Midnight Writer

I know that taste is subjective and that what one person may not like, another may love. But if a friend asked you what food they should avoid on their up coming cruise, what item(s) would you tell them to skip? And don't forget the cruise line. What may be bad on one, may be to die for on another. ;)

 

For me, on RCCL (AOS) i would have to say the Lobster Bisque in the dining room. It had a very unlobstery taste, with no lobster in sight. Was also very runny, like canned tomato soup.

 

Maybe being in New England has spoiled me for lobster bisque. I would be interested to know what others thought of RCCL's Lobster Bisque.

Do you know that somtimes they use canned lobster and its not even canned its more like leftovers, nothing is ever thrown away, if they do that there would never be any more food left.

Since my sister worked for Norwegian years ago, she told me that if you do not use your water in your glasses they reuse it Yuck! is that not disgusting? So drink up all the water people, lets go and have fun!!:p

I'm sure it's too late for the poster who asked this question, but perhaps this'll help someone else:

 

We're about eight hours away from Port Canaveral, which makes driving a much better choice than paying airfare X 4 people! As such, we've stayed in a number of places -- all of them ho-hum and not worthy of a shout-out. Last cruise, however, we stayed at the new Country Inns & Suites, and it was perfect for a one-night, pre-cruise stay. We were lucky to find a $99/night special (and we were there over a holiday), but we'll definitely be booking there again even without a special price.

 

Comments on Country Inns & Suites:

It's literally the closest hotel to the port. While this isn't really a necessity, it is nice.

The rooms are small, but that wasn't a problem because we don't bring all our luggage into the hotel anyway. We just bring one bag with our toiletries and one set of clothes.

You'll find plenty of restaurants nearby.

They provide a good breakfast along with the room. It was a decent breakfast: assorted breads, fruit, cereals, sausage biscuits.

They have a van (with a trailer behind it) that functions as a shuttle to and from the port. Memory fails here, but I think they charge for the ride. A budget-minded cruiser would have one driver drop the group (and the luggage) off at the terminal, then return to ride the shuttle alone. The biggest benefit, of course, isn't financial: it's that a single rider can hop right on the next van, while a group with luggage may have to watch the shuttle come and go a couple times before there's room for everyone.

They do not charge to leave your car in their parking lot, which is a big savings over using the terminal's paid parking lot.

LOTS of cruisers use this hotel, and the night before was kind of like a pre-cruise party. The teens were congregated in the hotel lobby making their plans, and the adults were in the breakfast room chatting and playing cards. It was too cold to use the pool when we were there, but I'm sure that would've been a hot spot too. It was kind of like starting the cruise an evening early.

Raddison Hotel is the biggest one that everyone goes too, we have been there 5 times have gold points because we love the raddison the people make you feel so wonderful and the sleep mattress to make your bed go up and down and the buffet breakfast. too. you can leave your car at the port. when we booked our cruise 1 yr ago we booked the hotel too... so we got a nice room safety for our cars and a breakfast you can not lose. the rates are from 118.00 and up depending on the month...

Red we enjoy it... also go to eat at FISH LIPS Nice place too... ON Commerce Blvd... the Raddison is on Astronaut Blvd...

Not because the economy is "weak" or gas prices have "skyrocketed" - most of which has been conjured up by the left-wing media - but we tend to cruise on the cheap. We search for off-season or repositioning cruises and then set our sights on a balcony stateroom with the cruise fare saved. We book the next cruise while on-board the current cruise for an OBC, use our C&A benefits for a discount, and use our RCCL stockholder benefits for an additonal OBC. When we have enough RCCL Visa card points accumulated, we cash them in for another OBC. Then, while on-board:

 

We don't buy the over-priced weak drinks in the smokey bars - but once in a while we'll order the drink of the day - or two - before the show.

 

We do not buy the art at the auctions - but do sign up and drink the free champaigne.

 

We don't buy a soda card - but do drink coffee, tea, and juices for free and even make our own "Cafe' Diablo" using their hot cocoa mix, coffee, and creamer.

 

We don't buy a wine package - but do use our C&A coupon for a free wine tasting.

 

We don't use any spa "treatments" but do occasionally sign up for a free lecture/sales pitch.

 

We don't use the laundry service - but do wash out our own quick-dry travel clothing in our cabin.

 

We don't use the high priced/low speed internet service on-board - but do use our own mobile web service when in port and cell phone service is available.

 

We seldom use specialty dining - but do order room service dinners or breakfasts and eat on our balcony where it is much quieter.

 

We DO try to book an excursion or two on-board so that it'll be charged to our sea pass - the one already front loaded with a bunch of OBCs.

 

The result? Most cruises we have a very small balance on our sea pass at the end of the cruise, and sometimes even have a credit.

