M&L-Colorado

Deluxe balconies hold 3 because the couch provides a third berth. Thus, to see actual cabins that are open one needs to say you have a party of three. At that point, options to get one are a hassle and may or may not work out. One would be to look for open cabins you would want and then call to book. There may be resistance to them accepting booking but it can work sometimes. I did this for a July Enchanted and did get it after supervisor was checked. Another that some have suggested is to book as 3 and then cancel one person later or to have the third be a no show. I have not done either and and can not state how it works in the end. Also of note is that there have been reports of HAL and maybe Princess reserving the right to boot 2 out of a 3 person cabin later. Have not seen reports of it actually happening. I'm still in my 3 person July with only 2 people. Note that others have been responding as I have been typing. Hope this isn't totally redundant. Mike

Excursion tips are cash at the end.

Do mock booking for 3 and see 2 or 3 cabins that you would want and call in. They may say not available but insist and have them step it up the chain if you have to, to get it. Did that couple of months ago for a July 7-day. Deluxe balcony on Enchanted.

Was on that cruise. It was not an overnight in Curacao, but it was a late night departure. Production crew was onboard throughout the 10 day cruise, worked out of the Hudson Room and an adjacent meeting room. They couldn't say what was being filmed. I didn't see the filming, probably keep that non-public.

On line booking is shut off a few days before the start - not exactly sure but I think it is 2 or 3 days. The problem for B2B cruisers is that once you are on the ship you are considered to be there for both parts and on line booking for you is closed for even the second part. People who are only on the second part can still book on line until a couple of days before start but you cannot. Maybe the IT problem for Princess and Holland America has recently been changed, so try it and see but this is how it has been consistently for the last couple of years.

I do not know about the pre cruise aspect, but on the ship I do know. The excursion desk only has the ability to work the one cruise that is taking place. In other words, once on the ship for a B2B you can book for the first cruise and only the first cruise. Then you can book excursions on the second part of the B2B once it starts. You may be able to do it one day early if they have loaded the info to the computers on the ship. Holland America ships have the same bad setup.

Just booked a specific Lido deck cabin (Deluxe Balcony) on the Enchanted Princess three days ago. It was a hassle as looking online for 2 people specific Deluxe Balconies didn't show up, only guarantees. One has to look online for 3 people, make note of a couple of available Deluxe Balconies, and then call in to book. The rep will say only guarantees are available. You then tell rep that cabin XXX is available and start booking. At some point it will allow rep to enter the specific cabin.

ColonyGirl2 I feel for you in that I have the same situation. My November cruise is booked as a 21 day but is sailing as a 10 followed by an 11. I am making sure that I have any of the second part excursions that I really want booked prior getting on the ship even if I have to use credit card having used up the 300 dollar excursion credit on other excursions. Then when the second leg starts, I'll talk to the excursion desk to try to change payment to onboard credit which we have alot of. Thus, I'll be trying the procedure mentioned by Haljo 1935 in post #13 twice. Once when first on the ship for the first 10 days and then as soon as the second 11 days starts.

You will not be able to. The fact that you have a single booking number only matters in that since you have started your cruise you can not go online and book excursions for any part of it. The fact that it can be booked as two separate cruises means that the excursion desk computer system will only have one of those loaded at a time that being your first half. Thus, they will not be able to see the second part excursions during the first part of your cruise. You get the worst of both worlds. Not only that, but while you are on the first part of your cruise people who are not onboard yet but will be on the second part, at least prior to online booking cutoff can book and potentially fill up the excursions on your second part. You can talk to the excursion desk and they may take note of what you want on the second part. They may then book you or contact you as soon as they have the excursions loaded for the second half of your cruise. That could even be the day before the second half starts. This situation is on both HAL and Princess.

Thanks VMax1700 for that info. Since I already have the surf plan with HIA I may just do whatever voice calls I need with short, cheap (25cents/minutes) calls when in the Caribbean ports since my T-Mobile plan covers that or possibly with land based wifi at a restaurant or bar. Do you know if wifi texting works with the surf plan on the ship?

Have any who have T-Mobile or other done wi-fi calling with the surf internet package?

I also recommend the 26 Glaciers tour. If not offered by HAL or if one desires it somewhat cheaper than HAL it can be booked directly with the vender. Search 26 Glacier for providers site. In either case, one ends up walking to the pier next door in less than 5 minutes.

Princess EZ check is also $25 per person not per piece.

However, on February 8 there were both Carnival and AIDA ships docked at Bonaire. I'm hoping the Eurodam, which I will be on, will be there on November 13 when AIDA Peria is also scheduled.

Same deal on Princess. Couldn't do second leg excursions when on ship for first leg of b2b. Happened February in Caribbean and June in Alaska. Happens even if the b2b has a single booking number.

Sent mine in three weeks ago and sent again on Wednesday. Haven't heard a thing.