Hlitner

The casino is a major profit center. Princess would sooner leave the Bridge unstaffed rather than the casino :).

So you will have a choice. Wait around (for perhaps a minute or perhaps 30 minutes) for your transfer or simply walk outside the luggage area, grab a taxi, and be at your hotel in a few short minutes. I still recall our one time we decided to trust a crusie line transfer (it was on Celebrity). We arrived in Buenos Aires, claimed our luggage, and quickly found the transfer person (she had a sign). She told us to go relax in the nearby coffee shop since they were going to wait for about 1 1/2 hours for another flight with a few more to be transferred. We had been flying all night, were tired, and quite annoyed. So we simply grabbed a taxi to our hotel. We got to the hotel, checked-in, and than went out for a long relaxing breakfast. Nearly 2 hours later as we walked back into the hotel, our transfer van was just arriving. Lesson learned. Hank

Some cruise lines, such as NCL offer pretty decent air prices if you allow them to choose your flights. BA is an interesting airline in that they usually do not let you choose seats unless you pay an extra fee (even in Business Class), have special status, or are within 24 hours of your flight. Many times we have noticed that their BA web site will actually allow you to pick seats, but you will later find they have not been assigned or confirmed. As to finding the equipment boxes, you will often find that information by using seatguru.com. You will need to know the type aircraft and configuration (you can usually figure this out from the seating maps). Hank

You get the train at the Train Station/Depot located in downtown Anchorage. Make sure to check the web site, because when we took that train you did need to check-in well in advance of the departure. We stayed in a nearby hotel (downtown Anchorage) so were able to just walk to the train station. From out by the airport you will need to arrange some kind of transportation (taxi, Uber, etc) and allow yourself some extra time. Hank

You think? Please name another.

But the question should be, "is O a luxury line?" Even many of its best fans call it a "premium line" whatever that means :). My big issue with "O" is that as long as they operate those "R" ships they simply cannot put themselves in the category of luxury lines that have all suites, relatively large bathroom, and space ratios (tons divided by passenger capacity) befitting luxury ships (usually in the 70 ton per passenger range). "O" also plays some nickel and dime games (tips, drinks, etc) which one does not expect on a true luxury product. And we also have Viking Ocean, which is difficult to categorize. Some would call them a luxury line while others might lump them in with "O" as something "premium" but not luxury. We are in the process of helping somebody book a luxury cruise. We told them to consider Seabourn, Silverseas, Regent, Seadream, and Scenic. I also suggested they do take a look at Viking since they have a vessel on the route being considered. But the only "O" ship is one of their old "R" ships and I would not recommend those vessels to anyone looking for a luxury experience. The waters become muddier when looking at "O"s new vessels. Hank

Yeah, I guess those sailing ships in the 1800s were like that 🙂

We used to book a porthole cabin on the Prinsendam (cabin 409) which was far forward On that ship all the lower forward cabins had portholes (ours had 2) which were very thick glass. There were also large (and very heavy) steel covers that could be folded into place and secured by two very large/thick steel bolts. The crew would only secure those covers in very heavy seas (never happened to us). We also had portholes on the lowest passenger deck (accessed by a ladder-like stairway on the long-gone Regent Spirit (Regency Lines). On that ship, all the cabins on that lower deck had thick portholes because the floor of the cabin was right about the water line and port holes took quite a beating. Hank

Just one more example of the world reacting to mega ships. We (and others) have written a lot about this in other blogs regarding ports like Venice, Key West, Bar Harbor Santorini, Bora Bora, etc. More and more ports are realizing that too many (or any) large cruise ships are not really good for business. Hank

We cannot speak to "beach clubs" because during our many visits to Mykonos we simply take the local bus (there are multiple routes) to one of the decent beaches and walk along the beach until we find a cafe/restaurant that has a decent menu (always check prices because a few places do rip off tourists) and either rent or give away (if you buy lunch/drinks) loungers. I smiled at your "Spring break" comment because we have always found Mykonos to have that kind of "vibe" no matter what beach we visit. It is a very popular tourist destination, not just for cruisers, but also for many folks who simply island hop (we love to do this) via ferry. The island also has a real International Airport (unlike many other Greek Islands) which makes it an attractive destination for European charter tour operators. There are many wonderful Greek Islands that are not visited by cruise ships (and have no major airport) and those are the places to avoid the "spring break" vibe. Hank

WOW. Forgive me for disagreeing in many respects. We enjoy Split and find it a decent cruise port for the day. We would actually like to return to Split (for a few days) and use it as a base for some day trips. Many cruisers seem to enjoy browsing the shops/boutiques and there are plenty of cafes/restaurants where one can enjoy a nice lunch. As to Mykonos, we have been there more than 2 dozen times on cruises (both tendered and docked) and have never missed the port due to weather. We also think that Pireaus is a fine embarkation/debarkation port with good access to both Athens and ATH. Since it is so easy to travel between Athens and Pireaus there is no need to spend any pre-post cruise nights in Pireaus. As to Zakynthos, DW and I really enjoyed that island, but we went there on a small yacht (20 passenger) cruise. I do think it is not a good port for large cruise ships (such as the Voyager of the Seas) and would hope that the Greek government eventually limits that port to only smaller vessels. But we actually found Zakynthos quite charming, enjoyed swimming into Shipwreck (from our boat) and exploring a few of the caves. But as a cruise port for large ships....no way! Hank

