MsCalabash

Both San Pellegrino and Perrier were available the last time I checked while on board. (This was in April on the Ruby.) I sometimes drank SP at dinner, and my glass was filled from small bottle(s) as many times as I wanted.

I'm picky about the taste of water (according to my husband), and the still water in plastic bottles was fine. Not stellar, but drinkable. To be honest, I'm fine with the filtered water as well. I usually carry an insulated tumbler filled with ice and water from the buffet. If we're not sailing with the Plus package, I preorder a pack of bottled water for convenience, carrying on excursions, etc.

On the Emerald and Caribbean, they also show the MUTS movies the next afternoon in the theater. I prefer the theater if it's a movie I'm really interested in. Or, depending on how windy/cold it is, etc.

I know you didn't ask about shipping clubs, but if you are considering it, there's a company called Ship Sticks that seems to be reasonably priced (for shipping within US, at least). We were looking into it for a trip that never materialized. They do ship worldwide, and it's easy to get a quote.

Just throwing that out there since there might be other traveling golfers viewing the thread.

Note: If you bring on more than 2 bottles, and are charged a corkage fee upon embarkation, I have no idea how to tell your waiter so that they don't charge you another corkage fee if you bring the bottle to the table.

If you are charged a corkage fee upon embarkation,

1) A corkage stamp (paper, similar to a vintage postage stamp) is applied to the bottles you paid for, OR

2) You will receive a receipt stating the number of bottles/corkage fees paid.

From what I can tell, the majority of the time it is the corkage stamp. On our recent CB cruise, we were given a receipt instead of the stamps.

OMG! I get so excited when I see the Patters. Is it just me?

Not just you! I will read the same Patters over and over if I have to. But so happy to see these, since we are boarding soon.

I agree that the iced tea is undrinkable; even diluting it doesn't help for me. We always have coffee cards so I get a large cup of the white orchard Mighty Leaf and put it in the refrigerator. It makes great iced tea. If I want it sweetened I put the sugar in it while it's still hot so that it dissolves completely. Only 57 days until I'll be drinking it again!

This sounds delicious, and I can't wait to try it. 10 days for me! :D

Regarding the tea (bag) brands, the tea at the International Cafe is Mighty Leaf brand, a variety of flavors. If you purchase the coffee card, you are entitled to unlimited cups of hot tea as well as the unlimited brewed coffee.

I don't care for the coffee at the buffet or MDR, and I really despise the iced tea at both locations. For my iced tea fix, I brew a cup at the buffet or IC, and pour it over ice in my own insulated cup. This works well for my to-go cup during the day. I don't brew my own in the MDR; I just settle for water or wine. ;)

Also, is there a 'wine table' to stop at and declare our wine? we are bringing 2 bottles and want to be sure we do this right--no visits to the naughty room!! There is a chance we will bring 2 extra bottles--is this handled the same way (i.e., go to wine table and pay corkage)? No issue paying, we just want to know what to expect since we will both be carrying up to 2 bottles of wine (or maybe just 2 for DH!!).

ML

I don't mean to hijack, but will answer with our recent wine check-in experience for the CB out of Bayport, January 2016.

Yes, there is a wine table to the right as you exit the security/bag screen checkpoint. We were directed there when we picked our bag off the screening conveyor belt. If you take extra bottles, they will assign the corkage fee to your account at this time (you show your boarding pass).

BTW, we don't split the bottles between the two of us for carry-on. It all travels in one bag. You can have DH carry it all, and just go to the table with him. ;)

Just FYI, for the first time on this cruise we received a receipt for "6 bottles corkage paid" instead of individual corkage stamps, and were told to show the receipt to the waiter when we took a bottle to the MDR. I was worried that some of the waiters might still be expecting a corkage stamp on individual bottles, but no one seemed to have any problem with the receipt. In fact, no one kept a tally on the receipt either (we had ATD and different waitstaff every night). This rather surprised me, because it would have been easy to take our two "free" bottles to the MDR as well if we had been inclined to circumvent the system. We were not, and we did not.

I don't know, maybe they were keeping secretly keeping track behind the scenes. I didn't see any evidence of that, but then I wasn't looking for it.

