Itchy&Scratchy

Enchanted Princess' free coffee wasn't bad at all (much better than RCI's) - maybe, because it's brewed individually, I am just very particular about it (probably because I don't like coffee that much and it must taste like a hot Frappuccino for me to like it). My husband liked it just fine, but the coffee machines in the buffet were out of service most of the time. The iced coffee at IC was great - creamy and sweet, just the way I like it. It's definitely on the menu: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2897524-enchanted-thanksgiving-2022-southern-caribbean-review-with-patters-menus-and-pics-of-food/page/2/#comment-64403424 I wrote a little about it in my Enchanted review. They also have the same fancy coffee menu at the buffet in the dessert section (Horizon Bistro?) and on deck 7 at Princess Live! Cafe. On RCI we (both me and DH) have to bring Nestle instant coffee with us because RCI's free coffee is undrinkable to either of us.

speaking of eggs - on our latest Enchanted cruise, IC had these amazing tiny egg muffins... OMG. So good. Three different kinds - I want to say spinach and feta, broccoli and mushrooms, and ham and cheese? I would stop by, got a couple of donuts for DS and several egg muffins for me and then I'd head over to the buffet to meet up with my boys. So, IC has some delicious healthy stuff as well. I don't remember seeing the muffins on Regal in 2019, but it's been so long... I usually don't drink free coffee on cruises because I like it a certain way and I cannot get it right, and I don't buy fancy coffee on the cruise because I am frugal, but we had some OBC to burn through, so I got an iced coffee at IC every morning. They were just right. Full of sugar I can't have, but it's once in a lifetime, right?

please use an ultralight stroller with a reclining back instead. If you are planning for him to nap on the beach, would you even need to use a stroller? A chaise or towel on the sand will work just as well. Signed, a mother of a kid who refused to use a stroller since he discovered running at 14 months...

taxi or Uber would be best for Port Everglades to FLL (or the other way). It's only several miles away, and the taxi ride is usually around $20-25 depending on what terminals you are at. Uber is around $20 as well. Holidays and such result in higher rates. Make sure the taxi runs a meter, or they'll dupe you like they did us - $50 for that ride... If you are the only person, compare shuttle prices with taxi/uber before deciding.

Last time in St Maarten we went to Divi Little Bay hotel beach because it was the closest and I didn't do my research. While the water was fine, and the amenities as well, chaises and umbrellas were available cheap, we hated the water entrance - full of small broken shells, super sharp and impossible to avoid. This time we'll go somewhere else. Red is where our chaises were and green arrow points to the only water entrance that wasn't full of shell pieces.

just take a taxi instead. But I would avoid Magens Bay - very crowded and we didn't like it. We much prefer Sapphire beach with our kid. Someone mentioned Secret Sands beach (Lindquist) above - I think Sapphire and Secret beaches are almost identical in beauty, but there are amenities on Sapphire that you may find useful with kids, whereas there were none at the Secret beach. I still think Sapphire is more beautiful. I don't really know if Secret Sands is the same as Secret Harbor or Lindquist. We HAD to purchase this excursion in Nov 2021 because we had an unvaxxed kid with us. Secret Sands in Nov 2021 In St Thomas you can all be on an open air bus which is equally unsafe for everyone, but you won't have to bring a car seat.... Sapphire beach in St Thomas: no entrance fees, lots of natural shade (we need it as we have a blonde and a redhead), $9 per chaise or you could find abandoned ones This is not the beach area per se, but we love to walk to the right of the beach (facing the water) for some photo opportunities: There are some resort grounds behind the beach where you can see lots of iguanas and chickens: By the way, taxi prices have increased dramatically since April 2022. This is November 2022.

and we thought just the opposite. WJ on Harmony in Nov 2021 was spectacular by RCI standards, but we were unpleasantly surprised by the Allure's WJ selections and quality in June 2022. It could be the post pandemic supply problems, but it is what it is.

neither are we. I am lucky if we get out by 9 on a sea day... even on a port day. But the donuts were still in IC when I got there every morning.

patters and some of our impressions of the shows.

42 and pouring rain in Atlanta.

yes - Enchanted Nov 2022.

no, they weren't.... They were just regular donuts. Not Krispy Kreme quality, but the kid liked them. Definitely not like on pre-pandemic Regal. MMMMMMMmmmmmmmm....

what? We were on the Enchanted in November for 10 days, and IC had them EVERY DAY. For breakfast. We got 2 for our kid every day. Now, the variety wasn't like on the pre-pandemic Regal - we miss Nutella filled donuts very much. But they had chocolate glazed, vanilla glazed, lemon glazed and rainbow sprinkles (strawberry flavored, so the kid didn't like the rainbow ones).

they kept seating the 3 of us at a table for 8.... MDR was full... We had a reservation for 6:15. I am sure 5 pm isn't ALL taken at all. They don't reserve a particular table for you on all days. You just show up at your time and they place you where they have availability.

not THIS much to my knowledge. P.S. I am only looking at Princess and MSC in addition to RCI.

maybe, he means the pricing. It's definitely becoming quite "mid to higher end."

but Harmony is a much better and newer ship than Navigator. Isn't it?

same! Except, HE is a programmer. 🙂 I used to be a research assistant, so I guess I have gotten good at it. 🙂 P.S. In all of our cruise history we got the robe only once - it was some kind of a special one time perk that came with the cabin (maybe, from a TA? I don't remember). I still had to request it, but I was thoroughly disappointed - I was a bit fluffy at that time (much fluffier now), but despite being XL, the robe was abysmally small. I hope you enjoy your cruise very much!

lol, mine???? We travel in the cheapest inside cabins, very rarely being able to afford an obstructed balcony. I've only heard of Cunard here on this forum.... I genuinely wanted to know if she paid the same price for a luxury cruise as she did for MSC's Bella cabin and expected the same amenities. I've done my research on MSC on CC and when we (hopefully) sail on Seascape this fall, I will set my expectations a wee bit below Princess and RCI - that way, I won't be unpleasantly surprised if things don't work out as they usually do on those cruise lines. For example, soft serve ice cream is only available at the buffet during meal times, not snack times. At all the other times, we have to either pay for it or have a minor's package.... But soft serve is not really a premium item on most cruise lines. I am glad OP is doing her (his?) own research as well.

she was talking about her Princess cruise.

We refuse to go on older Princess ships after being on Caribbean Princess in 2016. I bet you would have had a completely different experience if you had sailed on one of the newer ships. I wouldn't knock the entire cruise line because of one post-pandemic sailing on an older ship (although, we sort of did with NCL long before the pandemic....). We had just had the most wonderful cruise on Enchanted. We aren't Diamond or anything - just regular folks.

isn't Cunard a luxury cruise line? Did you pay the same for the lowest category on Cunard as you paid for the lowest category on MSC? Not sure why anyone would expect robes and slippers to be available in the no frills category on MSC...

as parents of an 11 yo, we've taken advantage of RCI's KSF program several times over the years. It has always worked correctly for us. We are actually sailing in April for the last time with KSF promotion... DS is turning 12 and by next spring break he will no longer qualify. Unlike on MSC which says "kids sail free" and "free drinks and wifi", but it doesn't mean what you think it means. Free drinks and wifi is actually $180 pp. And KSF - I've done the comparison - you still pay for 3 people. Surprise!

if they are not purchased, how would they have an impact on the final price? And before the final payment?

that's the reason I apply the gift cards when already onboard.