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5 hours ago, donaldsc said:

Very simple.  I take lots of pictures.  I have my pictures organized by year; then cruise; then cruise date.

 

DON

Is all your 'leisure travel' on cruises? If not, do you have a separate system for keeping track?

3 hours ago, PelicanLvr said:

Santorini is so worth it.  But we have not been there on a cruise with so many other ships.

We weren't there on a cruise. DIY and a rental car. But you can't do it all in a car. You want to get out and see what's what. And what was a mess.. I'm not being judgmental at all but what made you think it was worth it. BTW that was our first stop before we took the ferry to Naxos and Paros which really were wonderful.

Please tell me what those are? I know you get earlier reservations for specialty restaurants. And 'special' liquor. I'm sincerely interested.

We were in Santorini in the spring a few years ago. It's beautiful but I wouldn't go back again if they paid me. Incredibly crowded. One business owner told me that Chinese people will come there to have their wedding photos done. Not to stay there, just for the photos.

1 minute ago, china addict said:

I'm not going to let the possibility of encountering one tone-deaf singer put me off an entire cruise line with seven ships cruising all over the world.  I'll be on the Regatta on May 1st and was just dismayed to find out he is currently on board.  When he starts warbling, I'll move to another bar. Never occurred to me six months ago when I made my reservation to inquire if I would meet my nemesis again.  Something new to worry about. 

Sorry. I mis-wrote. I intended to ask why do you stay where he is.

30 minutes ago, Izzy'sMoms said:

By researching and carefully choosing your suite location.

Could you give us some background on previous cruises? And how successful were you in avoiding noise, like when docking as ORV mentioned. Thanks.

7 minutes ago, china addict said:

We groan when we find this tone-deaf singer on board and can't understand how he keeps his job.  Have sailed with him at least four times, and it's painful.  Nothing to do with his accent, in fact many accents are delightful.  But he is so off key, it hurts to listen.

 

For you and others up thread, why do you keep going?

1 minute ago, Waltershipman said:

It was me who mentioned Chinois on Main in Santa Monica our favorite for 40 plus years fir Asian fusion 

We don't make it to SoCal very often but when we do we certainly will go there. Thanks.

3 minutes ago, Kay S said:

In the Los Angeles area (where you and I live) we are spoiled by the authentic international restaurants so abundant around us.  My favorites are all owned and operated by people who immigrated from their various countries.  I think I have a better chance at "authentic" cusine because of it.  It's not better or worse than mass market cruise food, just different. 

You said just what I was thinking. And we come to really like the more intense, authentic flavors. But some others never have the opportunity of upping their game. I've read here rave after rave about Red Ginger so.... 🙂 Also I'm not a huge fan of Asian fusion. Although someone mentioned a great place in SoCal.

25 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

The employee HATED working in the cold and wetness on bad days. We talked about it. He was miserable. Who wants to have cold wind whipping across you at your workstation, wearing a raincoat and rain hat?

I don't believe that SE Asians, or Indonesians or really anyone in the world would want that. And they should put in for a new job at the appropriate time.

I did a very little reading and it appears that the major markets for smoothies are the under 45 people and those who drink them for health reasons. Not exactly the poster children for cruisers. 

Did a little more reading and saw that pizza is the #1 food in the world and the US.  Ya know, I think I'll hold these two hands.

2 minutes ago, TRLD said:

Oceania certainly has its niche that appeals to their core customers.

...If the itinerary is what one wants.

7 hours ago, Harters said:

I'm not at all sure that I know what this is. Makes me wonder if my accent is similar to someone from Norway or Slovenia. Do we all sound alike to Americans?

Harters, when I see things like that I guess that it's an Eastern European accent and that isn't a compliment.

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

In your haste to be negative

This is a subject I want to be positive.

1 hour ago, MEFIowa said:

And having lived in the Philippines (1990-91), just north of Indonesia, most S. Asians in these tropical areas do not enjoy winter or cold weather. Completely foreign to their native lands.

That was my being sarcastic. Why would one's nationality be mentioned?

