Steelers36

If the OP wants to find some good/decent wines, they should come by my cabin. I can SHOW them, but unfortunately, they are always spoken for.

Sorry this happened to you, but it is only logical to me to book each flight with the cruise booking that has the date closest to the flight date. In other words, book the outbound flight with the first voyage and book the return flight with the last voyage - regardless of whether extended calendar window allows otherwise. With EZ-Air, you don't have the penalties for booking 1-way international flights that you get hammered with if doing it directly with an airline.

The above appears to be the ON SHIP version of DMW which doesn't include the "Book Same Time for the Entire Voyage" option. I have seen that option still there when OFF SHIP today.

Hi, I would have gone with AC when I saw you mentioned the voucher. I do agree with the other posters that EZ-Air can be a great option, especially for the more premium fare seats. You didn't mention the class of booking, savings would be less with Economy. Also, you are booking a round trip with AC, which maximizes their best offering (staying with same airline). When I booked EZ-Air to Rome and back for this Fall, I did it as soon as EZ-Air opened up for each date. I had an advantage since I could book separately each one-way trip. In the end, I used different airlines to get the lowest possible fare. I booked Business both ways. EZ-AIr pricing is such that booking a 1-way to/from Europe does not come with the huge penalties that occur if attempt to do the same directly with an airline. I regularly checked fares and re-booked the flights when there were fare drops. I ended up changing carriers in both directions, after reviewing plane types and reviews of business seating each time (and we still had a surprise change of equipment on a leg coming over to Rome which you cannot predict or control). There was an idea above to book EZ-Air and wait until Final Payment to see if the airline is better. Well AC might lower fares between now and next year, but I think they are fairly locked in once you get close to the flight date. If you have a good deal now, chances are it is going to remain quite good. And you got to use that voucher, which is quite important. If you are curious, you can always check EZ-Air offerings through the Cruise Personalizer and see what options might have come up. That way, you will have a better idea next time whether trying EZ-Air might make sense when you don't have a voucher. You don't need to make an EZ-Air res just to shop the flights and prices. One last thing - I really doubt we would have flown Business both ways if it were not for EZ-Air. In the end, our tickets were ~$850 USD per person each direction, so ~$1700 round trip in Business. Not saying that happens all the time or again, and fares are always impacted by the season of travel.

