buddylover

On 8/25/2019 at 8:48 AM, camper49 said:

Opinions? Which ship & why.

We have been on both.....and it is Regal Princess hands down.  The Epic was the worst ship we have ever been on for lots of reasons......lack of windows, awful atrium, no WOW power when entering the ship, tight narrow hallways (a real hazard if you ever needed to evacuate), the bathroom set up is absurd (although we got used to it), mediocre food at best...........  VS. one of the BEST ships (Regal Princess) that we have ever sailed.  The food on Regal Princess was superb, even at buffet on Lido (they served all the same dishes as MDR - even lobster, tho not a tail, but in a made-to-serve pasta dish), a gorgeous ship, not nearly as crowded feeling as Epic and our best cruise EVER!

To us, there is NO comparison on these 2 ships......just our humble opinion!  Do try the Regal Princess!

Tipping also varies customarily and is different around the world.  In Europe (Italy etc),  for example, Europeans do not tip like we do,  and do not expect tips like we are used to giving in the US...it would be advisable to do some research on tipping customs in the locations where you are travelling and tip accordingly.

On 8/17/2019 at 8:00 PM, kitty-sail said:

Yes it's true they use hot water but you can request on your laundry slip a cold water wash which I do.

Thank you for the clarification! Did not know you could request "cold" water and they listen to the request??  That is very good to know for our upcoming 14+ day cruise.

Just now, stevendom57 said:

It is a bag that you place you clothes in, fill with water and shake it to simulate the agitation of a normal clothes washer. You can then pour out the dirty water, fill with fresh and repeat to rinse. It actually works pretty well. True, you still have to stand at the sink to fill and empty the water, but it is more efficient than just dunking in the sink.

 

I got mine on Amazon. Look at https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B013C98X72/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1. They are sort of expensive for what they really are, but it seems to work well.

WOW!!  Thanks for the clarification - I was just so confused???  LOL 

I will definitely be looking into this as we are going on a very long 15 day cruise on NCL with no laundry rooms on the ship and we are losing sleep trying to figure out how to pack for that long with no "laundry room" (don't want to use the ships laundry facility due to both cost and washing everything in HOT water and drying everything that shrinks...haha) and keeping it under 50 lbs for the airlines - this is a tough one!  Thanks again!

3 minutes ago, stevendom57 said:

Since my last cruise I have bought a washer bag from Amazon. This will allows me to wash the clothes without standing over the rather small sink.Tests at home shows that it works pretty well. We will see in 22 days.

 

Steven

Not to sound "dumb" - but what is a "washer bag"??  How will this "bag" allow you to wash the clothes not standing over a small sink??  Where will you 'wash' the clothes?  Now if there are washing machines and dryers on your ship then why use a "bag" and why weren't you washing your clothes in them all along?  I guess I am super confused.

54 minutes ago, evandbob said:

 

Years ago, the past guest party was usually held in the main theater with a live orchestra and couples invited up on stage to dance towards the end of the show.

 

I've attended recent past guest parties in either the comedy club or the theater, depending on how many P&Ds were on board that sailing.

Yes, we too have attended them in both places, but our last ones on the Vista and Victory were both in the theatre (although no dancing on stage - however, we have attended those as well).

12 hours ago, BirdTravels said:

Unfortunately, they do not have the lobster pie at Ocean Blue any more. 

 

They do serve a surf and turf

 

OMG....that is even better.  We were disappointed with the Lobster Pot Pie, just a few chunks of lobster and very salty too!  Surf and Turf with a lobster tail as in your pic is fabulous and to me would qualify as "lobster" the way we want it!

40 minutes ago, NYcruzzer said:

 

No lobster in MDR on NCL

No lobster other than 'for fee' Ocean Blue restaurant, and that was in a Lobster Pot Pie.....very sad!

1 hour ago, room with a view said:

Advice, please on the cost for NCL transport (usually a bus) from dock to airport … thanks.

