EGG

OP booked New Years but for others I just want to add that if you have a port day on Xmas day, it is the one day of the year when almost everything is closed.  So check the port dates before you book.

 

 

I've been on three longer Christmas/New Years cruises (RCCL, HAL, Cunard).  I definitely vote for New Years.  We saw people carrying on small trees, tons of presents.  Decorations on doors were torn down by other peoples children.  Xmas carols, and the Captain read the night before Xmas for the Xmas eve entertainment.  I am not Christian, but I think Xmas should be a family time.

 

New Years is meant to celebrate with thousands of people and that is what you get on a cruise ship.  It is the closest thing to times square without being in the cold for hours in times square.  Plus you pay a lot to celebrate New Years at home, so if you are someone who likes to go out for dinner and dancing on New Years, that pays for that day on the cruise.

 

RCCL did a much better job of both Xmas and New Years than the other 2 lines.

 

 

Not much to enjoy on the ship the last morning except an early breakfast in the dining room. (Which is usually more rushed than at sea breakfast.)

 

You might want to consider scheduling a private tour on debarkation day that will end at the airport. Maybe you can find someone on your roll call to share.

 

Alternatively, most cruises have excursions on debarkation day for people with late flights.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

We did an eastbound on a ship with an enclosed solarium. This a great feature for any heavy sea day cruise, even Hawaii which we did twice. A US port stop of Boston. The 3 European ports were terrific, (Cork, Brugges, and Cherbonne), as well as the final port where we did a short tour on the way to a hotel. Others joined us for the tour and continued in the van to the airport for late afternoon flights. I can't even remember immigration, but something to consider. I'd ask someone who did this recently.

 

On our westbound, no enclosed solarium, so huddled under blankets in the corner near door for afternoon nap. The ports were Boston, N.Y. overnight and Cape Kennedy. For us this was transportation from a European cruise home and not much more expense than plane tickets. Immigration was horrendous for the 3,100 non US citizens who wanted to see Boston. Only maybe half an hour for us who were 2 of 350 US citizens. Even though I lived 65 years in NY/NJ there is nothing like sailing into Manhattan and being in Times Square in the evening.

 

To sum, take into consideration ship, ports, and the ports you will start out and end up in.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

We stayed in one of these on Oasis and it was awesome. I’d definitely book one again. The extra room up front came in really handy and it felt so much bigger.

Same here.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Had a virtual balcony. A gimmick at best. More like a picture on the wall. If it is the location you like better then take it. Otherwise I suggest the balcony for natural light.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

For lots of information, go to the ports of call boards, then Europe and the Med countries. You can get all kinds of information on hotels. Probably 15 years ago we took the train from Rome to Venice and I was able to get step by step instructions by searching. I also wrote a detailed step by step post of what we did and where we stayed. If you do not know how to get to those boards or search, just ask.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Call the cruise line as new passengers and see if there are any available cabins for 2 somewhere else on the ship. Hold the cabin and see if your TA can move you.

 

You might need to move to a different category.

 

Call the cruise line twice a day and see if anything opens up. Call your travel agent twice a day and see if anything opens up on the ship. If you are past final payment the travel agent is getting their commision, so with a bad agent you have to keep calling.

 

I have never done this so I dont know how it would come together, but I would try. I did book a cruise a few weeks out and cganged my cabin a few days out when someone cancelled. I was checking online.

 

Remember, the cruiseline really does not want to move you to a cabin for 2 in another part of the ship. That sticks them with a cabin for one which is almost impossible to resell, so keep the story quiet while you call for a different cabin. (don't know if it changes how they would treat you, but I am guessing any travel agent would rather get a new guest).

 

If you dont know how to search, post your ship, sailing day and cabin plus cabin type. There are great people on these boards and someone might just search for you. I know they find the greatest flights.

 

Good luck

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Check online if there is ANY availability on the ship.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

I think you know the answer. Just say no if you don't want to get anyone in trouble.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

You should start a new thread to ask this, because many will see the title of this one and not open. this question has been asked before, and some relate success, others not. I believe if you ask on the ship, people have been told no. It might seem like they are trying to avoid customs. Peple trying to mail souvenirs home...even people trying to take off dirty laundry and go to a laundromat...EM

On a trans Atlantic last year several people wanted to leave in the Orlando cruise stop rather than continue to Miami. We had already stopped at Boston and NY. I believe I read on the roll call that they were first denied and then told they could for $75 to pay the agents that needed to be there. If this is correct, I would definitely call the cruise line ahead of time to let them know your interest. They may need to have a certain number of people to make this economically feasable.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

I saw you taking photos of me and hid behind the balcony divider. :)

 

Seriously, on our last cruise, my spouse spent an average of an hour a day on the balcony. Value firmly established.

