Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg, Came from the land above to the Land Downunder. We never want Gelato so don't know about that. It lasted about two hours, and the servers didnt hover over us (or wait inside our stateroom as I had feared). Question from a new Elite. If youre on a Royal Class ship, you can even rent a cabana at the Retreat Pool for a little added luxury. The only like-kind alcohol we were able to trade them out for was vodka. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg. Yes, I change ours out every time. Also dont expect top-notch service if youre looking at these pieces. There are more swaps than as-is I would say, not that my survey was scientific and within 2.5% 19 times out of 20. Im hoping they continue to allow the exchange for coffee cards. Each ship may be different as to how they set them up. Platinum is where it starts to get good! Minisuite: Diamond Princess' 184 mini-suites are primarily located on Deck 9, with a few on Deck 8. OBC is only good for purchases made on the ship. Look at various travel agencies to see what OBC theyre offering for your particular cruise. Youve hit the big time! Youll be glad you did, because stateroom bathrooms are tiny and steamy. Answer: If you do not wish to have any alcohol in your mini-bar we will be happy to exchange your mini-bar for one of the following: You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By You made out. The contents of the mini-bar are subject to change. QuestionIs it a one to one switch or do you get more soda for the liquor? Same on our April cruise on the Star Princess except what I noted in. Read more: Ultimate Guide to Princess Cays. On the last morning, join the full suite and Elite passengers in the priority disembarkation lounge. The mini-bar set up for Elites is actually somewhat useless to any who have bought the "liquor sticker" (AIBP). I'm not trying to denigrate the wishes of the folks who would like a customized setup. Do Suite passengers who are also elite status receive two setups? There is also an upgraded package of stateroom amenities for Elite members. The Patter is a daily newsletter that shares tons of important information for the next day. They don't detract from the cruise experience but it sometimes makes it harder to plan. Does that mean THREE mini-bar setups? Well it does keep a lot of crew busy that first day. So what happens if you have one of the old cards, and it has no expiration date (some do and some dont)? These pools are free for all passengers 18 and over. Near the end of each Princess cruise, the Effy shop will have a Final Call sale, with clearance prices on certain pieces. So no bourbon at all in small bottles? CC Help Jenn The mini bars come pre-shrink wrapped. ft. Suite - 70 to 210 sq. CC Help Jenn One thing to be aware of though, is that not every suite has a balcony. Im so glad youre here! I have to wonder why all the local liquor stores seem to have tons of mini bottles but Princess can't seem to get them. This is a question many past passengers ask. And I agree - tipping is recommended. Theyll know if the comedian performing that night gets rave reviews or is a dud. At $100 per couple for dinner (you can book this for two or four people), youll get a vase of fresh flowers delivered to your room, hors doeuvres, a cocktail each (or a half-bottle of Champagne), an amazing multi-course dinner featuring lobster and steak served by two dedicated servers, dessert, and an 810 photograph. Ties are also not a requirement. Thanks everyone, I appreciate your answers and will just do the trade in when we get there. The crew brings over food from the ship and cooks it on the island. Started June 21, 2021, By Read What New Cruisers Dont Know About Cruise Food & Drinks. That is new I always ask if they have Canadian Club and have always been told no. You might also like What Beverages Can I Bring On My Cruise? Assuming they have the inventory it is 8 x 50ml spirts, 2 beers = 10 alcoholic beverages. They have not in the past, but over time Coke is changing products. If they have the curry chicken salad when you visit, give it a try its my favorite! I'd much rather have the mini bottles than whatever poop wine they are providing. The contents of the mini-bar are subject to change. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_9',605,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',605,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-shouldbecruising_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0_1'); .large-mobile-banner-2-multi-605{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}However, before you decide to skip the shopping talk altogether, the shopping guides are a wealth of information. On a Panama Canal cruise, we were surprised by the Captains announcement that due to weather, our scheduled stop at Princess Cays was being replaced by a stop at Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Most Princess ships have the International Caf in the Piazza, and its open round-the-clock! Anyone know if the limit is still $40 bottle of wine for the switch out? Check the Patter for locations