Toto2Kansas

I will be on the ruby princess can I just use my american dollars that I was going to bring for the slots or do you have to open an account I though it would be just like going to any casino put in money and gamble

You can use your American Dollars in the machines or at the tables. The only difference is that when you cash out your winnings, the machines do not pay you in cash and you must download your winnings. Instructions on how to do this are on every slot machine, and if you need assistance, they will be glad to help you open a slot bank on your casino card (AKA cruise card).

has anyone bought one and shared betwen two I DOUBT IF I WOULD USE ONE TO ADVANTAGE but if able to get a second mocktail or milkshake might consider it, understand I might have to go to the bar twice .

 

 

TJ

TJ, these cards are sold on a per person basis, they are not like the coffee cards which have a limited number of punches that can be shared. Each person needs to have their own. ;)

So does the 3% charge actually vary according to the ship? There seems to be a few conflicting answers given me.

The 3% charge doesn't vary according to ship. If you go to the casino cage to get money charged to your shipboard account, you will be charged the 3%. If you download to the slots, or get money at the tables 'to gamble' no 3% will be charged.

They add this charge so that passengers don't just draw money out at the casino cage for use other than in the casino. Some don't like to carry a lot of cash with them, and have just used this method to obtain spending money for tours and to take on shore.

If you have ever dealt with credit card charges through a business, each time that card is used, the provider is charged a certain percentage right off the top. (with Princess is must be 3%)

Although some cruise lines don't do it this way, it has been the way Princess handles it for as far back as I can remember. ;)

If you go to the casino cage and get cash, then yes, they tack on a 3% charge. If you draw money out of of the slots to play (instructions on each slot machine), then they don't add on the 3%.

Do you have a link for the pre-order stuff?

Look to the bottom of the page here: http://www.princess.com/learn/onboard/gifts_services/cellars_culinarydelights/princess_cellars/index.jsp

anyone know if there are any games (ie: video poker) that are near 99.5% payout?

Not on any ship I have ever sailed on. ;)

AHOY SHIPMATES...

 

My last cruise was on Independence of the Seas, on their drinks menu they served a frozen cocktail called a " Lava Flow " it was a cream colour with red flavouring lines running through it.

 

My question is : Does Princess do Frozen Cocktails ?

 

If so : What is the nearest thing to a Lava Flow called ?

 

Thanks Steve

Yes, Princess does offer frozen cocktails. But unless you know what types of liquor were in your 'lava flow' there is no telling what Princess might have to compare it to. ;) Cream colour with red flavouring lines isn't telling us much I am afraid. lol We need a bit more information.

I have seen them add grapes to the glasses before the champagne is poured, especially those on the bottom rows. This helps to make the glasses heavier and fill quicker.

Maybe I am understanding the OP as asking if the "free" pour of Champagne could be substituted by something other than the "cheap champagne". Not can the actual "Champagne Waterfall" be substituted. Will the OP please clarify?

 

I might add, that I like the charm of the Champagne Waterfall but, what I don't like is Princess now doing it early evening instead of later in the evening.

If this happens to be the case, then the answer would be champagne is all that is offered at the champagne water fall, you can't get other complimentary drinks such as are offered at the past passenger party. Champagne is all that is offered!

Yes, they cme round with glasses of it. You can have as many as you want until they run out, but believe me, you wont really want more than one, unless you like asti.

I love Asti, and the stuff in those glasses is definitely not Asti, but more of a very cheap (even cheaper than Asti) type of sparkling wine or the cheapest form of some type of champagne.

thanks for the replies and quick to!! do you get to drink the champagne or is it just for fun?

They have glasses of champagne that they do pass around to the passengers, complimentary, during the champagne waterfall. ;)

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what Princess could substitute for the much heralded "Champagne Pour" on first formal night?

The champagne waterfall on Princess has been a tradition as far back as I can remember. I don't think you are going to see it disappear anytime soon. ;)

Pam, I have had that happen where we have been charged extra in the past also. Not at LAX or San Pedro (since we don't usually cruise out of CA). I was charged for my wheeled carry on. The driver told me that it was too big to carry on the plane, even though it was a regulation size carry on. I explained that I had used the same one as a carry on for 5 plus years, he made me pay him an extra $10 or we weren't allowed to board. Sometimes I wonder if there aren't a few drivers out there pocketing the extra they are charging passengers, figuring they won't report it.

My understanding is the shuttle company Toto's referring to actually sells you spots on one of the major shuttles (Prime Time/Super Shuttle) but does so at a lower cost because they're selling the unused seats on those companies shuttles. Not sure how they could when you're booking that far out, but we used Super Shuttle in April and it worked well, so I'm more than happy to get a similar service for a lower price! You do drive around a bit, but we weren't in a hurry and are planning to use shuttle2lax.com in December.

