smokeybandit

There's no need to be concerned about the age of any RC ship.

Now if you need the multitude of activities the newer/larger ships offer over the smaller ships, then that's a different conversation.

I don't think Alaska cruises are any less casual than Caribbean, especially since Caribbean cruises are quite casual these days.

Same rules apply, wear what you want.

On 7/20/2024 at 2:56 PM, George C said:

concierge escorting you off the ship at end of the cruise.

This typically ends up just meaning escorted to the front of the security line (which depending on when you get off is still a valuable perk). Most can't actually escort you off the ship entirely (I assume due to visa rules), but some have.

Is this question in regards to noise?

15 hours ago, eel said:

Unfortunately it does not support notifications so you need to check the app frequently to see if a message has arrived.

It does support notifications, but they're so unreliable that the second half of your post is still very true.

55 minutes ago, njkruzer said:

Yep.  Been there,  especially during covid when people were looking for their negative test rexults and vaccine cards, and it's why we are prepared 

That was brutal. All the overcommunication on needing them, yet people still had them buried at the bottom of their bags upon check in.

From people I've talked to who have done it, if you're just doing a TA (ie, not touring Europe before/after) it's better to do the west bound so you aren't faced with a long flight after the cruise.

4 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

So, advocating bringing a passport (with a cost of $130), even when not required = "good".

Advocating bringing a notarized document (with a cost of $25 or less), even when not required = "bad".

 

Got it! 👍

 

Oh, wait, a passport is "recommended", as are gratuities and dress codes for dinners.  But advocating for THOSE "recommendations" is "bad".  😄

 

You're introducing too much non sequitur into all this.

18 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

And a recommendation means?  

 

Absolutely nothing. They also "recommend" what to wear for dinner. 

 

I notice you didn't answer the question. 

Bringing extra documents just in case, despite there being no recommendation to do so is like bring your bowling ball just in case you come across an alley on your cruise.

9 minutes ago, S.A.M.J.R. said:

On the other hand...

 

Those of you saying "it's not needed, don't bother..."  What is your normal response when someone says "Should I get a passport for a closed loop cruise or can I use my BC?"   If your answer is "Get the passport, you never know", wouldn't the appropriate answer to this question be "Get the notarized document, you never know"? 

 

 

RC recommends a passport though. They don't recommend (or even mention) getting a document for one-parent cruises.

Crown Lounge on the sign, Diamond Lounge in our hearts.

29 minutes ago, Bead Pirate said:

We have been on the Wonder for 14 weeks this year (many B2B's)...

 

I can tell you that on each turnaround day there is a team of folks wearing different colored coveralls who descend on the basin when the tide is elevated. they have access areas where they go below. I have sat and watched the process a couple of times. 

 

They have 60 minutes to complete the work. The red coveralls appear to be electrical as those two guys work in the switch boxes (there are three). The blue coveralls seem focused on the water pumps as they go down and quickly inspect seals, etc. The white coveralls do cleaning of the basin, inside glass railing, etc.

 

They all vacate the basin, run a test and return it to service in one hour. It is quite the dance..

Sounds like a perfect reason why they aren't adding any more rising tides.

They're never going to get debt to zero.  Big companies have debt, that's just the way it is.

24 minutes ago, artvlay said:

Any further news on the Voyager drydock for the fall? What work are they supposed to do?

Likely just routine maintenance.

I have seen the ad covering the bar code before. 

39 minutes ago, TPKeller said:

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge would also need to be raised or replaced for this new height to make any practical difference.

Which will be never.

The price is the same per day, but that doesn't mean a shorter cruise or a cruise on a newer ship may not have a more expensive per day price.

1 minute ago, EbayCruiser said:

How do I know what to bid?

There's no science behind this. A minimum bid on one cruise for one cabin category may get you an upgrade, where as a max bid for another cabin on another cruise may not get you anything.

Since this seems to be Oasis ships, maybe this is a sign of them introducing that third fixed seating.

Mine still shows.

2 hours ago, Mapleleafforever said:

So no benefit to pre paying gratuities anymore?

There really wasn't any benefit, except for a brief window when you could opt to pre-pay at the old rate when they announce a new rate.

Food is good, same as every MDR on every ship.

1 hour ago, Engineroom Snipe said:

Could it be Carnival's announcement of three new mega ships for 2029?

 

Carnival's stock price also dropped today.

1 hour ago, firefly333 said:

I agree I wish they paid off more debt before a dividend or a tiny dividend like 10 cents.

They paid off all the due debt. No reason to pay off more than they need to as they'll always carry debt.