blkspy

No invite to Grapevines wine tasting for the newbie.

I don't drink and DW isn't Elite. Would it be frowned apon if she does the tasting and I do the buying :) Seriously. :)

When booking, everyone in the cabin should receive past passenger fares even if only one occupant is a Circle member. (Used to be allowed even for two cabins on the same booking, but apparently no more).

 

Should be no issue with cabinmates checking in and boarding with you. Nor accompanying you to the Platinum/Elite/Suite happy hour or disembarkation lounge (only once have I seen the latter strictly enforced).

 

In-cabin elite amenities are per cabin, not per person; up to you to share the minibar and toiletries, and should you order Afternoon Tea or formal night Canapes they always bring more than enough for two.

 

The one sticky issue is priority tendering; some reports of checking every single cruise card for Elite status or Suite cabin number. But also lots of complaints from those with regular tender tickets of one person waving their black card and demanding the crowd part for them and all their friends. So no guarantees; reality is likely somewhere in the middle.

What's the middle ground if you're Elite and your spouse isn't when it comes to Tendering? Surely no one would question this. Im just curious to thoughts on this. How about laundry under this situation? Would a spouse really be barred from the disembarkation lounge because both aren't Elite?

I think the offerings including days have gotten better over the years and you can order as much as you want. At least on all our cruises.

What selections have gone away?

Shepards Pie......for one.......of course you can order as much as you'd like.....I was referring to fish size......Maybe I've just gotten larger and everything looks smaller :D. Pub lunch was something to look forward to on 'Sea Days'.....poster just stated no pub lunch on a 13 Day cruise...or did I read it wrong....

Regardless........The bottom line remains the same......If its offered on your Princess cruise, it is worth a try and order as much as you wish--its still Free :cool:

2 sea days on the 4 day Crown Princess cruise to no where (January). No Pub Lunch. On a 7 day Crown Princess Coastal Cruise (2 sea days) in October, there was one Pub Lunch.

 

The Crown does have the Salty Dog. I am convinced the Pub Lunch for free is going to be gone on any ship with a Salty Dog.

 

Boo....hiss...

With Free (good) Pizza offered on the Lido deck. Will Alfredo's--with the elimination of Sabatini's--eventually incure, say a $9.95 charge for its Italian fare? Over the last 2-3 years the Pub Lunch has been reduced in days offered, selections and portions. Just Saying .

The Pub lunch is held in the Crown Grill on some ships due to the absence of kitchen access to the Wheelhouse lounge. On the Royal/Regal the Wheelhouse lounge has kitchen access through the connected Crown Grill. Must have access to a galley.....Not the same on all ships.

What ever venue its held in on your cruise, its a 'Tasty' option:)

Your checked luggage tags will have no indication on being platinum and the last time this was discussed on CC only elite level passengers' tags now have the level listed (maybe also full suites which I've never had).

 

Although like Colo Cruiser the elite level indication has no influence on how quickly they're delivered to our cabin. ;)

Happy New Year Astro.....

The Elite level indication on the tag lets them know to put the bags "In your room', with one on bed mat. This service, as with other perks is a hit or miss service by your steward.

First let me say Hello Roland. Our first Regal cruise was the Halloween trip.

 

I must have messed up big with our Baltic trip this year. When I check on each promotion I'm told our base fare will go up 600 PP (sometimes a little more or less). We have received the tips and dinner for two but refused the upgrade on 1 promo last fall (no way do we want mid ship).

No OBC and even through we booked the EZair way after the cruise was told if we change the air (big savings) we lose the fare rate. Last time we checked on the latest promo if we cancel and get the air and OBC we would pay 32.00 PP more. Which isn't much but why change for this non-value.

Did a mock booking and the cabin next to ours is 680.00PP more so guess the price is good but wonder what I am doing wrong when I book sometimes. Unless it is because I did so very well last trip with Princess and they figue she's ours give her a little once in a while :).

