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That's why I quantified 95% Yes, they wear a "uniform", but it is not the standard crew wear.

If you add Plus or Premier with booking...it is part of the booking fare. It will include a small addition for insurance. Can't remove it later without losing your booking. You can also book a cabin....then add the bundle....and pay an increase in insurance. Or you can buy the bundle on embarkation day without paying for insurance, but run the risk of a rate increase.

To be a little more technical. If they are wearing "uniforms" provided by the ship/laundry, then they are ship employees. (MDR, Customer Service, Room Service, Baristas, maintenance, security, etc). If they are wearing street clothes, then they are 95% vendors: EFFY, Princess stores, "Princess" Fine Arts, guest lecturer's, guest entertainers, ONE/Future Cruise "consultants". etc.

I agree with your post. But that doesn't negate a return to the thread to bring closure to problem. Maybe someone else might have the same/similar situation. 18 hours and counting.

Most not be as urgent as it sounds. OP hasn't returned in 15 hours.

Can you be a little more specific? Like which cruise is he on? Which piece does he need? Is the ship in US ports or foreign? This information may help your get a better answer or a makeshift solution.

Are you working with a TA? I was able to get a re-fare without losing my OBC. She is a skilled TA who knows which questions to ask and who to talk to. She doesn't hang up until she sees that everything is in place. December is a long way off. You have not reached final payment time. Did you put down a non-refundable deposit (mistake #1). Are you from the United States? That can also play a factor in policy.

There is a manager/supervisor. S/He wears the suit (and on the staff board). You will be on this cruise long enough to get to know him/her. There's always a paper trail. That's just blowing smoke.

The Future Cruise Person is able to print out the "order" that was submitted. I did that on my summer cruise for the sister you met (who wasn't with me until October). She doesn't check emails....So I wanted a hard copy. My TA also received notification since same sister doesn't go into her Princess account either). Glad you were able to buy FCDs for everyone else. I think Princess did this since everyone's FCDs expired during the Pandemic. Still, with only a year expiration date, I think (aka Sheldon Cooper) they should allow this nice perk. What's the harm? They will get more bookings. Crossing my fingers that you will see the Northern Lights sometime during your remaining cruise days. Unfortunately, every day will stay lighter and lighter from here forward.

I understand your irritation over the bar charges. I would have escalated this to the Food and Beverage officer, Hotel Manager, or at least the Customer Service Supervisor after the second "error". I would not have taken it out on the crew by removing their gratuities. Thank you for your balanced review. It seems like more and more ships are using the aft dining room for breakfast and lunch. I guess that is a good way to consolidate the crew. I wonder if they are still short staffed? Will it discourage passengers from eating in the MDR and head for other venues?

Book a mini-suite on a Grand Class Ship to get a bigger balcony and a tub/shower combo. I can't remember, but think....that a regular balcony on Caribe Deck 10 has 9 x 9 balconies. Or forward/aft cabins. And this is one of the reasons (balcony size) I have no desire to book a Royal Class ship. Princess doesn't have large showers in balcony and below cabins.

I’m waiting for a class action suit against O.N.E. For their “not 100% transparency”. Above the line. Probably….honest and scrupulously….maybe not so. Buyer Beware

I tried to also do a complimentary dinner on the app. Couldn’t get past choosing the time and date. Error message. Went to the web based “app”. I was able to reserve time and date. Confirmed, no page showing “credit”. Went straight through to payment charge. Checked my Credit Card. Yup….pending payment. I went back in and deleted reservation. Yup….pending negative balance. I’ve never had any luck making pre-cruise reservations. I gave up. Will do it when I board.

Thanks @burnabyjean. I would not consider your experience as a "positive" one. I would love to see a glowing report on how great this promotion is...better than sliced bread. I am old school. I don't trust digital "stuff". I've had digital and paper orders for FCDs non-appear. It is best to place your order at the beginning of the cruise with a representative...rather than deal with the crowds to chase down your order. I will fill out the paper, but hand it to the person, wait for them to process it (not stick it on a pile and get to it later), and walk off with a hard copy confirmation. AND you do not have to hand over a credit card since it is charge to the credit card on file (not to your folio). They have that information. That is why it is so unnerving to think they will ask you for your credit card for a Princess Promotion deal.

