Essiesmom

Yes, but it’s DOWNhill. It’s the walk up to board that kills me. I travel carryon only but I now check my rollaboard and just wear my backpack. But debarking…you could ride your suitcase down…if it had brakes…and maybe a tiller to steer…. EM

He has five previous cruises in his signature. EM

That brings up a memory. Waayy back when I was a Girl Scout, my sister’s troop made a trip to Mexico to the Cabana in Cuernavaca. I went along, as one year younger and our mother was asst. leader. Along the way we visited Acapulco, staying in a motel near the beach. Budget with lovely grounds and pool. On a tour of the city, we stopped by the Hotel Caleta, most expensive in town with possible exception of Las Brisas with the pink jeeps. We walked through the lobby, taking a sip from the water fountain, knowing that was all we could afford there. Fast forward 13 years, and I take a tour through an airline, with basically the same itinerary. And where did we stay in Acapulco? La Caleta. It was still very nice, open air with no a/c. EM

It may ask you for a credit card when you do online checkin. Input it, and it might take. BUt it might not. I have had it not take, and on another cruise I went to the kiosk to put in the card, and it said a card was already registered. EM

If you are t familiar with Sailor Jack’s trip reports, go to his signature and start from the bottom. I particularly like Dream Nightmare…. EM

Thanks. EM

I am booked on my first VV cruise, five days on Valiant Lady from Miami. I status matched so get a free bag of laundry. I am a minimal packer, carryon only…but the reason for the laundry question is that the day I get off VL I will sashay down the pier and board MSC Magnifica for a short 3 days. So, what is the latest I can send out a bag of laundry and get it back in time to pack? Thanks, EM

It was rather like watching an episode of ‘To catch a smuggler’. EM

Ship? Itinerary? We can’t speak of shuttles without knowing the ports. Be aware that Mediterranean cruises are like a bus route, with new guests boarding at most of the ports. EM

Evaluate flight arrangements between NB and SB. I have done B2B both ways. Didn’t know any better when I booked the first one starting from Whittier. Coming from East Coast you have to go in at least a day early. From Coastal GA it’s ’you can’t get there from here’. Delay in Houston, delay on same plane in Seattle. Was supposed to be in before midnight. At 0300 I was pulling my luggage down the corridor of the Capt. Cook. Clerk comes out and asks if I am checking out… Short night in expensive hotel. Flights home were red eye. Next time we did B2B from Vancouver. EM

When I PCSd to Germany in 1976 I think I shipped my car from Philadelphia. I sold it before I came home, had a new one waiting for me here. EM

Seats themselves are not assigned. It is the space that is assigned. this is to assure that there are not more people crowding into the theater than there are seats. EM

I’m on my iPad. I applied last night with a screen shot of my Celebrity level. I have been approved. EM

But they still are not handle by Guest Services. The Spa handles the spa, although I think you can do it in the app. You can reserve the shows in the app or on the interactive screens located about the ship. I believe you can make the dinner reservations in the app, or at the restaurants themselves. Not sure if you can do that on the screens. EM

Guest Services would not have anything to do with the Spa. There is a reception desk within the spa that would handle reservations. EM

Booked last night and this morning have an offer to bid for an upgrade. From OV to obstructed and junior balcony. I’ll pass for now. EM

It’s the flash they don’t want. EM

I’ll do another Live from, including Valiant Lady if there is interest. I was surprised it was affordable for me, but I booked the lowest cabin…their solo inside. And then immediately got an email to buy an upgrade to several levels, including solo OV for $90. Tempting, but I want to try the smallest first. Price includes drinks, WiFi, gratuities. I could come off with no bill at all. Might even have a drink. EM

I just tried it and got an immediate reply that it went through. Now to wait and see if it is approved. EM

Here are two inside cabins on Divina that I took in 2017. One large chair. I did see an OV or two with two of these chairs.

Well, I played well today. I booked the Valiant Lady five day July 14-19. Get off Valiant Lady, travel down the pier and board Magnifica for 3 days. Below the Salt on both…tiny solo inside on Lady, Fantastica inside on Magnifica. I’m sailing for the ships, ports don’t matter. Next two cruises after these are on Carnival. EM

Where does one find a link to the status match? I bit the bullet and booked on Valiant Lady for July…. EM

I am considering a cruise on VV and would like to know generally how people dress onboard…other than theme parties? I’m a casual, coordinated person but I do like to dress up on occasion. EM

Are you trying to book solo? On many attempts it is suddenly sold out when you reduce it to one guest. EM

Not any more. There used to be 1-2 day cruises to nowhere, booze cruises…but CBP ruled that on that type of voyage the crew were actually working in/from the US and would need a different (harder to get) visa. So the CTN went away. I think at least ten years ago. That said, you can find long cruises without intermediate ports. Not on the mass market lines, and not closed loop. The Cunard crossings are such. We were booked on one on Windstar from Costa Rica to Tahiti, 15 days. But Covid cancelled it. I have seen cruises on other smaller lines from Colon, Panama to the US East coast with no stops. They are out there, but not for the budget cruiser. EM