DMH15

I was not expecting the teeth story. It was great.

And I was with my mother, cousin (older than me) and her friend. We have laughed about it for years.

My 2 Sun cruises were a while back. I remember being on another ship and seeing the Sun while in port. It kinda made me sad. I loved that ship so much. We also did the Tapas restaurant and laughed at how stingy they were. We had planned to dine there but after our drinks and two appetizers each (we had to practically beg for the second) we considered it like a happy hour and had a late dinner a few hours later. I remember that was such a funny evening, because that was the night we were seated with another couple at dinner, an older woman and man and she started telling us about how they met and it was due to their immediate sexual chemistry. She went on, and on telling us what a terrific lover he was he just sat there and beamed. I don’t think he said a word. Needless to say we ate and ran.

I have sailed the Dawn right after the Jewel and I nicnamed the Dawn “Jewel Lite”… because it was like a mini-version of Jewel. My mom and I liked the little restaurant (like a diner) on the Jewel so we looked forward to it on the Dawn but it was more like a teen hangout. No thanks! Then after that cruise I cruised the Jewel again. FWIW, my niece and I had an aft Ph on the Jewel and we had a fantastic butler and a superlative concierge, the wonderful and tall Hanno from Germany. They were both so sweet to her. This was her high school grad present from me. We never felt slighted being out of the Haven proper. i’ve run the gamut. Loved the DOS on Epic but also adore the aft corner suites on the Sun. Have stayed in the same suite twice for 25 total days on the Sun. That balcony is pure magic. And what used to be called Il Adagio was so wonderful for breakfast and lunch for suites.

My fist cruise in the ‘80’s had 2 formal nights. I took a huge teal ball gown and a (very heavy) mini-beaded dress. How times have changed. Now I may take a few sun-dresses. Whereas I used to pack lots of different shoes I now pack tennis shows for workout 1 or 2 sandals or flip flops for day and dress sandals for evening. My entire cruise wardrobe is mix & match black/white/turqoise. I have mastered “rolling” to save space snd wrinkling (love Downey wrinkle-away). I fly in the day before and wear something cute that I was ready to donate. I fold and leave in hotel room with a note: “do not want”. I cut back to travel size products (or samples) and a travel wand for hair. Perfume samples from magazines work great. I have changed with the times.

My sistwr always brings her Nespresso frother.

I have had excellent service in all suite and haven levels. One butler was not good. He was new. But he must have known it. Since he got off in one of the ports and kept going. LOL. It’s sadly not a joke. It happened.

Or shrieked out “did I forget to mention I have gone vegan???!!!”

Very nice read. I am a seasoned cruiser but enjoy reading people’s intro to cruising. You will learn as you go.

Anybody can choose to book a Haven or Suite. Cruise lines only care if your money is green. People choose to spend money on different things in life. I have never smoked so wonder how much money I have saved over the years. I don’t buy expensive cars or jewelry. But I love playing the PICK 3. My vice. LOL. IT IS FUNNY. People talk about Haven people looking down on those not in there. But why do so many look down on us who choose The Haven? I think there are as many if not more of those comments. Sigh.

I love that.

I TOTALLY agree. Especially back in the day. Something on sale? Have a coupon. Back then they doubled and tripled them AND you could use a STORE coupons and a MANUFACTURER coupon on the same product. Sometimes we got most products for FREE. In fact, at one time, they would take off MORE than the price of an item and that was basically applied against other items in the cart. Then stores got smart and only took off coupon(s) up to the price of an item. My mom had a huge orange tool box for her well-organized coupons. She was the “Coupon Queen”. I was only a “Princess”. Dallas has always been a competitive grocery city. We also used a lot of BOGOs dining out. I still shop deals for travel and cruises. If one is flexible and has the time there are deals.

My mom and I had a suite on The NCL Sun for a 14 night south American cruise. There were other family / friends who were not in a suite. It was quite doable. Of course there was no Haven area. We would dine in Moderno for breakfast and lunch with suite access and meet up after. We would eat dinner together in Main or specialty. We had all our tours, spa, trivia, etc. together. We had a huge aft balcony so we hosted guests a few times on sea days. It was my honor and priviledge to set up for guests. I had purchased a bar set up and was allowed to bring a mini blender on board. A few times I ordered snacks which I was happy to pay for and I remembered to thank the butler with a generous tip. So, I was able to share. The same way I was introduced to The Haven was through friends.

The BEST!

My mother had stories from growing up during the depression. Whenever my sister and I complained about sharing a bedroom my mom asked us, “ how would you like to share a bedroom with your grandmother like I did”. LOL. She was a banker’s daughter and was always careful with money. My dad used to say that my mother put Safeway out of business in our neighborhood because of her couponing skills. I live by this which she taught me… “ it’s not about the cost, but the value”. Even in cruising in suites we shopped around for what we considered to be a price we could justify.

