Princess Secrets they Don't Tell You

[black_velvet]

Thanks dotheyes for the comprehensive list of tips on p17 of this thread. It included a couple of references to additional power points I didn't know about - under the bed and under the TV.

 

I thought I'd mention that on our last cruise on the Diamond, we took our own 4-socket plug board. We're UK residents, so we just needed the one US/UK adaptor to plug in the plugboard, and then we were able to charge up our laptops, phones, iPad (I know, we're sad) through sockets on it. Also has the added advantage that some of our appliances have oversized plugs, which won't necessarily fit as the space around the main socket is quite cramped.

 

Rod

[weaselwatchr]

What are the "specialty items" they charge for?

From what I recall, they was a charge for gellato and the coffees.

[butternut1]

From what I recall, they was a charge for gellato and the coffees.

The gellato is sooooo good. It's only .50 per scoop. There is a plate that holds 3 scoops of gellato. You can choose whichever flavors you want. For 1.50 it's really great. It's charged to your cruise card just like everything else onboard ship.

[JustinPlusLauren]

I'm not sure if this is a secret at all, but if you forget nail polish but don't want to pay for a manicure, you can buy a bottle of nail polish from the spa...I think it was around $8 a few years back for me!

[JustinPlusLauren]

Also, where can you request pineapple juice? Just in the mdr or at the buffet?

[bearpairdfw]

I have a question about the coffee card. I'm not a coffee drinker, but am considering the coffee card for the free pots of tea. I'm so tired of the (iced) tea from concentrate all over the ship on previous cruises. I'd rather brew my own. As for the cards, are the punches valid on specialty non-coffee drinks such as peppermint hot chocolate or chai lattes (hot, iced, or frozen)?

[camofwilliamsburg]

We bring starbucks VIA instant which is really good. For dinner I just ask for a pot of hot water and I get a few cups of good coffee. I guess you could bring your own tea bags too. It makes great ice coffee too, just add cold water!

[Teacher_91]

WoW! There was lots of interesting tips in this section. I'm busy taking notes.... :)

[LaCal]

hi all, i have been cruising for two weeks and pleasantly surprised that this thread is still humming. here is my updated list for thise who want to cut and paste

 

PRINCESS TIPS

 

 

© .

• Just returned from a great cruise on the Emerald Princess 8/22 - 8/29. Bought the ultimate drink sticker (UKP) and was told that fresh squeezed OJ was free with this sticker. Had to put up an argument with the waiter on Monday AM in the dining room about it, but they finally conceded that it was free with the sticker. Didn't encounter any problems about fresh squeezed OJ the rest of the week. One small disappointment - was told smoothies were free. Found out that the green tea smoothies at the International Cafe were NOT. Otherwise, things were great! Happy cruising, everyone.
   
  
• Check out the Sanctuary $ (search the boards for description using the word Sanctuary) but you have to get there as soon as you get on board if you want to reserve for the entire cruise.
  
• Also Chef's Table is fantastic ($75 per person) but it includes all wine, food, a cookbook, a photo, and a rose for the ladies. I have done it twice and once on the Ruby, and it was the highlight of the cruise. You have to call the DINE line and ask to be put on the list, and there is no guarantee you will get it
  
• Ask your travel Agent to fax a request for the egg crates for bed tell them you want a top sheet as well, as I don't like the duvet cover without the top sheet.
  
• I always ask for a terrycloth robe and usually get it
  
• Most of the evening entertainment is focused on Deck 7, Promenade, with the Princess theater, Crooner's piano bar, Wheelhouse, Explorer's and Club Fusion. But, the entertainment on Deck5 in the Piazza also offers an alternative. For a really lovely place to have a pre-dinner or sunset watching cocktail, try the little area outside (aft) of Adagio. Also, Skywalker's offers incredible views if you prefer to be indoors.
  
• The International Cafe on Deck 5 is not the only place that you can use the coffee card. Use it in the dining rooms for espresso based coffees, and also on a few of the bars on Lido deck for same and brewed coffee. If you ask at one bar and they don't have same, they can tell which ones do.
  
• In the morning, you can get waffles at the pizza stand.
  
