Wishing on a star

No, I don't think so...  Remember, this is not Princess, but this agency...  Princess price will be their price.  

They may not discount much, or any,, but I haven't seen many steep discounts anywhere lately.

Last cruise we booked, thru a big agency, the discount 'from' prices only applied to the lowest, entry level, GTY...  which we would not do.

Several hundred dollars in OBC would be the 'discount'.

Many agencies that do discount ask for huge deposits up front.  

We are looking at a Caribbean cruise in the winter...

I am so afraid that the fact that it can become 'stuffy' and lacks fresh air could really be a negative.

I wonder if they could do something to improve that situation...  Some way to open up air in and out of this area?

The problem with ships with open Sanctuaries up there is either the sun/heat or the wind.  I have seen either of these make this area uncomfortable or even un-useable.

Back when you could put holds on cruises, TA put a hold on the 14 day instead of just the 7 day...  We let that expire...   We had one of those 'offers' for a bit of OBC...  really tiny amount, but...

That HOLD was considered a 'booking' and they would NOT honor that tiny OBC....

I have NO respect or confidence in Princess as a corporation.

But,  Wait.... There's more!!!!     If you wanna risk a $99. deposit...  There is the 3 Day Sale!

I have contacted a TA from that agency, and will be ready to hit BOOK if we decide.   If it is a 10 day, then that should be $300. per person in OBC.

Princess has extended the Promo that has been running...  No OBC offered by Princess.

Hoping that they won't add $$$ to every single cruise because of one agencies 3 day sale!!!

                   🌤️     ☁️ ☁️

Definitely!!!    ⛴️____

Any idea on what the next one will look like.

Same-old?  OBC???

Princess seems to be marketing to families..  so a similar Promo with the 3rd and 4th guest free?

I am not sure...  but that is probably about right.

I hear that the cabs that can come into the Port Taxi Rank will be higher.

That might be why the trip there is less than the trip back.

I do not think these taxi's would want to negotiate.

They will want to fill the seats in their van to make the trip.

Flalmingo,  PLEASE, pretty PLEASE come back and post after your visit with Gone Caribe.  

SJDE,  We have friends planning a visit to Curacao, and might also consider an ABC Island cruise.

The thing is,  which sites are best are which ones YOU are most interested.

Of the ones you mention...  the first tour would def. be the one I would choose.

Knip Beach. (which one???) nice and beautiful little beaches,  and Boca Table (aka Sheet Boca Nat. Park) With the crashing waves and water 'geysers'.

Those are the things that interest me...  the natural beauty of the Island.

If I got to choose, on a private custom tour,  I would add Playa Piskado.

For me, plantations and distilleries would be lower on the list.

The web-site for Gone Caribe, as mentioned, might be very helpful, with that click-able list of sites and points of interest.  You can look thru those to see what is what.

From what I am seeing, they offer a private tour, up to 6 hours, where you select and prioritize the places you want to see.

I know that there are a lot of comments and opinions out there.   So, this might be kind of repeating...

We are considering a cruise on Majestic. (after the next DryDock in March). As we are interested in what Princess might be doing with this ship.

I have never picked this ship, as I have not been sure about the fully enclosed forward pool, and lack of an AFT pool area.  No 'Sanctuary'.

(Going from the nice Adagio area on the Ruby, to no comparable pool area now,  another Princess 'mistake')

How is it, being in that forward pool area, and the conservatory?

What are the good things, and maybe the not so good?

Thanks for any comments!

You should be fine in that cabin!!!!

from mid-Aft the Buffet and Dining are all accessible.

Forward you will find the Theater, the Spa, the Sanctuary, etc.

Check out deck plans on Princess...  You will be glad you have become more familiar!!!

Just now, bandp407 said:

In my opinion, the greatest concern is the location . Could be forward rather than our preferred aft. Could be a deck we don’t want, etc… 

 

I think Princess is loosing business over this issue but as TAW1963 noted Princess has been doing this for quite some time. 

Yes, they have....   Absolutely a problem...  some un-fathomable decision by some 'shirt' in a cubicle, that I have seen referred to as 'bean counters'  here on CC.

Just one of many substantial issues going on with Princess Corporate...  NOT GOOD.

22 minutes ago, bandp407 said:

Agreed- chances of getting an experienced agent are minimal!! I am waiting to hear about next week’s sale and then will give this all a shot. 

You need to contact your TA  (a TA) with this agency NOW....

They have all the details, and it seems to be what has been posted here on CC.

They are lining up the bookings, so that they can submit them all ASAP when the Promotion goes online on June 6.   

You doo not want to wait till then, and then hope one finds the time to get back to you and put in your booking, and get the cabin you want.

This issue is specific to the Deluxe Guarantee cabins on Royal class ships.

It is just ridiculous.  

One booking we have, it IS showing these available for two...

Other bookings we are looking at...  ONLY shows available for selection when you have entered 3  or more guests.

