Almighty188

1 hour ago, Jetty John said:

 

Yes, those are the prices we see on Princess after we go into our booking.  They are discounted prices as the originals are slashed through.  There is no mention of a 500 minute limit anywhere.  In fact, the premium and social package specifically state unlimited, and the surf package doesn't indicate any time limitations.  We won't be spending a lot of time on the net anyway, just want to stay in touch with our son who is watching our house and be able to check our security cameras.  

 

We don't care about netflix and hulu.  We're leaving our Roku sticks home, we aren't going on the cruise to watch television.  

 

We will probably just get the social package, and upgrade if necessary.  Thanks for all the input everyone.  

It's not a 500 minute limit, it's a 500MB data daily limit, you will see it when you register and select the internet package to activate it once you are actually on the ship, as you will notice that online, they will always put the line, subject to the internet policy, forgot the exact words they used on the same page where you saw the discounted prices, but they never disclose what the policy is until you are actually on the ship itself and connected to the WiFi of the ship.  You can see for example in post #14 in the thread https://boards.cruisecritic.co.uk/topic/2553872-grand-princess-recent-internet-experience/ where someone else talks about the 500MB limit as well.  Think of it as a cap except unlike other providers who discloses it before purchase, you won't know about it until after it's purchased but whatever you purchase will still be a credit on your stateroom account so if you decide not to activate it, you will still have that credit available.  Other providers for example even Comcast/XFINITY has a 1TeraByte monthly data limit.  Mobile phones usually is unlimited until you reach a certain GB size per month for 4G speeds and then you will get slower speeds after that.  Princess is 500MegaBytes daily of the fast speed (modem dialup speeds in reality) and once you reached that, it will be slower for that day only as it will be fast again the next day for the first 500MB's each day.

Depending on the bandwidth requirements of the security cameras, it may or may not work.  Here is a screenshot while I was on the ship since it even mentions the 500MB.

1 hour ago, RobertSV said:

April 16, 2019

Thanks for the detailed information, Al...188,

our tv is LG and the remote has no number buttons.  Good trip nonetheless 

Yeah, I think the Grand got docked after our sailing on March 3, 2019 so they may have actually changed the tv's.  Either that or they use different makes/models of tv's even on the same ship.  Can you get the model # of your tv?  

3 hours ago, RobertSV said:

Hi Jetta J

My wife and I are currently on the 15 day cruise from San Francisco to Hawaii on the Grand Princess. Internet may generously be described as worse than the most impoverished nation on either hemisphere.   We bought the $249 Premium Connect package which gets discounted to $199 close to the departure date.  It’s per device/ person so if you have a phone for you and a phone for your wife, you need 2 internet connections. If you want a computer too, then you disconnect one device and log on with the computer. This package still has sites that are excluded from usage. Hulu, Netflix are just two. If you buy a cheaper package, more sites are excluded. Internet is very very very slow. WhatsApp works well for text and voice.  The TV does not have a way to connect a HDMI input, so lie back and enjoy Love Boat reruns. 

And they have a limit of one internet package that you can use under person so even if you bought 10 Premium, you can only use one as I did buy 3 but only can register two, one under me and one under my mom on the Grand Princess.  That's actually pre-paying the package but you can still select any other package when you register the account as my niece for example selected the $89 package instead of $139 for the 10 day San Francisco Mexican Rivera sailing since they first put the $139 into your account as a credit and whatever you select, it will just debit from it.  The Premium Connect for me gets debited at $179 first and then they will credit the $30 to the shipboard account within a few days so basically the 3rd account I had, it just remained as $139 credit.  If you register and activate the package after the first day, it will be cheaper as my mom's account was registered on day 2 and the package price was $169 and they basically gave back $40 in credits after 2 days.  DISHAnywhere is also blocked with the Premium Connect package so the way around it is to use a VPN.  There is a way to connect multiple devices by using a computer as the router with the VPN also on the computer.  The TV does have a HDMI input as it is on the upper left side of the Viewsonic N2690W tv.  You might have to clean the HDMI connector due to oxidation, I basically used water by dipping the entire HDMI connector of my Amazon Firestick 4K as I didn't have Isopropyl alcohol with me but if you can select the HDMI input and still don't get video, then you have to  use the remote to turn down the volume to 0, press mute then 9876 using the remote which will get you into the service menu.  