• Princess makes lovely ice cream and sorbets, which are on the luncheon and dinner menus. My favorites are the pink grapefruit and honeydew sorbets. They also make lovely soufflés.
  If you want a breakfast (or for us hot tea) delivery before the times that are listed on the order card, just write in the time you want delivery. It will arrive on time, or most likely a few minutes early.
  
• Most importantly, don't disembark without a couple of future cruise credits.
  Have a wonderful cruise!
  
• On our last cruise on the Grand we learned that you can have escargot anytime but you need to let the dining room know 24 hours in advance.
  
• That's true for most dishes. I know we missed crab legs as they were the same night as our chef's table. So the maitre D took the order for us for the next night.
  
• I don't know about the bigger ships, but the small ships have ice cream at the buffet from 3:30 to 4:30 each afternoon
  
• If the ship has "Scoops" or an Ice Cream Bar on the Lido Deck, the ice cream there is now free and they have discontinued the free ice cream at the buffet. Thankfully, I was able to get free chocolate or vanilla hard ice cream at Scoops since I didn't care for the soft-serve. If you don’t like the cones, bring a small, empty dish from the buffet and tell them you have a wheat allergy. They'll put the ice cream in the dish.
  
• At dinner, you can ask to see the menu for the next night, if you don't like what is on the menu you can ask for something different and they will make it for you, they are very accommodating. I also ask for fresh berries for dessert and they are usually very obliging.
  
• Many people think that the salads, sandwiches, and pastry in the International Cafe cost extra, but they are free!
  
• You can order a complementary plate of assorted stuffed olives at the martini bar.
  
• If you bring wine onboard you can pick up wine glasses at any bar or just leave your room steward a note to always leave clean glasses in your room.
  
• If you pre purchase internet minutes before you leave you will get free minutes based on the package you pick.
  
• If you are staying in an interior stateroom leave the TV on the bridge cam channel it will give the illusion of a window and if you leave it on all night it will serve as a night light.
  
• On all the cruises we've been on, we have asked for Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice in the MDR at breakfast, and there was no charge.
  Much better than the frozen concentrate
  
• This no longer exists. They now charge for fresh squeezed. Sorry!
  
• Cookies and milk about 3pm.
  
• Onion soup is available every night
  
• I use room service as my wake-up call. I hang the request on my door before I go to bed, they knock on my door at the time I request and they have coffee and pastries for me.
  
• Yes they have pineapple juice
  

`` I have requested it on the card you fill in for room service breakfast. It isn't one of the choices on the card. Sometimes I get it and sometimes not.

• Yes, you can bring wine, soda and water on board with no problem....enjoy
  
• volcano dessert, available on children's menu basically a huge banana split – yum
  
• - books in the library are free to borrow, as long as you return them before you get off
  

And has anyone mentioned that if you've finished with your own book, there is a little cupboard in the library for 'passenger exchange'? This is open even when the rest of the library shelves are locked and - particularly at the beginning and the end of the cruise - you can find an interesting selection of those paperbacks which people have read and don't want to carry home.

• - popcorn during muts(MUSIC UNDER THE STARS)
  
• - always ask for what you want, the staff try to accommodate to the best of their abilities
  
• I bring packets of Crystal Light [so light to carry] and mix it with water and ice from the buffet and, I'm all set with my drink.
  

You can bring an insulated mug [also very light] and use that to put your ice tea or your soda in. We also bring cans of caffeine-free diet coke.

• One of the dining rooms will be open for lunch on embarkation day although you are usually directed to the buffet. We think the dining room is a better experience and starts the cruse off perfectly.
  
• No one has yet mentioned what we thought was a Big Secret! Our TV on the last 2 cruises wouldn't shut off so called pursers desk. They talked us through how to unplug it, leave it alone for a minute and then replug! Now that in itself was great but, when you open the little door under the TV for the plug, well, there are extra outlets not being used! This was great when the shortage of outlets to recharge everything we needed to recharge was a problem! Not any more.
  
