Rick&Jeannie

Sorry, yes...you should always carry a "3 prong" US adapter with your "adapter toolkit".

We always tried to get rooms either next to or very close to travelling companions. Now, after a few instances where they booked well after we did (and it just was not possible) we've come to realize that it's just not that big of a deal if we're on different decks or at the opposite end of the ship.

You will have to pre-pay your specialty dining if you book it before the cruise. But as stated above by @Thrak, take the cards (printed versions) to GS and they will apply them to your account as OBC. Then, these funds will be used throughout your voyage to offset any charges (or casino) that you run up. Have a great trip! Welcome to Cruise Critic and congrats!

Unbelievable! Absolutely FALSE!

Wow! Thanks for sharing this! Good news for sure. 😀

Yeah, I think that was somebody's idea of "wouldn't this be a cool feature to include?" and then it didn't fly with the upper echelon.

@NavyVeteran is absolutely correct. Just turning off mobile *data* does NOT inhibit the cellular VOICE capabilities. You may very well be surprised when you get home with a HUGE cell phone bill.

Hmmm...maybe, maybe not. Pure speculation here...but *maybe* AARP has seen the large (maybe) uptick in sales here and realized that they could keep an additional portion of the proceeds...??? I wouldn't *think* that AARP would do that...but hey! Business is business! If they are still getting the cards at the rate that they always did from Princess.....

Oh...I'm quite aware of what you say...have done so for years (or as long as wifi calling was available as an option.) Wifi calling *does* seem to work...just no texting. I am generally included in group texts (all of our travelling companions are on iPhone...) and I never get them until we roll into port and I go off of airplane mode. I have tested at home (calling, that is) with no issues. I have to depend on WhatsApp to text...but few of our friends have that...only my son.

Yep...same here. IT Network Manager and I cringe every time an "update" is released...because it is painfully obvious that little to NO testing is being done. Inevitably, an update breaks something! Heads would have rolled if stuff like that had been released where I worked...

Huh! I'm using a Samsung S22...as far as I can tell, I cannot do that. Also on AT&T.

I think you are confusing your "local" data plan with the ship's wifi capabilities. Using the ship wifi has absolutely NO bearing on any data plan you may have in place with your phone carrier. You absolutely *should* be able to use wifi calling *if* your phone has the capability. The ship wifi gets your signal out on the internet and then delivers it to wherever it needs to go in order to be "transferred" into the regular phone system. It has no idea that the call is originating from a ship at sea. You are paying for this functionality by purchasing the Princess wifi package.

Whaaat? It's just a plain incoming call to whoever they are calling. There's no data involved here.

In my experience (several times at Southampton) you will need to be one of the first off the ship, meaning "self-disembarking" by taking your own luggage. Still...that *could* be tight because you are never guaranteed that the ship will actually dock at that time AND you don't know how quickly local authorities will clear the ship to disembark. Why invite stress? I would try for a later bus.

It might help if you were to share what the itinerary is you're considering...but in general, there will be LOTS of activities on board that cater to many different ages and tastes. You didn't mention anything about excursions...presumably you would be doing excursions with your family but not necessarily. The ship staff will take good care of you and make sure you get back to the ship safely. Cruising with a group is MUCH more fun than cruising alone, although in all honesty I cannot claim that I have cruised alone. I have always been with my DW but for the times that other couples have been with us it just seems to "magnify the fun" with more people.

First of all...you DEFINITELY do not want to be making ANY cell calls while at sea! CRAZY EXPENSIVE! Use wifi calling and/or WhatsApp. All you do is go on airplane mode, turn wifi back on (since turning on airplane mode turns off the wifi setting) and then connect to the ship wifi. (Assuming that you have purchased the internet plan, or it is included with your fare via Plus or Premier). You don't need to worry about "locator apps" or turning off acellular data. Turning on airplane mode takes care of that for you. Your carrier data plans and such do not come into play here...you are using the ship's wifi and internet to communicate. Depending on what type of phone you are using will determine whether or not you can text. I use an Android...I cannot text while on a ship because the Android system relies on a cellular signal...which you will not have. The Apple system uses the internet, so so will be able to text with an iPhone. Feel free to ask any further questions...hopefully I've covered what you wanted.

Most (if not all) Princess ships are up and running on Starlink satellite service now. Internet *should* be much better in *most* areas. I say most because there are still some itineraries (i.e. Alaska, transatlantic) that still have satellite coverage struggles being so far north in latitude.

Make sure that you set up wifi calling AT HOME before you leave on your cruise! Make sure it is working correctly there, first. (I speak from experience!)

You really need to check in your app for your specific cruise. There can be some differences based on ship itinerary.

If itinerary is your main focus...probably Princess. That being said...we've been on the Jade before and we've not been on Emerald, so I can't give you a good comparison there. Jade is a decent ship...older and smaller than the behemoths they are cranking out now but I imagine (I've not looked into the specs) that they are both very similar. The Jade itinerary has some interesting ports.

Also (forgot to mention) most ships have *both* 110 and 220 voltage outlets so almost nobody should need a converter...just appropriate adapters.

Most devices sold these days that can potentially be used while traveling are "dual voltage" meaning that the circuit senses the input voltage and adjusts accordingly. You should always check on the power adapter to see what it says. Both my CPAP and USB multi-charger are dual voltage.

And don't forget...there will be a "European style" outlet behind one of the beds. Take an adapter if you plan on using a CPAP: https://www.amazon.com/European-Adapter-Adaptor-Countries-Netherlands/dp/B008JCVF0U/ref=sr_1_19?crid=2YC72VL0V3Z7G&keywords=schuko%2Bplug%2Badapter&qid=1676657828&sprefix=schuko%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-19&th=1

I'm fairly sure that you just have to "use" the FCC by the expiration date...in other words, the cruise can be after that date. If I'm wrong...someone will jump in and give a correction.

They just might *really* frown on a DIY installation...