jsn55

I agree. Airlines couldn't care less if you make your connection or not. They seem to think it's fine to 'just take the next flight out', like we have nothing else to do but diddle around trying to reach our destination.

I find this policy of Viking's regarding Shore Ex to be borderline offensive. "Pay more and you get better choices"? Just because they're too lazy to figure it all out and make sure there are enough Shore Ex to accommodate most of the pax? UGH.

I can see no pax benefits to a TA on a ship scheduled for drydock. I'd switch to a different ship if you can.

This a great post! How anyone can count on the opinions of organizations, famous chefs, or glossy travel magazine polls for dining information is beyond me. None of the above have much relevance to real travellers.

What an awful experience. It seems insane that Princess doesn't care about customer service, but apparently this whole medallion rigamarole has been around for years, sometimes doesn't work, and Princess just denies the problem. It's nuts, just nuts. We all faced enough uncertainty and baloney through the virus hysteria, do we really need more from a cruiseline that has our money? Our upcoming Christmas cruise will be make-or-break with me and Princess; if I have to do cartwheels to get things done on THEIR system, then I AM DONE with Princess. I am not going to lift a finger if there are issues checking in online.

Viking is sold out for years because they spend billions on relentless advertising. And they offer people nice discounts that can only be obtained by prepaying a cruise ... no matter how far out. I'm sure that some TAs can get around this. I agree with our colleagues ... find all the ships of a size you want, read reviews, then read more reviews. There are so many factors that go into what people 'like' that you really have to dig into it all and make up your own mind on all the various categories. That's what I do when planning any kind of travel ... just keep at it until your mind knows exactly what to book. Use the various boards to ask specific questions.

What a wonderful, thoughtful gift to mark such a special cruise! Your group will be just delighted!

I want to thank each and every poster on this thread. This kind of mindless tech game is exactly what drives me nuts these days. If it had not been for CC, I'd have assumed the problems were mine, but it's obvious that Princess has no interest in good customer service. This upcoming cruise is our first with Princess, and probably our last. Knowing what I know now from CC, I'm done with the whole medallion thing. I'll just enter what I can on the web version and show up at the port with my docs whenever I want to board. That's worked fine in the past and no reason it won't work fine this time. I'll put the app on my phone and try to use it onboard. If not, I'm done with it all. Companies who prioritize their procedures over the customer's needs do not need my money.

Trainers and leather walking shoes. I can't wear the same shoes to tour in every day, or I'd only need one of them. Also black velvet 'dinner' slippers and sandals. Except where required, I'm mostly barefoot on the ship.

Ah Beall's! I'd fly to Florida just to shop at Beall's ... sometimes the buyers have 'your taste' and you just love most of their clothes. I'm a T-shirt-dress girl ... wear it in the morning with coffee on the balcony, after my shower, over a swimsuit, after dinner, taking a nap, drinking wine on the balcony. I make a hobby out of looking for the most garish one I can find that's very lightweight. I love those stores in Florida crammed full of 'beach stuff' ... my current fave is hot pink with something painted on the front that could be a dolphin or a turtle ... it has leopard-print 'wings', so maybe it's a seagull. It was $5.

For others who may read this post ... you probably don't receive any special notices about future cruise credits from any cruise line. During the virus hysteria, when a cruise was cancelled, credits were established and communicated. The pax were expected to read, understand and monitor them. Anyone with credits from a cruise line or an airline should figure out the best way to keep track of it all. Many, many credits have been extended and it's important to know exactly where you stand.

I think it's important that you contact HAL right away. You need to know the exact status of your res, all the details. I would review all the old emails and phone notes you may have made and jot down the timeline and what you think you have at HAL. Don't be put off by 'customer service' clerks who 'can't talk to you', you need a supervisor who can handle this. On the phone, be organized, polite and patient. Define 'TA is gone', be specific. Once you have an understanding of what's on HAL's books, tell them again that the TA is unresponsive and ask to take your res back. Once it's all complete, ask for a confirmation via email. If this res doesn't get all its ducks in a row, you could face denial of boarding. A TA who would just disappear and leave clients in the lurch is reprehensible; everything needs to be reviewed very carefully.

An internet search will give you all the OTAs in the world, it's not limited to where you live. You use an OTA for research, then book your cruise directly with the cruise line once you've made your decision. If you're looking for a 'real travel agent' that's a different situation.

I agree. I use one excellent OTA for research ... an hour spent today in an internet search will yield you all kinds of them. "Test drive" a few and you'll quickly find one set up the way you like it; one that you can use consistently.

For others reading this topic ... we stayed at the HI Waikiki and liked it very much. Basic, attractive, good staff. We had a little balcony and could see the ocean. They sent us over to Jimmy Buffet's in the morning, however, and it was the only bad breakfast we've had anywhere except at a truck stop in Bismark South Dakota in 1976.

You should look at Cunard ... we paid no more than 'usual' for a mini-suite on Queen Victoria a couple of years ago. I heard a talk by the GM of a seriously-high-society London hotel which was just fascinating. Also a 'demonstration' by an artist who produced very interesting paintings, but it was dismal. She sat on the stage painting away while her husband babbled on about nothing. No connectivity whatsoever. Even if she wasn't going to demonstrate, it would have been interesting to learn how she developed such a unique style. Very disappointing ... and I suppose that's why cruise lines don't bother any more.

I'm with you, couldn't possibly sleep without the sound machine. I was delighted to find out that you just download an app on your phone and it's a GREAT sound machine ... one less item to pack.

Haven't read all the answers, but I was just looking at our scrapbook from our first trip to Oahu. We rented a car and stayed up at Turtle Bay for several nights, toured all around the North Shore. We then spent 5 nights at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. We loved both hotels, and were surprised at how much we enjoyed Oahu ... the combination of 'countryside' and 'Waikiki' seemed just right.

I'd keep it simple; book FLL hotel with shuttle to cruise port. On arrival in MIA, taxi or whatever to FLL hotel.

I agree ... I have a whole box of 'little bags' from flights. I can dig up a container for almost anything in 2 minutes.

What a good question! I could never be happy without my laptop and the ability to get online whenever I wish. I'd sooner bash my head against the wall than compose emails on a phone. Don't want to use a public place but like to curl up in the cabin and be comfy. I always get the full internet package on a ship, usually upgrading from whatever freebie my TA arranges. I do a bit of business, but really I just like to 'know stuff' when I want to know it. My little Della is not a burden to tote and I love having access to the internet whenever I need it. Now having said all this, of course, the internet 'at sea' is awful, constantly disappearing ... but not for very long. Takes some getting used to.

We just got home from NCL Pearl. I remember a 'solo's lounge' on the Deck Plans, and pretty sure there were some activities available. Did you do a generic search for 'NCL Sun cruise ship solo activities'? I think the internet's now so stuffed with information that searches sometimes don't show you everything like in the good ol' days.

I think you're right about St Petersburg ... the place is so special that I'd wait to book this cruise until it's back on the ports schedule again.

Lots of them. Do some searches on any online booking service. Come back with specific questions. You can book directly with the cruise line, or through a cruise-expert travel agent. It's a great trip.

We are cruising to the Hawaiian Islands out of SF 12/22. Will we need more than a windbreaker for walking outside on Sea Days?