SargassoPirate

24 minutes ago, Cruise Raider said:

I have over charges occasionally now but had many more with the sea pass cards back in the day.  

It would be interesting to devise a scientific study of "problems" with Medallions versus cruise cards.

Since cruising with the Medallion the only issue we have encountered was when SWMBO ordered a hot chocolate and the next day her charges showed two whiskeys.  Either she's a closet drinker or the "system" picked up her Medallion and someone drinking whiskeys got charged for a hot chocolate.

I check our shipboard account every day and for good reason.

So many glitches in the system and the app that it's unusual when something goes smoothly.  

On 12/7/2023 at 9:34 AM, Hlitner said:

I just had a conversation with the nice folks at the shore excursion desk.  They are still scrambling to reschedule tours and told me to stop back tomorrow when they hope to have more info.  Also learned there are only about 330 of us continuing on the Dec 9 cruise (back to backs).

 

Last night we are in the MDR and the food was quite good.  I was in the mood for meat and they had both rack of lamb and beef Wellington on the menu.  When I asked the waiter (who does not eat meat) for a recommendation, he simply brought both.  Both items were very good (better than the meat I had in the Crown Grill).  The vol et vent starter was also quite good.  
 

Even though the ship is at capacity, we find the MDRs not busy at 8.  The app makes it difficult to get a 7:50 reservation, but one can easily be seated at that time without a reservation.  I sometimes think there are two cruise worlds.  The constant crowding enjoyed by those on an early dining schedule and the laid back relaxing life for those on a later dining schedule.  When the masses are jammed into the dining venues at 7, we are enjoying the not overcrowded bars.  When they are later packed into bars, we are enjoying a quiet dinner with relaxed waiters who are not overwhelmed.

 

Hank

Hank, you are a man after my own heart.  I avoid crowds and crowded venues whenever I can.  I get up early and hit the buffet for a good hearty breakfast as soon as they open, maybe have lunch in the MDR to avoid the buffet, and then I'll have some nibbles in the P&E lounge for a light dinner and a wee dram.   I'll sometimes enjoy another week dram on the promenade while the masses are packing the theater or MDR.

24 minutes ago, Ombud said:

Had someone ask me for my room # in Good Spirits to make sure she was charging the correct medallion. She had a few popping up on her screen but only mine had my room #

I don't recall these sorts of issues with the old sea pass cards.

Not all whiz bang technology is beneficial.  

Bring ear plugs if you want to spend any time in or around the Piazza and not suffer hearing loss.

1 hour ago, BamaVol said:

It’s the old app.  The one that drives people to drink.

If it does drive me to drink, it'll be covered because the app shows that I have a plus package when all I booked is steerage.  😜

This would be a big nothing burger for me, personally. I wouldn't get off the shio in any of these ports anyway. Just me, but they give me a quiet day on the ship.

On 12/4/2023 at 5:49 PM, TiogaCruiser said:

I’m SO tired of this. In so many places.

The only people I tip are waiter/waitresses and the lady who does my hair. I’ll give additional money to people who work on my house occasionally- ( we had a tree trimmer who we felt didn’t charge what his work was worth). On vacation, usually extra for our stewards, a few others, guides/drivers and Uber if we use the service.

It’s bad enough that so many retailers around here are also asking for donations for the Cause d’Jour. My answer is no- I choose which organizations I donate to and support- no need to go through a third party to donate on my behalf.

I'm with you   SWMBO and I have a handy man who can do most anything I don't care to do anymore, like heavy lifting or climbing on the roof.  His per hour rate is very low, so I always pay him a good tip.  The payback is he is very responsive to our needs.  A guy like that is gold.

A tattooed coffee head clerk who only rings up my purchase gets zero, despite the tip jar there with a couple of fives in there as a hint.

7 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

It might have helped if you asked SWMBO the correct question.  I wrote NBD and not NPB, as others have noted.  10-4, GB.

You're right, and that's exactly what she said after I told her I had gotten the letters confused. She said she was going to order me a bottle of Focus Factor to see if that would help.

At this point, it's a toss up.

Now, why did I come into this room?

Need anyone say more?

1 hour ago, memoak said:

Thank goodness we sail in suites it is pretty hard to upgrade from a penthouse 

I sail in an Luxury Inside Suite and have to watch Princess like a hawk because their upgrades have been to balconies under the Melanoma deck or above a noisy nightclub, or right at the elevator lobby where the late night revelers sometimes take a while to say their good night's.

Fortunately, because checking my bookings every morning, I've been able to get my original cabin back.

