TomTravel2

My first two attempts at blogging went sorely afoul! This is the conundrum of travel and social media. When you most want to share (which would be while travelling) the sharing is most difficult. All of the nifty tools I use to make Twitter and my blog easy and time efficient failed to work well with the ship internet system. Anything I choose to do from here out will be using the 500 minutes of Internet that I purchased using some of my own cash and the generous credit Princess Cruise Lines gives to their Elite Level Captain’s Circle Members. This is the second thing that has been a paradox on this cruise.

As a Commodore (a graduate of the highest level of Princess’ travel agent training program) I am entitled to Elite Level benefits such as an Internet access credit. This entire cruise is given free to me as a “Commodore Graduation Cruise". This is one of the reasons I feel Princess is among the most travel agent friendly cruise lines. I was offered free an inside cabin and could have upgraded to obstructed ocean view or balcony for an additional modest amount (still far less than full fare for either category). For this cruise I opted to experience an inside cabin just so I know first hand what it is like. I have always sailed in a balcony or suite up to this cruise. So I am in the lowest cabin category with the highest level of benefits!

Since this is a working vacation I take seriously what Princess has asked me to do on this cruise. After boarding I was given a packet to complete during the cruise. I have been on a scavenger hunt to all the various departments of the ship filling out a lengthy questionnaire. Most of this is done now. Part of what I was asked to do was to utilize all of the Elite Member benefits: 10% boutique discount, Internet package credit, Grapevine wine tasting, priority tender embarkation, complimentary laundry and shoe polish, complimentary mini-bar, deluxe canapés in room, traditional afternoon tea in room, and priority disembarkation. The boutique has been hit by my wife and myself, we sent our laundry out today, took cuts at the tenders yesterday in Panama City, are enjoying the mini-bar, and had afternoon tea yesterday on the bed of our smallish stateroom. I have a date for the Grapevine on Thursday and look forward to the priority disembarkation at the end of our sailing.

Elite members have a black cruise card and most crew recognize this quickly which leads to great service. I have had the chance to chat with a number of passengers who earned their Elite status by sailing often with Princess. I learned that most relish the benefits it brings. They do have one of the best loyalty programs in the travel industry. It has been fun to be a VIP level guest. Then I go back to our lower level inside cabin and come back down to earth. I am used to larger cabins that open to the sea and sky. I would not prefer to book inside in the future, but it really hasn’t been that bad. At the right price differential I would sail inside again.

This is also the first cruise I have taken without a group. My wife and I usually opt for independent travel (FIT in travel agent lingo) trips. We also like land based luxury all inclusive resorts. We have been having a blast on this cruise! I think we would do this again down the road even if it wouldn’t be the first thought for either of us. There are many reasons why cruising is among the fastest growing segments of the travel industry. It is easy!  Unpack once and see many places. Service at your fingertips where ever you are. Food, drink and entertainment scheduled all day and night. Privacy when you want it, and people to chat with when feeling social. Mostly, a cruise is a great value in travel.