ceilidh1

The other thing my clients mentioned regarding the hotels was that the description of what you got didn't actually match what you got - as an example, the description "suggested" (well, actually stated) that you received 5 night hotel stay. In actual fact, they got a credit/voucher for a specific amount per night - every hotel cost more than that credit, so they ended up paying extra to stay. They described the promotion as a glorified timeshare scheme...lol

If it's the Princess Promotions package, where you get a cruise, onboard credits, hotel, etc. I haven't personally had experience with it but a few of my clients did purchase the package. They said that the hotel portion was really hard to book on any of the dates they wanted and the hotels they eventually got were really not worth the price tag. They regretted purchasing...

EZ Air is lower as princess are acting as the consolidator, just like any travel agent. Travel agents pay way less for the flight than they charge the consumer as they add a mark up fee. They pay net rates, as do princess.

Because you don’t always start/end at the same port? I am sailing Southampton to Boston and need to fly from Vancouver. That requires a one way to London and a one way Boston to Vancouver. I can 100% guarantee it would be less with EZ Air and I wouldn’t need to pay until final. That’s why I choose princess over lines that don’t offer airfare for these sailings…

Is it going away? It wouldn't stop me booking Princess, but it would certainly make me consider other lines that did offer airfare. Princess was always a first choice for me - not any longer...

I find it strange that nothing has been communicated about this. I even checked on the TA resources in case I had missed it, but the language is all still the same.

Oh, Princess, why are you making it so difficult for me to stay loyal. This is another reason for me to look elsewhere. I love EZ Air and usually book it any time we sail Princess. We always do a few days pre-cruise at a minimum, but usually 5-7 days. I have a booking next July for a TA from Southampton to Boston - planned on extending both ends a minumum of a week as we have family in both places. I've been waiting on EZ Air opening up...looks like that's a bust now.

It's a lot of fun - I'm pretty sure it's a set price regardless of if you drink alcohol or not. You get a different, specialty drink at each bar and do various games/challenges/ice breakers. It's a great way to get to meet people the first night but you have to go in with the intention of socialising. If you only talk to the folks you are actually sailing with then it's pretty pointless. It ends at the PJ party, which was also a blast. I will definitely do it again on my next trip in Feb!

I’m not sure I agree with that. If one of my kids gets a choco-banana, it’s far more work and effort for the bartender to make that than it is to pour my glass of wine. I’m old school and always leave $1cash per drink on top of the included grats - every time!

I’m not concerned about this program at all. My kids and I earned elite long ago and it really does nothing for us these days other than free laundry. For our cruise style, an upgrade to the premiere package if you buy the plus would be a nice upper level perk. Buying plus as elite kind of invalidates the perks of having a mini bar and wifi discount, the medallion green lane thing means you no longer really benefit from any priority at embarkation…i would definitely find benefit in a package upgrade (similar to the upgrade to higher insurance tier they offer - which has also been negated for those of us living in BC since we are no longer eligible for cruise line insurance but can’t blame princess for that one). I think princess and likely all lines are finding that loyalty is a 2 way street - passengers (like myself) that were loyal to one line are now trying out others and seeing what’s out there. I never thought I would stray from princess (we can thank the app disaster for that) but I’m glad I have. Some things on other lines are a million times better. Others, a million times worse. I will never complain about a $60 plus package again - we sail on RC in august and the drink package alone is $70 a day. Wifi $24 a day. CA $16 a day. And forget any added dining.,,The grass isn’t always greener!

You are correct. Check in is upstairs at street level in Hall C of the convention centre. Security and CBP are downstairs at terminal level. Bag drop is a crap shoot - sometimes on the parking level, sometimes terminal level, sometimes check in level.

At our TA event yesterday, they mentioned that 2026 Alaska was coming soon. Star Princess will be heading West for the season, but no other details that I'm aware of as yet...

Depending on who you get on the phone, you CAN request that the package be removed for a child. It is hit or miss as to whether you get a rep that knows this is possible and how to do it. I often cruise with just one of my kiddos and definitely want the Plus package for myself but, as others pointed out, it doesn't always make sense to get it for a kiddo. This particular child doesn't use the internet (but is also Elite so would get the 50% discount if he did), has an occasional soda at dinner (happy with water/drinks from the buffet at other times) and would really only need the crew appreciation portion. I have been able to have the package removed from him, even when he has been 2nd passenger (when he is 3rd, it no longer gets automatically applied). That being said, it takes time and patience as I would say maybe 2% of the agents on the phone will do it/know about it/know how to do it and even if they do, it needs to go through a supervisor for approval. Now I simply go with the package as it's easier on my end! But worth a try! I should stress that it's ONLY for children (and maybe only under 12) - they will not make an exception for adults!

Virgin is probably the easiest line to travel solo on as there are MANY other solo travellers. The first evening, there is a hosted solo get together and a solo dinner at Razzle Dazzle. I recommend going to both - if you do that you will meet lots of new people and then take it from there. On my last VV cruise, the solo group started a whatsapp so we could coordinate dinner, get togethers, shore excursions, etc. It was a a blast! If you are into it, I would recommend signing up for the Grog Walk on the first night, too - I met so many people doing that and then the PJ party afterwards (I don't necessarily remember meeting them all as I may or may not have had one or two bevvies). Finally, if you are on the other social media site, search for your ship and sail date as VV sailors seem far more active over there than on CC....

I spent the day on Ruby today and got to tour some of the cabins. I wanted to point out this IB interior on Riviera deck as it is one of the roomiest interiors I have come across on a Princess ship. It is a "sideways" cabin so not sure if it's actually bigger, or just seems that way. I would stay in this room in a heartbeat - there was lots of room to walk around. I snapped some pics but they don't really show just how spacious it was - in front of the bed was an "island" which had the refrigerator/tv etc and tucked around behind that was the bathroom.

My 17 and 13 year olds are booked in their own cabin frequently! ONE has to be over 16. Not both.

It’s literally right on the front page of Polar when you go into a booking! Orange letters “age policy change” - click on it and a pop up opens with the policy! Admittedly it’s a few extra clicks to book it but even if a TA didn’t know how to book, the age policy/info is right there!

The other IMPORTANT piece is that the TA needs to link both bookings using a TWID (travel with ID) code. It's one extra click on the booking screen, but MUST be done!

I plugged in my 17 year old. Under Age the TA should change the drop down to say Adult. Once it is booked the system will correct it.

Your TA needs to change the drop down on the booking screen from the actual age to Adult! Once it is booked, the system will automatically assign the correct designation based on date of birth. If your TA had done any Princess training, they would know this...

The plus package is another reason I always recommend booking adults in one room and kids in another if considering 2 rooms. If pax 2 is a kid they are still required to get the package if pax 1 has it…

Your TA is wrong. I'm a TA and also travel with teens - it needs to be booked a certain way, but you are NOT required to have an adult in the room with an 18 year old. I always book the kids in separate rooms without any issues whatsoever. The only thing I caution with it is if you are planning on using Princess Air, the kids are not allowed to fly without an adult and the air system won't allow you to book them unless a kid is booked in the same room as an adult. If you aren't using Princess Air there is zero issue in booking separate rooms.

I'm 98 days and still can't book... I got an email yesterday - encouraging me to choose my dining style and book what I prefer...🥴I immediately scuttled on over and found...nothing...

My entire day has been consumed with trying (unsuccessfully) to resolve Princess app issues today. I've spoken to guest services/reservations, Ocean Navigator (IT?), our BDM, Polar Support, and anyone else who cared to listen. Nothing resolved. I give up.