Just curious, as I am not counting on any real upgrades or upsells on our booking. But, if one has your cabin locked in as no upgrade, could you still be offered an upsell?

Yes, we recently received an upsell offer on a booking for which our cabin is marked no upgrade. So I know that's possible, but don't know whether it happens often.

.... will I look odd when I board - dragging a little wagon behind me, with, like, 14 bottles of wine in it ...????:D

I can't speak to whether the look is odd, but I can say you won't be the only one toting multiple bottles of wine.

We use a wheeled bag that I believe is called a "shopper's tote." Basically it's an upright, rectangular tote bag with wheels and a telescoping handle. A cardboard, divided wine carton from the liquor store fits perfectly as a liner for the bottom half. In go our 6* bottles. I twist a rubber band around the necks of the two bottles we plan to keep in our room, so it's easy to show the wine table attendant which bottles need the corkage stamps.

*The tote is large enough to accommodate two beverage cartons stacked. Put two bottles in the side pockets, and there's your wagonload of 14 bottles.

We discard the cardboard liner onboard, and use the wheeled tote for our last-night necessities, dirty clothes, whatever.

This is a low-budget solution that works well for a couple of low-budget wine drinkers. But for me it's not really about cost savings per bottle. It's about spending the same amount of money on wine I know we will enjoy. I really appreciate the fact that Princess allows us this option.

We have received the casino rate offers by mail and email. Have used the offer on 3 different cruises; each time it has saved $300 or more per person. (We book interior cabins.)

As stated on the other thread, we call Princess to get this rate. It doesn't show up automatically. We haven't used a TA so I have no experience booking that way.

Please note that the booking rate is the only "special" associated with the offers we have received. We don't receive casino credits, drinks, etc. when onboard. Not complaining -- we are mostly minimum bet players. I donate to the slots occasionally.

But to answer your question, in my experience the casino rate offers are legit, and have resulted in some great savings for us. Savings which we donate right back to the casino as soon as possible. :o

The only catch might be, don't expect extra casino perks once you get onboard, unless they are clearly stated in your offer.

TBGCS ?? Curtis Stone perhaps?

Twice-Baked Goat Cheese Souffle. It has been on the MDR menu for many years. Delicious!

We are just off the CB sailing ending 2/7, and the movies were: Man from U.N.C.L.E., Bridge of Spies, The Martian, The Intern, and Ant Man.

Alfredo Pizza was available from Sabatini's several times at lunch (complimentary) on the Caribbean Princess earlier this month, although I didn't try it I'm afraid.

Now this got my attention! We will be on the CB soon. I guess this was announced in the Patter? I will sure be watching for it. :D

Crab cake appetizer on embarkment sit down lunch and shrimp diane for me!

Shrimp Diane sounds delicious! Is this in the MDR? Dinner, Lunch? I will be looking for it. Just realized I spend more time planning the meals than excursions. :o

And since you're paying you'll get their booking number so you could complete the cruise personalizer info online for them (provided, of course, that you have their info).

 

We did that for our DS and his DW so we would know it was done and then could ensure we got our bookings linked.

Agreed! It looks like I will end up doing the same thing, to make sure they complete it on time.

Question: Is there a way to link the bookings yourself, online? Princess rep told me they are already linked, but I'm not seeing a way to confirm that or set it online. Relative newbie here.

Thanks!

For me it is the escargot, goat cheese souffle, and the dessert souffles.

Also, I really look forward to the honey mustard salad dressing, and that's something I seldom care for on land. Don't know why I enjoy it so much at sea. I have only had it in the MDR; don't know whether it's the same or available at the buffet.

There are many (many, many) other Princess food items I enjoy, but the above are the items that stand out, to me, as unique to cruise eating.

I just booked a BVE for my sister and 15-yr-old nephew. In order to book for them, I needed their address and birthdates. Used my credit card, and could have used my email but I had my sister's info.

That was for the booking; they still have to complete the online paperwork in order to print boarding passes.

Just wanted to add that the Princess BVE representative told me my sister can use her drivers' license, and my nephew can use a school ID; neither needs to take a birth certificate.