karatemom2

I'm very surprised to learn this. And in Colo Cruiser's defense I would have probably just answered yes as well because we have been on many different Princess ships and milkshakes have always been available. So I guess the natural assumption is that you would find them on other Princess ships, especially a newer ship.

Out of curiosity I went to the Princess web site to see what it says on the page in which the Ultimate Soda & More Package is advertised and it does in fact include shakes as one of the listed items. Furthermore, it only states that shakes are not available on the Ocean and Pacific Princess in the asterisk below. (See Page 7)

http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/Gifts_Services.pdf

So one would naturally assume if they are selling the package on the Royal it should include milkshakes. I think instead of being annoyed with Colo Cruiser for making an understandable error you might be annoyed with Princess for what seems to amount to false advertising. Perhaps they could invest in a blender for the Royal?

I work for Kaiser Permanente and if you have Kaiser Permanente you should be accepted at a KP facility anywhere they provide medical services regardless of the service area in which you reside. That is one of the advantages of KP Membership.

If your Kaiser Permanente physician has cleared you for travel understanding the nature of the cruise you will be on, I would trust your physician. He or she would not have told you to go if they had any concern for your well-being.

The medical service onboard, especially during the Hawaii cruises, are well equipped to address medical needs of the passengers onboard with the exception of the most serious emergencies which would require outside intervention.

Also, Kaiser Permanente has services throughout the Hawaiian islands so if you need a follow-up for any reason once you reach your destination, you can present at any KP facility in Hawaii and receive care. My husband needed medical attention when we were in Hawaii on one of our Princess cruises a couple of years ago, and we received excellent care at one of the KP Medical Centers in Honolulu. And it was easy and seemless, just took his KP card and everything was handled even though we are members in Southern CA.

So unless you have a setback in the next week, if your doctor has given you the all clear, go and have a wonderful time!!

Your Shareholder OBC is for onboard credit only. It does not apply to your cruise fare. It can be used to cover any expenses you generate onboard including daily autotip, shore excursions, beverages, spa, shops etc.

We have done three of the short West Coast cruises in the past three months, one on the Golden and two on the Sapphire. We did not observe anyone in shorts in the dining rooms at dinner. Jeans and capris yes, but no shorts.

Well so far it appears that things have become sadly lax on the Ruby. But the OP is on the Crown so I would not make packing decisions based on what is slipping by on another ship. Personally I like to follow the posted guidelines...just funny that way I guess. :rolleyes:

Yes according to my DH who knows Princess Casinos well. Usually more than one going day and night.

I absolutely love Haines, one of my favorite Alaska ports. But Skagway is wonderful as well and if you are set on doing the White Pass & Yukon Train ride, it would be much more expedient to do directly from Skagway and avoid the ferry ride to and from Haines.

Dress Code Guidelines from Princess:

Princess makes it easy to know what to pack and what to wear when you’re dining onboard our spectacular ships. There are two designations for dress codes: Smart Casual and Formal.

Smart Casual

Passenger attire should be in keeping with what they would wear to a nice restaurant at home.

Skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies

Pants and open-neck shirts for men

Inappropriate dinner wear such as pool or beach attire, shorts, ball caps and casual jeans (with fraying and/or holes) are not permitted in the dining rooms.

Shoes must be worn.

Formal

When formal nights are held, please observe the dress code in the Traditional Dining and Anytime Dining venues for the enjoyment of all our guests.

Evening gowns and cocktail dresses for women

Tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits with a tie for men

It was mentioned by a staff member on our Sapphire cruise last week that the ship has been chartered by a large Asian travel organization in upcoming months, so perhaps that explains why it isn't showing available cruises during that time frame, or at least some of it.

