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Good reason to go now (than later). Did repo up (July/ FLL) and down (October/Quebec). Visited St John, Bar Harbor, Sydney, Williamsburg, Portland, Newport. Both were really enjoyable and glad I did them.

My plastic holders stay on for every mode of travel. You just slip your paper tags inside after you claim your luggage from the carousel.

I almost always purchase my fare with insurance. All that is required is my FCD. If I cancel, I am refunded my FCD. Insurance is not factored in until final payment is due. I don’t know if there is a required time after booking or before final payment for insurance to be valid (think pre-conditions). I only do refundable deposits Just cancelled 2 bookings under deposit only and refunded FCDs.

Do you have Plus (free shipping) Do you have Premier (free accessory of THEIR choice). Have you already ordered your Medallion? Go to your app. Travel Information page Order Medallion Click on name Medallion or Accessories I think there is a shipping charge and tax for ordering it online

I think the confusion comes about with the difference between eating in the Reserve Collection MDR and Specialty Restaurants. Reserve Collection MDR: No reservations needed. Walk up, get seated (if you have no special requests for area/wait staff). Truly anytime dining. Specialty Restaurants will vary by ship: These (like Crown Grill/Sabatini's/the Catch By Rudy/360, etc) require a reservation. You will have priority over a non-Reserve Collection passenger. If the restaurant you desire is near capacity, they may offer you a different time/day but will try their hardest to get you in. Print out your Reserve Collection Amenities flyer and bring it with you.

I tried once on the app today, without success. I gave up many tries AGO. And when was the last time Princess promised a date AND actually met the deadline? Hmmmmm Medallion ship (PreCovid), Sun Princess, Star Princess, Dine My Way, need I say more? "Loving This" thread.

Depending on the itinerary you may find passengers lined up at 4:45 PM waiting for the doors to open in Reserve Collection. Yes, I was one of those (not by my choice). Or you may find that the dinner crowd did not start until after 6. You will have a complimentary suite Specialty Restaurant on embarkation night. You can make reservations when you board. I would give suite breakfast a try early in the cruise. It really is one of the best perks. If you are not fussy about which table/which wait staff, then it is truly anytime dining. The area is small enough that the entire wait staff will get to know you (not necessarily your specific needs/wants).

Yup...one of the main reasons for booking that cruise (Arcadia and Williamsburg). I did an independent tour in an air conditioned small bus. Stopped in several places for my stamps (priority over views). You will need to do a car tour of Upper New England to hit all of these wonderful places. Fly into Boston or points north. This is also the cruise I came down with Covid, but not to worry. Got my main sights in and then repeated the cruise in the fall.

I loved visiting Bar Harbor last summer. The town is so quaint plus I made it to Arcadia NP. That being said, around noon, the Captain pulled the tenders to those still going ashore. It was a mechanical/technical issue. I was one of the fortunate who got off at 9:30 AM. Still a huge line to get back to the ship at 1:30. They were only running tenders to pick up passengers for the very long/slow ride back to the ship. Bar Harbor is such an interesting place that I would have loved to visit again. Don the YouTuber says it will be limited to ships carrying 1000 or LESS passengers. So much for Princess. I feel for all those who were looking forward to this port.

Yes, it will have Steamers AND Planks on alternate evenings. You can book it when you board. It is part of the Plus/Premier casual dinners. Somewhere else on this board has links to their menus.

Hurricane season (as reported) is June through November. Hawaii was hit with a hurricane on November 30, 1982. As for the Caribbean: Early in the season, most lows/tropical depressions/hurricanes will form around the Yucatan Peninsula/Cancun. https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/17/weather/hurricane-season-gulf-coast-flooding/index.html Mid season, July/August, you will get activity near Texas/Louisiana/maybe Florida panhandle and the Caribbean islands like Puerto Rico, Bahamas, etc. Late in the season, hurricanes seem to veer up the Atlantic Coast (FLL/Miami, Carolinas, etc.) and as far north as New England.

I carry around a little bit of cash for the casino. Limits my loss. Does it make any difference if I hand it to the entertainer, person who does a good deed, or to the greedy slot machine? I returned from being off the ship; tired and craving a peanut butter cookie. None in the buffet. One server scoured the entire ship (behind buffet, IC, MDR kitchen). After about 20 minutes he comes back "panting" (my addition). You bet...he got a little bit of the extra I was carrying around. I'll do almost anything to get my hands on my PB cookies. The IC crew gets to know me well.

