CMHCruiseCouple

I came off of the Caribbean Princess Oct 28th and am an Elite. I was limited to 250 minutes of free internet (10-day cruise). There were loads of problems in the first two days since there was zero information how to log off MedallionNet and many folks' time went to zero, even after they turned off wifi. The MedallionNet team was very helpful installing logoff icons to your mobile devices and resetting remaining time based on the honor system.

If you arrive at the dock without a cabin assignment, get directions to the "luggage boss/master." He/She has the list of official cabin assignments and will issue your luggage tags.

Good luck, and have a great cruise!

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Thank you for your reply. Just off the Star, where I originally purchased the CC. As you recall, the Emerald would not honor the unused specialty punches. Back on the Star there was no problem with either regular coffee or unused specialty punches.

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I do not like to wait for an entire bus to fill up. It takes way too long. Therefore I would never do a transfer from the airport. Having a family of 4, we always do Uber or Lyft. The Super Shuttle idea sounds good too, as those take less time to fill.

Taxi's are usually more expensive than Uber and Lyft, but I did a taxi from the Port to LAX and that was a $60 or $65 flat fee

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My last guaranteed cabin experience was similar to Thrak's. I had a guaranteed cabin of the highest grade of on Ocean View. At the dock the "luggage master" informed me of my cabin assignment - a decent balcony. The suspense was killing my wife - she likes a sure thing.

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Hi all - just a few notes as I am between flights on my way home from the Star. In addition to the nice work previously noted, I can add there is some new carpeting in public areas (you can feel the "lift" as you walk), repairs to tiles in the Horizon Court area, and the digital informational screens in the elevator lobbies. Contractors are still on board installing wiring and tweaking the innards. (I suspect unfinished work and the need to house contractors was the reason many folks received offers to move cruises to different dates).

MUTS does not appear to be upgraded, but is in generally good shape.

Sabatini's was completely redone - but not sure why. I ate there in November and it appeared in good condition to me.

I understand from staff there was "an incredible" amount of wiring and new control systems/computers installed during dry dock, but was not completed. I suppose this is to support transition to Ocean Medallion, but only a guess on my part.

Overall, the Star is in good shape and always glad to sail on her.

Cheers!

Just off the Crown Princess & when we met our room steward, he told us the good news! You no longer take your life vest to Muster & will be fleet wide soon.

[emoji2]

 

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I am straight off the Star Princess - fresh out of dry dock - and I can assure you the ritual of bringing your life vest to Muster is very much a live and well. Complete with newbies that haven't a clue how to adjust straps while wearing vests.

As an aside, my Muster Station was in the Princess Theater. A couple seated directly in front of me was in the wrong station and refused to move to the correct location --- for a while. The diminutive female Guide had a persuasive manner :)

This post and others lament stale destinations, desiring new ports to explore. I doubt that will happen with the ever bloated mega ships, and more of the beasts on the drawing boards/CAD screens.

While we love Princess overall, we are seeking smaller ships out of necessity to explore newer (to us) destinations. The cost is generally higher, but the experience may be worth a try for us. Oh, a fleet of newer Tahitian Princess type ships would be sweet!

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Thanks for the update. Please let us know if you learn anything you can share.

Recently I saw the onboard EMTs (or what ever they are called at sea) attend to a person one cabin from me. It was a pretty intense for a bit, but understand all worked out well.

Steelers 36 has the process nailed. We ask the cabin attendant for wine glasses upon introduction; glasses show up shortly afterwards. We bring our own corkscrews.

We support the $15 wine corkage fee. Princess has a fair program, on our opinion, as opposed to other cruise lines. This is a big reason we continue to support Princess.

On sea days we love a nice cab and Yahtzee on the balcony. Cheers!

Good advice from previous posters. Although I am from Ohio, I have disembarked San Pedro for LAX three times since July. I add the following -

- I gave up on Uber getting to the Pier. Too unreliable at this location, especially if you have lots of luggage and >2 people.

- Cabs are plenty, and I have been lucky to have great, professional drivers. $60-65 and 45 min w/o accidents to LAX.

- Talk with passenger services to get an early walk off if possible.

*** This is important, and I know everyone know this ... but still - Stuff happens that Princess can not control. *** Early disembarkation for a Mexico arrival in November was delayed until around 8:15 because the passenger manifest was off by one person. U.S. Immigration would not clear the ship until resolved. (Listening to radio traffic, I learned the person was not "dinged" back onto the ship in Mexico somehow, and crew could not find him on the ship until after 8am.) Most of us were an hour late getting off the ship.

As someone previously suggested, alternative planning is wise.

Not so fast there fellow cruisers. We were on the Ruby last month and I was doing my usual of checking out the MDR (early TD) and my fellow pax. I saw at the next table no less two men wear jean shorts to dinner several nights without any problem. I also saw men wearing hats in the MDR and tshirts. For formal night I saw only one male walk in in tux, there may have been more but not in my immediate area and we were seated towards the middle of the room. On formal night I saw several males wearing a polo style shirt and pants or a short sleeved shirt with collar and yes the 2 top next to our table the male wore a hat every night. Personally it did not bother me and my food was as good as ever with excellent service. I do like to people watch.

