smillerholmes

Define longer... 10 days or more? B2B? Any particular area? Western? Eastern? Any particular embarkation port?

Yes!

I was on the Breakaway/Nov 2023 - coffee set up was available at the bars on the Waterfront.

If theme night includes the "Glow Party" then you may also experience 70's night, 80's night and I think they even did 90's on my most recent cruise on the Breakaway/Nov 2023. 70's and 80's were very fun - glad I went

Let the church say Amen! -annoys the heck out of me too! RIDICULOUS

This pretty much mirrors my tipping philosophy with a slight difference. I haven't done a cruise shorter than 20 days in quite some time. I either do B2B or 15+ days at a time and since I usually get the same cabin on the B2B I have only once had a different steward. I usually do $20 upfront with my standard request of: -mattress topper (totally within scope of duties) -ice (debatable, but takes extra time) - daily towel animals (if time allows) - I consider them totally out of scope since I am not a child. If things are going well another $50 in the middle and another $50 at the end. I had not considered the distinction between Latitude meals vs Free at Sea so I typically tip $10. As for bar staff - I've been booking through the Casino for the last two years so you really have the opportunity to get chatty with the bar staff. I rotate with a few favorite drinks and they simply catch my eye and get the nod for a refill and then I tip them with the dreaded $2/bill.

Major score - both my Spirit - Hawaii/Alaska followed by Sun - Alaska were on the list. I usually check pretty often, but I guess I slacked off during the Holidays. From 26 to 52 is pretty good for just a phone call.

I did the 20-day on the Sun. Not sure how helpful this may be, but here you go.

awww yeah...that shrimp is awesome

Yes, yes you did! Thank you so much - will definitely check it out.

I am also researching this so appreciate any info that is noted here. Weather, excursion or any info that can make this cruise more enjoyable...this is on my to do list for either 2025 or 2026. Thanks in advance!

Who knew this thread was going to be so entertaining? This is a good change that's been handled poorly. Knowing our CN will last in perpetuity should not generate posts about inflation and beneficiaries, but this is CC and there you have it. You guys made me laugh so hard. So awesome.

The day BEFORE the last day - hmmm...I just tried to change it, but I couldn't. I guess I'll actually have to use the phone. I need to contact them anyway as I need new amenity statements for multiple cruises. Thanks for the info!

You may want to check out this thread - lots of experiences documented here:

I have the Joy booked for the B2B the first two weeks of September. The logistics from Quebec City were definitely a factor, but in the end I simply don't like the typical 7 day cruise, so booking the B2B was kind of a no brainer for me. I took the repeat ports into consideration as well. I figure if the port is a dud - spa day on the 2nd go round and if it's awesome I am enriched with additional experiences.

For the first time I FINALLY received this offer on my AMEX Cash Magnet card. At first I was going to just pay off all my currently booked cruises; that wasn't ideal, because I like to use my BofA card so I can save my points for cabin upgrades, but then I ran across the most recent iteration of the Refundable VS Non Refundable OBC board. Apparently, you can buy OBC (which I did), choose the day it becomes available (I chose the last day of my upcoming cruise) and walk off the ship with the cash because it is REFUNDABLE. 🤞 I'll be interested to see if it's really that easy.

For those that like to delve into the minutiae...consider yourselves enlightened. 😁 https://www.spam.com/museum

Who doesn't love that transporter tube?

Sometimes, when I have extra OBC I use it in ways I would not if it was my hard earned dollars - I assume many people do the same. I am an expert at spending other people's money. 😁

THIS! Thanks so much for this info - this drove me crazy for the shows. I like having multiple opportunities to see the shows. I usually try to do the shows on the first leg of my cruise just in case (C-19, broken ankle, power outage, canceled due to it being unsafe) all of these have happened causing shows to be cancelled so I double up on the reservations and if it's good I go again and if it's not I cancel. I rarely make dining reservations so that's not an issue. I did not realize the latitude vouchers were such a big deal. I had one left over so when I got to my "3rd" voucher on the 2nd leg - that was flagged and dining police came to talk to me. Apparently, that is not something that carries over, although they did let me use it.

I primarily cruise solo and when I used to make reservations I believe the app defaults to "2". If you choose to make them on the phone or in person they will definitely ask you - what they record is entirely nebulous. I would like to point out that I no longer even bother. Unless you want to eat during peak times (5:30ish to 7:30ish) it is unnecessary. I don't usually know what I have a taste for so I kind of wing it and I have never not been able to get a table - worst case I had to wait until 8:15 once. Perhaps an exception on a sold out/Holiday/Spring Break cruise, but typically not needed.

All I can say is OH MY - following. If nothing else this could end up being better than a water thread.

Thanks so much for the very detailed report. I really appreciate the thoroughness - you never know what little detail might appeal to someone. And thanks for explaining the whole maiden/inaugural thing - I was very confused. 😁 Viva is officially on my to do list for 2025!

Following, as I was considering something similar.

Same. But I have at least purchased in the past (2022), just not recently.