Princess cruise "hacks"

[tempus137]

On 5/23/2019 at 2:32 PM, masterty said:

Our TV also allows music to be streamed. No wireless video mirroring. Bring an HDMI cord for that. Here is a photo of the back of the TV in F309 on the Grand Princess. 

 

From the picture, it looks like there is a USB input. If you have the right cable, can you just plug your phone, tablet or laptop in to stream video or music to the TV?

[Scorpio41]

On 5/30/2019 at 2:10 AM, Mike45LC said:

What is the benefit of "Bluetooth streaming from our [phones]"?  Is this just to use the room's TV's better speakers for the music? 

 

If so, I don't need this, I bring my own Bluetooth speakers with me for music in the room and on the balcony.

 

 

I like to relax on my balcony, I wouldn't want to listen to music coming from the balcony next door.

[naylum]

Totally agree with Scorpio41 who wants to hear music, kids screaming, tv blaring from next door be it from cabin or balcony.

[maxxyz]

On 5/31/2019 at 5:59 PM, tempus137 said:

 

From the picture, it looks like there is a USB input. If you have the right cable, can you just plug your phone, tablet or laptop in to stream video or music to the TV?

 

 

Exactly, it works great, when you connect your smartphone to your TV.

 

It also works like this with YouTube video sharing.

[silvercruiser]

Converting onboard credit to cash via the casino has been eliminated on some cruise lines, such as HAL, so read the fine print about OBC, in case it says "cannot be used in the casino."

[MissP22]

1 hour ago, silvercruiser said:

Converting onboard credit to cash via the casino has been eliminated on some cruise lines, such as HAL, so read the fine print about OBC, in case it says "cannot be used in the casino."

Princess has always stated that the non-refundable OBC could not be used in the Casinos but it has never been the case. 

All that could change tomorrow so who knows. 

[Ombud]

2 hours ago, silvercruiser said:

Converting onboard credit to cash via the casino has been eliminated on some CCL lines, such as HAL, so read the fine print about OBC, which says "cannot be used in the casino."

Slight addition, anticipating all CCL lines to follow suit should it become widely misused so that those of us who use it for gambling are negatively impacted 

Edited June 3, 2019 by Ombud

[georgiavol]

On 5/5/2019 at 8:02 PM, neverbeenhere said:

1) using the casino method to “convert” non refundable credit. 

 

2) can’t stand Princess syrup coffee on older ships? Bring individual coffee packets, if you a coffee package is too much. 

 

3) hacks specific to Princess Cruises are tough to come by. While tips to general cruising are easy. 

 

 

 

The coffee packet idea is a good one. 

[georgiavol]

On 5/6/2019 at 9:39 AM, Ofmyheart said:

I can get the Regal's down but it sometimes is still hard.

Just buy a coffee card. It's the simple things in life, after all. 

[georgiavol]

On 5/20/2019 at 7:53 PM, CynCyn said:

I noticed that in the International Cafe that timing is everything,  they brought out this DIVINE chocolate/raspberry tart.  It was delicious and GONE with the first 12 people who saw it.  It might pay to go back if you don’t see something you like the first time.  Or hang out and watch for special treats.  I wish I had asked what it was and if there were any more.  

 

I also get get an extra chocolate croissant in the buffet or IC in the morning to save for a late night snack.

I've tried bringing back an extra (or two) croissant back but they never survive the afternoon. Lol

[Ombud]

22 minutes ago, georgiavol said:

I've tried bringing back an extra (or two) croissant back but they never survive the afternoon. Lol

Yeah .... they last the trip to my room but somehow disappear while getting to fridge. No willpower which is why I avoid buffets

[jangor]

On 5/6/2019 at 6:53 AM, MissP22 said:

Or for that matter, carry on additional bottles of wine at every port without paying any corkage fee. 😉

I know that many will criticize me, but this is about hacks.  I bring my own corkscrew, order a glass of wine from one of the bars and then use that glass to carry wine into dining for the rest of the cruise, as though I had come from one of the bars.  Works for me since I rarely have more than two glasses of wine per night.

