Essiesmom

I believe the prices you see online to purchase pre-cruise are the discounted prices. EM

We’re having a rainy day here in Coastal GA. The garbage truck has come and gone, early. Yes, Monday is trash day for us, and the trash people do not take holidays off. I think some folks forgot, as the neighbors who always have two bins full did not put out any. They have five children…. EM

Wrong thread

I answered on your previous thread

Merry Christmas, Hawkeye! I’m sure a little rain won’t deter Santa. EM

There is always a white night. There will not be a gala night on a 4 day cruise. EM

When concerned about cabins, it is wise to become a member of cruisedeckplans.com. The fee is minimal if you wish to see the pictures, but you can recoup it by submitting your own pictures. The site has pictures of E735, but there is also this:

I got off an MSC cruise last Sunday (8 hours late into port) with a cold, that turned out to be Covid. My first time. I knew I was coming home to my niece who also has Covid. At least we know we didn’t give it to each other. Not real sick, just like a cold. EM

I watched all 49 minutes of it in the wee hours on my iPad. This is the first one I have received. Maybe because I finally took a post-Covid Celebrity cruise in June. I’m Elite but doubt I’ll ever get to Elite + u less they have some really good cruises from Port Canaveral, as I prefer to drive to the port. And I like to sail many lines. EM

My first post-Covid cruise from JAX there was quite a line waiting for checkin to open. The last two times there was no line - I am platinum with earliest time - and I walked right in, no one checked time. It will just depend on how bad the line is. Be prepared for sniffer dog to check your carryon bags. EM

It’s a little bit confusing because they started building the larger Fantasia class before they finished the smaller Musica class. Magnifica was launched in 2010, the last of her class, but Fantasia and Splendida were launched in 2008 & 2009. EM

You can have as many starters and desserts as you want. Only the mains are charged extra each. EM

On duty tonight. Looking good.

Yes, but it is still not working for me. It tells me the new one already exists, does not change the previous on of record. EM

For that time of year in the eastern Med. I would pack lighter weight pants rather than jeans. EM

It looks like Mardi Gras is going to Cadiz for the spa treatment. EM

There were several Live from threads earlier this summer and fall that were transAtlantics. Look for one by @Saint Greg, @IntrepidFromDC, and @jam19872016who the an odyssey…over on Freedom, two weeks on Cunard, and back on Freedom. After awhile I get confused with all the long threads…. EM

Little wrinkles, seasonal. FYI, Carnival is the only cruise line I have sailed that does not change their clocks to local time. That said, time difference may depend on the time of year. For instance, in the winter when we are on standard time, cruises from the eastern time zone are on the same time as the Yucatán peninsula. But when DST starts, we are an hour ahead. Coming from Texas, you currently may be an hour behind Yucatán, but once you go onto DST you might be the same. I realize it is confusing. EM

Definitely try Etsy. Might even get sale prices and stock up for next year, and other occasions. EM

Since you are doing Alaska, I suggest you do some reading on the Alaska board here, under Ports of Call. Lots of experienced cruisers there, as well as locals. EM

Interesting, the article says the non-local workers will not have access to the community. I suppose that is a condition of the type of cork visa, but it rather sounds like they are prisoners in an AI. I hope they are paid well. Do you suppose gratuities are included? EM

POn his cruise the two ports prior to Piraeus are both in Greece, so he is already cleared into the Schengen area, so no immigration formalities. if there was taxi/transportation availability he could probably walk off in the wee hours and save hotel fees. EM

Yes she did. Her only regret is she didn’t get to meet with the future cruise people. EM

I have sailed MSC six times, four different ships, not in YC. I find it no different than any other mass market line for those of us Below the Salt. I liked the shows. I’m a people watcher, so I chose to move around the ship. I just got off 10 days on Seashore yesterday. New for this cruise was the ability to access the boarding pass in the app. I think some of the customer service issues come from it being a European line. My theory is that Europeans book what they want, and do not seek to make myriad changes…add this package, change cabins, add another person, change dates. Just my opinion. My last cruise in June on Summit was not a success. Booking late, I had select dining. I had no opportunity to book dining time in the app, so even a shared table took an hour to seat. After three nights I ended up in the buffet. Buffet is great for breakfast and lunch, but for dinner, nearly half is closed, and absolutely nothing on the MDR menu is available there. EM

Disney Fantasy stayed ON in Port Canaveral.Sat. We met her coming out as we were approaching. I think they re missing Cozumel. EM