34 minutes ago, fishywood said:

 

The above list is of the canned sodas. The Soda and More package includes gun sodas: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Ginger Ale, Tonic Water and plain carbonated water (ersatz club soda). To get Orange or Root Beer you will have to find a sympathetic bartender willing to open a can for you from which they will pour you a (very small) glass; you cannot walk away with the can unless you pay for it.

 

 

You're right, forgot to mentioned that it has to be in a cup as the question was asked what brands of soda are included but orange and root beer are included as I have gotten it from every bar including the one in the casino.  The only thing not included was the Ginger Beer which only comes in a can and they will charge you for it.  The root beer and orange comes from the hose and not from the can.  They won't pour anything in a can unless you pay for it.

3 hours ago, Jetty John said:

My wife and I are sailing on the April 21st cruise to Hawaii.  We are trying to decide on the $99 Social package or the $139 Surf package.  We just want to be able to keep in touch with kids by email.  But may want to hook up to a web site here and there.  Does anyone know if there is a big difference between the two?

Thanks!

 

Are those the prices you see after going into your booking on princess.com?  I had the unlimited Premium Package on the Grand and it basically was a joke in terms of speed since it was like dialup and it has a 500MB per day limit at fast speeds which is like a dialup but still blocks certain sites.

Here is what I found here on CC:
 

PrincessCONNECT — Premium Package

From e-mail to streaming, enjoy truly premium, unlimited access!

All Internet usage subject to Princess Cruises' standard policies, which may limit browsing of sites due to network security and bandwidth usage. Applications that use high bandwidth may be blocked and offerings subject to change. 

PrincessCONNECT — Surf Package

Surf your favorite sites from e-mail, news, sports and more.*

*May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.

PrincessCONNECT — Social Package

Unlimited access to the most popular social websites and applications.*

*May not allow for audio/video calling and streaming.

On 3/21/2019 at 5:37 PM, bogeys1111 said:

Can anyone tell me what the soda choices are in the unlimited soda package??

Everything under soda except the Ginger Beer, not sure if Tonic Water and Club Soda is included or not. 

it also includes the mocktails on the menus as well as customized mocktails.
 

On 3/30/2019 at 6:02 AM, stvandy1 said:

I wonder how much they would charge for a Shirley Temple(sprite with grenadines syrup)

It's $5.50 if you don't have a beverage package of some type, atleast on the Grand Princess.  Photo taken on February 23, 2019.  Wheelhouse seems to have a different menu with a different printed selection that is on thin paper but the pricing is the same.  

1 hour ago, #1Nanna said:

Here is a list of some mocktails I have ordered.  I have never had trouble with them making any drink I have ordered virgin. I really like the virgin Isaac.

Nohito

 Piña colada 

Strawberry daiquiri

Isaac

Frozen lime margarita

Virgin Mary

Miami Vice

 Lava flow 

 Tropical blend 

 Sunshine daiquiri 

 Love connection

Moscow mule

 

 

I had them make a Mango Colada except unlike what someone posted earlier, mines actually had Pineapple already as they said it already came with the pineapple mixed so they add the Mango on it.  Is the Nohito and the Zero Mojito on the menu the same thing?  Strawberry Daiquiri, Sunshine Daiquiri, Key West Cooler were already on the menu.   Only the wheelhouse bar seems to have a diffferent mocktails menu which has that chocolate banana mocktail drink.  I always mention the word mocktail because I have the unlimited soda and more package.  There was one I didn't try which I think is the Sunshine Daiquiri, it was the one on the menu with jalapenos.   

3 hours ago, cabin4three said:

Will look forward to hearing how you get on. I plan on trying out lots in August. Any chance you can take a few photos?

I actually took photos of the posts here and just at the bar, I asked if I can do a custom mocktail and showed them the photo of the post on my phone and it depends on my luck, some of them say they do not have apple juice so they put in sprite instead or something like that.  The Cranberry Cooler, it seems like the Bar in the Casino had no problem making at all.  We already disembarked yesterday morning and I never got the chance to take any photos.

14 hours ago, montgomeryfamily said:

My favorite is the virgin chocolate mudslide.  Since milkshakes aren't included any longer, this is the closest thing to it.  Haven't had any trouble getting pool bar to make it, but sometimes the inside bars say they can't because they don't have ice cream mix.

What does the virgin chocolate mudslide have in it?

On 2/18/2019 at 7:16 PM, Colo Cruiser said:

They should bring the 6.

