MarkieMarkNYC

Please don't imply that people are stupid for travelling when and where they chose, MarkieMarkNYC. It just isn't nice.

I did no such thing.

But your post does make me wonder about your literacy proficiency.

We went in Jan/Feb about 3 years ago and the weather was perfect. Great time with very little or no rain.

I'm glad you were lucky. That doesn't change the fact that those months are typically rainy and humid.

That would be the difference between "climate" and "weather". You know, like some times we have warm days in NYC in the winter, but it's still winter.

Of course there are other options.

Bingo.

If Oceania had a cruise to Alaska in January, I wonder if people would take it and then complain about the cold.

I honestly don't understand why people go to Tahiti this time of year. I understand the desire to get away from cold North American winters, but the typically unpleasant weather there December - April is certainly no secret.

We went in July and it was absolutely perfect.

I have moderate drinks a blooddy mary $21 couble grey gooose,( because their pours are short and a double is equal to a average pour in the US ) on the pool deck a martini before dinner 22 and maybe 1 or 2 glasses of wine at 15-20 @depending on the course ( fish meat) and an after dinner port. 26 thata with tip about 110. My next cruise I will stick to a glass of wine at dinner...depending on the cuisine.

 

I have developed a taste mineral water so put me in the$25 a day bracket

What did you have before typing this post?

I can't wait to watch this thread. Every time I see mention of pillow menus at hotels and on ships I've always wondered if they were as relevant as the olive oil cart at Toscana.

I used to assume that everyone knew we were a couple. We have been on several cruises in our 17 years as a couple. We do my time dining so we don't have to deal with rude people. My spouse is alot more outgoing so we are usually talking with people seated near us anyway. We have met a lot of people, gay and straight (they can't help it... they were born that way) on cruises. I have no desire to take a chance and sit with people we don't like (or don't like us) every night for dinner. We are actually flying into Miami to see some friends we met on a cruise a few years ago.

 

It has been a few years since our last cruise. We are now dads, and will be bringing our 2.5 year old daughter. I am not looking forward to all the comments that I know are coming. If you think being asked being gay is annoying, Try dealing with everyone basically asking where is her mother... it is so nice that you are giving her mother a break... She's out with the boys.... etc.

If someone asks about her mother, just say "I'm her mother, and I have the stretch marks to prove it.".

My wife and her sister are graduates of Lincoln.My alma mater ,Wingate was not known for academics ,however among our alum are Senator Barbara Boxer ,Harvard Professor Bert Halperin,former Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz ,just to name a few.

Small world. My husband went to Lincoln. He still has family living in Warbasse.

And CCNY was a poor man's MIT... My brother went to BC and I went to CCNY -- neither was an easy entrance.

Now as to best high schools there was only one No #1 and that was Lincoln.

Nonsense!

Hunter College High School. Just ask my mother.

Growing up in New York and "lived in New York" are very different experiences (as is equally true here in SF).

In any case, I don't remember anyone saying "everything is the best ever" in NYC (or even in Brooklyn). Congestion, weather, cost-of-living and much much more can be extremely challenging. But there are other things that keep many of us returning often to NYC to visit - particularly when it involves friends/family, the performing arts, museums and (for some of us) traditional foods that, for some strange reason, escape widespread duplication in other locations (yes, pizza, deli ...)

 

Bottom line is that you can love a place and not need to live there - particularly when your home is located somewhere that has its own collection of superlatives.

 

 

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I find myself reminiscing about New York and I still live here. It's not the same as it was decades ago. We still have amazing museums/theater/opera/music/food, but we are fast losing the small, specialized, local businesses that made the city so unique. Just in the past few weeks we have lost two independent cinemas that didn't show standard Hollywood fare. We are losing our Greek diners. We are losing butchers and bakeries. They are frequently replaced by chain stores and restaurants. This isn't just true for Manhattan but also for many parts of Brooklyn and Queens. And remember the interesting people you would meet on the street, on line at the movies, in the museums? You know, the ones who were curious and well-read and willing to take some chances? The ones who actually looked at art and didn't worry about getting a selfie? Well, now they are leaving the city (either through death or relocation) and being replaced by young banker and business types who make a lot of money, couldn't care less about the great history of NYC, and spend most of their time staring at their iPhones and using social media. They don't look at the architecture, the people, the dogs, the sky, the parks. They are moving into ever-increasingly expensive new high-rises (with no increase in mass transit).

I've loved this city for so many years but I'm starting to look forward to leaving. The New York City of our memories is going fast. It's painful to realize, but that's how I see it. Yes, the city is safer, but it's also far more dull and lacking that edgy, vibrant, "alive-ness".

