Willwils

Yes! While we've been on about 10 cruises. On our 15 day Emerald Princess Panama Canal earlier this year we ordered the bottled water package in advance for the first time. It was cheap at about only $7.00 for about 10 bottles, and glad we got it. It was delivered to our cabin the day after embarkation. Of course  we had a good  refrigerator  in our cabin to keep it cool and took some with us on some excursions. We could also get free ice on request from our steward. 

I had symptoms of what turned out to be Covid Feb. 6, on my way home from Emerald Princess Panama  cruise. It's been nasty even though I was vaccinated. At start of cruise I would wear a mask if more than 4  people on an elevator as well as in the full theatre. I was certainly in the minority. Wife and I are sorry we didn't  continue  with that policy. This even though some people would give me dirty looks. Far too many people would overcrowd elevators, even when I made comments that the elevator was full, they insisted on piling in! There were no signs of any encouragement on the FULL ship to avoid disease except for sign to use paper towel to touch door know when exiting public bathroom. I think only the first day there was an attendent by the wash station entering the buffet only. Since Covid started we've been on the Majestic Princess(full proof of vaccinations and negative testing and only 60% full), and Harmony of the Seas(at least 1/2 of one deck set aside for possible quarantine). I understand that many other passengers on our Emerald cruise came home with covid per Facebook posts. If cruise lines cared about passengers they wouldn't be FULL and require some precautions. 

I found this to be a mostly wonderfully cruise with fabulous entertainment  and games galore. Balcony cabin near needed laundromat was fine. Dining room food was mostly good for dinners, but most of the large varieties at the buffet was slop! Wish was more American varieties. But biggest complaint was lack of another port stop, given they canceled Nicaragua, meaningful many sea days! 

We just got off of the Emerald for the 1/22/24-2/6/24 full transit Panama cruise. Found the balcony cabin on Baja deck to be fine with very little issues of being dated or worn out. That's  except for lack of any usb outlets, but we're prepared for that from other posts and had necessary adapter. From Amazon...  

https://a.co/d/gCfLPq0

however adapter, like this one, can't have a surge protector(some Princess ships will confiscate if surge protector as it messes up the ship's electr system). 

While the Fusion & Explorer lounges for the many many great games were adequate, the Piaza was too small. 

On 1/9/2024 at 1:39 PM, mrell345 said:

Forgot to mention dress code in MDR. For our cruise and in the Davinci dining room there didnt seem to be any enforced dress code.  Formal nights they were letting in people with T shirts, baseball caps and jeans.

Yes, I noticed that also. It's  a shame it's not enforced, but same issue on several RCL ships.

On 2/5/2024 at 5:13 AM, mrell345 said:

They have apparently been disappearing on all the ships

The cigar smoking next to a bar on outside  deck near a pool was disgusting. 

10 minutes ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Not true...just use the "old" app.  I will not supply that info for the same reason as you give...but then in reality how is it any different from giving Princess your CC info for the cruise itself?  It's all being "handled" by the same people.  Your info does NOT go to any shoreside locations (other than Princess.)  Princess is doing all of the "middleman" work, so there is no need for your info to go any further than a different Princess system.  You *really are not increasing your risk factor by supplying it.  The firm most often mentioned as getting that info is Radiqal (I think I spelled it right...IDK) and they are "getting" it anyway since they were the firm behind the old app.

Oh my, thanks for the reply..

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

I started following this thread *way* back when it first started...and to be honest was simply going to pass on any comment.  I've since basically ignored it. but after seeing the thread grow as much as it has I thought I might weigh in.

 

I'm probably going to mention a couple of points that will be somewhat unpopular.  So be it.  It's just an opinion and may very well not even be worth the proverbial 2 cents!

 

1) The beginning of the thread somewhat focused on the exorbitant rates that Princess charges the on-shore vendors to participate...as if it is being forced upon them or is a complete surprise.  This simply is not true.  These vendors know *exactly* what they're signing up for.  Sure, it might be a bit of a hit to the bottom line of their sale...but they know this going in.

 

2) Choosing not to participate may very well be depriving said merchant of revenue from a sale.  Consider this (and it's not such a crazy scenario given all of the "sky is falling" warnings about what you should or should not take on shore with you.)  There may very well be someone who has become *so* paranoid about what to take that they may take perhaps $10 in cash and leave their credit cards in the safe.  After all, we've all read the bad stories about travelers who have either lost their bags, wallet, valuables...whatever on shore to unscrupulous people, so they opt to take practically nothing with them.  (It's possible...admit it.)  Then, once on shore they find that absolutely wonderful, "gotta have it" souvenir for their neighbor (or whoever...)  Well, the only thing they have in their pocket that *might* make the sale a possibility...is their medallion!  They are faced with a choice...do I use the medallion to pay for this item...or pass on the sale altogether, depriving the merchant of *any* revenue at all (even though it is a reduced revenue?)  I can't help but feel that if the merchant were asked...he/she would *gladly* accept the medallion sale.  After all, some revenue is better than none!

 

On a personal note...no, I would never opt to make a sale using such a system.  That's both mine and your personal right to choose.

 

The bottom line...if the merchant *wants* to be included in such an arrangement, who are we to say that they should not because "we don't think it's right?"

 

I hear what you are saying. But, my issue is Princess won't let you have the "Green Lane" for Ocean Ready to complete your check-in unless you supply credit card for BOTH on board and shoreside. purchases(listed separately). I've never had the issue with on-board but didn't want that 3rd party having my credit card information just in case I wanted to use the Medallion to make a shoreside purchase(which I would't do).

