Cruise Raider

I believe it just went up in June from $40 a day pp to $50 a day pp for the plus package. (USD prices) They also now offer a premier package that includes more expensive drinks, specialty dinners, digital photos, etc. and such for $75 USD a day pp. To me, the $50 USD a day pp package is well worth it and was really a bargain when it was at $40 USD a day pp. But, we do drink wine as well as other beverages. We also use the WiFi and of course, we have to pay the tips. Everything has gone up in price here where we live so, I saw this coming.

Wow ... lol That's already 4 large bags, 2 carry on size bags and 2 personal items per couple. Heck, we did a 3 week trip, part of it on a cruise, in Hawaii in carry on luggage only. I would worry more about finding a bus or an UberX to take that much luggage than I would a flight.

But, up to 2 bags pp. Plus a carry on pp and a personal item pp. That's a lot of luggage for free!!

So, I would highly recommend getting a flight on Southwest Airlines from Las Vegas to LAX or even better yet, Long Beach. You won’t pay extra for luggage on Southwest and it’s such a quick little flight. just pick a flight that has a flight afterwards that will still get you to the LA area on time to make it to the port, just in case your flight gets delayed or canceled. If you can, I’d book thee flight on EZ air as they have been known to get you to your cruise.

I am also booked on a sailing that is showing ‘Currently Not Available’ for the last month. However the difference is it is on the Royal Princess, which has already been out to see for at least a year. I think in the case of the Royal, it based on not having a sufficient number of crew. I do still think there is a chance your itinerary is safe. I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Hmmm? Yes, please come back and let us know what happened.

I love .. along some nice sourdough bread to dip in the sauce!

I love escargot but cannot never get anyone at the table to try them. If they were made with mushrooms, I'm sure they wouldn't mind it at all. Heck, they might even like them ... and me, too, as a matter of fact. I think it would be great to have a choice.

We were recently on the Ruby. Masks were not required for passengers and about 10% of our fellow passengers were wearing them. When we travel with others that are high risk or just around those that prefer that we wear masks, we will put one on, but if it's just us or if we are going right outside, we tend to leave the masks in the room. As a courtesy, we will wear them to the theater and in elevators. But, unless someone is coughing or sneezing a lot nearby, I really don't care what they choose to do. Just please don't sit next to me if you are sick. That's my only request. The crew had to wear masks the entire time while working. They would pull them down briefly for photos. I understand they've been told they may soon get a reprieve.

If it's only the Premier Beverage Package you are interested in, you can always just pay the difference of the drinks above the $12 limit and you can use your OBC to do so. Of course, you wouldn't get the specialty dinners or the photo package, the multi device wifi or the special prize entries but, those you can also just use your obc.

I'm booked on an October itinerary on the Ruby and recently, a friend has expressed interest in going along on this sailing but it is showing as 'currently not available'. We are already booked on the cruise before this one and there are still plenty of rooms available, as is the itinerary following the 'currently not available' one. Unless they've chartered it out to some VIP group (it is docked during Fleet Week in San Francisco on a Sunday .. big Blue Angels Day), I think it is just filled to capacity in accordance with the number of crew members that will be onboard. It did look to be selling quite well once they offered it with solo cabin pricing. Either way, I am glad we are already on the previous sailing ... embarkation can be so chaotic in SF when it gets delayed or if there is more than one cruiseship docked at the same time. Maybe the port is having them limit their number of passengers that will be embarking that day. The port is not really separated from the city streets .. it's right there on the Embarcadero. Of note, these are all just assumptions on my part but I think this particular cruise that is showing as 'currently not available' is already filled to the desired capacity, or in other words, sold out.

This is only a suggestion and not based on any real knowledge. I wonder if the Pan Pacific, which is right there at Canada Place provides this service. It might be worth a phone call. If not, is it possible to take your luggage on the tour vehicle?

You are thinking of a deluxe balcony, which are only on the Royal class ships, not on the Ruby. That is an excellent upgrade. The cabin will be exactly the same size but your balcony will be bigger and in a better location, IMO. PS .. I believe some of aft Aloha deck cabins are being used as quarantine cabins (they’ve moved it a couple of times).

We are all booked and got the cabin we wanted. This is going to be quite a special cruise.

No ... I was talking about the Discovery Princess for April 2024. My mix up!

That's like me and we've booked so many cruises through the end of the year and even one for 2023 that I ran out. I bought two pairs on our June cruise and have already spent them all. Oh darn!

I did get it booked. Too bad I am all out of FCDs but should be getting some soon while on my next cruise. The mini suites start at $2150 pp with Princess Plus.

@Thrak...the midship obstructed balconies are much larger than the standard balconies as are the Premium deluxe balconies on certain decks. We stayed in B737 and the balcony was huge. The deck plans that show the larger balconies in the bump out areas and aft are the ones you would need to pick from. If you are looking at a mini suite, there are a couple on the Lido deck all the way forward that are still available (the Marina ones are booked). There are also some mini suites with larger balconies midship. I think the dolphin deck has some veranda cabins with larger decks as well.

OOOOPPPS!! I know who has that cabin booked and it's unlikely to open back up. You should probably grab E429.

I understand that it may be a staffing issue. Either way, all sailings on the Diamond, not just casino comps, have been canceled from Sept into Nov on the Diamond.

Smart!! My neighbor drinks martinis exactly like that when we go out.

We will be booking this sailing as well.

Yes

Sorry to hear about the hotel. A friend of mine was in this situation and she just told me that she got her reimbursement a couple of weeks ago and that was from late May/early June. So, about two months is maybe what you are to expect. She also knows all the ins and outs and picked her own hotel. It’s my understanding that they will reimburse up to a certain amount .. so she just paid the extra. You mentioned you don’t feel much like eating but be sure to keep your strength up. You will be able to fight off the infection much easier if you keeping up your nutrition. Best of luck to you in getting back home soon!

Why wouldn’t they report it? It’s the right and decent thing to do!