Keikidoc

Thanks for the update on cabin service @roxievegas

2 hours ago, geoherb said:

 

He did it twice a day without my having to request it. On my previous cruises since the restart, it was always an option that passengers could request in person or through the app or TV. I requested the evening service a few times on one of those cruises when I had laundry ready to go out.

Thanks for the info on cabin service.

Geoherb, thanks for the excellent live reporting. We are scheduled for Sept 10 embarking from Quebec City to NYC on Caribbean P. Could you tell me if cabin steward tended to ur cabin 2x a day or just once a day? 

Thanks for your Live Report. I’ll be on the Caribbean Princess on Sept for the Quebec’s City - NYC cruise. Do you have some recommendations about the MDRs? I’m trying to reserve my Dinner times via the Medallion app. Thanks in advance.

chubbypiggy: I just checked the Princess web site and noted that the Island Princess advertise Medallion Net available for the 8/14 AK trip. If that is the case, it is a toss up. For me, it would depend on the $ and stateroom. It is fun having the updated tech but the most important upgrade is the MedallionNet WiFi. So the Royal a newer ship with all the "bells and whistles" or the Island with only great WiFi at this time. Cruising AK is always fun with beautiful scenery. h

18 hours ago, geoherb said:

Keikidoc: I’ll ask the cruise director or entertainment director about show times on the Panama Canal cruises. I’m sure the answer, though, is subject to change.

Thanks for your response. Enjoying your blog. h

4 hours ago, chubbypiggy said:

I am interested in taking a 14-day Alaska cruise roundtrip Vancouver. I am considering the Island Princess on 8/14/19 or Royal Princess on 8/17/19.  The itineraries are the same for both ships.  Which ship is a better choice?

 

Thank you in advance for any inputs!! 

Given the choice, I would opt for the Royal as it is a Medallion Ship with all the technological advancements they have to offer. I like walking up to my stateroom and the door unlocking. If you are traveling in a group tracking everyone down who has their phone on will be easy. Ordering drinks without looking for a server and having it delivered to you is a finger tap away. Even if you get "bored" with the scenery the TV inside your stateroom is on demand. The MedallionNet is the best part. WiFi just like home and speedy. I recommend the Royal.

GeoHerb:

Thanks for posting the patter. I am interested in the production show times. I see that they are listed at 7:30 and 9:30 pm. I've been on the Island P for the Panama Canal Ocean 2 Ocean and the Production show times were 6pm and 8pm. Would you happen to know if the show times change once they get out of the Alaska voyages?  I will be back on the Island Princess in Dec 2019 for the Panama Canal and Costa Rica cruise and am trying to decide which dinner I wanted to reserve. Early or late. If the shows stayed at 7:30 and 9:30, I would opt for the early dinner and try to attend the early show. Presently I'm on 7:15 dinner. Thanks

I heard unused coffee card punches were being honored till the end of 2018. When we sailed in Dec 2018, our coffee card had unused punches and they were honoring them at the IC. In Feb, 2019, on the Grand ,I saw someone using their punch card but I did not ask what was happening there.

I would try to find your old punch card and take it. It will not hurt to ask if you can still get brewed coffee with it. The worse thing that can happen is sorry, no can do. But if you come across a barista that will honor it, don't forget them at the end of your cruise.

Yes, you both get the free drinks. That's how it was for us this past November.

Thanks, SteelerFanXL. Looking forward to our upcoming cruise. 21 days:cool:

I've gone on two VIP cruises in the last year and a half and both times by hubby and I received lanyards with badges to wear in the casino which enables you to get the free drinks. We were both also invited to participate in the slot tournament and other "events". We're doing our third VIP cruise in a couple of weeks and can't imagine them changing the rules.

Mahalo, AZbirdmom. C U on the Grand next month n @ the M&G, n Slotpull? It will be great if my spouse gets a casino lanyard. Not a big deal if not. h

On the ones I have been involved in the only person that is automatically getting drinks is the person whose name was on the invite. I had a lanyard with card (not cruise card) and drinks were only while gambling. If your significant other is social enough with casino host they may be offered drinks(may is key word!) We and the couple we were cruising with, were invited to the welcome party but not other parties.

Mahalo, triple7tahoe. Guess my spouse will b paying 4 her drinks.😁

You are absolutely correct. I have been part of a few of the VIP cruises before. The casino is packed and the free drinks are super-hard to come by.

 

As per the flyer we received in the mail, we got a discounted cabin and some casino cash. Every day we got a new gift in the cabin. I don't remember all of them, but I do remember getting a tin of chocolates, a Princess Casino beach towel, chocolate covered strawberries, and ??? There are special VIP-only tournaments and drawings throughout the cruise. There was supposed to be priority boarding (I think) but we do lots of B2B cruises so have always been onboard already so I don't know how that worked. Drinks are free in the casino while you're playing and wearing your VIP badge. Again, hard to come by because there are so many VIPs wanting drinks.

 

I've done my time in crowded VIP casinos and have just gotten a bit tired of it. I won't be booking anymore. But if you haven't done one before, I'd say go for it.

Does your spouse in the same cabin get a VIP badge for drinks also? She is not a big gambler. $20 is her limit.

For those of you who have cruised the VIP Casino offer, does your spouse in the same cabin also get invites to the parties and drinks in the casino...assuming she is doing a little gambling? Is the casino drink sticker on your cruise card or something you wear on your clothing? Just curious. Going on the last eligible cruise next month. Thanks, h

Are you allowed to take 6 bottles of water on board and 3 cans of VERNORS ginger ale. That is the only kind I can take if I get nauseated,

You can order (12) 500ml water for 6.90. Comes out to $0.58/bottle. Delivered to your state room so no carrying heavy water bottles in your hand carry. Go to onboard reservations and beverage packages.