 

Great to see you are doing so well in your retirement with travel.

 

All the best, Laura

Happy New Year Laura,

im booked on this years Halloween cruise again (7th year in a row). Im looking for cruises with great pricing and then getting the casino rate and the twice as nice rate for amazing fihal price with obc. Couple that with low deposits and its easy to plan.

For my future sailings with these low rates, im booking Directly with Princess. Im finding that the most extra obc id receive from a TA is around $50. Compared to what im already receiving. Receiving a FREE upgrade from Princess seems easier when im booked thru them.....im sure some wont agree, but this is how I view it.

Retirement is great...starting in September im a member of the cruise a month club. was looking to sail for an entire Month next winter......pricing isnt great like it was a year ago. Debating whether to mix up different cruise lines for b2b2b2b2b. That might be WILD :)

I look forward to seeing you again soon. Hit me on the Halloween thread if I can assist you in any way.

I got the casino rate email and I'm looking at booking a mini-suite on Regal Princess in February. Does anyone know if I book it via Costco, could I get the casino rate discount after I book it and have it applied toward other things like OBC?

If you qualify for the casino rate....it is just that, the charged rate. If you paid say $1000 and the adjusted rate is $800. And Princess applied that new rate. Whom ever you paid would owe you $200.through your method of payment. Its your money. Whether you could apply your refund to obc would be between Costco's refund policy and Princess. Either way, you'd be entitled to a $200 refund to your card. You could get that refund--then just buy $200 online of obc.

After final payment rules could change things........best thing to do is call and ask. Every cruise I've booked, the casino rate was applied BEFORE final payment.

We just got a casino rate on a 2017 cruise we booked a few days ago. We recently got our second email saying we qualified for the casino rate so it sounds like they have extended the program another year. we have been getting casino rates for about a year now.

When I booked my cruises--the last one sails in April 2017....I was told it is extended to December 17, 2016.....6-20 day cruises. I was hoping it would cover my April 2017 Spanish Passage Transatlantic cruise....for some reason it wasn't. . The others 6, 10, 7,7, 8 nights were discounted through February 2017 and received the Twice as nice obc.

Much easier when the price just dropped in your mock bookings. Im looking for a great cruise for next January. .. that will put me in the cruise a month club for 7 of 8 months. Retirement is wonderful.

There are lots of nice viewing locations from the Promenade Deck all the way up to an inside seat in Skywalker's. Everybody has their own favorite. But if you are a lively group that enjoy access to a tropical drink or brew, live music, line and other dancing, gather around Neptune's Reef pool and the Tradewind's Bar on the deck above it. This is where the "action" is, especially for first timers, and this is where you can walk around and get 360 degree views of the sail away.

Heard that mentioned someplace :)

The Sailaway party--I never get tired of it.

My favorite moment is when I realize we are moving away from the dock....let the fun begin.

On our last cruise I won a Jackpot. Then before we got off I got a letter giving me $350 to use if I cruise in the next 6 months. We cruise again in 3 weeks. Never had any emails about a casino rate.

How big? I won $1563 on a penny slot and all I got was a TAX form :eek:

Congratulations...... have you tried to book more cruises or just the one?

Tradewinds Bar....deck above the main pool area. This is where the excitement is....Dancing, singing, the ships video people. For first time cruisers this is a fun time. IMHO watching the ship leave the harbor is ok--after more cruises under your belt. The first Sailaway is just fun from the deck overlooking the main pool. You'll see and enjoy everything from there.

its why they all it the Sailaway party.

This IMHO Only......enjoy.

We always use a TA and got the casino rate last year.

The rate isnt based on who request it. It just doesn't show up online as it once did. There are I believe 3 different rate codes for this current promotion according to the email. Were you an onboard gambler or you just received it through your TA entering a rate code last year. Have you booked any recent cruises and received the rate.

