SargassoPirate

For years I've had to watch my bookings with Princess closely because they would ignore my "no upgrades" request and move me from my perfect cabin to a crappo location without asking. Most of the time I was able to get my original cabin choice back, but not always. I wonder if that's a thing of the past?

Is this available if you book your own flights or just if you use EZ air?

We use TSA locks to keep the honest people honest and the zip ties to tell if TSA or anyone else has opened them. Sort of belt and suspenders.

Thank goodness there are many cruise lines and ships to choose from. If certain lines or ships embrace the "new" demographic with venues and activities that don't appeal to the more seasoned cruiser, we can always book elsewhere for the cruise experience that we want. We tried some of the new and trendy ships that started appearing several years ago and we quickly realized the demographics they were trying to reach. We don't need an alcohol-fueled floating country fair populated with unbridled feral children when we cruise. Viking realizes this and one has to only look at their list of what they are not to appreciate their target demographic. I spend more time studying the ship's deck plans, photos, and videos before choosing the line and ship. It's also important to be aware of school holiday schedules. Longer cruises seem to pare down the number of children on board. As I said, thank goodness there are many cruise lines and ships to choose from.

Found this on Princess: New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority Most guests, excluding Australian and New Zealand passport holders, are required to obtain a New Zealand visa or an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to visit New Zealand after October 1, 2019. To determine your visa requirements for New Zealand, please visit https://www.immigration.govt.nz/ or download the ETA mobile app. ETA requests may be submitted via the app or at https://www.immigration.govt.nz/nzeta. Most visitors to New Zealand will also be subject to a $35.00 NZD International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). This fee enables multiple entries into New Zealand and is payable at the time you obtain your visa or ETA. Guests are required to obtain a New Zealand visa or ETA independently in advance of their cruise and bring a printed copy to cruise check-in. Guests who require one and do not present it at cruise check-in may be denied boarding. Australian Visa/Electronic Travel Authority (Eta) All guests, excluding Australian and New Zealand passport holders, are required to obtain an Australian visa or ETA. To determine your visa requirements for Australia, please visit https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-finder. Please be sure you have independently acquired an Australian Visa or ETA in advance of sailing. Please ensure you bring a printed copy of your approved Australian visa or ETA to cruise check-in. Guests who require an Australian visa or ETA and do not present one at cruise check-in may be denied boarding.

I often combine land travel with cruises on one end of the cruise or the other, but I've never tried a schedule like yours. One a couple of trips I have flown to another continent for land travel followed by a cruise and I've had Luggage Forward ship the cruise-only bag to the ship. The only rub there is that they won't pick it up and store it until it needs to be shipped, so I enlist friends and neighbors to hold it until shipping day and then the company picks it up from them. On a trip to Australia where I planned to cruise back to the US from Sydney, I found a luggage storage company in Sydney. Once there, I rolled my cruise-only back to their facility and checked it in for the six weeks I would be traveling within Australia. When I got back to Sydney, I picked up my cruise-only bag and I was ready to go. Your itinerary is a challenge because of the storage issue. What comes to mind for me, and it may be difficult to do would be to have two cruise-only bags. One to ship home when you disembark in Lisbon and the other to be shipped to you in Southhampton. The other is to pare down your expectations for cruise-only wear to things that will also work on the land travel. Nobody on the cruise is going to care that you've been wearing those same quick-dry slacks and shirt for six weeks. I'm curious, so let us know what you work out.

Princess has already dropped testing for vaccinated people for departures from US ports. Common sense and science are starting to communicate.

My last trip there I obtained what they call ETAs, or Electronic Travel Authorizations. It's all online. I can't recall exactly how I did it, but check with each country's visa requirements and the application should be there. The Google will get you there. The immigration authorities then have the information digitally and as soon as they scan your passport the ETA pops up and you are good to go.

