hueyjudy

13 hours ago, babs135 said:

Should have been on board the Queen Elizabeth but instead we're at home  dreaming of what might have been.  Transferred to the Canary Islands over Xmas and the New Year.  Thoughts now turn to next year and I'm wondering if we should stick with Cunard or look at another cruise line.  

Would value your opinion.

 

We've only done one Cunard cruise, on Victoria around Norway.  We think that Cunard is the best ever.  We just loved everything about it.  She is so elegant, versus the garish decor of other cruise lines.  We can't wait to book our next cruise, but of course are busy using up all the credits from all the cancelled cruises.

23 hours ago, Mike981 said:

 

Good advice truly, but...

I have been wearing hearing aids for 20+ years  (started when I was 30) and recently spent $6,000 on a pair. As much as they help, certain situations just don't work. When in a loud environment, the aids try to pick out certain sound that 'they feel' are the human  voice. It is unable to know what 'voice' you are wanting to hear, so they often increase all frequencies that fit the human voice. And it is like being in a car full of people talking loudly and the radio also playing loudly. You  just can't make out enough to have a decent conversation.

Thank you for this first-person explanation.  I've heard this over and over since my slight hearing loss started years ago.  People proudly say their new hearing aids are great, but after awhile they admit to issues exactly as you describe. Ambient noise is my only problem, unless the speaker is a child or a woman.  Those higher-pitched voices are always a challenge, but I just ask them to enunciate more carefully and I hear most of it.   I think it's the high cost of the hearing aids that make people 'like them no matter what'.  Why Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids is totally beyond me.  Deafness is incredibly isolating and seniors don't need any help being isolated, it's already a problem.   

On 7/14/2022 at 1:10 PM, cruisemom42 said:

 

Boy, parents today have a mighty tough time of it. Either we are ignoring our children completely, leading to a generation of feral children (and feral adults in the making)...OR we are accused of being "helicopter parents" constantly hovering around our kids and fending off all the challenges and disappointments that should be theirs to face in order to grow up as well-adjusted individuals.

 

If only it was as easy for us to get it perfect like all past generations have done. 🙄

We don't have children by choice, but I can certainly empathize with today's parents trying to do it right.  Stay strong!!

I'm wondering if your daughter might be ready to make her own decisions ... is she the type to worry about what 'everyone' will think?  Or is her Grandmother vitally concerned with appearances?  If not, this might be a good time for your daughter to just wear whatever she wants onboard, as long as she dresses 'nicely' for dinners.

Every ocean cruise I've ever been on has numerous dancing opportunities.

Terrific advice on these responses!  My advice is to pick one bright color and the rest neutral.  I travel in beige and black, with one bright color.  I'd  take 8 tops, 4 bottoms and plan on doing laundry.  Everything should go with everything else.  Three dressier outfits for non-formal dinners, like a maxi-dress or skirt with a nice top.  If she can pull it off, a pashima-like shawl.  One dress for formal nights.  Nobody will notice and nobody cares that someone wears something three times.  It actually makes you look like a smart traveller.  One pair of dressy shoes for most of the evenings.  Much more productive to have the room for every-day clothes.  A heavy cardigan, a light one too.  A windbreaker and a jacket/coat according to what you read about the weather on the cruise.  

I used to love dinner on a cruise with set table companions.  We never met any awful people, met many very cool people.  Looked forward to sharing our day each evening.  We shared a table once with two mothers and 5 kids, thought it would be a disaster.  It was wonderful.  The kids were great company and the mothers interesting conversationalists.  Now we like open dining on cruises.  But we do the buffet almost every evening.  We like a late breakfast and an early dinner and enjoy eating just exactly what we want to in the early evenings.  And at a certain point in life, I think some of us get tired of sharing our life stories over and over again and just like quiet meals with our spouses.  My problem now is a slight hearing loss, so at a table for 8 in a big dining room, the ambient noise makes me understand little. 