 

Yes when available lemonade is free in the buffet.

I have not seen lemonade available after hours. (doesn't mean it's not)

I have only seen it served while eating in the buffet and the servers have pitchers of lemonade that they use to fill the glass either at the table or at their serving station.

On the Grand since 02/21/2019.  Never saw lemonade at the buffet or anywhere else on the ship for some reason.  Apple juice seems to be only available in the buffet.  It was a hassle getting them to bring the 24 cans or 4 x 6 packs as you basically have to wait atleast 35 minutes for them and then sign for receipt.  We had to meet up for lunch so when I called, they said it has already been redeemed and I had to explain that we were not here when they came and they promised 15 minutes which took 3 hours.  

Thanks everyone for the ideas.  Put them to good use on my current 02/21/2019 sailing on the Grand Princess.

I am on the Grand right now as part of the 02/21 sailing and basically with the Premium Unlimited, you would get 500MB per day at what they call fast speeds.  The internet is not usable and they blocked a lot of sites.  

Yep, PV and Mazanillo is basically CST while Matzalan is MST.  Already on the 02/21 Grand Princess.   It seems the ship had a 8AM arrival but the ship departed at 5:40PM instead of 6:00PM as the all aboard time was 5:30PM, wonder what caused the early departure.

On the Grand Princess now, with the Viewsonic N2690W (model #VS12119-1M), it seems one can select source as being HDMI Video 5 and there is a HDMI port but there is no signal on that port so it seems to be software disabled and the menu button has been disabled.  Anyone got it working?

Update:
I found the solution:
Turn down the volume to 0, press mute then 9876 using the remote.

The HDMI port might also have oxidation making the signal not work but since we do not have Isopropanol (Isopropyl alcohol), just dip the HDMI plug from device in water before plugging if there is no signal.  

40 minutes ago, Colo Cruiser said:

I think you may have a voucher in your cabin for the soda.

When you call room service for the soda you would tell them then what you want.

They bring it and you give them the voucher.

 

Not sure if the barista in the IC has access to sodas etc after hours.

The HC buffet has a drink stations for water/ice tea/coffee/ice.

Thanks, so if I am correct, they will bring all 6 cans of soda at once and not 6 different trips?  

I had to ask the last question because it seems like in the middle of the night and the only thing opened is IC which is fine for food but how do you get the drinks that are either free or the USM package.  Atleast you solved the free ones, is lemonade available at the HC Buffet as well since I thought that was also free.  

 

Speaking of which, I did order the 6 pack canned soda using the personalizer and paid for it.  When do we actually specify what specific soda we want and when will they actually deliver it?  I also had another question, for those hours when only the International Cafe is opened while bars and everything else is closed, is there anyway to get any free drinks or those included with the Unlimited Soda & More package?  

On 2/2/2019 at 6:43 PM, Ep010835 said:

If you travel a lot, you have a passport. 

What’s the downside of having it with you on all Cruises?

I don’t see a downside. 

They are worried about losing it but basically you always have a risk no matter what you do in reality as anything you can't look or physically be in contact with also can get stolen without you even knowing it.  

On 2/2/2019 at 5:08 PM, suzyed said:

Princess collected our passports when we were in Ireland.
When we were on an Alaska cruise, we made a stop in Canada, of course.  We were told to bring our ID/Passports and we had to show them before we entered.   This was back in 2008 and 2010 so maybe it has changed since then. 
We sometimes, but not always, talk our passports with us when we go ashore.

 

I can understand showing your passport but what was the reason that they collected the passports and how long did they actually hold them before giving it back to you? 

7 hours ago, julie3fan said:

 

If you HAD to bring it, cruise ships wouldn't allow you to board with just a drivers license and birth certificate.  It could be argued having a passport is better, but it's not required.

Good points.  Cruise Ships requires ID and Proof of Citizenship.  A Passport would serve both purposes instead of having a separate ID/Driver License which some people don't have.  Wouldn't a birth certificate be pretty difficult to carry around compared to a Passport though?  For females that got married, I would think the name on the ID would not match the name on the birth certificate.  In my case being male, the person at the hospital spelled my first name wrong so it's way different than what's on the passport and driver's license which was based on the passport that was used for the ID and proof of citizenship to obtain the driver's license.  I know there are even people from the Flyertalk forums who said their names on the passport was not exactly the same as what's on the driver's license.  The US State Department's answer is probably the best one:
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/before-you-go/travelers-with-special-considerations/cruise-ship-passengers.html

as the FAQ says:
I am taking a cruise, do I need a passport?
"We recommend that everyone taking a cruise from the United States have a passport book. Though some “closed-loop” cruises may not require a U.S. passport, we recommend bringing yours in case of an emergency, such as an unexpected medical air evacuation or the ship docking at an alternate port. Also, your cruise company may require you to have a passport, even if U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not."
 

