nanwel

Ok, I get you are l frustrated, but most of this is inexperience on your part.

Sounds like you showed up at the pier at 9am or at the most 10.

You know that the ship comes in full and has to be emptied of people and restocked. Why not just show up at noon. Same with all food places - it is a bonus that they serve food at lunch on day one any cruise!

and, experienced cruisers know you cannot get booze on a lot of ships until he ship has cleared the pier or further out to the ocean depending on the law of the state.

Suggest you arrive later, when the ship is prepared for you to board, and the "extra lines for suites' are open.

some of the problem is they never have enough port staff, but, those staff (port staff are not NCL employess) were still letting people off the ship, not able to concentrate on the demanding people that show up way to early and expect to get a huge warm welcome! Not happening!

I use them as covers for the deck chairs - that mesh stuff is not comfortable to me! and, the deck chairs can be damp early in the morning -

So, if I buy cheers, I am on a 5 day cruise, and I cannot get include drinks until day 3 ????? 2 port days, where drinks are cheaper on shore, and back to Galveston.

I fold, tape at home and put them in my carry on - zip tie at the port.

I have had them come off at a rainy port day - but as soon as I described my missing suitcase, they brought it up.

Suitcase always has attached travel tag with my business card in it - do not put my home address on suitcase - do not want to advertise where the empty house is.

I get up early - not planned, just how I am - go for a long fast walk around outside if possible - then back to my room for my pre ordered breakfast - sit on the balcony for a while, read,nap - especially if there is a good view - aft is great for that. (tell my cabinperson they can come in and clean so not to hold their time)

Finally shower and leave for another walk - late lunch in the dinning room or buffet - crowds are less then, and food still plenty. Check out my emails, and books others have dropped at the library.

Would love to swim, but hate people on top of me(not a great swimmer) - so often wait until 4ish by then a lot of people are back to their nap or shower for dinner.

Love to watch some of the game shows, but do not get involved - if they get to dumb - I move on - would love more things to learn at sea - not all ships do good lectures, but check out those that do.

Cocktail - on my balcony - maybe another shower and dress for dinner - look at shops eat and go to show.

Sounds boring when you put it down - but the days go very quickly.... too quickly and it is time to get off the ship - I do love port days, if I take a tour or not depends on whether I have been there 10 times before (like stMarten) or never - if I have been many times, I just walk walk walk - love seeing people go about their day in a different country so sometimes sit on a bench or at an outside bar and just watch the world go by.

I do not have any complaints about a fee for special food after hours, or on top of regular "free" food.'

Go to any hotel - conference or most other cruise lines - those little extra are not free.

Rather pay a few $ if I want extra service and food than more $ for whole cruise.

Find it depends on the cruise - if I am on one with all port days, I just tip 1 per drink - if I think I will be on the deck by the pool a lot - I prepay a waiter that asks if I want a drink - never one I have to chaise... then I do not need to carry 1's with me to the pool. Find having to sign for each drink annoying - but see where a lot of servers get no tip because of it - but then, we are told they"share" all the tips put on pre paid on UBP ? wonder if that happens and how many hands get that share?

No real fair way to see everyone gets the same deal - if staff were paid a good wage, and no tipping allowed - cost of the cruise would be beyond most of us.

We were there last Saturday. There was a lot of security around the market and vendors. The bartender told me that they have been getting a lot of

 

Glad to hear it, as soon as the "bad apple" cornered me, I ran! But before that, I had been enjoying the market and the vendors! sometimes you walk to the end, then go back for something you saw, so his complaint that I had should buy from him because I had not bought just made me leave and buy nothing. But then, I am 4'10 and he was 6' loomed over me and made me panic.

Great photo - thanks - going Triumph Feb 22 - 1st Carnival cruise - so looking forward to getting away from the snow - it was late coming, but now it has, does not know when to stop - ick!!!

Thanks, taking family, and just would like some quiet swim time with no kids!