I want to reiterate that we have no problem with X other than value! Celebrity has always been among the best of the mass market lines, but it is a "mass market" line with large vessels, the usual nickel and diming, etc. But, for cruisers that routinely cruise in the higher categories (especially suites) the recent pricing structure of Celebrity (and some of their competition) has changed the cruise landscape. We now have mass market lines charging as much or more than luxury lines at these higher categories. Cruisers who do choose to pay for suites now have the option to either cruise in a mass market suite (such as the Retreat Suites) or (for the same or less money) cruise on a small ship luxury line. They are completely different experiences (we have done both) and both have their pros/cons. But, IMHO, we find the luxury lines are now a much better value than the Retreat. In fact, even at a higher price point the luxury lines have much more to offer. Think along the lines of a person who books the largest suite in a Holiday Inn versus one who is in a normal suite in a Four Seasons or Ritz! The Holiday Inn customer does have bragging rights (i,e. I am in the best at this hotel) while the person in the Four Seasons can simply say, "I am in the best hotel!" I will also add (for those who might be curious) that the various luxury lines all have their good and bad points, just like the mass market lines. Cruising on Seabourn is different than cruising on Regent is different than Silverseas, etc. etc. Those who routinely cruise on these higher end lines have the same kind of discussions (i.e. which line is better) than those who are on the mass market lines.

Just keep in mind that when looking at Seabourn, nearly all the suites are identical (except for a few of the lowest categories). So, for example, if I look at the 14 Night Seabourn Ovation cruise departing from Copenhagen on July 23, 2023, a V1 or OB veranda guarantee (suite with balcony) costs $402 per person/day. That price includes taxes, tips, booze, Internet, etc. etc. There are no add-ons other than what you choose to go ashore. Even in you move up to a V3 the cost is still under $500 per person/day. When we have cruised on Seabourn, our on board account is zero (even if a long cruise) because we do not generally buy excursions (on any line) and there is no nickel/diming. You will not pay for room service, you do not need to tip, there are no fees for alternative dining, no fees for drinks (unless you want to order some very high end stuff like JW Blue or Remy XO), etc. In fact, nearly all the luxury lines operate that way (no nickel and diming) except some of the other luxury lines may have 1 very high-end dining venue that has an add-on for expensive wine pairings. On those lines we generally get enough OBC so that if we do want to try those special dining nights we can do it using the OBC. On Seabourn we have always been happy with the lower cost OB Guarantee bookings and have always had a nice suite. Do not get me wrong. Luxury lines can be very expensive (over $1000 per person/day) depending on what voyage and line. If you want to take a luxury exploration ship to Antarctica (and go ashore in Zodiacs) you can easily spend over $1000 per person/day. And there are certainly other expensive itineraries such as going through the Panama Canal (the canal fees are very high per person for a smaller luxury vessel. We have an upcoming cruise on the new Explora I ship that cost us less than $500 per person/day (they have since increased their prices by about 20%). That particular new luxury line (soon to have 4 identical 900 passenger ships) has made it clear they will not have and "sales" or last minute price drops. Their CEO has announced they will cruise with empty suites rather than lower prices (and quality). Do you think that Celebrity will hold the line on their latest high prices? 🙂 Hank

Well, I live in Puerto Vallarta (part of the year) and can assure you that you will never find "uncooked tortillas) on the street (or in a restaurant). If you get flour tortilla, any tacos vendor will toss it on a grill for a short time. Come to my condo and I will walk you to a dozen street vendors (within 2 blocks) and you will not ever see an uncooked tortilla. While they are not "fried" they are heated/cooked on a grill. Hank

You might have noticed my posts about X suites. They make absolutely no sense, in terms of value, We can cruise on several true luxury lines for much less than the price of a simple Sky Suite. In fact, our most recent 27 night Seabourn cruise cost us less than $400 per person/day which was for a nice suite/balcony on an all-inclusive luxury cruise (the only thing not included are excursions). On Seabourn, when our stewardess asks what we want in our cabin I might say a bottle of cognac,,,and it will magically appear (no charge). There is unlimited caviar, French Champagne, top shelf booze, etc. Alternative restaurants are no charge and there are no add-ons anywhere! It is similar on other luxury lines. Celebrity is a mass market line that tries to offer some luxury perks in the Retreat Suites....but in the final analysis it is still a mass market line. I am not knocking Celebrity, but simply saying that the Retreat Suites are not a good value when compared to much of the competition. IMHO, Celebrity has priced itself out of the market. Because some cruisers have this weird "loyalty" thing, I do think Celebrity can pull it off...at least until more of their loyal customers realize that better value exists elsewhere. Hank