 

[getting older slowly]

Always take a wine bottle pump and stopped to save wine for the room..... also a small knife ( under 1/2 inch wide and about 2inches long ) under the maximum size allowed, to cut up fruit in our room.

 

Also borrow pepper shaker from the buffet, knife and forks so we can enjoy lunch or whatever in our cabin.

 

Cheers Don 

[andlep]

8 minutes ago, jangor said:

.... I rarely have more than two glasses of wine per night.

 

Me too 😁 

[Ombud]

With so many good wines now having screw top instead of corks, I leave the corkscrew at home. Hard to get thru security

[Lucky TGO]

1 hour ago, andlep said:

Me too 😁 

This is Beautiful my kind of girl. She knows her limitations just 2 glasses of wine a day 😁😁 I can’t stop laughing!!

The Captain of The Rowboat,

Tony

 

[Thrak]

4 hours ago, Ombud said:

With so many good wines now having screw top instead of corks, I leave the corkscrew at home. Hard to get thru security

 

I have always had a corkscrew in my Dopp kit. Never had an issue. Just got off the Golden and, when the steward noticed our bottles of wine, he automagically brought wine glasses for the room. When we used them and left them in a bar or the dining room they were always replaced. We obviously had a good steward.

[kate59]

4 hours ago, Ombud said:

With so many good wines now having screw top instead of corks, I leave the corkscrew at home. Hard to get thru security

You can borrow cork screw from Steward. 

[MissP22]

13 hours ago, Ombud said:

With so many good wines now having screw top instead of corks, I leave the corkscrew at home. Hard to get thru security

We've never had a problem here in Florida but switched to the screw top bottles a few years ago.

One less thing to carry.

[CaliforniaDon]

TIME CHECK!

I am listing this item, not because it is so great, but because I was just sooooo pleased with myself at how well it did the job that I wanted done.  I wake up in the night and need to know how tired I still am, so a peek at the clock will put me right.  After a few marginal solutions, here is my best.

This phone app hangs high from the ceiling, so both sleepers can see it - and it has a dimmer, so it would not be this bright at night.  The phone is left on charger, since I hear it eats battery life.

More on my hobby web page 

http://beercruisers.com/hacks/index.htm

[MixerDave]

13 minutes ago, CaliforniaDon said:

TIME CHECK!

I am listing this item, not because it is so great, but because I was just sooooo pleased with myself at how well it did the job that I wanted done.  I wake up in the night and need to know how tired I still am, so a peek at the clock will put me right.  After a few marginal solutions, here is my best.

This phone app hangs high from the ceiling, so both sleepers can see it - and it has a dimmer, so it would not be this bright at night.  The phone is left on charger, since I hear it eats battery life.

More on my hobby web page 

http://beercruisers.com/hacks/index.htm

 

 

Don - what app lets the phone display the large numbers?

 

[Ombud]

Off to Kmart to get the magnet hook! 

[CaliforniaDon]

NIGHTCLOCK is the app used here.  I am sure others would work too.  3 or 4 of those extra strong magnet hooks come in handy for a lot of uses.  I got mine at a Lowes, Depot hardware store.

[Mike45LC]

3 hours ago, CaliforniaDon said:

TIME CHECK!

I am listing this item, not because it is so great, but because I was just sooooo pleased with myself at how well it did the job that I wanted done.  I wake up in the night and need to know how tired I still am, so a peek at the clock will put me right.  After a few marginal solutions, here is my best.

This phone app hangs high from the ceiling, so both sleepers can see it - and it has a dimmer, so it would not be this bright at night.  The phone is left on charger, since I hear it eats battery life.

More on my hobby web page 

http://beercruisers.com/hacks/index.htm

Don, great idea!

[MissP22]

21 hours ago, jangor said:

I know that many will criticize me, but this is about hacks.  I bring my own corkscrew, order a glass of wine from one of the bars and then use that glass to carry wine into dining for the rest of the cruise, as though I had come from one of the bars.  Works for me since I rarely have more than two glasses of wine per night.

 

We latch on to a couple of water glasses from the DR after our first visit. 

They're larger & can hold 1 1/2 times as much as their wine glasses.