Last time I was there, asked if he could put the chair on the edge beach where there was a bit of shade - think I had asked him to do something really strange. But, I did give him 1$ - no thank you. I get it is their country and we are the "visitors" and have different thoughts, but expect they must have some training from RC or they would not be able to work there.

I walked around the craft area too, and had a problem, one man blocked my way and said what are you going to buy?? I told him "nothing" in a loud voice and to move now - he did, but I went back to the beach then and did not buy anything. RC needs to teach them to be polite if they want they want a tip or us to buy stuff, a smile goes a long way - in any language!

Lap Pool on Dawn, can anyone use it?

after cruising for 12 yrs, I have it down pat (says me ha ha). I have a section in my closet with some things I only wear on a cruise - long black flowing pants - great for all dinner types - just add either a tank or a dressy top.

shoes - wear one pack 2

I have a list - print out at least 2 copies and tick off as packed always leave a copy on my computer - so if I should loose my luggage, I know $ to claim, and have proof.

I have a clear plastic container in the closet that holds travel stuff, add to it all the time - travel size stuff. They are so picky on flights now, I wash and refill small travel size bottles of most things after each trips so I am ready to go in a moments notice. I want my own shampoo, and it does not come in travel size. But, worried they would refuse it on a flight, I put a label on each bottle.

I take only clothes that can be hand laundered if needed - very easy to rinse things every night - only takes minutes.

Always travel with a clean outfit/swim suit in my "big" travel purse. know, I could spill on the airplane! And, that way, I can give my bag over at check in and still go sit at the pool.

The thing I used to forget was a warm sweater - going to carib - still nice to have to wear out on the balcony or after sometimes after a swim and a sun burn - now I have one dedicated to my suitcase - it gets washed and repacked every trip.

do not look at my sock or undies - I take mix of old and new - the old if worn get pitched!

I pack a month ahead, but, repack,repack,repack - etc until flight!

Cound not count the number of times I look in my purse to see if my passport still there both going and coming home! Cannot start the car until I recheck for that for me or anyone travelling with me!

Carnival or any cruise line would have to pay me to eat in the buffet on boarding! People have not unpacked their manners yet! They are I their checked luggage still - it is loud, kids running around, food rules have not been established yet - tongs oh, I am not to use my fingers! ? Holding chairs for folks that have not arrived by air yet, let alone on the dock,,

No thanks! I can find a lot of better places to be both on or off the ship, and much more relaxing!

I was on Royal Carribbean out of Sydney when they sent me an email 2 days prior to departure telling me my boarding time was 2. I arrived jus t before 1, was able to drop my luggage only. because it is such a nice port, it never bothered me, I just went for a walk.

Although I did know before I arrived at the port, I was leaving a hotel, and stuck with suitcase - cannot go to far. went for a walk in the morning at then at 11 checked out of my room but, did not hand in my key - went up to the room, got my suitcase then taxi to pier.

Best early boarding was on Allure - had a suite, so got on 1st - had my grandkids, and we went up to the kids pool, got 5 chairs right away, and the kids had a blast - they were all alone for some time and could splash each other to their hearts content.

do not get the "mad rush to eat" are people starving??? - push shove let me at the food trough!!!! ugh.

Much nicer to sit in the sun in the quiet of the pool area - maybe go pick up something light and enjoy the quiet -it does not last!

forgot - when we got to Quebec, water levels changed due to tides - had an outside cabin without a balcony (not worth the cost in end of Oct - too cold), woke up with my cabin curtains wide open, and my room was dock level - oops!!! I crawled to the bath for a robe!!

Now, I always put my robe on my bed at night!!!!

I have only done northbound on Hal, loved it!

Aged Manhatten stip steak - best steak!!!

Ordered medium rare - had it 6 out of 7 nights!

