KayJay4

Thanks CC Jack. We have sailed Princess before and they are good. In fact we are considering a sort of last minute break (November) to San Francisco and Princess have one so we might.

I think we will go ahead and book Celebrity and do NCL another time as I would love to try them.

Thanks for the replies.  Celebrity has been our favourite line so I was keen to look at what they were offering. I would love to try NCL but I am not sure that this is the one to try it out on. The itinerary is almost the same on both so I think I should lean towards the one I already know. Thanks for your input!

Hello, looking for some views on whether to book NCL Spirit or Celebrity Millenium for Japan in August 2025.

I've sailed on lots of different cruise lines but never on NCL. Just wondering if anyone has done both and would have an opinion on which one would be best.  I usually like a formal night but can cope without so dress isn't a problem.  We would be travelling with our kids who are both vegan and this is usually a little problematic on every ship so as long as there is something they can eat - all good. 

Most of the review cover covid times so aren't giving me a true reflection.  Thanks in advance!

Hello

Has anyone any experience of the Retreat on Azura?

We are on Azura for October half term week and I thought it might be an idea to book the Retreat in an attempt to get a sunbed!

Does anyone have any experience of it? I like shade not too much sun so I'm not bothered about the amount of beds in the sun.  I was wondering what drinks and food are included and is there a menu?

I will probably book it anyway but thought I would ask on here anyway.

Thanks in advance :)

Hello, I am excited to be sailing on QV in November - well I would be if I could decide where I would like to be on the ship!  There are 2 cabins left port side for Britannia Club (I prefer the dining time) or several left on Britannia Balcony, some port and some starboard. I have no idea which side would be best for views in Amsterdam - can anyone help please?

Hi all

We are thinking of a 7 days cruise on Enchanted Princess in August. It's been popular so the only cabins left are restricted view ones. Is there a way of knowing which are best?  What is left are E610, 611, 622, 623, 624, 625 and E228, 229, 230, 231, 303 and 306. We would need two of them but they don't have to be together. Has anyone stayed in any of these. Obviously hoping to find out the ones with a bit more view!  Many thanks for any help.

Okay, well I’m up for a Japanese Slipper in the Ensemble in October for sure! 

Really enjoying your review! Thank you for taking the time to post. I love Silhouette - we will be on her for the second time in a few weeks - on the cruise you are also on to the Canaries.  So looking forward to it. Our first time in Aqua.

We went with Aqua Class in the end. Can't wait now!  Only a few weeks to go. Thanks everyone for your comments and help.

Thanks for your help everyone. I'm no wiser. May have to leave it to my friends. I personally am nervous about the cabins being susceptible to noise from above as I am such a light sleeper. That's my only worry. They would be more bothered about having a cabin that had a shaded balcony so I might check that out.  The fact that they are only double occupancy is a plus though! Thanks again :)

Hi,

We have sailed on Celebrity a few times before and last time we were Concierge Class.  This time we are travelling with friends and they are first timers. They mentioned Aqua Class.  I remember as Concierge we had welcome wine, flowers and fruit, and canapes each night. Oh, and a nice welcome lunch.  Not sure if Aqua would be better? I don't know anything about Blu, and I thing the access to the spa lounge may be a little crowded?  Has anyone been Aqua on Silhouette who could let me know what they think of the differences? Much appreciated.

Thanks, I’ve changed it all again. I have now decided on:

Disembark Cape Liberty and take Amtrak to Washington DC

2 days in DC then fly to Buffalo.

Two days at Niagara Falls

Fly to NYC for last 3 days. We’ve been before but never get too much of NYC!

Thanks everyone for their input and advice :)

Thanks Carol for the quick reply! I shall look into hotels tomorrow :)

I'm interested in any replies as well Garys12, because we are considering doing this as well. I think we are on the same cruise.

Hi all

We are on a 9 day Bermuda/Caribbean cruise in June/July. When we disembark we have one week until we fly home from Newark. If anyone could chip in with any advice we would be very appreciative!

We fly into Newark and then board the ship the next day. So I am going to book an airport hotel if possible.

When we get off the ship, my ideas were to go to Boston for a couple of days, Washington for a couple and then back to NYC for the last 2 days. I'm looking at Amtrak to Boston, then flying from Boston to Washington, then Amtrak back to NYC. Is this doable? We were intending to hire a car as we usually do but a friend said driving to Boston is not recommended. Plus flying from Boston to Washington will cut about 8 hours out, it looks like.

Merion Mom, no, I booked direct online. I'm going to have to ring them because I don't want to be late paying. So irritating.

It's driving me crazy! I am at final payment and I want to pay! I do NOT want to pay over the phone but I will have to. GRRRR. I can get into the Cruise Planner but I cannot see a link from there to make payment.

Just to jump in on the hotels discussion.