Gotta use those gams. :)

OP - there are a couple of other regular posters who are also easily frightened and generally misinformed. You should consider forming a travel club and booking some nice charter cruises to safe, sanitized destinations.

On the plus side, it sounds like nobody had the shoes ripped off their feet.

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

 

Valpariso (2011) we very much enjoyed, especially the old town. Lima (2011) although maybe not on our favourite ports list, no problems in the port or the city. I agree Ushuea (2016) in nice, especially touring the water ways by boat. Montevideo (2016) we very much enjoyed, especially the food near the port. I guess we will find out about BA in about 53 weeks. We are looking forward to that one.

Buenos Aires is a wonderful city. You will see gorgeous architecture and different neighborhoods with their own character. Save time for eating! There are many wonderful choices. Just be sure to double-tie your shoelaces. You wouldn't want someone to rip them off your feet while you're sitting downtown! ;p

My goodness this board brings out the drama!

What she has done is smear a cruise line's reputation without explanation. In real life this might be consider a defamation, libel and slander (without further evidence and proof)

That seems just a tad dramatic, no?

Were you away?

Can someone tell me if dressy sandals can be worn in the dining room?

 

 

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Only if you shave your toes.

According to some reports, STD rates in nursing homes are increasing.

Maybe the OP was trying to tell us that his fellow passengers were quite "active".

If I had his body, I'd be writing this in the nude....:hearteyes:

When the bathroom mirror is foggy and before you put your glasses on, we ALL have that body! :)

.Then we had the young god who wore a gold lame' speedo. Lord in heaven, why, oh why?

Wait, that was me. I thought I looked good!

We just got off Riviera on Saturday and I can say that the dress on board was much more casual than I've ever seen it before. To be honest, I was disappointed to see how poorly some dressed in the evening, and the fact that they were allowed into the MDR at night wearing shorts, no collar t-shirts and other things I thought were inappropriate for Oceania's dress code. I even saw some men wearing rubber thong sandals in the MDR at night.

That does sound disappointing. Look on the bright side - at least those men were wearing rubber thong sandals and not rubber thongs.

Russia is a place I would hesitate to visit again. I don't consider China in the same way, and I would go there again. Every individual has the right and responsibility to decide what countries they visit. Can a person be openly LGBT, can they visit clubs without fear of arrest? Can they get married? Are they in fear of execution if they come out?

 

Would you be happy if I moved to Canada or is that country not LGBT-friendly enough? You seem to want to impose a standard on other people that you do not maintain yourself.

Sorry, but you are dramatically missing the point.

Of course anyone can visit the countries they wish. Did you even read my first post on this thread?

This thread started as a judgment of Bermuda (and later on Jamaica) because of their record on LGBT rights and some said they wouldn't visit because of those records. My point is that this is inconsistent unless applied to all countries that one chooses to visit. I'm not imposing a standard on anyone - simply pointing out a lapse in logic that is rather common. I'm guilty of it myself at times. We're all human.

Not sure what your point is regarding you moving to Canada. This is a discussion board and we are having a discussion.

You tend to give short, non-informative responses to various posts.

 

That's rather rude.

 

I have traveled in Western/Central Europe and usually felt comfortable. I have been to Peru and Argentina and felt comfortable. Late this year I'll go back to Argentina and also to Chile. I have been to Russia and China and didn't have a problem etc etc. Was that because people were so open or because as a single traveler, I didn't stand out? I don't know.

 

I've always wanted to go to Iran but I know how they treat LGBT people. I'm really conflicted about whether I should go there. I have no interest in going to Jamaica or most other places that harrass LGBT.

My intention wasn't to be rude but rather to be direct.

You mention Russia and China as places you have been and that you haven't had a problem. That's great, but you should know that those two countries have abysmal records of treatment of LGBT people and other minorities. In addition, neither of those countries, as well as some others you've undoubtedly visited, neither sanction nor recognize same-sex marriage.

My point is that there is a problem with consistency with some gay people who insist on not traveling to certain countries deemed to be anti-LGBT but turn a blind eye to others. And again, we here in the US have our own dirty laundry.

Thank you for posting about the included classes. Has anyone attended them? Can anyone comment on how busy they are? what time of day? How strenuous? On a transatlantic, these would be very nice. Thanks.

I don't know if spin classes are your thing (I'm kind of obsessed with them and do 4-5 a week!), but I found the bikes to be a bit sticky and not well maintained. The instructors were a mixed bag and ranging from pretty bad to fairly good. The "pretty bad" was more about a bad choice of music combined with an obvious lack of understand of what makes a good spin class.

In my experience, not many people have participated. The fullest classes were on an Adriatic itinerary last year when a family of 5 all participated and were really into it. That was pretty fun!