skynight

Maybe one minute. But if you make one error you are out. In your example I have seen people begin with 1. They are out immediately.

Historically Princess has released the type of cruise you are referring to around 18 months before the start of the season. That would be sometime very soon. TAs may receive information a few weeks earlier before it is released to the general public. What Steelers mentions about May 25 makes sense.

You might think of it more like a bonus for exceeding the revenue income projections and not a weekly gratuity. Princess may have contractual wording for these situations, and the accounting sense bonuses may be funded from the gratuity pools. This could be a reason why Princess has the wording included.

Any OBC that shows in your Princess records pre-cruise can be used to book excursions. This would include shareholders, military, Princess promotional OBC, maybe group OBC from a T.A.. Some OBC provided by TAs is not applied until just before boarding, thus not available for booking excursions.

Princess eliminated the loyalty OBC along with some other benefits when they restarted in 2021. I don't like it, but that is how it is now. The $50 loyalty OBC ($100 if booked as two separate 7 day cruises) you did not receive would not be a make or break issue for us.

Agree regarding the dining. Princess fixed a dining problem that was not broken so they could use it as an app feature. We were happy with anytime dining and many were happy with fixed seating. Why put passengers through all this extra effort of booking dining times. The previous ways worked well. Wonder how Dine My Way is rating in the post cruise surveys? Another point is that the Island Princess was originally built for 2,000 passengers. Back some time ago Princess added cabins to the entire aft section of the ship, but did not add any additional dining space.

I don't think there would be an issue on disembark. If you took early walk off you could be at the airport in plenty of time for a 10:30 flight. You airplane arrival time of 12:10 would cause me stomach issues. From what I have heard and read airlines are not keeping to their schedules. We have always flew in for cruises the evening before sailing. That is what I would do.

3. The ship may have some games but best to bring your own. No cards. No card rooms. You have to find a table somewhere on the ship to play games. During the daytime one of the lounges when not in use, tables around the pools, tables on the aft deck, Piazza. You have to look around.

Yes. Out the back doors and up a half flight of stairs to the Terrace Pool. There are some lounges adjacent to the pool. Up another half flight of stairs from the pool area to the Lido deck with more lounges, tables and chairs and Outriggers Bar. Inside to the Horizon Ct. buffet area.

Wonder? On which lines & business models do service crews make more money? Where do crew like to work? I think it's the current Princess model sailing in North American market and other markets where there are lots of North Americans on board. Crew receive compensation from the crew incentive pool and in many cases directly from the passengers they serve.

1. All shows and guest entertainers are family friendly. All game events are also family friendly. Exceptions the marriage game, and maybe majority rules trivia. In both of these games passengers may get off color. 2. Don't think there is any restriction of youth attending bingo with their parents. On their own doubtful they would be allowed to purchase cards. 4. Yes, evening game shows are either in the Vista Lounge or Princess Live. Both of these are lounges that serve alcoholic beverages. They are not adults only, but it is possible that they may be asked to leave if not accompanied by an adult. Really depends on the activity. Example, karaoke is generally limited to adults and maybe older teens. While youth can probably watch they may not not be able to sing. The youth center pre-covid did have their own karaoke. There may be other games that are offered during the daytime in the Piazza area such as ring toss, paper airplane contest, egg drop contest. I have seen youth in these activities. 5. Don't count on well heated pools. They may be somewhat heated. 6. Don't know if there is a restriction posted, but I have seen youth in the hot tubs on other ships. The Discovery Princess is a new ship and this is its first season in Alaska. Comments are based on experience on other ships.

Doubtful you will get anywhere. Chalk it up to a learning experience on cruise vacations. Many cruise lines have the same or similar policies regarding housekeeping gratuities. Some cruise lines charge a gratuity per beverage ordered even when you have an inclusive beverage package. You have to know before you go. Regarding reading the small print refer to the FAQ's on the Princess web site. They clearly explain the crew incentive and services charges. Look here: https://www.princess.com/learn/faq/onboard/onboard-experience/

Ten in sixty. Post #4 explains the game. You do have the option to stop the game by raising your hand. If you do you are called to verbally provide all 10 correct answers. If you do you receive extra points and everyone else receives no points. Example the 10 events in the decathlon, first ten prime numbers.

If they do it is doubtful they are free.

EZ Check available in Ft. Lauderdale. In Seattle there is a similar service called with a different name. Don't believe it is available at other US ports.

No direct experience with Island Princess which has its fitness center on deck 6 aft interior. On other Princess ships typical times are 6am until 10pm with treadmills opening at 8am to reduce noise to nearby areas above and below.

Suggest. When on board place your phone in airplane mode and use wifi/internet solutions. The ship probably will sail through areas that have little or no internet service such as Glacier Bay. When on shore in Alaska you can remove your phone from airplane mode and try using normal cell service. Assume your cell plan has Alaska included. The 3 Alaska ports you mention should have cell towers and service. Check with your provider to determine if your plan includes Vancouver, Canada. If not you may be able to purchase limited time service.

In Australia the gratuity pool is just part of the fare. With Plus fares you basically have the same situation. There most likely is a financial purpose in the North America market to separate out gratuities into a pool. If not then it is just a carry over and easier replacement from when cash was placed in envelopes and handed out on the last day.

I have not seen a sommelier in the DR on a Princess ship going back as far as 2000 and probably even before that. Maybe way back Princess had sommeliers.

This is standard on Princess and many other cruise lines. If you have a fare that includes the crew appreciation, such as the plus fare, then you can not remove it. If you have a no frills fare and are charged by the day you may request the tip to be removed at passenger services. Believe current onboard procedures now allow Princess crew members to retain any cash tips they receive. It is up to you if you wish to leave the auto-gratuity in place or have it removed. Most passengers do leave it in place, guessing over 99%, and many passengers like ourselves provide extra rewards to our cabin steward and other crew on the ship such as waiters that served us during the trip.

No. Onboard wi-fi is free to all and can be accessed using a smart phone or device. Some applications, example, location on the ship, ordering using Ocean Now and others can be accomplished from your cabin TV or screens around the ship. All you require is your medallion for this.

It kind of indicates that Princess will be raising drink prices for many of its alcoholic beverages above the current $12 where most of them are now.

It's an academic exercise. Cruise the line and itineraries you enjoy and accept the loyalty benefits they provide as they are.

Try Crooner's, deck 6 mid ship starboard, Take Five, deck 6 forward port or Crown Grill Bar on Deck 7 starboard aft. Sorry no vista views.

Just ask when you order. Of course non-alcoholic beverages have no limit.