KKB

One is $250

Yeah, not pasta eaters here

We did our 1st Carnival cruise Jan. this year--14 day Hawaii (RT LA), after 30 cruises in 20 years on most other lines. We LOVED it. Our bartenders said the key to Carnival is long cruises. Give it a try!

@Liljo22 Thanks for your thoughts. We are on Prima in a few weeks. Almost 40 cruises under our belts & all good to great (even MSC which won't sail again--still had fun!) We hear people complain & think--"Are we on the same cruise??!!" Now, not one has ever been perfect. Each ship usually has things we really like & other things we don't. Crew overall has been great on every cruise...but we have had some average service as well. (and rarely some not so great service, on all lines). Attitude is everything!

Bought 100 stocks each of NCL & CLL 6/2022 NCL $13.30 (now $20.95 so $765 increase in value) CCL $10.80 (now $18.93 so $800 increase in value) Since then: 4 NCL cruises=$400 Plus 1 more next month=$100 $500 total OBC 5 Princess cruises (plus one short one)=$550 Plus 2 more in 2024=$350 CCL=$900 in OBC credit (which can be used for anything!) So $1500+ increase in value plus $1500 OBC. Hell of a return on an investment of less than $2500.

Glad to get everyone's opinion on Palomar. We had booked it since it was new to us, even tho the menu didn't wow us. And sea bass & scallops would be our go to! Sigh. Guess we will cancel that & keep Cagneys'. Always solid. It does appear that on Breakaway class they began to create more intimate spaces & then doubled down on Prima class...but didn't pay attention to passenger comments about spaces not being big enough on Breakaway class! I love the idea of intimate spaces BUT people don't evenly distribute themselves throughout the ship...it certainly appears the planners believe they do! So instead of enlarging the popular areas (Syds, Improv), seems they shrunk them more. We are Prima in a couple weeks. On Breakaway class we would sit at the end of the bar at Maltings & wait for the Syd's line to start, then make our way to the line. Doesn't appear we will have that luxury on Prima.

Say HI to Crystal the CD for us! We met her on the Edge 2 years ago & have remained in contact every since.

https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-cruise-ship-bars/?utm_section=ts&utm_source=TPG Daily Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8621321&utm_usr=a399f1f220add12b14dc6d628c095d79999fe51c06860b963ee8e0adfcf457e9 IMO the ones they chose from RCCL are both unexciting, as well as Princess. Now that Scenic bar looks COOL--but w/ 228 passengers, guessing that isn't in my budget... Alchemy on Carnival is cool but hard to get a seat when we were there. Do love the mojito bar on NCL. Looking forward to Metropolitan on Prima in a few weeks; looks to be the closest to Syds, so grab a drink & get in line!

We will be on NCL. We love Mahogany Bay beach. Is it possible to go over there & enjoy the beach area?

https://www.nclhltd.com/investors/shareholder-benefits

It’s the tactile experience u don’t get digitally. its connect to positive emotions & memories—being read to as a child, and reading to my own. Turning those pages—LOVE it. So reading a physical books brings more endorphins than my iPad

DH saw more ebook checkouts in his middle school library than I (mine were VERY low in elementary). But they were a small percentage of overall checkouts. Obviously digital books are very popular. Hopefully we will always have both print & digital books for a long time to come, to please everyone.

LOL fair enough. Since we don't have any demographic facts to back it up, we are at an impasse. (oh, the librarian in me LOVES some good facts!!) Cheers!

@tml1230 Thanks for your thoughts. After we booked our Oct 2023 N. Europe cruise on the Island (with friends who had only sailed Celebrity), I was concerned after reading some reviews, particularly those who had done the world cruise on her. My worries were for naught--we thought she was great, and it appears you did as well. As for strong perfume & loud people--well, that can certainly happen anywhere! Enjoy the last couple days!

I entirely disagree, as does our 25YO DD, both voracious readers. We still MUCH prefer a physical book & when at home that is what we read. Only read on my iPad when I travel (only at home to finish a book I might not have finished while traveling).

As long as you actually download a book (on any device: phone, tablet, laptop), you can read it offline. Same with streaming. I love my iPad mini & it's primary use is to download books & movies for travel.

Elementary Librarian here--retired last year (I'm 57). There was a lot of push to use our funds for ebooks about 15-20 years ago. So annually I did a survey. Kids who are readers want BOOKS. Kids who don't read THINK they want ebooks--but I later realized they just like to check them out, and rarely read them. Curious--what do you teach? I think few high schoolers do read books much. (tho conceivably some of those kiddos COULD be reading a book...on their phone...) I have been a voracious reader my whole life but read less in HS/college than any other time in my life-just too busy (and that was pre-iPhone days). DH (also school librarian) says the same thing. Our 25YO DD is also a voracious reader (who wants physical books--tho she recognizes the value of her Kindle while traveling). She says she read fewer books in HS than at any other time in her life. Due to the plethora of activities she was in. Even on vacation, I am more likely to be fussing on my phone unless I know I am going to have an uninterrupted decent stretch of time. So IN the airport--probably on my phone (also due to the fact I would have internet access at that time). ON the plane--most likely reading a books, tho probably on my iPad. I could certainly see people making the assumption that people don't read cuz they are on their phone (many people DO read books on their phone) It's interesting that studies have shown we read differently on a device. I agree when I am reading news articles & such. Much more scanning. But when I read a book on my iPad it is no different than when I read a physical book. So perhaps it isn't the device that is the difference, but the content. And how great we have public libraries for internet access for those who many not have the means to afford it. Our libraries are busy places. Glad I live in a place that values them & funds them well.

Actually, Princess libraries are some of the best at sea. NCL's are pretty good too. Celebrity Eclass dumped them. Since you NEVER know what will be in the library, I load my iPad with books. Some purchased, some on Libby app (our local library uses this). I subscribe to a daily newsletter called BookBub. I mark my genre interests & they send me a daily email of free or discounted books. I will snag a lot of the free ones if they even remotely interest me. No guilt deleting if I find I don't like it. But I usually still bring a paperback or 2 to read at the pool/beach--that iPad is not a fan of the hot sun.

Sry didnt realize it left from NYC!!

Only reporting what I read. I just don't want anyone to buy it then not be able to use it since it is nonrefundable. Glad it is working for some!

The MyVegas Terms & Conditions now state ONE coupon only can be used on 1 cabin.

They just did a story on GMA about this cruise. Did this captain not check the weather? I agree--wouldn't south or west have been BETTER weather (couldn't be worse!)& STILL WARM??

Yep. Much better with an open booking or book while onboard.

Oh you KNOW we did!! REALLY hope to cruise with you both again!!

Awww...thanks so much!