First Time Cruiser a few questions!!!

[Crookshanks]

Hello! My husband and I are going on our first cruise. It's a 10 day Mexican Riviera Cruise on the Grand from San Francisco. This was a promotional gift from a Casino, so we don't have a Travel Agent to ask.

 

I've read my instructions and it says that you have to bring vaccination records, I don't have a card thing like my little boys have and when I went to my doctor's office he didn't recommend any vaccines for a cruise to Mexico. I chose not to get a flu shot this year and doc was totally ok with that, too. I'm now terrified that we will show up to board and we won't have the documentation needed to board, even though my Doc says I'm good to go. What documentation do they want when boarding?

 

A friend of ours also sent us a couple of Coffee cards, but they got them in Florida. They are blank, can I take them on the ship?

 

Since you have to buy a photo package, does that mean you can't take your own pictures? Can we still bring our tablets and phones?

 

I'm very excited to be going on this voyage and have really enjoyed reading all of your posts. Thank you in advance.

[fishywood]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

 

I'm curious as to who you received instructions on vaccines from. The casino's booking agent or direct from Princess? No vaccines are required for Mexico, if there were it would specify which ones on your Booking Summary or in the Cruise Personalizer.

 

Though as you did not book directly with Princess you may have received other vital information secondhand as well. If you haven't done so already go to the Princess website and set up an account, or just log into the Cruise Personalizer directly using your booking number (should be six digits, mostly or all alpha rather than numeric). You can print out your Booking Confirmation and Summary which Princess would have e-mailed if you booked with them directly. Might answer a lot of your questions. Or prompt more. (If you have already done so--as this may be the source of your questions--I apologize for the incorrect assumption).

 

You should be able to use the fifteen (or however many are left) punches on the coffee cards for specialty coffees. However Princess is cracking down on using the card for unlimited brewed coffee & premium tea from the International Cafe if the card was not purchased on that voyage.

 

You may use your personal devices to take all the photos you wish around the ship and in port. Except of course when the ship's photographers have set up backgrounds for their formal or casual portraits in the Piazza at dinnertime most evenings. If those are the photos you were planning to purchase, it is not mandatory to pre-pay for the photo package; you can view them and purchase them one by one if you wish. But by all means buy the package if your plan was to try as many poses at as many portrait opportunities they have.

[Crookshanks]

Thank you so much for your quick and informative response!

 

I have created an account on Princess's site and have read most everything I can. Every time I have attempted to go to the Cruise Personalizer it has said that it's not available at the moment.

 

I'm glad to hear that there are no vaccines that we need to get as that was the main thing I was worried about.

 

The coffee cards are a nice bonus and I like the occasional Chai Tea and husband gets a mocha every day, otherwise we are water and soda drinkers and we purchased the soda package already, so we won't need unlimited brewed coffee and tea.

 

Again, thank you so much for your response!!

[moki'smommy]

You got totally correct info above.

 

Some physicians who specialize in travel recommend a hepatitis A vaccine if you plan to consume anything off the ship in Mexico, but no vaccines are required. Princess does not require any sort of proof of vaccines.

 

I'd do a whole lot of reading on these boards--you'll learn a great deal of what to expect.

 

As near as I can tell, there is no consistency across the Princess line about the coffee cards. Yes, you can bring them and use the punches for specialty coffees. If they are blank, you may or may not be able to use them for brewed coffees or teas.

 

And as above, you are free to take any photos you wish anywhere around the ship except where the professional photographers have set up their backgrounds and lighting.

[firecrewcapt]

You don't have to buy photo packages, we always step pass the photographers and continue with our cruise, we always take around 200+ photos during our cruise and excursions then edit them when we get home or if we have nothing planned in a port we'll do it there. Being your first cruise maybe you'll want some pro pics and you can totally see them when they post them near the photography studio and choose which ones to buy or not to buy.

[paul929207]

We have not bought any of the ship's photos in years. If you like one or more, you can buy them, but do not feel any obligation.

[3kidsncats]

Re:ship photos--- if you never get your portraits done, but it's something you've wanted to do, I recommend the All Inclusive photo package (pre-purchase to save $49). It makes the posing and photo review a lot more fun because you aren't worried about cost. For the price, you would get between 8 -12 photos if you paid per photo (ultimately depends on the photo size -- the smaller ones are about $15 per, and the more formal portraits are printed in 8x10 and are about $25 per). With the package, you can come home with a print and digital copy of everything you posed for -- which could be dozens and dozens of photos.