Yes, you are correct. We were assigned to PrimeTime shuttle by shuttle2LAX. This will be the first time using this service, so we will see how it goes and report back afterwards. But those on our roll call said they have used it in the past, with absolutely no problem at all. :)

Does anyone have any recent (the last couple months) prices on the taxi fare from San Pedro to LAX? Last year, it was running $50 for 2 people & luggage, but I'm not sure if that price has changed. The independent shuttles are all pretty close to that price and I'd rather have a taxi to ourselves.

 

Thanks!

I just scheduled a transfer with www.shuttle2LAX.com

It comes highly recommended by those that sail frequently out of San Pedro. The price is $20 for the first passenger, $11 for the second (one way fare), plus it includes two checked bags each and one carry on and one personal item each. We had also thought about a taxi instead, but with the traffic outside LAX, and on the way to San Pedro (last time we had a rental car and saw it with our own eyes :eek:), we thought a shuttle might be a much better idea. ;)

They called us a few times the week before we were meant to set sail. We ended up accepting when they offered us a 14 day in a mini suite with 1800 OBC when we booked a 7 day in standard cabin. I'm happy with that!!!

Yep, that would be a keeper in my book too. Congrats on holding out for a GREAT deal!

:rolleyes:

 

 

Boy, are you lucky. About 4 days before our cruise, we were offered 1/2 our money back as on board credit for another cruise the following year. :eek: Seemed that all cruises out of Brooklyn for the rest of the season was fully/over booked.

 

Our bags were packed and no way were we going to wait another year for our cruise. Plus, they were going to hold all our money for a whole year:confused:!!!???

They continue to sweeten the offer if they don't get enough passengers to accept, until they get enough cabins so they can fill those guarantees. I have heard of some absolutely remarkable offers in the past that others have accepted also. :)

Yes, at times there aren't as many cancellations as they think there will be and most cruise lines (Princess included) do overbook. BUT, they will not boot you off a scheduled cruise. They make offers (and at times very good offers) to those booked in the category cabins that they need to fill their guarantee list. These offers are not mandatory to accept, and if you are made that offer and can not change your plans, they will just move down the list of passengers until they find someone. If no one accepts the first offer, they keep sweetening the offer until for some it is just too good to refuse. ;)

There are little machines where you can purchase laundry soap or softner in the laundry rooms, but if you can find the purex all in one sheets, they work great.

Quarters are readily available either in the change machine (if it's not empty) or from the purser's desk.

It is the fastest growing sport in America right now. It's especially popular among Seniors, but many younger people like myself have become addicted to the sport. It's a game similar to tennis on a badminton sized court.

 

See video below:

 

 

Since such a small space is required 30' x 60' you'd think cruiselines would start offering this activity as it is extremely popular in Senoir Communities (i.e. Villages, Fl)

Thanks for the video, I honestly had never heard of this before. I kept thinking "PickleBall, what a mess that pickle must make being batted back and forth". :o:o:o

I have never heard of it before, so it must not have been offered on any of the Princess ships we have sailed on. And BTW, what the heck is Pickleball?

When on a BTB cruise do you get two 7 day credits? I'm guessing so, however as we've just booked our first BTB I'm not sure. :confused:

Yes, on a B2B cruise (if you booked it as two seperate cruises) you will get two seperate complimentary email packages (one for each leg of the cruise) if you are Platinum or Elite.

I sailed twice last year with Princess and didn't get one. I have FOUR cruises booked with them right now and will ask about getting one but do I ask?

The tote bags should be left in your stateroom by your room steward. No matter what category cabin you booked. If you don't get one by the first evening, just ask your room steward if they could please find one for you. ;)

I would like to see priority seating at the shows.

Also... my turn to complain! Although I am elite, I only have 16 cruises but 215 days. By the time I get the big, big (sorry for the sarcasm) $25 perk for 21 cruises, I will have almost 300 days. There are people getting this extra with only 150 days! (actually, 21 one day cruises would qualify. What's wrong with this picture?) I think it should apply to days cruised.

OK, I feel better now!!

Sounds like back in the day when those of us that had close to 200 days sailed still didn't have enough cruises under their belts to make Elite status. We were attending the most traveled lucheon on some ships as Platinum while sitting at a table with Elites that had half the days sailed as we did. Thankfully that did change (of course it changed just after we hit the 15 cruise mark to days or cruises). It's only $25, just a token amount, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. ;)