The new Medallion Princess app would not give us a green lane for check-in without providing a credit card also for shoreside purchases.  I'm not very trusting not knowing how a 3rd or 4th party is handling my credit card, but entered that info anyway. Probably just wouldn't use it. But, question whether it's charged in the U.S. or the foreign country where the purchase is made. That, since the foreign purchase would have additional fees for some credit cards. Anyone out there with this experience?

Does anyone know of any issues with power strips(non-surge) being confiscated on Emerald  Princess like I've read on Other Princess ships? 

We are going on Emerald Princess Panama Canal cruise from. Ft.Lauderdale soon. I haven't seen any CC postings about Power Strips, etc  for that ship. Does anyone know if we should have any concerns for that ship. Between the two of us would need to recharge 2 phones, iPad, 2 watches, hearing aids, etc.  My wife says no one knows of any issues on Facebook and they don't  know why she should  ask. To try and avoid any issues with a corded multi outlet, I ordered this non-surge protector adapter from Amazon & hope it works and doesn't get confiscated......

https://a.co/d/8TvyVs7 

18 minutes ago, Willwils said:

 

Thanks for all your great postings. I'm surprised to see the $2.00 charge for regular, non-specialty coffee @ International cafe. My recollection was they were free on the Majestic Princess in Summer 2022. Most all my other cruises were RCL ships where their version it was also free. 

On 12/24/2023 at 5:14 AM, mrell345 said:

International café Price list

3 hours ago, Bruin Steve said:

12:55 no problem...If you're nervous, ask for an earlier disembarkation time, you won't have to wheel off your own luggage unless you want to...Uber/Lyft would be my choice...Don't sit there while Princess fills up buses...Uber/Lyft will cost less and be easier/more efficient...Feb 6 is a Tuesday...but, even with a little rush hour traffic, you should have ample time...and your driver will know how to get around any blockages and can drop you off right at your terminal.

 

Bruin Steve... Thanks for that great disembarking to LAX info. 

We disembark Emerald Princess in LA cruise port, San Pedro, Feb 6, 2024 and need to get LAX  flight @  12:55 PM as currently scheduled. Would we need to walk off ship with our luggage to make that flight? Also, should we just get an UBER or find out about shuttles or Princess  transfer? 

We have a full passage booked on Emerald Princess for January '24. Sure hope Fuerte Amadore/Panama City stop doesn't get canceled. This especially since they already canceled  Nicaragua. Many sea days for this 15 day cruise! 

We will be on The Emerald Princess for a full Panama Canal transit starting 1/22/24 in Ft Lauderdale. We will be docking for excursions etc. in Fuerte Amador.  Had a hard time finding this thread so we booked the Princess excursion "Best of Fuerte Amador- Colonial Panama & Mirafloras Locks Observation Center" . Has anyone ever done that excursion? Any recommendations pro or con? We have time to cancel and re-book if necessary. BTW, some of the tours for the rainforest and Gatun Lake take 1+ hours just to get there by their bus. 

According to the Princess website they still offer Sabatini's Italian restaurant. But that's an extra cost "Specialty Dining"  If that's not available that's  false advertising. But, I must assume  "Slice" pizza is still available. But, that's  different  from the sit down Alfredos we had on the Majestic last year, which didn't  have the Crab Shack. 

Well, does that mean you can't get a slice or 2 of plan cheese pizza for free? That's supposed to be available @ "Slice" pizza on the top deck per Princess web. We're not the gourmet or spicy type. 

On 6/20/2023 at 9:56 AM, cruiserdf said:

Has anyone been using Yahoo email with the StarLink internet service.  My last experience on the Discovery was it seemed to be blocking Yahoo email.

Why block Yahoo mail?  Wife and I use Yahoo email mainly. We'll be on Emerald Princess in Jan'24. If that's the case for then getting wifi will be a dissapoinment and be a waste of money. 

1 minute ago, snoozecrooze said:

This thread is pretty dormant now. Follow the attached thread for updated Starlink data: 

Thanks for the updates 

Hoping Princess gets the WiFi and hopefully Starlink, etc fixed in time for my Jan'24 Emerald cruise through Panama  Canal. On our Majestic in Alaska last summer the Medalion & WiFi was very spotty, intermittent and slow. I mainly want for email, wifi calling, checking weather and travel sites on internet. Absolutely  no need for streaming movies. 

Thanks for the replies. If in fact, as others have commented, I can use my OBC(supplied as bonus from travel agent + Princess) for crew appreciation(gratuities), then we'll be happy. That way we can pre-order excursions, etc. with our money. This since there have been other cruises where we've been disappointed by waiting until we got on-board to find excursions sold out.

I now realize why I thought  OBC couldn't be used towards the crew appreciation or gratuities. That's  because another Princess page pre-selling OBC stated as per ATTACHED.  To be sure I'm waiting  for an email reply from my travel agent. A question to Princess  web chat went unanswered as session was timed out .

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

 

 

The poster was talking about contributing additional cash to the tip pool at the end of the voyage using left over OBC balance on account (they already paid the daily Crew Appreciation). 

 

I am not sure if this is possible or not.  Anyone know?  You can always ask GS desk.

Thanks for the replies.  Well, I hope I was wrong & can use OBC from my travel agent & Princess booking deals. That since I now read the following when logged-in to my Princess cruise.......

"Onboard Credits are essentially onboard spending money that is applied to your shipboard folio. At the end of your cruise, these credits are applied to your final balance due. You may receive these credits as a result of a special promotion from Princess or your travel agent."