NCL charges $60 per person for the transfer from/to FCO in Rome and port at Civitavecchia.  We purchased these and then found a cheaper transport......NCL would NOT refund the full amount and with held 50% as it was after final payment.  Even tho we purchased them only 3 weeks earlier, they considered it part of our "cruise contract" and withheld penalty monies!!  Buyer be aware and do you due diligence and research your options before giving NCL any booking $$ for a transfer!!!

On 8/8/2019 at 9:15 PM, Nic6318 said:

Hi

 

I don't see a "past passenger" party working. The reason they limited it to start was because there were just too many people. Well now, there would be even more. They would need hold it in the theatre. I don't think that would allow for much of a party atmosphere. 

 

I think a few more details would be needed to even speculate.  

They DO hold these so called parties in the "theatre" these days already......and they are packed!

How wonderful, you are so upbeat, and I am sure that helped in your situation.  Hoping that your wife is totally recovered so that you can get back to planning your 'next' cruise and becoming Platinum.  Your advice is 'spot on' .  Congratulations!!

12 hours ago, maryhou said:

we just booked today and I got $300 OBC and a tad better price that Carnivals PVP..... why can't Carnival just give us the perks?  

Not sure how you got a better price, TA's are not allowed to give pricing any different than what is offered via the cruislines.....what they can give is 'perks' which you snagged.  That is the only time I go to a TA - when the 'perks' outweigh losing control of our booking.  Our upcoming Med cruise, we got OBC, pre-paid gratuities, dining package etc through a TA, so I booked directly with the cruiselines and then transferred to the TA.  However, any and all changes, help, questions then need to be directed to the TA and that is not optimal to us normally (takes time for returned phone calls, and timing can be important sometimes - and more limited availability of TA's vs, cruiselines direct).  But, to 'each his own" and what is best for you is all that counts.

16 hours ago, Jabee said:

I normally book with a PVP. They are paid on booking a cruise.
I told my PVP I was going to switdh the booking to a TA, because they could give me $200 in OBC.,..a no brainer and my PVP agreed it was best for me, but told me it had to be switched within two weeks of booking, or you can not switch..

MY PVP said it would not affect her, as she had booked the cruise, so I take the best of both worlds.

BTW...I use cruise compete dot com to get the best options.

 

Small corrections - PVP's are not 'paid' for booking, they work on a point scale, not $$.  And you do have up to 30 days to switch to a TA, not within just 2 weeks, unless they have just changed this??  You are lucky to have a PVP that actually helps you, we have not used a PVP in years, we know what we want and we just call in to find out if the specific cabin/loc is available and then book it ourselves.  We occasionally use a TA if the 'perks' are worth losing control of our booking with the cruislines.

You can book, so you have a reservation and quicker seating, but it can be changed too - or you can just not show up (which isn't preferred),  and do what you like on any given night.  A reservation does not hurt, but it could save a 'wait' time too.

1 hour ago, tallnthensome said:

That my friend is why I have booked all my cruises the past few years two years in advance. Whether it was NCL, Carnival, MSC, Celebrity ...... Prices went up and not one of ours went down the past few years. I expect prices to rise as well as the nickel and dining even further. My Bliss Panama Canal sailing this past April went up $2000 from booking. My Sun cruise in a couple weeks went. My Celebrity Cruise next April is up $1700 from booking. I scour all cruise websites for deals and I’ll tell ya, deals are getting tougher and tougher to find unless you book last minute or way off season. What was high a few years ago would be a steal now.

In complete agreement with you......we too book out when ship itineraries open, and have not had a price drop in years now.  The prices have ALL only gone way UP from when we originally booked.  None have even dropped after final payment, even with the glut of so many new BIG ships out there....prices are just increasing and increasing - good for the cruise lines, bad for all of us looking for a price drop.  I guess our new mantra has to be to 'book at a price that you feel is fair and  be happy with that price' cuz you are most likely not going to it drop any longer!  Boo Hoo

We, too book purposely right by the elevators and find those cabins very convenient.  We try to book a cabin or two around the corner from the doorway opening to the elevators/stairs.  Remember, all cabins get "foot traffic" past them with pax walking to their cabins no matter what the location, and also that not all pax walk past your cabin, some go in the other direction down the hall to their respective cabins from the elevators.  We have NEVER had any more noise from these cabins than any other location, and never have heard elevator noise.  We love these cabins and purposely book them for convenience!

