joand452

Congratulations! Just started frequenting the Celebrity board to prepare for our first X cruise, and read your Equinox blog.

Well deserved!

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It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks for live reports! Thanks for doing this for us!

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Following along. It’s been many years (and lots of different ships) since we cruised on Allure, so I’m looking forward to cruising vicariously with you!

Happy Sailing!

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Can you post some photo tips. Your pictures are really great, and I know you have top end equipment, but tips about aperture, ISO, shutter and depth of field are helpful. I can only hope to catch some nice deep and vivid photos that you seem to easily capture. I know there is a photo sub forum, I thought a quick reply by CLR with what he does gives me some guidance to work with. Not looking for a lesson, just some guidelines.

Try this thread: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=118

A few years ago, someone was giving virtual lessons. I realized, even though my father was a really good photographer, I would never be, so just take my point & shoot (super zoom, though) and hope for the best!

Have sailed only once with Leigh. We thought he was awesome. Maybe it was because of his inappropriateness.

It would be great if he came back

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Looking forward to more!

We just take seapass cards, maybe a credit card and enough cash for a taxi (Cozumel) and tip, and tip at Labadee. We have a waterproof camera that I wear on my wrist (it has a floating strap). We also have water wallets (purchased in the fishing department at REI) that we use. One goes in a Velcro pocket on DH’s swimsuit; I usually wear mine on a lanyard. We also carry a beach bag—for towels and sunscreen.

I used to bring a Kindle, but I ended up never reading, so no longer...

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Jumping onboard!

Good thing you live blog -- otherwise you wouldn't remember what went on ;)

I have to add my own experiences(!) going into the men’s restroom instead of the Ladies’. Yes, it happened more than once. First was at the JC Penny at the local mall. For years and years, the Ladies’ was here and Men’s there. (I also worked at this particular store.) Guess it had been a while since I’d used the facility there. So I go strolling in and saw the back of a man, standing at a urinal! I backed out right away. They had switched rooms! The second time it happened at our Wegman’s Supermarket. There are restrooms on the first floor and in the “Cafe” seating area on the second floor. This is also where my book club meets once a month. Little did I realize that the rooms are on the opposite sides on each floor. I happened to be on floor one (by the registers), and I go into the women’s side (floor two). Not so fast...again, why is that man standing there??

I double check every time now...

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Following along as well. Zuiderdam was our very first cruise in 2004. While we haven’t been back to HAL (we like much bigger ships), I make sure to let everyone know of the superb service we had. I was on here reading Gambee’s review of his sailing to Alaska, and I saw this.

Happy sailing!

P.S. We’re also in Virginia and wondering what Florence has in store for us.

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Thank you so much for taking us along on your family's cruise. I really enjoyed your writing style.

Thanks again,

At least it was just her cell phone and not her iPad! That really burns my butt! [emoji91]

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At least your rope had aglets on it! You won't have to worry about it shredding/fraying, which you would if you cut a piece from the Schooner Bar!!

We haven't gone back on Princess since that last cruise. We found we enjoy the nightlife ('cuz we're such partiers--NOT) more on Royal. Just more things to do. Although we have seen some really good acts (hypnotists and magicians) on our Princess cruises, but things were pretty quiet at night on Ruby Princess. And (this was my big bone of contention) their version of WJ, Horizon Court, at least on ships older than Regal and Royal Princesses, is awful! Just a tiny alcove off the seating area. I much prefer the Royal version, where there are different stations, so you don't have to stand in a cafeteria line (also Carnival Vista and HAL Zuiderdam). I just want to get my food and get out! I understand Celebrity has the same layout as Royal--I'll see in December!

The buffet is pretty much all I find to complain about on a ship, so... YMMV!

Thanks for your take on the All Access Tour; it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I don’t know if Princess still does this (our last Princess cruise was in 2010), but at that time (2010), I read on here that you needed an extra suitcase for all the swag you received on their all access tour! It was more expensive, $150 per person, so we didn’t do it. On our 2016 Anthem cruise, we did a “charity” tour, where all the money went to... I don’t even remember the charity, but we got a tour of all the galleys (there are multiple ones on Anthem) and a special lunch in Grande (the formal restaurant when dynamic dining was in force). It was a nice lunch, but I’d prefer a lanyard. What was the “rope” you received?

