mamkmm2

18 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

No they are not onboard. They have no idea if/when they will arrive.

Given that they'd have problems with them during heightened hygiene protocols … aka Noro issues … then if they were going to get them I would suspect they may be rethinking them.  The Sky has already had one issue with a Noro outbreak.  On other ships I have been on, when this happens they completely shut down the self-serve drink areas.  I was really surprised that the cruise lines were even thinking of bringing them onboard.

7 hours ago, BURNSMN said:

We were on the Emerald for three cruises totaling 25 days in Sept-Oct and can confirm there were no Pub Lunches. 

3 hours ago, worldtraveller said:

Maybe it's the Emerald as we were on her for a Med cruise in July and no Pub lunch.

Perhaps her head chef does not like pub lunches so took it off the menu.  

1 minute ago, KevintheIrishDJ said:

They say it is brought onboard by passengers.

 I haven't heard whether it was diagnosed as actual Noro or is simply one of those stomach bugs that go around frequently.

I've had Noro.  It ripped through my family in less than 24 hours after exposure and nearly required hospitalization for a couple of them.  I find it difficult to believe that it suddenly just appears in the middle of several sea days cruise.

My personal opinion is that it may come in with items brought in from port or is cross contamination in some other way.  If it wasn't possible they wouldn't disinfect terminals and constantly wiping surfaces on the ship.

Noro is fast and mean and infects a LOT of people too fast to stop the spread.  Like one of those ships in the Caribbean that was refused entry because of the number of active infections on board.  That was medically diagnosed as Noro.  It is just as easy for a crewmember to pick it up on share and bring it aboard as it is for a passenger to do it.

2 minutes ago, Kennact said:

Forgive my ignorance, but where can I find out what a "Royal Class" ship is? I am sailing on the Emerald Princess next May and am wondering what class it is? Thanks!

 Emerald is a Crown-class.

The Royal-class ships are:  Royal, Regal, Majestic, Sky, Enchanted, and the new one that isn't out yet, Discovery.

I  thought they had to do it in drydock because of how many systems it affect?  

2 hours ago, LAS!!1414 said:

Heard that there is NoRovirus on the Sky -- can anyone onboard confirm ???? 

It was already reported a couple of days ago.  So yep, looks like heightened hygiene protocols will be in place for at least this and the next leg of their schedule.  

1 minute ago, CineGraphic said:

We were on the Caribbean Princess in late July/early August, and the offer was there. It could have been a glitch or you may have missed or overlooked it when signing in.

Yeah, things were a mess on our cruise.  But we had the internet café manager helping us with one of the glitches for my husband's package and he said point blank there were no discounts beyond the free minutes available for me and he knew we were platinum.  So ...

Anyway, it wouldn't have made that much difference anyway.  When I was out of minutes I just used my husband's connection.  Plus we were in port so often (stuck in port because of weather for some of it) that I always had connection most of the day anyway.

14 hours ago, cruzysuzy said:

I copied the following from the Princess site:

 

• The package may be pre-purchased up to 4 days prior to boarding the vessel.
• The package is NOT available for pre-purchase within 3 days of sailing.
• The coffee package is valid only on the voyage for which it is purchased. If the maximum number of coffees pre-purchased are not used during the voyage, the remaining value will NOT be credited or refunded and is NOT transferable for any purpose.
• Coffee packages cannot be sold or otherwise transferred to any individual. Pre-purchased specialty coffees may be shared, but complimentary brewed coffee, teas and hot chocolate continue to be limited to the purchaser.

 

My question is about the bolded/underlined statement.  Does this mean a single purchase coffee package can be shared with another person?  And does it mean that only pre-purchased coffee packages can be shared but not one purchased on board?

 complimentary means they don't cost so I'm not understanding their phrasing either.

I purchased a coffee card for my dad pre-cruise to Alaska for Aug '19.  He used them up buying one for him and getting one for mom.  They never said a thing when he would order two at a time.  YMMV

3 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

If you are Elite or Platinum, the first day offer shows up on your device before you sign in for the first time on embarkation day.

It gives you the choice to use your free minutes or trade them in for the slightly discounted unlimited package. It's the only time you'll see this offer.

It didn't on the Caribbean Princess.  That could have been part of the "glitchiness" we experienced.  The price difference pre-cruise and a possible discount on embarkation day doesn't thrill me enough to worry about it.  I'll just take care of it pre-cruise and not have to worry about the other discount not being there when we get there.  Bird in the hand vs two in the bush sort of thinking.

5 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

Another member, @steelers36 created it in text format, I made a screen shot of it because I find it's very helpful.

Thank you.  So it isn't "official" and Princess can honor it or not.

I looked all through my papers for our last cruise on the Caribbean Princess and found no offer for a First Day discount on the internet service.  Could be wrong but the Internet Café Manager specifically said there were no discounts except for pre-cruise.  Princess does tend to have varying experiences for people by cruise and by ship.  This may just be one of those instances.

