no1talks

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Game room. 

IMG_3784.mov

That game room would be a big plus in my book. I noticed there is a selection of refreshments available as well.

53 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"This Regent Grandeur is just the opposite. The entire ship is over 70 with maybe a dozen underage."

This speaks to my concerns vis-à-vis Regent, Silversea, Crystal, and Seabourn.

Cruiselines do what they do with a customer base in mind. If the aforementioned lines are presenting what septuagenarians (and those more senior) see as luxurious cruising, would I, being 15 to 20 years younger, see things in a similar manner?

Seven pairs.

Three-shades-of-blue boat shoes.
White dress leather sneakers.
Burgundy beefroll pennies.
Black patent leather cap-toe oxfords.
Closed-toe leather huaraches.
Water shoes for rocky beaches. (Don't want to be surprised.)
Nikes for active port excursions. 

15 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Didn't know there was a correlation between gout and seafood ?"

Without going too far into the weeds, gout can be aggravated by too much animal protein in general terms. Mollusks and crustaceans can be particularly inflammatory. Organ meat, too, should be eaten only sparingly if at all.

30 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Sorry. Our only familiarity with Cunard was sailing on their Cunard Princess in the 1980's and we do not recall ever having such a distinguished library on board as you posted.

Well, that was just a princess. Now, Cunard only has queens. 😉

I'm very glad Cunard will begin homeporting Queen Elizabeth in North America year-round, starting in '26. Itineraries will be divided between Alaska and the Caribbean.

Of course, the transatlantic route will continue with Queen Mary. This is our likely 2026 cruise, a roundtrip transatlantic. We're still debating which season.

8 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Here the guests are older and sleep later."

Hmm...

The advantages of relative youth and speed may prove reason enough to reconsider. 

Frankly, I've been somewhat disinclined to give Regent a try. Too casual for me. (Full disclosure: We were booked with them once, but called it off when they moved the embarkation port offshore to Barbados.)

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"This is the nicest Library at sea."

Cunard would like a word...

11 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

This may be nitpicking, but taking a shower is reminiscent of the old days when someone on the ship flushes a toilet and one is blasted with a spirt of scalding water. I guess it is now considered a water saving device to jump in and quickly jump out before another toilet flushes.

Not nitpicking at all.

For the prices charged by Regent, a thermally-stable shower should be assured.

I have never had an MSC shower go cold or hot, in or out of YC.

I get tip envelopes from the concierge station and fill the envelopes on the morning of the last full day of the cruise.

During that day and evening, I quietly thank the staff members and hand them their envelopes.

No need to scramble and give someone their tip while leaving the ship.

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"Plain food with no salt, a piece of chocolate cake, an apple crumble or piece of apple pie and  we are fine."

Don't forget the gruel. Cruise gruel is the best!

3 hours ago, LittleFish1976 said:

 

One evening I asked for a cocktail that didn't appear on the menu and simply asked if that could be made within the limitations of the package. Waiter said it could and had it made for me. Very simple.

I'm more of a forewarned-is-forearmed sort of person.

If I know the official method of computing non-standard drink prices, I can order a drink without having a 2nd choice order at the ready.

48 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

Then what would I use for mouthwash?

The juniper berries in gin might, perhaps, provide an outdoorsy, pine-scented note to one's breath. Maybe you have a red flannel shirt?

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"10 bottles + In Yacht Club."

It's a good thing YC gives you two bottles of vodka.

If you run out of Lysol, you can use one of the bottles as a sanitizer.

Can an unforced error like this still be partially recouped with the cancel-for-any-reason provision of travel insurance?

For purposes of staying within the $13.50 price limit of the drink package, how does Cunard price cocktails not appearing on their menu? One-liquor drinks would seem to be simple enough, but what about libations calling for two, three, or even four alcoholic ingredients? Thank you in advance for your expertise.  

44 minutes ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"The walls are not magnetic in our suite. Only the cabin door."

Ceiling?

35 minutes ago, PTC DAWG said:

I have never had an issue with it on Celebrity 

I'm no expert on typical Celebrity cruisers, but I'd wager the rowdies on MSC these days are more likely to indulge in mischief than the most rambunctious of Celebrity cruisers.

1 hour ago, ilovesparky13 said:

No, that is NOT what I said, nor what I meant. Mini golf has no cost associated with it. It just sits there day and night and you don’t need staff to watch over it. It is free in the same way that using the pool and hot tubs are free.

Do they let you on the ship for free?

Let's see if you get this example: If I pay $500 to attend a charity gala and a member of the catering staff hands me a glass of underwhelming bubbly, was the bubbly free? No. It was included. I only had access to it because I paid the 500 bucks in the first place. Cruises are the same. 

Everything "free" is predicated on money being paid to get on the ship in the first place. Even people who are on a cruise with a casino comp have paid for that cruise with past losses at the tables/slot machines. Veteran cruisers who have collected a cruise through a loyalty program have still paid for that cruise over years of sticking with the brand. 

Exempting a small percentage of passengers who are invited guests of the cruise line and pay nothing to be on the ship, shuffleboard is not free.

This isn't a difficult concept to grasp, really.

 

47 minutes ago, ilovesparky13 said:

*****? It’s free on every other cruise line. 

I think you mean, "It's included in the price of every other cruise line."

MSC charges extra for plenty of things and that is part of what keeps their cruise prices low.

17 hours ago, WantedOnVoyage said:

"A sea of chinos and polo shirts made more dismal amidst the impressive interiors.  Like a lawn boys convention at The Ritz."

This comment made my day and I thank you.

Lawn boys at the Ritz. That's delightful. 😆

1 hour ago, frankhi said:

You wrote "Speaking as one of the many Crystal “fossils”... the only time fossil is used in this thread is when you called yourself one... 

Nope. Referring to Crystal passengers as fossils occurred in a Friday morning post.

"With all it's pools and bars the ship was designed for a younger cliental rather than the fossils that permeate Crystal."

2 hours ago, Morgsmom said:

"Not in the mood for more cutbacks."

Indeed, who would be?

Unfortunately, the alternatives are to pay more for YC-or-better cruise amenities elsewhere or just save your money and cruise with fewer refinements. 🤔

1 hour ago, morpheusofthesea said:

"World America is mine"

"All the years I've waited for this. The ship is mine! I have the ship. The ship is mine. I got it!" 
 

16 hours ago, bruce85 said:

"I'm wondering if I call maybe I could add the other two, or does MSC allow friends to book a bottle of wine as a gift,.I know other lines allow this."

Just call up the captain and say, "Please bring me my wine."

(I just couldn't resist.)

6 hours ago, Beamafar said:

"The answer is 14 ships so far."