DIALTWO

we are heading off in a couple of weeks - Constellation starting in Rome and ending in Abu Dhabi. Petra always on my husband's bucket list.

He has vertigo and a heart condition managed with his pacemaker. Saying all of that, I appreciate everything and everybody who responded to the thread.

I suppose we will wait till we get on the first cruise and make our decision on whether Petra tour will work for us.

In our younger days we scrambled all over Macchu Piccu and Igassu Falls and so on. I suppose getting older is not for sissies.

Have a good one on this Sunday.

Dianne and Al

Victoria, BC

Hi,

we cruise a lot. Are Elite + on Celebrity and Princess. Working on more cruises with Oceania. Have taken maybe 4 and the food is superior. The ambiance low key and elegant. All speciality restaurants are included in what you pay to board. We've had a sky suite but really Oceania is our preference.

Enterrtainment not as exciting as the big ships. Little in the way of shops and NO photography at all! Yeah.

cheers,

Dianne and Al

Victoria BC

ps having said that we are on 2 B2B for Month of November on Celeb Constellation. Next April taking a TA on Princess over to Barcelona. We use the TA to get us to Europe and our beloved French Riviera (Antibes).

enjoy whatever you decide.

For future cruise planning, I'm just wondering - for those who have been on both ships, which you would prefer and why. Let me preface this by saying my husband and I are what everyone else calls "foodies." We eat out frequently in Chicago restaurants, and have enjoyed fantastic food on vacations. We have taken one cruise on Celebrity, and enjoyed our meals in Blu, and Murano, but thought Tuscan Grill was a big disappointment. We enjoy music in the evening, but are not dancers. We enjoyed the shows on the Silhouette. Just received a brochure from Oceania, and was surprised to see the cost would have been about the same as the trip we have planned in a sky suite in March in the Caribbean on Reflection (after factoring in beverages, gratuities, etc. ) Love hearing others impressions!

This is a great topic. I've cruises 50 or so cruises. My first on QE2 was an inside. It was small but the rest of the ship was so luxurious it did not matter. I was also 35. Five years ago I booked an inside on an RCI. So small a room I could not get over the bed. My jewelry was stolen so it added to my disappointment a lot!

Bottom line for us is to find a good value on Oceania, Celebrity, Princess and RCI and then book 99% of the time a Balcony. We did do OV in June on Pacific princess. Found it just fine as the public areas were so spacious.

We enjoy our cabin time so no insides if they were giving them away. All good suggestions tho to have a flashlight, TV on, wake up call and be aware you get all the same amenities and points towards getting up to perks of Elite +.

Tis nothing nicer, tho, than seeing sunrises and sunsets from your private balcony.

have a great cruise.

DIanne and Al

Victoria BC

[Hi,

I've learned over time (and over 50 cruises) that the guests were what they are comfortable wearing. The days and nights of tuxedo and white dinner jacket being pretty much necessary are gone.

women seem to wear whatever they choose or have in their closets. ie long gowns, short dresses and anything in between.

I, for one, am happy to see the dress code relaxed. It makes packing for a long journey much easier.

I would NOT, however, wear jeans to the dining room and don't appreciate those who show up in shorts and get away with it!

Dianne

Victoria BC

ps your dresses look lovely

QUOTE=Rhayne;50534617]I've read and I understand the new evening chic policy but I still need a little help.

My boyfriend and I don't get dressed up in tuxes and ballgowns but we always adhere by the dress codes on the ship. With this new policy I'm confused. I have two dresses that I'd like some opinions on.

Suit Dress with silver zipper detail on side (mine is actually heather grey but i could only find a blue version online). I think with some dressy shoes and a shawl or jewelry this could be dressy enough for a evening chic night.

Polka dot dress. I bought this dress to just have as a casual dress but i find it's too dressy for most places. I'm not sure I could wear this on evening chic night but I'm sure it's fine for the casual nights.

Has anyone who is recently back seen dresses like these on evening chic or casual nights?

Hi,

We're on RCL for the Baltic. Have been before and did our own thing. Walk off the ship. Somestimes we buy tickets for hop on hop off busses. it depends. Tallnn is quite delightful and very easy to walk about.

Enjoy.

Dianne

Victoria BC

My girlfriend and I are going on a cruise to the Baltic capitals in a few weeks and when possible we prefer to DIY. For those of you that have been to Helsinki, Tallinn and Copenhagen when on a cruise how easy was it to DIY from the ship in each city? We enjoy meeting the locals (and fellow cruisers) and conversing with them which is easier without having to listen to a guide. We don't need to have a tour of more churches.

[Hi,

We are off on our first river cruise later in October. Rhone river cruise and while we've taken several motor trips when we were younger, those days are sadly over.

Are you familiar with Scenic?

Great to read your information. We've taken many regular big ship cruises on Celebrity, Princess, RCL and Oceania. This river cruise is going to be a lot different.

cheers and thanks for your posts,

Dianne and Al

Victoria BC

QUOTE=Host Jazzbeau;47683727]Weather has been fine on the cruise. Before the cruise we started with one hot day and one rainy day, but otherwise it has been clear or partly cloudy with highs in the high 60s or low 70s. As we sail South the weather should be getting warmer, but Le Mistral is blowing so it has stayed cool. But looking out my French balcony window while docked in Avignon [this is why it is worth the upgrade -- for that perennial thread ;)] the river is like glass, so I hope Le Mistral has blown itself out. We are expecting a high of 82 today.

we are taking our first river cruise later in October - tour starts out of Paris. I have some trepidation re how much walking is involved.

My hubby doesn't have a lot of energy these days. We choose either a cruise on a line we like or book an apt in the city we enjoy.

I'm excited about trying something new. I gather there is not much to do on the boat so we'll need to be reasonably active.

I think we are on the Emerald.

cheers,

Dianne and Al

Victoria BC

Hi,

every time we have chosen to bring the bubbly to the dining room and had it exchanged for a bottle of still - rouge or blanc. Not a problem.

Gee we are headed on Millenium tomorrow, I get to do the exchange again.

cheers,

dianne

[Hi

I had to weight in. Murano and then Tuscan for different reasons and, of course different menus.

Tuscan has a beautiful view if that matters.

cheers,

Dianne and Al

Victoria BC

QUOTE=BrusselsGirl07;44259360]The best two (in my opinion) for a special occasion dinner on Solstice would be Murano or Tuscan Grille. If all 14 of you would be going, you may need to try and book online as soon as you are able. I am not sure either restaurant has the capacity to seat 14 people all together.

Murano is my favourite, we have eaten there a lot, and it has wonderful food, amazing staff and a romantic atmosphere.

Here is the menu for Tuscan Grille: http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/cruise-restaurants-tuscan-grille - just click on each tab to see the items in each section.

Here is the menu for Murano: http://www.celebritycruises.com/onboard-celebrity/cruise-restaurants-murano

You are able to use your drink packages in the speciality restaurants, and would only need to pay for drinks that were more expensive than your limits allow.