Ombud

Some want items they can buy everywhere, others want to support small artisans. To each their own.

:evilsmile::evilsmile::evilsmile:

I live in New York City. We will not even let Walmart into NYC. They are Anti Union, and treat their employees like dirt. Please Don't support an outfit like this. It was our forefathers, who founded the Unions, that make our way of life possible. I wouldn't go toa Walmart in the States never mind Mexico

I'm not a union supporter but I like to shop small and no way in he!! is Walmart small so I've never been in one. There's got to be some small store down there or even a flea market for an unusual souvenir

Sorry for the dbl post and it wouldn't let me delete

Does anyone know how impacted Bali & Benoa Port are given the rash of 5.9 & greater earthquakes in Lompak this month?

Not a 'best' ---- I will never stay in B301 (Royal) again :(

Did you have a Mariner number before the cruise? Because of cruising with Princess you should have had one. If you did not have a Mariner number then there would be no benefits on a first H.A. cruise (not that the one star benefits are that valuable in the first place).

 

Actually, looking at the H.A. loyalty level charts should really make one appreciate the Princess loyalty benefits, especially the Platinum/Elite Internet benefit.

 

 

Included with the 2* benefits (30 cruise day credits)

 

 

 

 

• A complimentary photo of the ship
  
• A 10% discount on select Holland America Line logo clothing sold onboard signature shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
  
• A 15% discount on merchandise from shophollandamerica.com (Discount only available in the United States and Canada)
  
• An annual cruise planner
  
• A special recognition lapel pin
  

Included with the 3* benefits (75 cruise day credits)

• A 25% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges and on specialty coffees in all dining venues*, wine packages, beverages in the Explorations Café* and all mini-bar purchases (restaurant packages do not apply to discount and wine packages discounts exclude wine cards, Cellar Master packages, individual bottles, wine-by-the-glass and beverage gift cards)
  
• Mariner Welcome Onboard Reception
  
• Discounts on select treatments from the Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  
• Advance information on new itineraries
  

Included with the 4* benefits (200 cruise day credits)

• Complimentary cruise fare on 3rd/4th guest in your stateroom on select sailings
  
• An increase of a 50% discount on specialty restaurant surcharges and specialty coffees in all dining venues, wine packages, beverages in the Explorations Café and all mini-bar purchases (restaurant packages do not apply to discount and wine packages discounts exclude wine cards, Cellar Master packages, individual bottles, wine-by-the-glass and beverage gift cards)
  
• Complimentary laundry and pressing services
  
• Priority tender and check-in
  
• A complimentary wine tasting session
  
• An increase of A 15% discount on select Holland America Line logo clothing sold onboard shops (may exclude already discounted merchandise)
  
• Discounts on select spa treatments from the Greenhouse Spa & Salon
  
• A complimentary one-year subscription to Travel + Leisure® or Food & Wine®
  magazine (one per household, available to US and Canadian residents only)
  

Included with the 5* benefits (500 cruise day credits)

• 50% discount on a 100-minute internet package (one time only per cruise) Up to US$30 credit toward any Internet package
  
• Two complimentary dinners in the Pinnacle Grill (free surcharge only)
  
• Complimentary Culinary Arts Center cooking class (1 per cruise) Complimentary cooking workshop (1 per cruise)
  
• Complimentary day pass to the Greenhouse Spa & Salon Thermal Suite (1 per cruise). Not available on ms Prinsendam, guest will receive additional Pinnacle Dinner
  

HAL doesn't have free Internet for frequent cruisers?

I decided to start cruising solo last year. At the time it was just me at home and it was an inexpensive way to see Japan. Then an inexpensive way to see Australia in March. Came home to my 39 yr old son getting a divorce / moving in / weekend & Wednesday custody of his 2 little kids!! Daughters 2nd son graduated HS and shows up on my couch several times a week (1st son senior in college applying to grad school -- so different).

 

So I really don't mind having hours to myself on the ship + there's always SOMETHING to do! 2 upcoming solos booked on Princess. learned to wait until it's 40% off so I feel like I'm just paying a little more

Yes, I'm flying into Santiago day b4 but into Singapore day of. OK with covering hotel in Bali for those 2 sea days but will try to negotiate partial layover in Singapore

Here's a nightmare scenario:

 

Nonstop flight into LHR embarkation day on BA from SFO. Flight was delayed 10 hrs. Ran to AA desk and clerk took pity on me getting me the last seat on 2 flights, barely made ship. The couple right behind me missed ship.

