INeedAMaiTai

Ugh, doesn't everyone hate that "have to lose weight" feeling before a trip.  I always aim to lose like 20 lbs knowing I'm going to gain a ton back while on the ship (I try to do well, but I also don't limit myself because...well...life is too short).  I've decided to go keto this time, I'm on week three.  I can't really tell if I have lost much; I got rid of my scale when I moved last September and have chosen to not obsess about it since.

Anyone have any tips, or tricks, or great food ideas that have worked for them?

We have always traveled with family so there were always multiple kids; and I started traveling with them when my oldest was 2 years old.  I let my then 12 year old pretty much do her own thing as long as she checked in with me every couple of hours or so.  My then 9 year old was with her 10 year old cousin most of the time, and we would allow them to do what they wanted as long as they were together, and being courteous.  My next trip, planned for July, I'll have a 15 year old, a 12 year old, and a 9 year old.  I'll pretty much let them go and do whatever with check ins because, at least with Princess, you can pull up your phone or go to any screen and see where they are on the ship, and if they have a phone, you can contact them.  I'm not overly trusting of people, but I have found that the crew does a fabulous job of keeping watch of kids, and making sure they are safe.  From previous experiences, I know that so many of them have kids at home and miss them, that they are happy to see little smiling faces and want to be a part of it and make them smile.

AND... I always make sure that we discuss meals at the beginning of the day to make sure they are eating something healthy and not just ice cream and cake from the buffet; and we ALWAYS have dinner together.  I have never had an issue with them not wanting to hang out; I try to get them to do activities with me like the random games and stuff that the ship provides, like ping pong tournaments, and stuff like that.  I'm happy to give them space, cause I need it too, but I also want to make it a FAMILY vacation.

This might be my favorite thread yet!!!  I love me some pg, but also all the specialty drinks.  The best thing about the drink package is being able to try all the different things, and hopefully find something you/she likes.  On my last cruise (which seems forever ago since covid cancelled a couple others), I found that the little bottles of champagne were a great choice.  Also, anything with a little fruit in it.  One of my go-tos is a titos and soda with a spash of cran or pineapple juice, or both!  I drink A LOT on cruises, and find that heavier drinks are just too much sugar for me, so sticking to something light helps that.  I love the other ideas of the moscow mules or the mojitos, which all can also be doctored up to be whatever she wants.  The assortment of different martinis is also a great choice, and fun to try.  

OMG!  I didn't know this was a thing!!! I'm so going to have to order one!!!!

Old locks on the Island Princess, if possible, is magnificent.  It has been my all time favorite cruise.  The history, ports, beauty... all spectacular!  I only had one issue with the entire cruise; in Cartagena I didn't have an excursion booked and was just going to walk around.  I had my at-the-time 6 month old strapped to my chest and just wanted to walk around and see the area close to the ship.  In the gated ship area it was nice with some interesting stuff and tropical birds to look at.  But once leaving the gates I was bombarded with taxi drivers and people pushing items and car rides on me.  They were touching me and the baby and I had enough so I went back to the ship.  Just my two cents.  But I highly recommend the cruise!  

Princess' left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.  It'll all get cleared up in the end.  No pun intended, but these are uncharted waters for all of us with the pandemic.  Just be sure if you call, please be nice.  These people deal with so much negativity, a little kindness goes a long way.

On 11/20/2020 at 5:18 PM, memoak said:

Did you book it as a 14 day cruise or 2 7 day cruises. ?  It looks like the 7 day cruises are still available to book

It was two 7 day cruises.  Princess is now going through all the back to backs people have booked to cancel.  You can book them, but then in a week or so, you'll get a message that your trip has been canceled.

Well, just got notice this morning that my trip has been cancelled....  I'm devastated and pissed.  Two years of planning and now nothing....

22 minutes ago, memoak said:

I am hoping they will look at these as 2 7 day cruises. I have a B2B in Alaska and I am not planning to fly back from Anchorage. This is in August September and I am hoping that a vaccine will be out by then. If we need to take 2 embarkation tests so be it

 

I was thinking the same thing.  If they want me to pack and get off the ship, take a test, then go back on, I'm totally good with it.

I already have my elite person on it, but I am so curious to see how I'm going to sail next year.  Technically my sailing is two 7 day back to back cruises.  Will I have to pack up and get off the ship?  Will I only be allowed to go for the first 7 days?  It'll be interesting to see how they swing this.

It'll be interesting to see what they do about people without phones, disabilities in using devices, and kids without phones. 

My December cruise that was cancelled still shows.  Just makes me sad every time I open the app.

I have a Caribbean cruise booked for the beginning of July of 2021 out of Ft. Lauderdale.  I'm really hoping it is happening.

5 hours ago, pompeii said:

I used this on my fitbit watch band.  This way I wasn't wearing anything additional, like a clip or lanyard or additional wrist band, it fit right on my watch which I was already wearing.   Many people asked me where I got it, including lots of Princess staff.  It will only fit on a fairly narrow watch band, though.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Luke3DP-Adapter-Holding-Carnival-Medallion/dp/B07RC2B9BY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=66DVF7XADJF3&dchild=1&keywords=cruise+medallion+holder&qid=1599649391&sprefix=cruise+me%2Caps%2C184&sr=8-1

 

I was looking into these (have it saved on my wishlist).  Was it secure enough?  I was worried about it falling out.

