Honolulu Blue

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced their finalists for the 2023 class. The Spinners are on the ballot. I saw them on last year's UDC. They look like Hall of Famers to me! 😁 My opinion is that George Michael is WAY overdue to get in. I like Sheryl Crow and I think she's the most worthy of the female nominees this year. No comment about the others.

I traveled solo on the Millennium last November. I enjoyed the show Boogie Wonderland and the performer Kristina Wells. Your mileage may vary, as my tastes are different than everyone else's, and shows and performers are different on every ship and nearly every sailing. I've done four cruises on Celebrity with one coming up in a few weeks. I wouldn't say that I'm loyal to them. I will say they provide an agreeable (to me) atmosphere on their ships. You're welcome. I've found this to be a knowledgeable group. Have a great cruise!

It seems to be true of Journeys cruises these days, but I've seen some nice non-casino rates on selected shorter cruises on short notice. Maybe the boys and girls in Miami like me better. 😜

Here are selected stats from my last Journeys cruise (Breeze, January 2020): Yes, we had over 2000 Plats + Diamonds on this cruise - over half the ship.

First of all, thanks everyone for the quick replies! My Celebrity cruise is a charter, BTW, and it's a MAJOR party. 🤪 Asking about this is part of my preparations for it.

I really should know this, but don't and don't have time to search for it. Be kind. I chose an early check in time for my next cruise on the Celebrity Summit. I should be on the ship by noon. I have two questions: 1) Will my room be ready by then? 2) If not, can I drop off my bags at the room and head out? I don't have any status and am not staying in a suite. Thanks in advance!

I think the Journeys cruises Carnival offers are wonderful. I've done six of them (all pre-pandemic) and have one scheduled for next year. Others have covered much of what to expect. I liked the throwback day and the horse racing, along with the lectures. Expect lots of comedians and lots and lots of different shows. I'd like to do more Journeys cruises, but the prices have increased such that they're not much of a bargain anymore. The one I have booked has already increased by several hundred dollars. ☹️ Good luck on your cruise! I bet you'll have a great time! 😍

Hi everyone. In various other threads scattered here and there I've heard about partial charters. They've ranged from "fun group, 10/10, would hang with again!" to "not too disruptive" to "OMG! They were EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME!!!!" In my 21 cruises, I have not knowingly had a partial charter on any of them. 🤞 I get the feeling my time will be coming sooner or later. I'm sure some of you have interesting stories of the parties you've shared cruises with. Let's hear all about them! Don't let me limit you, but here are items that I can think of to guide your story: What group was it? Were you a part of it? How big were they? What ship was it on? When was it? What facilities did they block? (e.g., MDR, pool area, buffet, theater, nightclub) What was your overall impression of the group? Cool? Meh? Ugh?? Did they influence you to join or not join their group in real life? Thanks in advance! P.S. Full charters are another story, but we have a forum for that. I've done two of those and have two upcoming.

That's a good question that I should have thought about but haven't. In American ports I rely on wireless access, which is near ubiquitous. I assume, with the cruise lines' increased reliance on Internet access for their apps, that the terminals have it, but I can't prove it.

My tentative concert schedule for the UDC. All times local and are afternoon/evening: SATURDAY, Embarkation day Taylor Dayne, 6:30-8:00, theater SUNDAY, Key West day KC and the Sunshine Band, 1:00-3:00, on land Ex Chic Ladies, 4:30-5:30, pool Ashlie Amber (tribute to Whitney Houston), 7:45-8:45, Sky Lounge Cara Lee (tribute to Cher), 9:45-10:45, Rendezvous Lounge MONDAY, Sea Day 1 Double Exposure & Tavares, 2:00-3:00, theater Al McKay's Allstars, 6:30-8:00, theater TUESDAY, Cozumel Day Billy Ocean, 6:30-8:00, theater WEDNESDAY, Sea Day 2 Queen Nation, 1:30-2:30, pool Heatwave, 4:00-5:00, pool Kool & the Gang, 6:30-8:00, theater This is an admittedly ambitious schedule. The times I've previously had three concerts in the same day I was sucking wind by the middle of concert #3. But I'll try to get into shape this time. This schedule doesn't include C&C Music Factory or Bee Gees Gold - both of whom I'd like to see, but they either have conflicts or they're scheduled a long way away (pool or Sky Lounge) and very late. I put them on the "maybe" list. They're a day-of decision; if I'm feeling motivated to go, I'll go. This scheduled doesn't include things like meals, trivia, or Q&A sessions. I'll work them in as I have time and energy.

Depending on how many years it's been, Internet access on cruise ships has generally gotten better. In your specific case on the NCL Getaway, I saw an interesting story on that at SpaceX’s Starlink signs deal with Norwegian Cruise Line - DCD (datacenterdynamics.com) . I'm suspicious of it because 1) it processes second-hand information and 2) I couldn't find any confirming article or press release. Anyway, the TL,DR is that NCL has (or soon will) sign an agreement with Starlink and that its equipment is being installed RIGHT NOW on the Getaway.