I travel to London quite often on business and I always stay at the Holiday Inn at Brent Cross. Basically this is so I can drive right to the end of the M1 and park as that is where it is. But there is a free shuttle to and from the tube station - you just call the number and they come along and collect you. Its about 15 minutes into the city centre by tube, no hassle at all. The hotel is right opposite Brent Cross Shopping Centre which is a great mall.

If you spent time locally there one day, you could also pop along by taxi and see Wembley Stadium.

Anyway, the hotel is usually around £100 a night for a double room plus breakfast.

We have loved every one of our cruises and adore all the people we have met. But one time only, I had an upsetting experience.

It was Silhouette, my daughter and I were in the adult pool area and we got into the pool. It takes me a while - my daughter got straight in and I get down the steps and say to her "I know, I am a coward....." and this American man who was already in the pool - with his baseball cap on - said " well, that's right coming from an English person!". I said "Sorry, what was that?" and he said "Ha! the Great British Empire! Don't make me laugh!"

I was totally shocked by the horrid look on his face and all I could think of was a childish retort of "Oh you stupid fat idiot" to which he replied "I hear ya" and off he went. My daughter burst into tears.

Later in the cruise I saw him - recognised the cap - and a waiter bent to ask him something and he said "I cruise alone". My daughter whispered to me that she wasn't surprised as he surely had no friends.....

I'm still upset just recounting that!! Thank goodness for all the lovely cruisers we meet who make up for the horrible ones.

On a Princess Diamond cruise last week we were saying that all cruise lines need the equivalent of the 'mystery shopper' so they get to experience the impact of their crazy thought bubbles have on customers and crew.

Well, RCI do have mystery shoppers, mostly on the 7 day cruises.

Hi Wendy, nice to see your review. We were on this cruise - I came to speak to you about the Thriller video when you were with the lovely Canadian couple. My daughter Katie and I did the Thriller stuff it was the best fun!

Never got to find out when the Meet and Mingle was so we didn't get to meet other CC ers.

Loved the cruise but has similar experience with My Time Dining - was given a pager, waited 45 mins then went up and said we couldn't wait any longer as we had booked for 6.30 so we would go to Windjammer instead - he said not to do that and they then seated us. Not so bad rest of the cruise but we did book specialty restaurants for the first time which were fab. I found the MDR food fine though and nice and hot - just the wait was silly.

Val

I always love your reviews! Thank you for this one so far. We are on Vision on 18th August so this is very exciting!

I am going to book Chops now!

Darkwolfe, thank you for your review - great photos too!

We are doing this itinerary in August. Could you please help with when the formal nights are? We love them and don't want to miss them, or miss any shows - but this cruise we want to try all the specialty restaurants and I need to book them so we don't miss the formal nights!

My friend has stayed in the Doubletree Suites. She said they were superb.

If it's your first time to the USA then remember to go to the ESTA website to do your visa waivers. We are going on August 15th and I have just done ours online.

Hi Peewee

When we went to New York it was a few years ago now. We stayed in an Embassy Suites which is now a Conrad (still Hilton) I chose it because it is out of town (ten mins on the subway) and was overlooking the Hudson River. I am sure it's more expensive now it's a Conrad but it's still the one I would go to. Those Times Square hotels are too noisy for me.

We were there a week and in the evenings it was quiet in that area. We would get the subway into the centre (you can get a daily/3 day/weekly pass) and see what we liked and then get back to the hotel in the evenings. Plenty of restaurants and sandwich bars nearby there. It's in Lower Manhattan near the financial district and was just a few minutes walk from the World Trade Center site (in fact that's where we got the subway) We walked along the river one day to get the ferry across to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Also very near to shop at Century 21 !!

It depends on how near you want to be to the action. A friend of mine always stays in the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tribeca. Again, similar area, but nowhere is far away in New York.

New York is fabulous. But you do NOT want to drive! At the airports and ports, ignore the people asking if you need a taxi. there are appointed officers who will take you to the official cabs and there is a set fare to wherever you want to go. the officer will ask you where you are going - write the cost down and hand it to you and that is what you pay. It's a well thought out system.

Things to see - The Freedom Tower was just being built on the WTC site when we were there. Lots to see in that area, very moving. We loved the Top of the Rock (Rockefeller building) and of course the Empire State Building. Get at least a glimpse into shopping somewhere like Macy's. We also loved Central Park (the Strawberry Fields memorial which has fresh flowers left everyday by John Lennon fans) The Natural History Museum was fantastic but you soon lose time in there. One of my fave places was Ellis Island. Seeing all the historical stuff around the immigrants was fascinating. And Lady Liberty is sooooo huge!

Your daughter will love the big Toys R Us in Times Square! It has merry go rounds inside. Love it! (I am a big kid)