Steelers36

I don't see the location on board making a difference. I was thinking the CG was listed so that they can host a WMD on all ships. IDK why they wouldn't continue to use the "wine cellar" location on Deck 5 mid-ship DR for Royal Class (probably something similar on Sphere but I suppose need to wait and see).

Could be Mondavi theme as well. You will know when you see the menu. There was an actual press release about the new WMD collaboration with Caymus, but I think it was late May. $140 is the new price. It is OTT IMO and not worth it, but the $40 past/present one is crazy in the other direction and well under-priced.

Fitting curtains?

😆

Based on your list of issues, I would stop by GS or call them (Guest Services) and ask to speak with the F&B Mgr. I am not sure why you are having such a negative experience. No such level of complaints were heard from the recently-completed World Cruise (WC). Perhaps they had a large turnover in service staff following that? We experienced great service on Island last November.

The reason I mentioned watching "your" voyage and see how the pricing and availability does late in the game is you MAY get an idea of the situation in future if you wanted to try for a last minute situation and hope for a good price. I think that strategy works best either in a off-season or when the guest just wants to get on a ship - any ship - and go for a cruise.

Next time, please use a more legible sized font. I am aware that the Brits are charged and don't get the free cancel/re-books and re-fares that we get in N.A. That said, you did the right thing by monitoring prices and then acting when the price drop was significantly better considering the penalty fee. You mentioned booking direct always, I never do that because I can get significant cash discount off cruise fare by working with the right TA in USA. IDK if TA's in UK discount from the Princess pricing. It's nice for you guys to have the half-off offer for the Plus Fare. Perhaps Princess wasn't getting the "take up" level from your fellow citizens? As for last minute savings, a number of members here have reported they tend to book last minute and can get good deals. That seems to matter somewhat on what time of year and cruise being sold because many voyages sell out. I would say to keep an eye on your voyage beyond the Final Payment Date and up to sailing and see if it ever appears in the Drop 'N' Go specials, or if there are fare offers well below what you paid for a cabin category and location you would book. We too tend to plan ahead and book the voyage as soon as interested and then monitor for better pricing. I realize that is a luxury we have over here, but it works well and I find I am happy with what ends up to be a good price for being able to select cabin we want and make travel plans.

It's even more loose than you might read into the literal wording. You can get all beers for the alcohol half if you want - for example. You can get a mix of soda and water for the non-alcohol - for example. IOW, it doesn't have to be an all-in swap. Also, from your wording above, did you ask your cabin steward or did you call Room Service? RS takes take of the mini-bar delivery and swaps and they are the ones to contact directly. It's one of my first calls once on board so I am near top of request list. If on a B2B, I always call the day before and give them my custom order so that a swap is not required. It is too bad we cannot pre-submit our mini-bar orders via the App so that swaps are not required.

As long as the components of the PLUS fare option are listed in your Travel Summary, you have nothing to worry about.

Just wanted to point out that it is well-established that the SD cover charges include any gratuity, so nothing additional is charged on the tab nor expected. That said, guests are free to offer additional gratuities if they feel like it.

Yes, let's not start this one again. It will just be more hand-wringing that's been covered many times.

Good advice above. If an extension is required, it would be best if you were also booking a cruise for a future date so that they see you intend to sail and use the FCC.

Okay, so you can all call me anal, but your post made me think of my file folder from our Mediterranean voyages from last Fall. Every time I made a change to booking for fare reduction, or whatever, I saved off doc's for that voyage, or all of them. Here is my File Folder content from Windows: "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - EZ-Air 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - EZ-Air 9.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - EZ-Air 10.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - EZ-Air 11 - eTickets.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 9.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Onboard Credits 10.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 3.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 9.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Reservations & Purchases 10.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 3.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 9.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\ISLAND - 2022-10-31 - Travel Summary 10.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - EZ-Air 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - EZ-Air 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - EZ-Air 8 - eTickets.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Onboard Credits 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Onboard Credits 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Onboard Credits 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Onboard Credits 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Onboard Credits 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Reservations & Purchases 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Reservations & Purchases 3.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Reservations & Purchases 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Reservations & Purchases 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Reservations & Purchases 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 3.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-01 - Travel Summary 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Onboard Credits 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Reservations & Purchases 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Reservations & Purchases 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Reservations & Purchases 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Reservations & Purchases 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 3.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-08 - Travel Summary 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Onboard Credits 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Reservations & Purchases 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Reservations & Purchases 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Reservations & Purchases 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Reservations & Purchases 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Reservations & Purchases 8.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 1.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 2.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 4.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 5.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 6.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 7.pdf" "C:\...\Princess Booking Docs\REGAL - 2022-10-15 - Travel Summary 8.pdf" 😁 PS - I only brought hard copies of the latest versions, but I had all the history on my laptop.

I did appreciate the response since I was unaware you do not eat beef and I might have wondered why you didn't respond to my question.

I wonder if mark-ups or TA commissions are higher in UK. That level of discount is not attainable AFAIK for a regular customer without casino or other deals. Maybe Princess is also supporting a sale. IDK - not my market - but just the discount level is very high relative to my experience.

Thanks for additional info.

Interesting report as it reads like there isn't much more formal wear than a N.A. or Med cruise. According to @wowzz, 80%-90% are in suits or tuxes on a B.I. voyage, but perhaps no longer in 2023.

How did you come upon this oldy moldy thread?!!

Well, that would also be a hijack.

I understand and agree, but these explorations never seem end well.

I should think so. 😉

Most grocers are just selling plonk and up a level or so. Same old labels, etc. Have you visited a Total Wines store - not sure if one would be near where you stay in FL. There is one very close to Port Everglades as one example, but they are all over. Wide range of choice there (of course US is prominent and never anything from Canada). I usually BYOW on board and select from a variety of locales, but I generally avoid ordering US wines from a menu since they are often the most over-priced due to being the popular choice. Adventure and value are what I tend to look for.

A closer look at the Silverado. It is $81/btl on Princess. But the true cost is $95.58 after the 18% bar gratuity. Recent pricing at Total Wine is $49, so $52.43 with tax in Fort Lauderdale. A $42/$43 markup, so not quite double per the above. Even if corkage is applied, the guest saves $23 by BYOW. Also, the pours per bottle should be 5, so $90 + 18% versus $81 + 18%.

It's the only way it is paid (if charged). Otherwise, I would add that wine you bring on at check-in is also charged to on-board account if in excess of the free bottle per person. So, any and all corkage fees you may be charged, including in the DR by your waiter, all go to the on-board account.

From SF it is easy to know the two formal/dress-to-impress nights. You have two sea days at he start and two sea days at the end. Your formal nights are 99.99% going to be Night 2 and Night 9. Never will be Night 1 or Final Night.