ChutChut

I would try a different dining room or change your dining time to a slower period. Happy Anniversary!

Thank you again for taking all of us along on your fantastic voyage. Your commentary is so helpful, and your pics are lovely. I realize how much time it takes to post this info, etc. so I think I "speak" for everyone in writing that we're all very appreciative!

On 3/11/2024 at 8:17 PM, bobomonkeyrage said:

I honestly cannot fathom how any parent could leave their children on board and go ashore. Setting aside the safety issues, if you aren't wanting to spend time with them, then why bring them at all?

I did this very thing when on a 26-day Russia/Baltics cruise (Princess) with my five year old. She didn't want to go to the Hermitage, etc. (shocking) and, instead, wanted to spend the day playing, etc. Princess encouraged me to go given I was taking a Princess excursion (only worked with a Princess excursion). They assured me they wouldn't leave without me, and my daughter would be just fine. I had a great day, and my daughter had a great day. In fact, we took two 26-day cruises and several times she chose to stay onboard (although she now regrets (ten years later) not going with me to see all of the Beatles stuff in Liverpool). They always had my cell number, and I always had the Princess contact number. Not once did Princess leave without me, etc. I spend 24/7 with my kid as I'm a single parent but there are times when our interests diverge. Surely, that's not hard to "fathom"....

3 minutes ago, masonchar said:

We booked directly with Princess

I would call your Princess contact (or supervisor, if necessary) then and try to get it back or negotiate a true upgrade. It appears they, in fact, gave you a worse cabin and I would press Princess to rectify. 

1 hour ago, Sox Fan Cruiser said:

A follow up in that thread said that kids will NOT be allowed but I will check. 
 

I’ve added the other questions to the list. We do not go to shows but I can still find out the answers for you. 

Apparently, teenagers 16 and up (suite cabin) will be allowed. I think that's a good policy. 

Great move over offer. Thanks for sharing and have a fantastic trip with your mom.

Call your travel agent ASAP and see if you can get it back or if he/she can negotiate a true upgrade to a balcony, etc.

What a great OBC. How did you score that amount? You don't need a package at all. Just pay as you go if you're not a heavy drinker, etc. 

Utterly frivolous lawsuit.

Thank you so much for the pics and commentary! I appreciate the time it takes to do this.

I love the buffet and have no fear of sucking in another's germs (germs are all over the place so you might as well deal with it). However, I don't mind being served, etc. - as long as the food is good.

Like inside cabins for the darkness at night and the quietness. Balconies bother me because I always can hear other people slamming their balcony door. I like window views, too.

7 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said:

 

This is even more confusing than Reserve Mini-Suite (aka Club Class mini) on previous ships.  The dining room (on non sun class ships) would have a sign outside saying "Reserve" so new passengers just just thought it meant those with "reservations".  

 

Who thinks these things up???  (aka Sheldon Cooper).

 

But then again, when I was moved from my Window Suite (S7) on the Grand to a S7 (S111/I think) on the Sky.....it was too high, way forward, far away from the concierge's lounge, and "looked like a mini-suite layout" with a suite bathroom.  I cancelled my booking.

 

Whoever starts a live, please start a new thread.  I am sure there will tons of questions.  

 

BTW...I was just watching a YouTube video about the Class system on Cunard Queen ships.  Is this where Princess is headed?

 

@CatMom72 Love your descriptions.  Thank you

 

 

Should have taken S111 - great cabin on a great and quiet deck.

On 2/21/2024 at 10:01 AM, cruzsnooze said:

It reminds me of how people take out car insurance when they rent a car when they're already covered by their own insurance. Many credit cards also give travel insurance. 

  I have been cruising every year since the 70's. I'm around 90 cruises now. If I had taken out insurance on every cruise at only $500 per cruise that would be a whopping $45,000. Then of course there's my spouse so that number would double. IF you have Medjet which costs about $400 annually per couple you have transport home to a hospital. My HMO ( Kaiser) would cover the medical services. My only loss would be the cruise fare which is no big deal when I consider that $45,000 I've saved over the years. 

Although Kaiser certainly advertises that it may cover international medical bills (with a ton of restrictions/conditions), it even recommends its member get additional insurance for international travel. Even if Kaiser reimburses you the full medical amount (doubtful), it won't cover your hotel, food, etc. Those expenses could add up quickly. I would NEVER rely on Kaiser for anything - no offense, but I think Kaiser is a horrible company (I had Kaiser for a couple of years so my opinion has some basis). 

First and foremost, I hope your mom recovers fully. It's so hard - and scary - to be in a foreign country, ill, with little to no assistance. You and your mom were so smart to have insurance and, hopefully, it will reimburse you for most - if not all - of the expenses. I really get that your issue is communication - I'll just say it - caring and compassion. That's what I would want in this situation. As you acknowledge, this wasn't RCI's fault at all. However, a little care and compassion to a customer who is very ill goes a long way. It appears that didn't happen in your mom's situation. Your mom is so lucky she had you with her and, again, I hope she makes a full recovery.

