My wife and I decided in November 2009 that we wanted to take a cruise of Asia. Being that we are Elite (18+cruises) with Princess, it seemed logical to take this cruise line. We elected to take the Pre-Cruise package which gave us 4 days and three nights in Beijing since we had never been to Asia. We decided to use our own air miles to go to and return from this cruise.

Our problems began with our arrival in China. At the airport, we had expected to see someone from Princess to meet us, as has always been done, since we had paid for the Pre-Cruise at $650.00 per person which included pickup from the airport, a 3 night stay at the Ramada Inn in Beijing, tours, some meals, and, transport of ourselves and luggage to the ship on sailing day, from the Hotel. When we arrived, no one from Princess was there to meet us. We strolled around the airport and after approx. 1/2 hour, found a gentleman who was holding a Princess Cruises sign facing his chest and not looking for us, but, for other people on another plane. I happened to get a glimpse of the sign and since we have been with Princess many times, recognized it immediately. I stopped the gentlemen and told him that we were looking for him and he was completely shocked. He did not have our name on the list of people to meet nor did he have our flight information. There were several other passengers that we found in the same situation. After a long flight to Beijing, not having anyone meet us, we then had to produce Princess documents to prove that we had paid for the pre-cruise trip and transfer, then, wait an additional 4 hours at the airport, while the gentlemen found others that he had a listing of to meet, before we got a bus for a 2 hour ride to the Ramada Hotel in Beijing. No, not finished. We arrived at the hotel and went to the hospitality room only to find out that we were not shown on the tour and that there was not hotel room reserved for us. After an additional hour and much checking by the tour group in charge (with Princess signs) we were given a room and we collapsed thinking that this nightmare was over. No, not over yet. We went on the tours for the three days (one day totally lost at the airport and hotel - 7 hours) and did enjoy these tours. The evening before the third day, we were instructed to have all of our luggage out in the hallway of the hotel by 11 p.m. so that it could be picked up during the night for transfer to the ship. Now, guess what. We had our luggage out over 1 hour before the expected time and when we walked out of the room in the morning our luggage was still sitting in the hall, not picked up. Since the buses were loading to go on the short tour, Peking Duck luncheon and the two hour drive to the port, we had to go down to the lobby, find a representative, and tell them the problem (we really wanted our luggage on the cruise). They did not have our name or room number on the pickup list, so we again showed our Princess documents and someone came to the hallway to pickup the luggage and put it on the bus with us for transfer to the port. At least I knew that our luggage was going to arrive at the port. No, the nightmare continues. At the port, all of us were taken off the bus for embarkation onto the ship. Well, most of us anyway. Our luggage had to be taken off the bus, and since there was about 500 people in the parking lot to board with more arriving all the time, our luggage was placed on the ground out in the parking area. No one was available to help with the luggage which we had dealt with the aid of luggage carts, and no luggage carts to be seen. Gee, I wounder if they expected us to arrive without all of our luggage. Our tour guide lead all the people to the boarding area and after about 1/2 hour, returned to the bus area to find us trying to get help with the luggage (4 pieces + carryon's)in getting it to the ship. He neither offered his help or advice until by wife became involved and asked him to help or get someone to help us. Again, over 1 1/2 hour delay at the pier just in getting on the ship as we now had to go to the back of a line that consisted of all the passengers that arrived after we did. Our group had already boarded and were probably having a cool drink in the lounge.

On-board, we finally got to our room only to find out that the delays meant that we had just a few minutes to go to dinner, without changing clothes. We knew that we were booked on first seating, had been confirmed, and had requested a large table of 8-10. We grabbed our cruise card only to see that we did not have a preference dining and no table number. After a discussion with the head waiter, we were placed at a table for 6 and figured the torment was finally over. We walked to the table only to find that it was currently occupied by others. OK, back to the head waiter for clarification ? He determined that the other party was not supposed to be at that table and he escorted them to another table. Anyway, we finished with a table of 4, ourselves and another couple who had also requested a large table. As it turned out, we were extremely happy with the other couple and we had a great time with a table for 4. Read more