misty57

We book SW because they fly out of smaller airports and they do not charge change fees. We have had to change our flights several times to beat the weather and also due to being stranded during hurricane Sandy. It was great to be able to do that . I do wish they would open reservations earlier. We're waiting for flights to Seattle in August as well .

On our most recent cruise on Oasis I dropped my cup and it cracked so that the soda filled between the plastic layers. I went to guest relations and asked if it could be replaced, and the rep was very kind and thought it would be no problem. he then took us over to the cafe next door and the woman behind the counter said absolutely not!!! It was going to cost me I think $5 to replace. I just kept using it and tried to drain all the soda out between the plastic layers at night as best I could. It didn't hurt to ask. You might get a different answer from a different person or on a different ship.

Many thanks for all of the information! The drawing card for me with HAL was the round trip from Fort Lauderdale and the other ports in the Caribbean. After reading all of these great comments, I think we should bite the bullet and take the 14 night for the full transit. We would be going in February, so we have a few months before deciding. Now have to talk DH into being away for that long :D

Wow! You;d think since they flew in to FLL, they would have known that's where the port was. Did they think they were going to FLL and it just took a long time? Wow!

It's sometimes less expensive to fly into FLL even if you are sailing out of Miami. I one time booked airfare for Miami instead of FLL. I had a TA that told us the wrong port on our Mexican Riviera cruise. It's easy to get the details mixed up sometimes :rolleyes:

We are thinking of booking a Panama Canal cruise for next year. I like the HAL itinerary for 10-11 nights but the reviews for the ship are dismal.:eek:

We are primarily RCI cruisers but wondering what line would be best choice for this item on our bucket list. We would appreciate any suggestions :)

Thanks!

We have sailed almost exclusively with RCI, but just yesterday I was looking ahead to 2015 and a Panama Canal cruise on HAL. Thanks for your comparisons. We too are quiet cruisers and are quite content to spend at sea days in the solarium reading and people watching. We enjoy the ice shows on Royal, but sometimes you have to sail on a different type of ship to go to the desired destinations.

Looks like that here too ! 9'more weeks until we escape :D

Got a really good deal on Feb 23rd but now it's gone up, up, up. Figure it must be the post-dry dock effect.

I know ! I don't even check for price drops because it will never drop lower than we paid when we booked.:)

Does a marriage license expire? Renewal of vows...is that like renewing your drivers license? Call me lame, but I don't get it. Especially at $600. WOW!

That's what my DH always says:rolleyes: I personally think it would be nice to do.:)

I was on Navigator 2 years ago and the fountain drinks were all broken. They were using 2 ltrs most places and would not give the kids any.

 

Sorry they haven't bothered to fix things. Maybe they will catch them this drydock season!

On Oasis in August the self serve coke machines in the promenade were broken foe several days...I finally went to guest services and they were fixed that day. It can happen an any ship I guess.

misty57-

Hey, I'm from Illinois also (Chicago) so hubby and I have the exact same challenges that you do as far as the convenience/inconvenience of the ports. Transportation can be a little costly, BUT at the end of the day it's all about the cruise...just as you said. I'll be on Navigator 5/18, so I sure hope that you do a review. I'd love to hear your perspective on the "new" ship. Looked into Harbor House today, but it appears that they're completely booked for the date we want....may wind up at Moody Gardens instead for one night. Nice hotel, just expensive...:rolleyes:

We kind of have our routine down pat. We're 100 miles south of the city, and in February we book overnight hotel before flying out of Midway. Fly to destination day before all the time. I booked Harbor House through an online third party but the hotel website showed no vacancies for that date! I called the hotel to make sure it was legit and they emailed me a confirmation , so you might try googling for another way to book. I'll try to remember to post a brief review.

Let's hope for a mild winter. I dread winter driving. :p I'm still working on transportation from Hobby to Galveston. I'll be glad when things are finalized.

No way can you compare PC to Galveston. There are 5 or 6 rental car places right outside the entrance to PC. Also no one way fees, free shuttles to the port, and great car rates. There are also a couple of small amusement places in Orlando that a few people like to visit.

PC is inconvenient because we have to fly into Orlando and hire a driver or shuttle to PC. We have to fly into Houston to get to Galveston. I can and did compare the two ports. We don't do rental cars so that is not an issue.

We sailed out of PC after spending a few days in Orlando... That was intentional and one reason we chose that particular cruise.

Hey, you don't have to agree with me ... Sometimes the port is just a means to cruise to a particular destination. I would prefer to be able to fly into the port city instead of paying a boatload ::rolleyes: of money to get to the ship.

