knbcruisers

Please tell me the line where I can get "more for less".... because I can't find it.     Princess has been very good to DH and I, and has always provided a lot of value for the price.  I always comparison shop the major lines when booking. I currently have deposit on  NCL Bliss Mexican Riviera with their various FAS promotions and that's the closest I have come to a match for Princess with Plus. Go check the price on a RCL cruise.  We are taking DD and her family this July on the Freedom, chosen for the higher level of kid targeted activities.   I would never pay what I am for just DH and I....thankfully I booked over 12 month out as the price has only escalated since then. 
Princess has changed since our first sail on the Golden, but all of cruising has, and we still feel that "I am home" as we step on to the ship.

I think CruisnFinsup is right that this could be very good for those who want to add days before or after in Orlando.  Fly in to MCO, enjoy Orlando, return your rental to MCO and hop on the train.  I live an hour from MCO and would have to the math.  I don’t enjoy the drive to South Florida,  But this would only work if we were going down day of the cruise.

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/hillsboroughcounty/brightline-tampa-station-rail/67-f25bb4d1-ab02-40f6-83e6-35abb1f45a83

a Tampa - Orlando expansion has been proposed but still in discussions,  it’s been discussed for many years but even with federal funds covering the bulk of the cost, Tallahassee has said no in the past.

Adding Brightline connection to FLL would be great, this would also allow for people to fly into Orlando as the new Terminal C has a Brightline stop.   Not so sure about Port Canaveral, that would have to be a bus transfer, there is no Brightline connection to there ( would love to see Brightline run across the I4 corridor ).   I considered using Brightline  for our family July cruise on RCL but we need the car for the 2 days prior with DD and her family.   If it was just me and DH I would likely have done it.   

I would agree with the suggestion to try to move to the mini suites on deck 10; we had C722 for Alaska and it was perfect.   I would keep the Premier package for the specialty dining etc.  I have not had a Reserve mini with the dedicated dining area, but the extra specialty dining could make up for that.   Love the Coral and I don't think you will find the main dining room to be crowded on a PC cruise.  Also, The price savings between regular mini and Reserve location could pay for extra specialty dining.      

We really loved the zodiac boat tour in Ketchikan....saw lots of bird life, excellent guide, and you get to drive the boat yourself ( shared among the 4passengers). Also excellent discussion from the guide about growing up in Alaska.  They have some fish to feed the Eagles to get them to fly close by.

30 minutes ago, robmtx said:

 

It's just really hard to predict with many factors that can change the scope. But, typically you're looking at a gangway opening 60 minutes after arrival. We got into San Juan like 2 hours early the last time we went, and so we were off the ship an hour before the original arrival time.

Thanks everyone for the feedback, offered zip line times at our chosen place are 12:30 and 3 so I may book the 3 pm just to be safe.

Hi we have a San Juan stop, itinerary says 11:30 arrival, anyone have experience as to earliest time get off ship to meet your guide?   Working on reservations for private van and ziplining plus other stops.  11:30 ? Closer to noon -1 pm?

Hi all, these are great suggestions, but can you comment on the noise level? DH needs the fan sound for sleep as much as the breeze..

So glad I saw this,,, We are on Freedom July 2024.  I was only going to book the water park for the 3 GK and one adult at the $170 pp I have been seeing.  Got all 7 of us in for same price !

Thank you…I tried with customer service to cancel one cruise and rebook the same cruise for the next week in the same cabin and they couldn’t do it, but I I could see it was available online…I could not understand why.

Hi how do I get a PVP or find out if I am assigned a PVP ?

On 9/10/2023 at 11:41 PM, rich_cathybrock said:

I have been scouring Amazon and Esty for an hour.  I love this pendant as it can be used without the medallion, too, however I see in a lot of the reviews that the medal interferes with the medallion.  Has anyone confirmed being able to use this onboard?

 

This looks exactly like what I got, and it worked perfectly.  I wore the Princess bracelet (like for a Fitbit) during the day and the pendant in the evenings. I put it directly on the chain, did not use the extra ring as that was too bulky.    No issues using the medallion anywhere that I recall. I got several compliments.  I now wear it as regular jewelry.

Thanks for all the feedback…seems like we should have some flexibility between  main dining or specialty each day.   That’s how we started with Princess way back, the anytime dining option.   DH would never have gone on a cruise if he had to eat when they told him to!  🙂. 

Hi all, last NCL cruise was way back around 2008 on the Sun. I was frustrated that anytime we tried to use the specialty restaurants only availability was at 5:30 or 9.   Am considering  Mexican Riviera, March 2025 on the Bliss…what can I expect as to how flexible dining can be?  Do I have to plan the whole weeks dining ahead of the cruise?   Just 2 of us and prefer to just see how each day goes, but don’t want to eat in buffet everyday.

