OhJinkies

I've been cruising with Carnival most recently, and there are couple things that I don't really like about their theaters – the mezzanine level extends out over the first floor seating and actually obstructs your view if you're sitting underneath - the ceiling just seems really close. And on the ships I've sailed on, that mezzanine circles the room, it's not just at the back. Then there are those support columns, that can also obstruct your view, as well.

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Thanks, everyone! Maybe I'll carry a shawl or towel with me. Or grab a pillow from my room, LOL.

I just booked the BA for a cruise in October 2018 -- what's wrong with the theater seats?

I just booked the Norwegian Breakaway out of NYC on an 11-day Eastern Caribbean for about $131/day for a solo studio, in October 2018. Price includes taxes, port charges, and a service fee for the dining package. Not bad. Here are the ports:

• San Juan, Puerto Rico
  
• St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
  
• Philipsburg. St. Maarten
  
• Bassetere, St. Kitts
  
• Tortola, British Virgin Islands
  

With a total of five sea days.

I was able to include a specialty dining package and only had to put down a $50 deposit!

I created a Solo Cruisers of America Facebook page. Check it out.

 

 

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I found a Solo Cruisers USA page but not Solo Cruisers of America. Same thing?

Epcot, the other Disney parks, Universal Studios, Sea World, and many of the other central Florida attractions are approximately 30 minutes from Orlando International Airport. Most of the hotels are in the tourist areas anyway. There are a few located adjacent to the airport.

Are you asking about Tampa, Florida? Tampa is on the Gulf coast of Florida, and about a 90 minute drive from Orlando. There are some very nice beaches close to Tampa, such as Clearwater and Saint Petersburg Beach, but these are not close to Orlando and the airport. Tampa has its own international airport, as well as their own cruise port.

Port Canaveral is on the East Coast – near the Kennedy Space Center and Cocoa Beach.

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If the meal isn't important to you, you have at least one more option.

I can't "recommend" because I haven't taken this tour yet, but I signed up for my Kenai Fjords tour for next June with Alaska Saltwater Lodge, which offers small boat tours of 15 or fewer people. I felt like I could get a lot closer to the wonderful sights, wildlife, and opportunities for photos. Lunch is included, but it looks like it's just wraps and cans of soda -- and that's fine with me, I'm not doing this cruise for the meal.

I'm not sure about that "nice cabins" statement on NCL. Their solo cabins are closets. Carnival's 1A cabins offer a lot more space and may be similar in price to NCL's solo cabins, and are sometimes cheaper. Just be sure to weigh your options before booking.

 

And all Carnival ships offer 1A categories. And some of Carnival's older ships (their Fantasy class ships) offer good prices on those 1A cabins.

 

Whatever you decide on, I hope you have a great cruise.

I've sailed a couple of times in NCL's solo studios (on the Epic and POA) and I didn't feel like they were closets at all. They feature a full size bed, a small seat, desk, TV, closet and storage, sink/vanity, shower and toilet in separate "stalls," and cool white decor with colored lighting effects. There's even a "window" that looks out to the corridor (with a privacy feature). Cozy but plenty of space for one person. The Studio Lounge allows more room to stretch out, with coffee, snacks, more TVs, and even a dedicated bartender in the evenings.

One of the books I purchased was

The Alaska Cruise Handbook: A Mile-by-Mile Guide 2012 edition by Joe Upton

It's got some great descriptions of what you can see from the ship, traveling through the Inside Passage, and a nice fold-out map.

I'll be taking my first Alaska cruise this June, but I've been planning it for a couple of years. Things you need to consider:

- If you're really interested in seeing Alaska, you may wish to consider a one-way cruise so you can spend more time visiting the interior. Several of the cruise lines offer cruise tours, or you can plan your own. I took a look at some of the tour itineraries offered through the cruise lines and third parties, used these as a starting point for ideas, and crafted my own land extension.

- Most of the one-way cruises travel between Vancouver, B.C. and Seward or Whittier in Alaska. My northbound cruise on the NCL Sun travels from Vancouver to Seward.

- What is important to you? I'm traveling alone, so it was easy for me to hone in on this, though I've changed my mind a few times. I'm talking about:

• The scenery: the snow-capped mountains, glaciers, etc. (I'm a Florida gal also so this is special for me) - via boat, bus, train, by air, etc.
  
