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I will never again travel without at least a few hundred of the local currency. Last year in Ireland our credit card worked great but our ATMs from several different institutions did not. We struggled with parking costs, water or snacks, and smaller retailers who did not want credit cards. Thankfully a kind owner of a cafe took pity on me and allowed me to bump my dinner up my 100 euros for what he called pocket money and thankfully we had several hundred in US dollars which several tour operators took after hearing my tale of woe. If I bring funds home from the upcoming trip…more reason to go to Europe again!

While I enjoy the “what to wear” banter sometimes I was hoping for a different POV. Port intensive trip, cooler weather, longer days off ship, possible rain and damp would to me equal a less formal and relaxed attire, as an example heading to dinner right after return from an excursion. Can anyone comment if attire layered for weather changes would be a problem? Next planned trip is for us much longer than average week ish and of course weather challenges in the shoulder season we like to travel in.

We have been on with groups that had super limited impact on our experience. In fact, it seemed that there were extra games, music, shows and events (all open to the rest of the cruisers) which perhaps was part of what the group opted to bring onboard. Apart from banners and some promo items around it was no issue at all. Another time was a Miami Dolphin football cruise which was pretty funny with retired players and cheerleaders…..yes there were events a few times but we actually were not impacted at all. The WORST was a multi level pyramid company that had about 1/2 the ship. They routinely had closed venue meetings and rah rah sessions all over the ship. The part that was super strange and annoying was they would approach anyone not in the group as fresh blood to bring onto their selling team. It was like dining, playing and talking to someone who might be a telemarketer all day and night. You would start off with a casual conversation and it quickly turned into how you could improve your life, lifestyle and finances by joining the team. I was nicer then and would have a harder time disengaging from the conversation so frequently was trapped! The current older, wiser me would not tolerate but it was a less than relaxing cruise!

Cruisemom43 you are the best! I thank you for all the insight!

Thank you! Oddly enough tickets for the day/time I was hoping to get were now available….which on another site that I was concerned was not the official site (clearly that instinct was correct!) so this was a terrific option!

I miss the drink guy that used to sell theme shots with the glasses. I still have some of tucked with my liquor, plus there was always one fun waiter chanting how much he loved his job.

I can make a case for both. Are you booking for the adults or is your focus the kids? And consider your children’s age…. While both are not the newest Jade is the sister ship to Pearl which we have cruised on several times and we have also cruised on Emerald. Your kids may love the brightness, noise level and fun on the pool deck on NCL or not. Princess is generally a far more sedate pool area than NCL. Emerald does have movies under the stars which is always a winner for families. Food is subjective so I will not comment but snacks to me for kids double check ice cream, snacks and now with the changes room service for the littles in case. Jade does win with a nice beach day inexpensive with the included picnic at Great stirrup cay, St Thomas there is the tram ride up the mountain always a nice day, lots of nice shopping to walk through in Curaco but better yet a quick bus ride to a resort. There is also an awesome pirate tour with snorkeling in Aruba that your kids might enjoy. Princess does tend to have far less children so that could be a positive, or not. I know this is the Princess board response but truly I would review what you want to do with your family both onboard and at each stop as the best indicator.

I have a fondness for CB as it was our first Princess cruise but like others think this is more about expectations. Go in with an open mind knowing nothing is perfect, refurbished in 2019 gives me no pause with the lack of travel due to Covid limiting use. We are happy to have someone else make dinner, drive us to new places and give us a bit of entertainment PLUS the bonus of not working is just the icing. Perfect nope but neither was the rainy week in the rented beach house, road trip in traffic, all inclusive resort trip, first European trip, during a terriorist attack, family vacations, business trips, anywhere….vacations are like life not perfect, sometimes messy, sometimes overrated but I try to enjoy the trip!

Wonder if adding Kale was in response to a food recall on Romaine lettuce…..

Thank you for this detail regarding the shade! I am so worried about the whole tender, cable car massive crowds so good to know that the walk up would be shaded if we need to do it!