This URL probably says why it's best to have the passport with you instead of leaving it on the ship as your only risk is the chance of losing it while the benefits are many:
https://www.*****.com/questions/when-getting-the-ship-shore-excursions-should-we-leave-our-passports-onboard-or-bring-them

12 hours ago, Mike45LC said:

Expressions of coherent thinking also make for easier reading.  But some people's posts can simply be skipped.

Like the saying goes, it's a free country or a free world.  You can choose to read or not read what you want as that's a personal choice.  But instead of making it a personal discussion which should really be done via PM as this would be basically getting off-topic.  

13 hours ago, RRFan said:

I'm not sure why you are so worried about proof of citizenship.  That's not the issue of what I was talking about at all.  The issue is that when in port, the ship will announce that you take a government-issued ID when going ashore.  The purpose of that is that SOME (not all) port security personnel want to see a picture because when they see your cabin card, they only see a name and no picture.  The DL (or passport) shows a picture and the name, which they can then look at you and verify that you are indeed permitted to approach the ship.  Your citizenship is not their concern.  If you don't have a picture ID, you hold up the line.  And I've never had to prove my citizenship in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, or any other state!!   Geeze-Louise!!  Lighten up Almighty and feel free to carry that passport with you at all times!  

I am not concerned about proof of citizenship, all I am saying is it is better than not having it as you missed the other part I was saying, I was saying the ship is fine but when you have a problem elsewhere while in the foreign country, the passport will be better than the DL when getting assistance.  Basically, the bottom line is whatever government-issued ID whether passport or DL, you lose it and you basically have no photo ID of any type.  Otherwise you might as well just leave your passport at home since there is always a risk with everything.  As for holding up the line, if they don't have a picture ID, just do the common courtesy and let the people behind them go first.  As for proving your citizenship, I never said that was a requirement but I remember a few years ago, there was discussion of that in the news for the state of Arizona atleast.  I never said I was worried either, I was just saying it's a Passport is always a better document than a DL as one is more for traveling and issued by the country, the other is more for driving which is issued by the state.  As for whether or not you had anyone asking to prove your citizenship in any state, that has more to do with your ethnicity which is all I will say as I was borned in Mississippi and people had always view people from East Asia differently.  And finally, I am talking about the good points and bad points, not trying to start a flame war so shouldn't you be the one who should lighten up as using exclamation marks is no different than shouting which is against netiquette which is the standard for online communications that has been used for almost the last 40 years:
http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

When you read something, try to read it in a neutral manner instead of treating it like you were being personally attacked.  My apologies if you took it the wrong way.

13 hours ago, oskidunker said:

Paragraphs make reading easier. 

It would but I don't have all day to reply to a post as I typed everything in my reply within 3 minutes flat since I also have time constraints as my cruise travels is in 20 days from now and I still have not even done the excursions yet among other things to prepare for the trip.  I am only getting 1 hour of sleep per day and tons of things to do.  I also am reading a few 100's of posts a day and replying on various channels on the internet.  I am also a scientist, not a liberal arts major.  Not to mention, everyone has their own writing style and I always like to be detailed about things.  Otherwise, there will be the Grammar police and everything else for that matter since quoting excessively and using either a one liner or less for a response is also considered bad.  
 

Duplicate Reply...  
 

Duplicate Post.  Mods, please delete
 

On 1/29/2019 at 9:05 AM, RRFan said:

Regarding the turn-around day on B2B's.  It varies from ship to ship and/or from port to port.  Most of the time, all transit (passengers who are staying on for the next cruise) are told to meet at a particular lounge at a certain time.  You may or may not have new cruise cards for the next cruise, but if you change rooms you do and they will be in the transit pkg you receive the night before disembarkation.  Someone may walk you off the ship (to scan you off for the last time) and take you through customs and then if ship is ready, you'll be the first group to scan onboard for the next cruise.  However, we've also had CBP personnel come on board and look at our documentation all together so we didn't even have to exit the ship.  Most of our B2B's have been US cruise ports.  And I think if there is a large or small number of transits affect the decision.  We had over 1,500 transits one time out of FLL and they came to us.  Of course, you can always exit the ship to do an excursion or something and take both cards and come back onboard when you're ready.  You will also receive a "In Transit" card to carry which tells the shore people that you don't need to check in again.  If you are changing rooms, you just pack the things that are in drawers etc and the steward will take the bags & hanging clothes to your new cabin.