and times. Question: Can I exchange the non-alcoholic items in my Elite mini-bar for alcohol? Complimentary wine: A half-bottle of red wine plus a half-bottle of white wine will be waiting in your stateroom on embarkation day. Was able to trade bottles of beer for equal amounts of little liquor bottles this week on Majestic. Answer: Elite members will get a one-time complimentary mini-bar set-up (1 per Elite stateroom) which consists of two (2) miniature bottles each of Cognac, Gin, Vodka and Scotch Whisky, two (2) 12 ounce cans of beer, two (2) 12 ounce cans/bottles of tonic water, two (2) 12 ounce cans of Coca Cola, two (2) 12 ounce cans of Sprite, two (2) 0.5 i get it and totally understand. I visit an Oxo minimart in Cabo or Mazatlan and get a 2L Coke Zero (sin azucar). Finger sandwiches, cookies, biscuits and cakes are served by white-gloved waiters. I used to get half Dos Equis & half Becks however room service said Beck's is no longer an option. I inquired about it and was told that they were out of the small bottles, but that if I wanted Vodka, they could provide it, but I would have to trade in 4 of the small bottles. I had the same wine choice as well. We make it work for us by trading all of our booze for Skyy vodka to take home to use for tailgates, etc. Usually we're at muster drill during the swap and they remove the bar and leave the cards. Later in the day I exchange my mini bar for 20 diet cokes. We had two mini bars both times for elite and suite and both times we asked what they were willing to do for us before we put in our order for the swapout as it does seem to vary from ship to ship. We traded four gin for four Heineken on Majestic. Princess Mini-Bar Setup info The selections of items in the mini-bar can vary. After the ship was resupplied we received the 10 cans of DC. If youve reached the coveted Elite Captains Circle level, youre not stuck with the selection of beverages they provide. Miniature bottles of liquor (50 ml) may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with other miniature bottles. and 'maybe' a full swap out for a bottle of wine. Mini-Suite - 40 sq. Your new level will be effective on your next sailing. All Princess cruises of five days or more will have at least one formal night. Priority embarkation and disembarkation: You can skip the long line to check in on embarkation day and head right to Priority Check-In. Certain restrictions apply. On your 7th through 16th cruises, or after completing 51-150 cruise days, youre Platinum level. I wish they would let us pre-order as it is a PITA for both Room Service and Guest. :cool: I gave our steward four Courvoisier on the last night of the cruise and yes they can keep them. Will we receive one set up at the begining of cruise only or will we receive a second set up at end of first cruise, for the second cruise? Heres what youll get with a Club Class mini-suite: Premium location: The best locations among the mini-suites are reserved for Club Class, typically the mid-ship or aft spots that used to sell out quickly. 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I dont know if youve checked savings account interest rates recently, but let me know if you find one that offers that kind of return! They do come shrink wrapped. Theres no ventilation! We prefer that over sodas and alcohol. On our Panama Canal cruise, we had a mini-suite, but Club Class was sadly sold out when we booked. Plus, if you have a beverage package, youre able to use it on the island as well! It gives a detailed list of all the days activities, along with a weather report, scheduled arrival and departure times on port days, and notifications of any changes to the itinerary. By No matter what kind of stateroom youre in, the bathroom will be stocked with the upgraded amenities normally reserved only for Suite guests. my fave cognac substitution was when Remy XO made a brief appearance. :(. ), Complimentary afternoon tea may be served in your stateroom. Read Is a Cruise Beverage Package a Good Value? And then they have to build new minibar combinations and again visit the cabins to pick up the old and deliver the right things - and that all takes time and delays. Make friends with your bartenders. (This can be ordered by completing the card in your stateroom and hanging it on your door the night prior. thank you for sharing this spreadsheet - 1st time Elite w/mini-bar and we are not "drinkers" - nice to know what our options are before we leave! However, it was also posted prominently on the front page of the Patter, and lots of people still missed the change! It would certainly save them time and effort to let us pre-order that. I did a CC survey a year or so ago and the majority swap out some or all of their mini-bar. 1:1 (liquor for liquor) (non-alcohol for non-alcohol). Then, you have to call them up for the exchange (along with scores of others). Elite members will get a one-time complimentary mini-bar set-up (1per Elite stateroom) which consists of two (2) miniature bottles each ofCognac, Gin, Vodka and Scotch Whisky, two (2) 12 ounce cans of . Recent bridesmaids dresses, I should say. 5. Question: