kywildcatfanone

Am I right in reading that even with the drinks, wifi, and gratuities package, that is still the basic wifi and you still yet pay more for the premium on top of that?

We think we got covid onboard a Princess ship in December, as I started having coughing spurts the day before we disembarked. But at the airport, they were not letting passengers go through security until 2 hours before your flight, so people were packed everywhere waiting. I would be surprised if I got it there. It was ridiculous how they were handling that. There were barely places to stand and avoid being face to face with people.

I've only sailed on Celebrity once, the Infinity last year. Cruise was fine, but the internet was downright terrible, and since it hadn't been refurbished it had the small TV, and nothing but live TV channels, maybe 6 in total. I've read that ships that are either newer or refurbished have bigger TV's, but do they also have on demand options for shows/movies? We are typically Princess cruisers, but enjoyed Infinity last year, and bought a FCD, and are thinking of the Equinox in the Caribbean. I know it's newer, and has been refurbished, but is the internet any better on it in the Caribbean, and are there on demand TV options? On Princess, the wifi for us has been good for every Caribbean cruise, mostly good for streaming, and for audio calls for work, and lots of on demand tv shows ,and movies to choose from. Wife and I aren't much for all the evening entertainment, and generally prefer to go back to our room and watch TV stuff. On Infinity, I brought some DVD's, but would prefer not to. Also, if you don't buy a drink package, can you bring on your own soda/water? If so, how much and checked bags or carry on or either? Thanks in advance!

Judging by what I am reading on the Sun Princess, they are making more things "pay if you want", particularly room types. They are moving to the airline model of "you want that seat in main cabin, you still have to pay more than the advertised price".

So to be clear for me, the Sky and the Enchanted have the retreat area with the cabins, but the Majestic does not, and instead has an indoor pool in that location? Is that right? Just trying to make sure when I'm looking at ships, I know which has which.

We are considering Equinox this fall. How is it? What is the cost for basic and premium? If premium is as slow as these speediest show, how slow is basic? Can you even do email with basic?

Majestic and Enchanted are like the Sky, right? They at least have the retreat pool, even if it's in a hole, and was a terrible change from Royal/Regal. I haven't been on either of them, just the Sky.

Wow, so no retreat area for adults anymore? You have to pay for the sanctuary to have an adults only pool. That will keep me off that ship then.

Princess deck plans seem incomplete. Is there an adults only retreat area with a pool on this ship? I did find on one website, a forward pool on Deck 17, but it wasn't labeled as an adults only retreat area? One thing they got right on Royal and Regal and messed up on newer ships was the retreat area.

Zero harm in asking if they don't offer it to you. For me, they offered it first thing before even telling me the other swap options. She said it was to pay for my coffee for the cruise while this was affecting people on upcoming cruises. Like I said, probably won't last all that long. They should have left well enough alone. I have now been able to cruise packageless, and know how to do it so that it works for me.

Yes, on the Regal March 26th. I called to exchange for coffee package and was told it was discontinued 3 weeks before, but if I wanted they would do $50/pp as a goodwill gesture while adjusting to this removed loyalty perk. I would expect that not to last too long.

We were quickly offered $50/each OBC as a goodwill gesture. Not sure how long that will last. This was 2 weeks ago on the Regal.

I doubt that coffee card with 15 drinks and unlimited brew cost them less than $5/customer. All these packages cost them pennies on the dollar, which is why they are huge cash revenues for them and they push them so hard.

If there is anyone else within 10 feet, they have to ask because it' too time consuming to look at your picture.

Anywhere between 15 days and 60 days has been my experience.

I stated that on my recent cruise I didn't use it at all, but there is nothing wrong with using it. I was responding to the comment that it's really only needed at then of a cruise unless it's a long cruise. Many people also avoid airport luggage charges by using carry on only, therefore less clothes and more laundry.

It's a perk for loyalty. Also, I might not be going home right away. No reason not to use a perk that is offered, especially when they are being taken away regularly now.

The Regal was full last week. I missed having it not so crowded from our cruises last year.

We didn't use the laundry service on our cruise last week. But when else do I have laundry to clean except the end of the cruise?

I'm sure they are paying pennies for their drinks based upon their volume. Drinks of any kind of a cruise ship, like hotels, etc, are just cash cows. Anyway, as I posted, I can go packageless, bring what I want on board and it doesn't cost me much. Now if they start charging me for ice......

Yep. The "goodwill" OBC they offered us was refundable, which surprised me. On another side note, we went "packageless" on this cruise because we consider the prices of the packages outrageous now. It worked out great for us. At least at FLL, they do not seem to check what you bring on. I had two cases of coke zero in my carry on, and a case of water and coke zero in my checked bag. No issues. I assume had we wanted more, we could have done the same for my wife's bags. I thought they would at least open to check to see if it was alcohol, but they didn't. My drink package cost me about $15 for the week.

Was that me? I posted about my experience last week on the Regal. I called room service after boarding, the mini bar wasn't in the room yet, and she immediately told me that they didn't do the exchange for coffee anymore, but offered me $50/pp goodwill OBC to pay for our weekly coffee or we could exchange for the other options. She told me they were doing this currently because of the complaints of elites with that perk gone. We took it. Side note: If you don't have the drink packages, check the prices you are being charged. in the Pastry Shop coffee bar, they only had one size drink available, and it was supposed to be $3.75, which is $4.13 with gratuity. For two that would be $8.26 for two. Every day for the first 6 days of the cruise, I was charged wrong. Most of the time, they charged me $10+. I went to passenger services to ask if it could be corrected. He tried to call the Food and Beverage manager, but never got an answer, and ended up refunding all those charges to me. I told him I just wanted it corrected, but he said they had received many complaints about it. So, check your charges to make sure they are right.

On the Regal this last week, the prices were $3.25 and $3.75 for most drinks.

Just off the Regal today, and they were installing starlink equipment. No idea about rollout time frame, bit the equipment was being installed. No idea if it will be better service.

Nope. If it's applied, you are good to go.