Emerald Princess - California coastal cruise, November 2017: I saw exactly the same thing in the MDR most nights. On the cruise's single formal night I saw not a single tux, most men in jackets with open collars, and some in polo shirts or silk island shirts and shorts (with sandals). One couple arrived in jeans, golf shirts and hat. The hostess (for lack of the correct title) referred them to the dining room manager who waved them in. He wasn't smiling, but still invited them in - on a formal night.

That is when I learned dress codes on Princess is optional, and anything seems to go. Not that it bothers me much, so long as dress isn't offensive (what ever that is). It is actually kind of liberating: I no longer have to lug my tux across the country. Country club casual seems to work fine.

I bought a coffee card on the Star in mid-November, using only 8-punches. I tried using the card on the Emerald a week later where it was rejected each time I presented it to the barista. My card was marked with the ship name, cruise number, and cabin number at the time of purchase. So it appears in at least this instance the coffee card is good for a single cruise.

I board the Star again tomorrow. I will try to use it again and advise what I find. Cheers!

Dickinson - The rep I talked with in Oct did not have that ability - literally had to fetch a fax. Perhaps they upgraded their systems the last two months. Regardless, I am sure they are busy with all of the credit requests.

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In the "You can always count on the unexpected" department ...

Last November our ship's early debarkation group could not begin until about 8:15 because the passenger manifest was off by one person. Immigration would not release the ship for debarkation until resolved. I was near a crew radio when security finally located a passenger who somehow was not scanned back onto the ship in Mexico. They called his name many times prior to departing Encinada but no joy. They checked cabins during the evening, but finally found him passed out in his cabin (solo?) shortly after 8am. The manifest was cleared and we disembarked late. Holders of early airline flights were puckered up, I am guessing.

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Steelers36 - Thank you much for your analysis; it is very helpful and confirms some of our suspicions of trends over time. We tend to drink higher end CA reds and truly appreciate Princess corkage fees (as opposed to other lines' draconian policies). Still, wines like Don Maximiano, one of our favorites, are not commonly available when we do our pre-cruise shopping so we always buy a few bottles on board. Cheers!!

I had an issue recently not knowing if they got the fax. I waited a few days and called Customer Service. They appeared to check and told me to re-fax as it wasn't received. We did it and then called back. The customer rep we got then just gave me the line that it can take x days etc. Said no way to check. They transferred me to customer relations. That rep gave me her personal fax number and I faxed it to her while on the phone with her. She applied it immediately.

There must be an epidemic of lost fax electrons. I have had exactly the same experience - twice. From my experience, if it doesn't show up on your account in 5-7 business days the form either wasn't received, processed or lost - regardless of your fax receipt. I have called Princess directly, sent a fax with the customer representative nearby to "catch" the fax, and my account was posted by day's end as promised.

IMHO, there is no reason why Princess can not accept PDFs e-mailed to a dedicated address. It is 2018: Faxes? Really?

Never had to bribe anyone to get a table we wanted. Those two Presidents stay in their graves for the cruise.

Tale on myself - first dinner, first cruise: I introduced ourselves to the

green as a reward for a special table for my bride and I. He seemed surprised then straightened, bowed very slightly with a thin smile - Hell, just like the movies! Rene' quickly led my dutifully impressed wife and I to our pre-assigned table to meet our six assigned table mates ... a lesson in humility well learned.

We sailed the Grand in 2001, 2007 and a 10-day to Alaska in 2017. We are fine with the overall size of the balcony class cabins - not large by any stretch, and similar to other ships of this class. Closets are tight, but doable. (Mini-suites are really nice for anything over 7 days if a deal can be had.)

The Grand was launched in 1998 as I recall, and we have seen her age. Given she is nearing 20 years old (already!), she is in reasonably good shape but the shine is long gone.

I think I might have the same T/A. She is amazing.

 

Boy, I wish I had a great TA. I've tried several with no joy. A good one is worth their weight in gold - hang on to this one!

Wife and I were on the Star last month. I board solo in Vancouver tomorrow for the three day to San Pedro. It will be interesting to see if I can spot some differences aside from the Witch. Cheers!

Follow what others have mentioned and you will have no problem. I like your "chillin" approach.

My last disembarkation in San Pedro was a disaster given the hundreds (no kidding) of self appointed early walk offs clogging the decks. The Princess staff were besides themselves with those who would not follow instructions. We were to be in about the fifth group to disembark but were a bit over an hour late getting off the ship.

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We book early to lock the price. We use an airline that doesn't charge change or cancellation fees. Not fancy, but dependable and pricing is transparent.

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While you are correct that the ship would never feel anything, even striking a live whale, the Grand Princess does not "weigh" anywhere near 109,000 tons. That is her Gross Tonnage, which is a unitless number that approximates the internal volume of the ship. "Gross Registered Tonnage used to be used, until the 80's, and that was equivalent to 100 cubic feet of volume. Gross Tonnage now used, is not even directly proportional to internal volume. Given Grand's size, I would estimate her displacement (how much water she displaces, and therefore how much she weighs) as closer to 65,000 tons. Even Oasis of the Seas (225,000 GT) only has a displacement of about 100,000 tons.

Thanks for the info and correction ... good stuff.

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The Grand weighs in at roughly 109,000 tons. You would never feel a thing on the ship.

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