We also were able to book Harbor House for one night, so I am looking forward to staying in Galveston overnight for the first time. :)

We have never sailed on Navigator ( will be on her in Feb:D ) but have sailed once out of Galveston. I remember the embarkment being a little rough but our cruise on Voyager was one of the best! It is inconvenient to have to fly into Houston and find transportation to Galveston, but it is also inconvenient to sail out of Port Canaveral for the same reason. We had really great dining companions on the Voyager, and several were from Texas. We loved it and are looking forward to the Navigator after she is refurbished. For what it's worth, it was no picnic to sail out of Port Libery either, but if that is where I have to go for the cruise I want, no biggy... I don't have to spend the whole week there!

2 weeks ago I had partial knee replacement at Burnaby General hospital and I was there for 2 nights. I can't say enough good things about the hospital and the staff. Even the food was amazingly good. I love our Canadian health system. I had exemplary care from a great surgeon, nurses and physio department. I am always amazed by the nay sayers in the US who are afraid of our system. Other than paying my BC medical contributions every month, which are negligible, I never paid a cent for my stay. I also have extended medical insurance through my work which I never needed to use.

 

Nicola

It's not the Canadian system some are skeptical about but the circus that politicians are trying to create here!

People don't walk around with their backsides hanging out. :D

..... No matter how they seem to show that on tv. :eek:

 

They wear two gowns when they get out of their beds.

The first is worn with the open back and then a second is put on with the opening in the front. Thus, front and back are covered. ;)

 

Depending on what the medical condition, many patients wear their own nightgowns, PJ,s. while in the hospital.

Probably, in the 70's it was much the same as anywhere else;) My son spent much time in hospital in the UK in those days, and the cadiac care was top notch. Where I live now we've gone backwards, at least in my local area hospitals. Private and semi-private rooms seem to no longer exist, it's usually 4-bed rooms, and even worse - men and woman together. I hate that.

I was in East Sussex. I loved it!

Right. Sure. Like all of Europe has hospitals like the one described here. Not! I can tell you the ones we have are nothing like this at all. So don't judge all countries based on this one horror experience.

If you read more carefully you will note that I said that the US has standards better than many places, not all other places! By the OP's story we can see that. When I was in nursing school I spent a summer working and studying in England. The care was very good and their education top notch.That being said, at the time (1970's) most of their hospitals cared for patients in large wards. They were just beginning to build new facilities where I was that had semi private rooms ( 4 people per room), and central distribution of diets instead of having it dished out from a large canteen like cart by the hospital sister. Good care doesn't have to be fancy. In our society there is often a sense of entitlement for services that other nations could only dream of. We are celebrating our Thanksgiving Day tomorrow in the US. I am merely expressing gratitude for the blessings of the healthcare that we do have in the US. Never said a word about other countries in Europe. Be well! :)

I'm sorry..I didn't read through all the posts but if no one else has mentioned being thankful this holiday season for the outstanding healthcare we have in the US then let me be the first! I am glad you are doing much better. I have been an RN for many years, and although I grouse a bit about all the checks and hoops we have to go through, it reassures me that we have really good care here! The system is by no means without its problems but the standards are so much higher than many places around the world. I will proudly bear my red scaly hands from washing my hands a million times a day and my aching feet and back from caring for my patients for 13 hours non stop, knowing that It could be so much worse. I'm glad you are safely home and that you are able to travel again soon.

94;)

I would love that! It would take a lot of work to disguise him though.:):o:D

My daughter had a black and white cat named Misty, and 57 is my year of birth.

Yes, there was an article about this in the Galveston paper earlier this week.

That doesn't make sense if you are not a resident of that state! Gee... I'm sure we pay enough tax when we stay in a hotel pre or post cruise, hire transportation, shop and eat!

We don't typically save up for a cruise but pay final payment with funds out of regular savings. I usually have OBC from my Visa and purchase a next cruise certificate with open booking for only $100 deposit. With that I only have to pay another $100 for DH at booking and get $100 OBC. We usually leave the ship with a balance due back to our CC. That helps the cash flow for a while, but for next year I am kind of "backed up". We have one booked for Feb because we have not been to Belize before, plus the ship will be fresh out of an update. In the meantime we booked and sailed on another 7 night on Oasis. In planning DH's birthday for next year decided to do Alaska. YIKES! I am signing up for every extra call slot I can manage at work, and pulling out all the frugal tricks I have up my sleeve. It's so much work! Then I think about Christmas gifts to purchase for 7 kids and in-laws and 3 little granddaughters.(DH is getting an excursion for his gift!)

I think I truly am a "cruiseaholic". But I can stop at any time right?

Thank you so much, best review ever!! RCI should hire you for sales. We are now booked for the same trip/ship same week next year!:D

next cruise...167 days.:(