Mary Ann 2

4 hours ago, nini said:

Paying for food trays is hilarious! I think we could all just use our medallions and order from those to have food delivered to us at the meeting place or stop in at the buffet and bring food. There will be a No Host bar and the contact person said that those with the Beverage package would not be charged.

Yes, I know all that. I still need to hear from someone about the microphone and whether they paid to get one or if the CD (or someone) brought one with him or her

The group services person sent a list of meeting options. One of those is $10 for a cordless microphone.  The 2 Majestic M&G's I attended last year both had a microphone. Ombud, you were the leader of the Alaska M&G, did you pay for a microphone?  I just assumed Princess supplied one for their officers.

What about for others here that have organized a M&G, did you order/pay for a microphone?

Anyone ever order trays of food?  They range from $12 for cheese and crackers to $30 to serve 15 people.

You would most probably be able to check in at that time (unless something like a Coast Guard inspection or late arrival).  But there is a very good chance that you will NOT get ON the ship that early.  I've never heard of boarding that early (though someone here at CC most likely might have). You would be put in a numbered group in a waiting area most likely.  Unless it is a maiden voyage or ship coming back into service or a ship coming out of dry dock, the previous cruise's passengers might not be off the ship before 10am. They almost certainly won't board until past 11am (unless one of the above instances).  Elite, suite, handicap, etc get to board first.

We had the first group in November at 11am (earliest they had - I never heard of 10:30).  We are Elite and were seated in the Elite lounge.  We had to wait until they started boarding, maybe 11:30 or 11:45.  Even then, the rooms weren't ready and you had to carry your stuff until they were.

The best way to get Chef's Table from what I saw in November is to book a B2B.  I was first to call them when I got onboard and she told me that they had so many B2Ber's that had called that morning that she couldn't say whether I'd get in.

The second best way is to be in a suite on a ship like the Majestic with a suite lounge and suite concierge who will call and plead your case.  This was our first time ever to be in a suite so I decided to ask the concierge.  Sure enough, she got us in!

The third best way is to have cruised many hundreds of days and know the Maitre D' who will  personally get you in.

My next idea is to book a ship just going into service or just coming out of dry dock so there will be no B2B's.  That's my hope on my next cruise as our ship will just be coming out of dry dock.

It's amazing.  Hope you get in.  Good luck!  The Majestic was doing Chef's Table both in August in Alaska and in November, but apparently, not all the ships are doing it.  It must depend on the chef and maitre d' and maybe captain.

4 hours ago, Ombud said:

Answer w/i 24 hrs letting me know we will have the venue next week. Thank you @niniand @srice. 

That's fast!  I sent a request on Friday and didn't hear back until 5pm Wednesday.

4 hours ago, SelectSys said:

I would assume the rise is no more than 200 ft at most.  It's not too steep and there are benches along the way to sit on.  Depending on when you go, it can be fairly hot outside and I don't think too much shade is exists along the walkway even though some small trees have been planted if my memory serves me correctly.

Thanks for the information.  Guess I will see what the temperature is for day we have there and how early a start we get.

On 12/14/2021 at 4:47 PM, SelectSys said:

It's really not that far to walk up over the hill into the heart of La Crucecita which is pleasant for a short visit.  The market, square and church are all pretty nice.  Good options for food if you look places up on the web.  The walk from the pier to the center is probably 20-30 minutes tops via the dedicated walkway and the views are nice.  For those interested, I would recommend walking up into town and talking a cab back.  Last time I was there basic cab rides were no more than 50 pesos. 

 

For those interested in a day pass, the Hotel Quinta Bella is nice from my perspective.  I have stayed there as a hotel guest and know they sell day passes.  The shore break can be rough, but the pool area is nice even though I am not a huge fan of the plastic crocodiles as decorations.   Good food and drinks too.  It's also walkable from the pier.

I have looked at pictures of the walkway from the port area to La Crucecita, but it's hard to tell how much of an incline the walk has.  You mention "walking up over the hill."  Is it an easy walk or steep in places?

On 3/5/2022 at 7:23 PM, Waynetor said:

but if elites are not jumping at the chance to cruise again that says something else – Could be some elite are still nervous due to age, some may be turned off due number of cancelations and other issues that have come up over the last 2 years.  The average age on the first 8 weeks we have been on the ship if defiantly lower than other years we have spent in the Caribbean.

I have a different spin on this.  Maybe all the elites sailed last year, like we did.  As soon as cruises started back up, we were back onboard by early August.  We typically only do one cruise a year (we are still working and only have a certain # of days off that has to be shared with visiting daughter trips too), but we saved all our time off (taking only a few days off at Christmas) and took another cruise in November.  After two 7 day cruises (at first that's all there was), we are now eagerly looking forward to our scheduled 18 day cruise in late spring.  So you may be right about some nervous due to age and co-morbidities that make one hesitant to risk much travel/exposure, but there have been LOTS of Elite passengers cruising. For us, we will choose anywhere else rather than another Caribbean cruise - only so many times one wants to visit the same places.

