hobbyfarmer2

A very large person cut into the line and pulled a few extra strips of bacon straight from the pan with their fingers last year on the Regal.  The bacon was for the spouse.  The man behind the baconist raised his voice saying "....you gotta be kidding..." (some words deleted).  A woman a couple back defended the baconist saying it was OK with her as she loved thick bacon sandwiches.  Makes us want to avoid the buffet as much as possible - too risky.

DW and I were on Sky for the Nov TA.  Every night there was music at at least 4-5 venues from Vista Lounge, Princess Live, Take 5, Wheelhouse and the Piazza.

Do not know if this has been mentioned it but the Plus fares include grats which means that grats are part of the fare price along with WiFi and PBP.  This is a great move by Princess as people will not have to go down to the customer desk and get in line in order to (sic) remove the grats from their cruise.  A big time saver for them.

We have always treated grats as part of crew pay and are happy to see them included in this fare.  Thanks, Princess.

18 hours ago, Thrak said:

 

No. They always have disclaimers about not being combined with other offers. Your OBC is not another "offer". They are talking about other types of bookings with special types of fares that likely won't affect 99% of all cruisers. They "may" not allow combining it with Casino offers as well. Your Shareholder OBC, Military OBC, and FCD OBC won't be affected.

Thanks Thrak.  Many posters are "awful-izing" what appears to be just another choice.

We really like this idea from Princess.  As Canadians, the PBP costs almost $90 CAD per day per person.  Grats and WiFi come to a little over $32 per day each.  The decision to buy will, of course, depend on what Princess charges.

We sometimes book with a TA that offers a 3 day sale in June that includes grats and PBP as well as a modest amount of OBC, usually about $50 or so.  Most often we book direct with Princess and then shop around for the best TA transfer we can find.  Lately the winner has often been a big box store that is giving us almost 8% in OBC or a shop card plus an extra 3% by using their branded executive member credit card.

At the end of the day, using a TA or not depends on what one is comfortable with and what is important to one.

41 minutes ago, yvr49 said:

We have $400 in OBC: $250 from shareholders and $75 each from future cruise deposit.  The way it is assigned is $325 for me and $75 for my husband.  I want to use most of it for Princess excursions.  When I went to book online for an excursion costing $240 for 2 of us, it was charged thus:  $120 for me, $75 for hubby and a credit card charge to his account for $45.  Rather than having to pay extra we would prefer to use my remaining OBC to cover his $45.  Is there a way to do that with online booking or must we wait until we are onboard?  Or can I do it with a phone call to Princess?  TIA for your help.

Does not really matter unless the $45 charge is an issue.  Your cabin account will be setup when you board and all charges and credits will be freshly posted.  Non refundable OBC will be drained first, followed by refundable.  The excursion payments will be part of the drain.  Any refundable leftover, including the $45, will be returned to you.

17 hours ago, PE Cruisers said:

Hello, We're Elite and bringing our friends who are first time cruisers with us on the Regal in March. Can they board and get on the tender with us instead of having to wait.

The ethical thing to do is to get in the line with the non elites if you wish to tender together.

Excursions booked online will use OBC if the specific passenger has some available.   We have paid for excursions by cc or PayPal sometimes before we received our OBC but it really does not matter.  Your account is created on embarkation day and all debits/charges and credits are posted anew, including excursions.  The charges will drain non refundable OBC before refundable OBC is used.  Any leftover refundable OBC will be returned to you with small amounts refunded at the passenger desk, larger amount by check after disembarking.

1 minute ago, hokiefans said:

 

Agreed.  When the exchange rate was more favorable, we would have some in both currencies so that I could take advantage of the best deal.  Now, we buy them in CAD dollars.  I go to the Desk to buy them in person with our CAD dollar card as they want to see the card, while my onboard account is connected to our US dollar card.  It may take a little time but I would rather that than the conversion with all of the "extra" charges involved in that.  

If you buy your FCDs in $CAD, you will be charged in $CAD with no conversion charge.

1 hour ago, Been There, Planning That said:

We cannot get a solid answer.  We've never made a future cruise deposit, but have decided to make our first.  On board we use our American dollar Visa.  We book cruises in Canadian currency.

 

Is it best to make the future deposit in USD when onboard to avoid conversion fees?  How would this translate when booking in Canadian currency later?

 

If made in CAD currency while on board, I assume Princess would convert this to US before adding to our card?

 

We just need the voice of experience please.  

 

With thanks to those with more financial wisdom,

 

Ruth

 

 

Canadian as well and have purchased many, many FCDs.  Purchase your FCDs onboard in Canadian dollars.   The option is on the form.  Your booked cruises will also be in $CAD.  You can use your FCDs when booking as a deposit or later before cruising to reduce payment.  Both will get you the appropriate OBC.

Sailed on both including a 21 day b2b TA on Sky in Nov.  They are both great ships but different as well.  The Sky has no wrap around promenade but subs with a nice walking/jogging track on deck 18.  Not the same if you are really particular but the higher vantage does have a great view.

9 hours ago, dns65 said:

 

OK, since you've been following this every day, you are up to speed on how they plan to continue to do business without exposing future customers to Coronavirus.    Explain to me details around how they will handle my situation and what is going to happen based on what they have posted 

I am scheduled to depart Hong Kong on May 10th on an 8 day cruise ending in Singapore.  But if you have been in Hong Kong at any point in the 14 days prior to your cruise, you will be denied boarding.

How do I board my cruise departing from Hong Kong if I can't be in Hong Kong?   Please go re-read what Princess has posted and explain to me how this is all going to work.   

 

They themselves don't have an answer so I am not sure they really know how to handle the situation and are overwhelmed by the Diamond quarantine.  