The real decision about the viability if the show will be the ratings.

wowzz....so you carry a bottle of wine with you as you walk around the ship? Yikes! 😀 (sorry, couldn't help myself)

I watched the commercials hyping the show and decided not to waste the electricity it would take to run the television for that hour.

If I pass you in the hall, I will make eye contact, smile, and say hello or good morning or good evening. Lots of the folks I encounter with GRF won't even acknowledge or return a greeting.

Oh, I do enjoy myself on cruises and any ship at sea is a happy place. I just find it interesting that I see so many people walking around with a frown on their face as if they are bound and determined not to have a good time. "I love waking up in the morning not knowing where I'm gonna go or who I'm gonna meet. Just the other night I was sleeping under a bridge, and now here I am, on the grandest ship in the world, having champagne with you fine people." Jack in Titanic.

Yes, folks, as masks come off I'm seeing more and more cases of GRF on board. Grouchy Resting Face. The serious cases won't even smile and return a greeting.

I cruise solo most of the time since She Who Must Be Obeyed doesn't enjoy it as much as I do. I'm an early riser, SWMBO is not, and I enjoy being able to get up and turn on the cabin lights to get dressed. The biggest thing I like is every move does not require a committee decision. I enjoy being able to do what I want, when I want, I can eat when and where I want. I don't get dragged to overamplified production shows for fear SWMBO is going to miss something. I don't feel compelled to disembark at every port. Importantly, one can be alone without being lonely. A smile and or a raised glass by way of greeting often starts a conversation. Seeing the same folks up early with coffee to watch the sunrise can spark a conversation as well. The cost? When SWMBO cruises a balcony is a must since it serves as her own quiet sanctuary with tea and coffee service from her cabin boy. When I cruise solo I book an inside since I only use the cabin to shower and sleep. So, the bottom line impact on the checkbook is less and I pay less for excursions because I don't do many - unless it's a new port.

Didn't someone declare that the pandemic is over? Seems like I saw that on TV a few Sundays ago.😁

It's easier and more relaxing to fly home the day after the cruise. Lounge about on disembarkation day and be amongst the last off the ship. (you can still roll your own bags off anytime) Check into your hotel and relax around the pool free of chair hogs. Catch a flight at whatever time works best for you the next day. Stress free way to end the cruise vacation.

Walking backwards in flip flops is quite a skill that is getting lots of practice.

I thought somebody said the pandemic was over. 😀

This works nicely and makes it through security scanners in my backpack or suitcase since it looks like a reusable water bottle, Just pack the power cord with your computer. Amazon.com: Portable Electric Kettle,Travel Kettle,Travel electric kettle for Boiling Water,Portable Water Boiler, One Cup Hot Water Maker, 350ml Small Mini Portable kettle for travel,Camping,Office Coffee,Tea: Home & Kitchen

I figured the difference in my booking with and without Princess Plus and the plus package comes out to $64 per day extra. It may be worth it just to stick with the Plus package and not have to worry about the small stuff.

I have a cruise booked with the Princess Plus package. I am Elite with Princess. I'm having second thoughts about the value of the Princess Plus package. First of all, I don't drink that much, maybe a wee dram or two of scotch in the evening. I don''t drink many chi chi coffees either. I don't wifi much on board. Specialty restaurants are not a big deal to me. With my Elite wifi package discount and mini bar setup that I can swap for a coffee card, I'm thinking paying gratuities, wifi, and drinks ala cart may make more sense. Thoughts? Experience?

For my last two cruises out of Tampa, I stayed at the Hampton Inn Ybor City before and after the cruise. They have a covered parking area and I think the charge to park for the duration of the cruise was only $10 - prices subject to change, of course. I took the hotel shuttle to the terminal and back.

Because of boors, slow eaters who slow down service for the entire table, people who think shorts, T-shirt and a ball cap are smart casual, religious zealots, political zealots, drunks, and feral children. Need more?

As long as people will line up to pay it, the charges will remain. It's the basic law of the marketplace - charge what the traffic will bear.