NowVoyager2

They should enforce a similar law in Florida...

What cruise did you choose?

Ritz Carlton is coming out with their ships that look very nice & we like the Ritz Carlton Hotels.

Crystal ships are old, small staterooms/ships were originally built for Asian markets & passengers quite old & be ready to dye your hair before boarding.

We avoid Carnivore Corp lines except  Cunard.

It's TRUE about the mega ships / ship within a ship concept.  There is no getting around the thousands of other passengers. 

We did Azamara several years ago & really enjoyed it....food, service, facilities on board.

We also like Siversea for the European flair. We cruise for destinations now so that determines our choice.

Amazingly we took a msc shop to get to our winter home..a balcony cabin w breakfast delivered, most meals in buffet...no prom nites etc and we enjoyed it..better than any airport experience.

How was your cruise???🚢

The difference in a classic Atlantic Liner is in design of couse & when it was built...the airplane was the death of many liners & original corporate owners..QE2 & FRANCE were perhaps the last of PURPOSELY BUILT ATLANTIC LINERS.

Unfortunately /fortunatelyt it was Carnivore Corp that redefined the passenger ship industry.

Just because a ship is built bigger doesn't mean it's better.....QM2 was built to handle the north Atlantic run but equally important for economic reasons it was to do cruises.

Anyone that sailed QE2 & QM2 knows the difference & it has nothing to do with faux edwardian interiors.  Oh how I wish I had sailed on the UNITED STATES in its day....I believe it even did a 4 day run once.  

I've sailed both ships & would pick QE2 over QM2. As someone mentioned the thrill of going at top speed is a joy...even the captains & officers love giving the ship all.

And dont forget the option for sailing QE2 one way & flying the Concorde Jet the other...the best of engineering, design, service & lots of thrills from the moment you stepped onboard. Again the Concord was an airplane but certainly not just another passenger plane.

Matson line also had "liners" built for the Pacific run...purposely built, lovely & ended up doing cruises also.

Its not what you have but what you do with it that counts.

So my point being ..just because you have the equipment doesn't mean your a member of the club.🚢

On 1/7/2020 at 10:34 PM, KroozNut said:

 

Assistance with what? And an explanation of what... heavy seas? 🙄

Common sense & experience would of dictated the ship be kept in NYC, as the QE2 was( and 1 other ship headed to Bermuda).

I was travelling with older relatives & my heart went out to others that were injured in the hurricane. "Heavy seas" are not hurricane force seas.

Celebrity, & the captain were negligent in taking us into that storm.  Better communications & assistance w securing the cabins while the ship was closed down for 2 days would of helped.

If you were not a passenger you have no idea what I am referring to.

Yes 3rd Gen Cunarder...that was Hurricane Eduardo..I wish we had been on QE2. The banging on the hull continued all the way back to nyc... the shop was a mess & it took several days for that poor crew to get the ship back on some order.  There were many with severe bruises etc..slings & crutches...thankfully we were ok.  Many people swore off cruising completely.

YEARS ago when the lines were independently owned the captains were truly the masters of their ships...

Post Carnival/ Carnivore & RCCL conglomerants the only masters were the CEOs & their bonuses..leading to today's cruise industry.

QE2 was fabulous to sail In...no matter where or when..glad you got to enjoy her ..even in a hurricane.

Funny thing is I had taken my Aunt & my parents as my Aunt was experiencing the start of Alzheimer's.  My dad was a WW11 Navy man.  He told just to watch my aunt & he took care of my mother in their cabin on the other side of the ship.  We had outside midship cabins thankfully.  On the last nite I got up to dance with my Aunt...and the first thing she said what a wonderful week we had..and just beautiful weather...I just laughed & agreed with her.

I was on meraviglia in October 2019 for 13 days..Fantastica Balcony cabin on deck 13.

I asked for late se as ting & was assigned a certain dining room.

On the first day the matre'd was available to make some changes.  I asked for a table for 2 so I could eat alone( no problem). As far as time they sort of float a 15 minute for seating ..so if I had 8pm I could arrive at 8:15.

I like to eat late so I did take the extra 15 minutes.

.it was never a problem & I ate on land ,& in the specialty restaurants onboard & buffet.

Check the first day. Be nice & the restaurant staff will do their best to fulfill most requests.

In the 1990s we went on a Celebrity Zenith cruise to Bermuda out of NYC. The first day we were told there was a storm that would delay our arrival into Bermuda.  A NCL ship & one other line kept their ships in NYC for an extra day. Celebrity & their captain made the decision to sail

.we endured 24 hours of hurricane force winds..we were restricted to our cabins..people & furniture were tossed about.  There were dents on both sides of the bow from the force of the pounding of the ocean. 

Not once were we offered assistance.  Or an explanation.  Just the usual PR of "thank you for sailing w celebrity & we look forward to seeing you again".

After many cruises we never returned to Celebrity.  It's the usual corporate stance where the lawyers have covered the cruise line & the $$$ are in their pockets.

Funny that Celebrity grew out of the old Greek Line which had the worst reputation & ships in the industry.

So get the best insurance & beware..

There isn't much common decency these days when it comes to business.

Back in the 1970's, 1980's we took 5 day crossings on both QE2 & FRANCE. It was wonderful being on those ships for the purpose they were built for.  Mostly as transport for longer European holidays but we also did 5 day crossings w 2 or 3 days in London and flew one way. The QE2 was spectacular as she cut through the Atlantic ocean even in the. Winter.  One year I did the first leg of the world cruise on her ...the ship just listed a bit & then sped/ cut through the Atlantic Ocean & all that it gave her.  The FRANCE was more of a roller but we loved her also.

Sorry to say there is nothing like them today...even QM2 is more cruise ship than oceanliner.

My favorites were the old Italian Line😊😋😘🌎🗽🌁🚢🚢🚢

Hi.. 

I was on the repo 13 day NYC to miami cruise 28 Oct - 10 Nov 2019 cruise...

I was apprehensive at first but had sailed msc smaller ships a few years back... I really enjoyed it.

There was a posted daily gl gathering in the starlight lounge each evening around 6 PM I believe.  I never joined but there about 8 guys there most evenings.

The gym is nice and the equipment varied.  I just use treadmill & free weights.  There is a small sauna in the locker room area that I used.

The spa I did not use because I'm not into it.  I did make 2 appts to get my haircut onboard & each time they were over booked so i left.

There are so many varied lounges..something for everyone...starlight lounge...ask for Mohammad & the captain at the bar & ask for a MOJO.  there is an english pub, champagne bar and several other.  

I ate most meals in the buffet simply because I was solo & preferred alone time.  The food was good, varied & if I wanted something..just ask.  The pizza is great and try the gelato on deck 6.

I booked a Fantastica balcony room on deck 13 midship & had breakfast delivered every day.

I've tried most lines since the 1970s and would pick MSC over ncl, rccl etc.

I like the European flavor...

This was cruise was just transport to florida but I really enjoyed it.

Have fun & remember to ask for Muhammad & the captain at the bar  in the starlight lounge...bon voyage

Bon VOYAGE 🌎

It's a chilly 55 degrees here in Ft Lauderdale..

So bundle up & have a hot toty as you sail...