Thanks in advance

I think the previous post answered the question quite well.  No one can predict the future.  We can, however, react quickly to the latest news and attempt to make good decisions.  

3 hours ago, Loritd said:

It is 60 days from date of booking and before final payment.  It is also slow.  Last month our request took a week from the time our travel agent faxed the form to confirmation.  

I had to send our last transfer in twice.

3 hours ago, sunbrookgal said:

Ok, Plan B. you have a ship with close to 4000 isolated from the rest of the world. Right now when I go to the official web page I get Drinks, Wi-Fi & Gratuities included. Sorry but and however. Its time to let all informed. Princess please,,, No I am not dissing you. I am clear your lack or response to the Aisa issues needs a focus you are not doing today. Your operation is not at issue. Your team back at corporate, safe from the drama seems lacking of compassion. Probably me. However,, wake up ,,,, You can do better. Marketing Team saying nothing is your position? Ok,, Thanks,,, 🙂 

Don't really understand your post.  I read the latest update on the Princess website everyday.  It is really easy to find.  Give it a try.

We booked a shared van shuttle from central Rome to the pier last Nov with smartcruisetours.com .  The total cost for both of us was 80 euros, 15 upfront, remainder at end of trip.  They picked us up at hotel front door at 1020 hrs.  We were at the pier by 1140 hrs.  There were six other people in the van with us aside from the driver.  Recommended, would use them again in a heartbeat.

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore.

22 hours ago, seachelt said:

I bought a $1000. gift card using my Amex. It was emailed to me promptly along with my $50. bonus card.

Today I checked my Amex bill and the $1000. had been converted to US $ for a cost to me of $1364.68.

My husband had a bit better luck, his Visa charged him $1359.42 for his $1000. gift card.

Other Canadians who took advantage of this offer experienced the same thing? Princess will automatically 

credit us with $US1000. when we use these gift cards?

Thank you!

Looks like AMEX may have charged 2.5% additional currency conversion fee on top of exchange.  You only gain $25, not $50 if this is the case. Still not bad.

21 hours ago, ghstudio said:

Very self explanatory controller.....one of those buttons is the ejection seat.....another plays the star spangled banner so you have to get up......and a couple are for when you go as a couple.

 

 

Do any of the buttons provide for a happy ending?

10 minutes ago, gullgeorge said:

Sailed on Regal Princess 2/1 eastern Caribbean.  Last on ship in November, NY to Ft. Lauderdale.  Not many changes even with the short dry-dock.  The only noticeable change was improved internet and now the cabin unlocks as you approach (we had the same cabin on the last sailing and you had to get your medallion up real close to unlock.)

There is a lot of construction around Terminal 2/4, so allow extra time. There are only two elevators in the parking garage and with a ship at both terminal 2 and 4, the lines can be very long (30 minutes+ on the return).

 

Arrived at 10:15 to platinum lounge and it was already full (there were some single seats but they were occupied with luggage).  Plenty of coffee and pastries still available but will need to sit in the overflow area. Boarding started at 10:40 and on the ship about 10 minutes later (Princess person was holding everybody in the overflow area until the entire Platinum lounge was cleared even though people were coming up the elevator and getting right on the ship.  Not a big deal but the Princess person was a little abrasive about the process.)

 

Deck chairs on sea days were 95% occupied by 8:30 am even though only about 10% had people in the chairs.  Early Saturday afternoon there were plenty of chairs after a rain shower came thorough.  Hot tubs seem to be closed more often than on other cruises.  At no time were they all open and many times, there were less than half-open.  One day they were all closed most of the day.

 

Food was good and not many changes on that subject over the past few years.  Will be going back on 3/1 for a back to back, so will let everybody know if there are any changes.

Chair hogs are a PITA.

11 hours ago, GJCruiser said:

No.

Thought so.  I have pre-paid through the Personalizer a couple of times in the past in order to avoid a price increase and pretty sure I remember they asked for credit card or PayPal.

18 minutes ago, FloridaBeachGal said:

Gratuities can be paid for with OBC.

Yes, during the cruise.  Can grats be paid for with OBC before the cruise?  Did not realize that.

46 minutes ago, BIG TIME CRUISER said:

Ask you cabin steward for bar soap. They do have it. 

Assume from your post that liquid soap is provided for the washroom sink then.  We actually prefer it.

On 2/7/2020 at 5:51 PM, brisalta said:

I am amused by all the people that have failed to answer the question!

A Future Cruise Credit is a form of compensation awarded by Princess Cruise Lines.

It is typically issued when a cruise is cancelled or shortened due to a problem encountered by a Princess Cruise Lines ship and will be equal to a percentage of fare that can be applied to a future cruise..

For example one 10 day cruise I took was shortened by 2 days.

They awarded "each guest who sails will receive a Future Cruise Credit equal to 30% of the original cruise fare paid on this voyage. The credit may be applied to any future Princess cruise booked xxxxxxxx".

 

(In addition in this instance they also refunded 2 days fare and gave every passenger 300 USD refundable on board credit and changed flights etc. for people that used EZair)

Actually, you are not totally correct as long as we are splitting hairs.  The title of the thread does say future cruise credit but the OP in the first line asks what is the point of purchasing one or more.  You do not purchase FCC as you yourself point out.  The logical conclusion is to answer the question by assuming the OP who appears to be a newbie intended FCD.  Telling OP you do not purchase FCC is correct and seems to please you but is not helpful.

1 hour ago, birdiebill said:

If a person is on a B2B Cruise, and if he/she completes their fifth cruise credit on the first cruise of the B2B, he/she is platinum on the second cruise of the B2B

Yes.  Happened to us that way.