We have personal experience with Glacier Wind Charters and it was excellent. We did a combined fishing and whale watching trip with them a couple of summers ago and I can say without hesitation it was one of the best excursions we have done on any of our Alaska cruises. Shawn and Teresa were wonderful hosts and truly know and love the area in an around Hoonah. The Glacier Wind is a beautiful boat and so comfortable, providing a perfect platform for fishing and whale watching. We caught lots of Halibut and other types of local fish and saw many, many whales. It was truly a perfect day in Alaska!

The soda packages are purchased per person. Coffee Card is on a punch system so can be shared.

From the Princess Website:

Soda Packages & Coffee Card

Canned Soda Package

Choose any six sodas listed below in any combination for the price of five: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Diet Sprite, orange soda, soda water, tonic water, ginger ale Item #2311 $11.75

Unlimited Soda Package

Receive a souvenir tumbler and select from a variety of unlimited soft drinks served by the glass at all bars and restaurant locations throughout your cruise. Price includes service charge. Item #0523 $5.18 per person/per day*

Unlimited Soda & More Package

Indulge yourself with this premium Unlimited Soda & more Package, entitling you to the above Unlimited Soda Package plus any mocktails, juices, shakes, floats and complimentary hot chocolate throughout your cruise. Price includes service charge. Item #2312 $8.05 per person/per day*

Café Selects Coffee Card

Enjoy 15 espresso-based hot or cold specialty coffee drinks with complimentary brewed coffee and premium tea for the duration of your cruise. Item #524 $31.00

If you are considering the stock purchase just for the OBC benefit, you are really only looking at part of the overall benefit. You should buy stock because you feel it is a good investment. We have done well with CCL stock not just because of the OBC, but because it has proven to be a good investment based on when we have strategically bought and sold. If you add up what we have benefitted in dividends, stock price upticks and OBC benefits we have found it an excellent investment. But as with any stock you need to monitor and manage it to your best advantage.

Haines is beautiful and so easy to drive outside of town to see the beauty and possibly wildlife. We have had great luck with wildlife sightings there. Rent a car and venture out - it's the best way to really see the natural wonder of the area in my opinion.

I've had a quite a few without it and they always pointed out "this is your bill, it does not included any tip" hint, hint.

 

Mike:)

Yes that has always been my experience in the past as well.

Very interesting caribill. It sounds like RCCL really did their transition in a more thoughtful and customer friendly way.

Personally I don't mind the auto gratuity. It alleviates guessing on how much to tip for spa services. Now if I feel a little extra is earned I can add it, but at least most of the estimating has already been done for me.

What annoys me is that I feel like they took advantage of my daughter's youth and inexperience by not pointing out that the tip had already been added. It was a little hard to see and there was still a line for a hand written tip. It should be clearly pointed out that a gratuity has already been added, but you are welcome to leave extra if you like.

Your best bet is to rent at one of the Waikiki Hotels that contain rental car agencies. We have rented at both Budget and Avis locations there and both offered the option of returning your car after hours with a key drop. You will need to take a taxi as they don't offer shuttle service, but in my estimation it's still a good deal as renting a car is the best way to get around outside of town and really see Oahu. I think we generally paid about $10 each way from the port to the hotel rental locations.

Is the Automatic Gratuity for Spa services something new with Princess? We just returned from our cruise on the Sapphire and I treated my daughter and her friend to manicures which cost $29. I authorized the charge on my card before the treatment and told the staff my daughter could sign for it at the completion. I instructed my daughter to add a $4 to $5 tip for each of them when she signed. When she returned to the cabin and showed me the receipts I discovered that each manicure had an added gratuity of $4.35 bring the cost to $33.35. Not realizing that was a tip, she had added and extra $5 for each manicure, meaning I was tipping nearly $10 on a $29 service. Now I'm no cheapskate when it comes to tipping, but tipping 33% for a manicure seems quite excessive. I called the spa and they said they would remove the extra tip, however, when we got our final statement this morning before disembarking I found that they never adjusted the charge. It was not a big enough deal to make a fuss over, but it rankles me in principal. Sort of feels like extortion!