Technically, if Princess cancelled your cruise, the FCD should be returned to your account….unless: If your FCD expired before the cancellation date, then it should be returned to your credit card or original form of payment. You might have some leverage to ask them to transfer your current cancelled FCD to another booking. I would escalate this issue. You paid $100 for your FCD. You should rightfully get it banked or refunded for entire amount.

Not everyone has a drink package nor “breaks the rule”. It is very simple to request the drink be added to your folio.

Priority specialty dining reservations refers to making reservations for the Crown Grill/Sabatini's and other paid restaurants onboard. As far as canapés are concerned, I don't care for any of them. They've removed all the good ones and replaced them with bites I won't eat. To each their own, you might want to give it a try. You will not need reservations for the Reserved Collection Main Dining Room.

I have done the same. They ask the barista to hold their drinks until they are "off duty". I've even bought coffee for an officer that was in line behind me (yes, they do have to pay for it). No one has ever turned down my thoughtfulness. Glad to read that others find this "normal" behavior.

Thanks, I should have checked. A Big Mac Meal is $11.19 on my app in CA. It is actually cheaper in Honolulu at $10.69. But ran into this article... https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/20/mcdonalds-big-mac-prices-state-by-state.html#:~:text=The most expensive Big Mac,for a comparatively cheap %243.91. And yes, the Taco Bell in Honolulu went to ordering by kiosk because they did not have enough staff to man the counter. I ended up helping someone try to order from the machine. AND they said teachers would be replaced by robots....ha! No longer a pipe dream. Glad I retired before this happens. But let's get back to the OP. There are many businesses that have a base fare and then add on "extras" like crew appreciation, back kitchen service fees, baggage fees for airlines, etc. We can expect this to keep rising just like everything else.

For those passengers who see tipping as "supplementing" salary, would they, then, NOT patronize land restaurants that also pay below minimum wages (those that rely on tips)? Or not tip at these restaurants? California is one state that has mandated minimum wages for some workers (approaching $20/hour). Look at the price of a Big Mac meal at McDonald's. It's close to $15.00. As @azbirdmom has so clearly stated, " It is what it is and it's one of those things you deal with if you choose to keep your auto tip on (or have it included through the purchase of a package)." There is a small contingency of passengers that belabor the tipping point. I believe in my fellow (wo)man that I'd rather have crew appreciation added on to guest folios rather than pay more for insurance and taxes if it were included. AND I hate to pay taxes! but do.

If you add it now, it will guarantee that your rate will not increase. I have heard/read, that if it is part of your fare, you would need to re-fare everything if you decide to cancel it. Don't know what will happen if you want to re-fare just the fare.

I've gotten the same message.

How was this possible? An email COPY would not have a certification stamp on it. I always thought it had to be a REAL certified original birth certificate.

The Arizona Memorial/Pearl Harbor and surrounding museums is an easy to trip to plan on your own. You will be in Honolulu until late evening (usually 11 PM). Yes, traffic can be horrendous. You can take an UBER/Lyft or Da Bus is you are adventurous. It is within 10 miles of the port. Plan you time around ordering tickets on https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=arizona memoriał You will need to pick up your tickets one hour before the theater presentation time. This is the only way to get on the boat that will take you out the memorial (commercial excursions do not include this). You can spend your hour going through 2 small museums. I would say, order your tickets for about 10:30 AM. That means you would need to be at the memorial by 9:30....leaving the ship somewhere between 8:30 and 8:45 ish if you are catching the bus. Once you are out there, you could purchase something like a day pass that will allow you entrance in to some of the other museums. You could easily spend a day out that way. There are not many places to grab a bite but you are also very restricted to what you can take into the memorial. There are a few for pay storage lockers. https://www.nps.gov/perl/uss-arizona-memorial-programs.htm#:~:text=Pearl Harbor Visitor Center%2C National,fees and cannot offer refunds.

Slippers technically are complimentary for Full Suite passengers. You can always ask your steward if he could “find” you some. I would plan on bringing your own.

Princess Plus Beverage Package: Specialty Sundae - maybe one and done Specialty Cake - maybe chocolate/red velvet once each. Gym - no Casual Dining on CB - planks/maybe, steamers/no Juice Bar - if made with powder….no/disappointing 2,5 alcoholic drinks per day - probably not Room Service delivery/OceanNow - probably Medallion shipping - Yes Crew Appreciation- Yes MedallionNet - Yes, although it would have been 50% off Getting Plus on next cruise - yes…for convenience this time (also getting 2 minibars and daily water bottles. I know, I know….long story !

Age restrictions. I think under 16 needs an adult in the cabin. My question. How do you split Plus or Premier?