• The wildlife: spotting elk, bears, eagles, whales, etc.
  
• The experiences: hiking, fishing, ziplining, dogsledding, walking on a glacier, etc.
  
• The shopping: picking up unique finds and great buys in port
  
• The culture/history: visiting museums, heritage centers, Native Alaskan villages, etc.
  
• The food: finding the best places to enjoy local favorites, fresh seafood, etc.
  

Do you enjoy planning your own experiences or leaving it to experienced professionals?

Are you more comfortable using ship-sponsored excursions, or do you like to seek out more personalized tours?

If you do plan to tour the interior, how will you and your party get around? Rent a car/van/RV? Take the train? Take a bus?

What kind of accommodations do you prefer? A full service hotel? A bed and breakfast? A private cabin?

It's easy to spend a LOT of money in Alaska, so you'll need to prioritize, and probably make some compromises along the way.

I've already booked all of my shore excursions (all third party) as well as the hotels, transport, and experiences I've chosen for my land extension. I've changed my mind a few times, but I'm really happy and excited about the choices I've made.

Happy planning!

Subscribing! I'm sailing on the Liberty in February and would love to see the Funtimes as well. TIA!

Disclaimer - I am employed by Disney (though not the cruise line). The industry considers lines such as Carnival, NCL, and RC to be "mainstream" cruise lines. Disney is considered "premium" (along with Princess, Celebrity, and Holland America).

It's been a while since I cruised with Disney, as I wait for good discounts, so I've been sailing most recently with Carnival and NCL. But as much as I love cruising, I do consider Carnival to be the "Wal-Mart" of the cruise industry. Just so I can cruise a couple of times per year, I put up with a lot -- worn-out furnishings, tacky decor, lots of orange and neon, and... LOTS of cigarette smoke.

The very obvious difference that has been briefly touched on is that the Disney ships do not operate casinos. That's a huge revenue generator, so their fares are higher. But think of the ships you sail on that do have casinos. All of the Carnival and NCL ships I've sailed on recently have ventilation issues around the casinos. In other words, you can't escape the cigarette smoke. It travels from the casino to the point that many areas around the ship smell like an ashtray. This is a cause for concern for those with young children, allergies (I'm allergic), and respiratory issues. The Disney ships only permit smoking in a few outdoor areas. This makes a huge difference in the indoor air quality.

Another huge difference that was only briefly touched on is the fact that Castaway Cay has a built-in pier so you can easily step off the ship on to the island. No tenders!! I like taking the tram down to Serenity Bay (the adults-only area) for some lovely peace and quiet, lots of shady umbrellas, and an incredible lagoon. There is an adults-only eatery right there (all food included) where I can get an amazing ribeye steak grilled while I wait, or other yummy food.

The dining venues are unlike anything else at sea -- each one is a showplace in its own right, with exquisite attention to detail: from the decor, to the menu, to the entertainment offered, to the way the staff is dressed. And I love how your staff travels with your table from venue to venue.

The overall Disney ship decor is top-notch -- in the style of the grand ocean liners, art deco or art nouveau, with beautiful lobbies, statues, crystal chandeliers. Very classy, with a touch of whimsy.

My last few cruises on Carnival have been on their older ships, and the abundance of neon and choice of decor, colors (even the fonts they use on their signage) verges on tacky.

The Disney ships, in addition to extensive space and programs dedicated to kids, also have many adult-only options. Each ship has an adult-only restaurant, Palo. The entertainment district is reserved for adults only at night, with a variety of clubs and lounges. During the day, there is a pool or water-feature area with lounges reserved for adults, in addition to the Senses Spa relaxation areas. So it's not all about kids running around.

The rooms on the Disney ships are incredibly spacious and also very well decorated. I love the "bath and a half" concept as well.

So I will definitely cruise again with Disney when a good sale presents itself. For now, I settle for the value of Carnival, and with NCL as well (with whom I tend to travel with most when the destination really matters -- and I love the freestyle dining and option of solo studios on their newer ships). But there is definitely a difference.