1 hour ago, CineGraphic said:

Here is a break down of the pricing.

The embarkation day discount amounts to less than 10% of the pre-boarding price available to everyone online.

Where did you get the graphic you posted?  I'd like to show our TA as Princess gave her the same explanation they gave me.  Thanks.

23 hours ago, Hillybillies said:

Hi guys

 

Many thanks for your replies, I think we will probably stick to a dark suit and a cocktail dress.

 

Can’t wait for some sunshine 😎

Also, Caribbean cruises tend to be more casual than other itineraries.  As someone else mentioned it depends on the staff quite a bit as to what they enforce and what they don't.  It may also depend on how busy the MDRs are.

11 hours ago, Iamcruzin said:

You must be confusing them with every other mainstream line. Princess is the only line that didn't have a small sofa in any stateroom below a mini suite category except on the newer ships where the deluxe balcony has one.  Now they are the only line without any chair except one at the desk.

I don't see how.  The only line that I've ever had a balcony on was Princess.  It could have been that the TA booked a "deluxe" but that isn't what we paid for.  Just a plain balcony.  We haven't done a balcony for a few years but we are doing one on our Baltic Cruise this coming summer. 

22 hours ago, styme123 said:

I'm currently booked on guaranteed Deluxe Balcony on the Regal this summer to BI. Would you go with a regular balcony where you can pick your location and room or go with the larger room and Princess picking for you?  The price for the larger Deluxe Balcony is only $100pp. I like the idea of the added room, just not the idea I could be anywhere.

Also which deck has the most overhang? I burn easily. I was thinking the decks toward the top but was also worried about noise from the clubs/buffets. I was thinking about Caribe deck as I heard positive reviews about it for being quiet.

Thank you

Size difference is minimal.  The real difference is if you have a 3rd person in your room.  In a regular balcony the 3rd bed is a dropdown from above.  In a deluxe balcony the 3rd bed is a sofa bed that is made up, closed, then opened and turned down daily.  Also a regular balcony no longer seems to have the sofa in the room, only a desk and chair.  A deluxe balcony has the loveseat/sofa that all the balconies used to have.

On the same cruise as you.  I'm hearing Santiago is dead silent.  A lot of the hotels are empty or nearly so.  They may have cleared out the outside agitators that were stirring things up worse than they were.  I'm just in a wait and see pattern and I have trip insurance on my excursions that aren't with Princess.  A lot can change in 3 months.  South America always has been like this.  Back in the 80s it was Honduras and that area all but on fire and then every few years its a different area.  Kinda goes with the territory.

2 hours ago, voljeep said:

ship ?

Caribbean Princess.  But I admit that the craziness that was going on at embarkation could have something to do with it.  Everyone was running around like a chicken with their head cut off for various reasons including the terminal had been closed due to decontamination protocols, the medallion stuff wasn't working very well, and for those it did work for it was glitchy and a lot of people missed the explanation of how to use it and set it up.  So … could have been due to that.

Specifically my husband had purchased the unlimited for one device.  I was just going to use my 250 minutes.  When he tried to see if there was another package for me it was either buy it at the now increased price or nothing.  I just stuck with my 250 minutes and didn't think anything of it until someone mentioned it on this board.

After further investigation, the 25% off is on the increased at time of embarkation, not off of the discounted pre-cruise price.

A break down using our next cruise with is to South America in Feb '20.  A pre-cruise unlimited for one device is $99.  That is 50% off normal price.  Onboard price would therefore be $200.  25% off the price of $200 cannot beat the 50% off pre-cruise price.  Someone else may have a different explanation but that is what Princess told me over the phone when I asked.

On our last cruise we were not offered platinum discount once we were on board and we were speaking with manager of that department.  Why?  Don't know.  It was either buy pre-cruise for that discounted price or use our 250 minutes once we were on board.  In hindsight, and assuming it really was available as it has been other people on other cruises, it may be if you are dealing with an extremely busy and stressed out crew you might not get the answer you think you deserve?  Don't know.  Call before hand and get a guarantee in writing is all I can suggest.

5 hours ago, Georgeny said:

 

This should really be discussed in a posting dedicated to it. The economy of size, upcoming note debt, is highly involved. I agree that cruise pricing is eroding if that is your point necessitating increases to onboard revenue. Reduction of staff, maintenance, and replacement costs. NCL is run by what is basically a hedge fund, the rest by corporate entity, both require investor profit. Investor profit doesn't necessarily require happiness or safety for the end user. As very well demonstrated by airline industry.

 

George in NY

One of the best, short explanations that I have seen on the topic.

