IllinoisAuthor

Refresh my memory, if we booked the Haven 2-Bedroom family villa, does all four people in the cabin get the perks, or just the first two guest?

 

Trying to figure price difference of booking two balcony vs one 2-bedroom villa. Both son's in the balcony and my self and husband would get the perks (only choose 2). In the Haven, will all four of us get 5 perks?

Husband and I are cruising on Feb 4 with another couple in the Haven 2-Bedroom family villa. Only the first two pax in the booking get the Free at Sea offer perks, but all four get the regular Haven suite perks.

Denise

I'm hoping Epic boarding at Port Canaveral is going more smoothly than early reports of chaos and long lines. Any info on Haven embarkation will be greatly appreciated.

I would love to hear from someone staying in the Haven who has recently boarded, too. I would especially like to know if there is a Haven TSA line or whether those privileges only start after going through security.

Sailing on Feb 4. Sure hope we have the same parking/boarding experience.

Thanks so much for the whole review, but especially the part about The Baths. I'm pretty chubby and the other couple we're traveling with both have knee issues. If we'd tried this, I'm afraid there might have been some serious problems.

Make sure you have your passengers listed in the right order on your booking (i.e. you and the other non-drinker must be guests 3 & 4). This is what determines who gets the UBP and i don't think it can be adjusted on board.

 

In the past people have reported problems purchasing the soda package online for only part of the cabin. The system forced them to purchase it for everyone. If that happens to you, you can either call and purchase over the phone, or wait until you're on board.

Thanks! If that turns out to be the case, because we are in the Haven we have a concierge, would that be the best person to telephone or should I call the personal cruise consultant who has been assigned to us?

As a part of the Free at Sea deal 2 of the 4 people in our 2 bedroom Haven suite get the Adult Beverage Package. Which is fine because I don't drink and neither does one of the other passengers. I was planning to purchase the Soda Package for us, but then I read this on the website: "Applicable beverage packages must be purchased for all guests staying within the same stateroom for the entire length of the cruise." Does this mean we would have to purchase the Adult Beverage Package?

We sailed on the Epic last month and loved it.

The only thing we were disappointed with was the specialty restaurants.

If you have a positive attitude, you will have a blast!

What didn't you like about the specialty restaurants? DH and I are cruising in Feb and usually love to try them.

Thanks! Our plan is to either switch rooms halfway through or pay a 25% differential.

Thank you so much for all the information and pictures. You really answered a lot of my questions. We are considering sharing the 2 bedroom villa with another couple. Does the second (tiny) bedroom have a closet and/or other dresser?

Just finished two great books with paranormal themes:

Do You Believe in Magic and Your Magic or Mine? both by Ann Marcela.

Denise Swanson

author of Murder of a Royal Pain

Anyone read anything by C. J. Box, the Joe Pickett series? Central character is a Wyoming game warden. There was a review of the most recent book in the series, Below Zero, in our paper and it sounded intriguing.

I've read one or two. My dad liked them. I like a bit more humor and romance in the mysteries I read.

Denise Swanson

I read everything by Charlaine Harris. Even her one-offs. She's a wonderful writer.

Charlaine is an amazing writer. To be able to write four series that are so different from one another is an awesome talent.

By the way, I was in an anthology with Victoria Laurie a few years back called Drop Dead Blonde. I believe her novella in that anthology was the first of her psychic eye mysteries. My novella was called Dead Blondes Tell No Tales and Victoria's was called Blind Sighted.

Denise Swanson

author of the Scumble River Mystery Series

Currently, I can't get enough Victoria Laurie (paranormal mysteries).

Have you read/do you like Charlaine Harris's two paranormal mystery series--Southern Vampire Mysteries and Harper Connelly Mysteries? They're among my favorite of that subgenre.

Denise Swanson

author of the Scumble River Mystery Series

I am in the same boat . I am looking for about two or three good books to take on my cruise

Hi,

If you like urban fantasy Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series is a super fast read. The first one is DEAD WITCH WALKING.

If you like romance Connie Brockway, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Jennifer Greene, and Jennifer Cruise all write terrific contemparary romances with touches of humor.