What will my mini-bar consist of? While you relax on your lounger, attendants will come around with fleece blankets, popcorn, or milk and cookies, for free! I like to take along a ziploc bag of powdered detergent and some fabric softener sheets it saves a little money and Im not stuck using whatever brand they have in the vending machine. There are a few ways to narrow down which nights will be chosen. Then I remove all the items I want exchanged, place the list with the items on the tray providedleave the room, and magically, all is replaced. There should be a card in your cabin that lists pricing. more tips for new cruisers? :). If not could having water bottles be useful when in port or on an excursion. Powered by Invision Community, That's a good idea because Princess eliminated those details from their FAQs with a recent. With the proper program, which I don't believe Princess is capable of achieving now, it would be easy to place the coffee packages on the passenger's accounts. Also another note is no Crown Royal in bars still. The Absolute Vodka I received was 375ml. We have that card, so I mentioned it to our travel agent. Any really important announcements and changes will be on the front page, so read at least that to avoid missing important information for the next day. Im not very lucky with winning anything in general, but Ive won a pair of earrings and a necklace onboard (neither was of the diamond variety). Answer: If you do not wish to have any alcohol in your mini-bar we will be happy to exchange your mini-bar for one of the following: Alcoholic beverages may be exchanged for non-alcoholic beverages on a one-for-one basis, Full mini-bar may be exchanged for two (2) Coffee Cards, All water mini-bar setup will consist of eight (8) 1.5 liter bottles of water, https://book.princess.com/captaincirelite_mini-Bar. No wonder I can't find that info @ PCL:confused::mad: They replaced the useful FAQs with a few less detailed answers. Whatever they might offer will be something in limited supply. :). I was just on the discovery princess and got a bottle of wine for the liquor part a note said they did not have any mini bottles of liquor and two bottles of beer along with Perrier reg water and 2 cans of diet coke 2 cans of sprite 2 cans of tonic. Not only do they live on the ship, but they chat with passengers all day long! CC is a wonderful venue for sharing. CC Help Jenn Heres the note we received. IF all you want to do is swap out the entire mini bar set-up for coffee package(s). By Many of the shops have drawings to win merchandise. This is filmed live during your cruise, and is sold onboard in the Photo/Video Department. I get it, especially if youre American like me. They will come up and collect your mini-bar, charge your account, credit your account, and place on your medallion one each coffee package. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2410794&highlight=mini+bar+contents. Complimentary mini bar set up: youll receive a selection of liquors, soft drinks, beer, still and sparkling water in your stateroom. I just understand the difficulty of implementing the requested changes. Us too! Is water included in your sticker? My pro tip? 20 items are included in the mini bar, they said we can get 20 items of what we would like. If yes, is the passenger elite? Question: What if I have a specific request for how Id like my mini-bar stocked? I was going to swap all out for that. :D, Sometimes a glitch or way of doing things is better still We booked a 3 week cruise of the med and as they also sold it as 3 separate weeks we actually had 3 set ups which was great HOWEVER this may not always happen - they also gave us 3 credits on our total of cruises:D:D:D. Did you not repeat a port in the 3 weeks? I don't drink beer so I give it to the cabin steward they all like free beer :D :D. Our last cruise was our first as Elites. They seem to appreciate that. Princess offers a free British-style afternoon tea each day. Question: Can I exchange the items in my Elite mini-bar for wine? I swap all my liquor bottles for Beefeater Gin so I end up with 6 bottles swapped plus the two I kept. Disclaimer: I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase from a link on this site, at no added charge to you. Summary Started October 12, 2018, Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. With all the inclusive fares now it might be better to eliminate the mini bars for those who select the inclusive fares and provide maybe 2 specialty dining meals, a special lunch, upgrade the plus drink dollar amount from say $12 to $15, something like that. Once I got all Heniken but not anymore and other beer exchange brands I've read about as options were some 12 oz bottles of American brands such as Budweiser, Bud Light & Miller's MGD. You can always give away your bar set up or coffee cards in lieu of the set up. We had Diet Coke on four out of four B2Bs on Ruby in Dec and Jan, but tonic was mysteriously absent on the first segment. Priority specialty dining reservations: If youd like to make a reservation for specialty dining, youll have VIP priority. Between the savings and services our guests enjoy, it's no wonder why the Captain's Circle is one of the best cruise loyalty programs. Once onboard, call room service and ask to swap. Why? Non-alcoholic beverages may be exchanged on a one-for-one basis with other non-alcoholic varieties. As stated, you can't swap non-alcohol for alcohol. Additionally, shouldbecruising.