MJSailors

@cruiseguy1016 “Ron” is divorced twice, hence the third wife. Maybe third time will be the charm for him. @expectthebestI have two words for “Ron”-Shark Tank. Question-if he is legit, why not work for an established insurance company or broker. That would offer experience and possibly, future clients. Oops, maybe I took your bait! Signing off now! MJ

Congratulations @expectthebest Your creativity has garnered so many reasonable responses. Surely, you wrote your original post as a hoax. Hoping you are enjoying all the posts addressing your concerns about “Ron’s” purported sales pitch on a cruise ship. Wondering when the Mods will lock this thread. Enjoy your day! MJ

Good to hear about all the grandchildren having happy birthdays. Congratulations to all! 🥳 🎂 😊 @Lionesss OMG -a cat as a plus1 at a wedding reception! I can’t imagine what the other guests and you and hubby thought when you saw the cat at your table! The older I get, the less phased I get at wacky happenings! But….a cat - Wow! Take care MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@Lionesss Wait… I have to ask. Did that person bring her cat to the wedding reception? Or was she paying attention to a cat at the garden center? Just curious. But you know what curiosity did to the cat.🙄 MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@Lionesss Interesting wedding venue. Was the reception held in a garden center? Is the cookie table a local custom? Not familiar with available homemade cookies and treats at receptions here on Long Island. Very generous of you to do all that baking for your friend’s daughter. MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

Could you clarify the disembarkation process with Guest Services or your suite butler or concierge? First hand answer may be more accurate per Freedom of the Seas than other posters' experience with it. Enjoy the rest of your vacation! MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@lenquixote66 Hoping your procedure goes well. No fun sitting in the dentist chair especially for a redo procedure. Wishing Toby a happy birthday and a year full of good days ! @Momof3gurlz Aloha- enjoy your Hawaiian vacation. Quite the effort to reach the resort from the East coast, but rewarding once you arrive in a beautiful place. MJ👩🏻

According to this,NY teams Giants and Bills do not have the rudest fans. Good to see NY folks are not at the top of the list! MJ👩🏻

Yes,we walked the Waterfront after being deterred by the situation with the walking track. It was okay,sometimes we were dodging passengers and glass partitions. We prefer full promenade decks such as those on older Princess ships or Cunard. Or, at least dedicated walking tracks for walking without having to dodge passengers going to/from other attractions placed near those tracks. MJ

I recall that @YVRteacher indicated that she enjoyed a cruise on Princess over the recent NCL Jewel fiasco. Princess has a long-standing reputation for Alaskan cruises. It may be too late for you to cancel Jewel and book with Princess. I noted that you have booked a Family Villa with Balcony in the Haven. It seems that accommodation should be comfortable for you and hubby. You may have to lower your expectations based on the 2022 cruise. Many things on many ships have changed since 2022. Make the best of the cruise- enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alaska, the reprieve from cooking and cleaning and being in the Haven. If you plan another cruise to Alaska-consider a Princess cruise. MJ👩🏻

We have been on two cruises on the Breakaway when she was in NYC. i wouldn’t go anywhere on that ship. Unless things have changed, the Atrium was small,crowded and shared some of the deck space with guest services desk. Midship decks 6,7,8 often smelled of smoke emanating from the casino. The walking track was located where walkers had to pass by the rock climbing wall, an entrance/exit to an outdoor restaurant and loungers. This made walking for exercise very difficult. Perhaps venues have been redesigned for the better. MJ

@jagsfan Mimi! I was glad to see the photo of you and your hubby, but my heart went out to you when I read your post. I am a frequent reader here, and an infrequent poster. I just had to respond to what you wrote. I am hoping that each day brings a bit of progress for you. Having your granddaughters’ May wedding certainly gives you a goal. We all need something to give us motivation. Maybe posting here once in awhile may lift your spirits. People on Dani’s thread are kind and understanding. Prayers and good thoughts for better days for you. MJ👩🏻