On 8/3/2019 at 9:45 AM, dpepper64 said:

Ocean Blue has gone down hill.  I would go with a different place to eat.  I have eaten at Ocaen Blue 3 times.  First time food was ok so when we where on the Bliss wife wanted to try it again.  Best meal ever.  So next cruise was the Breakaway and food was back to being very poor.  On the Encore next so decided not to try

We went to Ocean Blue on Bliss - worst food ever for a steep and the most expensive cover charge of all, above and beyond dining package!  Not worth it at all - so we will skip it as well!

4 minutes ago, MCC retired said:

The PVP works for the Cruise Line , the TA works for you.

Any rate that the PVP offers can be booked and enhanced by any TA  , especially Cruise Specialist TA's .

 

This is completely correct.....however, one caveat, when you book with a TA, you lose the ability to deal directly with the cruislines.  Any and all changes, and sometimes even just questions, must be directed to the TA (who typically has shorter business hours vs. the cruiselines 24/7 hours) - which is why we typically book directly with the cruiselines and we don't use PVP's - you can call their general 800 number.  The only reason for us to use a TA sometimes is some extra "perks" offered (like OBC, pre-paid gratuities etc) which the cruiselines rarely offer.

Just now, buddylover said:

You don't state the ship/date/cabin catagory etc.....but that seems really really high.  Of course, different times of year and sales (I use that term 'loosely'....LOL) affect 3/4 person pricing....but we sail a lot with a 3rd person and have paid from $99 (at the lowest end) to $399, but never much more than that for balcony cabins.  $1045 for 3rd person seems staggering high, unless you are booking a suite for "3" and then the cost is divided among the 3 and quite a bit higher???  Otherwise, for balcony cabins, OV, inside....that seems ridiculous (but you don't state the cabin catagory).

Wait, I just reread your post.....is the 3rd person being rebooked in a room by themselves (solo)??  If so, then they pay 'double occupancy' and that amount, depending on the cabin (balcony, OV or inside) will determine the double cost (and it may be less because they are only charged taxes/fees for one person and not 2 when booking solo).  Not sure if that is the way you booked on the first booking, as that $$ amount looks to be for a 3 person in the SAME cabin.....while pricing the rebooking looks to be a 'solo' cabin at double occupancy??

5 minutes ago, Eli_6 said:

So...let me explain.

 

We were booked in two rooms on one of the Vista sailings that was cancelled due to the ship going into dry dock. We got a future cruise credit.  There are no problems with trying to rebook my room with my husband. The problem is trying to rebook the second room.

 

We are attempting to rebook the EXACT same room with the exact same three people.  On the first cruise (the one we have the cruise credit for), this is how the credit is allocated:

Guest 1: $1149

Guest 2: $1149

Guest 3: $404

 

On the cruise I am trying to rebook, this is what they are charging me:

Guest 1: $1149

Guest 2: $1149

Guest 3: $1049

 

Why is my third guest suddenly $645 more?  Anyone experience this? Does the cabin cost more and this is simply how they are allocating it? I am completely confused.

 

Also annoyed because I could literally take a fourth person and book two 2-person rooms  and come out only owing about $200 more than booking a single 3-person room which seems ridiculous. And I could actually get it on the same deck with my husband and I right across the hall instead of down in the bottom of the ship where apparently they put manynof the 3-person rooms.  I am actually thinking about doing this but can't think of a third person to take who would come by themselves at Christmas and also would be willing to stay in a room with my kid...  

 

Called carnival already and didn't really get an answer, but I had five other questions and was on the phone for 30 minutes so not going to call back again. 

