2 cruises a year

I agree completely. But reading this forum, most posters seem to believe that they represent 99% of cruisers. 🙂

But not the same Medallion. You need both the Medallion and birth date tied to that Medallion. If you lose your Medallion, and someone found it, unless they know that it is yours, and know your birth date, they can't abuse it.

It took some doing. Under FAQ and Onboard Experience It really is pretty fair in my opinion. For example, It keeps the poor bartender at the least popular bar from feeling bitter (somewhat). It balances between popular busy cruises and less busy (profitable) cruises. Everyone can't work the busy cruises and bars. This spreads the pain and keeps crew from moving on. Spread this thought to all other "TIP" dependent jobs. The crew know what they signed up for and how it works. They keep coming back, so it can't be all bad. All of the Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments made by all guests on all ships in our fleet are pooled, net of credit card transaction fees. The pooled funds are distributed throughout the year in the form of compensation, including bonuses, to crewmembers fleetwide who interact directly with guests and/or behind the scenes throughout every cruise, including those in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas.

Pong, Frogger?

There's a Blast from the past. Talk about the Good Old Days. That was a great ship!

Great point! I like it. I never thought about that. The only time, before now, that I was concerned about which side is Tran-Ocean (east to west, or west to East) sailings. POSH is the sunny side for that trip. For north/south sailings through the tropics, POSH is the cooler side.

You don't have to choose a package. Anything you like can be selected individually.

I haven't read through this whole thread AGAIN. This has been discussed ad infinitum. First of all, in life tips don't go directly to who ever you are tipping. This includes restaurants, bars coffee shops, what ever. It always goes into a pool that includes who served you, the dishwasher, the buss boy, bar-back, the salad maker, who ever. Princess is no different. They pool the Gratuities, and divy them out. They tell you this, it isn't a secret. But withholding Gratuities cheats everyone. Divying them out as you see fit is bucking the system and doesn't accomplish anything. They have to turn your tip in to the pool if you don't contribute to the pool with the daily Gratuities. Don't try to tempt them to keep it for themselves, they will only get into trouble. It is not worth it to them. If you do pay the daily Gratuities and tip them, they can keep the extra above the daily Gratuity. Maybe it is a shell game, but so what, the crew has to be paid, and you are going to pay them, one way or another. AND LASTLY, the crew knows better than we do, what they signed up for. It is none of our business how, or how much they get paid. Do you sit down at the bar and ask the person next to you how much money they make?

Your point of specifically trained staff is an excellent idea, and well taken. But I would like to extend Kudos to the crew doing this these days. They do a damn fine job at this without any special training. Their care and compassion is second to none.

I'd say that we are both fans of Grand class ships. 6 out of 7 on your list are Grand class features.

7 out of 7. Great start.

Wrap around Promanade Deck. Completely, not partially, not mostly.

Personally, I book ahead. It is one less thing to worry about.

I have a feeling that by now Mark_K has slapped his forehead and said "Oh, now I get it" 🙃🙃

To the credit of the crew, I don't think it would make any difference at all. In my experience, Princess crew treat every passenger, from inside cabin to suite, many days at sea to first time cruiser, like you are their best, most favorite guest. This is how they really feel. They will not be better or worse from the prior cruise.

Yes 10 years is arbitrary, the State Department can chose whatever time the want, but your passport is good for 10 years, no if's ands or but's You do get your moneys worth. It is other countries that arbitrarily require the 6 month rule. It is not practical for the State Department to try to satisfy the requirements every other country in the world. It is up to the traveler to follow the requirements of the country they are traveling to. As far as the U.S. is concerned, your passport is good for 10 years when in the U.S., and leaving or returning to the U.S.

I can't find it now, but it has always been my understanding that if you book a four passenger cabin it is with the understanding that Princess can move you IF they need it for four passengers. A more extreme, and unlikely scenario is that you can book a handicap cabin if you so choose, even if you are not disabled, with the understanding that IF Princess needs the cabin for a disabled passenger, you can be moved.

@cnice515 They just can't help themselves. And they don't bother to read all of the posts.

I'm glad that you took that well, CC posters can be pretty nit-picky. 😉

Well said. And just as relevant, a different culture. They are all trying to do their best. There isn't any way that they can know and cater to every language and culture on board. That is part of the fun of travel, experiencing different languages and cultures.

I agree, you can't make this stuff up. Reality is greater that fiction. Any other expressions anyone would like to add?

Love it. It is easier to get forgiveness, than permission.

Beat me to it. My door decorations have saved me from trying to enter the wrong room more than once. (Seriously, I've knocked on the right door, wrong deck before. Luckily no one was home. I finally figured it out) 😉

This is a fairly common "fire" safety issue. Just more fuel if there happens to be a fire. Christmas trees in public spaces have some pretty strict regulations. Also, and I know that I'll get a lot of blow-back on this, but lights, and cheap paper decorations are possible fire hazards. I'm as disappointed as everyone else, I had battery operated lights and non-flammable magnetic door decorations for every holiday.

It really depends on how that 9 sq. feet happens. One example, in my opinion, an extra foot along a 9 foot wall would be nice.