Chippendale

7 hours ago, cruiseguy1016 said:

Am I missing something? Why is there a concern about bringing magnetic hooks on an airplane? Is that illegal for some reason? FWIW, we bring magnetic hooks with us all the time, sometimes in carry-ons but usually in checked luggage. We've never given it a thought either way.

The concern is the “magnetic hooks” might flag the luggage as metal objects.  Would prefer not to have my luggage ransacked to make sure I am not carrying something prohibited. BTW, I am always flagged for a necklace I wear. I receive a pat down every time. Minor inconvenience. My husband has joint replacements and more often than not has a pat down.  🤣

1 hour ago, jean87510 said:

I've done both and was stopped 2x in Philadelphia when carryon.  Showed worker what they were and no issues.

Good to know.  Philly is our airport. 

1 minute ago, barb in ga said:

Checked luggage. Multiple times, no issues.

Thank you!

Question:

For those who have flown and packed magnetic hooks, did you pack the hooks in your checked luggage or carry on?  

Thanks.

Love your reports. Looking forward to more.  

Sounds like an amazing day in NY!  Looking forward to more adventures. 

Looking forward to reading about your adventures.  Brilliant idea to bring a nanny.  We are headed to the Med in September.  Also a Covid makeup.  

Are we permitted to bring our own beach umbrella onboard for use at the ports?  We are on a 14 day trip with a beach intensive itinerary.  

Thank you.  

Totally disagree with those that say to skip Santorini.  You will see views like you have never seen before.  A bucket list port for sure.  

If you have not been to Athens, then you should get off for the Acropolis.

Consider tours only take part of a day.  

20 hours ago, dani negreanu said:

We've had very good experience with debarking in "Civvi" early.

 

However, since you mentioned September, friends of ours debarked Sept. 29th at half past noon, due to high seas preventing Wonder OTS to dock.

 

They had a very late flight back, and booked Romeinlimo at 9AM for a full day of touring Rome. Didn't happen.

 

Thank you.  Weather can always be an issue.  I believe Romeinlimo is very good about canceling tours if ship is delayed or port is missed.  Cathie

19 hours ago, bonsai3s said:

We did a b3b out of Civitavecchia, Odyssey, earlier this year.

 

Yes, we were able to leave the ship early. Just let Guest Services know and you can get your new Seapass card and an "In-Transit" card either the last night or early on turn-around day.

 

When you come back to board, just let them know you're a consecutive cruiser or b2b passenger and show them your "In-Transit" card. All you have to do is go through the security line...and your back on the ship.

 

Agree with Biker19...last boarding would be 4:30 for ships leaving at 5pm.

Happy sailing and have a wonderful day in Rome.

Thank You bonsai3s! This is just the information I was hoping for!  Cathie

17 hours ago, Norwich Cruiser said:

I’d recommend Romeinlimo for the tour.

Thank you.  I have used Romeinlimo for tours in the past.  They are wonderful.  

We will be in the Mediterranean on a B2B cruise next September.  Our first B2B.  We will be in Rome for the transition day.  We would like to book an independent tour for that day.  Looking for advice from others who have booked tours on the transition day.  

Please give me an idea of how the final day of week one will go (when most people will be leaving).  Will we be able to leave the ship early for a tour? Is there anything extra that needs to be done to reboard the ship or is it like returning from a normal excursion?  If the ship is leaving at 5:00 is that the last boarding time or will it be earlier.  

Thank you!

We have 3 consecutive weeks: 9/25, 10/2 and 10/9. Same itinerary and similar room.  Changed floors at my request because we would have been below Windjammer. I called RC because two of the weeks showed the reservations were canceled and one was still open.  The agent was kind enough to make all the changes.  

NOTE:  Once you receive you new room assignments check to make sure what is above and below your room.  Enchantment has a different layout than Brilliance.  Good luck. 

Husband and I were booked on Brilliance for three consecutive weeks in Sept/Oct of 2023. While I am disappointed Brilliance (a favorite) will not be our ship, we are staying with the Enchantment. This is a very port intensive cruise. We will visit 18 different ports during 21 days of sailing and only 3 sea days. Today, I spoke with Royal and confirmed the itinerary is the same. The agent made all the changes for us and we are in the same room for all three weeks. We did choose to move from deck 8 to deck 7. Deck 8 is below the pools and Windjammer on deck 9.  If you choose to go on Enchantment, I recommend you check out deck plans for your room assignment.  Good luck!

On 7/28/2022 at 9:28 PM, aaalynn1 said:

Tried calling RCI to find out if the itineraries match exactly, but they are closed. Has anyone talked to RC to ask about changes of ports with Brilliance June 2023?

Hello!  I contacted RC today and confirmed that our sailings 9/2023 and 10/2023 are the same itinerary on Enchantment as it was on the Brilliance.  The agent was excellent and we are now booked on Enchantment for three weeks next year. We did change floors because the Enchantment has a different layout.  Good luck!