Anyway, I don't remember any of my previous spa services including an automatic gratuity. It has always been something I added at my discretion, so I was curious if this was a new thing.

+1. This review feels like it was a falsely advertised cruise, especially since you called and got assurance that it was the full experience.

 

Are you going to file a complaint with customer service?

Funny, that's exactly what my DH observed is it felt like bait and switch or false advertising. We have registered a complaint with customer service and are awaiting a response.

Come to Vegas where there are PLENTY of craps tables.

Yes we used to be Vegas regulars in our younger years, pre-kids and pre-cruising, but it just isn't our thing anymore. Part of the reason we grew to love cruising is it allowed my DH to have his gambling fun, but offered a better experience for the rest of the family than Vegas plus all the great ports. So that's why this cruise was so disappointing for DH because he really looks forward to the Casino action.

Glad you made the best of it. How does your hubby deal with his height on all the other Princess cruises?

When you are as tall as my husband and son, you go through life making the best of tight spaces! The regular showers on Princess are tight, but a better fit from the standpoint of space between the showerhead and floor. The tubs are raised off the floor and as such quite a bit higher which made a difference. In fact, while showering my son accidentally pulled the emergency cord trying to maneuver his way under the showerhead and we got a concerned call from the front desk!

Beds are a bit short, but that's the story of his life. And I am constantly reminding my DH and DS to "Watch your head". They have had a few hard knocks over the years from low hanging doorways and light fixtures! But compared to flying anything but first class, which is not in our budget, cruising still is the most comfortable form of travel for my tall guys!

Just home from our Spring Break getaway on the Sapphire Princess and feeling the need to vent a bit which has never, ever been the case on any of our prior Princess cruises. We are true Princess fans and have really never felt disappointed in any of our cruises. And let's face it, there isn't a bad cruise - as far as I'm concerned any day cruising beats real life.

But I'm sad to share that we did find this cruise to be a letdown. We were so excited to be back on the Sapphire again for her final voyage here before heading to an entirely new market in Asia. We love the Sapphire and Diamond and my son and husband had a great time on their short Sapphire cruise in January that my daughter and I had to miss out on due to schedule conflicts.

We had heard rumblings of changes aboard over the past few weeks as the ship was being prepared for a new customer base. Feeling a little concerned about what to expect, I placed a call to Customer Service to ask if we should expect any limited services and was assured nothing would be amiss. Specifically I inquired about the Casino as that is very important to my DH and again I was told that we would find everything just as he had found it in January.

So off we went on Monday, full of excitement and at first everything seemed status quo with the exception of a few shops that were clearly being converted. A walk through the Casino put my husband's mind at ease as his beloved Craps table was just as he had left it. So imagine his shock later that evening when he walked into the Casino, cash in hand ready to gamble the night away, only to discover that between boarding and that evening the Craps table had disappeared and in its place were new tables covered with plastic wrap which would remain unused for the entire voyage. In fact, the entire Casino appeared to be undergoing a major transformation. When he inquired with the Casino manager he was told that in fact the Craps table had been removed that very afternoon even though the new tables were not even going to be opened. For my DH it was a pretty big blow. To a non-Craps player it might seem trivial, but for him it is a major part of his cruising enjoyment. It would be comparable to someone who loves sweets being told that the ship would not be serving desserts for that cruise.

So that was the first and biggest blow. Honestly had we known, we never would have booked as much as we love Princess and wanted to cruise on the Sapphire one last time. We had considered both Carnival and Norwegian as alternatives for this Spring Break as they both had 7 day Mexican Riviera cruises available. But we really wanted to stick with Princess so compromised on the shorter cruise.

DH was pretty bummed, but we always try to make the best of even a disappointing situation. We had a minisuite for the first time with an inside cabin across the way for my daughter and her friend. The extra room was very nice, but oh my, we were not prepared for the tub/shower. It is always a challenge for my 6'7" husband and son, but because the tub sits high and the showerhead is low, they pretty much had to bend in half to shower. Also, the fold out sofa proved very uncomfortable for DS. He actually requested to have the upper bunk brought down for his last two nights as it was more comfortable for him. And the big balcony was nice, but we prefer a bit more cover. I'm glad we tried the minisuite, but even though the sitting area was nice we would likely never book one again. I like the Caribe Balcony rooms much better.