 

This message may have been entered via voice recognition. Please excuse any typos.

On our Panama canal cruise my husband forced himself to go out on the balcony 15 minutes a day because we had spent the extra money. It was so hot and humid. When we went through the canal we could not use the balcony because all you saw was the wall. In our 20 cruises since we have never taken a balcony, even when a balcony guarantee was only $100 more than the inside we had chosen. Lack of value FOR US firmly established.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Why not stay over in a hotel for one night. If there is no room available when you get to hotel they will hold your luggage. Pick your hotel according to what you want to do. Check FL departure boards.

 

We always stay the extra day in Europe. 2 days touring for the price of one night.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Usually the OV cabins are on the lower decks. We prefer an upper deck between 2 floors of cabins, preferably on the staircase near the fitness center. If the cabin size is equal we would choose the inside. The fact that the inside is less expensive is just an added bonus.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Early December is probably the cheapest time of the yeat.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

We prefer 14 night cruises. Just remember if you enjoy the entertainment a back to back on the same ship repeats a lot of the entertainment. We recently did 28 days combining 14 day cruises on 2 entirely different cruiselines. 2 unique experiences and itineraries. (The second cruise was a trans Atlantic that happened to leave the day cruise 1 debarked. A great way for us to get home.)

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

For the next time, consider staying over a night. You get 2 days vacation for the price of one hotel night.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Don't forget you probably drink less on port days and the evening before port days. And will your children with you affect the amount you drink?

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Was on a transatlantic this year from UK to Miami. Majority of passengers were from UK. Unlike many of us Americans, they were enthralled by the palm trees, vegetation, and the different ambiance of Florida. There are also beautiful white sand beaches at many hotels. So I say go for 2 days.

 

I think you will find the price of the hotel much cheaper if you book it yourself than through the cruise line. You can choose a hotel that has the amenities you want. Also, the taxi cost from the hotel to the port will probably be reasonable enough to not have to hang around for the cattle call cruise line bus (which you pay for in the hotel package price).

 

I would check the Florida departure boards for more info on hotels, etc.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

The sad part is we found the glow wears off from just 2 cruises a year. Once we retired we did not need cruises to unwind.

 

Sounds like you need to buy a condo/house in Florida or some other place where you can live for part of the year.

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

Just asking others who see this - could someone else replace dad on cruise, maybe an aunt or good friend of mom, (especially if you dont charge them for cabin) or is it too late?

 

Sent from my SM-T113 using Forums mobile app

We usually do insides and our cruises are usually longer. The cruise that turned us off balconies was a Panama Canal cruise. Although we were on a higher deck, I think deck 7 on the Volendam, all you could see was the wall as you went through canal. It was so hot and humid in November, we had to force ourselves to sit outside on the balcony for a few minutes every day.. I looked enviously at the inside cabins across the hall that cost half the price.

 

We know our cruising style and it is get up early and spend the day out and about the ship. Spend lots of time reading, walking the promenade, lectures, trivia, a few movies and assorted other daily activities.

 

On a 14 day cruise there is just so much time I am going to spend looking at the ocean from my room because I've already done it from the public areas.

 

Interestingly enough, when it comes time to plan your Panama Canal day, most people here will tell you to get off the ship (if that is an option).

 

Bottom line, if you will only cruise in a balcony cabin, of course get one. If you are only getting a balcony for the PC day, read every by ones comments and decide if you will use it in the very humid weather.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

Yes. We traveled with an older friend and her daughter on HAL. She purchased several pieces of jewelry. They were called to customs the last morning to give a list of the liquor they had purchased, which was none. She thought it quite strange that they didn't want to believe an 85 year old woman would like jewelry and not liquor.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

I don't remember any noise and I was on deck 7. That is our main consideration when choosing a cabin.

 

Don't remember being told to close curtains, but we like dark to sleep.

 

The area with curtain is extra space. You do not have to bend to use the regular furniture. If you want to sit and look out window, pull over the chair. Our cabin had the couch closer to windows.

My first thought when I saw that picture was that it was a terrible picture (unless there is a big difference between the cabins in Oasis from Harmony). The picture makes the room look smaller then it is.

 

There are tons of places to eat on ship including a good selection in the solarium. One of the free grab and go eating venues on the promenade is also by the forward elevators and steps.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app

No. I turn my phone off.

 

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Forums mobile app