I have some details for you. I have mentioned Princess Fare Codes or Promo Codes. Sometimes you can find these in the cabin pricing details. I was not sure what exact Cabin Category you were looking at, but deduced from the total invoice cost of $7,870 that you were looking at Catg BY. U9F/U9G - This is a Special Mail Offer. The "U" Promo Codes are targeted marketing to various groups of past guests. According to the info, it does apply both Canada-wide and US-wide. These fares are about $150 less than the "regular" sales offers. The U9F is the Standard code and the U9G is the Plus code. (I have ignored Premier). This promotion appears to be a version of the Love Boat offer at a lower price point as it includes the $100 ShoreEx OBC. Without the words saying it - I suspect this is a Past Passenger rate for sure. N9E/N9D - This is the Love Boat Promotion. The one with the $100 ShoreEx OBC. These codes are available to the North American market sector (same as above). The N9E is the Standard code and the N9D is the Plus code. You do not need to be a Past Passenger to buy the Love Boat Promo. NL1/NPP - This is the Standard Public Fare which anyone can get and do not need to be a Past Passenger. Generally, this can be consider the "list price" for the voyage in any cabin. The NL1 is Standard and the NPP is Plus. There are no perks with this fare code. For a BY cabin (Obstr'd Balcony), the fares are: U9F = $3,000 + $235 port taxes = $3,235/pp N9E = $3,199 + $235 port taxes = $3,434/pp NL1 = $3,200 + $235 port taxes = $3,435/pp Add $700/pp to the above fares if booking the PLUS option. Since you mentioned a total invoice of $7,870, I can tell you were looking at a BY cabin, with Promo Code U9G = $3,935/pp all-in. That is the best possible fare for a BY cabin with PLUS option (unless you are working with a TA that gives a discount off the cruise fare). So, you are not at all being miss-priced or over-charged by Princess and they are telling you the best fare possible. If you contact them again for the same thing, ask them what the Promo Code is and has to be U9G. When anyone is logged into Princess.com, it only shows you one set of fares (one Promo Code). When I am logged in and look at your cruise, Princess.com is showing me the Love Boat Deal fares (N9E, N9D). Generally, Princess.com is supposed to show a guest their best deal by default. However, you can clearly see that the U9F & U9G fare codes are the best deal. Unless one of the following is true, you are never going to know that: (1) a Princess rep tells you and actually quotes that better rate. (2) a Princess CVP tells you and quotes the rate. (3) your TA finds the best rate in POLAR booking system and quotes it to you. (4) you know all your applicable rates before talking to anyone of (1), (2), (3), by using a 3rd party booking site that displays ALL eligible fares and lets you choose the one you want. IDK what you see when you are logged in and shop for a BY Balcony, and Princess.com may show different fares to different guests for all I know. I am just telling you what I see on Princess versus the other possibilities. Comparing that to a Premium Oceanview, there are two cabin categories - O6 & O5. Here are the prices for the O6: U9F = $2,187 + $235 port taxes = $2,412/pp N9E = $2,326 + $235 port taxes = $2,561/pp NL1 = $2,327 + $235 port taxes = $2,562/pp Again, add $700/pp to the above fares if booking the PLUS option. U9G = $3,112/pp N9D = $3,261/pp NPP = $3,262/pp IDK if you were booked or looking at O6 or O5 cabin. The O5 cabins are only $22 more per person than the O6, so add another $22/pp to the above for the O5. You mentioned a fare of $6,386. This is $3,193/pp, less $235 port taxes = $2,958/pp. I am not sure what this fare is - your OV, a Balcony, with or without Plus option. $2,958 is not a base fare for any Balcony on that voyage. It does seem to closely approximate a BZ Balcony, which is a lower level of Obstructed than the BY. But without the PLUS option. $2,958 does not align with the Premium OV pricing. Since you are already booked in an OV, you may have booked when pricing was somewhat different than today. Another curious thing to me is you mention a $1,500 price jump. You also mentioned expecting to pay $100 more for the Obstr'd Balcony. So, that leaves $1,400. $1,400 is exactly the PLUS option for 14-night cruise times 2 people. Are you sure your OV booking is with the PLUS option? Anyway, hopefully I have given you some additional insight into Princess pricing so you can be more informed of what's out there. For me, I never rely on Princess to be showing me the best price on Princess.com, but it should be (and often is). A good internal CVP should be finding all the fares and quoting you the best one. You were quoted a better deal than the regular Love Boat promo. A good external TA should do the same. A better external TA will also give you extras, like cash discounts off the fare and group OBC.

Guests pre-order MedallionNet using the MC App (and it should recognize loyalty level). Guests order a drink package (like coffee & soda, or coffee only) using the Cruise Personalizer - Onboard Services section. A guest should never order the full drinks package over upgrading to PLUS for $50/day.

I wish someone else might post reporting the same situation. I am wondering if REGAL is changing approach and had SHARING removed from DMW in order to handle it on board. I don't have any future cruises to check what DMW might be offering compared to 2022. It seems like they are handling dining well and I do see at least private groups in the same location each night. I still have some research to do before leaving the ship. And, yes, ideally this discussion should be in the DMW thread and not the MC App thread.

These are the stories that make me cringe. Disappointed and upset customer who is not going to be saying good things about Princess and it hurts the brand and the stock in the long run if this happens frequently. You should ask what Fare Code they are quoting you always. I am curious a bit. If you post the cruise you were pricing, I can look it up and see what I see for pricing options. I will give you the Fare Codes and the base fare. PS - You could be booked at the non-past passenger Fare Code. It's a public fare available to anyone, but I don't understand why a past pax code would cost more.

Princess employees don't run ashore in wine producing areas and stock up on local wines. That's what oenophile passengers do. Also, using vacuum sealers for opened bottles is a poor storage method. Better to use inert gas ot keep oxygen away from the surface.

You do need to find a good cruise TA. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend on this website. One thing is to see if you can find a third-party travel site that allows self-booking of cruises. The good ones will show you ALL of the eligible cruise fares which not only is to your benefit, but you can speak in specifics with a travel agent or Princess agent about which fare code you want. The third party websites let you shop other cruise lines as well, but they will have you input your Princess past passenger number (your Captain Circle Id) and this is used to show you all the fare types you are eligible for. You should be able to read about fare conditions and perks as well. TBH, any good TA worth their salt ought to be able to do this as well. Not sure you are up to a lot of self-service, but once you have a cruise voyage you are interested in, you can try and find travel agencies that will compete for your business. Otherwise, on your next cruise, get talking to fellow cruisers and see how they are booking and getting good rates. For now, perhaps you might want to call Princess and ask to be connected with one of their internal TA's - called Cruise Vacation Planners. Now, be aware, some are good and some are duds, and you don't know who you will get.