Ive received obc through the Coast to Coast and Twice as nice promotion with it The word was that it had to be 6-20 night cruises for Casino rate.

Bottom line, its a great rate.....it wont just pop up as it once did. Someone must ask for it, your TA. Or you directly with Princess. If you are reading these post, you should ask if you are eligible. ..if you are--you'll SAVE some money:)

I think I've gotten the casino rate on five cruises so far. We are not big gamblers but usually spend some time in the casino each evening. It was much nicer when you could see the rate on Princess' website but now your TA has to enter a special code to see if the cruise qualifies. The savings is different depending on where the cruise goes and the type of cabin you book. Plus it seems to be capacity controlled...they only allow so many reduced rates per cruise. It pays to book early.

Ive also booked a number of cruises through February 2017 combining the Casino and Twice as nice rates. Booking early is the only way to go.

Remember.....the rate is 'Combinable' with what ever promotion is current at the time BEFORE final payment. IMHO, the best promotion of the year is usually the Mother's Day sale.

If the discount was rated to the amount of casino loses, id get lots of FREE cruises:D

IMO the whole program lost a lot of it's luster when Princess removed the ability to see the applied casino rate on their website during the booking/surfing process

 

To me, having to continuously call Princess or bother my TA for the casino quote on every cruise I run across and that interests me just to see if it does or doesn't qualify takes away a lot the original benefits of the program

 

 

In fact its been quite a while since I've even found a cruise qualify that even interests me, the program has definitely been scaled back

Srpilo

I agree with you that it was great knowing if the rate applys to a cruise or even if you have it. I also reveived the email a few months back--with my wifes name and my circle number. Glad I read it..

I cruise alot now according to price, not region. Sometimes it's just as easy to fly to the West Coast as it is to Florida. It really would be easier to have the final price right in front of me.

The Casino rate is very confusing. You think its related to onboard gaming. Yet some whove never gambled have received it.

The rate no longer pops in when booking online. You MUST Call Princess directly and ask if the rate applys to you. It is suppose to run till December 2017--but it can disappear at any time.

The GREAT thing is that it is combinable with other current promotions such as Twice as Nice etc. This gives you a great price with OBC and a low deposit.

Even if you are already booked....you should call Princess and ASK if you are listed for the casino rate....your price can only go down :)

One of my cruises was low with the casino rate already. I called and asked about the Twice as Nice OBC......My price dropped ANOTHER $75 and I received the $150 OBC as a single. The Princess agent and I both laughed

Happy New Year.

Happy New Year to Everyone.

You are quite entitled to your opinion

Hey Grace, How about those BILLS;)

A great thing about this cruise was that it was not a full ship. Any one that sailed the Royal out of NY last year witnessed a full ship. Talking to ships officers at the M&G. roughly 15% of crew finished contracts with a large change over after the completion of the 5 night sailing.

Understaffed doesn't mean under served. Service was not lacking in main areas.

Also as a long time Princess Elite cruiser.....I enjoy my time at sea. And hope the new year will allow me more days at sea than on dry land. I hope the same for all of you.

Thanks for the response. While I'm glad to hear that Princess took care of the CC group, I do think they dropped the ball when it came to the group's evening in the CG, and how it impacted other people's experience (from a service standpoint, that is). They just didn't handle it well, which is surprising since I'm sure it wasn't their first rodeo (note the indirect beef reference...a stretch, I know). But when someone has to wait nearly an hour to get their dessert, it means that someone dropped the ball somewhere.

 

In the long run, it was one less-than-pleasant experience out of 10 days of many wonderful experiences.

If you noticed. ...the entire ship appeared understaffed.

We wish you well and great sailing in the future. We are already on our NEW adventure. Sort of a vacation from a great vacation.

Casino rate along with EZ Air specials are producing some Amazing deals.

Bon Voyage

I absolutely agree about meeting nice people who are mostly not on CC, specially when you read some of the posts on here and you think - hey I hope I never meet that poster face to face on a ship.