 

And regarding the driver's license vs passport, my experience is mainly Canada, Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska so that's why we've never taken passports and never needed them just for going ashore. (We DO have passports with us on the ship--I was referring strictly to going ashore at a port)  On Panama or Transatlantic cruises we carried the passports on shore in all foreign countries. (We've never been to Asia and never had to get a VISA)  Many ports don't ever ask for gov't issued picture ID, but you are always told to have it with you.  We've been in line with people who don't have anything but their cabin card, and believe me, you do hear BIG groans from the long line of tired people wanting to re-board and having to wait for the shore personnel to call ship security to come verify that person.   Also, my husband and I never take more than one credit card onshore.  Just pull them out and leave in the safe.  If we lose one, at least we have others and only have one to cancel.    

Thanks for the info on the B2B part, never knew there were multiple things that can happen.  The part where CBP comes onboard is interesting since I thought all their computers and things would actually be at the port so they would require you to go to them instead of them going to you. 

As far as passports are concerned, I guess if you were meant to lose anything, you would.  As far as leaving things in your room especially the safe, no matter where you go worldwide, whether the cruise cabin or hotel, they are not liable for anything left inside the safe so they can always open your safe and take whatever is inside and not be liable so you're really with the same risk since you should always keep your important documents with you at all times.  The only time they are liable is when it's kept in the safe at the front desk which is guest services in this case.  Mexico and Canada is still considered a foreign country and if people have problems driving into Canada from the mainland US and between Alaska and Canada, then there could always be issues when you had a problem in those countries like a medical emergency or something else in that country when you are not on the ship, then you will need your passport which you can't get as it's not in your possession and on the ship.  Driver Licenses only really proves who you are but even people who are illegal have been able to get them so while it is fine for boarding the ship even though you are supposed to always use whatever documents that is registered with the cruise line which is either a Passport or the Driver License and Certified copy of the Birth Certificate.  Besides, the chances of me losing the passport and/or the driver license is the same which means all credit cards/debit cards and also the cabin card would be lost as well since I keep everything in my Scottevest so I would have lost everything anyways which also would include money.  I have never lost my passport to date and I carry my passport daily for the last 23 years.  It is way easier for a pickpocket to take my drivers license and or state ID card which has happened before.  So I guess the thing is whatever you leave behind are also the things that can save you if you had issues in the country of the port.  We've been to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic which does have a Visa which you buy either in advance or you pay on the spot that is not tied to the passport itself but you do need to hold Visa receipt at all times until you actually leave the country as it's needed during the time of exit immigrations or else you will be fined.  We've been to Australia, Hong Kong and Macau that has no Visa requirement but still needs the U.S. Passport at all times and in Hong Kong, the police requires a Hong Kong Identity Card or a Passport which they can ask for at any point in time.  For China, there is the 10 year Visa which is required.  I guess when you are traveling, it's better to have the Passport whenever you are outside the U.S. at all times for protection as there is always the risk of losing anything.  Believe me, the risks are bigger in losing the passport like during the tours in China where each night, we changed hotels and the tour guide and hotel will take our passports after giving us our room keys so they can do our registration and then each morning, we just ask for our passports back from the tour guide which is by group # and they do not even look at the ID or names in the passports so it's pretty easy for them to give the passports to the wrong person or the hotel and tour guide loses it since you don't have to sign anything either that it is received.  Someone can always ask for passports for other groups real easily and take them as they do not place it in the order and you just walk up there   
and ask for the group #.  I thought even in the U.S. in I believe the state of Arizona, they require proof you are legal in the U.S. which means the Driver License won't help as that only has your name, address and Date of Birth.  It doesn't establish your U.S. Citizenship or legal residency which means you have to carry your Birth Certificate at all times if you were borned in the U.S. or a passport.  Otherwise, the legal residents can use their Alien Registration Card and Citizens can use their Naturalization Certificates.  It's still far easier carrying a Passport than a Certificate of any kind.