I should think most voyages in the near term are going to closely match the vaccination levels stipulated since most guests will already be booked and paid and voyages are well sold it seems. I never would have expected mask wearing to be required by this date - and that is exactly the case now. Not in the air, not in airports here, not in cruise terminal, not on the ship (now for crew as well), not on shore in towns and cities, not at tourist sites, not in restaurants, etc. I imagine most pax will will be vaccinated to some level into 2023 as well. Hope it works out for you.

I would think your last sentence is always correct. It makes all the difference what the staff team is doing and what they care about. I would say on the REGAL, they are doing things well. I rarely see a long line. I have not been to all DR's. Not hearing complaints. I wouldn't pretend to say I am tuned into all aspects of dining here, but my sense is they have it figured out. I cannot say what they are doing in all the DR's, but intend to try and get some more insight this week.

If you noted, I try not to post in absolutes unless certain. It was great you got that rate. Shows that it can happen, but I wouldn't expect it in all situations. You presented the scenario to justify it and did it at the Cafe where they have ability to do any overrides - if required. Glad it worked for you when needed.

IDK when your voyage is, but SHARING and PRIVATE are the two main options after selecting a time slot. If none are left of either type at the time selected, then you won't see them. It is clear that table availability has not been consistent from ship to ship and I have very little idea or insight into voyages beyond this present general time period. PS - I guess you are new around here... DRO (Director, Restaurant Operations) is the new title for MD at Princess.

You can request SHARING in the MC App as you have likely seen. But you cannot select table size and you cannot be guaranteed you will share at the same table with the same people every night. You have no control or knowledge about what the other people who may have been assigned to your table are doing. You can inquire and look to make an arrangement on board. We don't do SHARING, so I have not been through the process. I do plan to try and speak with the DRO (MD) on board before end of this voyage and try and get some perspectives from him. Don't know the fellow, so IDK if he will be forthcoming at all and willing to share information.

I see plenty of tables with same people there each night on REGAL, so at least Private TD table arrangements are possible.

Horsewhacky. Old news since those restrictions don't exist anymore. PCL is doing sharing and setting up larger tables.

Ask for Customer Relations or write them at CustomerRelations@PrincessCruises.com.

Sorry, old news. The App was not working for a period of time for Net sales, but has been fixed for a while now. As long as the App recognizes your CC Member Level, it offers it at 50% off and no need for OBC credit.

When signed in to MC App, tap on your photo in the top left. A menu should pop out from the left showing your cruise booking dates and another larger photo of you. There is a Seawitch logo there with the color of your CC Member Level. It should be black for you. If it is, then I cannot explain the MedallionNet issue as it was fixed. You would have to call in and use the phone tree selections to get to the MC App team.

IMO, it's a no-brainer. The 4-device plan costs the same as the 2-device plan - with or without the discount. It gives flexibility if you actually have more than two devices with you. If cruising with friends, we share the 4-device plan and just don't have the luxury to use more than 1 at a time then.

I am going to suggest the issue is not with the offer of MedallionNet. Rather, the issue is likely that the MC App is not recognizing your correct CC Member Level. Many have reported this issue. AFAIK, given the correct Member Level, the App is offering the 50% discounted rate. Now, I do emphatically agree that the Princess reps ought to be able to sell the MedallionNet over-the-phone for the 50% off, so that is simply an IT issue (and we all know how competent Princess IT is). Supposedly, all they can do is charge full price on the phone (although I have seen a couple of posts where somehow the guest was successful in a 50% charge).

No. This has been covered. Since they fixed the discount offer in the App for people to buy, you should not expect to get the pre-cruise price on the ship - even on Day 1.

Prices are higher on board. 1-Device $10/day versus $15/day 4-Devices $20/day versus $25/day

Curious - was it a true 30-night voyage or made up of smaller parts. Princess isn't doing many - if any - single 30-night voyages just yet I thought.