 

So I asked Princess Customer Service what happens in that case. 2 reps & asst Mgr stated:

1. Flown to next port

2. I would have covered my own hotel, transfers to hotel, food bill

3. Credited for the hotel nights at the rate the ship feels valid (London = $50)

 

Bottom line: Don't do it!

Got off the Royal June 30th. I had no problem using my old cards from Australia,where I got off in March. They wrote the new ship code on the back of the first card and just punched out most of the second one. So now I've got a card with 3 punches left and a card with a 15 punches left. I did double check with Princess and they state that Sapphire is not on The Medallion system yet. So when I go in March I will be able to use my two cards.

Elites in separate dining room with full suites pax? Never heard of that on any Princess ship and been on most, inc Diamond. There is Club Class dining where part of MDR is closed off, but Suite pax and Club Class pax only, Elite alone does not qualify.

now I'm wondering why I was in the Santa Fe dining room with Suite & Club Class. My entire table was Elite not Suite or Club Class. Didn't question it, just enjoyed

Agree ... that is why we bring our own wine on board...the market for inexpensive wine is too high.

I bring 5 sm bottles (187ml) .... know it's supposed to be 4 only but they don't really care. Started when I'd pack 4 but get a few on the plane

 

Single passenger, glass of wine in Elite / Suite lounge discounted 5-6pm (anyway was on 2 cruises this year. Also you can trade your mini bar set up

I was on Circle Japan with the Diamond last November. The thing that I like the most was that the elite & suite passengers ate in a separate dining room. On other cruises the elite passengers sit in the main dining room. The difference between the two is the passenger to wait staff ratio being much higher in the elite room. Is it still the same now? I'm going to be back on the Diamond in a few months

Do you have any idea what they charge for round trip to town?

If joining a group then you pay the tour operator? It's Bali

How does it work? Clarification: if another Cruise Critic member sets up a Shore Excursion and I decide to join it, do I pay them or do I pay the shore excursions company? If I pay the shore excursions company, how do I find out what it is? I'm asking this because on the last two cruises I've seen a lot of shore excursions but I have no idea how this stuff is supposed to work

Princess doesn't limit you to 1 bag and I put it out 48 hrs before end of cruise.

Thanks!

So would this work? (1) transfer to terminal (2) drop off luggage (3) off to Marina Bay Sands for lunch or drinks on top (4) back to terminal :)

Arriving in Singapore 11/28/18 at 8am for the Sapphire Princess which probably sails at 4. I was going to get in 11/26/18 to see the sights but family plans pre-empt that. So I'm doing a disembark tour that covers most of the sites I want to see (Little India, Chinatown, Botanical Gardens) but 1 of the sites (Marina Bay Sands) has only a 15 min stop so it's really just a photo shoot. Which gets me to my question:

 

Anyway I can go to either top of Marina Bay Sands or on a river cruise from the terminal before ship sails?

 

Thanks in advance

Delete

Everyone should try to coffee before disdaining it. These coffee threads have been going on for at least 15 years. I remember two of our tablemates on the Grand in 2003 talking about how good the coffee was in the dining room. It made an impression on me after reading so many complaints about it.

that's because some like (to use Starbucks terms) blond whereas others like dark or expresso (long black) and others want to put in sugar or flavorings

Is the price of the coffee card the same whether you buy in advance or on board? If we order room service coffee, are we getting the liquid concentrate? Can you use the coffee card with room service, or only at the International Cafe?

As of last & this year, it was $35.65 USD on Japan, Alaska; $35.95 Australian in Australia / Tasmania. Room service coffee is free, no card needed, and the same drip as the cafes / bars. But the coffee card is good or pymt at the International Cafe, Coffee Cafe Plaza Deck (Diamond), & bars.

 

My 2nd biggie is where full cream is readily available. That would be the above locations and room service. They opt for milk on the Horizon unless you specifically request CREAM

We drink probably two cups of black coffee a day. Can you tell me the cost of a decent black coffee? It may be cheaper just having the coffee card,

I thought I paid $2.50 for a tall long black. Regular is like Starbucks or Peets house coffee whereas a long black is like their bold or dark .... I know it's cheaper for me to have a coffee card than a cup each morning

 

 

FWIW: They punch the card when ordering a long black.

no more punch cards issued beginning 1/1/19

is there a way I can confirm this with Princess? Does it have to do with going to Medallion?