AKman2495

The people at checkin do not have access to a list of unsold cabins, nor the ability to sell them. That's just one of the reasons you cannot just show up at the port and buy a cruise . EM

True. They can't do anything. And on every cruise I've been on the Passenger services deck has signs saying that the cruise is full and there are no more rooms.

I guess they used to get a lot of "can I get an upgrade?" on the first day. The signs cut that right off.

Depending on where turnaround occurs, Princess may have tours available for the "in transit" passengers.

Last year we were in transit during a 14 day cruise that was really 2 7 day cruises B2B. We took a tour option out of FLL to see the everglades and Flamingo Gardens.

So, basically, we treated it as a port day.

When we got back, w just breezed through security and went right to the ship.

OT: Ah, "Romance on the High Seas", with Doris Day and Jack Carson (1948). Great flick!

 

It was Day's first feature film, and I remember seeing an interview with her once saying she assumed it would be filmed onboard a cruise ship. She was disappointed to find out her cruise ship was a sound stage at Warner Bros. in Burbank :).

Actually, it was not "Romance on the High Seas". Apparently, that was a musical remake of a 1930's movie, which had the same basic plot.

I cannot for the life of me find the name of that movie, but I will keep looking....

I agree. The dress code in the U.S. has changed so much over the years. My mother has pictures of us when we were still in a stroller wearing a dress and high heels. I asked her where the picture was taken. She told me at a park. She told me that's how she dressed to go to the supermarket. When I was in elementary school (public school) boys had to wear slacks and shoes. Sneakers could only be worn on gym days. I remember girls had to wear a dress of skirt. On winter days with snow they would wear pants under the dress and when they got to school they would remove the pants. Over the years we were allowed to wear jeans and with the women't movement in the 70's it was acceptable for girls to wear boys jeans and sneakers to school. However even with the relaxed dress code in school we still dressed appropriate for special occasions. Now in the 21st century even the work place has become more relaxed, Casual Friday has become casual period. I see young executives late 30's early 40's have given up wearing a tie and jacket or suit. They wear slacks and long sleeve shirt. One executive doesn't wear socks in the summer. With this new trend I have also given up the tie at work.

 

While I don't really care about formal nights we do dress accordingly. My fear is if they give up formal night then smart casual will start to slip as well and eventually the dress code will become a free for all.

I agree totally. Obviously, most people will still dress decently, even if it is casual all the time-but...there will be those who drag it down by wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip flops in the MDR...

Then, we'll have people defending that...and so it goes.

Aren't you able to dress formally every night if you wish?

Actually, back in the 1940's there was a movie involving a wife who was on a cruise and a husband who did not cruise, but hired a low-life detective to keep an eye on her.

The detective showed up for dinner on the first night dressed in formal wear and the Maitre d' thought he was a waiter-since nobody dresses formally on the first night!

We tip a the end of the last cruise. If you have the same room, the steward knows you will be there for 2 (or more) cruises. If you have the same room, the turn around day at the end of the first cruise is basically a port day. The stead has nothing special to so for you and you will see him later that same day.

I booked my first cruise myself and had no problems. Then, I thought I must be wrong because many here were saying TA's are the way to go. So I went with a TA who was supposed to be a Princess commodore.

Well, I did not get any discount. No generous OBC's (only a coupon book) and, She had us booked on a nonexistent flight!. I had to research the flights myself and argue with her that the flight she had booked did not exist. She finally changed it.

She booked us in the wrong room-I specifically requested the plaza deck-she put up on the Riviera deck- under the deck chairs next to the pool. I had to argue with her over that.

As far as I am concerned, I can do as good-no, a better job than that!

A few years ago I bought a rolling garment bag. It holds my tux and a whole lot more without the pain of having to carry it.

Even stuffed, it has never came in at more than 40 pounds either.

A good way to go. Keeps everything unwrinkled.

Vacated Whittier in favor of the much ''sedate'' port of Seward ( Regent, NCL, and others...).

It does have the distinct advantage of being closer to Anchorage.

 

C

"Sedate" Seward has 30-40 MPH winds today....

Not another thread on formal nights!!!:eek::roll eyes:

People, especially Americans, are sinking to the lowest common dominator. Oh, they will tell you "we're on vacation" and "it's hard to carry formal clothes anymore", but the reality is that they don't care about dressing or formality. They go to weddings and funerals in shorts and t shirts.

There may be people who do not feel obligated to wear anything but pajamas and underwear out in public. There are others who do not agree with that and will still dress-because it looks good and it helps serrate one from the pajamas and underwear crowd.

As you will see, though the pajamas and underwear crowd really don't care what they look like as long as they are comfortable. (Note, I am comfortable in real clothes so I am not sure what "I just want to be comfortable" means).

FWIW

Yeah, the guest check in is not too intuitive. Scroll sown to the bottom and open the section. They will have specific blocks to fill in the details.

Typo. sailaway

Right!

If you know something about your ports, there is NO REASON to pay someone to show you what you can see/do on your own. A guidebook is very helpful!

Actually, there are many reason why you could pay someone to do that. First of all, unless you are going to walk everywhere, you are going to pay somebody to transport you.

Second is convenience. I personally, don;t want the hassle-especially on vacation of figuring out my way through an unfamiliar place.

Third, as has been pointed out, ship's excursion usually guarantee that the ship will wait for you. I have had excursions that had been delayed and it was nice seeing the ship there.

Fourth, where the points of interest are far from the port, an excursion takes the hassle of getting to the points of interest. Fir example, on our upcoming cruise we are going to Paris from Le Havre. That is a long drive.

