Westsail32

49 minutes ago, Honolulu Blue said:

I hear you.  I find the jog down the stairs much, much easier than going up.  I could do 20 flights down, no problem.  But after about 6 flights up the stairs (especially when I've come from off the ship), I find myself sucking wind and starting to wonder why I didn't take one of those pretty elevators.

I agree.  Returning to the ship on Deck 4 and climbing to Deck 8 is enough to leave me winded.  I have to stop and take breaks.  

Success!!!  My awesome Vacation Planner just contacted me.  My original cabin is back on my itinerary and I’m good to go.  Happy day!!!   
 

😃

I sent a polite email to my Vacation Planner.  Hopefully she will be able to fix it.  I noticed there are nine mini-suites available on Deck 8 that I will mention to her as alternatives if she can’t got my obstructed balcony back.  I never use the balcony anyway.  The cabin on 14 is the exact same layout as the one I had on eight.  I know their system might consider it an “upgrade” because of the unobstructed balcony, but for me it isn’t.

I’ve always mentioned I don’t want an upgrade when I book.  I find the cabin I want online and run to almost the end to get a price, then screenshot the cabin info and send that to the planner.  She actually does all the booking, then I pay online.

The reason I like Deck 8 is my health.  Since I spend nearly all my time on 5-7 I like being close.  More important though is it forces me to take the stairs (or at least encourages me too).  I’m almost 60, overweight, and diabetic.  Exercise is really important and I watch my diet, no deserts, etc.  I can manage three flights of stairs from 8-5 or 5-8 without feeling all out of breath.  But it’s a workout.  On the older ships I’d do two miles a day on the Promenade circling the ship from bow to stern..  On these new ships you can’t do that (the only thing I don’t like about the Royal Class).   The only cruise I’ve ever gained weight on was the one I was upgraded on to the way forward cabin.  
 

I sure hope they can fix it.

So today I received an email about an upgrade for my cruise this month.  I seem to recall never asking for one and I think I’ve selected no upgrades in the past on the website.  I’m always very particular about my cabin location as I like to stay on Deck 8 so I can take the stairs to decks 5-7 and the public areas.  I spend about 90% of my time on those decks.  I had booked an obstructed balcony (like usual).  I like sunlight but I could care less about looking out the window.

So they upgraded me to an unobstructed balcony on deck 14.  I’m kind of ticked off.  I emailed my Princess Cruise Planner (who is great).  I was wondering if anyone else has run into this and if they were able to get their original cabin back.

I’m so against upgrades because the first time it happened they put me in a mini-suite.  I thought “hey great”.  But the reality sucked.  It was way forward, a high deck, I had to use elevators non-stop, I hated it.  I vowed never to do it again.

I'm a big Crown Grill fan most cruises.  On departure day I always head to Alfredos because everyone else goes to the buffet.  I like Salty Dog on ships I've had it on.  Sabatinis I used to really like but I think I've just lost my taste for it.  If there is one thing I really miss it's the old Fish & Chips Pub Lunch they used to hold once a cruise.  Every cruise pre-Covid it was a must for me.  I haven't seen it since though.  

I'm going on Discovery next month for a CA Coastal.  Is this kind of a one off deal or a daily Crab Shack takeover of Salty Dog?  Thanks.

6 minutes ago, memoak said:

With plus I only pay the extra over $15 for glasses of wine and get 2 casual meals. I also thought the specialty dinners were 2 per cruise. You may want to check your math

With a Salty Dog on Discovery I’ll probably do a casual dining lunch daily.   I usually hit Alfredo’s at least four times a cruise.  I’m not a buffet person and the MDR lunches are hit and miss.  Forgot about the drink difference so I’ll adjust that.  With a Bistro Sur La Mer on Discovery I can see adding a couple dinners there too.  
 

2 Steakhouse Meals ($60)

1 Other Specialty Meal (like Sabatinis) ($30)

Upgrade Wi-Fi as I have multiple devices ($45)

Better Wine (1 per day x6 dinners) ($30)

3-4 Casual Dining Meals ($60)

Total - $225

Update:  I did just read that Princess made changes to the onboard military and shareholder credits.  They used to allow you to have both and they were refundable.  Now you can’t combine them and they’re not refundable.  Suddenly instead of having $200 in onboard credit I have $100.  In the past I’d usually get at least $100 back every cruise.  Now that’s gone.  

https://www.cruisehive.com/princess-cruises-makes-a-policy-change-on-benefits/104399#:~:text=It's also important to note,carried over to future cruises.

