Mum2Mercury

If I book directly with the cruise line, and I see a price drop, I myself can call immediately and ask for a price match. If I book with a travel agent, I have to call that person and have him or her make the call for me. That person is never going to be as concerned about the cost as I am. What am I missing here?

Several thoughts: - I'm a retired teacher, and several times over the years I asked to be deferred until summer. Never denied. - Last time I was assigned jury duty for exam week -- a week teachers just can't miss. Ironically another teacher in my department was ALSO assigned that same week. I was allowed a deferment -- he was not. Why? Because he had already deferred that same responsibility once. The moral: Don't ask for a deferment unless you REALLY NEED IT because your new assignment might be for something like a cruise week. - When I went in that last time, the Balif (Balif?) told us to wait a few minutes so he could take attendance, and then we'd all be dismissed. He said our fairly large county had NO JURY TRIALS that week -- he gave us the impression that's kinda typical. Apparently "everyone" takes a plea these days. Anyway, I'd really be upset if I changed a cruise and then was only kept in the court house 15 minutes for attendance.

I'll back you up on this! I have "really easy hair", but I do HAVE TO HAVE good products -- and what the ship offers just ain't it. I like their all-in-one stuff for body wash (or for washing out a blouse), but it leaves my hair stiff and, well, just icky. Two small bottles of shampoo /conditioner take up very little space in the suitcase. I have not tried their shampoo + my own conditioner. On the other hand, my husband who has a buzz cut finds it perfectly acceptable.

That person doesn't know how to lie in a hammock. You have to lie down straight, then scootch and angle yourself a bit -- then your butt doesn't fall down like that, and it's comfortable. It's not a matter of the hammock being incorrectly hung. Maybe, but what harm could it do? ENOs are really secure.

Yep, cattle-call is an appropriate term. BUT every now and again they're the appropriate choice; for example, we have Royal's tickets to the Aviary in the Costa Maya port for an upcoming cruise. It'd be the same thing no matter where we purchase tickets, and they were on a good sale on Black Friday. And if you're going far from the port OR on an excursion that requires multiple forms of transportation -- the Mexican ruins tours being the poster child for this type of excursion -- it's smart to stick with the ship's offerings. But beach trips? Just take a cab. Activities close to the port? Book a private excursion -- you'll be back by mid-afternoon anyway, and you're almost certain to have a superior experience.

We love Promenade Rooms, and you were lucky to find them cheaper than one Inside Room. Not common, but it happens. Teenagers. I teach 'em, and sometimes they just don't make sense. To my great shame, I remember being quite a butt on a beach trip as a teen. Several of my mom's work friends' families went together in a big house, and I was angry that I had to share a room with a bunch of other kids, some I didn't know. Looking back, I was an idiot. We went on a 4-day for our first cruise for those same reasons. It wasn't a bad choice. We always drive. Even with the parking fee (I despise paying to park), it's a money saver.

Windjammer or MDR? I've found that pancakes and French toast should only be enjoyed in the MDR ... they don't benefit from sitting in the buffet. What are to-go entrees? I do enjoy an Eggs Benedict at least once per cruise! I'm surprised it filled up. I enjoy the Art Auction and have all the gift-artwork framed, but I'd never buy anything. Yep, that's why I don't frequent the casino. If I cut through, I hold my breath and walk fast.

I think they do, but it'd be easier to choose a life jacket on Day 1 and keep it all week. I mean, once you have one that fits /is adjusted correctly, I'd hold onto it for the cruise. I don't think the ship really cares who brings kids back on. Leaving the ship could be different. The grandparents will definitely need the kids' Ship IDs ... any person of any age must be processed on and off the ship. Do know, though, that it's a fairly long walk back to the ship. Be sure you have a stroller or a wagon ... I wouldn't think it'd be easy for young toddlers who've been playing on the beach all morning.

PCUR, that looks like a worthwhile purchase.

Buy an ENO (Eagle Nest Outfitter) hammock. You can hang those things anywhere. Choose a single /not a double. Try to snag an aft-facing balcony -- I say "try" because they're few in number and not easy to reserve. The balconies are oversized, and you'll have ample space to hang a hammock. Yes, you can hang a hammock on a standard balcony, but it's not nearly as good.

So you'll be packing protein bars in your suitcase? But seriously, the MDR and Windjammer will always have a spot for you.

None of those party tricks are even remotely interesting to me. And I don't want to have to carry my phone around. A key card is easy to tuck into your pocket ... though I have found a lost card on just about every cruise, so maybe it's not easy for everyone.