• sit at a slot machine and insert your cruise card (which is also your cabin key) and ask for money from your account to be loaded to the slot machine. The charge that will appear on your account is the amount you asked for with no service fee added. If you go to cashier a 3% fee will be charged. When you are finished at the slot machine, be sure to upload any remaining money to your cruise card (actually, it is to a ship's computer so if you lose your card, the money is not lost -- the cruise card is the vehicle to identify yourself). Then you can bring your cruise card to the casino cashier and ask to be given cash for the money that has been uploaded.
  
• I like being able to launder my own underwear.
  
• Dumb and Dumber on some of the ships with the really good C/D's.
  
• The white pizza day.
  
• The grilled chicken on the LIDO deck at a table for two. The spa/wave pool without the wave machine going
  

· If you want to find out about when your favorite item will be on the menu, ask your waiter or headwaiter, they know and are usually very willing to tell you.

 

· And beer. We were told beer is not considered alcohol, go figure, and allowed to bring on board at every port. Once not even in a bag.

• When you get to your cabin and meet your steward you can request topsheets for your bed (I don't like having only a duvet over me), extra pillows, ice bucket for chilling wine of champagne, extra shampoo etc., wine glasses, and you can borrow a corkscrew if you want to ask the steward for it.
  
• Some of the first things we do after boarding, is we always request that the steward remove the soft drinks and bottled water from inside and on top of the fridge to make room for our own drinks.
  
• Also, another request right after getting to the cabin is extra hangers. Even if they don't have wooden ones, they do have plastic and metal. Easier to hang things up (evening tops, golf shirts, etc) than making piles in the closet.
  
• Unpacked suitcases usually fit fine under the bed and leave more room on the floor of the closet for shoes. Another stop we make is a trip to the PSD and have them make a hole in our card which we hang on lanyards. Finally, whenever we fly to or from a destination to board the ship, we always include a weight hook to make sure we're not over whatever the allowance is when we check in.
  
• Under your bed is there is stored more bedding - only found it prior to disembarkation when checking that we hadn't left anything behind. Would have been useful as we did feel a bit chilly at night going through the fjords.
  
• You can get cocktails for $2.99 in all the bars after 8.00pm - limited range but includes Pina Colada and Long Island Ice Tea. PC in the Crooners bar was good as it was frozen.
  
• Get your coffee card on the 1st day - this entitles you to 15 coffees but also unlimited pots of tea and I think hot chocolate. You can sit in the peaceful surroundings of the International Cafe -get proper tea in a nice pot and save your coffee for when you really need it.
  
• Unless they changed the conditions within the past year, coffee cards never expire as long as you have at least one punch mark left unpunched. That gets you free brewed coffee in the coffee bars in perpetuity. I know becase I have been carrying around the same ratty old brown coffee card for many cruises. I don't mind the "syrup" served in the DR, but DH prefers the fresh brewed so each morning I stop by and get him a large coffee from "Princess Bucks". A nice tip at the end of the cruise is appropriate here.
  
• You get a lovely hot and tasty cup of tea in the dining room at afternoon tea - the only good tea we got on the ship!!
  
• There is another electrical point under the bed. If you forget your adaptor as we did, you can get one from your room steward but this is hit and miss. We forgot ours but Steward told us he wasn't able to get one for us - other passengers managed to get one though?
  
• If you do laundry onboard I suggest you bring a roll of quarters and powder laundry detergent (can't fly with liquid in carry on and it may leak in checked bag) because sometimes the coin machine and vending machine are empty or don't work. I used Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets. You throw it in the washing machine and it will release soap. Take the sheet out of the wash a place it in the dryer with the wet cloths and it's a fabric softener anti static sheet. If you can't find the Purex in Wal-Mart or the supermarket you can go to a Laundromat and purchase detergent there or you can just pack powder detergent in Ziploc bags.
  
• If you purchase the coffee card and don't use all the punches for specialty coffee you can reuse the card on your next Princess sailing so don't lose it or throw it away.
  
• I think the soda card is $4.50 a day plus 15% gratuity and the ultimate card is $9.00 a day plus 15% gratuity.
  
• They usually have spa and salon specials on port days. These will be well advertised so it’s not a secret.
  
