irenesolo

We leave on our 48th cruise on May 8. Still get excited and “can’t wait. Don’t think that will ever go away.

Seems the shade question was discussed ad nauseam by many of the same people posting here. Check this thread.

 

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2606211

 

 

 

Will be in the YC on the 3/24 sailing. If there is shade there, I'll find it, as I was genetically engineered to live in a swamp.;p;p ;p

If you find shade please share. We couldn’t find shade anywhere outside on Divina. The overhang around the main pool area has kiosks selling assorted snacks and tables and chairs on which to enjoy them but no loungers. The best we could do is find some loungers against a wall that had about 1 1/2 hrs of shade before we were in full sun again. This was on a port day so the ship was virtually empty. The only other option was the covered pool area which was hot humid and uncomfortable. We loved everything else about Yacht Club but the shade issue is a deal breaker for us. Obviously we are a minority because It’s still an issue. Doesn’t make sense to me because the Yacht Club Pool was always nearly empty.

We always get the excursions we choose. Sometimes we are waitlisted but 100% of the time we find tickets to any waitlisted excursions in our suite when we board.

Thanks TC2. Someday I hope to be as knowledgeable as you are.

Thank you. Love these boards everyone is always full of useful information. One more question. Do taxi cabs in Dubai take credit cards.

Thank you everyone for your help. I was not concerned about tipping in general just how to tip tour guides and drivers. For other purchases we’d use a credit card. Will take the suggestion to check on customs in each country we will visit. Excellent idea. Thanks for the always helpful advice.

We are sailing on Voyager Dubai to Rome in May. Wondering what currency we need for tipping guides. Will we need to get different currency for each port.

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What makes you think "most" people get the drink packages? I usually cruise with large groups, and there are only a handful of people in each group that buy the drink packages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOW! Stereotype much? How exactly do you know what all diamonds "usually do?" While there may be some who are smug, and some who brag about how little they spend, there are PLENTY who don't use the diamond lounges, always book balconies or higher, purchase drinks and excursions, etc.

Try spending time at any bar on the ship any time of the day. The bars are 3 deep with passengers waiting for service from inadequate over taxed staff trying hard to keep up. Listen to the number of people asking what is covered in one package or another. Whether or not you have the drink package you are impacted by the poor choices and overcrowding.

It sounds like you are saying people will jump to more expensive cruises that are inclusive? I would like to see a poll of P’s and Diamonds if they are willing to pay more to have a Lounge and drinks???

 

 

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The point is it doesn’t cost significantly more. Add up all the extra charges add them to your cruise fare and if you add everything the cost is not significantly more.

You really think people would cancel cruises if FREE drinks were limited to 3 in DL? No limit in Oasis Class SL 11-11

 

 

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I don’t think cruises will be canceled because of lack of free drinks but we are certainly rethinking our cruise choices going forward because of the over crowding, lack of seating and slow service during the cocktail hour before dinner in any lounge. If you add up all the extras on your Royal or Celebrity cruise you’ll find you can do a more expensive cruise that includes everything you’re paying extra for.

We,be all experienced all kinds of cutbacks which have accelerated in the past several years. I think that the popularity of the drink package has had a huge negative effect on the “cocktail hour experience. We now see overcrowded bars and lounges, decreasing alcohol selections and decreasing bar staff trying to deal with too many passengers. IMHO this is not an accident. It is a planed way to increase revenue. Uncomfortable bars and lounges and agonizingly slow service translate to less drinks served. With most people having drink packages it means more money for the cruise line. We diamond and above “loyalists” who use the DL for our cocktails are spending less and therefore are not a priority for the cruise line.

Excellent Review. Experienced many similar glitches on our October Equinox cruise. Interesting. Thank you

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