I would assume that last-minute cancellations make cabins available, so go for the upgrade ... if their system can manage it.  I always sign up for whatever we want, like more internet, specialty restaurants, etc, before we depart.  Then all I have to do is verify everything's OK that first day. 

9 hours ago, ozzy77 said:

Just for laughs I will say don’t pack heals that you can’t walk in and end up like me 🤣😝🤦‍♀️

'Heals' ... sore feet.  Good one!

We've done the 'First Cruise' poll ... made me think about our favorite cruise.  We haven't cruised as much as many of you, but we did Athens to Istanbul on a Radisson Seven Seas ship the year after Athens hosted the Olympics.  I think it advertised as a 'six star' cruise and I sneered.  But it was really close.  We had a walk-in closet, a steward who was the epitome of service hospitality, the shore excursions were incredible.  Seeing those minarets on the skyline rise up as we neared Istanbul at dawn was a sight I'll never forget.  I don't remember a single negative about that cruise.  I will find my scrapbook from that trip and get the name of the ship ... she may still be sailing with a different cruise line.

Don't know if I can post this here, but it's not a recommendation, just information.  Chase's two top cards are Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred.  I got the Reserve the minute they launched it, maybe 6 or 8 years ago.  I've had a couple claims which were handled very well, their customer service is exemplary and their loyalty plan excellent for my purposes.   I've had MedJet emergency evac coverage for probably twenty years.

4 hours ago, Janie1229 said:

I have this exact Travelon purse as my everyday bag in a pretty navy color. I love it and will not wear anything other than a cross-body or "fanny" bag again - unless I am going just out to dinner or event in which I MIGHT take a small clutch. 

Exactly!  Once you use a fanny pack, you'll not go back to carrying something.  Bringing a small clutch purse for dinners is a simple solution.  I found one that is presentable (ie the husband doesn't laugh at me) and weightless after looking for a couple of years.

4 hours ago, Malex7780 said:

We have the opposite problem of the OP. NCL Air has just booked us on an 11AM flight back to Toronto from Miami.  What time will they let us off the ship?  Will we be given any sort of priority to get off first given our flight time?

I'd call the Air Desk and inquire.  Logic says they'll give you priority to leave the ship.  But these days, logic in travel seems to be an oxymoron.  If the ship docks late or whatever, NCL should automatically rebook your flight. 

Good grief, how could I forget my Coach handbag?  Back in the day, the San Francisco Bay Area didn't have any discount stores.  I bought all my clothing from catalogues and trips home to Minnesota, where everything was 30% less expensive.  Sales at Dayton's had incredible prices.  I found my taupe handbag and absolutely loved it.  Several years later, I decided I wanted a black one.  Couldn't ever find a bargain, they retailed for about $300 back then.  Off a ship  in a taxi on a Caribbean Island, there was an ad for the "Coach Outlet".  Quelle excitement!  We went directly there, and I got my bag for about $125 or so.  Still have both bags more than 20 years later.   So I know EXACTLY how you feel about that Princess bag!

Good point ... I would like to know what kind of cabins those Royal people had booked.  If you're in an expensive suite, I think your experience would be far different than someone booked in an inside cabin.

9 hours ago, Host Kat said:

 

Howdy @tippytortoise 

 

To help you out I have moved your thread to the Need Help Using the Forums? Check Here! forum where it will be on topic. 

 

For information about our famous Roll Calls, please read What is a Roll Call? Everything you Need to Know and How To: Create A New Roll Call. For even more information, please read the Roll Calls and Our Policy Regarding Facebook and Roll Calls sections in the Guidelines we all agreed to follow when registering for our free Cruise Critic memberships.

 

The Roll Call thread for your cruise line, ship and sail date is the only place on Cruise Critic where you and your fellow Roll Call thread members are allowed to post personal ads about sharing private tours, excursions, transportation etc. with each other to 💲ave money. There is a "captive audience" since you are all sailing together! 

 

And don't forget, after your cruise be sure to submit your review for publication by Cruise Critic. Many cruisers will benefit from your experience!  See How To: Submit a Member Review.

