crows nest club

OMG. Princess, if you are going to give air time to Elite passengers, please try not to give the impression that we all think we are as important as those shown. We are elite, and hope that we never come across like that. IF we ever make the 40 MTP luncheon then that is a bonus. Otherwise just be grateful for some of the other benefits Princess give (love the mini bar and free laundry).

I think you would be pushing it. Even if you do a self disembarkation, you have to rely on the ship clearing customs by 7 a.m. Also the traffic from Southampton can be very unpredictable - British motorways are noted for delays and you will be using the M3 and the notorious M25 (known as the 'largest car park in Europe'). With all things in your favour, it would be tight. Personally, I wouldn't risk it.

If there is a later flight then I would take that.

We've done a lot of Princess cruises and can agree with the point that it depends sometimes on your embarkation port. Cruises from Southampton by definition have a greater number of British cruisers on board. The dressing for dinner is a long- established tradition on the u.k, especially with the slightly older generation. Also for obvious reasons, many cruising from Southampton do not have baggage weight restrictions as many can drive to the port.

Still, it is still nice for passengers to have the choice of dressIng as they feel comfortable with.

Jennie

Thank you for your concise report of CC dining. Gives most of the information I was wondering about. Glad you enjoyed it.

I had a copy of my ticket (yes we used to get those)on the Canberra from years ago and Princess accepted this. Also had menus of about 1O other P and O cruises in the 90 s, which had the voyage number, dates and itinerary on them and that gave me credits for these cruises also. It never hurts to try. It worked for us.

On our previous requests we have asked for a two CHAIR table. These are usually up against the panelling or the transparent room dividers.

Have to wait and see what CC dining has available.

Bearing in mind that pre purchased obc can either be refunded or purchased up to 72 hours before departure, this should not prove too much of a problem.

My husband booked this cruise but after reading a number of negative reviews. I am worried about going. The treatment on board worries me and we don't like to complain. I wonder if we should just sacrifice the deposit and just go to a land holiday. I am very worried that I will be unhappy for 14 nights. Is anyone going on the 29th July 17:confused:

We are on this cruise. It will be our 61st with Princess and never had a bad one. We did this itinerary last year and there are some lovely ports. You often find that the ones who complain are those who have nothing better to do. If there is a problem thrn they will always try to sort it on board if you explain in an appropriate manner.

We have found the food always to be good and plenty of venues to choose from.

I'm sure you will have a great cruise.

We also get it in the U.K. My husband did 2 years National Service and he gets $250 for our next cruise.

Thank you so much for your replies. We are still cruising novices, this is only our second cruise. I hadn't thought about having obc before. We plan to take some excursions so am I right to think that you can pay for this with your obc?

These are charged to your on board account so any credit on there can be used for any charges incurred there. Also bear in mind that the rate of $1.33 is used for any on board reservations you may wish to purchase before your cruisre I. e. pre-pay gratuities, pre purchase of coffee card and pre purchase of bottled water. Otherwise load your account with obc credit and leave to purchase on board.

Sorry I read it at £70

No problem. I thought you had - so many different rates according to date of your booking.

My booking page is saying that I can buy obc at £18.75/37.50 and £75. I'm a bit dim when it comes to exchange rates but could anyone confirm if this is a good rate. Thanks

The three amounts in sterling quoted are for $25, $50 and $100 dollars respectively. Therefore $100 ÷ £75 = $1.33 and so on. So this is your rate for your cruise. Very favourable against the present high street rate.

Hope this helps.

You can check this on the webpage on your planner. The dollar amounts of OBC are fixed at $25/$50/$100, so if the cost is shown £12.50/£25.00/£50.00 then the exchange rate is $2/£1, if however if it is showing £17.25/£34.50/£69.00 then the exchange rate is indeed $1.45/£, so stock up on it. You will not be able to get any excess out directly in cash, (methods do exist though) but you will get a cheque after you arrive back, (mine took 11 weeks) so you need to be in a position that you dont need the cash!

 

Nb

You can search these boards for 'the other methods' too complicated for me I waited for a cheque!