On a positive note the Carnival shares I bought have doubled in value.  May look at selling.  Either way not cruising a year has taught me something.  I need to read cruise news at least once a month so I know what’s going on.  

2 hours ago, memoak said:

You will then be paying $20 per day for a $15 meal unless you intend to eat all lunch and dinner meals in casual eateries and never go to the MDR

I figure $140 to upgrade.  Looking at my usual expenses on a seven day cruise:

2 Steakhouse Meals ($60)

1 Other Specialty Meal (like Sabatinis) ($30)

Upgrade Wi-Fi as I have multiple devices ($45)

Better Wine (1 per day x6 dinners) ($120)

3-4 Casual Dining Meals ($60)

Total - $300+

I usually buy one or two pictures each cruise.  I think they’re $20 each?  I’m not sure what they are charging for prints right now.  It gives three free prints and unlimited digital which is nice.  At least on this cruise I will visit Salty Dog several times.  

I usually have a few hundred in onboard credit but a lot of it is refundable.  

Just now, ldtr said:

Very strange.  If they ordered by App the charge goes to the account of the person who placed the order.  Nothing to do with the Medallion itself or anybody else in the area.  In that case the medallion is only used to get the location of where to deliver the food.

 

Also except for a couple of items  There was no charges for food or delivery.  The only charged for foo then was whole pizza or if they ordered from the specialty restaurant menu.  So drinks yes, but in most cases food no.

Because that event was the only one that first day where I was around people having food delivered I assume it was them.  Who really knows though.  I was very happy with the way it was resolved though.  Customer service was very good at Guest Services.

4 minutes ago, rosevew said:

And that's is what they want you to do ? Are you going to utilise it every day? If not, where is the value in upograding?

For myself it would probably be cost effective.  I utilize specialty dining 2x at least ($60), have a few more expensive drinks, casual dining 4-5x, and usually buy the extra Wi-Fi for four devices.  I think Premier is $20 a day more so $140 on my 7-day cruise.  I’m thinking I’d come out ahead.  It actually makes sense now whereas before when there was no upcharge for casual.  

I’m a huge fan of Ruby.  My favorite Princess ship (four cruises on her).  I did the Grand to Alaska out of San Francisco in 2016.  It was a good trip but there wasn’t a center stairwell above Deck 7 (so only 4-7).  It completely messed up my plans as I always stay on Emerald (Deck 8 ) so I can use the stairs to the 5-7 public areas.  It’s exercise.  This meant the midship elevators were always busy too. I hated it.  There was a thread last year about it.

Ruby was refurbished the end of 2018 and Grand in early 2019 so both may be a little tired.  Grand was built in 1998 and was the worlds largest cruise ship when launched.  Ruby was launched ten years later in 2008.  Ruby has a Salty Dog Gastropub that Grand doesn’t.  Grand does have an Alfredo’s Pizza that Ruby doesn’t (good pizza).  The big difference is capacity.  Ruby has an extra deck.  
 

All in all I’d easily book another cruise on Ruby.  It would have to be a really good deal for me to do the Grand again.  The missing center staircase was a big deal, but that’s just me.

(South Carolina?  I live in Palm Springs, CA now but moved here three years ago from Greenville).

I wasn’t aware of this until I booked last week and saw the casual dining 2x for Princess Plus.  I utilize it a lot and plan to call my vacation planner tomorrow to see if I can upgrade to premier.  

My cruise last year I had a few issues.  The first day I was at Crooners at a table.  The table next to me had five people who all received food from MedallionNet.  I ended up with all their food orders on my bill.  A couple days later I had a couple drinks show up I hadn’t ordered.  
 

Because part of my routine onboard is to visit the kiosk by Guest Services to print out a daily summary I caught these right away.  I went to guest services both times and they resolved it without trouble.  Being nice and polite definitely helps too.  