Is there any chance you could move to deck 10–Caribe for similar price?  These are standard cabins but with oversized 9x9 balconies (sized like a minisuite). They are partially covered so best of both worlds.   We were in mid 300 block Panama Canal and it was great location.  Wind is not an issue, quiet, easy access everywhere.  

We stayed in either this cabin or one very close to it…maybe 323? for 10 day Panama Canal cruise, and this is excellent location.  Caribe deck with 9x9 partially covered balcony.   Because the Buffett is in the front on the Coral it was easy access for breakfast, yet not too far forward from the atrium bars and show lounges.   Excellent viewing for the canal transit.

We used Enterprise in March and there was no shuttle to the ship…we did Uber and it was like $7, fast and convenient.   Enterprise is closed Sunday, so that should be kept in mind for anyone planning this.   

On 9/4/2023 at 9:41 AM, WatchHill said:

We've stayed at both in Dania. Hyatt Place is akin to the Hyatt at 17th. At times the Dania location has been less $$, so we book there. Last fall we opted for Hyatt House as we were traveling with my sister who wanted her own room. Since we were staying 3 nights pre-cruise, I opted for House and got a two bedroom, two full bath, [3 tv's] suite for less than two individual rooms. Our suite had a fully equipped kitchen with small dining table, and traditional Hyatt living room with L-style sofa. The hotel never charged us to park the car, had a nice buffet breakfast, small "snack/notions store" adjacent to the check in desk, full bar and ample seating. Only draw-back according to DH, he had to go across the street for his favorite warm chocolate chip cookie to Hyatt Place. I thought the elevators were slow. 

 

Darcy

Thank you so much for this, I was able to book the 2bed suite for our group of 4adults 3 kids for less than 2 regular hotel rooms at the Best Western near the beach.    Being close to Dania Pointe is Plus…the kids always need stuff last minute 

I think I am done with using a TA.Had a good one for many years, good and prompt service, competitive pricing and usually at least some extra OBC..but COVID really defeated her attitude and another agent with that company was incompetent.  I’ve booked several with the very large online travel company and I am done with that.  It took 3weeks and several phone calls to get my booking summaries for next July Freedom cruise.   I am spending $11k for 7 people and gave you $1750 in non-refundable deposits and I don’t get the confirmation by the next day???  At least on the cruise line website you can see everything immediately..take screen shots etc.  Have also booked next Princess cruise for March 2025 directly on the website.

Thanks for the nice review, very helpful. We are going on RCL for the first time next July and taking DD her hubby and  3 kids ages 8-14.  We are in two JR Suites next to each other. We also have family joining us:  my 2 SIL , one hubby one teen. A few questions if you are willing ?

is there space in a JR for a blow up twin bed?  I am not sure how big the sofa beds are and I am worried that the 12 & 14 year old boys will be too crowded in the bed together? I was thinking of bringing an air bed that could be stored in the closet during the day?

in the MDR how would we work a group of 11? Can we get a table large enough? Maybe not everyday but it would be nice to have one or two big family dinners.

Thanks again..I’m a Princess girl so this is a lot of new things to think about 
 

10 minutes ago, AZjohn said:

OK, so I did understand correctly.

You are going to try and pocket $1,200 for the flight's the insurance paid for.

 

If trip went as planned, it would have cost you $1,200. Trip didn't and insurance paid for new flights but now you want to profit $1,200.

 

Guess you can justify it anyway you want. I guarantee your insurance company would like to know if you get $1,200 back from airlines.

 

Cheers,

John

So I guess this is new business model for Delta? Cancel flights and tell the passenger they are SOL—-should have bought insurance?
 

Even if you are correct somebody should be able to provide the policy on this …not tell me to call somebody else so I go in circles or ignore email requests for nformation?

6 hours ago, AZjohn said:

Are you saying your insurance covered all additional costs including flight back and you are trying to get $1,200 additional money back? 

Sorry if I’m not understanding correctly but curious what your trying to recover that insurance didn’t cover?

Delta fully cancelled the flight, and so did not provide service I paid for.  The insurance for the additional charges is really separate issue in my mind. Delta claims to have given me refund with eticket #, but when I call I am told to contact Princess.

Delta did everything with me by text…In hindsight I should have called ezair immediately.

Please help me go to the right place for a refund.   Booked return trip for LAX to MCO through ezair for 3/18.  Once I had paid and ticketed the seat, I purchased upgraded comfort seats on the Delta website.   That flight was cancelled the day of the flight, and the replacement flight was unacceptable due to the risk of being stranded in Raleigh due to only a 30 minute layover. I booked and paid for my return flight on another airline on my own.  All the additional costs due to the cancellation (food, hotel, flight etc) were refunded through my Princess insurance.   The problem is no one can tell me how to get back my $1200 for the cancelled Delta flight and upgraded seats.  Everybody tells me to call someone else….has anyone had this happen and have suggestions ???  I have called my TA, Delta, ezair, and emailed customer relations with no response.