sailinglisa

I agree. Offer the cab driver a BIG tip to take you to your next embarkation point at Port Everglades.

I've been on the Radiance and Jewel (sisters to the Serenade) and the Freedom (the class just below the Oasis class). My favorite class of ships are the Radiance class - they are large ships and handle the ocean well. Freedom handled the seas equally well.

I love the size of the Radiance class ships. And on my 7 day cruises on the Radiance class the passengers were a very diverse group of people..

I love the fact that the Radiance class does not have a Royal Promenade and are focused outward towards the ocean. The Freedom is a beautiful ship but has the Royal Promenade and the focus is more inward towards the ship. Both are great ships but like I stated earlier I prefer the Radiance class.

I cruised the Island in 2003 during a 10 day partial Panama Canal cruise. I absolutely loved the ship! Being able to sit out on the aft cabin decks while going from one lock to the next was awesome. I loved the lay out of the ship.

What Princess has done to this ship is absolutely horrible! The aft looks like a box. All the great viewing areas from the aft are gone. The lines of the ship are disfigured.

I hope and pray that they do not do the same to the Coral!

The land side porters only load the luggage/stuff onto the cages that load the stuff onto the ship. Once on the ship, the ship's staff deliver it to the stateroom. I always tip the land side porter about $2 per bag - all my checked bags have showed up within an hour of boarding. These are the guys that make sure my luggage is on one of the earlier cages that is boarded onto the ship so the ship's personnel can off load them earlier.

Anti bacterial wipes and sprays are USELESS against viruses. Viruses are the most common form of transmission of infectious diseases - colds, respiratory influenza and gastric flu, etc. Anti-bacterial wipes and sprays give people a false sense of security. Frequent hand washing with soap and water is the only effective deterrent.

And all of those anti-bacterial and anti-viral products out there actually start to compromise your immune systems. The healthiest people out there are those who are exposed to various bacteria and viruses and build healthy immune systems. If you're not exposed there is no way your immune system can get stronger. This applies to older infants, toddlers and children.

Personally, I would go with the ocean view staterooms. You can actually see that you are on the ocean. One can always get a balcony room at home or in a hotel overlooking land. On a ship that big, ocean views are a premium! I want to know and see that I am on the ocean.

Don't post here often, but please post the link! Pretty Please!!!!

Another fact to consider is that the PORT OFFICIALS decide who gets in first, second or last. And the pilots at the ports also have a huge factor in whether a ship docks or aborts a port.

I would trust the ship's captain and the port's pilot's decisions over the uniformed opinions of passengers who really have no idea of what is involved in how to safely dock a 130,000+ ton ship.

I know there is the law of supply and demand, but how can RCCL charge $2,399 per kid for Oasis/Allure Loft Suites in February?

 

A thousand per I have paid for in the past. Is anyone having the same issues?

A February cruise around President's Day (lots of east coast schools closed for the holiday) and add in a very expensive cabin........I can see the high price. I don't condone it and would never pay that, but I can see how they can charge that much....

How about the buffet where it's not crowded and you can sit by yourself.

Why should someone who wants to eat alone be relegated to the buffet? They pay their fare, they should get a table for one in either the regular or My Time dining room without any hassle if they want to eat alone. I cruise alone 50% of the time and there was one cruise I went on by myself that I really needed to relax and recharge...and I had no problem getting a table for myself in the dining room. I also had no problems getting a table for myself in any of the specialty restaurants. I returned from that cruise relaxed and recharged and ready to face another 48 weeks at the long term facility where I work.

So heartbreaking. Prayers to his family, friends and his fellow crew members.

This is just a terrible tragedy. http://abcn.ws/1Nl6EZ0

The RCCL Enchantment cruise would have been allowed because it stopped at least one distant foreign port....Aruba or Curacao.

For example it would be illegal to cruise from New York to Miami without going to Aruba, Bonaire or Curacao. The ABC islands are the distant foreign for the east coast and Panama Canal cruises.

I get it, but why not have a GOLD ONLY event then - not as posh as the Plat/Dia one, but something just for Gold's that no other color card can attend. We Gold's are worth more than ONE free drink coupon!

My family always used the plastic bottle that had the disposable liners (Playtex comes to mind). Just bring a few nipples and cleaning supplies for them and use the disposable liners.

Here's how I would probably do it:

 

Tell your kids that the cruise is the gift you're giving to each other. Then tell your kids that Santa knows you're traveling and that you can't take a lot of gifts home in your luggage.

 

Alternatively, give them token gifts from Santa on Christmas day, and have gifts waiting for you when you get home.

This exactly!

If he's high functioning, I would go over the program for the kids club you get in your cabin the night before, see what activity or two interests him and let him try and go. Sign him up for the club the first night so you at least have the option of going. Let him meet the counselors and other kids in his age group. And you and your husband have a chance to meet the counselors and sound them out.

Give him a chance; all three of you may be pleasantly surprised.

And an FYI - all kids club counselors on Carnival have a background in education. They all have at least Bachelor's degrees.

You do realize that when you are at sea, you cannot see the land from the ship. In order for the casinos and on board shops to open when at sea, the ships need to be at least 12 nautical miles from shore - can't really see anything from that distance.

There is nothing like sitting in a hot tub on a ship in Alaska and watching the scenery go by. Done it three times and looking forward to a fourth sometime in the future. Hot tubs and snow topped mountains...........

Also, cruising over a holiday (like Thanksgiving) is more expensive than other times.

I would just book just as soon as school for both girls get out......sometimes schools let out in May and May can still be a bit cheaper than June through August.

go pack go!!!!!!!

Flying in and out of Quebec City is pretty easy....the airport is small and easy to use. Signs are in French with English in lower case beneath the French. There are fixed rates to/from the airport depending on where you go.

Looking at it from a liability point of view; if the cruise line provides life guards, does that not then open the cruise line up for more liability? What if a parent let's their child go to the pool but doesn't keep an eye on them; and something happens and the life guard does their best but the child is injured or dies

At that point, the family can argue that the cruise line is liable for that child's injury or death because they provided a life guard. If there is no life guard, then it is the parent's responsibility for the consequences of their actions.

Like Ruthlessboss, I have held my opinions to myself. I have to speak up now.

 

I work in rehab and for the last 10 years exclusively with geriatric population. Additionally, I have a MIL with advanced Alzheimer's, a FIL with Parkinson's, a mother with balance issues and before he passed in March a father with bad hips. I know about traveling with elders.

 

Order the wheelchair. If she tires after 20 feet she will self limit herself as she won't want to delay everyone else. She will miss out on some of the best parts of the trip.

 

Tell her it is there just in case. That you love her and want her to see and do everything.

 

You will be glad.

 

As a nurse who has worked in long term care/rehab for 20 years, I totally agree with this advice. Have the chair available for her IF she decides she wants/needs it. Walking at sea can be a totally different experience than walking on land. It is hard for some people to admit they might need help.....just be sure the help is there for her if she needs it.

Simple- disposable diapers

And the fact that the diapers are so advanced that the little one literally feels no wetness on their bottom...why train when you're not uncomfortable!