Finally, ships excursions can take you to places you might not be able to get to otherwise. For example on pour Panama Canal cruise we had an excursion to a native village many miles from any road-we actually took open canoes over a lake and a creek to get to the village. Try doing that yourself!

OK, for a 7 day cruise there will be 2 formal nights. Formal nights are never scheduled for spillway night nor the last night.

I looked at the itinerary and I think the formal nights will be day 2, at sea (formal nights are often at sea) and the stop in Boston near the end of the cruise. I say this because the ship leaves at 4 pm that day and at 6 the others around that day.

4 pm allows people to get cleaned up and dressed for the formal night.

FWIW.

My cousin and I shall be enjoying our first cruise in October. However, we cannot make our minds up concerning excursions .... shall we book excursions with P&O or shall we just do our own thing?

 

We would be grateful for any feedback from experienced cruisers as to what is good value for money etc.

 

Thank you.:confused:

I can tell you right now that many people on this board will tell you that do it yourself excursions are the way to go.

However, many other will tell you ship's excursions are the way to go.

You will not get much help that way.

As first time cruisers, my recommendation is to go with ship's tours. They are reasonably safe, and you will not miss the ship of you get back late. I have always used ship's excursions and I have always found them to be good. Many were actually great.

If you have never been to a port and know nothing about it, you should learn before you go. It is good for a ship's tour because you will be better able to pick the excursion(s) you are most interested in. Learning about the port is essential if you want to do it yourself.

Again, for a first timer, I recommend the ship's tours. Once you gain a little experience you have the option of doing it yourself.

It doesn't have to be a different itinerary to be a B2B. If you stay on the same ship and it does the same itinerary (whether in reverse or not), that's B2B.

 

Even so, I use the term B2B loosely. If you change ships, have a layover, or drive a couple hours to a nearby port, I still like to call it B2B, so long as people know what I'm talking about. My goal is to convey a point--not to be grammatically correct.

Not to be picky, but the term B2B means something, or nothing. Your definition covers almost anything. I suppose your definition can be summed up as taking two cruises in a row. I suppose you have a time element involved. I suppose you would not call taking a cruise in one month, laying off for a month and then taking another to be a B2B?

Personally, I prefer the definition that a B2B is two consecutive cruises on the same ship. But, that's me...

The OP sailed on the 24th and has not been back so everything must have worked out!

Or they didn't make it and the others are on the cruise to get over the trauma.....

There is a long standing thread on cruise directors. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1684269&page=68

Just go to the last page and scroll down to the bottom to find the latest list.

As far as that list goes, Kevin Joy will be the CD.

That said, CD can be changed out without notice. But that is the best estimation.

There is no Alfredo's on the Crown.

Reading cruise critic before our first cruise, I too was prepared to tip the steward right off the bat. He came to the room, introduced himself and we asked him for some new hangers and some extra pillows and when I did that I pulled out a $20 bill. He smiled and waved his hand saying that was not necessary. I shrugged my shoulders and put the $20 away.

He turned out to be one of the best stewards we ever ha and we made sure he got a generous tip at the end of the cruise.

I am not sure of the offer made any difference-I really think it did not.

FWIW

I have had lunch in the MDR a few times. I have never been directed, accosted, cajoled, pushed or otherwise led to the buffet.

As for where to go, check the patter when you get to your room to drop off your stuff.

If the Island is like the Coral, breakfast and lunch are served on deck 6. ATD is served on deck 5 and Traditional is served on deck 6.

Things I learned about the tock market over the years:

1. no matter what the "financial experts" will tell you, there is only one reason why stocks go down: more people are selling than want to buy. It is just the opposite for stocks going up. Most of the stock market is controlled by computer programmed trading. The "experts" are paid to make up interesting stories that have very little to do with anything.

2. The worst thing you can do is sell out on a drop (unless you are short selling),

as another said, the idea is to BUY low and SELL high.

A smart inventor will be looking for buying opportunities now.

4. As long as you hold stocks, your "profit" is only on paper as is any "loss". It is only when you sell that profits and losses are realized. Never think that "I am loaded" because you are worth a lot on paper. You might wake up one day and fin out you're not...

4.. If you want to panic, go ahead, you're only cutting your nose off to spite your face.

FWIW.

I submitted a request at the beginning of August. I copied my brokerage statement page with the carnival stock, but for some reason,I removed the part with my name and address. I received an e-mail notification that they need the statement with my name and address. I sent them the full page and the OBC is now in my account.

We are sailing on Princess later this fall with our family. One of the members is an entertainer and has a booked gig on the embarkation day and won't be able to board with us but will be available during the rest of the trip. We would love to have him with us but so far we haven't been able to make it work.

 

Princess has been cooperative and patient with our request but they say that regulations for "Route Sector Change" do not allow a guest to join the cruise from a foreign port. The cruise originates in the US and ends here. We have already looked in to possible rendezvous points in the trip and it is possible if immigration/customs allows it.

 

Does anyone know of any way we can make this work? We don't to want sail without our family member but for him the show must go on and so does the cruise.

If he's an entertainer, see if he can get a booking on the ship. They often bring entertainers on after the cruise has sailed.

Other than that, it will be very difficult.

Here are a few photos of Lido Deck pizza at Pregos. I grew up in Brooklyn, NY. and really like it. To me it's true New York style pizza:

 

I grew up on Long Island. My grandfather's nephew owned a Pizza Parlor-no that's heaven.

I agree Prego's is New York style-which is actually Neapolitan style, which is where the guys who make it get the recipe.....

I wonder if it's just the Prego's pizza on Star that is bad? That's the only ship where we have tried it and on both Star cruises it was terrible.

Could be. The Star's one ship I haven't been on. The 3 ships I have been on (coral, CB and the Crown), the pizza was great at Prego's