On the upside I am happy to report that the food was wonderful and the entertainment was terrific. As always, we really enjoyed Alfred and Seymour and the production show cast was top notch. Really great singers and dancers in this group. Trivia was fine, the usual stuff, and our room steward did a very nice job.

However, the rest of the cruise felt so strange and unfamiliar. The Casino was a bust for DH, the shops were changing over to high end luxury brands way over my budget and it was clear the crew was in transition as well. I have never before been on a Princess cruise where I really felt such a strange vibe. Perhaps it was because so many of the servers were new or in training, but there really was a sense that this cruise was just a filler until the real passengers arrived on the next voyage. With a few wonderful exceptions, most of the crew we encountered were not friendly, engaging, helpful or eager to serve at all. I can't believe how many times I was actually ignored or felt I was an imposition. Even just a friendly question as to where to find the brown sugar in the buffet was met by a dismissive arm wave and a terse reply, "It's over there!". I never found it by the way and gave up on my oatmeal and headed to the International Cafe instead. In the Piazza I never once was able to get a server to take my drink order while seated at a table, and instead ended up walking up to the bar and waiting to be noticed in order even to get a soda.

Maybe everyone is just really stressed about the repositioning or maybe many of the new crew is feeling intimidated by lack of experience or language barriers, but I honestly felt like a nuisance. It's like this little three day cruise was a throw away before the big event and everyone was just going through the motions. I'm guessing that it might be comparable to the last cruise before drydock or first cruise after.

All that being said, we still love Princess and are looking forward our cruise on the Star this summer. But knowing what we know now, we would not have taken this cruise and would have opted for one of the full week trips on another line instead. It was a learning experience and I would never book another cruise right before a major repositioning.

If you prefer to venture out on your own you can rent a car. Avis has an office at the Halsingland Hotel a short walk from the dock. The town is small and easily explored on foot if you prefer, but we are very glad we opted to rent a car and explore outside of town where you can really take in the beauty of the area.

I must also give my glowing review for Glacier Wind Charters. They gave us the best excursion ever - a combined fishing and whale watching trip. We caught plenty of halibut and other types of rock fish and saw more whales then we could count. An absolutely perfect day in Alaska on the best boat with the best hosts in Shawn and Theresa that we could ever want. Whenever our itinerary takes us back to Hoonah, we will book with them again!

Interesting. We will be on the last cruise prior to the Sapphire leaving for Asia so I will be looking for the changes. We noticed many of the same types of subtle changes prepping for a new mix of passengers on the Golden when we were onboard over Thanksgiving shortly before they left for the South American market.

I can't comment specifically on the Westerdam, but just an observation regarding HAL for the younger set based on our experience on the Amsterdam. We typically travel most often with Princess but tried HAL for the great itinerary. It was a fabulous itinerary and I don't regret it at all, but having said that I don't think I would choose HAL for our family again. The overall age was significantly older than our Princess cruises and there were few kids onboard, even on a summer cruise. My daughter spent zero time in the kids club, but thankfully met another girl her age onboard so she had someone with whom to socialize. The activities were few and far between compared with Princess which was OK since it was a port intensive cruise, but on sea days in particular I was a bit bored. And I would have been happy if the activities went on until 11 p.m. On the Amsterdam the carpets seemed to roll up by around 9:30 p.m. It was just all a little low key for us and the food and service were just OK, not nearly what I had anticipated from some of the build-up I had read in advance. All in all it was a wonderful cruise because of the superb Alaska itinerary and that was really our priority for that cruise. But I am just sharing this with you as I think it would have helped me had someone managed my expectations a bit before our cruise.