Georgeny

GEEZ still? Last year, every year, same thing!!! Could it be no one will admit owning that segment?

Last October we had 11:30 and they were adhering to it totally. We parked arrived proper time and walked past hundreds of people waiting for their times. Our pass was checked for time and immediately admitted, But like many have heard various accounts now. We are from West Point Harriman area 40 miles north of dangerous apple.So we go day early and stay at Hilton Garden in Staten Island. Also have relatives there so have nice get together for dinner night before sailing. Only about 10 to 15 minutes to cruise so can gauge time well enough though traffic line often long even back then. Also have concern like parking in garage but two ships still sailing for ours hoping not to have to go to overflow. Overflow is the old former parking area. Disembarking is nicer since exit luggage area right at garage load bags area. Will be interested on how you made out. George in NY

Radio, Can't tell you how happy Linda and I are seeing you will live review this sailing. We are boarding Oasis for October 2 voyage. We sailed that first week in October last year as our first return to the sea cruise. I must admit that ship at 40% was PHENOMENAL even with masking etc. I knew that capacity would be higher now but hoping not at 100%. Last year no crazy searching for pool area seating was greatest plus of low capacity. Was hoping that with kids back in school our October cruise would be nice and quiet, oh well we will see. Currently sailing only Baltimore and Jersey ships, just don't want to deal with flying seeing so many horror stories. Getting too old to sleep on some terminal floor 🙂 Have a great cruise, we keep missing seeing you onboard again but who knows what the future will bring. We didn't miss you by much this time. George in NY

Sharing not a problem. We use both are cards when we order so voucher comes off individual cards. This way if one, my wife usually, goes off to casino you haven't used all one card up. I have question, are the waiters compensated by line for service of a voucher drink? Or are they expected to just serve it as a part of their duties?

Generally either closed on no one there. Concierge is busy getting out benefit letters, updating his list of people etc. George in NY

We normally take our time first night MDR knowing the line and confusion, arrive 10 minutes after opening generally. Just a thought, some cruises I had to show escort where the table was. George in NY

Confusing enough? Once upon a time there was a CONCIERGE lounge for DIAMOND members. You could be in any cabin but still go to CONCIERGE lounge. Then there were too many DIAMONDS! Next came an ADDED category and DIAMOND PLUS was required TWICE the number of cruise or points ( that also changed through the years days sailed versus points etc ). DIAMOND members could no longer go to the CONCIERGE lounge unless they were in a mini-suite or above. Then better mini type suites were required to be in for CONCIERGE LOUNGE. They then were mini A or B or C to GRAND, and whatever mini-suites. Then there was SUITE LOUNGE where ONLY real SUITEs could go to. Diamond Plus could still go to CONCIERGE Lounge IF THERE WAS ONE because the were eliminating them on ships as they were dry docked and renovated. You could still go to Diamond lounge which depending on ship was either tiny or tinier. Then there was too many DIAMOND PLUS so they added the voucher system which was only good certain hours, certain bars. Then that was expanded to almost all bars etc. Add to all this crazy depending on what ship and what renovations made depends on facility available what lounge exist and who can go in them. They did away with Concierge lounges and only had SUITE and DIAMOND lounges and only TOP real SUITES got to go to SUITE lounges. You got all that? Bottom line when you get on ship you should have a letter from concierge of that ship what you are entitled to and where you can go on THAT ship! The only thing consistent with cruise lines is that nothing is consistent specially between ships. George in NY

Yes Miami is the world's largest Cruise Port! Yes Miami is a port of call. Being one or the other doesn't exclude it being both. Used to love Miami as a port of call, go to the Market area there near the docks. haven't been there in years though since most ship we wanted to sail were out of Port Everglades. Also last time there, Oct 2016 before covid, the inner harbor area was disgusting loaded with garbage. Was port of call Grandeur Seas out of Baltimore. Picture attached. Semantics are a wonderful thing. 1 : an intermediate port where ships customarily stop for supplies, repairs, or transshipment of cargo. 2 : a stop included on an itinerary. Port of call Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster George in NY