A junior suite is actually a mini-suite, right? It's a glorified balcony with a third (and possibly 4th) bed. It's a little bigger - that's all. I'd go for the actual suite. 

9 hours ago, nhraformula00 said:

Wife just booked the 2 of us for October 19-26, 2024 for a Total price of $ 2,300, Guarantee Inside room. Every website you look at including R.C. is $ 1,800 or more P.P. But there is only 1 with deep discounts for a few weeks here and there that just came out 2 weeks ago. Wish I could divulge where we booked, but it is not allowed. Check all sites and you might find it.

That's still pretty inflated for an inside cabin. I used to get 10-day inside for two people for $1,800 (inclusive of tax/fees). 

10 hours ago, erby2283 said:

So when I was shopping for our 2024 cruise in Oct 2022, I made a list of ships/itineraries I was looking at and sent it to my TA.  He then came back with group pricing he had.  Now keep in mind, this is for 3 adults and that the NCL pricing includes drinks but as you can see, the Icon pricing was cheaper than Oasis and both NCL cruises at the time.  😲 My point is don't assume you'll never be able to afford what you want - keep checking for group rates and yes, you may possibly have to book far in advance. 

 

I know you can't see my full spreadsheet the pricing goes 1st passenger, 2nd passenger, 3rd passenger, taxes and port fees, and then for NCL drink package for first two adults, total price. All were ocean view balconies. 

Interesting. If we eliminate port fees (because they all charge different amounts) and drink packages, the Oasis is the most expensive, followed by the Joy and then the Icon. It appears all fares are somewhat inflated except for Carnival. This is really helpful. Thanks!

3 minutes ago, SUgwoz said:

This reads as a list of article headlines that gets highlighted every couple months.   There is of course people struggling, but also a percentage of the population that is doing fine.  Look at the healthcare industry, there is still staff shortages, and traveling providers are getting offered double pay contracts.  Also just have to look at the stock market, no doubt its creating a disparity, however, those invested at this time are doing quite well.

 

I also think ironically that some of the ships are being filled up by people that are actually saving money by going on a cruise vs. normal travel.  Family of 4 can cost easily upwards of $10k plus on international travel, a cruise can be a discount even a significant one.

Good point - and I do think the disparity between the "haves" and the "have nots" is increasing.  And it may well be cheaper for a family to cruise than book a land vacation. I know my daughter and I did a 26-day transatlantic cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale to the Europe/Baltics for less money than Disney for one week (this was right before Covid, though). 

3 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Your question was 'How are lots of people affording these prices?'  I provided you with a plausible explanation/answer.

No - you proceeded to imply I somehow fabricated those stats, etc. 

15 minutes ago, d9704011 said:

Maybe it's because there are 10s of thousands of people with plenty of financial means that simply don't fit the bleak profile you've drawn.

I didn't "draw" the profile. Those aren't stats I pulled out of a hat. Those are the FACTS. Now, I don't fall into those stats but, statistically, at least 1/2 of adults do. I'm merely asking a question. 

How are lots of people affording these prices? Credit card debt is at an all-time high, most older Americans don't have anywhere near the retirement savings they should, the majority of Americans don't have $1,000 in emergency savings, car loan delinquencies are at pre-Covid levels and rising, and salaries haven't kept pace. Moreover, there's a stealth debt no one can really gage - the buy/now-pay/later as those companies don't report to credit agencies. Just don't get how people are paying these prices....

What an utterly enjoyable and entertaining review. I wish I'd had both of you on my cruises! It would have made them much livelier! Love your eclectic attire, etc.  

22 hours ago, Yankee587 said:

We have a cruise coming up on the Mardi Gras in a few weeks. We've been booked for over a year and had the 6pm dining time confirmed since initial booking. Recently some friends booked the same cruise and called up to see if they can join our dining. When they called it wasn't available and carnival took it upon themselves to change our dining from 6pm to "anytime" since our friends couldn't join ours. We just called and they more or less told us there's nothing they can do. This sounds outrageous to me, how can they change our dining time like that without ever speaking to us? My poor wife is pretty upset over this. We don't get to travel often and been looking forward to this for a long time. I know in the grand scheme of things it's not a big deal but it's pretty frustrating. Is there anything we can do? 

Carnival can do just about anything with your booking without your permission. Carnival can change your cabin number without your permission, change itineraries without your permission, etc. Anytime Dining is a better option, IMHO so....

48 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

You will have an AMAZING time. What a ship! 

Thanks for the review. Were you a comped guest of RC or a paying one?