LB_NJ

I just received the booklet with labels for my July 1 trip.

Not sure about the question on currency. You will need some cash after you have disembarked. I assume you have arranged for more US dollars in the US and a way (e.g., ATM machine) to replenish dollars while you are here. Arranged for dog friendly accommodations on the trip. All shots for the dog and proof thereof.

However, free money is possible for those who wish to achieve it.

There is "no such thing as a free lunch." Any on-board credit is somehow tied to the cruise line charging you more then they need to for the cruise. By paying higher then necessary commission to a travel agent who then gives you back some of your own money in OBC.

It all comes out of the fares you have already paid.

I’ll have to ask her exactly what cruise line but I believe she has sailed with Princess in the past.

We were on Princess in January and they did a nice afternoon tea. Even had music playing.

odds of spending no money onboard? We got the soda package, prepaid for the shore excursion and plan to only eat at free places. Are we being unrealistic to think we can spend little to nothing onboard? No drinking or gambling.

It really depends on your willpower. Will you be tempted to buy a souvenir in one of the stores. A cocktail, even once. You can get away without spending anything extra however, I have not managed this.

One thing you do have to be careful about is if you spend on anything it can add up fast so you really need to keep track. Also, if a crew member offers a mixed drink (e.g., at sail away) it may not be free.

Also, I would strongly recommend packing any over the counter medication (e.g., cough drops, Ibuprofen, band aids, etc.) that you might need/want.

Although not technically onboard:

Usually you need a couple of dollars to tip the person (e.g., tour guide) providing the Shore Excursion. You don't absolutely have to but it is generally expected

Also, you will probably need a few dollars a bag to tip the porters at the dock where you board.

I figure I will just call their office. If they want to make the web site difficult I will use up their agent's time.

I saw something strange in the Countdown to Cruise:

How much in dollars are the bears, can OBC be used?

First, you didn't say how old you are. That really matters. If you are a younger teen look at this as a last vacation with your parents where you will be going to interesting places.

I also agree with the posters who ask about port days. If the vast majority of days are in ports AND your parents are going to be off ship those days then the ship is really just transport and hotel (you are there for breakfast and dinner, sleeping and transport overnight to the next port of call) and you will be spending most of the time on shore with your parents. Look at sea days the same as a rainy day at home where you can't go anywhere.

If however, there are many sea days then you might want to try and convince the parents to find a different cruise ship. I was on a Princess cruise out of Florida when school was in session and the very few teens on-board seemed bored out of their mind's. The few young children (grammar school and younger) didn't care because they were having fun with their parents.

does anyone know what dock # they usually use - need to give it to a limo service

Does Insignia offer transportation to the airports for a price?

How crazy is it at the port when we depart

It sounds like you will be flying in the same day as the cruise. You should be aware that New York airports, especially Newark (EWR) are crazy. The slightest weather (eg drizzle) causes delays.

In the winter there is a very real chance of cancellation due to snow.

Personally I would fly in the night before.

Some of the shore excursions through RCCL say dress nice. It depends on what you book.

I would call. Just logged on this morning without problem. Still don't like their new web site.

I assume they have a minimum price they want for the JS. Have you tried calling and offered to pay for 3 people and only have 2 sail?

Happened to be in Las Vegas a couple of days ago. Nice bar charged $18 a cocktail. I have paid that in NY city.

I agree. But surely the point is that Cunard is in the minority as a formal line. It is the only line that can continue to attract that minority that still want to dress up. We are in our 50's and love dressing up. I would like to think Cunard would be getting another 20 years out of us. Also my son (who is 30) recently (before the change) booked his first cruise. They could get 50 plus years of bookings from him. I am certain there are enough people in the minority who want to keep dressing up, to keep filling Cunard ships for many years to come if they kept the formal dress codes.

I think they are making a marketing mistake. Many large companies completely screw up. I have yet to hear a clear explanation of why people would cruise on Cunard instead of another line once the dress code changes. If you travel Britannia there are other lines that would provide the same experience at lower rates. If you travel Grills there are other luxury lines where the WHOLE ship is a luxury class.

There is a building in Manhattan that I still happen call the Pan Am building because that is what it was called when I was young.

We will have to see.

I think the proof lies in the luxury lines that are a step or two above Cunard. Carnival owns one and has first hand knowledge of that space and it’s demographic. Wealthy people as a whole travel more casually these days than they ever have. Seabourn embraced this with a generally casual dress code. If they required tuxedos every other night those ships would sail at significantly reduce capacity. Every single one of those passengers spends what you spend per cruise on Cunard and some significantly more. Look at the others- Silversea, Regent, all the same when it comes to dress.

 

Someone had said it before- Carnival Corp is like General Motors. They have many different brands for different buyers but in the end they usually get your money. Cunard can easily fill Grills berths with already loyal Seabourn folk who will respond to a changed dress code and frankly spend more money. Is it a fluke that while this is happening the Grill suites now receive free booze to mimic Seabourn’s model? Not likely.

 

The two things I’ve noticed throughout this thread is that there’s such a narrow focus that people don’t realize how much more casual the world is today in business and travel and the die hards take it so personally. Cunard isn’t doing this to upset you- they’re making changes and responding to market conditions so they can continue to be successful. As a traveler I’m a little disappointed but as a shareholder I’m quite pleased.

