auntem

We had a true aft balcony Deck 8 on the Oosterdam SA - Antarctic cruise (BA to Santiago) this past Feb . I had worries about rough seas making it unusable, envisioning giant waves crashing onto the balcony !  Despite some rough weather and seas, we used it everyday and enjoyed the easy access to the lido deck , pools, hot tubs, and Seaview bar , as well as the views .
We only used seasickness meds one day , and once we got use to things , never again. It was no worse in our cabin than the rest of the ship . I think that was the day poster 0106 referenced . 
We would get an aft cabin again on the same voyage , which we do hope to do again someday. It was a great cruise and exceeded expectations in everyway 😊

Thanks @Kazu and @VMax1700....the explanation with examples help !

19 hours ago, crystalspin said:

If you buy Premium WiFi pre-sailing, historically the cost has been only slightly more than Surf (standard) bought onboard. I don't know how StarLink has affect that "rule". 

 

Unlike my experience with RCCL, no flash sales -- just promos that run for some length of time. Closest to flash sales are Black Friday and Cyber Week short-term promos.

 

OTOH, Have It All is $55pppd and includes all of your categories, with the specialty dining meals dependent on the length of your cruise. It is less than the beverage package by itself! because you pay 18% service charge on the BP price, but not the HIA. So if you want beverage package, the wifi, specialty dining, AND shore excursion are frosting on the cake. 

Sort of on topic...do they add the 18% gratuity when you buy one of the wine packages of 4, 6 or 8 bottles ? With a mariner 25% off , it it really 7 % off once they add the gratuity ?

  Thanks 

Thanks everyone. This is my idea for my DH, he says will make an effort to go to the first session and get one on board…hope he gets one, he played guitar in HS , I think he would enjoy it …he might be humoring me 😊❤️, but he will try. 

Thanks. Have just looked on line , no shops here that we know about. 

What is a good brand if we are buying one to bring on cruise , and what price range , for true beginner , adult male? Thanks

Thank you for the additional information about the pools ! I think we will try them all 😀

Hope you have continued good luck ( and skill ) with the trivia , it is fun to have such tight competitions . 

Enjoy the 2nd half of your cruise. We are enjoying your posts. 

On 2/8/2022 at 9:26 PM, Waynetor said:

Answer for depth of Terrace pool - 5 ft 2in.  Due to the Skywalkers part of the ship being above the pool, it is often shaded.

 

We did not get off last week in Jamaica, but I heard from others that they did private tours.  I've done tours there in the past so next week will likely just do a hike of some kind.  Other than shopping I don't think there is a lot to see near the port.

 

We are about half done this voyage, no matter how long the trip, time does keep moving. 

 

Today at trivia with about 15 teams we were part of a 7 way tie with 17 right answers.  Then we were part of a 4 way tie after 1st tie breaker but lost on how many movies Elvis made.  Never had a game like that. 

Appreciate all the additional info on the pools ! I have seen ads for pool current lap type pools , would be interesting to try on, too bad no longer operational for lap swimming . 
 

Does anyone know how depth of the LOTUS AND Terrace pools ?

 Thanks😊

Thanks !

Thank you for the pool information. The deck plan on the Princess site lanes one pool , very far forward , on Deck 16 as a Lap Pool, and also calls it the Lotus Pool...is that the one referred to as below the Sanctuary? 

We were on the Sky Princess in Nov , and it had the Retreat pool for adults only, is the Lotus /lap pool adults only and free ? I know the Sactuary has a fee. Thanks for all the information 😊

What are the pools like on the Caribbean Princess ? I remember you said you like to go the the aft Terrace pool area. 
Is there a covered pool on this ship on the Lido deck ? 

We will be doing a Panama Canal later this Spring on Caribbean Princess, and wanting to learn a little more about the different areas especially the pools . 

     Thanks ! Glad you are enjoying your cruising . 😊

3 hours ago, devonuk said:

2307 on my October trip. 

2 hours ago, wowzz said:

About 70%

 

Thanks ! I wonder how full the Sky Transatlantic will be ....I guess we will find out on Friday 🙂

What is the Passenger count on this Sky sailing ? Is it crowded ?

For those aboard Sky currently....has a Super Tuscan Lunch, Dinner or WMD been held ? We are on the Sky beginning Nov 5 and would love to attend one of these . 

17 minutes ago, XBGuy said:

Also, I might mention that I have seen reports here on Cruise Critic of a Super Tuscan lunch being offered at Sabatini's.  I assume it is up to the restaurant management as to whether such an event is to be held and whether or not it will be a luncheon or a dinner.  Something just dawned on me.  Our cruise was fourteen days.  The length of the cruise may have affect their thinking on these events.

how do you " see" the follow on cruises in the Medallion app?

I am so moved by this statement by Orlando Ashford and the plight of these vulnerable passengers and crew that I emailed my non Florida congressman , President Trump and the Mayor of Ft Lauderdale.

I don’t know about others, but our family will no longer use Ft Lauderdale , FLL , or  Port Everglades as our cruise or vacation destination if Zaandam and Rotterdam are turned away .

Enjoying your trip report. Keep 'em coming 🙂 

Fun to see pictures of things I have been reading about before our trip later in the month on HAL. 

Great pictures !

On 6/16/2019 at 7:26 PM, RuthC said:

HAL has already cut back on evening entertainment a lot. For a few years now entertainment has ended earlier and earlier. Now the lounges are dark at least one night a week each, some of the shows have been replaced by movies, the show lounge is dark some nights, and now this!

It's as if HAL wants us all to go back to our cabins and go to bed early. I remember when the last bar closed at 2:00 AM. I was closing it!

 I want to cruise with you  ! You aren't headed to Alaska on the Amsterdam this August are you ?😂

We just booked a cruise today, and got the Flight Ease Credit as part of the promotion from HAL. We have never used it before. The TA and the HAL agent , both did not know exactly how it worked , and were unable to answer questions about  things like checked baggage allowance /fees . We were directed by the HAL agent to use the online flight selections as part of the Pre and Post Cruise Travel on their site.We did that , and then were told to call our TA to actually book the flights.  There is a place to click to get to baggage info on the Flight Ease site, but it showed an inactive page when we tried to use it .

We played with the different flight options until we found a suitable combination of RT flights, that left us paying just over $80 for the two of us  in addition to our 600.00 allowed air credit . 

We then called and booked the flights, and were told these were main cabin economy seats, and we would have to pay 30.00 per checked bag.

We are going on a 14 day cold climate cruise, realistically  , we will take 2 checked bags each. So instead of flights included in our cruise fare, we are paying an extra 200.00  We feel sort of nickel and dimed and we are still 5 months from final payment . 

Thanks, Don.

Thanks, everyone .

Since you are on board, could you tell me if the All Aboard time in port is the same as the time listed on the itinerary ? So if listed as 8am- 5 PM

on the itinerary, everyone is on board at 5 ?

Thanks for the quick replies. So the all aboard time is the time listed on the itinerary ?

Hi all you experienced X cruisers . Sept 25 Equinox Cruise is our first time on Celebrity.

1) Do they have low sugar options for mixers ( Diet Tonic , Diet Sprite ) in the bars ?

2 ) If the time list in port is 8 AM to 5PM , what time is the All Aboard ? An hour ahead or 30 min or is the time listed the time we need to be on board ?

Thanks in advance !