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Did your adult children use a certified birth certificate only? Or was it backed up with a driver’s license too? If both, then I am glad it works. I still stand by my comfort zone to have a Passport.

Have you tried “just” a birth certificate as an adult? I know Hawaii is pushing hard to remind everyone that they need to get a Real ID before May 2025 to get off the island. (In case of an emergency and need to fly out of Hawaii.) While I was searching, I ran across another article that states that a Hawaii Driver’s License isn’t valid in Florida. Something about their new immigration law. (In case you are cruising out of Florida.) Yes, I am a supporter of getting a passport. My grandkids just got theirs.

I rarely am able to view WHICH window suites on the Grand or the Caribbean are available, so have to have my TA check. I have tried with Safari and Chrome. It’s listed as available but drop down menu doesn’t open for me. HaHa…it worked last night. As I said…rarity.

Please keep in mind that those checking you in ARE NOT Princess employees. What Princess allows (drivers license AND certified birth certificate may not be what the Port Agents want/know. Very important…you have to be born in the US with a US certified birth certificate.

At one point recently (don’t remember if it was web or app) I could book first night suite embarkation dinner at the Crown Grill. Did not offer me complimentary. Went directly to charge card. Now I am getting that annoying Error message. Giving up and just booking it when I board. I’ve never been able to book first night through the app.

Glad to see that DJ Lovely finally made it to the Cruise Director Staff. Thanks for posting the photo.

I've only done this once....dinner was running late and I wanted to do the production show and something else. I had my dinner then asked the Assistant Manager if I could return before 9 to enjoy desert. I was warmly welcomed back for desert and coffee. I am sure the MDR would have also accommodated my request, but they are so busy.

Keoke Coffee. https://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/keoke-coffee Print and take with you. Very first ever thread. Way to go!

I just booked at cruise. Actually, sent my TA an email at midnight and she booked it before I woke up this morning. I could see the cabins available (I do not do guarantees). When I got up (and awake), I did look at other voyages. The b2b was sold out...but the first leg still showed availability. I wasn't interested in the b2b so it didn't matter to me...and got the cabin I wanted. Made no sense to me.

Yes, Full Suite Benefits. Keep F311. You will be fine. Shorter walk to the dining room. Which cruise will you be on?. More importantly, on the Grand, there is a women's bathroom on either end of hallway doors.

Runners should not be allowed to use the Promenade Deck, especially before 8 AM. Thump, thump, thump. Once I took a bottle of bleach to "disinfect" the tub jets. Won't do that again. On another trip, the water from the faucet was coming out brown (my cabin mate placed a wash cloth to "filter" water). I prefer showers, thank you.

I prefer the ice cream in the dining room (made daily) more. And just to be a stickler, it's called the Princess Premier. I've gotten this wrong so many times.

OP stated that only the passenger with the Premier bundle would be using the benefits. @Joe Denver Person with Premier is NOT FORCED to sit in reserve seats in the theater. They can join the rest of the family. Glad the numbers worked out for you. Enjoy your voyage.

You are correct. Princess makes it very confusing with the use of similar terminology. They should never have changed the name from Club Class Dining to Reserve Collection. This separate dining area is for those passengers who have a booking in the Reserve Collection Mini-Suites or Full Suite guest. It is a section of the MDR that is off to the side, usually Deck 6. And yes, there is a small sign that says "Reserve" dining. It confuses many new passengers who may think that it is for anyone with a Reservation. I am surprised that they closed the aft dining room for a special group. It must be a rather large group since that is the largest MDR on the ship. Did they close it for breakfast and lunch on sea days too? That would put a strain on the other 1.75 MDR to pick up the slack. I am saddened that they would do this. Sometimes Princess really doesn't think things through.

The Premier bundle AND the Plus bundle both have the same dessert offerings.

You are correct. But I have seen people having to wait for a few minutes...not just walk in and be seated. I have actually seen a family of 4 seated on a very small round table in the overflow section. Then transferred to a larger when it opened up. They were on their appetizers. In theory, there is no wait (or very little wait). It is still better than the MDR. Hopefully, when traditional dining begins again in September, everyone will be able to just walk to "their" tables.

I was on one cruise with a friend and we were in line at 4:45 every evening (at least 4 couples were in line before the door opened). Then I was solo following that cruise. Maybe my experience was different because I wanted that same table in the corner with my same wait staff, but at 6 PM. Once, I was told to "go back to my cabin" and they would call me when "MY" table was available. I would re-enter the dining room sometime between 6:15 and 6:30. On another cruise, we decided to have a later dinner (after 6). We entered and were told there would be a wait. I told the hostess that I would go down to Vines. About 15 minutes later, I was starting my walk back up when the hostess came running down the stairs to fetch us. I do realize that there is "rarely" a wait to be seated. I guess my "wait" is because I wanted my same wait team. I have also been seated (without a wait) at a different table and my "wait team" came by to make sure I was "taken care of". All of the waiters in Reserve Collection work together and are fantastic. I just have my quirks.

Lunch is only available on Sea Days (noon to 1:30). Host/Hostess will see your name on an iPad as you approach the door. Confirming Deck 6/Starboard side of MDR. There are tables for two scattered around the designate dining area. 3 by windows and a few more as you enter on your right (overflow area). No reservations necessary. Dependent on voyage itinerary. In Asia, area did not fill up until 6 or later. Hawaii/New England/Mexico had a line before the doors opened at 4:45. Don't know European dining habits. Once tables are filled, expect a 90 minute turn around time for next "group".

FCC = Future Cruise CREDITs usually generated by Princess for a variety of reasons like compensation, good will, etc FCD = Future Cruise DEPOSITs can only be purchased onboard for $100 to be used against (usually) a new booking deposit. I have bought FCDs for others, but one poster said that it is/was being discontinued, you had to purchase it onboard for yourself. Card to credit card on file (not folio). It may be purchased: on the app, fill out a paper form, see a Future Cruise rep. OBC (Onboard Credit) can be purchased on the app for use on your cruise.

As mentioned, Princess will do TransPacific crossing at the end of seasons (to reposition ships from one coast to/from Australia-New Zealand. Many would love to do the same...ship over, stay for a couple of weeks, ship back. As far as I know, you will have to fly one way. I would love to do the same for Hawaii. In the 50's you could do it...not anymore.

Sharing is a good thing. 😉

Keep in mind: Plus = $60 per person/per day Gratuities/Crew appreciation runs $16 - $18 per person/per day/average $17 Internet will cost $24.99 per day per/person $60 - (24.99 + $17) = $18.01 (or about 3 sodas/mock cocktails/specialty desserts/coffees, etc). If the kids will be limited, then I would get the 2 Plus for the adults and allocate time slots for the kids from the Plus devices. I do understand that kids want to be on the internet 24/7. I am a teacher and a grandparent. But this is a family vacation. I'm old school. Limit wifi to 6 hours a day and that's a lot of savings.

I sure hope your phone has a ton of memory. Glad you are enjoying this voyage so much. I can "hear" it in your "voice". Thanks for taking us along.

How old are the grandkids? How economical do they want to spend? Lots of different options out there. 1. Adults get Plus. Will give them 2 devices. Adults get one. Kids get one (shared time/even-odd hours) 2. Adults get Plus. Adults purchase 2 single = 4 or 4 device plan = 6 accesses 3. Adults get Premier. Access to 8 devices. 4. Adults get Plus. Kids get Plus = 4 devices. and there are probably many more combinations.

Wow...I don't remember starting this thread. And what was that link I included? I am getting old. Moderators: You may put this thread to rest. Old and outdated information. Thank you.