Cruise Do May 2011
Mar 12, 2010 | 11:06 am
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: BWI/IAD
Programs: UA 1K 0.94MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 521
I just spoke with the agent and he told me two good things.
- The Mini-suite rate has gone down (I will update the web page when he sends me the new rate), and
- Princess will hold the group until January 2011, so the posted rates are good at least until then. Of course, since the deposit is full refundable, it's still a good idea to book when you can to ensure availbility.
Apr 6, 2010 | 2:16 am
#36
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Reno, Nevada
Programs: AA EXP, UA 2MM, SPG Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 494
I just can't tolerate a four-day cruise!
So I checked princess.com and found that this repositioning cruise begins in Ft. Lauderdale on May 4. She spends the first two days at sea (to me, the days not in port are what cruising is all about), stops in Aruba and Cartagena, and then transits the Panama Canal, followed by stops in Panama City and Costa Rica. Then three more days at sea and a day in Cabo San Lucas. Two days sailing and then arrival in San Francisco on May 19. Now, that's a pre-Cruise DO! So BL1KITW + 1 will be waiting for you in the Wheelhouse Bar.
The last time I cruised on Princess, I bought a pre-paid deposit for a future cruise. The deposit voucher cost $100 per person and it was accepted as the full deposit on this cruise. In addition, for this 19-night voyage in a balcony cabin, that voucher gets me a $175 on board credit.
Carnival, which owns Princess, also offers a Shareholder Benefit. For owning at least 100 shares of Carnival Stock, I'll get a $250 on board credit (one per cabin no many how stockholders occupy the cabin) for this cruise (14 days or longer). For a cruise of 6 days or less, you can get a $50 on board credit. Here's the link with all of the details.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....l-sharebenefit
This cruise will put me at a total of 136 nights on Princess ships. I can't wait to hit 150 nights, which will upgrade me to Captain's Circle Elite status. The best benefit at that level is the complimentary laundry and dry cleaning service. So much better than sitting in the on board laundromat with rolls of quarters, which I did on my last 30-day cruise from Anchorage to Bangkok.
And Princess is my cruise line of second choice. I actually give most of my cruise business to Celebrity. Their elite members have a two-hour hosted happy hour every night of the cruise. Better than the Red Carpet Club any day.
Welcome to the world of Cruise Runs, to be added to Mileage Runs and Mattress Runs. Hopefully, everyone on board the Coral Princess will wash their hands frequently and use the complimentary Purell dispensers distributed throughout the ship, so that no one will actually get the cruise runs. Maybe we need to find a different label for those of us addicted to cruising for status.
Bon Voyage
The last time I cruised on Princess, I bought a pre-paid deposit for a future cruise. The deposit voucher cost $100 per person and it was accepted as the full deposit on this cruise. In addition, for this 19-night voyage in a balcony cabin, that voucher gets me a $175 on board credit.
Carnival, which owns Princess, also offers a Shareholder Benefit. For owning at least 100 shares of Carnival Stock, I'll get a $250 on board credit (one per cabin no many how stockholders occupy the cabin) for this cruise (14 days or longer). For a cruise of 6 days or less, you can get a $50 on board credit. Here's the link with all of the details.
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix....l-sharebenefit
This cruise will put me at a total of 136 nights on Princess ships. I can't wait to hit 150 nights, which will upgrade me to Captain's Circle Elite status. The best benefit at that level is the complimentary laundry and dry cleaning service. So much better than sitting in the on board laundromat with rolls of quarters, which I did on my last 30-day cruise from Anchorage to Bangkok.
And Princess is my cruise line of second choice. I actually give most of my cruise business to Celebrity. Their elite members have a two-hour hosted happy hour every night of the cruise. Better than the Red Carpet Club any day.
Welcome to the world of Cruise Runs, to be added to Mileage Runs and Mattress Runs. Hopefully, everyone on board the Coral Princess will wash their hands frequently and use the complimentary Purell dispensers distributed throughout the ship, so that no one will actually get the cruise runs. Maybe we need to find a different label for those of us addicted to cruising for status.
Bon Voyage
Apr 6, 2010 | 7:53 am
#37
Original Poster
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,184
The future cruise deposits are a great deal - we purchased two on our last cruise, but will wait until longer cruises to make best use of them. And the stockholder benefit is great as well, especially since it effectively costs nothing.
Apr 6, 2010 | 3:55 pm
#38
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: YEG
Programs: HH Silver
Posts: 57,038
Don't forget the free mini-bar! We're going for Elite based on number of cruises instead of number of nights (the short cruises fit better into my work schedule). This cruise will be our 10th Princess cruise on the path to the 15 required for Elite - and our first Princess cruise was Cruise-Do 2008!
The future cruise deposits are a great deal - we purchased two on our last cruise, but will wait until longer cruises to make best use of them. And the stockholder benefit is great as well, especially since it effectively costs nothing.
Apr 6, 2010 | 4:03 pm
#39
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They don't have them on the one- or two-day cruises, but this is a four-day that's a continuation of a longer cruise, so I suspect the Future Cruise desk will be open. BTW, for those who are curious, Future Cruise deposits are good for four years, and if you don't use them, you get the money back. So all you're losing is the opportunity cost of $100 per person.
Last edited by mahasamatman; Apr 6, 2010 at 7:29 pm Reason: Corrected expiration on Future Cruise deposit
Apr 15, 2010 | 9:59 pm
#41
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Or opposite direction this fall during repositioning.
Apr 16, 2010 | 10:21 am
#43
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The same cruises are not available this year. There are no coastals out of San Francisco in May 2010, and the Vancouver to SF cruises this fall are only two nights. The "good" 2010 coastals (the ones that have port calls) are all to/from Los Angeles.
Apr 19, 2010 | 11:59 am
#44
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Alexandria VA, Washington, DC or Pick 5
Programs: UA 1P, Hertz 5*, Avis Preferred
Posts: 1,064
They don't have them on the one- or two-day cruises, but this is a four-day that's a continuation of a longer cruise, so I suspect the Future Cruise desk will be open. BTW, for those who are curious, Future Cruise deposits are good for four years, and if you don't use them, you get the money back. So all you're losing is the opportunity cost of $100 per person.