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Hey Joan, it’s Dru Pavlov and I believe there is a Drew but don’t know the last name. We had Dennis on Anthem last January and he was terrific. Sang, danced, was all over the ship. Maybe he had an off week[emoji57]

 

 

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Thanks, Marietta. Yes, when we were on Brilliance in 2008, Dennis was everywhere. He would even hang out with us a bit in Schooner Lounge after a show. Kinda hoping he’s back onboard in April.

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I just don't get the attraction to this. :rolleyes: I love the beach for the sun and sound of the surf. The beautiful ocean view and the calming effect it has on me would be totally ruined by the noise of the aircraft screaming right over my head. It's just not appealing to me. That's just my personal opinion - to each, his own.:D

The planes “are” the attraction here. You don’t go to Maho Beach for a beach day. We haven’t been to other beaches (and just went here for the planes), but I’m pretty sure there are much nicer beaches in St. Maarten!

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Is there another Drew that is a CD? We had a Drew on our 2015 Oasis cruise, and we thought he was very lackluster. But, again, subjective. I enjoyed Spectre (didn't understand it, but appreciated the music, etc.). Didn't care for The Gift, but we were sitting on the side of the Balcony (our preferred seats) and maybe just couldn't see enough to be able to follow along.

I have to laugh at your not wanting to talk other people at dinner. I can be rather shy, but have learned to make small talk over the years and to include those sitting near us. I'm betting it was an "older" couple, married for a while, with nothing to talk about to each other! After being together for 48 years, DH and I always welcome new people to talk to. But I don't think if you were giving off vibes that you didn't want to talk, I'd still be talking to you. Some people just like to chat with new people, and since they'd seen you before, they felt you were old friends! Don't let it ruin the rest of your cruise!!

Anthem is so different from the other ships, I don’t believe the CDs act the same way. They just seem to come out at the end of a show; then you never see them again. I have to say we sailed and met Dennis (he was going by his actual last name then) in 2008 on our Panama Canal cruise, and he became one of our favorites. Maybe he’s been cruising so long, he expects everyone to know him? [emoji23][emoji23] But CDs are like cruise food, it’s all subjective. There are some I don’t care for that other people love, but I remember all of them from our Royal cruises. None from our other cruises!

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DH and I are also in NoVA and we always take the train from Union Station. We rent a car at Dulles airport and drop it at Union Station and do the reverse when we return. Much easier than driving. We're on Anthem in Oct and will be taking the Acela to Newark, car service to Cape Liberty for cruise....

How do you get to Dulles? Do you park your car there for the week? Do you travel up the day of the cruise?

We’re intrigued and will investigate further.

Thanks, BND! Sorry to hijack your thread, Bighouse!

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Thank you letting me tag along on your cruise!

Safe travels home.

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Following along! We did Allure waaay back in 2011 (still elementary school, weren’t you; maybe jr. high? [emoji6]) in a JS b2b. We followed that exactly a year later by doing the same thing on Oasis, but on the port side. I think we were in 9642 and 9242. Sadly, no b2b cruises since then, nor jr. suites, but have done a 12- day and a couple of 8-day cruises—not the same. We did Carnival’s version of a grand suite on Vista last year. That was not the same, either—in any way, shape or form!

Looking forward to the rest of your week!

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So many interesting tips and facts here! Love it! And jealous you got to see Colbert! I did see the show with BobCat -- I'll have to look to see if I kept it on the DVR and look for you.

Did you really give your phone/camera to a stranger so you could have your picture taken in Times Square? You are brave, although I always ask people if they want me to take a picture with their phone or camera. I'm a gray-haired senior citizen, guess I'm trustworthy (at least I like to think I am!). Glad you found a trustyworthy person, too!!

Thanks again, Andrew, Laura and Owen, for letting us tag along.

 

Looking forward to your next cruise, as our next cruise will be even closer (but who's counting;))

I'm so sorry...Lisa, not Laura! :o I knew that wasn't right, but was too lazy to look at previous posts.

Thanks again, Andrew, Laura and Owen, for letting us tag along.

Looking forward to your next cruise, as our next cruise will be even closer (but who's counting;))

We’re in northern Virginia and sailing on Anthem in the Spring. This will be our 4th sailing from Cape Liberty. We’ve never even considered taking the train (although we used to take the AutoTrain to Disney with the kids).

Probably because the thought of getting to Union Station in DC is not good. So we drive up the day before. We both enjoy a good road trip (driving up to RI in October with daughter and grandsons and drove solo to Connecticut last October) once in a while.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip! And seeing your photos!!

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