Hi - To withdraw any unused obc is not really complicated. Just go along to Casino on last day (even if you don't this venue usually), pop your cruise card into a slot machine (staff member will help). Transfer any unused obc to your, try a couple of spins for luck -ypu may even win a bit. Then cash out to your card and take this to the cage where the cashier gives you the cash. If I can do it, then anyone can! !!Easy peasy.

IF we have any obc at the end of our cruise, we not wait for Princess to refund. We just toddle off to the casino on the last night, put our cruise card into one of the slots, play a couple of spins, cash out to card and then go to the casino cage and they give you the cash. Simples!!!

We booked post Brexit but our rate is still much better than the present high street quoted. $1.33 to the £, against $1.17 today.

my daughter and her husband will be club class. can my husband and I dinewith her in club class

Only if you are in a suite or club class otherwise you cannot join friends - they will have to join you in the MDR.

Guess it's far too late for you now but for future reference we never leave any unused obc on our account. We always go to the Casino a day or so before disembarkation, put our cruise card into a slot machine, transfer money from our on board account, play a pull or two, then cash put to our cruise card. Take the cruise card to the cashier cage and hey presto, she gives ypu the cash. Job done.

i haven't seen this ? asked yet,

we will be sailing on Coral with another couple, does one person from each cabin have to go to the sanctuary, or can one person sign up for both cabins.

thanx for any info, Mike in CT

Usually one person would book four loungers which would be charged to that persons on board account.. Therefore you would have to get reimbursement from your friends. When booking the Sanctuary the receipt raised had to be signed by the cabin occupier.

It may be different on some ships but that is what we have always found. No doubt someone will let you know any different.

Thanks Tracie.

The three things you mentioned are not zero-sum games. But there are just so many seats in ATD, and letting some go empty in case Club Class diners might show up? That does impact on the rest of us, and I can't figure how you don't see that. Likewise, things like priority embarkation/disembarkation, access to the already crowded priority disembarkation lounge, priority tendering...those are kinda more or less zero-sum games. (If two-thirds of the pax has priority embarkation, what does "priority" mean?) By changing Captains Circle rules so someone who's sailed 30 days can get the same Elite bennies as those of us who've sailed 150, many of those benefits are already watered down. And now this.

 

If Princess converted seats in one of the specialty restaurants to Club Class, I don't think anybody would mind as much. After all, nobody complains about Sabatini's breakfasts being limited to those in suites.

 

Assuming you're not Elite, how would feel about a prime chunk of poolside loungers being reserved for Elites only, and everybody else being forced to scrounge seats while most of the Elite loungers stood empty?

Hi

Actually, I am on your side. My comment was regarding the recent rule on Ruby re embarkation lunch where I DO NOT agree that only club class passenger can eat in the MDR as it should be available to all. The reason we have booked a club class mini for this summer, is only due to the fact that the M1 mini's are the cabins we have always preferred to sail in. This year these have been regraded as CC cabins.

It certainly is not to obtain any benefits that we are not entitled to. We are long term Elite Members with 60 cruises and 652 days so have fully earnt in our own right the club class benefits. If the new MDR dining does impact on your dining experience and others, then I am sorry but our preferred cabin assignment has now been re-classed through no fault of our own.

will re post

Quite agree. Although we have booked club class for this summer, do NOT agree that it should impact on other passengers. Afterall, the Sanctuary, Spa and speciality restaurants are a choice to pay extra for and do not impact on other passengers directly.

I really, really wish we could get a comprehensive review of the CC mini's- though I really, really appreciate the mini review another thread.

We also. Just getting bits and pieces at the moment. Perhaps as it gets rolled out further, someone will do a full review. Will just have to be patient.

Like he/she would care, I'm sure they will point you to the buffet should you so desire.....

With respect, it seems a shame that contributors to this website cannot make genuine comments in answers to previous posts, without avsarcastic comment being thrown back at them.

Incidentally, I do care if Princess implements new procedures to the detriment of others and would have no hesitation in trying to address it if at all possble whilst on board.

By the way I am a she.

We are in Club Class on Crown next year and usually dine in MDR on embarkation day. However I certainly would not expect to do so at the expense of other passengers and would certainly make that known to Maitre D or Hotel Manager. From previous experience the MDR is never full at this time.