jsn55

We did a specialty restaurant once (HAL to Alaska I think) and were underwhelmed; it was a gift from my TA and I had to think up nice things to say about it! We never did use the other nights. But we're barbarians, we prefer the buffet. I love a huge salad, lots of good bread and a tiny entree for dinner.

I remembered today a cool trick I thought up last cruise for packing jewelry. I take 4 or 5 pendants on a trip. I put each necklace in a straw (just cut it to half length of the chain) and clasp the chain outside. Place each straw in the finger of a clear disposable glove. The pendant part goes in first. Carefully roll up this little bundle, wrap it in a paper towel and put it in a plastic bag to hold the shape. Your jewelry will make the trip with the pendants protected and the chains untangled. Easy to grab the pendant you want through the clear plastic.

Pretty sure they'll not draw too much power ... but I suppose technically they could be considered a 'heating element' and therefore banned. At sea, I just use plastic rollers on damp hair and sit on the balcony for a while in the breeze.

Grateful for the reference to ship time vs port time. I had no idea. If it's a tender port, try not to catch the 'last one' back to the ship. Lounging on deck with a glass of champagne watching everyone else return is much more enjoyable. Always verify the reboarding deadline as you leave the ship, there will be a sign as you depart. I've heard of last-minute changes after the news is out the evening before ... nobody wants to be a 'pier runner' although they are funny to watch.

Depends on the wattage, not the brand.

Oops, sorry, the MDR is a 'main dining room'. We had dinner there one night, but we prefer to have a small meal late in the afternoon instead of a big dinner, and don't want to be constrained by a reservation. So we mostly dine at the buffet. We don't cruise for the food ... but appreciate a nice setting with good service. I had a kerfuffle about the drinks package the first day, and pitched a polite fit after an hour or two of run-around. For several days, the F&B manager would bring me a glass of champagne when we showed up, that was kinda fun. I agree with you about the published 'rules' on a cruiseship, they're often too general to really answer a question. I'd just check the wattage of your appliance and compare it to a curling wand and a hair dryer ... but I suspect it draws too much current to be allowed on the ship. I can't remember if QV has a self-laundry ... but that would be one place you could use your styler without worrying about the wattage. Forgot to mention that your hair looks much like mine did ... before I 'got old'!!

Highly doubtful. Staffing issues are still a huge problem.

RE: Princess Medallion App SUBJECT: Please be advised, the Medallion App is Worse than Useless

"Transfers" are, in my opinion, a very important item. I will economize on something else if necessary in order to have a smooth experience. The last thing we want at the beginning and the end of a trip is worry about getting wherever we need to go. In addition, I encourage you to learn some basic Italian words before you leave home ... the locals always appreciate the effort.

I just looked to see what a Bogg bag is. $90 for a plastic tote bag at Dillard's. Uh huh. I'm an organization geek as well, but I'd rather carry a plastic bag from CVS.

Why would someone starting a biz making t-shirts mention that she had an autistic son? Only reason I can see is to gain sympathy so people order her shirts. It seems like a good idea, but I don't know how many of us wear t-shirts except to do domestic work.

All else being equal (an impossibility), Cunard is our preferred line. We both love the elegance of the ships themselves. Otherwise, like most, we compare all the variables and make our choice.

This is SUCH an important thing to remember. Can you imagine the managers who have to deal with 100 fewer crew without notice? The virus destroyed much, and one of the things destroyed is adequate staffing almost everywhere. We had no issues on our NCL cruise Quebec-Boston in September, but we are very low maintenance ... often preferring to dine in the buffet late afternoon. I don't want to get walked on, but I do have extra empathy for people trying to run their business after the ugliness of the last 3 years.

You are not alone ... December 22 will be our first, and perhaps our last, Princess cruise. I've never encountered anything as arrogant as this Medallion mess in my life, and I'm fairly computer-literate, with few special requests when we cruise. Apparently this Medallion mess has been going on for YEARS. I can't abide incompetence. I think Princess may be in for a surprise one of these days with their bookings, as fed-up pax book other cruiselines.

