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Posts
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Joined
About Me
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Location
Northern WI & formerly Anchorage AK
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Interests
Gardening & Wildlife. Rocks & landscaping.
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Favorite Cruise Line(s)
Princess
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Favorite Cruise Destination Or Port of Call
I try to take a yearly cruise, and expand my destinations.
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melodyina's Achievements
![Rank: Cool Cruiser (2/15) Cool Cruiser](http://content.invisioncic.com/j283755/set_resources_11/84c1e40ea0e759e3f1505eb1788ddf3c_default_rank.png)
Cool Cruiser (2/15)
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I should have placed events in chronological, but I didn't I just typed away as i was recalling them. But I did have the topic there. 1st day was rough but there is always something. I'm ok with it, I was more embarrased than anything, as I've felt a decline. The app is new, all the people with drink packages is now a new norm, and the waiters and waittresss aren't very visible like they were 'years ago'.
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I'm certainly going to get the plastic sleeves, they look handy. I'm also going to rethink a bit as it sure rained in FLL and determine how water-proof my suitcase is. I believe the hardcase suitcases are the way to go. I'll upgrade my suitcase in the future with more thought in mind. But as I say.. 'you learn as you Go'. 🙂
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Our Sabattins was reserved for the 4th night of our cruise. 7:20pm, I was disappointed as we normally ate at 6pm in our MDR, but 7:20 was the earliest time we could grab a couple months in advance. Paying for 4 people and it comes to $160 or so, and its paid at reservation time. Couldn't even use OBC, or I didn't see the option to do so.. but 'oh well'.. We were talking about this reservation in anticipation. But, I was disappointed since we had the reservation, and the APP that we weren't notified of the delay. We showed up at 7:20 and it was just a no go. So the Sabattin's manager phoned our MDR just to make sure we had a table for 4 available for us. He was very kind and sympathetic, and sent us a bottle of wine.
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So true, and I agree. The most frequent 'bumps' were from the bar service which were hit/miss. The staffing for bar service is certainly lacking, so I am thankful we had the app and phones with, even with the bar open and staffed. Example - Explorers Lounge.. Thank goodness we could order from the app even while at the bar with bartenders and staff, it would have been a long wait. (and me being short and non-aggressive - standing a couple deep at the bar really gets me nowhere., very convenient to just order on the app..)
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Hi- this was my 21st Princess Cruise, and the 16th for my husband. We did not use the Elite, Platnum lounge in Skywalkers, but were there early before the event. Our guests would not have been able to attend being their 1st cruise. Sailway was at 4 so we were there from about 3:30 - 4:30 before dinner (and before the Skywalkers event). Oh yes, there were other 'bumps' too and my most disappointing was our prepaid Sabattin's months in advance - and we couldn't get in. NO tables available at our reservation time (7:20) until 8:30 or so. Extremly disappointing as it was a prepaid reservation, but it was refunded as a shiipboard credit.
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Finally! My daughter-in-law and her husband (lets just say mid 50's) joined us this past week for their very first cruise ever! After listening to us recap all the benefits and awe's, after showing them multiple vlogs to follow on YouTube - they booked and joined us on the Caribbean Princess. (!) How exciting is this, and I will share with you, some of the bumps and joys shared during this past week in the Caribbean. Note: This is our actual experience and yes, its not all Princess's related, but it is their first cruise day that we shared with them. First - we all arrived a day early. Well, they were flying in from Alaska to FLL and arrived in the early evening, so it wasn't a 'spend a day in FLL' it was really a place to crash on;y. A fantastic stay at the Tru by Hilton near the airport. WOW - i'm impressed with everything available at this hotel and we Uber Food ordered and delivered as we all arrived past 5. Best about the Tru - no carpet in the rooms! Lovely ammenities and just very comfortable. We also use Uber to the cruiseport for 4 with luggage and it was wonderful and flawless. What a great start to the day! Dropping off our luggage (and tipping) with the Porter, we were boarding! Quick! Easy! No wait, we were all Green Line - entering in the Piazza on the Caribbean is always breathtaking - the time - 11am. (We did have noon for boarding, but really, we didn't need to wait). It was noted 'Stateroom note available until 2'. Hello buffet and awe of the ship walking around. What we take as normal they were amazed with the Int'l cafe and choices and 'Really its free?".. "YES" (we all had the beverage package). 