35 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

A great pizza is built by :

 

1. The crust;

2. Quality of the sauce;

3. Quality of the ingredients.

 

While O does fine with the crust normally, they fall miserably with the sauce. Made to satisfy the NoNos , it’s bland and uninspiring. Totally omitting many of the herbs and spices normally found with quality pizzas leaves that grocery store effect mentioned above. Clo, as the name of a tv series implies “ Curb your enthusiasm “. The pizzas are OK, but nothing to get excited about. 

I watched that show once and was very unimpressed.

I used to be on a food site and we talked about how 'feeding the masses' was not going to make US 🙂 happy. I call it LCD - lowest common denominator food. Thanks P-L

34 minutes ago, MEFIowa said:

Indonesian

Would he have like it better if he were of a different nationality?

BTW I could be wrong about this but I thought I read here that the new pizza oven is used at dinner not lunch. ?

1 hour ago, Flatbush Flyer said:

It’s not just cruise lines. Try airlines and hotels- lots of glitches.

That said, however, the one travel website (and it’s accompanying app) that I have found to be the least problematic and best maintained/updated is United Airlines. Add to that the fact that they actually answer their phones!

I LOVE United!!!!!!!!!!!!! And agree with you.

3 hours ago, Harters said:

Having had the pizza in Waves on Vista the other week, this isnt something I'd be holding my breath over. We found the pizza OK but no better than OK - think good quality supermarket pizza, rather than your favourite pizza place at home. 

Thanks. I'm curious. Did you have slices or a whole pizza? I understand the latter was quite better. Regardless we'd only have it once. As said what we make at home is so, so good.

1 hour ago, Vallesan said:

Red Ginger…. well for us the ‘miso glazed sea bass ‘ is just too sweet. I agree that the food verges on bland although we have enjoyed the duck and watermelon salad in the past. I think we eat there knowing it’s not ‘authentic’ it’s just a change from the GDR.

I can't remember. If we only get two res at the specialties per cruise/segment, can we do two at Toscano? I loathe watermelon 🙂 and now the sea bass (aka Patagonia tootthfish doesn't sound so wonderful either. Plus honestly, having lived in the West with a plethora of Asian cuisines, "fusion" is usually my first choice.

Thanks for weighing in as usual.

3 hours ago, pinotlover said:

Hank;

 

Food being Bland and boring was an issue on our cruise also. Expect for the cheerleaders to assault you claiming every meal is excellent and every bite succulent, because as you know tastes are subjective! 🙄

I appreciate posters like you. I'm pretty into food and I've never seen a restaurant that didn't have an occasional lower grade. I'll look forward to more. Thanks.

I'm on a FB Nautica group since we're traveling on them the beginning of July '24. Someone recently commented that the ship is getting something done at this 'dry dock' in June. I asked if there were any rumors as to a pizza oven being installed. He said they ate with the CD and the upcoming CD and that it's definitely happening then and that they're very excited about it. Us also 🙂 We've started making killer pizza at home using a STEEL not STONE so will be interested in it. Just an fyi.

On 4/19/2024 at 3:10 PM, thanosmano said:

Hi Don, please refer my first paragraph prefacing that I was trying to make a 2024 thread because often times the cruise lines and the associated travel agencies change their benefits. I also did compile this list by reviewing what was previously known between serial cruisers and this thread was meant to add to what has never been discussed before.

 

I personally have a TA and I just thought an updated thread would be a useful resource for future cruisers or for cruisers to compare what benefits other TAs offer that their current TA does not.

And I agree. Plus searching isn't necessarily the easiest thing to do.

Just now, Mary229 said:

The time between 2020 and 2022 when people were not allowed to travel freely 

Oh, silly me. Sheesh. Thanks.

16 minutes ago, Mary229 said:

Besides weather and lockdowns

You used lockdowns twice. 'Scuse my ignorance, I have not idea what that is.

4 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

I missed three ports just on my most recent cruise (Panama Canal on Oceania).

 

😡

I know destinations are important to you (as I). Were any of these noteworthy?

8 hours ago, mb777 said:

6:30 reservation plus :10 = 6:40 = late = rude, 100% of the time, no matter how you want to justify this behavior.

At the very least impolite. One's decision to be late is their own, right?