greenfroggie

Planning the following years cruises and promoting sale gimmicks.

Cruise price increased but offer free gratuities, $100 OBC a free meal in the Grill.........Got you hook ,line and sinker..........:eek:

'Tricks of the Trade' that always wins.

If you're getting anything for "free" chances are you're paying for it in another way. I've seen several hotel rooms being charged every price imaginable. And for an additional $105 you get a $100 spa gift certificate etc. or free $100 to use at a restaurant.

I'm sure the cruises are no different.

Lol I wasn't meaning to be exclusive about the cruise chips I just thought the secrets thread(s) were worth reading.

Yes its the ice cream sandwiches with cookies.

I AM keeping it a secret from Mrs. Greenfroggie though until we get it.

We're leaving from Vancouver. We have a mini suite too - maybe that will help or will bring something small to eat. Thanks

Cruise chips was something I found from the 'princess secrets' thread. It's not fries :)

Leaving next weekend! so excited!

I'm a somewhat experienced cruiser (5-6 on different ships) and my wife really has it down (platinum member) but I've learned a lot from the veterans here (so thanks!) and I don't think my wife even knows it all so please help confirm / suggest a few things:

1 - Priority lounge (pre boarding) - is there any food here?

2 - Avoid horizons court for lunch time on the ship embarkation day - MDR or IC or pizza instead?

3 - laundry is about $7.5 in total for one wash but you can buy everything with your cruise card?

4 - get cruise chips at least once :) ?

Cheers!

I've seen many people wear long dress pants and a long shirt while walking on a treadmill or using the machines. Very impractical in my mind but to each their own. Footware - any 'athletic looking' shoe generally works.

I've tried running around on the sun princess and the solstice. It never really works out in your favour.

You just need more awareness. Sometimes my foot comes and lands a bit more to the side than before, and I'll grab the side bars or something. Doesn't happen too often on big ships.

On some small ships there have been more bouncy bouncy. I think that treadmills pointed forward are generally more stable (at least in my mind) than those that face the side. I'd rather go forward and back than off to the side. Plus I'd rather look that way.

I know you've already gone but general advice:

Two months is still plenty of time to get the mileage up.

The only successful way I was able to keep running was to split it up and do a morning and afternoon run. 7-8mi in the morning (before breakfast) for an hour and another set in the afternoon (before dinner). I was able to run 50-55 miles in a week this way. I know its boring but hey. Other tip is bring a squeeze water bottle so you can have more control in taking in fluids.

Also with some pre-planning you could check out where runners run on something like strava around the port areas and do some runs when you're not touring.

Of course the other big trick to all this is not to gain 5 lbs :rolleyes::o from eating all the delicious and abundant food.

Anyone have an idea of what the gym hours are? Can't seem to find it on the Princess website.

Thanks

Not sure on all the details but being in the same 'boat' as you, we have a mini-suite with a crib on our ship. I don't even know the logistics of it all but we went through a local TA.

Yes, we are paying fees for her. Not sure if its 100% fees or not offhand, but it probably is. I guess the 'extra' fees she pays will be made up in the mess she'll probably make at every meal :p

At least the flights are free for the tadpole.

Thanks

Sorry I should have specified. It's for the crown princess

Hi can anyone please tell me if the mini suite has curtains between the 'bedroom' and the lounge area like some of the other suites or not?

It doesn't seem like it from the tiny pic so I just want to be sure.

I miss eating ice cream on Belgian waffles for breakfast covered in syrup, pizza and hamburgers for lunch, and 3-4 course dinners.

I guess all those still exist but I can't eat the same way as I did 20 years ago! :D

The package is $49 USD + 15% gratuity = $56.35 USD.

Converted to CAD using xe.com, that's $72.90 CAD.

Ahh thank you. So It's prepaid gratuity.

Thanks so if I get it straight the package includes the gratuity whereas the prices on the list do not?

Seems like as a Canadian I get more screwed? the "package" is $73 CAD per day (translates to $57 US) vs the $49. For an additional 'drink per day' its harder to become unscrewed literally and figuratively.

Thanks we decided to stick with the much better itinerary and go for Princess. We'll just figure out evenings or take turns watching or just crashing.

Thanks we decided to stick with the much better itinerary and go for Princess. We'll just figure out evenings or take turns watching or just crashing.

Thanks we decided to stick with the much better itinerary and go for Princess. We'll just figure out evenings or take turns watching or just crashing.

We're planning a Pacific coastal cruise in the fall and the two real choices are Princess - Crown Princess and RCI - Explorer of the Seas.

We've both sailed plenty on our own, before kids, and thus we have good Princess "points" and I do like the itinerary better, but it seems Princess does not have baby sitting for our 1yo.

RCI seems like it would be better for our daughter (seems more kid friendly) and they do have baby sitting, but the itinerary is less desirable (though very similar!) and less desirable departure date. Only one of us has been with RCI before and 20 years ago. It might be the more 'new' experience?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

We're planning a Pacific coastal cruise in the fall and the two real choices are Princess - Crown Princess and RCI - Explorer of the Seas.

We've both sailed plenty on our own, before kids, and thus we have good Princess "points" and I do like the itinerary better, but it seems Princess does not have baby sitting for our 1yo.

RCI seems like it would be better for our daughter (seems more kid friendly) and they do have baby sitting, but the itinerary is less desirable (though very similar!) and less desirable departure date. Only one of us has been with RCI before and 20 years ago. It might be the more 'new' experience?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks!

We're planning a Pacific coastal cruise in the fall and the two real choices are Princess - Crown Princess and RCI - Explorer of the Seas.

We've both sailed plenty on our own, before kids, and thus we have good Princess "points" and I do like the itinerary better, but it seems Princess does not have baby sitting for our 1yo.

RCI seems like it would be better for our daughter (seems more kid friendly) and they do have baby sitting, but the itinerary is less desirable (though very similar!) and less desirable departure date. Only one of us has been with RCI before and 20 years ago. It might be the more 'new' experience?

Any help would be much appreciated!

Thanks! :D

Thanks for the input. I'm excited to go soon :)

Hoping someone can help me,

I finally have my room # on an upcoming Sun princess cruise. When we were booking we booked a BE/blue balcony type room. What we have now is a BA/Yellow. The room descriptions seem to be about the same, this BA room is midship, 10th floor.

Is this an upgrade/better view/largely irrelevant?

I'm guessing the latter but it might help me evaluate the agent who booked the cruise.