 

Hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

 

I am looking forward to a Roll Call on our September cruise.  I had hoped to do the roll call on RCCL several years ago, but it was scheduled at a time when we were in port.

14 hours ago, Sailing12Away said:

Seems a bit extreme, no? How about you just choose to not use their air promo in the future since that's what you have an issue with and not the cruise itself?

You are so right ... but we are dealing with people who want their TA to rebook them to save $43, so paying $50 or 100 to control your own (free) air wouldn't be an option for some.  Just to be clear, in order to 'threaten' the cruise line with cancelling the whole trip, you have to mean it.  I would never have flown 11 hours JFK-Cairo in coach. 

6 hours ago, ChC said:

 

You nailed it. It is all about choice. So why not offer all the choices in one single place: a complimentary dining experience that you do not need to pay for? Better still, why not offer all the choices in MDR?

 

If MDR is good enough, why offer complimentary speciality dining?

If complimentary specialty dining is good enough, why offer paid option?

 

You are questioning choices of dining venue. But in reality it is choices of the menu or even choice of inclusive for others.

For us, it's not the quality of food or service ... we just don't want to spend much more than an hour having a meal. Give me a glass of champagne, 3 appetizers and a bowl of ice cream, I'm happy.  We did the MDR once on our last cruise, it was a great experience, both the meals and the service, but it just took too long.  In the past we've had fabulous table mates and never once have not enjoyed their company ... maybe as you get older you just get 'talked out'?? 

20 hours ago, hmcrn said:

Hi Everyone! 

We are 23 days to our cruise - yay!  The Panorama on 28 May, Basel to Amsterdam. 

However - trying to make sure we can get the correct COVID test in Amsterdam to be able to board a plane back to the US.  (staying extra after we disembark). 

Is the rapid antigen test valid for boarding a plane?  Everything i read uses different terminology it seems.  

The main place to test is called SPOED Test.  They have lots of centers around Amsterdam.  

The testing they offer is the Rapid Antigen Test at 40 Euros, or the PCR Economy at 80 Euros.  

Big difference in price, and also the first one is results in 30 minutes, the second results in 24 hours.  

I think we can do the rapid as long as it's an Antigen test , correct?  

Thoughts???

Gathering information on public forums is a good way to get your mind around these things.  But please check with your airline and/or the authorities for verification of the details.  Have a wonderful cruise!  On Avalon, that's almost a guarantee. 

 

32 minutes ago, cruisemom42 said:

You don't mention the age of your child. But if, like most children, they rely on the internet (social media, entertainment, perhaps home schooling), keep in mind that on a world cruise there will be long periods where the ship probably will have poor reception/connectivity.  

A VERY good point!  Internet access on a ship is a totally different animal, even in port.  And it's expensive.  Even with a SkyRoam, I do a great deal of reading on a cruise!

Anyone with experience LAX-PPT in business class? I've picked up some negative things about the comfort of the seats. Love to hear from anyone who's flown ATN in biz.

Anyone with experience LAX-PPT in business class? I've picked up some negative things about the comfort of the seats. Love to hear from anyone who's flown ATN in biz.

I'm sailing on Brilliance out of San Juan next Saturday. It makes me SO happy to be able to bring my champagne on board for my pleasure while dressing for dinner. Thank you all for posting hour-by-hour experiences. Did I just read that you can smoke in the Casino of Brilliance? II'm a smoker and I think that's really disgusting. I can't imagine smoking in a room filled with people, no way I could enjoy my cigarette. I'll have to check that out.

I'm available to help you drink this wine! Just let me know when. But on reflection, Royal would probably charge extra for the crane to get it up the gangplank, eh?

I wouldn't dream of standing in a long line to pick up an apple. I agree with Avista, but would add that I hover a moment until the person notices me and my reach won't annoy anyone. This technique works, of course, only if you are QUICK, smile, ask pardon as you are reaching and say thank you.