We enjoyed meeting you on our November Majestic cruise!

🎈Happy Birthday! 🎂🎊

Someone on Facebook posted this from the German site for Princess.  How does this fit in with the update in US about mask changes after March 1?

Thanks everyone.  Some good recommendations!  I wasn't sure it would be available on board or the same price as some things you can do ahead of boarding are more onboard.  In the end, I braved calling Princess and surprisingly was only on hold for 20 minutes. She didn't know, so she texted someone.  They said it was 3 blowouts, but had no answer for why I couldn't book all 3 and said to just book the first day and time and go to the Spa when I got onboard to book the others.  We shall see if it works out as I went ahead and booked it. The worst that can happen is that I ask for a refund the first day if it's not what I/they thought. If it is 3 blowouts, it's a better price than booking one at a time.  I have no idea what nights formal nights will be after the first one (which passengers on the Emerald Panama cruise say is the second sea day though just a guess for a different ship and # of days).

Anyone tried to book the Spa Hair Service called Blow Out, bundle of 3?  I can't figure out how one gets to pick 3 nights.  After I pick one night, it charges the full amount, so when you pick the second night, it charges that full amount again!  Are we supposed to just pick the first night?  I hate to hold on a call with Princess as the last time I called about Spa Services, they disavowed any connection with it and said it was all done by spa company.  So they couldn't even answer my question.  We are going on an 18 day cruise and this is the first time that I have seen this service offered.  It would save $, if I could figure out how it works.  I don't know whether to trust them that once I am onboard it will get sorted out (last cruise I had some issues with pre-purchased service).  It may be so new that no one knows??

Sorry about asking for formal nights when you already answered.  I couldn't find your post again and thought this was the next cruise from that post.  Sorry!!

Did you have 3 formal nights?  I saw a reference on the third day to a formal night.  When were the other 2?  You mentioned a production show the night you were in Panama City I think.  Was that a formal night? Trying to figure out when they might be on our Panama cruise in April.

I have one more question.  How do you find out the names of the Captain, CD, and other staff for the ship and time you will be on the ship?  Seems preferable to be able to use a name rather than "Dear Sir" for the invites.  Do you have to ask online for someone on the ship to help with this?

5 hours ago, srice said:

I have heard from Princess about scheduling a M&G.

 

First, to answer the question asked by @Mary Ann 2 the minimum group size is 10.

 

Second, Group Onboard Services has hired additional help and is training 3 new hires.  

 

Third, send requests for M&G scheduling to grouponboardservices@princesscruises.com.  If requests are sent to an individual's e-mail address and that person is out of the office, no one else will see it.  

 

Fourth, the department is open Monday - Friday 8 am to 5:30 pm PST.

 

Hopefully this information will be helpful.

Thanks so much for this info!!

16 hours ago, Eaglecw said:

How much did he charge you go to the airport?

 

We had no traffic issues and were charged $124.80 while someone else on our cruise with 4 (it was only the 2 of us) people was charged $48 to go to the airport!!

I was a nervous wreck trying to make an early flight this past summer in Seattle.  It's a long way to the airport.  The front desk couldn't believe that EZAir had scheduled us so early and told us not to take the Princess shuttle, but to walk off and take a taxi.  So we did and made it easily, though the taxi driver over- charged us; so ask ahead of time or be sure to take a flat rate rather than metered taxi (I don't think he turned the meter on as I didn't see it going and just gave us a ridiculous amount).

On our Nov. cruise out of LA, the Elite pre-boarding lounge was open and even had some coffee and tea and pastries until boarding time.  We were called first to board.

Is there a minimum number of guests to hold a Meet & Greet for Princess to arrange a room? I thought that I had read that you had to have a minimum of 50 signed up online for the Meet & Greet.  Is that true?

Definitely not a good sign. Last time it happened to me I was able to look at the American Airlines website and see a flight change before EZAir even got around to telling me.

13 hours ago, Steelers36 said:

What was the WMD theme, please?

Was there a theme? Do you mean what wine we had? I know it wasn't Yao Family Wines which I thought the Majestic was going to have.  Right now I can't access my photos to see the 2 wine bottles, but if that's what you mean, then let me know and tomorrow I'll have my husband get on his fancy photo editing program to look at the pictures.

23 hours ago, seagunthera said:

Great to know, thanks!  Any other fun culinary/alcohol events on your voyage?  A few years back I remember going to a daytime wine/tasting event which was fab. 

Pretty sure there were the normal wine tastings - one free for Elite and one for $25.  We didn't go to either, so don't know any more than that.

Winemaker's was Tuesday and Chef's Table was Wednesday (we boarded on Saturday).

There was a Chef's Table and a Winemaker's Dinner on our early November Majestic cruise.  No galley tour but otherwise, it was the same.  Chef's Table was amazing!  We liked the food on Winemaker's, but were disappointed there were only a few wines actually. 

some great fares if you can sail in next several months