were with friends, and just very friendly.

Just off the Caribbean Princess on 4/12, bought the package on boarding and loved it. Best part was the 40% discount on all bottles of wine up to $100 at dinner. Saved a ton there. The only problem I encountered was that the bar staff would not pour a "medium" bloody mary which I always have and costs $7.XX with tax. I protested several times but was never successful, nor was anyone who ordered a double.

Also enjoyed the specialty coffees in the afternoon at the IC.

I just got back from the Island Princess panama canal cruise and we were able to purchase the regular ukp package before sailing, but I am unable to find the new unlimited beverage package listed in the gifts section yet, so I would say, NO, you can not buy it ahead of boarding. You can call and see if they will sell it to you.

If you are really curious about the all inclusive beverage packages, do some detective work on your own, ask your travel agent, go to the Princess web site, call Princess (for whatever that is worth), and get the real scoop. If you take the word of someone on here and it turns out to be wrong, you will be angry.

cavete emptor......nunquam est a se exposuit peritus

Thank you Waltd, seems nobody wants to actually READ the original post, they just want to add to the conversation with comments about a survey that has nothing to do with the one that was referred to in my original post.

I think that speedos look GREAT on anyone who feels they have the body to wear them. Yes, it is up to YOU. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, ESPECIALLY a woman. Just remember what atrocious outfits they parade around the pools wearing and then have the nerve to criticize men for wearing speedos.

I am not misogynist, but sure have definite feelings about being told what to wear and what not to wear by the opposite sex.

see my post just above yours, IT IS NOT THE SAME THING

Actually, I have never booked directly with Princess nor do I call the 800 number for answers to questions anymore as they are usually wrong in the answers they give out.

The actual survey I got was mostly about the 800 service and the web site. It was certainly NOT the one everyone gets just after a cruise.

Has anyone else gotten the Princess Online Survey which is mostly about how they handle passengers on the web and through the 800 number? It was really quite an in-depth survey.

I was VERY critical of the 800 reps and how uninformed they were. Also how they needed a lot more training to perform their jobs adequately.

How many also got the survey?

The dining room is considered one of the bars (go figure)

The best part of the ad is that it featured one of our favorite waiters from Blu, Billy Boy from Jamaica. He is awesome.

I think some of the replies are really funny. Rubbish drinks is the funniest, just what are rubbish drinks? The ones about not drinking that much alcohol are also a bit over the top as people tend to not read the entire menu of what you get (bottled water, juices, sodas, coffee drinks,mocktails, smoothies, fresh brewed coffee, Plus the alcohol drinks and wine) if you add up what you consume all day every day, you might be surprised. Look at your bill for your last cruise and see what your tab was. If it came to more than $350 for a 7 day cruise then you would be better off buying the package. Do the math, if it works for you, buy it, if it doesn't, don't.... so simple.

Caribill,

I did not say that was not ok, I said a DL only was not ok, the top of the e-ticket/boarding pass says you can use a DL(or other GOV issued ID) PLUS a birth certificate (but you have to have BOTH)

The ONLY things you really need at the check-in counter are the "filled out" health form and your passport. You may also present your e-ticket/boarding pass, but if you do not have it, it is not a big deal. If you have completely filled out the online personaliser,and accepted the electronic signature, you DO NOT need to show your credit card.

For Americans (US citizens I mean) you have to remember that cruises on the west coast to Hawaii make a stop in Mexico (and surprise, it is a foreign country) so if you have a passport, USE IT. To many people come with just a drivers license and think it is OK to board....it is NOT OK. Now,some people have been able to board with their drivers license after going through some hoops and filling out a federal declaration that states you may be liable to a $3000 fine if CBP deems it necessary. Take time to actually READ the top paragraph of the e-ticket/boarding pass COMPLETELY before leaving home. Do not pack your documents in your checked luggage, once it is taken into the baggage area it is almost impossible to retrieve it and you may not be able to board the ship.

Like the Boy Scouts say " Be Prepared"

Those of us who work check-in really hate to have to say no or to have to get someone from the ship to eventually say no to your boarding, so, please make sure you have the right documents at check-in, read everything you get from Princess (or any other cruise line you may be sailing) and your cruise will come off without a hitch.

Thanks,

Still have 30 more to go, but will make it in a few months. But still love to see all the men who choose to wear Speedos..

ED

Hi Mike,

Yes there will be one big group of us.

We are some of the others.

Jeff, Ed, Bob, Ken, Bron, Dan (representing San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington DC)

Looking for others onboard.

So far 2/28 Island Princess 15 day Panama Canal from Fort Liquordale to Los Angeles and 4/05 Caribbean Princess From Houston R/T to Cozumel, Roatan and Belize.

More in the planning stage, but nothing final yet

I have to say anyone Gay or Str8 can feel free to post on this subject and I applaud you for losing the weight and getting back into your speedo. I have just lost 102 pounds, down to 199, would love to wear a speedo, but have to do lots of toning up first (hard to do with a 70 yr old well used body, omg did I say that)

Anyway, I say "speedo away" and don't let ANYONE sway your choices in wardrobe.

AAero

The terminal is generally supposed to open at 1:00pm and, NO, there is no place to sit inside and wait (even it you are platinum or elite). Lining up outside the terminal is also not allowed as long as there are passengers still disembarking. The reason for this should be obvious as the sidewalks become very crowded with regular pedestrians and disembarking passengers with their luggage. City ordinances give us only so much space to block at any time.

When you arrive early you can most definitely leave your luggage with a porter and then head off to pier 39 or fishermans wharf to enjoy some tourist time. At the end of the terminal are places to sit and relax and when the terminal opens, someone fro the port staff with come and let you know that the terminal is open.

I have to laugh at the people that say the Princess drinks are "watered down" or "Less liquor" that Celebrity. Simply NOT TRUE!! Having sailed three times on Princess last year and three times on Celebrity as well, there is hardly any difference in the potency of the mixed drinks. Of, course sticking to Martinis which are 100% liquor there is no problem. I will say that Princess pours a bit larger Martini than Celebrity.

As to saying the "premium beverage package costs $80 dollars and you can't drink that much alcohol", you obviously do not understand the concept of the package. It includes all your soft drinks all day, all your bottled water all day, all your specialty coffees all day plus your wines and cocktails. You can also get bottled water to take off the ship with you for your day trips. So it is quite a bargain when it is all taken into consideration.

OK, to start, we are a couple in our 70's and we act like we are in our 40's sometimes (is that a second childhood?) anyway, we have sailed on all three Queens QM2,QV,QE and NEVER had anything even remotely homophobic happen from crew members of ANY race.

The only problem we had was from roadies who were traveling with (wait for it....) Rona Barret. Yeah, they had wheeled her out of retirement as a lecturer and her "staff" came to the Commadore Club and proceeded to bitch and complain about everything, the kicker was when they complained about all the "old farts" on board. LOL, Needless to say, they did not stay to long after that.

Not to be personal, but we have met several couples in our travels that have acted just like the OP and from day one we have made it a point to avoid them at all costs. Just plain miserable people that think they are better than any service person and want everyone to know they are better. But they aren't.

Imagine if it was a family and the dad and one of the kids were booked in one cabin and the mom and another child were in the other and the upgrade was given. You know the family booked it so mom and dad could have one room and the kids the other. Now what do they do? Have the kids stay on another deck or different side of the ship??? I don't think so.

Drydock was finished and the ship sailed (very late) from San Francisco on the 20th of Dec with a full load of passengers on a 15 day Hawaii cruise.