rockdoctor

Is the Civil War over?

Glad to hear about the improvement, but I’m from Missouri.

 Remember dial up internet. That’s what it’s like. Don’t waste your money.

Upsell not the upgrade fairy.

Never had the upgrade fairy visit in over 20 cruises. But been upgraded 25 percent of the time.

The 3 week cruise was in the Med also. On the Royal.

On 1/26/2019 at 1:59 PM, paul929207 said:

Yes, it is usually offered on cruises of 10 days or longer.

Be careful how the itenerary is sold. We were on a three week cruise sold as a 1, 2 or 3 week cruise. No wine packages.

On 11/29/2018 at 1:41 PM, Mike45LC said:

I am sorry that you got this upgrade -- you will now have to pay extra for every future cruise, because once you experience the extra space in the cabin and the bathroom, you will never be happy with the balcony cabin again!  Since the first time we did the mini, my wife refuses to sail in anything but a mini!

 

So true!

5 minutes ago, OR_Cowboy_1952 said:

 

I completely disagree with that comment.  SeaTac does not control check in times, the individual airline does.  A smaller or low cost carrier may limit checkin time but not larger airlines.  I have checked in hours before a flight.  Call your airline and ask the question.  As a rule always arrive at least 2 hours early.  

American Airlines is a smaller carrier?

Wow, this is not good news but hotels do it all the time. I hope that make the non refundable deposit reasonable.

Be aware that SeaTac is one of those air ports that don’t let you check in till 2 hours before flight time.

Thanks OCruisers.

I used to get real excited about exchange rates but considering the few dollars a bad exchange rate costs me relative to the total cruise price, I go with the flow.

 My advice would be to book as soon as you know you want to go. You will wake up some morning and unexpectedly find your cruise Waitlisted.

IMHO, where you start is personal preference, but the cruise south is more interesting than the cruise north. You will spend more daylight hours with something to see. Killer whales, mountain ranges and more. Enjoy!

Whenever there is a long transfer from airport to ship , as in Rome or Santiago, we use Princess Transfers. Our experience is that when a bus is full, it leaves rather that at fixed intervals.

I have posted on this topic before amd must warn you that you and your spouse will be alone together at a table for two or a table for eight.  Sorry.

This thread is curious to me. I consider Princess to be less expensive than Celebrity for similar value and similar itenerary and only sail Celebrity for an special itenerary. Maybe prices are very different outside the US.

Never heard of it.

On 11/4/2018 at 12:26 PM, -Lew- said:

 

Waitstaff do not share in the cover charge.

 

This has been confirmed many times with restaurant personnel and a number of Food & Beverage Managers. 

Not true. The ship knows where you are eatting. Those serving you get the gratuity. Whether it is MDR for breakfast or ATD or Suite Breakfast in Sabatini DR or Club Class or Pub lunch, the appropriate staff get their due. We tip extra when due.

For my last cruise, we had a drinks package. In a later promotion, the price dropped and we get free gratuities. We thought that was a better deal. You need to ask yourself, what’s it worth. But then I just drink scotch neat and my wife gin and tonic. Great info on this thread.

As others have said, don’t book a cabin you wouldn’t be comfortable in and be happy to get an upsell rather than needing one. You didn’t make a mistake. You cannot make a mistake on something you have no control over. We have gotten one up sell in more than 20 cruises - on Celebrity from a Sky Suite to a Penthouse Suite. If you really want an upsell, book in the shoulder season when fewer people travel. Don’t give up hope.

On 11/11/2018 at 10:22 AM, neverbeenhere said:

Be sure to only drink it in your stateroom. 🙄

Never found this to be the case. Waiters will even carry to drink to your table in the dining room.

Good news.  Maybe I’ll postpone my Hawaii trip🧐

We too enjoy sitting at large tables. Our experience in Club Dinning was not enjoyable from this perspective. On two occasions we asked to start a share table but were warned by the staff that it probably wouldn’t work. They were right. Both times we ate by ourselves at a table for 8. We gave up and sat at a two top after that. We don’t like Blu on Celebrity for the same reason. But then a lot of cruisers say there are too few two tops.