Wildcatllamas

That's what I have done in the past and then a quick hit with wrinkle release spray and things are good.

My last cruise on Celebrity was the end of January 2020 right before everything went down hill. Everything was great on that cruise for the friends and I that all traveled together. I don't know about now but I definitely feel that Celebrity and Virgin are the closest comparisons. As to the Crown Grill - I ate there in April of 2023 and also in October of 2022. Two different ships and my steaks both times weren't cooked the way I asked for them. I like them warm rare and each time they came out medium or medium well. On my April cruise I think the chef got pissed and just slapped it on the grill, flipped and then sent it out. I shocked the waiter when I told it was great, because I will eat it that way. On the October one, it took 2 steaks to get it to at least a medium rare. At least at the Wake when I tell them I would like my steak cooked Pittsburgh style and rare they know exactly what I want and it comes out perfect.

You can't really blame them. So many cruise ports are starting to look at the mega ships with 3 - 5 thousand people and if you have several of them there what does it do to the way of life for the folks who live there. I was just reading that NCL is modifying their private island's pier so that two of their proposed mega ships with 5000 folks apiece can dock there at the same time. I don't think I would want to spend my time on a small private island with 10,000 people, many of them kids. When I was in Fairbanks back in February it was nice to talk with the locals. They like the quiet time when the cruises aren't doing all their tours up to there. Many people don't realize who fragile the environment is up there and don't appreciate the beauty for what it is. Folks who can't understand why they couldn't see Denali because of the clouds and weather and things like that.

I live at 8500 feet (2590m) in the mountains of Colorado and I'm like you - 20C is a heat wave.

I think you're right. I would guess that they may do a brief Caribbean stint followed by a full transit through the Panama Canal to finish up with the Mexican Riviera. Rather then Alaska they may even opt to do Hawaii following Mexico. That would be a nice trip.

I haven't found her listed in any ports in Alaska or Vancouver just yet. But they don't have many ships listed for 2026 so far.

Brilliant Lady is showing up in Astoria Oregon on May 7, 2026. Cruise Ship Log 2026.pdf

I'm 70 and have been on 3 short Caribbean cruises and the range is broad. The last one was last December and I think the majority were late 40s to late 60s range.

After always sailing in suites with my late husband moving down to just a balcony or mini suite was a shock to the system. So I can definitely relate to what you are saying.

Yes they can. It's very easy.

May your day be filled with fantastic adventures and chocolate bunnies.

I don't know about the prices for the fresh squeezed juices but the specialty coffee prices are definitely in line with what I pay at my local coffee shops. Actually they are a bit cheaper and a lot better.

On my cruise in December of 2021 our steward asked if we wanted him to make up the couch daily since we had it in the two bed configuration. We told him that wasn't necessary but he showed us where we could stow the blankets and sheets if we changed our minds. Then in December of 2023 my steward asked if I wanted the bed made into a couch during the day and I told him I was fine the way it was. But he then showed me how to separate and pivot the beds if I wanted the couch just in case I couldn't get ahold of him.

I remember awhile back when Virgin was offering that if you shared with your friends that you were on a certain sailing and they booked through your link that each of you got $50 OBC. People were sharing their links here like crazy. So that would lead to bunches of people that you don't know suddenly being in your "circle". I think that came to an end back in 2021 or early 2022.

Thanks for the suggestion but no the two that I saw only played violins.

I'm hoping that someone may be able to help me. Back in October 2022 I sailed on Discovery and there was a wonderful duo on there. They were a brother and sister violinists and I think they may have been from somewhere in the vicinity of Ukraine. I had written down their information because I wanted to order one of their cds when I got home. Needless to say life got in the way and last week I tried to find where I had placed their information. I can't find it. I believe their last names began with an L and they have performed on a lot of ships with Princess. Thanks for any help!

I know at one point she mentioned to me a bridge tour but we were also talking about the ship tour, so not sure on that. On the alcohol, I guess she shouldn't have asked the agent. I will let her know because she has another cruise booked for December in a Mega suite.

Now this is a tiny bit off topic but I had a friend who was a MegaRock on one of the cruises out of San Juan last month. She was very upset because of so many things that she and I have seen here on this page that her agent said couldn't be done. When she and her husband asked about doing the ship tour their agent said it would cost them because Megas don't get it for free. Then they asked if they could take a bottle of unopened rum, from their bar, home with them and he said they couldn't do that at all. There were so many things that he said he couldn't do for them and yet others post about doing it all the time. But this ship tour was one they had been really looking forward to. They paid for it but it's sad that they had to.

I have worked closely with my doctor and I am "Non-celiac gluten intolerant". I have several genetic markers for celiac and my nephew has full blown celiac. So I am very careful about what I eat and I never say that I am celiac because that is lying. But now there is a real name, I stand firm with I am gluten intolerant. I cruised last December and was pleasantly surprised how far they have come along with gluten free options since my last cruise with them in 2021. They have gluten free bread and bagels in the Galley and after my first dinner all staff were pointing out on the menu gluten free options that were available for me. I haven't had the opportunity to tour their kitchens but I have on Celebrity, NCL and Princess. So I will rate those 3 on the gluten free inner workings. NCL has a totally separate prep area in their kitchen that is dedicated to gluten free. They also have a kosher area. This area is only used for gluten free and there in no crossing over with staff from the other kitchen areas during prep. Celebrity has a huge selection of gluten free options and I sampled muffins, cake, pizza (meh) and all were good. Their kitchens also have a dedicated gluten free area and they also work hard to maintain the integrity of this kitchen. Princess is so so. They will recommend items that are gluten free and which items may have gluten somewhere in the prep. But when I toured their kitchens back in 2019 there was no dedicated gluten free area. So the potential is high for cross contamination. Things may have changed since that time.

I love the Red Flower bar soap that they have. But you can't buy it on the Red Flower site except as a liquid soap. The fragrance is Ocean.

I am definitely going to look into having them take our bags to the airport. I'm traveling with 3 friends and two are staying in Barcelona for a few days and the other friend and I have to get back to the states sooner. So, she and I booked an evening flight back to Heathrow so we could have a little more time for all of us to hang out together and see some of Barcelona and of course try the food. But the luggage was going to be an issue and this looks like it will solve that issue.

First, I haven't done an interior although I have friends who won't do anything but interiors. They are night owls and love the darkness of an interior so they can sleep during the day. I love a balcony - especially with the hammock. My late husband and I always sailed in suites but that is a little out of my budget these days so I do the balconies. It was nice on my cruise in December to curl up in the hammock, read a book and listen to the ocean. I actually nodded off a couple of times.

Thanks everyone. I was thinking the page hadn't been updated in awhile but thought I would ask because if it was still going on it would be a great option. @jon81uk I will check into bagsandgo. that sounds like it might work.

I'm pushing the limit of number of days I can be away from work. Otherwise I would spend some time there.

I was just reading on the Barcelona Airport page that says that various cruise lines and airlines have made arrangements that folks getting off a cruise can check their luggage at the port and check in for their flights. Now this page doesn't show Virgin listed but looking at the dates in the article it may be pre-Covid. Does anyone know anything about something like that? It would be great if we could do that and then go see the town.