We are considering booking during the 3 Day Sale...  And, our TA has been agreeable to the 'booking for 3, cancel one later' work-around.  This is what we plan to do.   We have selected a very specific area/cabin for some important reasons...  and, if we can't get that, we might not choose to book.

Remember, if somebody did call Princess and were able to select a Deluxe Balcony, this is LUCK.  

And, if one is using a TA, like the agency with the 3 Day Sale, then you can't call Princess directly, as they will refer you back to your TA.

I have heard of bidding being open before final payment???

I am no expert... but, 

About then,, you can start to pull up your cruise online, and click the 'Bid For Upgrade', 

It will either show ' not eligible '  or will pull up the bidding.

A balcony for Alaska comes down to one thing....  WEATHER.

We did not book a balcony, but booked a newly added 'picture window' cabin.

We were not disappointed as it was chill, cloudy, and even rainy for most of the entire cruise.

(luckily, the rain held off for the two Glacier Viewing days...  still very gray and cloudy)

If you really want that balcony, then that is great!!!!  Just understand that weather in Alaska is usually iffy.

Is that mid-AFT on deck 9 or deck 14?

I would choose by deck.  I would go with deck 9.  We ended up on deck 15 way  forward when booking late...  Never again after the motion on that cruise.   SO much better when we were down in the Piazza on deck 5/6/7...   

ecs,  you will see where to click to show all BOARDS at the top of the page here, towards the right.

Scroll down to Ports Of Call...  Click on Caribbean.

: )

JuJu...  I am not sure where you might have read/heard that...  But I do not know of any right now.  The first sailing for FLL is VERY heavily sold for all categories MiniSuite down...

Yes, many of not most of the over-priced 'SANCTUARY CLASS' staterooms are the ones showing available.

I would foresee a lot of upgrades and bidding for upgrade before any move-over offers.

When booking for three guests, Princess web-site is showing the deposit is $198.00.  ( 2 X 99.00 reduced deposit )

So, with the upcoming 3 Day Sale,  I am assuming that this is the same.  Paying only two deposits per cabin.

If that is true, then if the third passenger were to cancel, How would that work with the NON-refundable deposit on the 3 Day sale???

I am hoping that the third passenger can be cancelled off the booking, with no problems or issues???

TA is a bit confused by this question, and is worried that this would change our booking, and therefore lose the 3 Day Sale benefits.

Will be back in touch with her as soon as I can!

For sure,  when looking at a few future cruises, I had one pop up at $64. per day.

Last I looked, it is still showing $60. per day.

Not sure if Princess will do this before this one Promo with one agency???

But, this might be a good heads-up....  If anybody was considering getting the Plus Package, this might be the time to do it.

1 hour ago, JamieLogical said:

On Royal Class ships, a standard balcony has a small external balcony space and no loveseat. A Deluxe Balcony has a small external balcony and a loveseat. A Premium Balcony has a larger external balcony and no loveseat. A Premium Deluxe Balcony has a larger external balcony and a loveseat.

Quoting to copy this in again...  Excellent explanation!

Balcony -  no loveseat or sitting area.. only the chair at the desk/counter

Deluxe Balcony - slightly larger cabin with the small two seat mini-sofa (loveseat).

Premium refers to the outside balcony space.  On Royal class ships, standard balcony is small.

A 'Premium' larger balcony space can be either on a standard or a Deluxe cabin.

NOTE:  Aft Wake-View Deluxe Balconies are all the 'Premium' category - but not all of them are really larger.  Check Deck-Plans.

NOTE:  There are a limited few cabins to be found that have larger balconies that are not the 'Premium' category.   Again,  check deck plans.

The larger and sometimes angled balconies mid-ship, mentioned just above, are listed as 'obstructed'..  Obstructed Balcony cabins are listed under the INTERIOR cabins, when choosing the type of cabin you want when looking online. 

I am seeing Deluxe Balconies at (avg) 233,  and Balconies at 222.

That Average size that it shows when you click on the cabin is surely an error.

NOT unheard of with Princess IT !

Thanks everyone!   We are seeing some great options.  

I remembered a trip report here from Aruba with a private option, if they are lucky enough to be able to book.  I remembered seeing a great trip report for that, and so glad I did.    🌺 🦩🦩🌺

So, that and seeing Eagle Beach.      🌴  🏖️ 🌴 

A couple of good options for Bonaire too!  

Maybe Woodwind, or going to one place on their own.   🐟🐠🐡🐙

Looks like Curacao is the one where it is taking some time to find the best thing to go with!.

Interesting, about the Plus Package???  I am contacting a new TA today (hoping I found a good one that actually is just 30 min, from here). And I now have two questions to ask...  do you truly HAVE to book with the Plus Package?   And,  can she do whatever is needed to get the two of us a Premium Deluxe Balcony, that Princess is almost always holding for three or more guests?

We shall see!

I would be more likely to book this promotion if I could use it onboard towards adding the Plus Package when we board.  (for a couple of reasons...)

Transfers...  yes that would be good.

If it is a BW or a BA or B-whatever.   It should be a Balcony.