When I booked my cruise on the Sun for this coming June, I made the reservations in late December of last year. I was anxious to book them as soon as possible, as I wanted an aft-facing balcony (these go very quickly). But I'd been researching for nearly a year leading up to that!!

I'm booked in 9277 for my Alaska cruise next June. Any cabin photos/tips you could post would be appreciated!! TIA!

Scratch that -- I just realized that I'm sailing before you are!!

Loved your NCL Sun review. We are booked for 10/05/17 in cabin 9277 right next door to your cabin.

I'm booked in 9277 for my Alaska cruise next June. Any cabin photos/tips you could post would be appreciated!! TIA!

As the Sun enters the start of Glacier Bay, a few rangers from the Park Service board the ship, and stay on the entire time.

They have brochures, maps, the requisite t-shirts and hats (of course), etc., and they do broadcast throughout the ship.

 

Speaking directly with them about some questions we had was the most valuable part of that.

Is it true that you can hear the rangers over the in-room televisions? I plan to spend some time on my aft-facing balcony in Glacier Bay and am hoping that I can hear the commentary.

When I booked my northbound Sun cruise for this coming June, Glacier Bay was a priority for me. Glacier Bay is only available on the northbound itinerary.

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Epcot has added a new festival that runs through February 20. Festival days run Fridays through Mondays, so there may be increased crowds on those days.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2016/11/all-new-epcot-international-festival-of-the-arts-coming-to-walt-disney-world-in-january-2017/

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Hurtigruten offers some Nordic & Arctic cruises to see the northern lights. You may want to check out their website.

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I just brought this up in my recent feedback to Carnival re: my Dec 4-10 cruise on the Splendor.

This situation is not unique to Carnival, but definitely symptomatic of capitalism run amuck. You get corporations whose shareholders demand year-over-year earnings growth. Growth tends to come through expansion and innovation, but this becomes more difficult over time. Then continued demand for growth leads to finding ways to become more "efficient." It's good to review operations periodically and look for efficiencies, but this still is not enough. Then the cutbacks begin - wages, training, quality, level of service, maintenance... maybe not so obvious at first. Labor cutbacks begin, with a smaller staff expected to do "more with less." That's still not enough, as the shareholders demand MORE earnings growth. Then the outsourcing begins -- sending "non-essential" tasks to third-party vendors, contractors, etc. That's still not enough, which is why you see many US-based companies moving their operations overseas. There are other countries that don't have laws regulating the environment, employee safety, etc. and pay starvation wages, and it's in this global environment where companies can reap much greater profits... at a cost.

Where will it end? The business model involves very demanding shareholders, and if they don't see the desired return on their investment, they will oust the Chairman of the Board, demand the firing of the CEO, etc. It's a vicious process and I don't see any end to it in the global economy. The US will continue losing jobs that pay well here so that corporations can keep costs down (while paying starvation wages to overseas workers).

Thanks – my question was also answered this morning when I got an alert that the balance has been charged to my credit card. All is good. Thanks again for your responses!

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My final payment is due tomorrow on a cruise I booked with Carnival back in September. I put about half down and owe the rest. When I logged in tonight, I read the following:

Balance due by: Dec 14, 2016

Final payment has already been scheduled

So does that mean that they will automatically deduct the amount from my credit card? Or do I need to actually make the payment tomorrow? I'm feeling kind of dumb right now!

I'm on the Carnival Splendor right now, and have a inside stateroom. I put my CPAP in a large backpack and carried it aboard. I have seen firsthand how checked bags get tossed around.

There was only one electrical outlet in my stateroom, and it was at my desk. Too far for my extension cord. First I called engineering, then followed up with my steward. They brought me a long, heavy-duty extension cord. Then I called room service and asked for a gallon of distilled water. Easy peazy.

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Check out the Hampton Inn Miami - Airport West. I booked with them for the park and cruise option in early December, but I believe they also offer an airport shuttle.

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Thanks to those of you who have experienced both ships. One of the reasons I booked the Valor is that it was the first cruise I have been on with Carnival that actually has the Fun Ship 2.0 upgrades. I sailed on the Liberty back in 2005, and it was fine back then, but I'm sure quite a lot has changed. From the sounds of the letter, they must be planning to do additional refreshing during this drydock in January.

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