• If you decide to eat in a specialty restaurant you may want to make the reservation for the last night. The Landfall menu is ordinary with choices like meatloaf (typist note: I love meatloaf) and turkey dinner with stuffing. The only thing you will miss is the baked Alaska which isn’t that great. If you decide to eat in Sabatini’s I would make a reservation for the night that they are serving Italian food in the main dining room.
  
• When we went on our Princess cruise I brought on a case of beer. I carried it in an open Sams Club bag and everyone could see that I had beer. I could hear peoples saying, "Does she really think she's gonna get that beer on?" Low and behold I didn't have any problems. As I was boarding the ship, one of the Princess employees even said, "Miller Lite, my favorite beer." No problem getting it on, at all. I also bought another 12 pack in one of the ports and no problem getting it on there either. We still ordered plenty of drinks on the ship but it was nice to have beer in our room todrink on the balcony. I have heard that it may depend on what port you are going out of but I took a chance and didn't have any problems in Miami.
  
• In May we were on the Caribbean Princess and they offer a Cocktail Hour in the Skywalker Lounge with great appetizers and reduced cocktail (Ony one to choose from at $2.99) of course you could get anything else you wanted at reg. price. Don't know if it will be offered on the Grand 11-08 sailing...hope so, it is available to Platinum and Elite as well as Suite (Not counting Mini- suites) They close off 1/2 the area and do check cards - but if even one in your group is platium just have them pay for the drinks. It is every night of the cruise except the captains party. There will be an invite in your room. We really enjoyed going there.
  
• Ditto on the Purex 1 in 3 - saves a ton of hassle also we carry a roll of quarters change machines are often broken.
  

· You can buy used decks of card (almost new) for $1 in the casino.

· my favorite secret -- if you order the alfredo pasta (really good) ask them to serve in in a Parmesan bowl -- comes in a crispy melted cheese bowl -- how fun!

· If you want to take your own soda, buy the 12 or 24 can "box". Use duct tape and reinforce the edges and corners and "make" a handle. Put a luggage tag on it and put it with your checked bags. No trouble and it's delivered to your cabin.

· Volcano"? It's a banana split like sundae from the kids menu, but my husband never misses it.

· Menus are set up weeks if not months in advance. Every front desk of every restaurant has a three ring binder of the week’s menus. The menus are loaded into the binder for your cruise before you board. On the first day, we simply ask to see the week’s menus and look over what’s happing for the week. We then make our plan for the week there and then. What night would work for Sterling, any rush to get back to the ship on port days or does Horizon Court look good. The MD or any head waiter can show them to y I have always found it at every MD station at the main entrance of any of the restaurants. I have only been asked why I wanted to view the book once and it has always been produced within seconds. Only problem is they are simply in order, not marked Sunday, Monday… We learned to take paper and pen and make notes since a faulty memory can screw up a night’s plans

· Sabatini and Sterling serve fresh deserts that are not usually on the menu of the main dining rooms. At the end of the night when they close down 10:00-10:30, most of the deserts are taken up to Horizon Court. Nothing to plan your evening around, but if you’re in the area it’s something to check out.

 

· Since Princess cabins have mini-fridges, we bring a small Pur or Brita filter container because we enjoy lots of water. We also mix some of the filtered water in containers with Crystal light tubes which are the perfect size.__________________

• We always bring wine and beer on board -- when we got stuck in Chile because of the earthquake in March we had lots of time to buy bottles of Chilean wine at a very reasonable price -- we just get wine glasses for our cabin -- we pick up local beers and wines along the way. Haven't had any issues with beer, wine or soda
  
• It.s a little inconvenient but I often go up to the Spa to shower. The showers there are great.
  
• The appetizers and sushi are free in the Vines wine bar but they charge you for cheese. We had a nice server on our last cruise. Since we were the only ones in the lounge, he gave us a plate of cheeses for free after I inquired about them
  
• Here's a tip I read a long time ago here on the boards, and believe me, it's worth its weight in gold: Take 3 or 4 of those black metal binder clips, and hang them on the bottom edge of the shower curtain. The extra weight will keep it from swinging in and "hugging" you while you shower. Try it - you'll be amazed at how such a simple solution relieves such an annoying problem! _
  
• When you get to your state room, ask for robe & slippers plus a bed topper, and upgraded pillows....you won't be sorry !!!!
  
