CrazyTrain2

I never really understood the Lord of the Flies bidding game. Some suites just ain't that sweet and you end up paying more for a lesser experience. The bidding process is useful to VV since they get to see relative demand and what people might be willing to pay.

I do a mean Jack Nicholson impression, do you think they would get it?

Shhh, Don't tell the cruise lines but the uplift on cabins is for suckers. If you take the cost differential and put it towards experiences you'll come out way ahead. In the olden cruising days, balconies were very limited. most cabins on a ship were inside. I love sailing inside. It is so restful and no worries about somebody smoking on their balcony, talking loudly or playing music. When I want the sit quietly outside the ship offers so many options not the 10x5' cell called a balcony. You will NEVER sleep so well as in an inside cabin. Let the dog piling begin from the Sweet Suite crowd, but this sailor can afford any cabin on the ship and still chooses an interior cabin.

I just checked and that is a GREAT idea. I have a bunch of AA points - I think it is time to dump them.

I know we are WAY early to book flights, but does anyone have tips on getting decent one-way fares back to the States?? Last October I got lucky and found $800 PP fares from ABQ to BCN on Delta Comfort+, looking at comparable flights the fares are more than the cruise. I'll return from any city in Europe. It might be cheaper to come back on the Queen Mary.

I'm booked baby!! April 12th sailing San Juan to Barcelona. Lets Gooooo!

Does that qualify as infused water?

This topic is making the ship designer's head spin around and possibly explode. For decades they have been designing for more balconies is mo' better into their ship designs and this thread shows folks the benefits of ICs. In the old days balconies WERE the luxury cabin.

We sail both inside cabins and balconies. It depends on the pricing. I have never slept so well as in an inside cabin. Additionally, I have never had an inside cabin that was noisy. What I will not do is bid up for a balcony. It can often end poorly in that the Balcony cabins you get are the ones NOBODY else wanted. It is just a game by the cruise line preying on your excitement. Some lines like Virgin Voyages have amenities on Balcony Cabins I am willing to pay for. Enjoy!

Banished to the BLUE line!!

Cheaper and it covers more things. I buy an annual policy and then I am covered for all my travel for the entire year - going to see the kids, personal travel unrelated to cruising. The cruise lines are NOT the insurance carrier, they are only selling somebody else's policy. Additionally, if you have to cancel your trip or even make modifications your insurance is NOT REFUNDED from the cruise line. Cruise insurance may or may not cover cruise air. Frankly it's horrible coverage.

I use Allianz but I've never had to file a claim. They have good ratings.

No chance this hurricane in the Red Sea calms down by April. It's up to you whether you want to seek safe harbor on another cruise or ride it out to see where the ship ends up.

The standard package is a marketing gimmick for the brochures and data aggregators to make Princess cruises look cheaper by comparison. I was not trying to infer that standard package selectors all did not tip, but it does make it makes it POSSIBLE. After you add gratuities into the standard fare it makes the plus more palatable - and perhaps more drinkable. Ultimately, I'm still miffed that Princess does not offer a package without alcohol. The a la carte pricing + gratuities quickly gets you into a Plus or Premier.

With my eyes, I'm gonna need to zoom in on the phone and snap a picture.