2pm - Exciting - we parted ways as we all went our separate ways to our staterooms. We had our luggage waiting. After meet-up - they had one luggage waiting but not the other. Sure enough, even after dinner - the other luggage hadn't showed. The room steward stated we have until 6pm to deliver luggage. OK - our dining reservations were for 6pm. After dinner they checked for the luggage - not to be found. Sure enough - day 1 of their first cruise - no luggage. Note we dropped off luggage to the port, with the porter and tipped. Yes, they knew how to attach tags as we even brought a stapler with. So after connecting with the stateroom attendent to questions missing luggage, he was awesome and started the search for them. Sure enough it was with the 'lost luggage' without a tag and soaking wet. (I did rain for 10 minutes or so). No problem, the stateroom attendent apologized for the luggage delay and was with them 100% in the search... Dining - we had a table for 4. Well, next to us was a table for 2. I will say that the male party of that table for 2 was RUDE to the server and it rattled her. He ordered a 2nd glass of wine, and when it was delivered, 'it did not taste like the 1st glass'. HE WAS ANGRY. He said to the Jr Waitress 'this is not what I ordered', but believe me he was not nice about it, and he did not drop the issue. (If it was you and you were reading this, I"m still giving you the evil eye!)... The waitress apologized and he interrupted her demandng to speak to the head waiter!.. The gal he was with was just about shrinking in her chair!!.. I believe they were on a 'cruise date'. He was loud enough that it interrupted our dining conversation at our table for 4. It was first night dining! All I could think of is 'thank GOD I didn't have same table each night as I sure don't wish to be near him!'.. Our waitress was so shook she actually had to ask me again what I ordered (Gin & Tonic) as she was flustered. He was still ranting. He threw the 'Celebrity' reference and how that would never happen. The waitress stated the bartender must have made the mistake as she ordered what he asked for and delivered it to him.. there was not apologize for this man.. and he continued on his rant. It REALLY disrupted our dining. The gal with him also ordered her 2nd wine, but said nothing. I apologized and said 'the dining room isn't really like this'. and on we went. Our first night I also ordered "complimentary Birthday' on-line. It was confirmed.. I was excited for the waiter/waitress singing Happy Birthday.. but it did not happen. I didn't say anything, as to take away the surprise, which i'm glad on as it just didn't happened and I had us linger a bit after dinner/dessert. (A couple days later, while at the Purser's desk I brought my confirmed printout of Birthday celebration and inquired. I was told I needed to inform the waiter that it was a birthday celebration and they would have the cake brought. I said 'I didn't know this, in prior years it was always a nice surprise, and we didn't need to remind. I was now updated that they most likely didn't check their sheet and it was first night so they were very busy). Ok, I was a bit bummed but never did bring it up or mention it, or get birthday singing.. thats ok.. just a nice touched missed - so why have it on your reservation? I will say that the table for 2 next to us really had our team shook. Which brings to mind ordering drinks at the table - a 'Seven and Seven" was ordered by our guests. The waitress was trying her best to figure it out. I said (she doesn't know what a 7&7 is, you need to call out the drink by what it is, the servers aren't American and don't know our drink slangs. She apologized and said she couldn't find the drink.. oh how it flustered her, (still shook from wine issue next table over).. drinks were obvioulsly something our entire table agreed on that we would bring in our own as to not upset the dining flow. Well, - sail away!!! To me (imho) I enjoy the Skywalkers Lounge. So we all 4 went there. Note - non of us are interested in song/dance or disco or party atmosphere at sail away, we like to view the port in its departure in quiet awe There was no bar open or waiter in Skywalkers at sailaway so keep this in mind. Shame on us - we came empty handed... We all took our app and ordered our drinks. Wow how convenient! We all sat together. Drink progress viewed on the app is very convenient. The waiter came - with ONE drink on the tray. Mine. Where were the other 3 we asked? He never saw the ticket.. But they all showed the phone and what they ordered and he was really pleasant about going to the bar (who knows on what floor) and getting the drinks. (We all had beverage package). But I did feel a bit embarrassed as it was only my order delivered. I said 'the app is new, i'm sure they are working things out.. ) This was our 2nd cruise in the past year with the medallion and app, and we have been happy with it in the past. No problems, Glitch seems to be a word used by staff. After dinner on 1st night, we hit the evening show, the casino, after their luggage shake-down and unpacking, it was a night. They ordered from the card and hung it on the door for the morning breakfast to be delivered. Did it come on time? Yes. Was it correct? No. half of the items they ordered were not delivered. So they used the app to order service, which worked fine. It was a rough start for them on the first 24 hours on the ship.
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For us- we dont want the tv or have to retreat to our room to order a drink off the tv or phone. I really enjoy the app to bring the drink to me, where i am or the snacks 🙂. For this cruise, it wasnt in our room.
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Hi i agree with you too and didnt plan on carrying my phone, but then i realized the bars arent staffed during many times in the day (like vines) and id need to walk to another deck or to explorers to get a drink as wait staff is not visible either. Sure, self walkup works but you will wait their too. All i can say is.. allow time whatever option you choose.
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Sabattinis -with a prepaid reservation, we didnt get in
melodyina replied to melodyina's topic in Princess Cruises
Agreed.. everyone with reservations from 7-8pm were turned away. -
Good to know, we havent ordered from our tv in the room, i will try this later!