spunkie4

We have cruised at least ten times with the Premier Casino Cruise. Have one booked for August and November. The most recent offers ended on July 15, so expect offers sometime within the next two weeks, hopefully.

It's great fun. There is a welcome aboard reception for the group, cash for many, sometimes reduced fares or free room for some, a gift each night and other activities for the group.

Looking forward to the next round of cruises offered.

Shirley

I will really be glad when this is fixed!

Shirley

Haven't read the entire post, so maybe your question has been answered.

We book the steak house on the first formal night. Just off the Freedom on July 5.

We wear smart casual, as we no longer do formal night. Smart casual for us is cargo pants for each of us, nice blouse for me and collared shirt for DH.

First or second night you receive a free bottle of wine. If you do not drink wine, you can still receive the bottle so you can share with someone at home.

Shirley

December 2015 cruise from LA to Santiago with land tour following. Total of 23 days.

Take a look.

We are booked and have a roll call.

Shirley

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.

We are booked! C330.

Shirley and Winston

I would appreciate input from those who have cruised to Santiago.

We will be booking for December 2015 on the Star from LA to Santiago. We will include the land tour following the cruise.

Which side...port or starboard? also, if you can remember your room (we book balcony) and were satisfied or unhappy, I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks.

Shirley

We have 22 cruises with Carnival with three(all Premier Casino) booked before December. Never received a free cruise.

We have, however, taken advantage of the Premier Casino offers. We really enjoy the cruise and appreciate the invite.

(Cry baby here)....BUT, I really would like a free cruise!

Shirley

sorry you had this experience.

We always book the steakhouse, twice on the Liberty, and have never been disappointed.

However, there is always the first time. We have three Carnival cruises booked, so hopefully we will not experience "the first time".

I did not read the entire thread, but did you ask the purser's desk to remove the charges?

Shirley

Shirley

Yes and also for the second night.

Shirley

We were on the Liberty in April. The new menu is OK. We were not there on formal night, always book the steakhouse for that night.

The other nights, we always found something to eat with the exception of one night. We only had soup and salad since nothing on the menu appealed to us.

There is still ship cocktail, the salmon and steak. We had a dish that was rice and shrimp that was very good.

Shirley

We use the same clothes for all our cruises (just returned from number 54), so they are well-travelled.

The first time we used the complimentary laundry, it was more like wash and cram than wash and fold. Since that time, I send one bag with my clothes and one with husbands. I ask that our cargo and shirts be returned on a hanger. that's hit and miss.

Have had underwear for both of us returned with small holes, but that's no big deal. Not good underwear anyway. threw them away once home.

whites tend to become "dingy" on longer cruises. I always bleach them when we return home.

the complimentary laundry does not compare with other CCL corporation ships. Princess and Holland are much better. However, all in all, it's OK.

I make a list of the items sent so I can compare with the returned items.

One of my comments each cruise on Carnival is that they add regular laundry as a perk for Diamond. Although I am not Diamond (almost), it would be something to add that would not cost the cruise line anything.

Shirley

Thanks, everyone, for your response.

Sounds like we should look into this further.

Shirley

I can feel the blast coming.....

I have long felt that gratituties should be included in the cruise fare. No option to remove.

If the real problem is with room service employees not receiving tips, then raise the cruise fare instead of placing a fee for the service. I seriously doubt the problem Princess has with room service is the lack of tips given to room service employees. My opinion is that it is a source of revenue.

As far as Alfredo's. We enjoy having a late lunch there. However, if it's going to be considered a speciality venue, of sorts, let everyone know in advance. Personally, I would not pay $10 PP to dine there.

Shirley

I would like input from anyone who has purchased and used this coverage.

I received information through the NRA (yes, I'm a Southern grandmother who is a life time member of the NRA), started to toss it, but read it instead.

We always purchase insurance through Princess, have medicare and tricare (military).

Any thoughts?

Shirley and Winston

Several cruises ago, we watched a man empty the cream carfe and fill it with coffee.

Now, if the new room service goes fleet wide, I can just imagine everyone ordering coffee on the first morning, keeping the container and filling it each day at the HC!

Or, an increase in passengers bringing their own coffee appliance.

Let's just hope the final decision on the cost will be $3 per cabin not per occupant.

Shirley

Distressing to say the least!

We really enjoy room service and always tip. If the fee is $3 per trip and not $3 per person, maybe I could live with that, but I sure will feel low not tipping the person who brings our breakfast.

On the Royal ( we made the TA last fall), Alfredo's was a favorite for a late lunch. I am sure I would not pay a cover charge. We don't normally drink wine, so that doesn't make the cover charge appealing.

We are long-time Princess customers. Hopefully they will not make changes that will erode their customer base.

Shirley

Thank you for such a generous offer! I would appreciate your information. Will send an email. It will be from "spunkie"

Shirley

We have booked many Premier Casino Cruises. Really enjoy them, so do your best to book. If you both received the same offer, you book one room and each receive the cash.

There is a welcome party, gift each night in our stateroom, cash drawing each night, slot tournament depending on length of the cruise, drawing for a free cruise on the last night and drinks on us card for the entire cruise.

Our next is the Freedom on June 30.

Hope this works out for you

Shirley

We had the pleasure of sailing with her on the Royal 2. She was such a nice person, very approachable and a lot of fun.

Shirley

got ours! trying to decide.

Shirley

Thanks!

Shirley

I think the Royal T/A was an extreme example of the laundry abuse yet Princess did nothing to control it which resulted in massive delays, immense frustration and upset just about everyone on the ship, from the stewards to passengers paying to have their laundry done. The excuse given was that there were a lot of Elites onboard and that laundry couldn't be done while docked in Venice. Hogwash! I've taken quite a few cruises with as many or more Elites onboard.

 

What happened is that some people were sending 5-7 bags a day, every day and many were sending multiple bags a day. Granted, there was a delay due to Venice so that the first day, there was a delay of a couple of days to get your laundry back. By the end of the cruise, laundry was taking 7-8 days between sending it out and getting it back. People were literally screaming and crying for their clothing, even if it was wet, so they could pack. It was a disaster.

 

IMHO, Princess could have easily controlled this by limiting laundry to one bag a day per cabin. That's very reasonable even for people spending several days pre-cruise touring. You can fit 2-3 days' worth of clothing in a bag per couple. As a single, I often send 4-5 days' clothing in one bag. To me, the situation was controllable/fixable but Princess chose not to do anything which resulted in everyone mad, angry and upset.

Pam:

Agree with you 100%

We were on the Royal T/A for 30 days. No problem with the laundry until the last portion of the cruise. We finally washed our clothes, but listened to many gripe about the cost, time spent, etc. There were certainly a large number of "entitled elite", as opposed to the Elite who are thankful for every benefit.

The entire problem could have been solved with limited bags per cabin.

Shirley

When flying Southwest, we always use the Early Bird check-in, even for our flight from home. Saves a lot of time and bother. The internet cafe on the last day is a nightmare, one which I don't wish to experience.

If it's not too late, consider adding this to your return flight.

Shirley

I think a lot of the "Entitled" Elites are the new ones who got it the "easy" way.

I agree!

We also got the Upgraded Princess bag and the normal other items that come in a suite.

Quick comment and question.

we have been elite since 2007. thankful for every internet minute, bar set-up and every item of laundry I didn't have to handle.

Question - what is the upgraded princess bag?

We are also diamond on Carnival, which requires 200 days. Even at those days, the perks do not compare to princess. No internet minutes, no bar set-up and the wash and fold laundry is a joke.

Shirley