 

Are you a tightwad cruiser too? If so, what do you do

So I suggested this time is to book very early... the prices will drop if they can not fill the ship in this case they can not or book it one week before the ship leaves then you can get the fishy rooms and get them no more than 500.00 with port charges and taxes included but you sleep next to steam room boom, boom boom all night wow can a person get anysleep around here?:mad:

When we were in the Caribbean this Jan Diamond International offered free charms for a charm bracelet in each port. Does anyone know if this is also offered in the ports for Alaska cruises? While not being top grade gold, they were nice reminders of the ports visited. Thanks!

Personally I am a jeweler by trade what they are giving you is not worth the nickle and copper they are offered to you. What do you want for free real gold?

Its not good gold, its inlayed meaning it has some copper in it. I have gone to those places because of friends thinking they wanted something for nothing and personally they are not worth the spit they give you.

But then again its Free and to my friends its what they wanted a freebee.

The charms are not worth it to stand in line on a hot day for a free bee. you be better off buying somthing of value and of good price directly on the ship.

No place is a better rate. Not even in Mexico what a rip off country that is... the 9.25 silver is not even Silver its also inlayed with copper and aluminum and mine rusted on day 2. I have bought a nice piece of silver on the ship paid last year on the Mariner for 195.00 the best investment I ever spent and its still in great shape.

Becareful what you buy... In St. Thomas I recommend very highly to go to Little Switzerland for watches but not the Diamond Exchange there are others out there but unless you have a trained eye and an eye piece for the stones you will be ripped off ...Ok forinstance this happened to a friends we met last year, her husband saw a purple stone for his wifes birthday, he bought it he showed it to me just before we left the ship, see Red.. i got this for Marci... I said Stanley its glass, No its real he said and said he paid 930.00 for it, i said Stanley this is glass... He insisted. I told him if its a true gem and diamonds it will cut the table and make marks. It did nothing. he was had

We went along with one of the jewelers from the ship I Paid the man to go with me on this to the store, Not mentioning the name of the store Not the Jewelry exchange but another rip off store in St. Thomas. Not St. Marrten they are better but more expensive.

We demanded our money back, and I kept on telling the manager that this is glass he demanded that I was nuts. Well the story back and forth. I got the gem down to 52.00 it was glass but the guy wanted this ring.. for his wife.

Yes it was glass, how they tried to fool you, You got to be very careful. I do not buy anything in value of gold, silver or stones or diamonds unless I go to the Diamond Exchange in NYC on 7th Avenue or 43rd Street where I know that I am not going to be ripped off by the Jewish and Thai dealers. Those I can trust not those who think that people who get on the ship are looking for cheap bargains and what bargains they are gonna get GLASS!!

If you are in a shopping mood and you will find me, and want to know about how to find a real piece to a cheap one find me on the Freedom May 31st or on the Carnival Legend July 12 I will be more than happy to talk to you about your stones and diamonds

Red!!

Last year we went to the carnivals ship enjoyed it the food was excellent., then we booked a mariner of the seas also about 4 months later the food was not as good as the carnival was. why is that? you go figure you are on a better ship you get better food, is it because that Carnival is a CocaCola company owner or is it because of Pepsi company is Royal Caribbean owners?

I felt that the care from each ship is different. The care I got on RCCL is better but the food was awful.

The steak was hard as nails. I ate alot of salads and soups for the 7 days. I did not like the other foods either. I ate alot of bread to survive.

What is a person to do?

thanks

Red

We have some friends who are going on this FOS in May and wanted to know what the cabins are like in the Promande?

Are they big? can you see anything differently there?

What is the reason for the Promanade?

Ok, we are also doing this ship in the end of May not the same time as our friends... but If I buy a soda tickets for unlimited will that include to get Gingerale, and also Juices?

thanks Red:D

Thanks, TandTMom...............

I wonder if my friend is "confused". It is their first RCCL cruise, and she just said they don't have them anymore. Anyone who goes between now and 6/21, please let me know!

if you said from pt canaveral to st. thomas st. maarten you go to coco cay... only at Freedom the next stop back is home pt. canaveral then the Freedom leaves again for Jamacia Coco Cay and Grand Cayman. So that is what I know.

so is that what you are asking?

Red

Dect phones were available on the 3/22 sailing of FOS. I saw many people with them. But I have also heard that they can run out.

Fran those walky talkie phones are so cheap you can buy your own and keep tabs on the kids, we did this to keep tabs of our friends who are in their 60's they are older than we but we know how much they love to gamble found them at the casino most of the cruise but wanted to keep tabs on them anyways overall we had a better time without them...

Red

Everyone on this ship.... check the rates.... all this ship did was to decrease their fares, I got mine today I saved well over 500.00 for two, yep that much and last month it dropped even more. so you see you got to call and also notify who you paid your trip to. THEY MUST give you a Refund, no questions, even if your ship leaves This Sunday!! I was told this recently.

I saw the rates on this ship yesterday notified my agent and she gave me a credit. we saved quite a bit since we paid top $$ for our inside cabin and I was very much surprised that everyone is not complaining about this? I did I work hard but I felt that I was overpriced for an inside cabin, not like that person who was charged 400.000.00 for his on the new Oasis.

Red;)