SantaFeFan

13 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

I don't know why you take that comment in that way but to me it only says if you fee the stuff it worth it, then go for it. 

I have always heard that phrase in the context of a mild insult, so I took it that way. Perhaps different people have different meanings for it?

14 hours ago, memoak said:

On an first cruise for any ship there will be things that are not quite ready and if it is a new style ship crew may take time to get used to it. I would pass 

Our only inaugural cruise was Celebrity Reflection, the fifth ship in it's class, because the itinerary and timing were perfect for us. The ship was brand new and had that "new ship" smell. Nothing was worn out, everything worked perfectly, and we had zero issues during our 14 day cruise. If there were any issues, they were unseen and did not affect us in any way. Granted, there were four previous ships in that class, so all the bugs could have been rectified before this ship was even built.

Having said that, we probably wouldn't do another inaugural due to what other people have experienced on their inaugural cruises. No sense taking chances. We might have been lucky once, but what are the odds of being lucky a second time. 

15 hours ago, jwattle said:

Few dollars worth of stuff? We got the nice plush robes, chef coats and chef hat, photos, personalized pads, pic frames...but you do you. As a female in a "man's world" with cars, the engine control, bridge and anchor rooms were amazing to see, as well as many other "crew only' areas.

All we got was some personalized stationary, a picture frame, and a single photo of the group with the captain.

Not sure why your "but you do you" comment is warranted. That phrase is a condescending way of telling someone that they are wrong.  🙄

1 hour ago, Lady Arwen said:

We don’t play music or have our tv loud or have intrusive conversations.  We just don’t let other’s enjoyment impact ours, unless it’s bothersome.  Life is too short to be worried about every little annoyance.  Of course we would say something if the music is blaring or if people are yelling, but a little music in the background is not an issue and we let them enjoy their vacation.  If it’s an issue for you, then by all means complain.  

And this from someone who in a previous post describes that she lives in a quiet, serene environment and relishes the sounds of people around her as a welcome change. Sorry, but you are the exception. Most of us deal with noise every day and want solitude on our balconies. That you seem to think we are too demanding for wanting that solitude is disappointing.

Differences of perceptions based on differences of experience. Neither is right or wrong - just different. 

9 minutes ago, Lady Arwen said:

Oh I totally understand that.  I certainly don’t want to hear anything that’s intrusive or annoying.  I just don’t mind hearing music in the background.  I’ve been cruising for a very long time and I can’t remember when all I could hear from my balcony is the waves against the ship.  When you have at least 2,000 other people onboard, complete silence would be virtually impossible.  I think we all have to be mindful of our neighbours, but we need to be realistic, too.

On every cruise I have taken with a balcony, the only noise I ever heard out there was an occasional discussion by next door balcony neighbors, and even then it was respectfully subdued. Maybe I have been lucky to have avoided selfish people who think that what they want is the only thing that counts, and so they smoke, play music, or talk loudly.

So, no, I don't subscribe to your "virtually impossible" and "need to be realistic" beliefs. People need to be respectful of others when in close proximity to each other. That is what I always do. That some don't agree with that simple act of courtesy is disappointing. 

1 hour ago, JimmyVWine said:

We can always come up with exceptions in an attempt to swallow the rule. But if we stick with the definition of “music played at a polite, conversational level”, it is by definition not intrusive. And if one scans the area and sees no neighbors to intrude upon, then by definition there can be no intrusion. And yet some think that a volume that is not loud enough to hear by people not around to hear it is too loud. How very odd. 

The flaw in your argument is that while you claim to "scan" the area for the absence of neighbors, there is no guarantee that they might suddenly appear at any moment after your supposed scan. All you can assume is that there wasn't anyone there ONLY when you looked. People come and go, and you will be disturbing them when they do show up. It is NOT a "first come, first gets what they want" situation. 