I usually pack 6 packs of soda(as many as you want) in a cardboard box and tag it as baggage also delivered to the stateroom with luggage.

I'm curious. How do you become member of the Players Club and are offered free cruises? Do you get an invitation from the casino manager? How do you qualify? How much you gamble or how long you gamble? Are we talking about gambling thousands of dollars? Does anyone care to share what's involved? Or is it random?:rolleyes:

I don't play slots but do present my keycard every time I sit at a table or play craps. I set a max amount to "lose" as entertainment $ each night...generally not more than $200, also a max for the cruise. When I lose my "allotment" I'm off to bed with a book. (and that, sometimes, will be 30 mins.:( If I win, it is playing with casino $ and stay longer and dealers get more tip$. :D

I've gotten a letter from the casino host the 2nd to the last night with an invitation to book another cruise in 30 days and receive anywhere form $125 -$200 in casino cash. I don't get a invite on every cruise even though I've contributed about the same amount of $ to the casino. I certainly don't spend thousands of $. Once a year I get a flyer in the mail about VIP casino cruise available for discount staterooms and casino cash. This last one offered $125 casino cash, comp drinks while playing in the casino, chance to win some tech gadget prizes, etc. I think it helps to get to know the dealers, pit bosses and casino host.

Mahalo for all the comments. Looking forward to this cruise, mostly for seeing Alaska again and Sitka for the first time. Casino will be fun seeing it busy. I was on the Emerald going down the west side of South America last December and was sometimes the only 1 of 2 at the craps table. h

We have reservations on 14 Aug 2018, Grand Princess to Alaska Inside Passage as a Players Club VIP. Has anyone been designated previous VIP sailings that began Dec 2017? VIP amenities included $ for casino play, comp beverages in the casino, special in-stateroom amenities etc. How was your cruise as a Players Club VIP?

You might want to also post this on the Princess board where it will be seen by more Princess cruisers: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=197

Thanks, for you suggestion.:D

Has anyone booked and cruised on any of the exclusive VIP offerings from Casino Players Club? My question: is the $300 in casino cash in chips that can be cashed in? The brochure says Free play credit or Free play chips will be issued. Are the Free play chips different from the regular chips used?

Has anyone booked and cruised on any of the exclusive VIP offerings from Casino Players Club? My question: is the $300 in casino cash in chips that can be cashed in? The brochure says Free play credit or Free play chips will be issued. Are the Free play chips different from the regular chips used?

I will have the AIBP for the first time on my upcoming cruise on the Crown. I thought it might be nice to have a Nutty Irishman coffee mid-morning. ;) Can any of the bars make a hot coffee drink or must I go to the IC? Also, where do you pick up bottles of water?

thanks!

I have been preordering bottled water in the beverage package section. You get 12/$6.90 delivered to your stateroom by your steward. Less expensive than getting one at the gangway before going ashore.

We had the same experience in San Francisco last summer. There were 5 of us sailing and two guests for the BVE. My only complaint was that since those of us sailing DID NOT get a sticker, we were not served wine at lunch. That was a little awkward. I think Princess could afford to offer just one glass of wine to their sailing passengers who bring guests to introduce them to the ship! Each couple, even those sailing, DID get a picture.

I guess we were lucky. We brought our son and his friend on board for the BVE. At lunch all those that wanted, were served wine. Even my wife and I who were the cruisers. No signatures asked for. We did get our pictures at the picture galley. Our cabin was available so they were able to see our view of Treasure Island and the Bay Bridge.:D

[Princess does still have a limited number of bridge tours.

We received an invitation to take one.

 

LuLu

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I have heard that recently they only allow bridge tours when the ship is tied up in port. No more touring while the ship is sailing. Is/was your tour in port or when at sea?

We have had some wonderful tours at sea, and though it is interesting in port, nothing beats actually being under way.

We were just on the Grand, 3Feb to HI. We signed up for the Ultimate Ship Tour $150/person when we got on board at the pursers desk. We liked it as it took us back stage of the Princess Theater, took pics with some dancers and had a m&g with the production manager. Then on to the anchor room where we saw the anchors and lines that go to the dock. Informative m&g with one of the crew. Then on to the M1 (the main corridor on the 4th deck). Then on the to engine room and got to ask all our questions about the workings of a "city" on the ocean. Saw where the Patter was printed and all the pictures taken during the cruise. We saw where all the food is kept for the duration of the cruise, then food prep in the galley and finally up to the bridge where we had champagne and canapés with the Captain. It was a beautiful day and got to see for miles. Later on we received in our rooms, two plush Princess bathrobes, aprons, group pictures of our different stops and two pic frames. Oh also personalized note pads. Each stop had a Q&A and very informative. I was really amazed at the galley and the cleanliness of it. It was expensive but worth if for one time. Hey we were on vacation.:D BTW only done on sea days.

Don't be surprised if Princess confiscates any amount of wine over 2 bottles. ALL of he cruise lines have clamped down on excess quantities over their listed limits. Wish ya'll luck!!

I think it is enforced randomly at different ports. I recently did the Grand to HI 15 day out of SF. Took eight bottles packed in wine egg crate cardboard in my checked luggage. As I checked in I reported to the alcohol check desk that I had some wine. He wanted to see it but I told him it was in my checked luggage. He said ok and let me pass. No charges except for when I took a bottle to dinner. Otherwise kept it in room. We did drink some on deck with our coffee travel mugs. Another time at the bar in the piazza we asked for wine glasses and opened our own bottle, no problem.