3yorkies

I do this ship from LAX several times a year. Uber/Lyft are super easy there and prices range from 40 to 60 each way, depending on day and time. One tip: if you use them to return to LAX at end of cruise, book it the day before with a chosen time. I'm never in a hurry so usually do 9:30 a.m. If you try to book the morning you get off, I have heard others say the price is super high and sometimes you can't even get a ride for a considerable amount of time. You can also go to guest services and book on RC bus for about 35 a person, but it only goes twice a day and takes forever to load and unload. I prefer an uber

I get up around 10. Never eat breakfast on cruises or at home. I'm usually out until 3 a.m. or later. Lunches are included in the specialty restaurants on sea days. On port days I eat in the various ports, as that's part of the fun of going to the ports. If I want an additional snack late night on a ship with a Playmakers (or even when first get back on ship before my late dinners), that is covered by the UDP up to $20.00 a day. The only other place I may have a snack is in the Crown Lounge where I do tip if there. If I go to the Starbucks and get a cappuccino, I tip there. But I see NO REASON to tip the people in Windjammer and the MDR if I am never there. I have become friendly with several bartenders and a couple of servers in Chops on Navigator, and they all say they get to keep their cash tips. A few of the bars they share with the ones on the shift. All say they prefer cash tips. If they do share, it is their decision. It is not being used by the cruise line to actually pay part of their salary. Even on land if I charge a meal to a cc, I still leave the tip in cash. I bartended in college and worked as a server in high school, so tips are something I recognize as needed. I always preferred cash tips, as they are immediate and you don't have to wonder if you are going to actually get them. I have also had room stewards say they prefer cash. If it is true that the cruise line has to make up any deficiency from the gratuities on their checks, why would they NOT prefer to get cash tips as their check is still a regular check? And, yes, you are right that it is also a "feel good" thing in that I have always enjoyed thanking someone directly for good service and handing them a nice tip. I started cruising in the late 1970's and you always got envelopes in your room for your tips, but even then I tended to tip each day and then extra at the end. At some point the lines started changing to the auto-gratuity, and I don't think it was to benefit the employees, rather the cruise line.

Great news! I really love Allure compared to Harmony.

I have started doing the Unlimited dining in the specialty restaurants. Those tips are NOT part of the auto-gratuity, but you are charged 18% on the plan when booked. I never eat in the MDR or WJ on a cruise, only specialty restaurants. For that reason I remove the auto-tips and just add the money to my specialty dining tips where the service is almost 100% great and the tip that is in the 18% is not adequate in my opinion, so I prefer it go to the people who actually serve me. I just use cash at each meal. And I tip the room steward at the start of the cruise and add more at the end. Works for me and I feel it allows the tips to actually go to those who have earned it. Since my drinks are free with D+, I tip in cash on those too. I bring a large stack of 1's and 5's on my cruises. By tipping in cash I also know that the funds are actually going in the pocket of the intended person.

There are limited tables in the specialty restaurants. No such limit in bars

I cancel them, as I never eat breakfast and don't go to MDR if I have the dining plan. I never ever go to the buffet whether I have the dining plan or not. I eat on shore for lunches on port days and use the UDP for sea day lunches and all dinners. I use that money to then tip the servers in the specialty restaurants more since I don't feel the share of the 18% on the UDP is enough, so I usually add $5.00 for lunch and $10 for dinners.

São Tomé and Príncipe is an independent country and not part of Angola. And the ship was never docked there. It was anchored and people had to take tenders. The anchor was up as was the floating entry to the ship. They failed to return before the last tender. That's a risk you take when you don't use a ship tour.

It was 40% off!!! 235 on Navigator 7 day.

Yes, I always type up a list with first and second choices and a time "range" that works. I was just looking forward to doing in advance, but your suggestions are exactly how I have done the other times I have gotten the dining plan. I only get when it's a really great deal. Otherwise I just do some lunches and use my BOGO for 2 dinners. Since I'm a solo it makes it a little easier because I am pretty flexible.

I read that soon we would be able to reserve dining with the UDP. Has anyone heard any updates on this including when it will be rolled out? Have it on Navigator on May 10th cruise so hoping we can do before then.

St Thomas, I wouldn't since part of US, but otherwise I do. Some worry about losing it. I prefer to have it if needed, especially since I am always solo

100% agree. Falmouth is one of my favorites! Great people, fun shops, food is very good everywhere including street vendors. Erie mon!!

I just tear off a piece of paper the approximate sizr and cram it in there. Never had a problem

Love the Radiance class!!! I'll take a classic ship any day, even with some age on her, over the mega ships with theme parks onboard

I wish late dining was still at least 815 or 830. 745 is just a bit early for me. At home I eat at about 2 and then at 9. And never breakfast, just lots of caffeine.

Except on Allure, which has the best lounge in the fleet IMHO. Great view, relatively spacious

I have friends who are doing the MP trip and posting on facebook. They are having a great time and posting wonderful photos. Kevin and Katherine are the couple. They get off in LA, just in time to fly home to Vegas to go the the Super Bowl the next day, lol.

Rent and Book of Mormon and Hamilton and Wicked and MJ the musical are some of my favorites.

Thanks! Solo here too. I like to do second one on Italian night and not do second cruise night. I'm okay with doing the first one on night one. I will likely do Chops and Jamie's or maybe Izumi. Not a fan of Wonderland. Once was enough, lol. I've already booked Jamie's for first day lunch since I don't do buffets and like to start cruise with a good lunch in a relaxed atmosphere.

Does anyone know policy on Harmony OTS recently? Sailing next month

I'm 72 as of last month and take nothing I would be allowed to bring on the ship, just gummies to sleep, which I have to get by without on trips. So I sleep about 4 hours a night instead of 6 1/2 or 7.

Why not stick to your scheduled time? It is common courtesy to avoid big crowds and waits. I always check in right at midnight to get my chosen time. Anyone can do that if the boarding time matters to them. I cruise about half the time out of LA and they definitely check there. It makes for such a smooth process. You are on the ship within 20 minutes usually.

I have been on her four times this year, first was in May, and last ended Dec. 4th. Every one of them they had clearly marked lines for the various times. I always get the 10:30 time and get there around 10:15. Someone tried last time to get in the wrong line and they were directed to the correct one. You show your sea pass on phone or printed when you walk up. They send you to the right line. They always start at about 10:20 with any pinnacles and then the 10:30 line. Because they enforce the boarding times there is never a big crowd in the check in area and I am always on board the ship by 10:50 to 11:00. It works. If you were allowed on outside your boarding time it was an anomaly or they were caught up and were letting people on since no one was in the earlier lines. But at 10:30 there are always people in the 10:30, 11, and 11:30 lines.

Fortunately LA (San Pedro) strictly enforces boarding times with separate lines. It makes it go so smoothly!

OP says they don't use phone because "get along fine with wifi" so assumed they did.