That’s awesome. Keeps us humble. And grateful. I am frugal and use coupons. I own clothing, purses and jewelry I watched until they were marked half-off. And I splurge on things I choose too. Like travel. I miss the good old days of America West / US Air where I used my miles for upgrades on inexpensive fares. Those were the days. I have done YC once. Loved it.

I love it. It is 2023. Wake up people. Judge not or lest be judged. It is no longer easy to judge a book by its cover. My favorite scene in Pretty Woman is the shopping scene and Julia Robers asks “do you remember me”?

If someone said that to me I would smile and say in my sweet, Sothern drawl, my brother’s favorite response to stupid questions, “Really”? It is neither affirmative or negative and that gets their goat.

Hello. I cruised for years in “regular” cabins. My first was an inside the size of a broom closet. The next several cruises I had a window, no balcony. Then mini suite. Through a chance meeting we had lunch in the Jewel Haven with friends in their suite. I looked at my mom and said “we’re doing this from now on”. You see, I realized that I was my mother’s personal concierge and butler. LOL. I was always the one making reservations, getting tickets, etc. when I found out I could enjoy the same luxury I was all for it. I am divorced, no kids, work hard (33 years at same company) and although not wealthy I manage my money so I can splurge when it matters. In my job I heavily cater to others. So, my point is… I am not embarrased walking down a corridor to avoid lines, I do not hide my card to avoid being “discovered”. In fact, I tell people how wonderful it is. Thank goodness someone else shared it with me. And I will say this. My mother passed 6 years ago and I admired her in so many ways but perheps the quality that I try to emulate every day is how she could realte to everyone. From a billionaire CEO (or TV Producer real story there) or a homeless lady on the Dallas downtown street she lived on and would often share her blue ribbon baked goods with. I have seen people get an upsell to the Haven and think they are KING and QUEEN. And there are folks like me who pay full price because it is what we want and would prefer to cruise less often, than take the chance of not “winning”. Maybe some people live ordinary lives and when they get an upsell they elevate themselves to what they think the elite are. I have seen this! In closing, all ships, crews, sailings can differ from a to z. It really is a crapshoot. I have made dear friends in the Haven and out. I hope those who meet me give me the benefit of the doubt to get to know me and not just make assumptions.

But if you did this to help others you only gave one side of the picture. Price. I would tell people many factors go into booking a cruise and sometimes it is best to book early, to choose a specfic cabin, lock in promos, get a good price. Sometimes fares go up, sometimes fares go down. You can either watch your early booking like a hawk and at 122 days out call for an adjestment if the fare ges down or do the happy dance if they have gone up. Or you can book at a price you are happy with and not check fares if that is your thing. Or you can wait and watch for rock-bottom price, see what cabins are left or watch them have risen. When I have cruised on the Sun I want a specfic aft suite with a huge balcony. Waiting is not an option. iI once talked to a couple who booked last minute and got a deal and a half. His wife laughed and said it was the very front cabin and that his long legs had to hang off the bed because it was so tiny with the layout.

We also have had great experience with pre-concierge. We had 3 great bottles waiting in the room as well as the Nespresso capaules and half and half. i think this may help butlers load on day 1. Although we did call our butler “Maxi the Magnificent”. This was on Epic in DOS. Other times just regular and Haven suites.

Most memorable was dinner(s) with Brian Walters, Hotel Director on the Sun. So fun and informative. One class act is that man.

I loved my Transatlantic from Miami to Athens. Started with 6 days at sea with mom. This was actually a pivotal cruise for us. In a few ways. We were with 4 others, friends and family, in outside cabins, no balcony. We met two gents in the haven who had us up for lunch (what? A BUTLER???) and after that cruise we booked suites and did not turn back. I was no longer my mother’s personal concierge and butler after that… LOL. Also, mom got sick 3/4 into the cruise. Just not a good experience after another sick pax passed it on to her. Shame on Nick! Anyways, we loved the TA. We both love longer cruises, love the ship life, love the spa and love trivia. i was 50 and one of the youngest on board. It was peaceful and quiet. Only a handful of families / kids. It was wonderful to be on board at a slow pace. Now, if you are the opposite. You will not like it. There is no way my (same) job would allow me to be gone for more than a week as our business and staff have greatly changed. But I will seek out more TAs when I retire.

Our strawberries never got old. Both my mom and sister ate them within 5 minutes of discovering them.

Agree with you. I was in the Epic Deluxe Owners suite and paid for the Thermal spa and I regretted it. It was loud and crowded. I think I got a ceramic lounger once and never a day bed. Always people in hot tubs drinking and laughing. I finally booked my 2nd and 3rd massages in the Haven treatment room. MSC included the thermal spa and it was never crowded, serene and well, spa-like. I realize sailings can be different but I was bummed I paid extra. So did my sister and niece.