Twinkstarr

Other than Cunard, most of the luxury lines have "country club casual" as a dress code. So it looks like even people who can afford those don't want to pack a tux or a gown either.

Thanks for taking the time to post your pictures and write a review. I've been considering a river cruise and am looking at the different lines.

Uniworld part of the puzzle in place!

I'd like to know how to find those $299/$399 Alaska cruises too. Living close to port we do Alaska frequently, and I am always looking for a deal. But even when I click on the lowest prices (around $649) it always ends up being way more. My "deal" this year is costing us around $900 each and I'm happy with that.

I didn't price out HAL, but did price out Star Princess 5/11 Glacier Bay RT out of Seattle for a solo. Inside cabin with insurance/port fees taxes came out to around $700(mid ship on a middle deck).

If we haven't had such a long winter here in Ohio(sick of wearing my winter coat well into April) I would have gone, just tired of cold weather at this point.

There really seem to be two issues here. The dress code is one. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the dress code.

 

The other issue -- and the one that is rubbing some people the wrong way -- are the rants by a select few who seem to have a serious case of superiority complex. Listening to Rotterdam's ramblings, you can help but sense his frustration with the fact that HAL no longer prices itself so that only those he deems of sufficiently high estate can ever afford to cruise. For him, and a select few others, there seems to be a significant ego boost that comes from having what other people can't have -- and it annoys them when "commoners" are able to share in some of the amenities that used to make them feel exclusive.

 

A truly dignified person doesn't have to make others feel inferior to enjoy themselves. Decent people enjoy it when others get to experience amazing things -- rather than needing the exclusivity so that they feel important.

 

I sincerely hope they take their fragile egos to another cruise line. I would rather cruise with nice people -- of any social class -- that boorish people -- of any social class.

Thank you.

And yes I am one of those people, who wait until there is a sale and book those inside cabins(since I sail solo, DH & kids not really interested in cruises).

To be honest I look at HAL, post-final payment there are some good deals to be had, even for a solo. Then I get on this board :eek: and then go look at what Princess/NCL has available for my timeframe.

I also don't know why they put that, unless they think it's necessary in order to keep their options open. I've sailed from both Manhattan and Brooklyn, and Brooklyn is sooooo much easier (once you find it).

 

That being said, 2 years ago we outran Irene to get back to Brooklyn and last year I was on the "Sandy cruise" - both the Bermuda 4 day and following repo to Ft. Lauderdale. If I hadn't been booked on the repo, I probably would have driven myself to Brooklyn and left my car for the 4 days. I would have come back to no car. The parking lot is safe, but is prone to flooding, and with Sandy, the storm surge did amazing damage.

 

Why am I sailing on another fall cruise after the last 2? Heck it can't happen 3 times. Right? Plus I had the best cruise ever last year.

 

Maureen

I was on the CB 3 weeks after your Irene cruise. Heard all about it from a few of the crew members. Also remember her leaving early to try to out run Irene, saw her in the backround of a Jim Cantore report from Battery Park.

I was seriously condsidering the repo last year, but it was like 1-2 days too long to squeeze in, with a family trip to Disneyland coming up(already had the plane tickets booked for that trip).

I thought the disembarkation was very easy at Brooklyn(though had my sister who managed to get lost while I went for the bags). I have heard stories about Manhattan, have a friend on the 1st Breakaway sailing. She said it is very congested getting off one of NCL's Jewel class ships. Will be waiting for a report when she gets back.

My Cruise Personalizer says:

"09/14/13 New York City (Manhattan Or Brooklyn), New York"

 

The "New York Cruise" schedule web site has my ship, Carribean Princess, at the Brooklyn terminal on Sept 14.

 

http://www.nycruise.com/schedule/

I don't know why Princess lists both, we sailed out of Brooklyn 2 yrs ago. Only time I remember the CB going into Manhattan was last yr due to Sandy damage at Brooklyn.

In Fall 2013, the Caribbean Princess arrives in Brooklyn on Saturday, 9/14, and is doing 7 day cruises to Canada/New England round trip from Brooklyn befoer repositioning to Houston on 10/26.

 

The Emerald Primcess arrives in Brooklyn on Thursday, 9/26, and is doing three 10 day cruises one way to/from Brooklyn to/from Quebec City then repositioning to Florida from Quebec. These two ships have done these routes for the past few years.

 

In 2014, the Caribbean will be Florida in the fall and the Emerald in Europe repositioning to Fort Lauderdale in October. So it doesn't look like either of those will be doing fall cruises from the NY area next year.

 

However, the Ruby arrives in NYC on Monday, 9/22/14 and the Royal arrives on Saturday, 9/27/14. No further cruises are shown for either ship yet.

 

I speculate (because that's what these boards are good for) that these 2 ships will be doing the fall cruises out of NYC next year. Based on the days of the week that the ships arrive in NY, I think the Ruby will be doing the 10 day one way to Quebec and the Royal wil be doing the 7 day round trips.

 

I won my bet yesterday that RCI's Quantum would be coming to Cape Liberty, so I'm hoping to get lucky with the Royal Princess for next year.

I came to the same conclusion with the Ruby and the Royal also. Be still my heart if the Royal is doing the 7 day, because I will be on it. Loved that itinerary when I sailed on the CB 2 yrs ago.

Also a little more info, Shogun mentioned the itineraries should be out around May 21st.

While I would love to sail out of the Manhattan terminal, I have heard it is a mess getting off the ship. Can't imagine what it will be like going on the Breakaway(will have info as a friend is sailing on the inagural Bermuda trip). It was pretty easy on/off over in Brooklyn, but we did have to contend with a street fair the day we sailed.

Should have skipped the turkey and had a steak instead.

When we travel at Thanksgiving, my kids and husband never order the "traditional turkey" dinner. They go with anything else because the turkey will never taste as good as mine. We were home for T-giving last yr for the 1st time since 2006. Kind of fun to cook again, but I smoked a couple of turkey breasts instead of roasting a whole bird.

Ruby Princess 7 day Eastern Caribben cruise departing FLL 12/2 inside cabin is $798 for a single.

Sailed on the Nordic Prince back in 1981, 14 day Caribbean cruise out of Miami. Travelled with my mom and sister. The upgrade fairy appeared at check in. Asked if we would mind switching to 2 connecting cabins(same deck as the one we had booked), didn't take a split second to say yes.

I hate child haters who go on cruises in school holidays, to child friendly places on child friendly ships... And I also hate flying with an infant that I can't stop crying and people look at me like I'm doing this on purpose... That is actually making me consider investing in a netjet card...

 

BnBx

I've got a friend who goes to WDW in August and complains about all the loud children at the pool and it was a terrible trip.

Then goes on a DCL cruise in late May, complains about kids. I tell her to try another line and go off season. What does she do? Books DCL to the Med in August. :eek:

She's on the ship this week and the whole family can't wait to hear the "drama" trip report from her.

 

If you are interested, I have a blogger "friend" who rented a lovely gold gown for her 3rd anniversary celebration at the Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios (she throws the best anniversary parties - the queen of private events at Disney World!). She has written a review on the experience: http://disneytravelbabble.com/disney-weddings/our-wedding/tot-anniversary-party/comment-page-1/

OMG, you know Lurky too! I remember when she got married, some of her wedding ceremony pictures are used by Disney Weddings on their website.

She clued me into Alamo online check in, love it!

I was on the road to DVC Vero Beach at spring break 20 minutes after I landed(we don't do checked bags).