As you can see from the answers not really an easy answer. TURN OFF CELLULAR. If you want to make a cellular call from sea turn back on and you should get Cellular at sea come up. It will advise you that cost will be 2.99 a minute or whatever it is. Also note that text messages through them are .50 each outgoing .05 cents a minute. These calls and texts are billed via your normal carrier. On islands if you turn on cellular you will usually get local carrier pop up and instruct you on pricing. Some carriers like Verizon you can sign up for travel plan that might cost $10 a day unlimited minutes and data on the island IF they have an agreement. Bottom line is you need to research carefully. As many said if on wi-fi only on iphone you can text to another iphone. When we sail I can text with grand daughters as they have iphone, there mother, my daughter, uses something else and I can't. Botton line for me NEVER have your CELLULAR ON unless you plan to make a call. And know if you are using cellular to text you will have a bill when you get home. NEVER use cellular for DATA. I have seen people send a picture home and not realize cost them $45 or more. Again these charges are billed via you home carrier you will not see them until you get home on your normal cell bill. Oh that $10 Verizon unlimited is by line. So if on island and use that. You make call on your phone $10 for day, then wife uses her phone another $10 for day for her line. That Verizon thing is Travel Pass, you have to turn it on for your phone, I imagin other carriers have similar. https://www.verizon.com/plans/international/international-travel/ George in NY

Was never a fan admittedly of extra charge dining. We have cruised since 1984 and originally cruises were all about primary things, service and food. When they started added charge dining MDR food was extremely good and it seemed obvious to me that the only way to get people to pay for extra dining would be to dumb down the quality in the MDR. That has certainly occurred compared to pre-speciality restaurants. That said cost and quality differ by consumer. we live in NY metro area. Drink and food prices in shipboard restaurants are similar in pricing but far less quality and service. I would consider CHOPS a nice restaurant locally not a steakhouse. But if your area doesn't have a lot these type steakhouses etc then speciality restaurant can be worth it for the experience. A $15 cocktail is sadly what we would pay at home, but my relatives in Ohio would be driven nuts by that. OMG they charged me $2.25 for a POP !!!!! Ship service as well far less than 1980's, not to say that then was necessarily better cruising. Today cabin amenities and ship amenities far better. There were NO balconies and limited window cabins. Our first cabin the bed was not large enough for me at 6"2" to stretch. One of us had to leave the cabin so other could dress. I will find and include a picture should you consider me exaggerating. Picture taken from cabin door You don't even want to see the bathroom and shower. You could also here a whisper in the next cabin. LOL You cabin see the size of the double bed. George in NY

It doesn't unless you are curious to know if this is limited primarily to cruise ship occurrence or not? That is what I perceived the question to indicate. Since question was asked I figure looking for linkage to cruise itself on board. I was merely pointing out that there can be other travel factors involved as well such as hotel stay etc. In our case we no longer fly which limits our choices in sailing currently. Not flying more based on cancellations, crappy airline conditions than covid. Certainly flying adds another level of contact. George in NY

The real question is when and where did you actually come in contact with and get. Figure airport travel, shore excursions, baggage and customs etc. Fortunately for most vaccinated and boosted symptoms little more than a mild cold from what I have read. In answer to your question we have sailed twice since covid, last Oct Oasis Seas, last December Carnival Legend. Both used were car trip for us. Both were masked ( for most part ) more on Legend less on Oasis since Oasis has several outdoor areas like central park that did not require masking. We did not and have not tested positive so far, fingers crossed. We are vaccinated and boosted once. Coming week will do FLU vaccine as heard that will be doing a bigger comeback as we try to get back to normal. We are early 70's and late 60's, trophy wife LOL of 38 years. Hope you feel better and test negative now. George in NY

Good question I was looking for gratuities pre-pay myself for Oct cruise coming up, couldn't find it. Used to be able to do that I believe, but not there now. Was looking to pre-pay and guarantee the original daily pp rate since increase coming Sept 7, though I could lock in old rate. Oh well such is life.... George in NY

Than you for a great review, just what we were looking for! We are sailing Oct 2nd this year and we sailed same cruise last year same time. That cruise was at about 60% capacity and that proved wonderful on that size ship. I was concerned about reading how crowded ship has been and couple with being short staffed might be a problem. However one reason we cruise in May, June, October, November is that less crowds generally. Also great weather in Caribbean mostly. Figure Oct cruise though more people than last year should still be fine. The advantage this year I presume not required masking on ship this time around. When we sailed last year indoors required masks but Oasis was great because of the open areas like park and such were not mask required. Also, of course not masked if eating or drinking. Thank you again for taking the time to write a comprehensive review. George in NY