 

 

You don't state the ship/date/cabin catagory etc.....but that seems really really high.  Of course, different times of year and sales (I use that term 'loosely'....LOL) affect 3/4 person pricing....but we sail a lot with a 3rd person and have paid from $99 (at the lowest end) to $399, but never much more than that for balcony cabins.  $1045 for 3rd person seems staggering high, unless you are booking a suite for "3" and then the cost is divided among the 3 and quite a bit higher???  Otherwise, for balcony cabins, OV, inside....that seems ridiculous (but you don't state the cabin catagory).

2 hours ago, jon46 said:

only reason I go to travel agent. I hear everyone say they will help you. like keeping ahead on price drops. funny mine only goes up. But now I am wondering.

 

TA's very often 'drag their heels' on price drops because it affects their commission....the price drops and so does their commission.  Never heard of a TA letting you know about a price drop either!  I would say, go ahead and book the cabin you want by calling CCL directly - easy peasy as you even know exactly what cabin you want (and CCL may show other cabins and not just the one the TA told you about??? - just saying it may be worth it to you!)

Agree with ALL of the above.....Bingo, art auction, fake jewelry by the inch, shore excursions thru CCL (mediocre, high cost, huge groups), upcharges in the 'specialty' restaurants that are generally mediocre and no better than MDR food, photos, cost of wi-fi which is really SLOW etc.  Most of the 'for fee' add ons are a big rip off and we stopped subscribing to them years ago.

On 7/12/2019 at 6:41 PM, PhillyFan33579 said:

That would be a tough choice for me. I prefer Dream class ships over Vista class ships, but Curacao is my favorite port. If it really comes down to the ships like you mentioned, I would go with Magic. I had a similar choice between Magic and Horizon when picking a Christmas cruise this coming December and went with Magic because of the ship. 

Ditto......exactly my sentiments too!!  Magic over Horizon hands down.....but Curacao is one of my favorite ports in the Caribbean!!

Just now, buddylover said:

There is a great site to view deck plans, you can even click and drag the decks over one another.  I always use this site when picking our cabin.  I love the 6th deck on this class of ship because you can easily walk down to dining rooms, theatre, shopping, promenade deck etc....HOWEVER, you have to be careful if you like a quiet room as to what you are OVER on the 6th deck.  6266 is over a 'white space' and just beyond the bathrooms on deck 6 right outside the main theatre.  I would stay away from booking over the theatre, casino, dining rooms ,some lounges (loud music) etc.  We try to book over the gift shops....very very quiet and great centered location.  Likewise, we never book under the lido deck or pools as they clean the decks and furniture at night and they drag and scrape it across the floor - it is very loud in the cabins below the lido.  You should be fine (unless there is 'bleed' from the theatre music/shows and you go to bed early!)

Oh yes, the site is cruise deck plans dot com (no spaces).  Find the cruise line, the ship and then go to the top of the ship's page and click on 'drag decks' - a page will open with all the decks laid out side by side.  You can click and drag the decks right over one another and see through the top layer to the deck below......super great website!

On 7/7/2019 at 9:17 PM, msperry27 said:

I am going on my first cruise in 15 years in September and am super excited!  This will be a Mother/Daughter trip for my birthday and we are on the Conquest out of Miami to the Eastern Caribbean in balcony room 6266.  Has anyone ever stayed in this room before?  We have reservations at the Steakhouse on my actual birthday.  I know this will be such a fun trip for us- does anyone have any suggestions?  I feel like a first timer again since it has been so long!  Just wanted to share. 🙂 

There is a great site to view deck plans, you can even click and drag the decks over one another.  I always use this site when picking our cabin.  I love the 6th deck on this class of ship because you can easily walk down to dining rooms, theatre, shopping, promenade deck etc....HOWEVER, you have to be careful if you like a quiet room as to what you are OVER on the 6th deck.  6266 is over a 'white space' and just beyond the bathrooms on deck 6 right outside the main theatre.  I would stay away from booking over the theatre, casino, dining rooms ,some lounges (loud music) etc.  We try to book over the gift shops....very very quiet and great centered location.  Likewise, we never book under the lido deck or pools as they clean the decks and furniture at night and they drag and scrape it across the floor - it is very loud in the cabins below the lido.  You should be fine (unless there is 'bleed' from the theatre music/shows and you go to bed early!)