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1 hour ago, Eli_6 said:

I am seriously contemplating sending him to the Kid's Club and going to the Chef's table.  Plus, I am pretty sure they would give me a cake at the Chef's Table because I have seen them do it for others...and it looked better than the one you order through the Fun Shops.

This sounds like a great plan.

@KmomChicago I run cold, always, so my tips on what to take might not be helpful but things I was grateful for on our Quantum cruise last month are:

1. A light jean jacket to wear over every outfit

2. Black boots which went with most everything I wore so added extra protection against drafts.

3. Two hoodies

4. Spanx faux leather leggings which I wear with a hoodie for day and glitzy top at night.  Easy, easy outfits which were warm AND they worked with the boots.  

What I wish I'd brought:

1. My cruising pajamas instead of beach cover-ups.  On warmer cruises I take t-shirt type cover-ups to sleep in and was on auto pilot when I packed so went with those.  My sleep cover-ups aren't worn outside of the room, they're in case I order early morning room service and want to appear fully dressed before opening the door. Would have much preferred my long sleeve, full length pajamas this time.

2. Fuzzy slipper type socks to wear in the cabin and to bed.  I should have brought 10 pairs, one for every night...didn't bring one 😞

DH laughed at me when I packed the jean jacket but apologized after I received several compliments from other women who obviously run cold like me. 

Yay, I've been looking forward to this.

3 minutes ago, Daruma said:

 

Thank you. 

 

Haven't been to any of them yet... so a problem for my next round of cruises, lol. 

 

My current Itineraries, across Virgin, NCL, and Carnival, from 9/24 - 3/26, take me to:

 

Nassau, (a couple of times)

Celebration Key

Bimini, (a couple of times... once to Virgin's private beach club) 

Cozumel 

Costa Maya 

Roatan

 

So, I've got a ways to go before hitting everything Caribbean 🤣

One thing to consider is that a 7 day will most likely give you a newer, better maintained ship with more amenities. Our first cruise was a 4 day out of Long Beach on one of Carnival’s older ships. We had a good time but it wasn’t an experience I felt I needed to repeat. I did however want to take our son on a Disney cruise. At that time, 2003, they were only sailing out of Port Canaveral. No way we’re flying from Sacramento to Florida for a 3 or 4 day cruise on the Wonder. Took a 7 day on the DCL Magic and discovered I LOVED cruising! DCL isn’t my cruise line of choice any longer, I’m more a Princess or Cunard customer, but I’m thankful for that first 7 day cruise. 
I always tell people to do a 7 day over 3-5…better ship, ports, activities and a much better idea of what cruising is really like.

I love sea days. I’m a reader so love the uninterrupted time to immerse myself in good books. 

2 hours ago, kywildcatfanone said:

It's getting worse.  Multiple times this week and if you look their way, they get offended.  Princess needs to address it.  Ear buds should be the only way to listen to music or talk on your phone.

Princess definitely needs to address it. It doesn’t bother me to ask someone to use earbuds but I shouldn’t have to. It is beyond rude to expect others to listen to your music choices.

7 hours ago, KmomChicago said:

I will check if RCI has a shuttle but probably will Uber after things clear out a bit as we should have a little margin of time for a 2pm flight. I like leaving the ship with a little extra encouragement at the very end. 😂 Like after the announcements to debark start getting rude.

 

 

Just off Quantum at Vancouver, RC offered an airport shuttle for I think $25/pp.  They opened it up the 3rd or 4th day of a 10 day sailing.  Very easy and got to the airport in plenty of time for a noon flight that didn't leave until 3:30. 

Tip to the Tribe, do yourselves a favor and don't book with WestJet, airline of no communication.

I don't understand why bare feet are any worse than shoes?  His feet have most likely been washed in the last 24 hours while his shoes could be carrying traces of dog feces, urine from a public bathroom from three weeks ago, etc... 

I agree no feet on a table but I wouldn't want shoes on there either. Hopefully his feet have had a pedicure recently but that goes for anyone wearing shoes that show their feet.  

If you have the drink package they have energy drinks on board.  I "buy" a couple each day to start the next morning.

I reached out to Jen Wright earlier today and she handled the cancellation of my bookings promptly and professionally.  It is very unusual today to find the excellent customer service she demonstrated, it makes me even more of a Princess fan than I was.  

I didn't cancel because I thought the offers were unfair. I thought Princess handled a mistake...like all of us make...ethically.  For those that say Princess shouldn't have erred, Princess should this or that...let's give them some grace.  

4 minutes ago, TAW1963 said:

 but I saw the same zero fares when I logged in to my Princess account and let it list all cruises according to the fare price.  

