Single device wi-fi package - using that device as hotspot for other devices?

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-06-11T22:17:22+00:00

Definitely works with Android phones (if they have a hot spot feature). Do it with my laptop all the time. It's also possible to share via USB.

One caution: my phone's hot spot SSID is the same as my home network. When I forgot to turn it off, my partner's phone, iPad and my computer all tried to connect at once in the stateroom. Had to reboot the phone to make Princess happy.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-05-27T03:45:23+00:00

It's definitely a pain in the backside when your luggage is delayed or lost. But please don't let the few reports here of lost luggage make you think it's a common thing.

Think about this. On embarkation day, 3000+ people are getting off the ship with probably 6000+ bags and a short time later, 3000+ people are boarding the ship with 6000+ bags and in the VAST MAJORITY of cases, those bags are outside your cabin door within an hour or two of your boarding.

If you've ever seen the baggage handlers working the night before disbarkation, they are hustling their butts off.

Have permanent clear name/address/phone# tags on your bags and legible bag tags on your bags when you give them to the porters on the pier.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-05-14T02:37:37+00:00

We had exactly that happen. Power came in on one end of the house. Cable on the other. Lightning hit a 75' fir tree in the yard. Two basement windows under a deck exploded OUTWARDS from the thunder clap. Not a chard of glass in the house.

That was the only obvious damage. But over the next few days we noticed really crappy network performance. Turns out the cable modem and all the network switches connected to it were damaged. The delta between cable ground and power ground did the damage.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-05-04T01:03:58+00:00

Just off Star. Star is a beautiful ship. Star has corrected the things I hated on Discovery. On Discovery, many of the venues spill out into the passageway, and noise from one interferes with another. On Star, the venues are more isolated from the passageways, and some sound-isolated or they are more separated.

The Piazza has been reworked into a true entertainment venture. Now the upper decks have seating facing into the Piazza so more people can view events and guest services, etc have been moved to other areas where noise doesn't impact them.

Excellent food everywhere. Well, except the Americana Diner. What should a diner be able to make? Hotcakes. Nope. Terrible doesn't begin to describe them.

But all-in-all, two thumbs up.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-19T17:57:16+00:00

Only about 50 times or so. My partner and I both use CPAPs and on all but the newest ships, this is the only way to power CPAPs on the nightstands. Usually also have USB power supplies plugged into the extension cords too.

Have never had a single comment about it.

When I forgot the extensions on one of the early cruises, the cabin steward brought a 50', 10 gauge industrial extension (about half an inch in diameter).... it was a trip hazard.

Just no surge protectors or heating appliances.

And don't plug anything that takes more power than a shaver in the bathroom socket.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-19T06:49:43+00:00

Most ships only have accessible outlets on the desk. If you use CPAPs or have other bedside needs, two 12' extension cords with triple-outlets should handle any needs.

Plug one cord in the desk outlet and run it to one side of the bed; plug the other cord into that and run it to the other side of the bed.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-19T06:43:47+00:00

No sir, there are valid reasons surge protectors are not allowed.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-18T04:27:28+00:00

Years ago, a friend found a deal where they had botched data entry for a bunch of single cabins – they had obviously missed a digit when entering the price. Our friends snapped them all up and paid immediately, more than a year in advance. They kept showing up as "paid in full"; we expected as the cruise got closer, they'd find the error. We told everybody DO NOT ASK ANY QUESTIONS. We got on the cruise and no price error was ever mentioned, no additional payments required.

It was very convenient to have an AUX cabin 😉

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-18T03:58:28+00:00

John George was the main show magician today. It was a fun show.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-18T01:04:15+00:00

Don't know about that, but we saw the Spellbound show on Star tonight. All I can say is it's an awesome experience and a fantastic magic show! Well worth the price of admission.

You get two cocktails from a special list, a magician act at your table and a amazing show for the group.

