north29

Some how I think the bigger the ships are the more the problem with dining times. Imagine trying to organize the feeding of a city of 4000 when they wanted to eat. I some how doubt that MTD will be eliminated but I can easily see a up charge for it coming.

We are D+ and have enjoyed X lately, and looking at different cruise lines for a lot of reasons. We and "notice we" just are not happy with the directions RC seems to be going.

If it is on the Oasis class or above, the amusement activities and great broadway type entertainment will do the trick.

I think it is a little too much. On two land base trips one 14 days to South Africa the single supplement was only $400 and one 14 days to Greece was only $450. I know you cannot easily compare cruises to land base travel, but The cruise lines need to rethink single travel.

I used my Canon SX50 HS on the Voyage of the Vikings in 2015 and loved it. Also used it for our 66 day to Australia and New Zealand. The current model is the SX60 HS. Outstanding zoom features with image stabilization and easy to use video.

times 2

We used to carry a DSLR, but this one SX60 is great. It has some learning curve when pushing the take button, especially at max zoom which almost takes a tripod, but a lot better than carrying all sorts of lens.

Not sure I have your answer, but we did the same tour but with a local agency at the port. Bus ride over to the park, a fun but relative slippery portion and then a nice/kinda strenuous up hill portion to the bus pick up. I rather enjoyed it.

MTD has changed since it was introduced, this is by RC or Cruisers who want to establish their own STANDARD/FIXED DINING TIME. I usually go along with the crowd, and say I will be there at about 7:30, some times I show up a little later or earlier. I do not care if I have the same TABLE or Wait staff but I usually get the same staff but not the table. From our experience, there are always have been open tables, most of the time.

As noted above we have never been on the Anthem or newer ship other than the Oasis, so MDR size might be a true issue.

Nothing truly frugal in Ft Lauderdale near beach or beach access or shuttle to port. Not having a car limits you to any establishment that has a shuttle or near the port. We are originally from FLL and use a place called Gault Villas Inn, a mom and pop place on A1A in the Gault mile area, not on the directly on the beach, never tried to get to the beach from there, you need a car. Sorry best I can give for FLL

IMHO, if you do not have an upscale restaurant, local or Chain, near where you live, it might be worth it. Other than that, MEH. Should say, it the discount if GREAT, go for it.

Not just on cruise ships. We have been on tours with "unfortunately large groups" where they were told who, what , wear and when to do necessary luggage and other travel needs and many just cannot seem to understand a much needed ducks in a row process.

Most of who I related to are OLDER and I fit that group,

One story, we were all told to bring our page down at 7PM, they would be safe and taken care of at that time, travelers were bringing them down at 3-4 PM, we had several bags go missing and they blamed the tour guide.

Always done it, never had a problem.

It is not if but when it will happen.

We always arrive at the embarkation port a day or two or three early depending on if we have been to that city/port before. We live in central Florida, and even with a cruise from FLL or MIA, we go a day early. Yes, we are originally from there so we know some great little mom and pop hotels at reasonable prices. As one ages, stress relief is always a good thing.

Years ago, it was a good deal. I bought mine in the depression and almost paid for, the stock by OBC LOL. I got tired of NOT GETTING it when any perk you received was small. Sold it @ $95, not a bad profit.

Looking at the size of this tread, I cannot imagine why anyone would really care about who is the Captain, crew, officers etc.

Do people actually book a cruise ship only when there "favorite" captain or cruise director on board?

We have experienced almost instant cabin assignments, by instant, maybe a day or two and it might be that we are last minute bookers so they may have all there ducks(cabins) in a special data base.

LOL, every place I go has all kinds of WARNINGS from the US or Other countries. I go regardless, just a drive to the Airport or Cruise port is likely more dangerous than being caught in a terrorist event.

OH NO...how did I miss that???...if and when I'm back there I will seek it out!!! LuAnn

Actually call the "Titanic Public House" https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Titanic+Public+House/@50.9000188,-1.4057543,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xe565ad7566583359!8m2!3d50.9000188!4d-1.4057543

When I first walked past it, I though that is just another tourist place, using the Titanic as a attraction. I was thirsty and though what the heck, we saw the owner or manager out having a smoke and I said do the serve beer, as a joke, and he had a great reply, so we went in and had a long talk over a couple of beers with the staff.

