AFuncruiser

On my very first cruise I was seated at dinner with a couple who had been on 60 some cruises and I ask them what their favorite cruise line was.. I loved their answer "What ever cruise line and ship we are on"..

Dennis

Jacksonville ,fl

732 days at sea

86 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska, Panama Canal

Thanks Ruth

Dennis

Please ..where is the library on the Volendam?

Thanks

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

Very nice review..

We are from Jacksonville and sail on the Elation several times a year not because we love the ship we just love the convenience of leaving from Jacksonville.. Monday will be my first Diamond cruise with Carnival and my 86th cruise on various lines.. I applaud you on your review.. You were spot on and I could not disagree on any point.. We are looking forward to a Holland American Panama canal cruise next month and taking the train back from San Diego to Jacksonville (sleeper cabins)..

Wishing you smooth sailing and many happy cruises..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

727 days at sea

85 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

On previous cruises Holland America roll calls for cruises of 10 days or more used to have 20-30 people sign up.

I am booked on a 15 day Panama cruise and no one is interested in roll call? What has happened..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

727 days at sea

85 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

A long walk....

As platinum You do have priority boarding

MSC DIVINA 
We crossed the Atlantic in 2013 on the Divina’s madden voyage to US from
Venice Italy.
We are Surprised at how well maintained the ship is and notice little wear and tear.
On this cruise the crew is definitely more friendly, speaks better English and is much more helpful. We feel the food is more Americanized and a great deal better.
Contrary to most American cruise lines the photographer’s are very unobtrusive.
Our fellow passengers while very nice are mostly from Europe with limited English. Activities an be tedious in several languages.
Our ten night cruise had a nice iteniary.
The Divina is an exceptionally beautiful large ship. Money wise in my estimation one of the greatest values afloat.
We are at the last port of the cruise St. Martin and have two sea days before Miami and home for a quiet NewYears eve.
Wishing everyone a healthy, happy and safe NewYear.

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

717 days at sea

84 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

Hi Eric,

4 out of 6 of our party are gay.. We love happy hour and hope you all will join us..

I see there were 30 views so there are some closet folks aboard.. :)

Dennis & David

707 days at sea

82 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

Booked Nov 10th on a Carnival cruise and after that cruise I will be three days from diamond..

10 night cruise MSC December 20th..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

 On one of my first cruises I remember asking an old couple who had sailed many times what their favorite cruise ship was and they answered "what ever ship we are on". I have tried to adopt that attitude on what ever ship I find myself on. Just get me away from the dock at a good price and I am a happy camper.

I sail Carnival most frequently because they sail The Elation out of my hometown Jacksonville, Fl. There are many first time cruisers aboard who are having a ball. It is a pleasure to be around so many happy people.

Dennis

Jacksonville, fl

707 days at sea

82 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

On ‎8‎/‎25‎/‎2018 at 8:50 PM, uawolff said:

If you can take ANY other cruise line. I recommend that you do. MSC in my opinion is pretty terrible.

MSC does have it's draw backs but it sure is cheap and has great ships.. We are booked on our 4th cruise on MSC over Christmas this year..
Personally..I have avoided NCL since a transatlantic on the Epic that I considered a ship you could not pay me to book again.

To each his own I guess.

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

707 days at sea

82 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

Carnival just doesn't care.

The longer the cruise the more likely FOD meetings will have attendees. Trans Atlantic cruises are always well attended.

Many successful meetings start around happy hour 5ish..Carnival advertises their get togethers late and I have never in 82 cruises been to what I would consider a successful one. Obviously Carnival just doesn't care.

Dennis

Jacksonville ,Fl

707 days at sea

82 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii, Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon, Alaska

subsidizing slave wages...……

Dennis

Jacksonville, fl

707 days at sea 82 cruises14 cruise linesT/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

$20.00 for the matre d.will get you what ever you want..

Dennis

Jacksonville, fl

691 days at sea 80 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

They leave from Jacksonville, Fl

I call it the Redneck express..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

I feel the MSC ships are more beautiful than most middle of the road cruise lines. I am not a foodie so indifferent to the food. One criticism Is kids travel free and I have experienced hordes of noisy sweet little rug rats running, screaming and pretty undisciplined all over the ship.