 

I've never heard of needing to bring vaccination records along on a cruise.

[caribill]

 

I've never heard of needing to bring vaccination records along on a cruise.

 

Some countries (example: Brazil) do require it for proof of yellow fever vaccination depending on where the ship stops before reaching Brazil. On a Princess cruise we had that went to Brazil and that started in Fort Lauderdale, they refused boarding to anyone who could not produce proof of this vaccination or a Doctor's note saying why they could not have one.

[caribill]

.

 

I've read my instructions and it says that you have to bring vaccination records. Not true, as others have pointed out.

 

A friend of ours also sent us a couple of Coffee cards, but they got them in Florida. They are blank, can I take them on the ship? As others said, the punches can be used. If they are not the current type card, the punches are still valid. If any problem, ask to speak with a supervisor.

 

Since you have to buy a photo package, does that mean you can't take your own pictures? Can we still bring our tablets and phones? Nobody has to purchase a photo package although one is available. Tablets are phones are welcome.

 

I'm very excited to be going on this voyage and have really enjoyed reading all of your posts.

 

Have a great cruise.

 

Also, I suggest joining the roll call for your cruise ( Find Your Princess Roll Call ). You will make friends before the cruise even starts. Be sure to attend the roll call's meet and greet if one has been set up.

 

 

And ask any questions you have either on this forum or on the roll call. The only bad questions are the ones that are not asked. And when on board do not hesitate to ask questions if you have them, either to the Princess staff or to the new friends you will be making.

[Cruisin' Chick]

We've been on two MR cruises -- no vaccinations are required.

Everyone who has said you don't have to buy photos are correct. You won't be charged if a ship's photographer takes your photo. When you are about to board the ship, there will be a photographer there. Unless you're feeling frazzled from the boarding procedures, you might as well put down your stuff and take the photo with your group. Also there may be a photog as you are leaving the ship in port when docked. On some nights, usually a formal night, there will be a photographer stopping at each table.

Again, don't feel obligated to take or not to take a photo, but you won't be charged for this.

All the photos will be displayed in the photo area so when you have some free time during your cruise, check them out. You may like your photos and decide to purchase. Usually my hubby might buy a few of them. We have never done the formal portraits.

 

I strongly recommend you check out the Princess website as there is quite a bit of info. I always go there before a cruise and usually can find out new info.

[3kidsncats]

Some countries (example: Brazil) do require it for proof of yellow fever vaccination depending on where the ship stops before reaching Brazil. On a Princess cruise we had that went to Brazil and that started in Fort Lauderdale, they refused boarding to anyone who could not produce proof of this vaccination or a Doctor's note saying why they could not have one.

Good to know --I've never cruised to Brazil before.

[JF - retired RRT]

The coffee cards are a nice bonus and I like the occasional Chai Tea and husband gets a mocha every day, otherwise we are water and soda drinkers and we purchased the soda package already, so we won't need unlimited brewed coffee and tea.

If, as you stated, there is no date or ship on the back of the card, you're good to go. The servers won't know you didn't buy it on the ship, since it's not marked. Unless it's the older style card, then they'll catch it, unless they're blind or don't care.

One of the servers may catch that it's blank and will mark it. Then you'll be "legal".

If they don't catch it, it won't matter.

[caribill]

Good to know --I've never cruised to Brazil before.

 

It depends on where the ship stops on the way to Brazil. In our case, it stopped at Devil's Island (no longer on Princess itineraries) and that was the stop which caused Brazil to require the inoculation.

[Fuzzyape]

...Everyone who has said you don't have to buy photos are correct. You won't be charged if a ship's photographer takes your photo. When you are about to board the ship' date=' there will be a photographer there. Unless you're feeling frazzled from the boarding procedures, you might as well put down your stuff and take the photo with your group. Also there may be a photog as you are leaving the ship in port when docked. On some nights, usually a formal night, there will be a photographer stopping at each table.

Again, don't feel obligated to take or not to take a photo, but you won't be charged for this.

All the photos will be displayed in the photo area so when you have some free time during your cruise, check them out. You may like your photos and decide to purchase...[/quote']

 

Cruisin' got it right. DW and I pose for all the pictures they want to take. Mostly because it's easier then saying we don't want them, and have them encourage us to pose for them. We've even started to have some fun at some of the port picture areas. Not sure if the photographers like it or not.

 

Enjoy your first cruise! I'm excited for you, you are going to have so much fun!