Great line to start the day with :) I couldn't agree with you more :) Smooth seas on the next adventure.

The skinny on this nights group dinner went this way. Princess actually supported and encouraged all the activities we planned. Princess was contacted in September about reservations for all our dinner plans. We were offered the entire Crown Grill for our dinner. All 94 seats. We didn't have interest for that many. It was determined that the front 3 tables would seat 28...other seating were for parties of 6 or less. We condensed this to 2 tables of 13 each.....We accepted there time of 8pm.

We were given a dedicated photographer and video person. Who escorted us to nearly all our planned events...including our dinner here in the CG. Our reservations were confirmed with a cabin note upon boarding....We weren't a suprise. ....rather a planned, expected group. Our purpose wasn't to disrupt, but fun for members gathered from around the world. Any extensive knowledge of cruising among other topics were freely shared by and among the group.

The Halloween dinner gathering attracted 73 guest in costume in the MDR

The CC group totoled 163 patticipents. The ships sponsored video insert was included in the Cruuse's Reflections video which premierd in the Princess live theater on the final sea day.

In hind sight....booking the entire Crown Grill might have been the best route. We are about inclusion. ...NOT disruption. A poster stated they knew we were planning the group get together and booked anothet evening. I lean towards the poster who suggested joining.

In closing. ...this was the 6th year in a row we've met as a group....many are already planning for next year....Including Princess from a Post cruise phone call looking forward to next years Reunion.

If anyones dinner was disturbed or ruined due to our presence. ....it was NOT our intenion to do so. Other than Halloween. ...onboard gatherings next year will be few and Grown Grill doubtful.

Hope this clears some thjngs......Glad we had great weather and calm seas.

Thanks for your help!! This may sound dumb, but are there signs in the station that direct you?

Really just ask anyone......youll know you're right when you see

Drug chain on your left

Zarros donut/bagel shop on the right

open air escalators directly in front of you.

If you're exiting Amtrk it is NOT any of the exits you see from where the BIG board is located, that's the '8th Ave' exit

If you're exiting LIRR it is the NEAREST exit

you need to walk through the station to the other sides 7th Ave exit..

Dont stress it, very easy to find.

Tell Eleanor hi

We met a cpl in their early 80s from Kentucky who had brought a 'Princess' condo...This is how they said it would be done.

50 weeks in an Inside cabin....the only kind they would allow them...maid service would be $2 per person per day. The ships doctor would handle routine medical things for them, check ups, flu shots , light things.....Meds would be forwarded from medical supply places to Princess who would forward them to the ship. The ship was at the time scheduled for 2 week dry dock at the time....Princess would put them up with meals during this time.

Cant remember which ship, it was one that had great ports of call....NOT one of the bigger ships.

They were selling their property and sailing until they died.

This is the stoty they told and it sounded great. We all wished them the best.this was 4 years ago

the 50 weeks was something like $48,000

id do it.

Im a type 2 Diabetic also.......I don't plan on having sugar spikes any old place when im out and about....Whether its in a park, subway, MDR etc.....

This is about your LIFE....I travel everywhere with my 'kit'. which includes candy--in case of low sugar. And of course my insulin if needed....

I use the 'Pens" which are easy to use and carry...But I have needles also and would not for a moment hesitate to use them REGARDLESS of where I might be or who im with......This is LIFE SAVING injections...not a botox shot to get rid of wrinkles.

I respect everyone.....but...you feeling uncomfortable or me going into a Diabetic coma from high sugar level......do I have to say who gets priority?

No one plans to get sick, injured or need there meds only in public places---but its life

IMHO

Type 1----prone to LOW SUGAR--Glucose tablets would work.

Type 2---subject to HIGH SUGAR--Glucose tablets might kill you.

Most diabetics don't go around smearing blood all over the place if we need to take a shot to save our lives.