I'm planning ahead (hoping for the future) and was wondering how you prefer to carry your medallion?  I'm debating on just keeping it in the lanyard or getting the wrist band thing.  What are your personal opinions?

Thankfully my kids are older and I can sit further back, but the worst was when they wanted to go swimming and not a chair in sight was available (only a few actually being used, the others full of "stuff")  so I just had to stand there, like an idiot....  I don't understand people's lack of decency.  I get it if someone wants to sit out all day, and there are those that do, but if you are only going to use the chair for an hour or two, come on people! 

Starting in September, Costa cruises is going to do sailings (only with Italian guests, but it's a start).  They will do mandatory covid testing in the terminal before you get on the ship, a rapid test (who pays for it, I don't know).  

Would you take a test before getting on a ship if it was mandated?

I am asking because I really want to know peoples' answers.  My position is, yes, I would take a test if I could cruise.  

There are many of other positions because of false positives and negatives, etc.  And who would cover the cost of getting home/cruise if the test was positive?

Just throwing this out there; please be nice with each other. 

3 hours ago, poffles said:

 

Hopefully some 'experts' sitting at home are/were able to help them out with that 🙂  We definitely have our opinions LOL.

I filled out the survey and sent my answers in.  It took FOREVER!  There were so many questions.

13 hours ago, Lucky TGO said:

You can also order this off the kids menu. See Photo 😁 I know he or she will love it.

It’s called a Volcano 😋

Tony

That's one of the best desserts!!!!!  We're all kids at heart, right?!

There are a couple of great websites where you can see different menus: 

cruisewithgambee.com

pescadoamarillo.blogspot.com

Those are a couple that I frequent when I'm dreaming of a dinner I don't have to make and has more calories than I consume in a week.

39 minutes ago, spookyfudge said:

You think that is crazy, we will be on the Island for 110 days doing the WC without IC or a vines with the full drink package!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!  I love the IC.

1 hour ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

My fingers are crossed as well.  I still have one more sailing in early 2020 that will most likely be canceled.  I'm hoping my summer sailing isn't also affected.  

BTW, we were on the Grand.  The staff on that ship is known for their friendliness ... I always refer to it as the ship of 'yes'!  There are definitely some drawbacks to that ship ... the staff is not one of them.  

BTW, not sure what blendeds are but, we could only use the coffee card in the IC, not at Coffees and Cones up top.  The physical location of the card they held onto was down at the IC.  However, I have read that some ships were allowing passengers to turn in the coffee cards at the front desk for credit on their account.  Assuming they may still do that, it seems like a more equitable solution to getting those cards out of circulation.  

Blendeds are, what I call, the "fluffly" drinks.  Coffee or not, blended with creams, etc. and topped with whipped cream.  My 13 year old loves them so I figured she could treat herself.  I love the IC, that's my favorite early morning place and usually the only time I would get coffee.

I was on the Grand in the summer of  2018; I loved that ship.  Older, but nice.  And you are right, FABULOUS staff!

13 hours ago, wallyj said:

The official policy is the paper cards are EXPIRED. 

I figured it was just a shot in the dark...

13 hours ago, jagoffee said:

Wanna bet?  Highly unlikely someone paid for a coffee card and only used one punch.  Higher odds that it was a loyalty gift.

Actually, it was purchased.  I would purchase them for the brewed coffee (I'm a snob when it comes to coffee and the syrup was not doing it for me.)

4 hours ago, Potstech said:

And you know this how?

It was paid for!

Anyone remember, back in the day, when they were like the Queen of Hearts or something like that?  I bought those too and used them up over the years.  This card was one of my last ones purchased, probably about 5+ years ago.  For my last couple of cruises I have purchased the drink package so haven't needed anything like the coffee card.

13 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

 

On my last cruise, shortly before the pause, we had an old coffee card with nearly all the punches on it.  We were full well expecting them to say it was useless, but we asked the question at the International Cafe nevertheless.  Well, surprise surprise.  This is what they said without even batting an eye:

"Sure, you can use that but you have to turn it in to us and we won't be returning it to you at the end of the cruise, so use it up!"  Our card, along with our room number was placed into a coffee cup and each time we ordered a specialty coffee, they would find it and place a punch on our card before returning it to the cup.  We had one left over at the end of the sailing and purchased a latte for our very helpful guest services member with that last punch.  

Anyway, I'm not sure if it was just the policy on that one ship and how these will be handled when they resume but, we didn't even need to make a stink to use it and that was in late 2019.  We weren't prepared to make a stink, btw ... we just thought there would be no harm in asking, thinking the answer would be no.  

I still have one more full card left and will try asking again next year as well, as we don't have the beverage package on our summer sailing ... if it sails.  If they say no, I'm ok with that .... they aren't going to hit me with a baseball bat just for asking.   If they say yes ... well, it's Cappuccino time!!  

Which ship were you on?  Just wondering by chance if that's the one for my next sailing.  I figured the same as you, the worst thing that could happen is they would say "no".  My daughter is going on a trip with her grandparents and won't have a drink package so I figured she could try and use the card to treat herself to some blendeds! 

And we better be able to cruise by next summer!!!  I have a 14 caribbean cruise planned for July... HAH!  Crossing my fingers.

Does anyone know if we can still use the punches on a coffee card?  I was cleaning this weekend and found an old one and was hoping my kid could use it for blendeds.  Again, I know this has been asked a million time, but I didn't want to scroll through pages and pages of searches, so please don't harp on me.

Thanks!