snowskier

Send a return receipt requested, must be signed for by recipient letter to the person you want to get in touch with. It will gets their attention. Did that once and it worked!

No idea what the OP includes in "all inclusive".

The downside for me -- assuming all people cruise the same way and taking my ability to choose what I pay for away. I don't drink alcohol / soda / mocktails -- don't really want to subsidize those that do. I don't participate in excursions -- don't really want to subsidize those that do. I do drink coffee -- not foo foo stuff -- just good brewed black coffee -- would love everyone to subsidize that so I don't have to purchase a coffee card on Princess.

Nope -- don't take my ability to choose how I cruise away. Once that happens cruises go right up there on the list with AIs --just won't happen.

I think we did 2 one year and that was too much. There is so much to see and do in this wonderful world that isn't accessible by water or conveniently accessible by cruise ship -- just can't do it. Exploring unique locations for more than a few hours, enjoying an evening in a fun city and not being controlled by the ships scheduled time in port make independent land tours part of our travel each year.

African safaris, exploring Viet Nam north to south, hiking through the Rocky Mountains, skiing around the world, spending time with the people that live on the Amazon in Peru and Ecuador -- just a few of the amazing places we have had the privilege of experiencing -- all without the constraints of the ship's port schedule. Almost made it to the South Pole on an expedition ship but the ice stopped us -- not really a cruise but it was on a small ship (less than 100 passengers).

Cruises are one of many ways to see the world but more than one cruise a year (or every other year) is enough for us.

We have never brought one - just rotate what needs to be charged.

Same here -- not everything needs to be charged at the same time.

All time changes were at noon on our transatlantic last spring. It was different but worked.

I am with the OP -- no desire to wait in line or the boarding area or play push and shove in the buffet. We board sometime after 2 and no lines.

Milk is available regardless of age -- don't have to be a toddler.

The UPS store and other similar packaging / mailing stores are located throughout the world. They will package and ship your items. Google is your friend -- easy to find the service.

Alcohol has not passed my lips in well over 27 years and I have never had trouble finding fun things to do in any environment I have ever been in. I can't tell you how many cruises I have been on (seems some folks need to include every time they post) but that number is totally meaningless to me, I can guarantee if alcohol was a prerequisite to having fun on a cruise I would have quit after one.

Overseas Adventure Travel - small shIp,small group. There are some trips that just shouldn't be done on a big cruise ship.

We had 14 people on the ship, it was a great time. You see so much more when in this area of the world if you move away from the mass market stuff.

I've heard that Customs is balking at the app and that they prefer the paper.

Love the way rumors are spread on CC. it is a Customs App. We have been using it in airports for over a year - many times - no one has ever balked at it.

I took the train -- worked great!

Are there also Al-Anon meetings?

Not in the Patter. I have experienced Al-Anon folks coming to the first AA meeting and agreeing on a time / place to meet. If requested, Princess will put it in the Patter.

Really happy I don't have a sophisticated palate if that means I can't use the children's menu. Like so many others have said the banana split is on the children's menu and for me it is the item I choose if I have desert..

This is really what you are spending a Saturday worrying about? I enjoy seeing all this because it gets me excited for my cruise. It gives me motivation to work that extra overtime knowing that money can go toward paying for my next cruise. I would imagine seeing these would give people with picky eaters in their family a sense of relief that they will be able to find something to eat that they like. I am sure it soothes the fear of people who have never cruised that they will not be bored on the ship. I have never understood posts like yours. No one is hurting anyone else by asking for these things. Stop worrying about what others choose to talk about and live your life. So you tell me, what gives?

On my goodness -- guess this question fired you up!

I often wondered why folks wanted these ahead of time as well. I certainly am not "worried about it", definitely not being judgmental of those that ask for them, I was just curious.

Thanks OP for asking -- the answers are interesting.

The greatest thing about a cruise to me is having to turn my phone off. I have about a day and a half of nervous anxious moments, but after that, I am on a real vacation.

 

I cannot get that on a land vacation. If my phone is on, I will likely be doing some work.

 

God I love cruises.

Very confusing post. Why can't the phone be turned off on a land vacation? I think the on / off switch works the same way on land or ar sea.

With Carnival you can call in the morning and sail in the afternoon. But you have to call, can't do it online. And generally you can't do the online checkin. EM

I have called in the morning and been on the ship that afternoon, both on Carnival and Princess. If there is a cabin and you are willing to pay the price being asked you are good to go. No idea about other lines as I have not tried.

No idea where the 24 and 72 hour answers come from -- one of many myths that are repeated as the gospel on Cruise Critic.

There was at time when I always saw puzzles when I cruised but now it seems to be hit or miss. I load up my iPad with jigsaw puzzles (just like loading it up with books) and am able to work on puzzles when I want to hang out and don't feel like reading.

There are lots of free puzzles available for the iPad and I assume other tablets as well.

She will be fine. They are matching BIRTH DATES....not names. No married woman's name matches her BC!

Really -- I am married and my last name matches my birth certificate.

Cruise Critic can be so entertaining at times -- so many authoritative statements that just are so wrong.

Don't know the price and can't remember the company name but there is one that goes down through the Drake Passage to Antarctica. It leaves out of Ushuaia -- you work it as much as you want. It isn't luxury but looked like a lot of fun. We were on an small expedition ship (less than 100 passengers) in that area a couple years ago and had the opportunity to see and learn about it.

Sorry I don't have more info but google is your friend and hopefully this will give you a start.

Here are some more options:

 

Spirit Baltimore - Ft Lauderdale $168

Frontier Philadelphia - Miami $280

Spirit Newark - Ft. Lauderdale $286

JetBlue Philadelphia - Ft. Lauderdale $290

Plus fees for luggage, carry on, seat, transportation to the actual city the cruse leaves from if one flies into an alternate airport and who knows what else. Exactly what these airlines hope to accomplish -- hook the passenger with "low fares". May be a good deal but chances are it isn't great once the total price of the "trip" is calculated.

I am a tech geek and have all my airline boarding passes on my phone. We never saw an option on our January Magic cruise to download boarding passes.

I have used the Boarding Pass on my iPhone / iPad to board -- don't complicate this. If you truly are a tech geek you should find this pretty darn easy to do.

Yes, it will still count steps. Yes, you can sync with wifi. I have a fitbit one which counts flights of stairs climbed also. Some have found the stair climb goes haywire, but that may be because of up-elevator use. It counts flights of stairs by changes in elevation...EM

My fitbit has never counted flights of stairs accurately when on a ship and a little research explains why. Since I have never taken an elevator on a cruise ship -- yup never have -- the above theory doesn't explain the challenge.

Works like a charm and is free --

Small ship to Antarctica -- small meaning 100 or less passengers, Antarctica meaning down through the Drake Passage and continuing south where mass market cruise ships can't go.