• Tipping cash to the bartenders goes a long way. You get better drinks..and some freebies besides !!!
  
• So the condensed version of this tip is: Try new authentic ethnic dishes. Ask what specialty dishes the cooks prepare when they're home, but can't prepare onboard unless requested by a passenger. Order a lot so there will be leftovers.
  
• One more thing I forgot to mention - since you can't bring a clothing iron on board, and going to the laundry room to use theirs can be sort of a pain, a small bottle of Dove wrinkle releaser (which you just spray on, and then smooth out the fabric) works very well on minor wrinkles (but not really stiff creases). If you use it when you first arrive and then hang up your clothes afterwards, they're usually fine. And to avoid the really tough creases, ROLL your clothes instead of FOLDING them when you pack.
  
• On our Emerald Princess cruise a couple of years ago there was dinner with the executive chef which was a new program they were starting. At that time you could only register once you boarded the ship and it was extremely limited (8 people and only done twice on our 10 day cruise). There's an extra charge, but you visit the galley during dinner rush, have French champagne with hors d'oeuvres (fois gras, escargot, caviar) in the galley, then we were seated at a special table with the executive chef and maitre'd in the dining room. Candles, centerpiece of flowers, special menu with free flowing wine selected for each course... After dinner we were presented with a group photo, and a Princess cookbook signed by the executive chef. Cost then was $75 per person, but it was worth every penny. We had full attention of the wait staff and the production certainly drew the attention of all the other passengers in the dining room. Food and wine was fabulous.
  
• Keep in mind that Princess allows each person to bring a bottle of champagne so getting glasses isn't suspect since you keep it in your room fridge.
  
• When you get off of the elevator to go to your room and aren't sure whether to turn left or right, look at the carpet in the halls. On one side of the ship on every passenger deck the hallways have blue carpeting. The other side has blue carpeting as well but there is some red in that side. I can't remember if the red is on the port or starboard side but it sure makes knowing which way to go much easier.
  
• If you go to a computer station in the Future Cruise booking area or Internet Cafe, click on the on screen icon to send a free e-postcard. There is no fee and it's an easy way to let the folks at home know where you are and how you're doing. There is a 300 character limit but you could send more than one message to the same email address if you need to get a longer message out. I used it on the Emerald in May and it worked great.
  
• You can also surf princess.com at no charge in the internet cafe or on your laptop using the wifi
  
• FYI, escargot was on the "everyday" side of the dinner menu and I had it every night on my recent Celebrity Eclipse 14 night Baltic cruise. Great beginnings to 14 marvelous dinners
  
• Perhaps it was a cost reduction, but escargot is not on the everyday side on the dinner menu on my current cruise on Royal Princess. I did ask for it and received an order the next day, but the Head Waiter made a "big deal" out of the fact that I ordered it. It was excellent as always.
  
• This is not a "Secret" and is very obvious to most of us, but when using your own PC onboard and checking your email, never read individual messages while you're online using up your minutes. Download everything by clicking 'Send and Receive' and then read it off line. Compose ALL your outgoing messages in Word, WordPad, etc before you go back online, and then cut and paste them into an email. Also, make sure all your email buddies know NOT to send you emails with elaborate attachments (i.e. all those "forwards") while you're on the ship as downloading them really scarfs up the minutes.
  
• Secret ~ at lunch time check out the menu by the dining rooms, they will tell you what is being served for dinner. If you don't like what you see, go to the Horizon Court, the food is almost identical to what is being served in the dining room, except you don't have to spend three hours waiting and eating.....
  
• Bring along some cheap magnets (you can get them in craft shops--or have a purpose in bringing home souvenirs). The walls have metal in them and you can "hang up" all those pesky papers you get every day in your cabin!
  
• Hi all. On the Ocean Princess you can have almost anything you want just by asking, without extra charge. Order any special dish 24 hours in advance. The free icecream is on in the afternoon. Extra wine glasses etc for entertaining in one's room together with mini-sandwiches and nibbles. You want blankets intead of the duvet - no problem. I think the service is amazing, and the crew so obliging.
  