More to document my history, and hopelessly date myself, I'll answer this for me: Other than the eMusters, the only video safety briefings I've had were on airplanes, and many of those were only partially on video with flight attendants pointing out the exits, etc. The video with the Delta FA telling me that SMOKING WAS NOT ALLOWED like I was a naughty schoolboy is burned in my memory, probably permanently. Speaking of school, we had quite a few drills there - mostly fire drills, though I recall a couple of tornado drills and at least one nuclear bomb drill. I imagine some of the hipper school districts these days have active shooter drills. I never had one of those. In college, drills were very rare, IIRC. I never had a drill in any classrooms. The only fire "drills" we got in the residence halls were when some knucklehead pulled the alarm. Those weren't much fun. 🤬 No drills at work; I've either worked at very small offices, at home, or at temporary locations. Sorry for the distraction.

My tests from Optum arrived today. That's slightly disappointing - delivery in three days rather than one. They expire May 9 - barely three months from now. That's more disappointing, even though I don't have a current use for the second test.

On Carnival, they're definitely different. Porthole cabins have their own fare category and have metal covers in the room just in case things get really bad outside. The oceanview windows are one per cabin and squarish.

I have not. I've never heard of them.

The funny thing is that LLL is a last minute cancel from this cruise due to personal issues. Interesting questions. I'll start with your last one. I'm sure in each cruise line's contract is the right to stop filming at any time for any reason, but most of the time I doubt they'd bother any filmers. Many of the shows I've been in in the main theaters of my various cruises have made an announcement that there is no video or flash photography during the show. I can't remember any enforcement of this. Back to your first question, I think it's a good one to ask the vloggers individually. I suspect that most don't ask permission most of the time - especially if it's just them and their party going around the ship more or less randomly. They may or may not ask permission to photograph/video others around them.

What ship?

That's what I find so weird about the whole situation. Celebrity had a reputation for good food everywhere - MDR, buffet, room service, and specialty outlets. They have seemed awfully willing to throw it away, all at once, for what? Cost cutting? Looking environmentally friendly? Forcing everyone into the MDR?? Don't tell LLP I said this, but it all smells of a mandate from her boss demanding cuts and having no better options. P.S. I've only been on Royal once. The food was all right in the buffet and room service - good selection, decent executive. I thought Celebrity was better in both departments, but I haven't sailed them since the beginning of the year and its changes.

There have been many good tunes played by old fiddlers. 😆

Living Colour was a last-minute replacement on The 80s Cruise last year and they're a featured act this year. Ask me how I know. 🙂 Yeah, these music charters are very expensive, but you can get premium seats and possible extra access ("Oh look! That's Greasyhaired Rockstar grabbing some lasagna at the trough! Let me go get his autograph!!) When you account for that, the value evens out a bit. In my neck of the woods, we have one festival of note which mostly has artists that aren't of interest to me. And we get the odd performer at the nearest Native American casinos. So, to see several musicians of interest to me in the same place is quite appealing.

Noted. Thanks. Also, some interesting articles I found: The Travel site listed 10 80s themed cruises (includes UDC, TEC, and the Princess cruises) - https://www.thetravel.com/80s-cruises-to-book-in-2023/ Reader's Digest has 38 of the best themed cruises (includes UDC) - Best Themed Cruises: 38 Theme Cruises to Book Right Now (rd.com) Fearless leader Chris Gay Faust discussed 10 ways TEC 2023 will help you relive your youth - Why You Should Book the 2023 80s Cruise -- Cruise Critic

@Tom-n-Cheryl: I finally got through your thread about your trip experience back in the day. I have so much to say to you and the other posters there about your experience and how it's changed from then to now, and from Sixthman to other charter companies. But that thread is archived and locked, and I don't want to annoy the other posters/lurkers here, so I'll drop it and say that I enjoyed your report very much.

Thanks for sharing your experience. The only name I recognize from your cruise was Train. They've moving up to hosting their own charter cruise.

I got an e-mail from The 80s Cruise with some fluff and news. In the news department, John Parr canceled on us again. That's the second time in two years. Naughty naughty, John. 🙁 They did say they were going to replace him, but no word yet on who.

This is a good day after all. The UDC released their schedule! I've done a preliminary scan and here are the highlights: My Gold card (early show) has the following headliners in the main theater: Saturday - Taylor Dayne Sunday - KC and the Sunshine Band (matinee, 1-3, on land), Sister Sledge Monday - Double Exposure and Tavares (matinee, 2-3), Al McKay Allstars Tuesday - Billy Ocean Wednesday - Kool & the Gang Heatwave's shows are by the pool Queen Nation's shows are in the afternoons, also by the pool Cara Lee's shows are in Rendezvous; I'll have to catch at least one