11 hours ago, suzyed said:

I was thinking No Big Deal....what's SWMBO?  LOL

 

What's LOL?  Laughing Out Loud or Lots Of Love?

6 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

NBD.

I had to ask SWMBO what NPB means, and SWMBO's best guess was No Problem Buddy.  Did she guess correctly? 🥴

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said:

Agree with all above stating we do not see pricing and payments for cruises booked with a TA.

Y'all's right.  It's not reflected in the Princess cruise summary.  It only shows zero balance in the warehouse club travel site   What was I thinking?  Sorry.

2 hours ago, tml1230 said:

greetings from Messina Sicily .....per guest services, they hold chefs table  in a separate portion of the Bordeaux dining room....they said a staff member is waiting at the entrance to escort participants to the area.....

he thought they did it 3 times on this 14 day portion of the cruise. many of the crew we have chatted wit h will be on for the entire world cruise...GREAT crew! you won't be dissapointed!

Thanks for nailing that down. I appreciate it.  I'll buy you a wee dram at Good Spirits tonight.  Just mention my name and they'll take care of it - if you have a package, that is. 😂

2 hours ago, Tampa Girl said:

I don't know about the spa people, but, yes, the hair dressers are still pushing the products.  They not only push the products, they add the additional $90 to your bill, after explaining . .  something . . . in broken English.  The word "gift" came though.  Once I found out they were not gifts, I immediately returned the Karastese products.  The products are good, but they are no bargain on the ship.  The hairdresser was very good, but the sales pitches need to cease.  

What we need is a Spa to English Dictionary to complement to Waiter to English and Call Center to English editions.

1 hour ago, tml1230 said:

not sure on chefs table .....but you have given me an enjoyable  project  for the upcoming days on board to research for you! 

for the record.... we have easily compensated  for NO  international  cafe by  a quick sojourn to the buffet.

the coffee and cappuccino  on deck 5 is equal to or better  than international cafe.....

just returned  from another great dinner  ....double order of escargot!!

Thank you.  Looking forward to what you find out.

An automatic gratuity is the tip.  I never feel compelled to double tip any more than I feel compelled to pay double for the cruise fare or excursions.

I'm seeing more and more tip jars at self service counters where all they do is ring up my purchase.

Neither direct or subtle pressure works with me.

4 hours ago, tml1230 said:

Currently on the island P for 28 days....it's been  a great experience (top 5 of 30 for us). Enjoying it so much we booked up another 28 dayer on her next year.Maybe it's the reserve class experience we have, but it sure beats a greyhound bus experience. 

Any idea where the chef's table dining was held?

Looking forward to 111 days on the Island.  The shop has some detractors, but I followed the 2023 WC live report and it looks just fine to me.

Is the Chef's Table experience offered on the Island Princess and if so, where?

6 minutes ago, kywildcatfanone said:

On Sky now, and they have a machine for use in the buffer for hot chocolate,  no charge. Not sure about other ships.

In September the Regal had a hot chocolate dispenser at the Horizon Terrace aft of the Horizon Court.  I made a Cafe Diablo (coffee and hot chocolate)  every morning and watched the sun come up over the horizon from the Horizon Terrace aft of the Horizon Court.

I always carry a container or three of instant Cafe Mocha by Maxwell House.  Never had an issue.  They're too busy scanning for booze, hair dryers, and power strips.

My warehouse club TA sets their final payment date two weeks ahead of Princess.  In a couple of weeks, it shows in the cruise summary that the final payment has been processed.

54 minutes ago, alolewis said:

When we used Luggage Forward, it has been a few years, we had to pick up the luggage in the terminal and then give it to the Luggage Forward rep.

Thanks.  Might be the same. I just like to be prepared.

17 minutes ago, Sea Hag said:

All that, plus the people who can't decide on anything, take forever on everything, and don't like anything. But I guess those folks fall under "otherwise annoying."

Yes, and just as annoying is when the waiter treats a row of three tables for two as a table for six.  I don't want to wait on my main until the talker two tables down decides to finish his starter.

Happened to us on a recent Princess cruise and after a complaint to the supervisor did no good, we requested a different table that was against a wall with an aisle adjacent.

SWMBO doesn't like to make a fuss, but if you don't complain be prepared to sit there and take it.

1 hour ago, Rick&Jeannie said:

Ah!  OK...but just so you know, Princess *does* offer this service I spoke of...

Yes.  And when I clicked on the pre-cruise FAQs, Princess referred me to Luggage Forward.  I already have an account with Luggage Forward.

I just want to know how the bag will be handled at disembarkation.