navybankerteacher

About what? That cruise lines do not care who sleeps with who - or the FACT that folks who spend enough time in casinos are virtually certain to lose money, Sorry - but I hope you do not think that people operate casinos to provide income to others — casino operation is just about the most certain sure thing when it comes to making money.

Precisely - the lines are aware that a number of people who cruise do so (at least partially) for the opportunity to “sleep” in another person’s cabin - or to have that other person “sleep” in his/her cabin.

Yes, cruise lines give perk incentives to frequent cruisers to keep them coming back and contribute to the cruise companies’ bottom lines - just as casinos (and cruise lines with casinos) give BIG incentives to known gamblers because they know that regular known gamblers are great for the bottom line because the more they gamble the more likely it is that they will lose more than the incentives cost the cruise lines. There are a lot of gamblers who like to believe that they are winners - but at the end of the day virtually all of them are losers. An intelligent person can enjoy a casino - sometimes winning, but more often losing - but the ones who actually believe that they are regular winners are the ones the casino operators love the most - because they are the ones who will lose most to the casinos.

Yes - and I am willing to bet OP is talking about a 15+ day itinerary (at least) so an hour time change could only happen every other day at most. The only quick shot TA’s available today seem to be Cunard’s 7 day from NY to Southampton - so that’s five hours in seven nights.

Is there anyone who does not understand that the reason heavy gamblers are “given” benefits is because the lines know that, in the long run, the more someone gambles the more they will lose to the house? Of course they want to encourage high rollers.

Good question: whether or not an activity makes money for the person who performs has next to nothing to do with its being detrimental to others. And, when you get right down to it, what is wrong with earning “Easy money”? That is what intelligent people prefer over hard- earned dollars.

Having done a number of TA’s - both directions - I’ve found it very easy to adjust; after all you are not at work, commuting to work, etc. you can lengthen your sleep time a bit. It surely beats handling a 6 hour jump on a flight.

If you do not want to be filmed, wouldn’t you understand that others probably would not like it as well? As long as they do it to others you feel it’s OK ?

Balcony rooms: a) Norwegian Gem, 7 day Boston/Bermuda March 29 $1149 b) MSC Miraviglia, Brooklyn/Bahamas March 17 $2739 c) Norwegian 7 day New York/Bermuda March 24 $1079 d) Carnival Venezia 11 day New York/Caribbean March 25 $959

Pretty likely, but if there are somewhat later options, I would suggest you consider one. You have to be on the plane before 11:00 - and might need at least an hour to check in and clear TSA, at least a half hour to get to LGA - meaning you need to be in your taxi shortly after 9:00. MCT is a mess for debarking passengers grabbing land transportation. Is there another ship in that day - which could make it a real mess?

Debarkation day always strikes me as a good morning to have a leisurely room service breakfast - than hang out in room as long as possible unless I am trying to make an early flight.

And, depending upon where home is, perhaps rail to Newark followed by Uber or taxi to the port. There always seems to be many people reluctant to consider public transportation.

You happy optimist - I think it’s a tad over 50% —- have you driven lately, or watched much TV?

It is still a TRAIN - one of the modes barred by someone who “…won’t do subways and TRAINS etc”

Those islands are better enjoyed on land visits (when you can shelter in place on busy port call days) rather than when overrun by thousands of cruise passengers.

Mono rail and NJ transit train are hardly helpful suggestions for someone who “…won’t do subways and trains etc.”

A key question: arriving at 4:15 means VERY little time to get out of airport, get to hotel, check in, drop off luggage, and get to theater. Unless hotel was in airport or right next door to theatre it would be very tight.

Generally, yes - but on my (only) carnival cruise there was an obviously foldable scooter which was continually left in the corridor next to the cabin next to mine. It’s not so much the equipment, it’s the entitled attitude of the passenger which makes scooters, walkers, strollers, etc. such annoyances.

Of course we missed that part - but a full transit would have included the frankly dreary ports up the west side of Mexico and a required transcontinental flight home. I believe the partial transit was precisely what we wanted… we all have different inclinations.

Then why not fly to where you want to go? Less time “wasted” at sea, more time (several days vs several hours) in the destinations you want to see. Sure, fewer destinations, but in your case it would seem that three days in each of two destinations should trump six five hour (insufficient) visits, separated by boring evenings, nights and early mornings at sea. For us, a Caribbean cruise means staying on board in a warm climate, as a brief escape from northern winter. Seeing Mediterranean cities means flying over, staying one or more nights in the places worth really seeing, then coming back on a TA repositioning cruise.

We did a partial on HAL’s Zuiderdam - hardly like “kissing your sister” - you experience the locks, turn around in Gatun Lake, and head back -perhaps hitting a couple of ports before getting back to FL. You get the idea - without needing a cross-continent flight home.

The spring break “problem” ordinarily involves low cost, two or three day booze cruises populated by fun-seeking budget-minded students sailing out of Florida ports—- who are unlikely to impact river cruises - which tend to be expensive US-crewed or distant European boat rides.

Good point - drop her at the (very convenient) elevator, have her wait till you park and then join her - avoiding what could be a time-consuming round-about while she had to wait for you at the more crowded terminal entrance.

If you are boarding a ship with four to five thousand other passengers, you have to expect lines, delays, etc. This past September we boarded a small ship, the only one sailing from MCT that day — with just 640 or so others - it was a matter of just walking through - boarding the ship about five minutes after our ride dropped us off in front of the terminal.

Of course. The lines are in business to operate profitably -not to make bargain hunters happy. If you want a particular kind of cabin, select it and pay for it; if you want to save money, let the line assign you cabins that others do not want.