What a shame, something we all dread when we are travelling. You have my unending sympathy for what you're going through. It's my belief that the people who run things are primarily concerned about liability, so they'll not be pro-active, but just boot the problem up the chain of command. That will usually result in the most strict measures being enforced. Can't say that I blame them. I think for the next couple of years when I encounter anyone who seems like they have a 'cold', I will politely excuse myself and disappear to disinfect my entire body. Missing a shore ex or dinner is a small price to pay for avoiding the horrendous fallout from a sick person infecting everyone else, no matter what their sickness is.

My husband has trouble standing and walking long distances, I'd like to make boarding as easy as possible. I would have no way of knowing that boarding time is ignored at the pier, would I?

Sounds wonderful! Lady Clairol is my first thought! Envelopes and stamps if you have to send someone something tangible. Extra underwear/lingerie and socks. Extra Rx and vitamins. Spare pair of walking shoes/sandals, glasses, readers. A flash drive if you have to get something printed. Spare swimsuit. What fun you will have!

I am shocked to report that we now have everything complete for 12/22 Royal Princess on my phone. I finally got our arrival time entered and a QR code appeared on my phone screen. Princess says to have this code plus passport ready when boarding. Since I banged around for ten minutes to get the arrival time entered, I have no idea where this QR code resides. How do I pull it up on my phone when we get to the pier?

Neither ... it's a very skinny woman with a large mouth and scads of money who adopts all kinds of children from around the world.

Female here. I start organizing a month out if possible. Divide the number of travel days in half. Lay out that many 'outfits'. Most everything should coordinate with everything else and be hand washable. I pack black & beige plus one bright color. One 'lounge outfit' for the cabin and ship walkies. Travel vest with lots of pockets for Shore Ex. Windbreaker, cardigan. Flashy earrings and/or scarf with velvet slippers for nice dinners. Footwear: trainers, loafers, sandals, flippers.

I spent seven years as a volunteer advocate for an online advocacy. The problems people would encounter with the online booking sites were not to be believed. Of course, we never heard about the successes. And at least a third of the issues were created by the consumer himself. I learned that dealing direct with travel providers is the only way you have a chance to fix a problem on the go ... as long as you know what you're doing in the first place. We had a mantra: "Never book travel with any entity with the word 'cheap' in its name".

So true! I already have a chip on my shoulder with all this Medallion baloney ... Royal Princess will have to be outstanding to impress me on our Christmas cruise. If she's 'worth it', I'll consider Princess in the future. But right now, not a chance. And this technology overreach has been going on for YEARS???? Ridiculous.

I've faced situations like this in the past and I lay out a spreadsheet of the factors that are important to us ... such as how many dining venues, what's included in the cruise fare, evening entertainment, that kind of thing. I look at 5 or 6 scenarios and 'fill in the blanks'. Once that's complete, the choice is usually obvious. You have a LOT of variables to consider, so the quicker you decide on an embarkation port and dates, the better. I agree that booking Christmas needs to happen ASAP. Look at prices carefully, you may get better value on certain sailings, so being flexible in dates might be helpful. Both of you should ask 'everyone' if they have a good travel agent that's a cruise expert. An agent would make everything much easier for you both. Once you get a handle on all the variables, come back with specific questions for us. Cruising at Christmas is SO worth it, just magic to be out at sea celebrating the holidays.

We did a 'perfect' circumnavigation of the UK with Grand Circle on their Corinthian. The ship was small, maybe 50 cabins, and we docked everywhere. GCT really knows how to take care of the pax ... but of course you pay for all that coddling. Each group of 20 pax has their own 'Program Director', so there's a great feeling of comfort knowing you always have someone 'there' for you. The crew is outstanding. There's a 'port talk' every evening that is very comprehensive. It was a great value; there are four 'penthouse' cabins on the top deck that are very comfortable for a 2-week cruise. My only issue was just one dining venue available ... we don't like big dinners every night.