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes receive a commission from purchases made through our links. - Two (2) 50ml bottles Whiskey - Canadian Club, - Two (2) Cans Beer - Dos Equis XX (Toohey's New will replace Dos Equis XX on Dawn Princess and Sun Princess), - Two (2) 50ml bottles Dewar's White Label Scotch. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. You can however switch water and anything else for soda. Never say never. I have plenty! Thank you everyone. On Regal in January and got only gin. Unfortunately, I do not like wine. If youre a seasoned Princess cruiser, youll know that the arrival of the Princess Patter in your stateroom mailbox each evening is a highly-anticipated event! So I might do a beer/diet sprite setup on Majestic today. When I wear it Im reminded of time spent with family and friends. We are still platinum, bot only 3 cruises to go until Elite. We were on for 3 weeks and on the first turn around day we just asked for the same items to be delivered each week. Sometimes Ive been able to get Heineken or Stella Artois but like other things my experience has variedmaybe its due to their supply. Finger sandwiches, cookies, biscuits and cakes are served by white-gloved waiters. Powered by Invision Community. ft. Sky Suite - 947 to 1012 sq. Can anyone tell me what all is included in the mini bar setup ? I always ask to swap out for coffee cards and have never tipped. I visit an Oxo minimart in Cabo or Mazatlan and get a 2L Coke Zero (sin azucar). I do agree that if you want a coffee package or the bottle of wine you should be able to pre-select. Hasn't been for a long time. More details (and how to apply) are listed on Princess website. Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features, Policy regarding COVID related Discussions, C858B0A9-6769-424D-B129-59363EDAC023.jpeg, B5073042-BF8A-4EEC-BD19-0938D8732763.jpeg, Came from the land above to the Land Downunder. If you havent yet made your first booking for a Princess cruise, reach out to a friend who has previously sailed. Ive had success with writing extra requests on it, like non-dairy milk or a sandwich to save for later. It is 1 for 1. 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. The contents of the mini-bar are subject to change. my fave cognac substitution was when Remy XO made a brief appearance. Note that if you sail in a full suite or youre traveling solo, youll get double cruise credit for that sailing! Another change to the program is that the amount of specialty coffees you can order is based on the length of your cruise. This is what it has been on our previous cruises: Alcoholic . Heres a list of some of the events where youll often be served a complimentary glass. The food in the main dining rooms is slightly elevated on formal nights. We call and get it changed to only the brandy, regular water, sprite, and Miller Lite. Thanks op for asking question. Help, we are now Elite and I cannot find the part where I can request what I would prefer for the mini bar set up. And they seem to be getting creative assembling a 10+10 on at least some ships. Assuming they have it on board, you can swap out the regular Coke and Sprite in the mini-bar setup for Coke Zero and Diet Sprite. Priority disembarkation you can let the Circle Host know what time youd like to disembark. Wed much prefer this! You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By This way, those who tend to book longer sailings arent penalized. Very surprised and glade no small bottles but 2 375m one rum one vodka. Evening canaps: Upon request, canaps will be delivered to your stateroom each evening. We had mini bar with and without. You will be able to leave a comment after signing in, By I don't think they come shrink wrapped. After your first completed cruise, youre Gold level. From how to earn extra on board credit to what you should wear for formal nights, here are my 21 top Princess cruise tips to make the most of your vacation at sea. You can reach the next level by hitting either a certain number of completed cruises, or by total number of cruise days sailed. An Ultimate Balcony Breakfast is also available, for $45, but it doesnt come with the dedicated service, flowers, or a photo. PS -- if you call on the very first day, they might be right there but I have had them ask if they could bring it a bit later, a couple of times, even the next day. Definitely take a few minutes each evening to read the Princess Patter. Luxury balcony furniture including 2 loungers, 4 chairs, table and ottoman 2 floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors Separate sitting area with sofa bed, chair and 2 tables One complimentary mini-bar setup and free daily bottled water Spacious closet Complimentary laundry and professional cleaning services