• Hmmm... There are lots of things to do on the ship, lots of freebies if you hunt for them. There is the initial send off Scavenger Hunt and you find all the spots they want you to go, enter your card in the chance to win prizes. Go to the many poolside events and you have a chance to win Champagne. Art Showings and Auctions have a glass of free bubbly. Enter all the fun contests and competitions for chances to win free bubbly, travel bags, hats, playing cards, Luggage tags, t-shirts, mugs, etc..We always win something on the cruises! I am Celiac and they bent over backwards to make sure I could eat what I wanted! I saw the next days menu and it was adapted so I had gravy, pasta, etc and it was all gluten free! They will do almost anything for you. I love Crab legs as does my son. they brought us an extra serving. And we laughingly teased the waiter how he managed an extra portion and he said he sent the junior bus boy overboard to catch it for us. Now no one else could have extra because they didnt get him back on the ship, it was going to fast. LOL Have a great holiday
  
• duck liver pâté appetizer (they did not have pâté de foie gras, but to me, it's close enough, and delicious), various lamb entrees (I LOVE lamb and hardly ever get it at home - I don't cook and most restaurants don't serve it - so even though they have it fairly often on Princess, I could literally eat it every night!) and couple other menu items (including desserts) that I really liked and asked them to reserve for me again the following night, which they are happy to do. And, yes, the apparently fabulously popular escargot (and I thought I was the only one ).
  
• If you befriend the maitre d, you will have a "special" appetizer at your table each night. This was true for us on the Ruby, Emerald and Caribbean Princess. Of course that comes with a good tip at the end of the week for the special service. Well worth it!
  

__________________

Hotels in Fort Lauderdale

 

· 17th St is the main drag that runs by the terminal which is on the corner at Eisenhower Blvd.

There are quite a few hotels within a long block or 2 of the port.

The Renaissance/Hilton Marina are right on that corner.

· I would recommend the Hilton Marina. It is literally 2 minutes away, has shuttle service, and you can catch the Water Taxi to almost anywhere in Fort Lauderdale AND you can watch the other ships sail in and out right from their pool area! This is a great hotel and I use it every time I cruise out of FL.

· I don't know when you are leaving but we are leaving on 12/8. We booked on Hotwire ( 3 star HollywoodAirport) and got the Holiday Inn Express now listed for $52 per night. Others on our roll call bid through Hotwire on the 3 star Downtown -Las Ollas-Port Everglades and got the Hyatt Place for $59. These rates are for 12/7 but you can check on the descriptions for 12/7 and then look it up for your dates. Both of these hotels have free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise terminal. They do not have free parking while you are on the cruise. I understand that LaQuinta has free parking. Happy hunting.

· We have also stayed at the Hyatt Place booked through Valuetrips - it was a great value. Cost was $89, we used the Hyatt certificates bought through Costco and it worked out about even by the time taxes were added. The nice thing was that there was a shuttle from the airport, breakfast the morning we stayed, and a shuttle to the port - all of the same price. One thing to keep in mind, when we were there they let you start signing up for the cruise shuttle at 3:00 the afternoon before, if you wait too long you'll end up leaving later than you probably want. It really isn't far from the pier so a cab won't cost too much if that’s the case. One other thing, it takes a couple of days to get confirmation of your booking so don't panic if it doesn't show up right away.

Right now they don't have any 2011 prices showing so we are waiting for them to appear to try to get this hotel for our January trip.

· Priceline downtown four star will get you either the Renaissance or the Hilton Marina. Both actually within walking distance of three port but I would not recommending walking. Both hotels are very good. I am currently trying on Priceline for Nov 6 and have been turned down at up to $70. I think it can be had for 85-90. Neither have shuttles but a taxi is only $10.

· We haven’t stayed at Hyatt Place in a few years but have recently seen some not so good reviews. I can get the Embassy for $160 as a Hilton Honors member which is free to join and is a very nice hotel with breakfast and a happy 2 hours included.

 

WOW!!!!...I've Learned Alot Of New Things.....

