tomc

I think it depends on how busy the stewards are. Sometimes I get escorted and sometimes I get pointed. When they are loading fast & furious, they try not to hold up the line. For my part, I want to find my cabin and get to the Lido buffet as fast as possible. The "white glove" treatment is a wonderful HAL tradition, but I'd rather not hold up the line if they're really busy.

revneal--

I used to go out there all the time when the doors were open. But not when they were closed. I never thought to notice if there was a chance that the deckhands could close and lock the doors, thus stranding me out there until the morning. Can those doors be unlocked from the outside, as well?

stillfrantic...

The Sky Deck is directly above the Crow's Nest. Go out on the Sports Deck and there are two stairs (port and starboard, left and right) that take you up there.

The Sky Deck, at night, is a good make-out spot, as there seldom is anyone there -- and, if there is, it's too dark to see what's going on.

At sail-away, HAL sells drinks in plastic collectibles with the company logo and their ships' names on them. Many people leave them behind. Start making the rounds just after the pax leave and before the waiters pick them up. Back home, you can fill them with sand, colored candies, etc. Or use them for drinks with your jealous neighbors.

Cunard = Buckingham Palace

Disney = Disney

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TK27 -- is your screen name a reference to a product that RCA used to make?

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My opinion:

(1) Bigger boats do not equal better boats. They are bigger, that's all.

(2) For your first cruise, allow me to put a gun to your head and march you to a good Travel Agent (herafter called a TA). Chat with your TA and find out what you are looking for, what sort of atmosphere, etc. Here's why:

(3) Cruise lines are different. That will affect your enjoyment a lot. I wouldn't take a cruise on [Nameless A] cruise line if you paid me. It's just not the right line for me. But I wouldn't recommend that you take [Nameless B], my favorite line, because I know it's not a good one for you. One person's perfect line may be another person's cruise from hell (CFH -- to be avoided at all costs).

(4) Ask around here and tell people about yourself. Then go to the specific boards for those lines (or that particular line) and ask some more.

(5) Then kick off your shoes, relax and enjoy.

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