I will confess (but please keep it a secret). For many decades of extensive cruising I would always take my tux and all the usual formal stuff. DW and I enjoy dressing-up and this was part of our routine whether we were on Princess, HAL, Seabourn, etc. But, in the last few years the trend has changed and most folks do not dress in true formal wear. So last April, we took a 27 day Seabourn cruise (Ft Lauderdale to Monte Carlo) and I decided to leave all my formal wear home, and just take a blazer for formal nights. Although I did miss my formal wear, the blazer was adequate and helped lighten up our luggage for the few post-cruise weeks we spent traveling around Europe. I am done with the formal stuff unless standards make a radical 180. Since we usually travel, independently, pre and post cruise, we try to prioritize what we pack. Formal wear only works for a few cruise nights, but is worthless in Europe, Asia or just about anywhere. As to ties, why bother? Hank

Our own experience with Seabourn is that their pricing is all over the place depending on the itinerary. In the past 2 years we have taken two Seabourn cruises (a 27 day Transatlantic and a 14 day Caribbean) where are total cruise cost was actually under $400 a person day. When comparing to other lines keep in mind that Seabourn is all inclusive including decent beverages, tips, etc. Hank

This may not be helpful to the OP, but could help others. When you receive medical treatment on a trip or in any foreign country, make sure to get an itemized statement BEFORE you leave. In the case of Princess there is usually a small charge assessed to give cruisers a detailed statement (most medical insurance will reimburse that small fee). As to where to start, my first question would be whether your Medicare Plan covers any urgent/emergency care outside the USA. Some Advantage Plans (such as our Aetna Medicare PPO) does give some coverage. Otherwise, you should look to any secondary coverage such as from travel insurance (if any) or possibly your credit card (some cards such as higher end Chase and AMEX offer some medical coverage). If your Medicare plan does not give you coverage, you purchased no travel or travel medical insurance, and your credit card (that you used for the cruise) does not have any coverage...you are probably out of luck and will pay out of pocket. I will again reiterate an important message to all. When you get medical treatment on a ship or in a foreign country...do not leave without a detailed statement. Trying to get such a Statement/billing after the fact can prove to be difficult. In the case of Princess you (or your travel/cruise agent) need to call Princess and request the Statement/Billing and hope for the best. Hank

From the current Princess web site: Our Plus Beverage Package includes the classics: sodas, specialty coffees and teas, cocktails, wine and beer up to $15 each. Even hot chocolate, water to go, smoothies and an unlimited juice bar. Whatever you want – with tips included!

Some cruise lines, especially Princess, Seabourn and HAL (they use the same air system) will often have decent Business and Premium economy prices. As an example, we will soon be flying from Dulles to Tokyo (Business Class lay flat seats) for about $2200 per person! And that is on British Air and JAL (both decent airlines). Some other cruise lines (Oceania quickly comes to mind) do not generally offer good Business/First Class deals. There have been times when we actually chose or rejected booking a cruise because of the air deals. Hank

The calculator shows it about $80 although surge pricing can increase that price.

If you did that now, on X, I believe you would pay $9.95 + 18% for the new room service charge.

Thought I would mention that T-Mobile works fine in Japan (and just about every other country) without extra fees for data/text and only 25 cents/min for phone calls. Of course there are no fees if you use WiFi calling. The advantage over buying SIMS is that folks can reach you at your normal phone number.

These days the air can be a challenge. In a couple of months, we need to fly to Tokyo (from the East Coast). The obvious route would have been to fly Delta non-stop from ATL. But we saved thousands of dollars by booking British Air from IAD to LHR and then JAL. It did not make a lot of sense, but the price made the decision easy. On our last flight to Singapore, we saved thousands by flying China Airlines (the Taiwanese airline) from JFK to Taipai and later on to Singapore. That long flight to Taipai turned out to be one of our favorite long-range flights....ever. China Airlines had a wonderful Biz Class product with some very high-end booze (such as JW Blue). I have also come to the conclusion that most US airlines consider their flight schedules as "advisory" rather than a real schedule. I cannot remember the last time we booked any flight (more than a few months in advance) with a US airline where there not schedule changes! We seldom have this problem with the foreign carriers. By the way, many of the highest rated airlines in the world are Asian airlines. Hank

Just a few words about Seabourn's formal nights. For gentlemen, a jacket is required in The Restaurant (the MDR) but not in the other dining venues. On our recent SB cruises, I would estimate that about 1/4 - 1/3 of the med had tuxes, another 1/3 wore jacket/tie, and the remainder just wore a jacket sans tie. A basic Blazer is adequate, and you will not feel out of place. Hank