@ceilidh1 The vomiting and intestinal issues on the ship may be Covid. I was on a Celebrity cruise 6/2023 and thought I had Noro. I still had symptoms and fatigue when we got home and tested positive for Covid. So, intestinal issues can be a symptom-it is not only respiratory symptoms. Hoping your son gets diagnosed quickly and that he gets relief soon. MJ👩🏻

Peter Lugers for steaks? MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

@UPNYGuy I agree with the points you have made in your posts. Things that impact unacceptable behavior on a cruise: Low budget fares- usually for short cruises under seven days,aka booze/party cruise situations. Drink packages- Individuals who view the drink limit as a challenge to be accomplished ,not necessarily a suggestion. Fights and disruptive behavior are often fueled by alcohol. Fifteen drinks per day- wow! Lack of security- people think they can behave a certain way because,obviously, ship rules are not enforced. Cruise offerings of kids sail free- Not sure if Carnival offers this, but other lines do and the offers lead to fully booked cruises with some,not all, children running amok. Not necessarily the kids fault, but lack of parent/grandparent attention. Expectation of passenger behavior by the cruise line. - Some may dispute this, but when Carnival chose to have ultra casual dress codes, no tablecloths in the MDRs and not enforcing passenger behavior per guest guidelines, reports of unacceptable behavior escalated. Most people want to enjoy their cruise vacations without being privy to unacceptable behavior and language from fellow passengers. Most, IMO ,want a pleasant,safe experience for their vacation. Given the present times where people seem to have little regard for others and only consider their own pleasures, it may be time for various cruise lines to reconsider their policies and adjust them so that the majority of the passengers can have an enjoyable experience on the cruises that they offer. All of this is my opinion and outlook. My DH and I began cruising in 1987. We have seen many changes in the cruise product. Some changes for the better,some not so much. MJ

@aring75 Thank you for your responses. I noticed that I addressed my post to the wrong user name,but you answered anyway ! Good to know that the trolley route showed a safe and clean city. Wishing you continued good days of your vacation. MJ👩🏻

@jjtt Just curious. There didn’t seem to be many people in your photos. Was Boston quiet given the long holiday weekend where people may have been out of town? Did you notice many homeless people in Boston? Enjoy the rest of your cruise. I would be interested in what you have planned for Portland. We have a niece who lives there. Thank you. MJ👩🏻

@DaniDanielle Thank you for thinking of us. We had torrential rain late last night with thunder and lightning. All I could think of was our porch and deck railing were getting a good rinsing ! No damage in our area , but I heard some areas on the South Fork (Hamptons) were affected. Possibly because it is located near the ocean. A beautiful day is forecasted for tomorrow-lower temps and low humidity ! @h20skibum Thank you for acknowledging the time,talent and funds that teachers invest in making their classrooms welcoming and comfortable places for their students. This effort is not only part of opening day preparation,but it is something teachers continue to do throughout the school year. I am retired from the field for 12 years now, but I do fondly remember many days of past Augusts getting ready for the school year ahead. I wish your daughter a pleasant,fufilling school year. MJ👩🏻

@travelbugforever I echo the posts about not taking the excursion to Disneyworld. Having a four year old travel on a bus for an hour plus drive is not ideal, unless the child takes a nap on the drive. Going from one hotel to the other by way of the monorail may not be in the interest of the 4year old also. I think that the best plan is to stay on the ship and enjoy the activities there without the crowds. Less hassle and more comfort for your family. If your daughter feels that it is best to get off the ship at Port Canaveral, a trip to the beach would be a good plan. MJ

