mom says

I'd avoid doing a 3 or 4 day/night cruise simply because it's a 3 or 4 day/night cruise.

No, the passengers won't be in their 90s. However the average age is around 55. As an ultra luxury line, most people in your age bracket haven't yet accumulated the disposable income to afford them. And as a side note, if you are looking for lively entertainment on board, you aren't going to find it on the small ships. They tend to be more laid back in their on board activities. Most people find that the Med cruises are so port intensive that the itinerary is fhe driving factor in picking a cruise. But the ship amenities are likely a close second. You might want to consult a TA who specializes in cruising, who can recommend a line that combines your desire for an upscale cruise with the onboard experiences you would prefer.

The showers may be an issue. You'll need to duck to shampoo. And you may need to duck when going through some watertight doors below decks.

Judging by the high occupancy rates on cruises this year, I'd say you are in the minority on this.

Couldn't read the linked article- behind a pay wall.

But something that we don't know is whether the morgue was out of service at the time of death, or if it broke down later, and the body had to be transferred to the cooler. And was the widow actually "dissuaded" from the PR option by the X staff, or was she simply provided with 2 options and chose the other one? Another thing of note is the woman said they were upset because they couldn't have an open casket due to the decomposition. Yet (according to Wiki) after a week a body is too far gone, even under ideal morgue conditions, for an open casket. I really don't care for the "reporting" style in this article. Very colorful and designed to skew in a particular direction. Or written by counsel for the plaintiff.

Looks like the ship was in a no win situation if the morgue was out of order. Put it in the cooler and it starts to decompose. Leave it out, and it decomposes faster and stinks up the joint. Put it in a freezer and it gets freezer burn and decomposes even faster as it thaws out later. What good would have come from informing the wife? It wouldn't change anything. And of course a suit was filed. Isn't that SOP in the US?

Dang it. I have GOT to stop leaving multiple windows open when I'm posting. 🤭

While I would usually opt for a balcony, in this case I'd go with an OV on Crown, even though it is obstructed. Primarily because of the itinerary. It gives much better time in each port compared to the other cruise.

1. Yes 2. No. 3. Not unusual at all. Have you tried discussing the discrepancy on your Roll Call?

SMH. You weren't scammed. You hadn't even put a deposit down. Most cruiselines have a caveat in theirr T&Cs regarding incorrectly published cruise fares. And now you want to take your toys and go home because you didn't get a thank you? Well alrightly then. You do that. That'll show 'em.🙄

Princess doesn't have self serve soda machines. Ask for your soda at any bar, or from any waiter in a restaurant or lounge.

The issue is not confined to any one line. Many lines see the same complaints. You can buy foam ear plugs at the dollar store. If noise bothers you, then keep them in your pocket/purse/whatever for immediate use.

I've ONLY done that on a Caribbean cruise, since we usually sail with the itinerary in mind. But that last Caribbean cruise was just a winter getaway in lieu of a resort stay. Did a B2B and only went ashore once- at the only port we hadn't visited before.

Party.

I don't think anyone can give you the cost. Too many variables. There are several reputable online insurance brokers where you can compare policies. Insuremytrip is one, squaremouth is another. There is also an entire forum on Cruise Critic devoted to insurance: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/499-cruisetravel-insurance/

Have you tried looking at the forums for all the other lines?

I just want to get this straight. You've used the FCC for your existing cruise, and used your existing points for flights. But you want to spend several thousand dollars more on 2 more cruises, or one more cruise and a 10 day land vacation for the 4 of you. Just for 2 days in Egypt to see the pyramids. In late June when the Med is at its hottest and most crowded.. And then there's the Egyptian heat. Not sure your kids would be thrilled. If Egypt is that important, why not save that money and use it to join a tour to Egypt for just yourself later in the fall and let your hubby stay home and take care of the kids.

In a lot less than 25 years these problems would be with me, not the ship; but the end result would be the same.

4mil better get me a full suite with butler service. On second thought, I'll just fly first class and stay in nice hotels.

What ship and cabin class? I thought they all had hand held.

A banquette would be hard to fit through the metal detector. A baguette and croissants would be fine as long as they survived the trip from the boulangerie without being eaten. But why? They have both on board.

If you want to DIY by train, it just takes a bit of Googling. The QC train station ( Gare du Palais) is only a few minutes drive from the Port de Quebec. Take a taxi. Look up ticket prices on the VIA Rail website. The Montreal Dorval Station is about 2km from the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL). Take a taxi. But trains aren't frequent and take around 4 1/2 hours, so you would have to disembark early to catch the morning train.

It was moved to the Ask a Question board this morning. And the OP has already stated they may consider Princess, HAL, and Celebrity. Keep up. Your opinion is just that, and is apparently narrowly based only upon your limited experience with Carnival. I think the OP would be better served by the recommendations of those with actual knowledge of the subject. They have already received some good suggestions. What they don't need is bad advice based on a faulty premise.

Please tell us how many years experience you have as a mariner aboard commercial ocean going vessels.