I have a question. I don't have the experience to make a comparison. Why would a Seabourn customer travel on Cunard even with a change of dress code? Except for the change of dress code, is the experience identical? The Seabourn ships seem to have much less capacity.

We have been following this thread from the beginning and have the same question a few others have raised namely- for those of you who have cancelled or are cancelling your Cunard voyages because of a language change to the dress code, which line(s) are you going to switch to that require a dark suit or sport jacket for men, every night in every venue? A quick sampling: Oceana-no, Regent-no, Azamara-no, Silversea-no, all river cruise lines-no. After 50 plus cruises on ships of all sizes and types, we will be "test driving" Cunard for the first time next year. One of the deciding factors was that I can & will wear some of the beautiful clothes I own which spend most of their time in my closet. We fully intend to comply with the dress code as written, but I don't imagine our voyage experience will be decided by what someone may wear in the pub or casino. So for those apparently giving up Cunard voyages (and cruising in general) it will be interesting where they find the always formal atmosphere they are looking for.

I am not quite sure I understand the statement. You can always wear what you want. You could wear a tuxedo each night at diner on Oceania, Regent, Azamara, Carnival, etc. I have not sailed them (yet) however I doubt anyone would stop you. For me, I would not give up cruising, just that the price on Cunard would have to be price competitive with other cruise lines

and they will not be able to charge ANY premium based on dress code.

Personally, having a cruise booked for July I hope not too many people wear bathing suits, baseball caps and sleeveless t-shirts to afternoon tea. Dressing like that for the dining rooms or Verandah for lunch wouldn't bother me that much but not tea.

I happened to book a cruise to Canada on QM2 but that was because I wanted to see what that ship was like.

Having been to Boston and Acadia and done the drive from NJ/NY I would ABSOLUTELY recommend the drive over cruise.

Personally I would spend a day or two in Boston and at least one or two full days in Acadia National Park.

Driving also lets you go a little inland if there is something you want to see.

I haven't done this trip in October. It might be getting a little toward the cold side. Would look at the average weather for the period. Also, the peak leaf season average for the period.

I have also done a lot of driving in the Northeast, eg from NJ/NY out to the Pittsburgh area. As mentioned above you might want to skip flying altogether.

There is no guarantee that the ship will be in port at the time expected, that customs will be fast, that luggage will get off the ship timely, etc.

How much of a risk are you willing to take?

Sorry, but something like shorts & T shirts on Oceania & most lines at dinner in the MDR IS inappropriate & yes, I will say something! Sometimes you have to appoint yourself, because too many pax(such as yourself) are either too cowardly or just plain don't care. Yes, it DOES matter to me how pax dress(within obvious reason) I don't care to drop several thousand $$ to dine with pax who feel it's their God given right to totally ignore the dress code & then don't give a crap how offensive they may look. Saw a guy on Cunard several years ago who somehow snuck past the Maître D into the dining room dressed in a skanky pair of shorts & a wife beater T shirt. During the day I could have not cared, but it was formal night. Yes, I confronted all 6'-6" of the guy. I told him it was totally inappropriate dress for the evening. He said "whatcha gonna do about it?" I got the Maître D & demanded he have him leave & change. The Maître D booted him out. The area cheered me. I found out from his table mates, he was planning to do this. The group(Brits) were delighted to see him gone. Never saw him in the rest. for the remainder of the cruise. Actually never saw him anywhere on the QM2 after that night. Perhaps that was acceptable for you. For me it wasn't. I just wish more pax would actually have the balls to say something.

While I wouldn't say anything to a fellow PAX I might say something to the

So, if one does not dress like everyone else on the ship, they are "dumb"? Cunard will do whatever they need to increase passenger numbers. They do not care whether the passengers are dressed or not, as long as they have "green". No amount of complaining on this board or to the cruise line will change that.

It is simple, you either like the new dress code or do not. You are either happy with the way Carnival enforces the dress code or not.

If you are not happy then DO NOT TRAVEL ON CUNARD. Find another vacation. If Carnival cannot fill the ships at a price they would like to get, then they will either change their policies or shut the business.

Does anyone have a Cunard email address to reach Cunard so I can ask a detailed question about a specific shore excursion?

There used to be a way to ask questions on the website however that no longer appears to be available for those in the US.

Greetings,

I will be on Sirena next month for an 8 day Cuba cruise.

I dont plan on taking a suit or sport coat.

Just a Guayabera shirt, Hawaiian shirt, linen and docker pants, and huarache shoes. Will these be acceptable wear for evening dining in the MDR and specialty restaurants?

Thank you.

You didn't ask however I would like to know if that dress is acceptable in Cuba at night at the various outings?

I have not been on a princess cruise since 2013. I am going on the crown princess in march 2019. I am not a big drinker, but enjoy a glass of wine now and then. Does anyone know what the charge is for a glass of wine? I know celebrity a few years back had a happy hour before dinner with reduced prices.

Thank you.

It has been posted that BOGO has gone away for now.

We brought two bottles of wine on-board and that was sufficient except we bought wine by the glass a couple of times with dinner.

Between now and when you sail there nay be changes so I would re-ask the question next winter.

Does it really matter if it comes on board frozen, half prepared, or made on board. The real question is quality and how it tastes.

There are MANY foods that do well made a few days ahead or partially made ahead, or many vegetables that would do better brought in frozen.