 

Cant Wait to Use some of the Advice on Nov 9th to Hawaii.....:D

[generichandle]

Thank you for your compendium dotheyes! I made a copy to take along and scan.

 

Isn't CC a fine site for this stuff. It is exciting to plan a trip. Almost as much fun as enacting.

 

Doug

[bowsprit]

Thank you for the updated list. I was dreading the thought of having to read this thread from the beginning

[mrspaper]

I recall reading someplace that the Chef's table is now $95. Is this accurate?

[jfgdbg]

I recall reading someplace that the Chef's table is now $95. Is this accurate?

 

Yes it is now true. We were on the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago and that was the price.

[mrspaper]

Yes it is now true. We were on the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago and that was the price.

thanks for the confirmation

[Topaz_M]

For the newbies: MUTS = Movies Under The Stars.

 

Watch out for the warm cookies and milk delivered every afternoon on the pool deck - chocolate chip and peanut butter - very yummy.

 

Also, the MUTS screen is also used to play Wii games ... very addictive and competitive by the end of the cruise :cool: :)

[Iamcruzin]

Also, where can you request pineapple juice? Just in the mdr or at the buffet?

You should be able to get it at any bar. I would order that with my Ulitmate beverage card so I am not sure how much it would cost per glass.

[CruisinNewbie2010]

I don't know if this has been mentioned yet but on our first cruise (Feb/11) we tried the Ultimate Balcony Dinner. It was fantastic - 5 or 6 courses, served by 2 attentive staff, cocktails, champagne and a photographer to boot! At that time it was $50 per person, but definitely worth the extra $$. We will definitely do this again. Hint - don't eat much during the day!:D

[CruiseMor]

We will be taking our first Princess cruise in Jan. 2012 and this thread has been very informative.

 

I'm looking forward to trying out the "secrets" and wanted to say thanks to all who provided the helpful information.

[smalldog]

I have a question about the coffee card. I'm not a coffee drinker, but am considering the coffee card for the free pots of tea. I'm so tired of the (iced) tea from concentrate all over the ship on previous cruises. I'd rather brew my own. As for the cards, are the punches valid on specialty non-coffee drinks such as peppermint hot chocolate or chai lattes (hot, iced, or frozen)?

 

I'd like to know the answer to this one too. :) Anyone?

 

Also, thanks for all the great tips. About to do my first Princess cruise and I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END!! 57 pages ;)

[yoyosma]

I'm not a tea drinker, but I am fairly positive there is always hot water and tea bags, including specialty teas, available in the Horizon Court.

[ibfern]

I'd like to know the answer to this one too. :) Anyone?

 

Also, thanks for all the great tips. About to do my first Princess cruise and I MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO THE END!! 57 pages ;)

 

I have a coffee card that I never punch, but I use it all the time to get specialty Iced teas. Forget about the stuff in the HC, they have better tea bags at the IC/Coffee bar and with a card they are free. Hot Chocolate is free but I don't know about the special hot chocolates or the chai teas, but if they have bags of it you can get it hot or cold for free!

[scmexico]

It may not be a scret but we love to go to Lido deck in the morning where the pizzeria is serving waffles and the Trident Grill is making omlets of your choice. There are usually tables available so that you can dine al fresco.

[IECalCruiser]

It may not be a scret but we love to go to Lido deck in the morning where the pizzeria is serving waffles and the Trident Grill is making omlets of your choice. There are usually tables available so that you can dine al fresco.

It isn't a secret but I have noticed it isn't publicized well in the Patter and with the elimination of the in-cabin dining guide people may not be aware. The waffles are individual quarter size Belgian waffles and there are a couple of fruit toppings, syrup and whipped cream for you to add.

[ibfern]

It isn't a secret but I have noticed it isn't publicized well in the Patter and with the elimination of the in-cabin dining guide people may not be aware. The waffles are individual quarter size Belgian waffles and there are a couple of fruit toppings, syrup and whipped cream for you to add.

 

I hear some people add Ice Cream to the waffles for a real treat! :D

[dzcruisers]

Not exactly a Princess secret but a good cruise critic secret

Click on the post #, top right, (1150 on my post) and you will get a copy to print just that post. Works wonderfully when you want to save good info.