5 hours ago, TNTLAMB said:

But their net margins have decreased despite an increase in sales. The price of a cruise has decreased as well significantly in response to consumer demand. It's all rather amusing when you think about it. A basic cabin for a seven day cruise on  the grand is actually 25% cheaper today than it was for our first cruise on her in 1998. Seems kinda foolish to complain about cutbacks when passengers on the whole are the ones who have demanded them. It's time to realize a cruise is a cheap all inclusive vacation. Even a Red Roof Inn has better rooms..... We want the cheapest thing we can get, then get it, and inexplicably complain that its cheap. For those who want better, its available, at a cost, and then the whiners complain about nickle and diming.

 Good, salient points for sure.  The other thing to remember is a lot of each year's profit has to go into reserves for bills that will come around.  Building of new ships.  Replacement equipment.  Perks paid for by the cruise line that is expected by passengers such as OBC.  Loss leader activities aboard ship.  Repairs and maintenance for ships.  Drydock when not only do they have R&M but the ship is offline and not bringing in income.  The dreaded refunds for cancelled activities.  Yada, yada.

From a business standpoint a profit looks grand (and necessary to investors) but at the same time it rarely tells the entire story and the profit isn't just dropped into a bank account in the form of liquidity but gets paid out in dividends to investors, etc.

While I agree that prices for some items are craaaazy, you can get around that by doing things like taking advantage of clearance sales in the form of last minute deals from the big box TA companies as well as putting pressure on the cruise lines to keep the cost of excursions down by utilizing private excursion companies as much as possible.  Capitalism at its finest.

If you are embarking in a US port it is easy peezy to pick up a six pack of gingerale and bring it on board.  I was also able to do it in Vancouver, Canada.  Not sure about other locations.  Might depend on how close a market is and the availability.  I know I had a hard time finding a ginger ale in the UK a few years back.

Just now, TNTLAMB said:

 And to think a week ago you were never going to Cruise PC again LOL......

Different topic.  It had nothing to do with most of our experience on board ship.  I was referring to their business practices IF they didn't honor what they had put in writing.  They admitted their error and corrected their failure, we are giving them another chance.  If it happens again we'll be going with another cruise line.  You might try reading more for content and a little less snark for effect.  That way you'll have the entire story before you post.

16 hours ago, Colo Cruiser said:

 It's the internet. I call it keyboard courage.

In person they would run away.  🙄

My keyboard was nearly covered with watermelon smoothie.  This is just too funny.  "Keyboard Courage."  I will definitely remember that one.

As for the OP, you have hyper critical people in all areas of life, CC and the cruise line threads are no different in my experience.  And just like in real life, just take what you can use from these folks and do your best to ignore the rest.  While it does happen unfortunately, it is rare to have a "bad cruise."  You are on vacation, enjoy it to the best of your ability.  Focus on the itinerary.  And have fun!

We've been on three other cruise line and Princess is our favorite.

20 minutes ago, bab10 said:

I'm wondering what time we will be expected to board in Warnemunde since the ship doesn't depart until 9p.m?   Since we have to muster, etc. they must have a timeframe where they expect to be onboard prior to 9.  Anyone have any experience embarking at this port?

Hmm, the Baltic cruises are just a constant circle.  Some passengers get on in Warnemunde/Berlin and some of us embark in Copenhagen.

However, logistically, if I had to guess … Warnemunde is a minimum of 3  hours by bus or train from Berlin.  For a ship that sails at 9 pm all aboard is 8:30 pm.  I'm thinking they are going to want new embarkations on the ship well in advance of that.  I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't expect you to be on by 6 pm.  Most of the embarkation staff are going to be people with regular day job hours so potentially even 5 pm.

In the Med our cruise had a sail away at 7 pm.  They expected embarking passengers to be on - or at least in line to get on - three hours before hand.

Might have to ask, but my parents were able to get it during our Alaska cruise in August.  If you just generally need a glass here or there, try one of the 24 hour bars, like the one that is usually located near the International Café, if they don't have it they'll probably be able to get it for you.

Some people are still working for a living, own their own business, still have children at home, or parents with health care issues.  Just because we go on vacation doesn't mean we get to turn off our responsibilities to other people.  The cruise lines are aware of this and that is why they improve their services on a regular basis … so they can stay in business themselves by bringing in people who would otherwise pick a different type of vacation to go on.

Unless you are in port I doubt you are going to get a "call" but you could need to use skype or WhatsApp or something similar and in that case you get up from the table to have the conversation, especially if it is a private matter.  But checking your phone to make sure someone doesn't need you for an emergency or similar, or answering a text from someone in your life, is just part of the reality of most people these days.  And just because you are "retired" or so wealthy that you can leave all of your responsibilities while on vacay doesn't excuse you from being judgmental or a snob.  That holier than thou is why more and more people ask for tables for two rather than deal with other people's attitudes and assumptions.

The cruise lines are not just marketing to the people who have been around on cruises forever.  The only way they are going to survive is if they market to a much broader group of consumers.  Geez this sounds like people who complain about "certain people" being allowed into the MDR.