cr8tiv1

I use maps.me and download maps before leaving home.

Could the hold up be that your transfer has to go through special services since it is an accessible cabin? I would call them to see what they can do.

On Princess ships, The Crown Grill and Sabatini's have their own kitchens and all foods are prepared right there. Sabatini's starts making their own pasta in the morning for their evening meal.

The only one time I had trouble transferring a booking to my TA was because... I had added the screen shot directly to my email instead of used an attachment. When Princess received my request, they would not process it. After multiple calls by my travel agent and myself, one wise person told me the problem. When they tried to print out the email, it showed up as 2 pages. They could not accept the request since some information was on one page and then the other. I simply re-submitted request as an attachment. When they opened the attachment, all the information showed up and was processed.

A couple of times, I have asked security on the ship AND on my way through the terminal about returning with food. Saint John and Halifax: I asked port security if I could bring back my lobster roll. They looked at me strangely and told me it would be fine. In Japan, I asked if I could bring back dried abalone to the ship and back into the US. They told me I would be able to. Just to be sure, I used a translating app to ask the Japanese official. Unfortunately, I could not find any abalone. It is written in NCL policy that you are not allowed to bring back food (just found this out recently). I do it all the time from island to island (on a cruise ship). That may be a little different since we remained in the same state. Coco Puffs, mochi, lilikoi pie, cookies, etc. Meats, dairy, raw fruits/vegetables, raw eggs, and plants with soil are restricted items when leaving the ship and entering a foreign country. It has more to do with agricultural restrictions. I am not an expert, but do check websites or ask official personnel when traveling. I don't see rice as being an issue. And that is easy to purchase as a sealed product. I suggest that you freeze the bag of rice to kill any insects that were in the bag.

You may take food that is not pre-packaged. It will depend on which ports you embark/disembark. I have taken opened foods on and off in San Pedro, Hawaii state ports, Saint John, Japan, and a sundry of other ports.

Same IT as those working on the Medallion/Princess app? Are heads rolling? This is really a B I G oops.

On my recent CB cruise this past summer, housekeeping/maintenance could not get our refrigerator to work properly...at all, over 13 days. We were informed that it was a cooler and not a refrigerator (barely would cool anything). We were also told there was none on the ship to replace it and that it was a specific size and could not be replaced either. On a cruise to Hawaii on the Grand, I would "store" chocolate covered strawberries in the refrigerator. They would mold within days. That "cooler" never felt cold either. That has been my experience. Don't know if it is because these were older ships. I will only use the box to store things overnight. Anything else, I would not deem safe like I would at home.

Most mini-refrigerator in every cabin are not really refrigerators but more of a cooler. It will keep cans/bottles above room temperature but doesn't store/keep foods very well.

Wouldn't it be great if we (members) could set up an exchange swap for all those "extra"/left over currencies that we pick up for our cruises. I guess that would be considered mail fraud or money laundering. aka Sheldon Cooper. My daughter hit many, many, countries during her 30 day back packing trip through Europe. She used her left over currency to pay down her hostel rates (then, I guess charged the rest?).

Are you independently flying or have you booked with EZ Air? Do you have a back up plan if you are delayed in any way (traffic, accident, other)?

@Ellipooh's question was can s/he make Elite by doing such and such. I think the question was answered (Yes). Everyone has their own reason/s for wanting to reach Elite. For me, it was a goal that was made very easy by Princess at the time. I am not going to judge OP for his/her choices. I hope they enjoy a week being spoiled in a suite. Maybe that is their Christmas gift to themself. We should all be happy they can cruise.

This would be a good opportunity to "test" out the services of your concierge. The one late season cruise I was on, I found out about the Northern Lights show from the general crew. They all knew. But it was supposed to happen between 2 and 4 AM. I wasn't about to leave my warm comforter to trek on deck to look for them. You might be a little more willing since you have an aft balcony that will be fairly dark. The one time I wish a Window Suite had a balcony. lol.

@Ellipooh Congrats on finding a b2b that will get you to elite. I have done a one nighter solo in an inside cabin. I have done a Window Suite solo. The secret to moving cabins: Leave as much of your clothes hanging, dump everything else in the suitcase. Your steward and/or house keeping supervisor will get it to your next cabin. Enjoy your turn around day. You will have plenty of time to fill up 21 drawers and 3 closets in your CB Window Suite. Not to mention getting started on your Suite Perks (better than Elite).

Too late to edit. I am sure you understood "now" to mean no charge. Sorry...was in a hurry.

If you haven't been on Princess since pre-covid, yes, the menu has changed. Some items come with a charge. Some items have been deleted or replaced (chocolate cake is not the same). Basic items are still available for now charge.

Without Plus/Premier, you will be charged $5 for every time you pick up the phone to call in an order. After paying the initial $14.99 (really Princess), you may order anything from Room Service from the app.

Way back when....I remember.... Princess would have an staggered event in the Princess Theater and one in the aft theater (not club). It would split the crowd. There was enough time to get from one theater to the next (about 30 minutes). The Wheelhouse was between the two venues and they would have their sets timed for between the performances. Everyone was happy.

Meet and Greets do not have a "minimum". I have planned for 50 and only 20 show up. Better to have this "reservation" and cancel once on board than to try to put something together at the last minute. How active is your roll call? Are there many who are "really" interested? Or just a few that want to sit and chat. Meet and Greets can be elaborate or simple. Be sure to check with your contact once on board. Princess is great in supporting these events. You can request that no officers are invited if you worry about about a poor showing.

Why not just plan a Meet and Greet with Princess (group services)? They will assign you a room. If only a few show up, that's fine...dismiss the officers. Or ask that staff not attend. At least you will be guaranteed a meeting space. An informal gathering will not have priority over a scheduled event. Even Knitters and Natters will have priority over your small group.

Be sure to clear your Casino account before the last night. That will not roll over. I would expect the Room Service fee will need to be activated for the second leg of your cruise. Princess hasn't yet figured out how to finite individual folios for "exceptions".

Since when did the $$$ revenue events take precedents over the informational enrichment lectures SMH....aka Sheldon Cooper. It should have had priority in the Princess Theater.

For those who are interested: Have you found/had contact with the "mysterious" concierge on the Grand? Who is s/he? Who is the Assistant Manager in the Reserve Collection MDR? It's been sooooo long since I've been on the Grand. Tell "her" that I miss her. Thanks

I also have not been on the Regal. There is (maybe) one Grand/GEM class ship that has a roll in Deck 6 to the theater with wheel chair seating. Premier "might" be able to place a reserve cover on those seats. Can't speak to the same layout for the Royal Class ships. Other than that, there is a wheel chair section on the top of Deck 7. You could request that the staff add a cover to one of those seats.

If you are not in a hurry (Airport to Vancouver downtown pre-cruise), I would suggest getting a taxi for more than one person. It is a flat rate, you're not driving, less of a hassle, and "what's your rush? It is one rate and the exchange rate is so good. I did the SkyTrain once. Someone was nice enough to hand us their ticket. But it is a much further walk from the airport than the taxi stand and then a walk from the station to the hotel.