WONDERFUL!!!

eNJOY!

one night had the roast beef instead, it was ok, but lots of fat, and it became very cold very soon, and was not as good as my steak nights!

I really do not understand the big deal. You book a cruise, and are asked to tick time you expect to arrive at the port. If your time is full, you are booking close to the time the ship will be leaving, so pick another time. If you are able to prebook a cruise early, you get an added perk of being able to select your time. If you are booking late, you take what is left - just like rooms, you do not always get the one you want last minute.

I have been in ports when you arrive by plane, go direct to the port and line up and take 2 hours to get on board - not fun, puts a bit of a wet blanket on your cruise start, but once on board you forget that.

Other lines use a worse system, they send you an email, the day before - that is a pain, you have NO choice to arrive earlier, only your time or later.

Get to the port, drop luggage and go for a walk for an hour - some ports there is no where to walk!

I have never eaten my dinner in my cabin - defeats the reason to cruise - being waited on. I have taken a mag or book to read, but rare that I even get time to open it.

Have sat alone - boring and with others.

Most cruisers are very friendly and if you join a table, you do not need to become best friends !

If eating in your cabin makes you happy - then do so - not up to anyone else to say no.

What I like about cruising is the ability to do it alone.

But, must say, if you only stay on board - why not just go to an all inclusive - you pay to travel and then do not get off the ship??

I am too interested in the world I love to get out and see each port, even if I do not go on day trips, I always get off and walk around for a while. never found a port that I felt unsafe being alone.

Have bought some great stuff in some of the ports, others only have "port" junk for sale - same old stuff everywhere mass made in another place with a label attached - I was here.....I never buy that stuff!

If you bring on a couple of cans of soda, you can stretch that drink a little further - I sometimes do that at home too, fresh out of the bottle seems a little strong to me for an afternoon drink, or I am flying high and forget to serve dinner!!

Sometimes the people doing the bag check before you board send you to the second table - that person is supposed to (note supposted) write down your room number when you go to that table.

Have not seen them look at that list to see if anyone has already been through from your room - but does anyone ever look at the list after you board??

I have travelled on many cruise lines all over the world. Mostly as a solo. Find I enjoy those cruises more than the ones I take one person with me - I find myself entertaining them too much and not doing what I want.

I would be cautious about the singles cruises - there was one on a Celebrity cruise I did - all they seemed to do was get drunk - they were all in their late 20/30s younger than me, and I was asked if I wanted to join some of their activities, but said thanks, but no thanks, not for me - if you do join one of those groups to travel, you do not have to join all the activies they do - up to you - once onboard - do your own thing.

If you get an assigned table and the group does not work for you, ask early in the cruise to change, they sat me alone with a honeymoon couple once - they sure did not want to be stuck with me for the week.

Often in the buffet, I will ask if I can join people at a table for lunch and strike up a conversation or in the seated breakfasts.

If I see a trip I like in a port I take it - otherwise, I go for a long walk in public places. One thing I never do is swim in the ocean alone - who would know if you went missing until the ship left. But I have done snorkel trips - tell the guide I am alone - please keep an eye out for me.

I take a book with me and on day one go to the library and get out another one or two - then drop them back as soon as they are finished and see if another I might like is there. Seems the only time I really relax and enjoy a good book! Pick a bar you like and go at the same time each night - there are almost always that go everynight same time same place.

RELAX - ENJOY - NOBODY IS LOOKING AT YOU - BECAUSE YOU ARE ALONE

I refuse to give in to the theory that I am not safe to travel.

If it is my time - it is - nothing I can do about it - could be something simple in my own home that takes me out, I am going to keep on travelling!!!

Have been to Turkey and Indonesia - and many other places in the world, and they really need out tourist $. If we give in - they have won!

I take everything I think I will need with me anyway. Take all my old stuff, and toss before I fly home - less luggage that way, and less to unpack at home. Put it in small bottles if my big one is too big. Prefer to use products I know that those I do not know when on vacation.