Last Princess trip in 2019 in the Mediterranean, we packed the husband black dress pants, a long sleeve shirt and a tie, no jacket, should have been a non issue and we do try to travel light. We got stopped and told without a jacket no entry on formal night. Normally we are super laid back but needless to say I was not pleased and let them know with airline limits, overseas travel and what was at least on par to most other travelers we would be dining….they backed down. I do think sometimes they use dress code when they have over booked or given away the table…our reserved table was unavailable but they managed to find us a table…was it really about attire?!?!

I do want to add I have never removed the auto tipping, my tips are in addition.

I guess I am going to be the outlier of this thread…..we travel simply generally in ocean view rooms, while sometimes a great deal leads us to balcony and drink packages mainly without although always a soda package. I always stop and get 50 nice crisp dollars to tip on my Caribbean cruises when I am poolside frequently especially when you have just the soda package. I am not demanding but it helps getting service especially if only getting a couple of sodas. We will usually tip our waiter (if we have the same table) at the end of the cruise if service was extra helpful (assistant too if there is one) and our cabin steward. In total maybe 100 over the trip plus the all important comment cards. I hope it expresses our appreciation for their efforts and long hours. We rarely have any special requests beyond a couple extra towels or an additional dessert to try! Our coming Europe trip I will have the same with me (the crew will be heading back to the Caribbean shortly after) but last Mediterranean cruise really never tipped, it felt, somehow off so we shall see.

Roll the dice with free money or in the case spin the slot, that is a great story! I have enjoyed being on this trip with you. Hope you are feeling better!

Thank you so very much for a fun read! Dreaming of a future world cruise! I will admit I loved the electric tea kettle discussion, I have had one for years but most people find them fascinating when they first come to my home.

Thank you so very much for this review! I enjoyed your wit and insight! It makes me think a UK trip is in our future!

Depending on what you are looking for each line has features we like: NCL. Laid back life, no packing drama, fun game shows RCL. Big! Great Broadway style shows, lots of pools, adult space Princess. International Cafe, good shows and trivia, feels like home/comfortable Celebrity very lovely, great entertainment and outside space but pricey Carnival if price was right, sure, MSC again if price were right, beautiful ship odd less appealing entertainment My feeling will always be how bad could it be, someone cooks, cleans, entertains and I get to go to cool places. Have some trips been better than others of course same as some days I would like to fast forward past!

I would have to say that given the opportunity I would select a cruise that did not stop in Jamaica. If for whatever reason the ship stopped I would not be venturing off. We found the island not our cup of tea and both of us were quite uncomfortable there! It would be a lovely day onboard for us!

Thank you for posting recent photos! We have been several times and found it a sad spread of dry cheese maybe I need to get there earlier since nothing even remotely appealing or appetizing was to be found! With the drink package in hand highly suspect we will not be heading there next trip either!

Very fun, thank you for letting me travel along!

Now that we pack only in carryons due to check in fees on flights, we now carry the bags right through security and onto the ship. Love being able to unpack as soon as rooms are available and handle all the must do items and settle into vacation mode plus no worries about my bag going missing.

I did but have found nothing posted in from last season or online reflecting they run. If you find anything I would be very interested.

Hello, this was my original plan but based on the port info water taxi tab hoping the link is accurate but just in case….. it seems that due to issues it is no longer an option to take the water taxi https://www.santoriniport.com/santorini-water-taxi/

Only two ships in port…we will be the 3500 and much smaller after noon, October so late in the season. We arrive at 7 depart at 7. We will not have priority tenders, I want to see as much as possible but the uncertainty is concerning.

Hello, I keep going round and round on the best option….cruise line takes away the drama of cable car in the morning as everyone scrambles off but it is such a minimal excursion I would much prefer a private tour. Has anyone found that getting off later helps? If I wait a couple of hours does the crush get better? I was thinking wait a couple of hours after our 7am arrival and then go up wander around and take the bus over to Oia around noon….again wander and bus back. We would need to be to cable car by 4 ish with plenty of time for the 7 departure. Appreciate any feedback, on if the delay would help, thanks!