If you like mystery:

paranormal--Charlaine Harris is the one to read. An HBO series based on her books called True Blood is currently being aired, but you can't beat the books. Dead Until Dark is the first.

amateur sleuth--Earlene Fowler is an amazing writer

humorous--besides my own--the Scumble River mysteries by Denise Swanson-;)-I love Diane Mott Davidson.

Happy reading,

Hi Sandy,

These authors all write humorous, fast paced mysteries.

Carolyn Haines

Charlaine Harris

Donna Andrews

Mary Kay Andrews

Nancy Cohen

Jerrilyn Farmer

Anne George

Joan Hess

Sharon Short

Heather Webber

And, not to be immodest, but my own Scumble River Mysteries are humorous with a touch of romance.

Best,

Denise Swanson

Murder of a Real Bad Boy

Hi all,

I enjoy "light" amateur sleuth mysteries and "sexy" contempary romances for cruise reading as these types of book are fun, which to me is what cruising is all about. I'm leaving for an Eastern Caribbean cruise on Celebrity in two days and am taking three mysteries:

Crossed Bones by Carolyn Haines

Four on the Floor by Deborah Morgan

Hot Wired by Jane Isenberg

and a romance:

Charmed and Dangerous by Lori Wilde

Sure hope I don't run out of good books<grin>

Best,

Denise Swanson

author of Murder of a Smart Cookie, July 2005

Murder of a Real Bad Boy, Aug. 1, 2006

http://www.DeniseSwanson.com

Hi Lynn,

Thanks! I hope you like PINK ELEPHANT.

I'm leaving on a cruise in 10 days. I'm on Celebrity's Mercury for its 10 day Mexican Riviera cruise. The first thing I always pack are books to read.

Best,

Denise

mmmmm

Hi Lynn,

Here's a few frothy, fun books I'd suggest for your cruise:

Hissy Fit by Mary Kay Andrews--Terrific southern romantic comedy.

Dead Until Darl by Charlaine Harris--this one is a hoot. It is a

funny romantic mystery featuring a vampire.

Return Engagement bu Lynn Michaels--a funny romance centered around a regional theater

Hot and Bothered by Jane Isenberg--a humorous mystery featuring a college teacher going through "the change"

Also, not to be immodest, there's always my books--funny romantic mysteries featuring a school psychologist as the sleuth. The latest one is Murder of a Pink Elephant.

Have a great time.

Denise Swanson

Stephen King is an awesome author. I've been saving the last in the Gunslinger series for my January cruise.

55 days and counting,

Denise Swanson

Thanks for that, Denise. I went to your web site and intend to add your books to my cruise reading. Looks like they're great fun!

Thanks, CalicoCat. I try to write with a lot of humor so I think they'd make pretty good vacation reading.

Nikki--I loved the Shopaholic books by Sophie Kinsella. I'll have to look for Can You Keep A Secret.

Best,

Denise Swanson

Hi,

I thought it might be fun to mention books set on cruises or in places people might be cruising to or from:

Murder Walks the Plank by Carolyn Hart--set on a mystery cruise

The Marriage Casket by Deborah Morgan--set in Seattle

Death Dances to a Reggae Beat by Kate Grilley--set in the Virgin Islands

Cruising for Murder by Susan Sussman--set on a Caribbean cruise

Don't Drink the Water by Susan Rogers Cooper--set in St. Johns

New Orleans Mourning by Julie Smith--Set in New Orleans

Happy Reading,

Denise Swanson

author of the Scumble River Mystery series

Murder of a Pink Elephant, # 1 IMBA Bestseller

Hi,

Here are some of my favorite mystery author's latestest books:

Hot and Bothered by Jane Isenberg

Broken Dishes by Earlene Fowler

Dead to the World by Charlaine Harris

Blue Blood Susan McBride

Last Lesson Summer by Margaret Maron

Swallow the Hook by SW Hubbard

Marriage Casket by Deborah Morgan

And of course my own latest book--

Murder of a Pink Elephant by Denise Swanson