How do you get it to list all cruises according to fare price?  I logged into my account but didn't see that option.  Thank-you.

Haven’t gotten the email on ths one yet but we booked inside guarantee. I checked and we still have the Plus package. I didn’t book this till Thursday morning so possible I’m late getting the email. 

13 hours ago, RRTcruiser said:

Just stepped off Mariner of the Seas…. In all honesty the food was at best like a “Golden Corral” quality.  While I have been loyal to Royal, I have to say mediocrity is where the bar is now set. For everyone still  defending Royal Caribbean’s downscaling of the food you either don’t remember the quality of the food 10 years ago or you are okay with substandard meals.The pendulum has shifted too far in one direction and In my opinion they will drive the people who support RCI the most away for good…. Squeeze us for every dollar now but remember we are shareholders too and vote with our wallets.

 

Good post.  We're just off Quantum and the food was just ok.  It looked good but no substance.  Margerine instead of butter, bread which tasted cheap, desserts which consisted of mostly gelatine, etc...Well, the oatmeal raisin cookies were good 🙂

They need to spend more money on the food.  I buy quality groceries at home, why would I want to vacation and spread margarine on bread?  Eat cheap ice cream?  Or cheese which is dry around the edges?  Don't get me started on the skimpy cream cheese on the bagels in the Windjammer or the green glop masquarading as guacamole.  How many times can they serve Spaghetti with Meat Sauce as a main in the MDR...many times it seems.

Just booked a 17 day Greenland and Canada on Emerald Princess.  Killer casino deal, $0 which included plus...obviously happy about that...especially since I never gamble 🙂 I dearly love a promenade deck so really looking forward to this.  Thanks to all who had positive things to say about this ship.

Just booked two cabins on Star 10/15/25, thank-you. We got standard but that is ok, great deal. Thank-you OP.

Glad to see this and I'll be paying close attention to your Havana text and pics.  Thank-you!

5 hours ago, Hillmom said:

Currently on the Sapphire Princess 24 days into 32. I'm a red wine drinker. Lest you  think Snooty red wine drinker, I'm talking grocery store and Trader Joes. The wine by the glass does not rise to that level. I guess this also applies if you're thinking you can order by the glass without the package. 

  I'm not a big drinker so 15 drinks is ridiculous. There is a Zin at Vines that qualifies under plus, but it is only available there.  Also pours are (generally) VERY .... tight, stingy, small. Also you must arm wrestle for a decent wine glass.  Apparently guests steal them....sigh.

Now I am quite liking the coffees and waters Plus includes, and ymmv...but wine drinkers be advised. 

@Hillmom I’d class myself the same as you…non-snooty red wine drinker and I agree, the wines on the Plus Package on Sky last summer weren’t good. I don’t know why they can’t have something drinkable…a Decoy, Apothic Red, Kendall Jackson..all are inexpensive and much better than what’s offered. I should be able to have a decent glass of wine without paying extra.

Who steals a wine glass? What is the matter with people?

Thank-you so much @Bell Boy. That is exactly the information I needed.

Looking at an Alaska cruise on QE and really need connecting cabins. Have realized there are no interior connecting doors, hoping that balcony dividers can be opened to allow passage between cabins. Does anyone have experience with this situation?

I’ve always arrived day before a cruise and for 20 years that worked great for me. Given the state of flying I’m adding a day from now on to give myself a cushion. On a cruise now and at our departing airport someone maliciously cut lines which affected Southwest and Delta flights. An absolute disaster. I’d have been a basket case had I been flying either and only had that day. To me it’s not worth the chance anymore…all the anticipation joy is gone with stress.

I wouldn’t count on any port when booking with Norwegian. 

On 4/12/2024 at 6:47 PM, Colorado Beach Bum said:

We send out multiple bags every cruise and have never had any issues. Jeans, shorts, shirts, swimsuits, socks, underwear - basically anything that’s washer safe. 

I've never had a problem with sending out clothes that I'd wash on permapress at home.  Many people that I've seen using the laundryrooms on the ships would be much better off sending it out...3-4 loads crammed into a washer, all colors and types of clothing, then dried till the clothes look like little rags.  

@pirate4me2 great review, thank-you. I really want to try Havana but I’m so cheap…you’re pushing me to the dark side 🙂

40 minutes ago, MObeachbaby said:

I read somewhere that Cuban coffee is available at the Havana bar in the mornings. Do you know what that entails? Do they have a menu you can post?  If you like coffee and happen to order it I’d love to hear your impression. 

If you do a search for Carnival Havana bar menus you’ll see them. They include the coffee drinks 🙂

1 hour ago, ninjacat123 said:

Was the mini snickers part of the drink? Great pic with the glasses!!

I was wondering that too!