5 hours ago, Blizzard54 said:

I am not thrilled with the change to the Enchantment but there is not really a good option to change to.  I was looking forward to sailing on Brilliance, the only Radiance class we have not sail on.

I find it interesting that they have reopened the westbound TA before they have reassigned cabins from the change.  I am a little concerned about how they will transfer my B4B bookings.  I will not be happy if I do not get the same cabin for all 4.  

We have three consecutive weeks booked 9/23 and 10/23.  Today, 2 of the weeks show as canceled.  We did receive the memo that we would be on Enchantment with the same itinerary and similar cabin(s).  Not sure what is going on at this point.  Will be disappointed if this trip does not work out.  🤞

4 hours ago, Wineaux007 said:

Most likely it will remain that way until they finish making the switch.

4 hours ago, vjmatty said:

 

Meanwhile Enchantment's 2023 Med are all still showing only guarantees, OV and Insides.

Where are you seeing Enchantment’s 2023 Med schedule.  I can’t find anything.  Thank you. 

I recommend you check out Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas. It is one of their smaller ships so it does not have all the bells and whistles that attract families. I agree with the suggestion to avoid months when families are on vacations. I also agree that Mediterranean is not a relaxing cruise.  It is very port intensive and wonderful for seeing many sights in a short amount of time.  My husband and I are booked on Brilliance for 3 weeks starting 9/25/23. We will visit 18 different ports.  I sailed on Brilliance several years ago for Mediterranean and would not hesitate to recommend that class of ship.  As for relaxing, I would recommend a southern Caribbean cruise (with lazy beach days) or an Alaskan Cruise.  Good luck!  

Thank you for sharing you fabulous adventures and pictures. I read your entire journey today and gained so much valuable information. We will be on the Pearl at the end of September. Thanks again and happy traveling.

I just stumbled onto the 55+ Forum and my head is reeling after having read all the postings since sometime in 2005! You all may be interested in reading the letter I recently emailed to my many cyberfriends in Canada, the US and in Europe and if you have questions, don't hesitate!

 

Musicus

 

Dear friends,

 

come the middle of September, you’ll not get any more forwardings from me and I’ll ask you to take me off your mailing list, if I happen to be on it. From that time onwards and for at least one entire year, my internet access will be severely restricted, although I hope to stay in touch with many friends on a personal level.

 

But let me explain…

 

Having outlived my wife, many close friends and. with exception of my son, all my family, I’ve reached the age where assisted living with its amenities looms large. I visited several such facilities but despite comfortable lodgings, the often quite pleasant surroundings exude a depressing “Waiting for God” feeling for me when I see some of the residents. I think that I am not ready for this- yet.

 

After my thoroughly enjoyable 14-day Panama Canal cruise over Christmas/New Years (my second cruise experience), I began to think of cruise ships as a viable alternative.

A comfortable room with all amenities, from Satellite TV,

air conditioning to private bath (and no more making the bed each morning, cleaning room and bath, changing linen); a choice of restaurants with fabulous menus (goodbye TV Dinners or having to cook and then eat alone); nightly Broadway Class entertainment in a luxurious theater (beats lousy TV fare); swimming pools, jaccuzzis, well equipped gym and a medical facility complete with doctor and nurse - all a short walk away; a well stocked library and lectures, a casino, bars and interesting people to meet - and to top it all off, travel to places you would never have seen otherwise -- all in all, what more could you want?

 

For many months I have been working on a plan to spend one year on a cruise ship, which entailed arduous computer research covering cruise lines, their ships and itineraries (which often were hard to find for more than a few months) and finally, costs!

 

To my chagrin I discovered that I would be faced with a single supplement varying between 50% and 100% of the double occupancy rate, which is the industry’s standard and I knew then that I would have to stretch my budget limitation by at least $10,000 to get anywhere near to my goal.

 

I am happy to report that I finally succeeded in finding the right Line, ship, itinerary and price (which however will mean that I’ll spend more of my son’s inheritance …) and I will leave on MSC's "Poesia"

October 9 at Quebec City, returning to there October 15, 2011.

Oh yes, I forgot to tell you: I was born February 9, 1917.

 

Attached is my itinerary. It certainly would be nice if some of you would decide to take one or two of the cruise legs and we would see each other! And should you be alone, don’t forget that my stateroom has twin beds! Sharing the stateroom with me will save you a lot of money and if I am lucky and you are female, be assured that I will be on my best gentlemanly behavior!

 

Ahoy!

