CU64

you can buy a pass for Persian Garden/single or double for week

don't have to be in AQ

I have gone to the spa people if the passengers are on them for more

than 20 min if others are waiting & particularly if they fall asleep & snore...

they are suppose to tell passengers 20 min limit/that works

Barb

I sailed Oceania and it was offered on the 19 day cruise I was on.

I signed up for the learners sessions and was awarded best new player. There was not much else offered so I attended the lessons.

The couple teaching were from Australia and they said the average age of a Bridge player in the US was 65. A game that is rapidly loosing traction.

Duplicate bridge is hardly losing traction and now getting even more popular

as baby boomers are aging/ one of the best games to keep your mind and memory agile

There are bridge cruises........check into them

On Princess, there use to be bridge ID in the daily newspaper

Barbara

BLU is NOT "healthier" but I thought more sugar to compensate for anything that was suppose to be reduced fat. Smoothies are very HIGH in sugar (mentioned frequently on these boards)......much prefer using common sense in MDR, asking for more vegetables, et al and meeting other people, especially at breakfast,

Bistro on 5 is delicious (if Ship has it), and Specialty Rest.

Read the menus that are in the Big Book at Bistro on 5. If you live in cities

that have a large selection of good food restaurants, I thought BLU was a big

disappointment and certainly not healthier, nor very interesting, and often tasteless. Their soups were the best ; but I have had the same good soups in other venues on ship.

I will stick to my CC cabin & buy pass to Persian Garden.

Barbara

Last poster had it the same for me/ Small extras were great on CC/even champagne on sail day/flowers/robes/nothing you may want to pay for but at this age, I do appreciate feeling special/on S class ships/different line on and off/instant seating at anytime dining without reservations....

I do believe we get treated well on all ships because we respect the crew/thank you and please, dress nicely for dinner, not formal, tip when necessary, keep the cabin organized & not a mess for the cabin steward...

plse and thank you, I appreciate it, goes a long way in how you are treated!

BL

did C3 on Constellation, May 2011, 12 day Baltic...

storage and arrangement was superior to AQ on Equinox, May 2013...

I am not referring to Bathroom/AQ had a hand held shower (good) and nice storage/I prefer more drawer storage in cabin and if I had another AQ, I would want the bed by the balcony...makes a big difference in movement around cabin....AQ had big storage ABOVE bed by bathroom/not easy to reach & things would fall out when opened even if very organized...

.......don't know about other ships....

BL

The CC, Aqua and Suites are often below pools and public areas that can be noisy, scraping of chairs, .......IMHO, this is very important to pay attention to on the ship deck plans...not just how big the balconies...

I have done CC and Aqua/thot BLU highly overrated....I will now pick CC as I believe the storage is better in the CC cabins vs Aqua......did Aqua in Equinox in May, 12 day Med Cruise/storage was lousy/no drawers/ none by bed

I would eat in sp restaurants or MDR anytime over Blu

Good to try once and see what you prefer.

BL

look what is above and below those cabins to see what noise might affect

the cabin during sea days and at night......some of those cabins are under the

buffet and pools, et al.......chairs scraping noises......Jacuzzi noise, et al

Barb

then look at what is above your cabin selection.......pick nothing else than other cabins......yes, higher decks can be serious problems/look where they have aqua class cabins, under the pools and Jacuzzis......really?

look where they have the Suites......what is above???????

we got an upgrade from B Deck to A on Princess, right under Jacuzzi that ran

all day on sea days (Princess knew this); after third day we figured out the noise & insisted be moved/ they did.......

when we got back I wrote letter to Princess; they sent $450 coupon for EACH

of us and an apology!

also, look at what is under your cabin.......anything that might be noisy at late hrs?......your TA might not know these things.....you have to do due diligence!!

Then you will be happy with your selection barring some noisy neighbors/so

take sound machine

Barb

whomever designed the aqua cabins on Equinox did a lousy job/no drawers in any nightstands/no nightstands/3 black wooden shelves where everything falls off/big open shelves over bed/ short person can't reach/things fall out when opened unless really organized ( and we were)....

moving around bed to use closet was crowded

that is why I said to ask for bed by balcony......at least the flow would be better/ storage in Bathroom very good but not enough to compensate

had C3 on Connie that was superior in every way

Barb

I have always purchased a weekly pass for stone lounges/they are my

favorite thing/people do go in and fall asleep (only suppose to be in for max 20

min).....and some snore...so no lounges available for 45-60 min

I have complained to spa people to police the place if this happens, or threaten

to ask for my money back........they got right on it...

a pass can be purchased for any cabin category

Barb

I would take the C1 in a heartbeat over Aqua..storage problems in Aqua Cabins/better if bed by balcony, ask for that ........

Sorry, I thought BLU big hype/rather do other Specialty Rest.and move around as desired

You can Purchase Persian Gardens (big Aqua Perk) for $99 entire trip and less for 2

Previous Poster has it right/some prefer Aqua/I am back to C2

Barb :D

Had Aqua on Equinox 12 nite Med in May 2013, lousy storage for 2 women/no drawers/big container over the beds/hard for short person to reach

or stuff would fall out when opened/ worse storage arrangement I have had ever in cabin; better in Bathroom. It works best if bed by balcony/ask for that.......Blue was nothing special; IMHO, more sugar, maybe less fat/you can buy Persian Gardens for $99 for entire cruise and less for 2.

Had C3 on Connie to Baltic/12 nite in May 2012/loved the storage and they always got us right into Anytime Dining or wherever at the head of the line!

I booked C2 on Century this April, 2013.....even if they had Aqua Class!

Barb:o