quinceemom

We haven't cruised on Princess for over 15 years and when we booked on them for a TA next Spring, our loyalty levels and points were included with the booking.  I was pleasantly surprised, so perhaps there is a way to recover the numbers and points.  

On 11/30/2023 at 7:43 PM, Iwork2trav said:

I haven't cruised on Princess for 10 years (10 years and 10 days technically), and even though I have one of my prior booking numbers for them to reference, Princess is saying they purge the numbers when I haven't cruised for 10 years with them.  They are considering me a new cruise guest, so now I start earning loyalty from the bottom.  Any suggestions how to get credited for my past loyalty?  I had no idea they timed out!

I'm astounded that you were able to describe it so accurately.  It's completely inhumane that politicians have to treat this issue as what is best to get them re-elected and not give consideration to their own voters.  If his edict stands and cruise lines do decide that they will sail out of Florida, my bet is that cruise lines will not let unvaccinated passengers off the ships in international destinations.  While they may not be able proof of vaccine to board in Florida, they can sure ask for it if you want to disembark outside of US or the destinations can sure ask for it.  Some of these countries have worked much harder than we did to keep the virus under control.  At any rate, all the updates in last 24 hrs from CDC have been gifts!!!!  Hopefully, we've come through the worst of it and will soon be enjoying our favorite adult beverages and watching sunset from the back decks of our favorite ships.  

On 5/9/2021 at 4:51 PM, jimgev said:

Let's get to the bottom line. The Desantis edict was nothing more than a political stunt. Period.  It was a dumb move and very likely unconstitutional. NCL has called the bluff and now FL is facing hundreds of job losses and many millions in lost revenues.. Other cruise lines are contemplating similar tactics. It is now only a question of how long it will take for Desantis to come up with some way to save face.

Completely agree with you on this issue.  What most people lose sight of is that the CDC guidelines came out after DeSantis passed the edict against requirement for proof of vaccine, so I feel the restrictive guidelines were a reaction to the possibility of high numbers of unvaccinated passengers.  I personally would have no problem with wearing a mask in gatherings in close quarters, such as performances but being vaccinated should have allowed the freedom to dine without masks or have outdoor time maskless.  And to encourage cruisers to accept "grab and go meals" to be consumed in our rooms is completely absurd.  We have two cruises booked for this fall but are giving serious consideration to cancelling both unless vaccines are required.  I do not want to be on a ship where an idiot unvaxxed passenger gets Covid, infects a few other anti-vaxxers and now the whole ship is suddenly another Diamond Princess.    Can we just click our feet together and this will all be right?  

3 hours ago, Biker19 said:

RCI provided OBC should show up available in the planner and usable for purchases - you'll need to call RCI to make it available.

Thank you!  I think we've decided to go ahead and purchase now while prices are down as I'm afraid as soon as those increased OBC's start dropping the prices on packages will go up accordingly.  

Question - can you use OBC to purchase bev pkg prior to cruise or can OBC only be used one you are onboard?  My June 4th Lady Cruise was cancelled and we weren't in position to rebook,, so our lady group took refunds.  I had purchased DBP for daughter and I.  I was expecting to take the refund, but logging on to RC, I see that I can take my payment as an OBC of 125% of original payment.  The problem is that the OBC won't be available until May 22nd and right now the DBP for our Harmony Dec. 6th sailing is at $49/per day.  If I can use this OBC right away once I get the credit, I'm just afraid the bev pkg price will jump back up again.  Suggestions?

That is a great itinerary, we've done all but two of those ports on RCCL last summer and it was amazing. Instead of Stockholm and Germany, we did Oslo and Brussels (Bruges, which was one of our favorites). Agree with everyone, do an organized tour in SPB - we used Alla tours and they were amazing. The tour groups also arrange for your visas, but be forwarned, if not doing ship tour, you will go through Customs first day after the ship tours and it is very frustrating. We had a very large tour group divided into three smaller groups and they waited for us. Second day you will breeze through. We also did Copenhagen and Helsinki on our own - both have great public transportation systems. (Don't waste your time going to see The Little Mermail - huge disappointment and way too many tourists.) Tallin is very pretty, be sure to treat yourselves to at least two bottles or so of Vanna Tallin - a local rum based liquor, wonderful by itself on a little shaved ice and of course, you cannot purchase in the US. Be sure to take lightweight jackets, and rain gear. And totally agree with others - if planning on few days in Amsterdam, get your Anne Frank tickets as soon as you can get online, check website. There's also great free walking tours that leave from one of the town squares that gives you great idea of city layout. Again, public transportation is very easy and it's a very walkable city. Enjoy!!!

Did you have the drink package? Do you know if the others that got there wine returned had the drink package? It would sure make since if they checked and returned wine to people that had the drink package, it saves X money!

On the cruise where it was confiscated, no we did not have drink package. It was actually a 14 day cruise and since we are Elite and actually have the CC cocktail hour benefits (and hubby is not a drinker), drink package was just not a good option for us. But the funniest part is that when it was returned, it had our cabin number and someone else's name!! And I actually ended up dumping maybe a fourth of it or so,,,despite being in the airtight bladder, it did start to taste a little off after the first week.

On the 14 day, CCL actually gave us coupons to use as there were so many Elite's on board. There were a couple of bars where you couldn't use them,,but I always went to bar in the atrium to grab a glass of wine to take to dinner. So,,,,good luck in whatever you decide to do.

BTW - Disney allows you to bring your own liquor/wine/beer on board and the last time we sailed Holland, there was no limit on how much wine you could bring on board. Holland even had two wine glasses and a corkscrew set up in each room.