 

Egon

 

MY ITINERARY ON MSC “POESIA” 2010/2011

004 Saturday Oct. 9 – Sat. 16 - 7 Quebec, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Bar Harbor, Maine, Boston, MA, Newport, R.I., New York

P005 Saturday Oct. 16 – Sat.23, 2010 - 7 New York, Hallifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec

P006 Sat. Oct.23 - Nov 1, 2010 - 7 Quebec, Sydney, Boston, Newport, New York, Fort Everglades

PO07 Mon, Nov 01, Thu, Nov 11, 10 Port Everglades, Cozumel, Puerto Limon, Cristobal, Cartagena, Montego Bay, Port Everglades

PO08 Thu, Nov 11, 2010 Sun, Nov 14, 2010 3 Port Everglades, Coco Bay, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO09 Sun, Nov 14, 2010 Sun, Nov 21, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO10 Sun, Nov 21, 2010 Sun, Nov 28, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO11 Sun, Nov 28, Sun, Dec 05, 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades Cozumel, Port Everglade

P012 Sun. Dec 5, 2010 - Sun. Dec 12, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown,,Cosumel, Port Everglades

PO13 Sun, Dec 12, 2010 Sun, Dec 19, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Philipsburg, Charlotte Amalie, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO14 Sun, Dec 19, 2010 Sun, Dec 26, 2010 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO15 Sun, Dec 26, 2010 Sun, Jan 02, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO16 Sunday, Jan. 2nd – Tuesday Jan. 4th, 2010 – Fort Lauderdale, Nassau, Fort Lauderdale

JAN 4 - 9 CHARTER

PO18 Sun, Jan 09, 2011 Sun, Jan 16, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO19 Sun, Jan 16, 2011 Sun, Jan 23, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Sunday,

PO20 Sun, Jan 23, 2011 Sun, Jan 30, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO21 Sun, Jan 30, 2011 Sun, Feb 06, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO22 Sun, Feb 06, 2011 Sun, Feb 13, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO23 Sun, Feb 13, 2011 Sun, Feb 20, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO24 Sun, Feb 20, 2011 Sun, Feb 27, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Charlotte Amalie, Philipsburg, Nassau, Port Everglades

PO25 Sun, Feb 27, 2011 Sun, Mar 06, 2011 7 Port Everglades, Key West, Ocho Rios, Georgetown, Cozumel, Port Everglades

PO26 Sun, Mar 06, Wed, Mar 23, 17 Port Everglades, San Juan, St. John's, Castries, Funchal, Malaga , Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO27 Wed, Mar 23, 2011 Thu, Mar 31, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO28 Thu, Mar 31, 2011 Fri, Apr 08, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO29 Fri, Apr 08, 2011 Sat, Apr 16, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO30 Sat, Apr 16, 2011 Sun, Apr 24, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO31 Sun, Apr 24, 2011 Mon, May 02, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO32 Mon, May 02, 2011 Tue, May 10, 2011 8 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Gibraltar, Alicante, Barcelona, Genoa

PO33 Tue, May 10, 2011 Fri, May 20, 2011 10 Genoa, Malaga, Cadiz, Lisbon, Vigo, Southampton, Zeebrugge, Kiel

PO34 Fri, May 20, 2011 Mon, May 23, 2011 3 Kiel, Oslo, Copenhagen, Kiel

PO35 Mon, May 23, 2011 Fri, Jun 03, 2011 11 Kiel, Bergen, Tórshavn, Akureyri, Isafjordur, Reykjavík, Lerwick, Kiel

PO36 Fri, Jun 03, 2011 Tue, Jun 14, 11 Kiel, Copenhagen, Trondeim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Hellesylt & Geiranger, Bergen, Kiel

PO37 Tue, Jun 14, 2011 Sat, Jun 25, 11 Kiel, Copenhagen, Trondeim, Honningsvag, Tromso, Hellesylt & Geiranger, Bergen, Kiel

PO38 Sat, Jun 25, 2011 Sat, Jul 02, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO39 Sat, Jul 02, 2011 Sat, Jul 09, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO40 Sat, Jul 09, 2011 Sat, Jul 16, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO41 Sat, Jul 16, 2011 Sat, Jul 23, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO42 Sat, Jul 23, 2011 Sat, Jul 30, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO43 Sat, Jul 30, 2011 Sat, Aug 06, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO44 Sat, Aug 06, 2011 Sat, Aug 13, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO45 Sat, Aug 13, 2011 Sat, Aug 20, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO46 Sat, Aug 20, 2011 Sat, Aug 27, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO47 Sat, Aug 27, 2011 Sat, Sep 03, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallin, St. Petersburg, Kiel

PO48 Sat, Sep 03, 2011 Sat, Sep 10, 2011 7 Kiel, Copenhagen, Olden, Bergen, Kristiansand, Oslo, Kiel

PO01 Sat, Sep 10, 2011 Wed, Sep 28, 2011 18 Kiel, Copenhagen, Zeebrugge, Southampton, Vigo, Lisbon, Ponta Delgada, King's Wharf, New York City

PO02 Wed, Sep 28, 2011 Sat, Oct 08, 2011 10 New York City, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec, Halifax, Newport, New York City PO03 Sat, Oct 08, 2011 Sat, Oct 15, 2011 7 New York City, Halifax, Sydney, Charlottetown, Quebec

You are my HERO! Have a great trip. Perhaps you will have a little time to write a book about your adventure. It could pay for the next trip! I hope you will drop a line to let everyone know how it works out for you. :D