antmaril

I saw Five Skies on the Sky Princess in January, 2020. We enjoyed it very much. I will be on the Sky Princess in January and am looking forward to seeing it again.

I played the accordion as a girl, so the idea of the polka enthusiasts being on board really doesn’t bother me at all. 😁🪗. But, my friend did not share my opinion. I think she originally thought that polka music was going to replace all the regular entertainment on board. I assured her that will not happen. We agreed that we are relieved that it’s a polka cruise rather than a heavy metal cruise. So, there is that. Ha!

I discovered a couple of months ago that the cruise we are on in January on the Sky is a polka cruise. My travel companion was kind of freaking out, but the folks on my Roll Call seem pretty chill about it. The group will probably use the Vista Lounge most of the time. Hopefully, it will be fine. We haven’t made final payment yet, but we really don’t want to cancel or change the dates. So, we will take a chance. If it wasn’t this 500 people, it would be another 500. Maybe some areas of the ship will feel less crowded when the group is gathered in another area. We shall see.

This is true, I have stayed at the Hampton Inn in Plantation three times, the last time being in January, 2020. They offered a free shuttle from the airport and to the cruise port. I am cruising again in January, 2024, but the reviews of this hotel aren’t what they used to be so we are staying at The Riverside instead. No shuttles, so we will just take a taxi or call an Uber.

I have been on the Regal Princess twice and will take my second cruise on the Sky Princess in January.

I have been to Glacier Bay on HAL and Princess. Both fabulous!

I received the email last night. We cruise in January, 2024. It starts with this - “We’ve recently introduced several new enhancements at no additional cost for guests like you who have the Princess Plus or Princess Premier package. Here are the key additions:” So, the key words to me are at no additional cost for guests like you who have the Princess Plus. I have printed this email and will take it with me, just in case. 😁

Great! Thank you!

What if I want to book an excursion and not use 0BC? I would like to leave the OBC in my account to use while on board and pay for an excursion now using a credit card? Do I have that option? Do I have to call? Thanks!

Thank you sharing your first hand experience. While we haven’t made final payment yet, we have been looking forward to this cruise for quite a while. We were originally supposed to go in 2022. Canceled and decided to shoot for 2024. To change it now would result in a much higher cost and we are not willing to do that. I found a cruise on HAL for the same week, but after doing some investigation, I discovered there was a Christian Rock Group on board that week. So…. I was on the Sky in late January 2020 and I only went into the Vista Lounge once. So, that is not a big loss for me. I think we will just go for it. If I hadn’t checked my Roll Call, I wouldn’t have even known about the polka group. It is the Mollie B group, by the way. it is what it is.

Changing to the February 10th sailing is not an option due to the high cost. It’s coming up at $2300 MORE. So, we are just going to have to take our chances that it will be okay. As I mentioned earlier, I was on the Sky or Regal (can’t remember which one) with an Irish Group. It was not a big deal at all. Sometimes a venue was closed for their use, but it didn’t impact my cruise at all. My friend is the one who is actually worried about it. It’s the polka theme that is throwing her, I guess. She has only cruised twice before and is concerned that the polka dancers/music will replace the regular entertainment (production shows). I don’t think we have to worry about that. Thanks for your thoughts.

Thanks. I have seen the flyer for this group.

It is the possibility of polka music that is sending my friend over the edge. The thing is, I can’t guarantee that we won’t be exposed to a “Beer Barrel Polka” and the like. 😁. It doesn’t bother me at all. I played the accordion for eight years when I was young. 😂🪗. And, she calls herself an Italian. 😜

“In retrospect it didn't ruin our cruise, but it definitely impacted it since we didn't have as many evening activities open to us, and we also noticed that large groups of people congregated in the open areas more so than on our other cruises -- i.e. people from the music groups tended to stick together and move about en masse.” Thanks for your input on this cruise. I guess the flip side is that when they are doing their polka thing, they aren’t out and about with the masses. I am tempted to just go ahead with it and hope for the best.

Thank you! That makes me feel better. I was on a cruise (either the Sky or Regal, can’t remember) with an Irish group and it had no impact at all. Sometimes, there was an area that was closed, but it was no big deal. I have assured my friend that polka music will not replace the Princess entertainment. I am going to stop worrying about it. I think we’ll be okay.

Ugh. ☹️

So, I just found out today that the cruise I have booked on the Sky Princess for January 13, 2024 is a “Polka” cruise. My friend and I have had this cruise booked for a long time due to canceling cruises because of Covid. Anyway, she is freaking out thinking this theme is going to have a negative impact on our experience. I have assured her that it should be fine. We may not even notice they are onboard. However, I am starting to worry about it a little. Will it affect our cruise? If I hadn’t looked at my Roll Call today, I wouldn’t have even known. Your thoughts? Thanks!

I have done the Canada/NE cruise twice leaving out of NYC in mid-September. We were too early for any color, of course, but the weather was very nice. I love that itinerary.

NCL Starward in 1982. We had an inside cabin and I remember being absolutely shocked when we opened the door and saw how small it was. I think I had visions of “The Love Boat” in my mind. 😁. Our next cruise was on The Big Red Boat in 1991. Our son was four years old and we all big fun!

Reserve the bungalow in your name only. You can have up to three more people with you for the total cost of $229.99. I have done it twice. It’s nice to have that little air conditioned space. Enjoy!

Our first cruise was in 1982. My late husband and I took a Caribbean cruise on the NCL Starward. The ship was 17,000 tons. We booked an inside cabin and I remember when I opened the door I was shocked at how small it was. It felt like a walk-in closet. I think I had visions of The Love Boat in my mind and this was NOT that. Ha!

I didn’t vote because my answer makes me sad. I am 71 - do the math. 😩

I have cruised to Alaska twice - both times in an inside cabin. The first time (2009) we were on the HAL Zaandam. I was invited to join my friend and her daughter. Because I had to pay the single supplement, I chose an inside cabin to keep the cost within reason. The second time, (Golden Princess - 2012), I was traveling with my cousin, who was on a budget. Again, I was in an inside cabin. Both of those cruises were fantastic. I spent most of my time outside the cabin and had wonderful views of the glaciers from the decks. I usually prefer a balcony cabin or a mini-suite, but, my cruises to Alaska were fabulous even in an inside cabin.

My friend and I are considering a casino offer right now. We both get lots of offers. Hers are usually a little better than mine, as she spends a little more in the casino than I do. But, honestly, we don’t spend much. The cruise we are considering right now is on Venezia in September. Six nights to Canada/New England. Total with fees and taxes for an Oceanview cabin is $575. So, adding a flight to NYC, a hotel room (which costs almost as much as the cruise) and cabs, we can do this for about a $1,000 each. We could book a balcony room for about $300 more, but I’m not sure we need it for this cruise. Carnival is usually not high on my list, but we did this casino cruise in 2019 on the Sunrise and I have high hopes that the Venezia will be a nicer experience. I guess we shall see.

Well, I have stayed there a few times and have enjoyed it. We haven’t had any problems. Rooms are big by NY standards.