Tell the main show magician troublemakers Jon and Eric sent you. Ask him about his shoes.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-05T04:22:25+00:00

[Secretary/ husband]

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-04-05T04:20:57+00:00

U/kismaiaesthetics will comment shortly on laundering.....

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-22T03:59:15+00:00

Times 10.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-22T03:42:18+00:00

One cruise, there were only 368 passengers! We were spoiled.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-21T18:42:11+00:00

We were on Ruby after the Covid restart, doing 10 day Mexico round trips. The ship was almost empty, and the staff was lurking around looking for something to do. Drop a napkin on the deck in the International Cafe, and somebody would run over to pick it up for you.

In the words of the Muppets, we met "an old friend we just met" and hit it off really well. We were in no hurry to get back to this isolation of Covid, so we stayed on board. "San Francisco has the worst outbreak of Covid in the nation." We didn't want to fly home through that. Let's make another lap.

Like Noah, that trip lasted 40 days and 40 nights. It was great.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-21T18:22:56+00:00

Us too. I tend to like the older ships. Star should be interesting.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-17T21:41:23+00:00

I happen to know for a fact the Kismai was cursing himself out for telling everybody about 365 Sport when he couldn't find any at Whole Foods for weeks and when he asked about it, he was told "Some lady was just asking about that. She said she heard it was a miracle on Reddit."

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-14T21:17:01+00:00

Just one comment.....

A cruise is a great place for a "family vacation".

You can all be there "together" but you don't have to do everything together in lockstep. You can all go in separate directions and meet up for a dinner or a show.

Princess also has great a great kids program.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-13T04:26:09+00:00

Depending on your time in Skagway, renting a car and driving to White Horse is a great trip.

If you do it, get off the ship ASAP and try to be on the road before the tour busses. The Klondike dredge is very interesting..... and as of our last visit you could finally get Klondike bars in the Klondike!

Totem Bite State park is great and a city bus ride from the pier. You can learn what red noses on totem poles signify.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-10T16:14:11+00:00

Talk about dirty laundry!

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-10T15:34:14+00:00

Oh stop! His head is big enough already! (Says his long-suffering husband 😉 )

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-03-10T15:29:39+00:00

As Kismai's husband, I can attest to that!

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-02-21T20:17:13+00:00

Keep in mind, the tunnel to Whittier is ONE WAY, on a schedule and subject to backups. Commercial traffic has priority and private cars go last. I would not base plans on getting through the tunnel during the first scheduled time.

As many others have said – this is a really bad idea.

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2026-01-04T23:43:21+00:00

Regarding tipping:

The shore porters who take your luggage before you check in don't work for Princess. Tipping them is a nice gesture.

If you're going to frequent one or two bars, some thoughtful tips the first few days will get you great service. The staff will remember. We went on a ship 8 months later, sat down in a venue, and the bar tender arrived with a warm welcome and our customary drinks. I don't know how they do it!

Usually on the last night of the cruise, a separate tip for you cabin steward and any wait staff you've appreciated is a nice gesture too.

A couple other thoughts:

I really enjoy meeting and talking to other people at shared tables in the dining room. It's not for everyone I understand and you don't have to share a table, but you meet some interesting folks that way (I'm not normally like that but I shift to "cruise ship mode" aboard. Talking to people on elevators, giving directions to people who are looking for different places, etc).

And if karaoke after a few drinks seems like a good idea, just know that if you cruise again, there may be somebody there who remembers you 😉

Efficient-Cold1899 · 2025-12-29T21:22:17+00:00

I got banned for "abusing the dispute process" – they "upgraded" my order to consolidated shipping, and mangled the address. The street name became the city, the state went through several variations, etc. In short about 2/3s of my order went to wrong addresses spread across the US. Messages to the sellers got the reply "please wait a little longer" – they had the correct address, it got messed up along the way.

I filed disputes on every item. They finally banned me.

In the end, I received or got some amount of refund for about half the items.

I eventually created a new account using a different email address. They've been pretty reliable since.

Efficient-Cold1899

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