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

691 days at sea

80 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

But after a couple dozen cruises, I've somewhat tired of cocktail-hour group conversations about past cruises and social life in Palm Springs. ( Ft Lauderdale)

quote]

How true gave me a giggle...

Dennis

Jacksonville, fl

655 days at sea

74 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

My partner and I are getting ready for our 7th Royal Caribbean cruise and our 9th cruise, overall. We have never failed to find outgoing gay couples (and some singles) on our cruises. Between the FOD gatherings and just wandering around the ship, meeting people and striking up quick chats, we're always surprised by how many other gay couples are on-board at the same time as us. On the last 2 cruises we took, we found more gays/lesbians participating in the various daily trivia type games, than were at the FOD gatherings. We've made a few friendships over the years on our various cruises and we keep in touch with all of these people on Facebook. There are many Canadians and Americans from the Midwest and Northeast who escape the winter back home for a week's vacation and relaxation. I can't speak too much about cruise lines other than Royal Caribbean, but on Royal, it would be damn hard to swing a dead cat by the tail and not hit a bunch of gay crew members.....they are everywhere! Aside from 1 or 2 staff persons that I can really remember for their lousy attitude, that seems to be the exception and not the rule. That is one of the reasons that we continue to take our cruises with Royal Caribbean. We've never sailed on Carnival and I don't see that happening. Between the first hand accounts from friends of bad experiences with staff, fellow passengers, food, entertainment, cabins, etc... who've sailed on Carnival ships and what I read on Cruise Critic, we're totally put off by the idea. I've heard the same comment made about Carnival not really bothering to do anything to either encourage or promote gay-centric social events, on their ships. If you haven't already done so, give Royal Caribbean a try the next time you decide to do a cruise.

We are very fond of Royal Caribbean..

Dennis

Next time, book your cruises with Cruising with Pride, Aqua Fest or Pied Piper. These are excellent companies that cater to the gay community. You will find diversity on their group cruises. I've done a total of 8 cruises with these companies. All positive experiences. Happy Cruising and best of luck.

All gay cruises have their drawbacks.. I don't go cruising to meet gay people. If I do that is nice but not necessary. Personally I feel a gay tension every time I walk out of the cabin on a gay cruise.

I have found Trans Atlantic cruises to be a good venue for meeting gay ladies and gentlemen.

I am not fond of paying a queer tax to watch a drag show every night.

To each his own.. I am glad we all do not like the same thing.

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

655 days at sea

74 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

Booked April 15th Tampa to Rotterdam with some great stops in-between..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

We cruise several times a year on Carnival's Elation (the redneck special) if fact we were on last week. We saw several gay couples who seemed to have no interest in meeting other gays. Carnival doesn't encourage gay get togethers. If they would schedule meetings during happy hours it would make a difference.

Also there are so many Southerner Rednecks that is just easier keeping a low profile..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

I have shared tables with great people, not so great people and some real stinkers..

It is just potluck...

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

650 days at sea

73 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

So, I am a huge Ruth Chris fan. I'm not a person that just craves any ole steak. I'm not a picky eater in general. In fact, on our cruises, I LOVE the buffet food. That being said, when it comes to steak, I am pretty picky.

 

Anyway, I've never been interested in trying Fahrenheit 455 but as I am preparing for my next cruise on the Sunshine, it has been said to me a couple times that it is comparable to Ruth Chris'. Any validity to this point?

Bull.. Ruth Chris and Fahrenheit are not even close to being in the same league. I have had good steaks in Michelin stared restaurants all over Europe and I have never had a fillet better than Ruth Chris...as good but not better..

Dennis

Jacksonville, Fl

650 days at sea

73 cruises

14 cruise lines

T/P, T/A, Hawaii,Central & South America, New Zealand & South Pacific, Rio/ Amazon,Alaska

DH and I have cruised a number of times from Jacksonville (also Platinums) when we lived in N. FL and never experienced a late terminal opening like 1pm. We always arrived at 11am or so, but it's been a couple of years since we moved to the Tampa area and maybe the Jax Port boarding policy has changed since then.

Thank you I am afraid it has..:(

Dennis