Thing is, it probably won't. Why? Because very few of us ever need to file a claim with our cruise insurance, BUT if you're the one who has an accident ... well, you know.

Not to be argumentative, but last week's passengers will be disembarking starting around 7:15 and a steady stream of them will be exiting the parking garage ... so how can it open at 9:30? You're talking about Port Canaveral. They don't have human beings taking money in the parking garage ... just a machine. I'm thinking the parking garage is open 24/7.

That image isn't a refrigerator. It's a cooler. We had a handicapped room on our recent Grandeur cruise, and we had a small cube fridge like you'd expect to see in a dorm room. Grandeur doesn't have these in all its rooms, so I assumed it was a medicine refrigerator. If you need something kept cooler, here's a hack: Put your item into your small ice bucket -- with ice /just a cup full will do, surround it with a wet hand towel, and put the whole thing in the fridge. It'll stay significantly colder than one of these coolers.

Even if they do "hold back spots", which makes no sense, would you want to be part of a packed-to-the-gills excursion? SaturnGrl gave you good advice: Look into private tours for the same activity. You'll be part of a smaller group, which almost always moves faster and gives you more options. That they're cheaper is just a bonus.

Thanks, I'm going to check those out. I do like Urban Decay eye shadow.

In Coxen Hole, you'll disembark into a small area with shopping and bars ... the dock is quite short /everything's much closer than the larger ports such as Cozumel. Right next to the port are maybe 25 shops (tee shirts, etc.) and 3 bars /everything's on that one street. This is entertainment for 1-2 hours at most. Drinks cost about the same as on the ship. Picture below ... the bars are under that blue "tent" by the water, and shops are all on the first floor of the large buildings. I'm not sure what's on the upper floors. If you want to catch a taxi, walk past the shops (it's just a straight line), and at the end of that second building you'll turn right (can't miss it, signs say TAXIS THIS WAY). You'll go through a covered area with people on both sides trying (aggressively) to sell you tours. At the end of this gauntlet you'll find the taxis. They're well-organized: Taxis drive up, and an organizer sends tourist groups to small or large taxis, as appropriate. Taxis'll return you to this same area. They have nice beaches, but none to which you can walk. Echoing an above poster, the port feels safe. You'll feel comfortable finding a taxi and heading out to a beach.

Agree. To give up control of my booking /to be unable to contact the cruise line directly, I'd expect more than 3% of the booking price as OBC.

Correct. Casitas are located one deck above the pool /right by the jogging track. While relaxing in the casita bed, you'll have no view of the pool -- they're not located in what most people consider a prime spot. It's always easy to get loungers one deck up from the pool. They're also oriented so that you're facing away from the ocean /looking in towards the center of the ship. Here are a couple pictures from different ships.

I don't wear waterproof mascara and eyeliner on a regular basis, and I'm not particularly pleased with the brands I've tried for cruises. Can anyone recommend a brand that you really like? Here's what I'd like to find: Mascara -- dark brown or black in a truly waterproof formula -- looking for basic function, not super-long lashes /not trying to look like I have spiders on my eyes Eye liner -- liquid eyeliner in dark brown, again in a truly waterproof formula Thanks for any suggestions you might make.

I get it. If I were working with tourists and was unlikely to ever see them again, I wouldn't make change for them either. An idea to avoid the situation you describe: Before we leave home, I make up envelopes for each island stop. On the outside I write the island /date /tour company /contact information /meeting place /anything we should bring -- like a water bottle or a towel. I tuck inside any printed confirmation information, and I carefully count out exactly what money I anticipate needing -- always in small bills so I can decide what to give in the long run. I paperclip money together and put a sticky note on it; for example, $20 for taxi, $50 for lunch. And if it's pesos (or whatever), I write in X pesos = $20 so I don't have to do math in the back of a taxi. I include cash for anticipated taxis, meals, tips. This means we always have our needs covered, and whatever's in our pocket is available to spend.

Years ago luggage was left outside your stateroom. These days it's lined up in the hallway -- not a huge inconvenience. When we sailed Grandeur, which has a lot of space outside the elevators, all the luggage for the floor was left in that area -- but it seemed that luggage that wasn't picked up fairly quickly was delivered down the halls.

Read again, and you'll see that I don't remember where I heard this -- but I have heard it multiple times.

That's exactly the kind of thing Explorer doesn't have.