@mikjr After reading your posts, I am thinking that the focus of this cruise for you is a family vacation rather than what the Navigator offers you. The ship has a lot to offer young families.Most likely, that is why your son and DIL chose it for a vacation. If it was me, I would let them do the planning for restaurants and shows etc. Just go along with their plan. I also agree that the grandchildren get registered for the kids’club(s). You can spend time with them,of course, but they may enjoy the activities of the clubs and you can enjoy some time at the Solarium or activities of your choosing on your own time. I would look at it this way- the cruise is 4days. If it is not to your liking, 4days is not a long time to deal with it. If it is a positive experience, you may want to book another longer RCL cruise for a future vacation. Most important is that you spend time with your son and his family. Hoping good memories are made for all on this vacation. MJ

@harryfat1 Thank you for your reply. As to our return to the City, I meant as a visitor. We used to stay one or two days at the Hilton or the Warwick hotel on 6th Ave or The Fitzpatrick near Grand Central Station on E44th Street and go to museums, Central Park, see a Broadway show etc. We have lived on the Eastern End of LI for forty years and appreciate the quiet lifestyle surrounded by vineyards,beaches and farms. So we would never relocate to the NYC metro area. I was pleased to read that you felt safe in NYC . I have always enjoyed the City since I was a little girl when my mother would take me in on the subway for shopping, lunches and shows at Radio City Music Hall. Maybe, someday, we will return as visitors to a place we once enjoyed so much. Also-regarding the TWA hotel- It is located next to the terminal for Jet Blue. If you should fly to JFK on Jet Blue, the hotel would be an easy walk away. MJ

@harryfat1 I have enjoyed reading your posts and looking at your photos of NYC. You certainly covered a lot of ground during your visit. Your planning for the trip certainly paid off. As a NYC native-actually from Forest Hills, Queens- I appreciated the photos that showed the City in a good way. I now live on Eastern LI, but my husband and I have made many frequent trips to the City over the years. We stopped going in because of Covid and then reports that the City was no longer in the state that we previously knew. My question for you is, did you encounter homeless living in the streets and did you ever feel unsafe in any area when you traveled about at different hours of the day and night? I am asking this because we would like to return to the City , but we are cautious based on reports both from the media and friends who have had to make trips into the City recently. Thank you for your very interesting review and an answer to my question. Wishing you and your family good days! MJ

@DaniDanielle My heart goes out to your granddaughter. Hoping the Drs can give her treatment to relieve her symptoms and that she will start feeling better very soon. MJj🙋🏻‍♀️

Maybe your grandkids have a good idea. Next time, enjoy a 7 day cruise with them and skip Disneyworld. Certainly more relaxing for all. Has your California grandson been to Disneyland ? Not sure if that park is easier to navigate or if the dining and rides reservation system applies to Disneyland also. With all your effort to plan the Disneyworld visit,I hope you all enjoy your time there. Looking forward to your posts and photos of your time at Mickeyland! MJ🙋🏻‍♀️

My DH and I were talking about our honeymoon trip to Bermuda in 1983 this morning. We enjoyed that visit so much, we vacationed there 13 times with our last visit on a Celebrity cruise in June of 2023 for our 40th anniversary. We took cruises to Bermuda and also had resort stays at the Elbow Beach hotel and the Southampton Princess-the big pink hotel up on the hill. We felt that Bermuda was our secind home. We also used busses and the ferries to get around the islands that make up Bermuda and agree with others posting here that it is a great way to see the various neighborhoods, sites and water views. At the Dockyard, there are usually a line of cabs available to take you to destinations or to offer sightseeing tours. We have always found the cab drivers to be professional and friendly with clean, comfortable cabs-usually van type vehicles. Over the past 40 years, we have noticed changes-some hotels , shops and restaurants that were there when we first visited are gone or have changed ownership/management. We always enjoyed shopping in Hamilton at Trimingham’s store and having tea and scones in their upstairs cafe. We purchased some fine linens at the Irish Linen Shop and some decorative housewares at Bluck’s. All those stores are gone now, replaced with financial companies. What hasn’t changed are the beautiful beaches, turquoise water and stunning views. MJ🙋🏻‍♀️