2 hours ago, Lady Arwen said:

I have to honest, I really don’t mind other people music, unless it’s blaring unbelievably loud.  We’ve lived in the country for eight years and sometimes it’s so quiet I can hear my husband thinking.  Yes, the birds tweeting, and the leaves rustling are lovely, to a point.  I get really excited when I hear our neighbour’s cows and horses just to prove I’m still alive.  On a cruise it’s quite invigorating to hear music and laughter and people talking and singing!  Although, onboard we don’t play music ourselves, we do enjoy listening to others, within reason.

Most of us live in the suburbs, where noise is a fact of life, so we hear enough noise at home. On a cruise on my private balcony, all I want to hear is the waves against the ship. Other people's noise pollution is not appreciated. I didn't pay all this money to be forced to hear what they want to hear. 

3 hours ago, damiross said:

I would like to tour the "backstage" of the ship.  However, I don't really need all the crap that they give out so they can justify $150 for the tour.

 

There is often a kitchen tour that is free.  Don't need to see that on an Ultimate Ship Tour.  Would like to see just two things - the engine room and the bridge.

There is not that much "crap". Just a few dollars worth of stuff that are more souvenirs than anything else. And no non-crew members are allowed in the engine room. Instead, you visit the engine CONTROL room. Some ships have windows that look over the engine room, but many don't. 

The tour that I took was approximately three hours long, with refreshments included. 

12 hours ago, caribill said:

 

It is an extensive behind the scenes tour of the ship. A group usually limited to about 12 people tours places such as the photo shop, main laundry room, printing facility, medical center, engine control room (not the engine room), the bridge, the galley, the storerooms, and more.

 

Price is $150/person ... Almost every person who has taken the tour and posted about it said it was worth the time and money.

 

'If it is being offered, you sign up for it at the Passenger Service desk. Since participation is limited, sign up as soon as you can after boarding.

I'll vouch for it being well worth the money. As well as those areas mentioned above, we toured the backstage area of the main theater, the area where the anchors are "parked" while at sea, the crew lounge and mess, as well as using the "I-95" corridor to move about the ship. (I-95 is the crew only lower level central corridor that stretches from front to back of the ship for crew and supply movements). 

40 minutes ago, davekathy said:

You also may find yourself floating in the water along with the bluetooth speaker you thru overboard. 😂

24 minutes ago, MissP22 said:

I can understand the frustration but destruction of anyone's property on Princess would get you removed from the ship at the next port.

Would that be worth it?

Imagine the actions that would be taken if the speaker owner threw overboard the speaker thrower!  Would they both be removed for polluting the ocean? LOL!!!

14 hours ago, Chad_O said:

Doesn't the "Crooo-oooos-ing and jazz hands drive you crazy? I was one and done. 

Yep, his antics are hard to take. But, he seems to have some of the best cruise information out there, so I put up with it. His peculiarities keep me interested while "Let's go travel tips" causes me to doze off if I'm not careful. 

46 minutes ago, JimmyVWine said:

We bring a Bose Bluetooth speaker out to our balcony all the time.  The volume is set low enough so that it wouldn't bother anyone else, but I can't say that it would be impossible to hear.  But we always look left and right first to see if our neighbors are out there.  We have never been asked to turn down the volume.  We have, however, been asked to turn the volume UP so that they could hear the music better!

Yeah, right! Somehow I'm having a difficult time believing that. 

6 minutes ago, startedwithamouse said:

No, they wouldn't have to choose with a San Francisco overnight. They can visit both. 

A San Francisco overnight is not guaranteed, so don't assume as much. Even with an overnight, four hours on a bus would deter many people from visiting.

Personally, it makes no difference to me as I can drive to Monterey anytime in a little over an hour, which I do a couple of times per year. Just disappointed for people who will probably visit this area once and will lose out on a beautiful stop. 

3 hours ago, startedwithamouse said:

Monterey is easy to visit from a San Francisco stop. 

Not ideal at all. Then people will have to decide between two ports to visit, one a four hour round trip, instead of having both available. Monterey is pretty much dead when ships visit. Overcrowding is NOT an issue. I visit Monterey often. The peak season is well outside the times when cruise ships visit. 