46 minutes ago, Old Fart Cruisers said:

 

I assume this won't be going in the family's vacation photo album. 

 

I really feel sorry for his family.  Does anyone know if any family members were traveling with him? 

One article I read said he was released to his wife... however it didn't say if she was on the cruise or not.  Given the location of the bathroom it's obvious he was trying to film people changing clothes and he had to know there would be kids there.  I hope he enjoys spending the rest of his life on the sex offender registry.  I Googled "Florida Offender Registry Crimes" and "Video Voyeurism of a Minor" is on the list.  

There is a YouTube poster who does pretty good cruise line reviews.  Tips for Travellers.  In September he did one on Princess and some of the changes.  I think he makes a lot of good points.

14 hours ago, Pam in CA said:

I’ve taken five cruises in the past year. 
 

On all of them, I selected a time, dining room and pro care table for two and reserved it for the whole cruise. 
 

Recently disembarked the Sapphire on a 10-day cruise and had the same experience as the Grand: same table and waitstaff every night, even when we changed our dining time some nights.

 

I left the Sapphire last month on a ten-day Sea of Cortez cruise (maybe the same one?).  They were very happy to grant my request for the same table and wait staff.  

 

15 hours ago, memoak said:

There is no “traditional” dining on Princess. It sounds like you made arrangements on board. This may not be possible on all cruises

By "Traditional" I mean picking a set time each night in the dining room.  You can select your dining time and table size options prior to the cruise in the app. 

The term "Traditional Dining" is the same as described in this cruise critic article.

https://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?ID=648

I had always used open dining until my cruise last month. With Covid I decided I wanted a solo table.  Last cruise I picked a set time traditional dining which I’d never done before.  The first night I approached the manager to ask I’d I could have the same table every night.  It was GREAT.  Same servers, same staff, being greated by name, being able to just walk to my table without problem.  I loved it.  I’m never going back to open dining.

I have to admit.  On the ten-day Sapphire I took last month the beds weren’t up to the usual great standard.  I’m on Discovery in a few weeks and I’m hoping they are back to normal.

I was on the Sapphire last month for a ten-day.  I stumbled on the egg drop one day (I’d never seen it).  It was hysterical.  Some of the ones you’d never thought would survive did.  I ended up spending and hour there.  It was fun.

I've still got my old holder (with the nice flag on it) so I'm using that one.  I do put a piece of tape on the bottom just in case.  

I prefer Deck 8 mid-aft.  It's close to both the midship elevators, I spend most of my time at Crooners, and it's closer to the laundry.  Once I accepted an upgrade and I ended up on deck 12 way forward.  I hated it.  It was a hike everywhere, I couldn't take the stairs (I normally do from 8 for exercise) and there was no laundry in sight.  After that I've always said "no upgrades".

My Princess Rep called me last week to tell me the cruise was still on and that there was NOT a test required if I was fully vaccinated.  The way I read it I believe if you're fully vaccinated (with at least one booster) you do NOT need a pre-cruise test.  If you're not vaccinated you need a medical exemption.

As far as requiring the test when fully vaccinated it appears to only apply to the longer cruises on the Enhanced Guidelines Voyages list.

I will say to err on the side of caution, even with being vaccinated and boosted twice,  I'm getting my Covid PCR test tomorrow at Walgreens.  I'll have it with me just in case.  Murphy's Law and all....  

4 hours ago, Wildcatllamas said:

I so hear you on this. Yesterday I was checking my business credit card and here were charges from Princess. Two for $29, one for $58 and then a $29 credit. So I called and of course spent a huge amount of time explaining and reexplaining what I was seeing. 

 

I usually book a table thru the app for the MDR then book the specialty restaurants on board.  Mainly because booking on board they charge the room and I can use the onboard credit for it.  When I booked in advance the first time they hit up my credit card which I didn't like.  

This happened on my last cruise (late last year).  I kept remaking them and they'd vanish.  Four days until I leave on Sapphire and my current reservation is still showing up so I'm hopeful.  This time I booked a private table at 5pm (due to Covid).  I usually don't mind sitting with a group but this time I'm playing it safe.