Hubby and I are very loyal Celebrity (Elite class) passengers. Yes, Celebrity is a little more laid back and the demographic does tend to skew a little bit older, but we love that!! Since we are able to take our Elite benefits with us to RCI, we've also done Royal and of course, there are things we like just a little better on RCI. We took our young granddaughters on the Freedom OTS and it was a perfect choice for them, with the Shrek characters, the water park and the stop in Labadee. In fact, we're considering Freedom again for April 2017,,,it will be moving to FL, but has a nice 8-day itinerary out of that port. We love the Diamond lounge, and the fact that it has it's own concierge and along with a nice drink selection, also offers a variety of tasty appetizers. I would suggest you just pick an itinerary that works, and try it!!! We love the Millie and her sisters, just a little smaller, but beautiful throughout. The S-class ships are also great, not too big, easy to navigate layouts and probably the nicest cabins at sea. Go with an open mind and I think you'll be surprised!! Be sure to try Q-sine and the Lawn Grill,,,two of our favorite restaurants at sea.

Our plans for this year are a 12-day Baltic capitals on Celebrity Silhouette in June and then a 7-day on the Harmony OTS the first week of December. I'm not a mega-ship fan, and to be honest, the Harmony cruise is actually more about the ship than the stops.

Latest update (5:30am EST):

 

Something more important broke out in Oregon so we will not be on GMA. The nice folks at ABC are still dropping us off at JFK.

I was looking forward to seeing your smiling face this AM,,,,but they did do an abbreviated interview and so glad they talked to adorable Charlotte. Again, welcome home and hope your flight back home is uneventful, as in NO turbulence. BTW,,wish you were flying my airline home, I'd send those FA's a message to be especially nice to you and BF!!!

Bedazzler, I'll be watching you tomorrow morning!!!! I spend just about every weekday morning with George,Robyn and Lara. I just want to personally thank you, Karina and newbie1cruiser for all the unbiased and most often, upbeat and positive information. Have a safe trip back to Phoenix!!!!

I had successfully taken boxed wine onboard a previous Celebrity cruise and then again on Freedom of Seas two years ago. I always put it in my checked luggage and never had a problem. Black Box actually makes a decent Merlot, and I just like to sit on the balcony or on the deck with a glass of wine in late afternoons or when getting ready for dinner. However, we just cruised the Eclipse this past March and when one of my suitcases didn't make it to room with the other bags (you guessed it, the bag with the wine), I joked that maybe it was in the naughty room. Yup, the bag came about an hour later, with a note that my wine exceeded the maximum allowed. Oh well, no biggie, I was only out $20,,,,but imagine my surprise when I walked into my room the very next day and guess what was sitting on my dresser,,,,you guessed it, the confiscated box of wine. We actually shared this silly story at breakfast the next day and we were not the only ones who had either wine or liquor (which I totally understand) confiscated. So sometimes you win and sometimes you lose,,,

BTW,,,hello, Muushka,,,we cruised with you just a few years ago. What cruises do you and hubby have planned? We are actually doing the Baltic this June and then jumping on Harmony OTS in December.

We recently stayed at the Residence Inn night before our Freedom cruise,,got a great deal that included parking and the hotel is so close that we took our bags to ship super early for drop off and then were able to park car at hotel, have breakfast and then cab it back to ship without schlepping all those pesky suitcases. There are some good restaurants,,we just got takeout pizza and it was great, and a Publix just down the street. To us, much better option than staying night before in Orlando.

Is wine sold in Kmart on Sundays in Florida?

In the State of Florida, you cannot purchase alchohol until 12 noon on Sundays,,,funniest sight you will see in a Florida Publix on a Sunday is people lined up in aisles, with their carts of beer and wine,,,waiting for noon so that they can check out. So hopefully, you will get there early enough on Saturday to make your purchases then.

Celebrity's "official" position is two bottles may be brought onboard per stateroom. That being said, hubby and I have done a couple of different options. If we are driving down or coming in day before and have access to grocery/liquor store, we get our wine near port and bring in our carryon. We split the bottles between two carryons, with each of us bringing one or two through security. We go through the scanners seperately, as though we are not traveling together. I think the only time I was questioned was when I packed my corkscrew in my carryon instead of my checkin and even then, the screener just asked me what it was. However, on our most recent cruise, we took a huge chance and flew down morning of cruise and since it was a Sunday, the local grocery/liquor stores cannot sell wine (or any alchohal) until noon. So I purchased the boxed red wine (a merlot, comes in black box), wrapped the whole box in garbage bags and then put it inside a beach bag and packed it in my checked bags. The checked bag it was in had shoes, my snorkel gear, and things like bathing suits, which I also packed in garbage bags,,,just in case. It made it to my cabin in great shape. The box holds approx 4 bottles of wine,,so I def had some left over at end of cruise. Now, it's not the greatest wine in the world, but it was nice just for having wine in the room. Our next cruise is a two weeker, so we'll probably pack a boxed wine and bring on our two bottles of white.

We are in Captains Club, at the Elite Level (not Elite Plus, just Elite) and one of the benefits is priority disembarkation. We were also flying home from West Palm Beach on an late afternoon flight, so not sure if that affected our number. I'm pretty sure I saw 50's on luggage tags,,but if you want, I can check our disembark. packet for times. We barely made our flight out of PBI, but we also ran into long line at Budget rental car. But we were home by 2:45,,,earliest we've ever gotten home from a cruise.

Just got off the Silly, as well. We were in group 39 but this was one of worst disembarkations I've seen in several sailings. Disembarked on level 2 and walked gangway directly outside, then once inside building, the line qued back and forth into small luggage area. After collecting bags, into another que for customs. Sad way to end a great cruise.

I agree about poor service for select dining,,many nights we had to wait when there were open tables and were seated in terrible locations.

Can't wait to see your review,,,it's always fun to hear other perspectives.