Unfortunately, the Catch by Rudi is not on all ships. I only do Specialty Dining when it is complementary. Haven't heard many speak of Planks and the Crab place on Grand Class ships.

It is a very short, required, port to satisfy PSVA. I am surprised that Canada has not made it mandatory that they stay longer ($$$$) like Ensenada, Mexico did. It might be just too long a trek from the previous port in Alaska to make to to Victoria earlier. It's only used for ships that do round trips out of Seattle. Not required for ships that sail in/out of Vancouver. Yes, cash out of casino as soon as you leave your last Alaskan port. Casino will be closed in/around Victoria and Canada.

*psyche" replaces psychic (although I am sometimes that too).

Have you tried the Chilean Sea Bass or the Lamb Chops? Both are outstanding. I heard the filet is very tender and full of flavor. I gave up on the Rib Eye Steak. Way too much for me to eat. I was told by the waiter that you should always order that meat medium rare. I do wish they would change up some of the sides. But then again, there is so much to eat. I love the papaya something with Tiger Prawns. I like Sabatini's new menu, but prefer the Crown Grill.

@keldaria Your detailed description is something that I know many have been waiting to read about. Thank you for sharing your carefully crafted first hand experience. I welcome anyone who had a positive experience cashing in on Princess Promotions. There seems to be very few examples of how this works in real life. Maybe the word is finally getting out (after a year?). With all of the PR problems Princess has created for themselves, maybe they should reconsider farming out their Future Cruise Department to O.N.E. Look at what happened to SHARE. But then again, the SPA is still around. I just found an old but current for 2024 (lol) daily calendar for "Who Moved My Cheese". Yup, I am in that age/personality group that finds change really hard on one's psychic.

I am sorry to hear of this development. I hope that Canada will have an additional fail safe for your parents. This will be an expensive lesson if they are unable to dispute this charge on their credit card. I do visit O.N.E. on a cruise to see what "cruise specials" they have or to purchase an FCD (future cruise deposit). I want a hard copy of that transaction. Anything else is a no go for me. I have learned my best advocate is my TA and will not book anything while on the ship. I hope your parents can prove that they did not sign any agreements. Princess would have to "prove" a contract was signed by them to process the payment. Otherwise, I see it as an unauthorized charge to the card.

That's interesting. I didn't have a CPAP when I did the land tour many years ago. I have "researched" options. Found out that Reverse Osmosis is the closest to distilled water. Then bottled water. I would not venture to use tap water for my machine. I am sure @JF - retired RRT would chime in on this.

A CPAP is considered a medical device and can be carried on a bus. The problem will be…where to store it. Some busses will have overhead compartments. Others may not. I purchased a chamber block so that I could use my CPAP without the water chamber/water. If you are coming off a cruise, you could bring the left over distilled water with you. I would transfer it to a water tight container.

I thought I clearly stated that Agriculture Department (state/country) has final say on what can be brought OFF the ship. Every countries’ website will list prohibited items. i travel between Oahu and California often enough. Hawaii and California have very stringent agricultural rules. It is probably best to state that anything raw or untreated/unprocessed cannot/should not be removed from the ship. If the item can support a living organisms, then it most likely will be banned.

99% of the passengers who have had contact with Princess Promotions (O.N.E.) have not been happy. If your dad handed over their credit card, that is going to be had to dispute. Never the less, I would not wait for a phone call. Better to be pro-active. I think they are past the 72 hour (or maybe just 24 hour) right to refuse timeline. Good Luck

In my opinion (without watching/peering the cooks), I am pretty sure it is cooked to order in the specialty restaurants. I've had lamb chops in the MDR and Crown Grill. No comparison. There are dishes that are only offered in the Specialty Dining Rooms (except for the calamari rings in Sabatini's which tasted similar to MDR). The price of the specialty restaurants have escalated. Except for my suite embarkation complimentary dinner or gifted by my TA, I will not pay for the more expensive meal. Part of the cost is the attentiveness of the waiters. Expect to spend 3 hours dining.