elcuchio24

Nothing I mentioned has special charges, at least as of last week on Celebration. Except the the Rollercoaster. In addition, the base cost for CCL is around the same it was a decade ago. Thinking that the total cost for massively larger ships with much more features and more to do at the same cost as 2010 is nonsensical.

I much prefer the NEW special touches that have replaced the old ones.--better entertainment/better alternate dining venues/a slick and easy to use app/ships that ar 3x larger/rollercoasters/etc etc etc Some people only want to be nostalgic around whats gone rather than whats been added. Or, just cruise HAL or another line that better represents your expectation

Most of whats missing are things that were nostalgic to older generations but fairly pointless. Mints on pillows, chocolate buffets, past guest parties. It's 2023. Print is dead, forget about the menus and printed funtimes. Thrilled they do everything on the app no, so much easier and less wasteful of piles of paper. Plus I guess you can't eat 7 lobster tails at a time if that was your thing. In general, I feel the product is better than it was 5 years ago as seen by the broader/target audience. But then again you'll have detractors at every angle.

We just cruised with CCL for the first time in a couple of years (been doing other lines, AI's). Had a great time on the new Celebration. Thought entertainment was better even than in years past. MDR food was the same-ish. But I did like Big Chicken and Guys and the food trucks whatever they call stations on the lido. Also Chibang and Cochina de Capitano where free venues with Celebration so that was an added plus we took full advantage of. Not sure what the issue is that people have with once a day service, its fine and never an issue. Room was cleaned perfectly every day. Not having the blankets rolled down and chocolate on the pillow is no issue for us. Felt like the MDR service was a bit inconsistent. Felt weird ordering cocktails/apps/entrees/dessert all at once. CD, bars, service in general were all great.

Love the lanyard. Get the one with the clip so you can unclip it to hand over for reservations/bar/etc. I also love how they pre-punch them now. Used to have to go to the casino to have it punched. NCL wont punch their cards because they say it interferes with the scan or something, kind of annoying.

There is actually. I can attest from last week :-). I was purchasing both my wifes and mine on my card the first day and got cut off! Hahaha, from then on we just switched back and forth

Thanks--its MIA. In my experience we're usually on board pretty early there. I was fairly certain FTTF didnt need to adhere to the appointment time but we'll see

We have Faster to the Fun for a cruise in a couple of weeks. I had to pick a boarding time (noon) but if I recall with FTTF you can show up whenever and will board after Diamond/Special Needs/ETC. Is that still the case or do you have to show up at your time slot? We've been on other lines for a few years now so I can't remember the protocol. Thanks!

Its always been a bit buggy for us. I think it delivers chats on time about 75% of the time. CCLs onboard app is probably the buggiest one we have used with the various cruiselines we travel on.

Easy enough to get an ocean facing balcony---nice to give it a try at least, especially with some good options out of NJ near you...

We're on the Celebration during Feb break. On NCL Joy next week out of NYC. Love the megaships, never understood people liking small ships with less to do unless just holding on to memories of the past. Celebration still dwarfed by our April Break cruise......Wonder of the Seas. That one will be something to see, looking forward to it.

Thank you that makes sense!

Anyone with experience with Priority Access know if your room is also ready earlier or just earlier to board? We're headed out of Manhattan next week, have a boarding window of 9-9:30am. I'm certainly not expecting the room to be ready at that time, but wondering if they ready any sooner than normal. Thanks!

It would be pretty hard to complain if your on your THIRD entrée 🤪

Time to dust off the ol' Rum Runners!

I was wondering the same thing. So if you are fully vaccinated do you no longer have to test? confusing.

Also just FYI, from the Bermuda gov't travel site, looks like they are only requiring testing for unvaccinated passengers as of next monday 8/22

Great news--about time!

its close to FL, easy, and has a big pier. I agree, not a ton to do. We've been there a half dozen times at least. Usually get a chair at the beach, hang out and go back to the ship early. Some decent snorkeling out to the big drop off which is cool.

Yep, some pretty bleak statistics for many Boomers. I'm a millennial myself. Start early and your gold. Unfortunately some folks dont or cant start saving until their already in their 50's.

Correct--Mexico doesnt require any testing. That's required by the US to get back in. Happy its gone now. We have done a bunch of Mexico trips in the past couple of years--great times. I remember a year or two ago talking to a guy at the pool in Cancun. I was telling him I was still stressed about the covid test to get back home he said 'I come here every other month....if someone ever tested positive, the hotel puts you up for free for quarantine.....TRUST ME you'll be negative' 🤪

Mexico doesnt require testing....Even more simple then: If you havent taken the test, you cant get off at a port that requires it..... 7 nighter to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and two spots in Mexico. If you take the test pre cruise, you can get off at all of them. If you dont, you can get off at all of them other than Grand Cayman. That seems simple, would cut down the stress of testing, and encourage many others to cruise.

As I stated before--I have zero problem with a sovereign country requiring testing to disembark. Totally within their rights. But, if you eliminate embarkation testing, its then giving personal choice to your cruise passenger whether they choose to get off at a port that requires testing (my guess, would be that many countries would not require the test, since they know the more passengers disembark, the more $$ it brings in to the economy.....Mexico executed this with much success over the past few years, not requiring vaccines or any testing for entry). Furthermore---if a particular country was set on demanding testing for disembarkation there, done at the port or even the day before, those results would be much MORE accurate than tests done 5-10 days earlier---pre-cruise....

Good for you. And yes, retirement savings...or even thinking about it, is something so easy to 'put off since its so far down the road' for people, by the time they realize they're in a bad spot its too late. Invest early, invest often!

LOVE me some APA! What a great stock. Bought them and FANG back in 2020 as well. Apache is a great company, good for your dad.