I could easily go back to Southhampton we spent 4 days there but some were on the trains to Bath etc. and never got to do every thing including going over to Brighton and The Isle of Wright

Since we are on the Titanic, how many of you who have sailed out of Southhampton, have ever been to the TITANIC BAR and restaurant? It is where many of the crew and passengers ate before the infamous sailing. To this day, Titanic family member who lost loved ones and still live in Southampton come and eat and drink there. We discovered it by accident and had a great time there.

Not sure how to reply, HAL is appealing to us in a different way, we are Long time X and RC cruisers, we are in our 70's but still highly active both in sports and cultural events. HAL appeals to us, because of the unique itineraries that RC or X do not offer. My only problem is that we have all the loyalty benefits of RCCL cruise lines. So pricing could be a problem for us. Having said that sometimes the itinerary out weights the cost.

For young cruisers, not retired, only the shorter cruises would be a option, but the old tradition of cruising are going, going and will be partially gone, because the cruiser are coming from another generation with significantly different value and desires.

I think my signature kinda sums up my feelings about change.

Have you read up on the Antarctic section in the Ports of Call forum ?

 

Can you manage an expedition ship ?

If so, then do the physical one while you can.

The best nature experiences require you to be physically on the ice.

 

You could still do NZ when less physically active, and avoid one flight by doing a repositioning one way.

This is what I was about to say. Do it now if you are capable. Like me I want to do some of The Way of St James, I can still do a packaged hike, but wife may not be able to because of her knee. SO REPEAT my self, DO THE HARD TRAVEL WHEN YOU CAN.

Side note, my ladies problem just started a year or so ago, so as you age, bad stuff can quickly happen as you age

Maybe they should devote a large section of cabins as a hospital. You can get the flu or noro anywhere there are groups/people in close contact with each other. You can get it from land, sea, air, it is all around. It does not have to come from the ship but brought on to the ship. If I had to worry about it I would not travel.

One thing I do is start taking Probiotics before the travel, and during the trip.

Yes, we both have been sick on our travel adventures, one sickness was serious enough to be hospitalized in Peru, and that was an adventure in itself.

Because many Americans don't need one

Those are the one's who do not travel or are willing to take a risk of traveling internationally and having to fly home, with out going to the nearest USA embassy to get a PP or what ever is necessary to fly back to the US from a foreign country.

I have to agree with the post above. I even find at 77 YO that there are too few active activities for me to enjoy. Ships with more activities keep the kids from running up and down the corridors banging on doors and playing chase in the elevators. Having said that, all families and there kid are different, only you really know your kids and what they like.

It always amazes me on how many people think that all travel is safe, secure, and without issues. Bad stuff just happens, and there is little that can be done to predict what , where or when it will happen.

You've got to kidding right? Europe we always do our vac/holiday where we will be there one to two weeks prior to cruise at least. This past Sept. we traveled to Paris and Nice for a month in an apt. Prior to boarding The European in Venice for our 24 days. Now we are retired well I am my husband is this Feb. in 2013 we did our cruise first on The Nieuw Amsterdam and we were in Milan for a week prior to taking a train into Venice.

I would absolutely go crazy if we traveled even 2 days

Prior to a cruise!! We have seen people at airports delayed and missing flights due to weather etc.! We also make sure when flying to Europe we are pickey about where we fly! Most of the time we have been lucky always non stops from San Francisco to Paris!!!!

Denise :)

Sounds like us. Having agreed, many people may not have the money to do this and MANY ARE NOT world TRAVELERS, but cruise travelers and prefer the more convenient, easier and safer form of travel

If you choose to buy a older model, please remember not to do too many IOS updates. I keep updating mine and is now SLOW. Talked to the Apple techs and they said buy a new one. However, it is an original Mini and still works for many things but again the internet is SLOW.

I'm not into small amounts lots of trouble for me since I'm almost deaf, but anything over $100 if would take the pressure of dealing with the phone.