8 minutes ago, Broadside said:

It is Princess Cruise Lines who set the dress code standards, not your fellow passenger.

"It is Princess Cruise Lines who set the dress code SUGGESTIONS, not your fellow passenger." There. I fixed your typo. You are welcome. 

BTW: your "not your fellow passenger" comment is 100% appropriate for why you "hardliners" are so wrong. 

2 hours ago, damiross said:

You are dressing up for others, not yourself.

Talk about a sense of entitlement!!! 

How about you look the other way for MY pleasure. Why do you think everyone should be dressing to please you? The dining room is not a fashion competition.

1 hour ago, rbtan said:

Ok. Here's my take on that: Breakfast, fine. I've seen it many times on many lines. Lunch, usually a little better.(better shorts, very few wife beater t's) At dinner? Totally unacceptable, period.We will & have complained to the Maitre D about that kind of slovenly dress. In the Buffet? We don't care, as we mostly do the MDR.

Why do you even care what someone else wears? I certainly don't. I have outgrown my "Billy is making faces at me" behavior a loooong time ago. 

13 hours ago, riffatsea said:

No, definitely not at 60 days!

More like 15 days

58 days for our March cruise. 

They may not have checked on past cruises, but there is no guarantee that they won't start in the future. Best to pick your preferred time just in case. 

13 hours ago, dockman said:

Letter will likely end up in the circular file.

I doubt it was even sent. The quote "The shortcomings of this ill-conceived piece of technological rubbish have been well-documented in this forum..." tells me it was only written to be posted here for CC members to offer sympathy. How would Mr. Padgett, or anyone at Princess, know what forum the OP was talking about?

Nope. It was not meant, or sent, to Mr. Padgett. 

4 hours ago, Torfamm said:

The dress code states very clearly that shorts and ball caps are not welcome in the dining room. That is not a suggestion. 

The so-called "dress code" is indeed only a suggestion. It is not a demand nor a requirement. The key word in what you are quoting as your argument is "SHOULD". It is not "MUST". Why do some of you have such a hard time understanding that simple, inarguable fact????

FYI: I follow the SUGGESTED dress code. Because I want to. Not because I have to. And I don't give a darn what anyone else wears. I am too confident a person to let what someone else wears ruin my dinner. 

42 minutes ago, Princessfan20 said:

Flower arrangements are now ordered at the Guest Services Desk on Princess ships.  We think their flower arrangements are one of the best deals on the ships.  They are usually delivered same day as ordered and last from a week to 10 days.

40 minutes ago, Shelly97060 said:

I ordered these at Guest services.  

Thank you!!!

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

After all these years I'm still looking for all those extreme under dressers that posters keep talking about, and have still yet to see one. 

The worst I've seen are people in casual clothing on formal nights and those dreaded shorts on casual evenings. 

Seems it's always the traditionalists that make those unfounded claims. More hyperbole to try to make the situation more dire than it actually is to justify their own demands. 

1 hour ago, Potstech said:

It is Princess Cruise line that does not enforce its own guidelines which allow passengers to flout the dress codes. Yes it is Princess Passengers who flout the code, who else would?

No one is flouting anything. The dress code is a suggestion, not a requirement. How can someone flout a suggestion?????

Did you order it before or after boarding? Who did you talk to? I want to have flowers for my wife since our March Hawaii cruise is to celebrate our 39th anniversary. 

19 minutes ago, graphicguy said:

I must have missed the whole “dress up to fly” trend.  I’ve flown over 2 million miles (and counting) and never experienced that.  But, flying is as common as catching a bus.  I would imagine in the 50s, maybe even the 60s, it was more of a unique way to travel, given what I’ve read about aviation travel in the “early” days.

In those early days of flying, only the rich could afford to fly. Only after the Boeing 707 jet plane was introduced in the mid 50s, with it's much lower operating costs, could the average passenger afford it. Until then, people did dress up to travel on planes. 

Here is a photo of a Boeing Stratocruiser 1951 for example.