edspec

I don't see laundry either.

Does anyone have a set of post Covid Journeys Fun Times they'd be willing to share? I'm interested in what the sea days look like. I realize that there will be some specifics as to destination but looking for a general picture.

I'm 61 and frequently cruise w/ my DH and DS but even then there are certain activities I do by myself, such as Chef's Table, and certain things DH does on his own, like scuba diving. I've also saided w/ a friend, each in our own cabin and occasionally meeting up but not joined at the hip. I've also done several solos and those are great as well. You can do whatever, whenever you want, and be as social as you're comfortable being.

Try Cruise Plum. You can search all lines for price drops, solo rates, hot deals, and last minute deals.

July 9-16 Panorama, special needs https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2868286-july-9-16-panorama-special-needs/ https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2949609-sky-princess-june-17-july-1-with-autistic-adult/

My adult DS sounds very much like yours. He dearly loves to cruise and it is one of the things we can do as a family that we all enjoy, I hope it works that way for yours. We haven’t been on the Magic since 2011 so can’t speak to its condition now but it truly was a breathtaking ship, which you know. In your position I would go with the Magic over the Wish since there is a full promenade deck for walking, something my DS adores, and a longer cruise is always better in terms of other guests. We went on a four day Wonder many years ago and I was absolutely amazed at the difference in guests between that and those on the seven day or longer cruises. Never again. Make sure to contact special services at both Carnival and Disney. Both are excellent in providing accommodations…tbh Carnival was much better at this than Disney. I’ll add links to my Carnival and Princess cruises later today, they focus on traveling with adults with special needs.

@shipgeeks Can't you just explain that at this stage of life you don't need any more things, that you'd prefer experiences? I wouldn't say this after opening things, but perhaps as a casual remark several months ahead of the next occasion, with additional mentions about a friend's great gift from their children where the gift was a restaurant gift card, cruise gift card, etc...

Have fun!!

Great beginning Greg.

Yes, a Cheapo Dad trip report :):):) I'm looking at the 7 night Navigator so very interested to read what you have to say.

RCL will let you purchase just one drink package if there is a medical reason for the second passenger in a cabin. Also, the drink package might be $80/day on that cruise on one day, perhaps $55 the next day and perhaps $85 for another cruise. You buy and if you see a lower price you cancel and re-book. The package is generous with decent included wines, specialty coffees, and waters. They generally have a decent Black Friday sale which is nice. CCL has not in my experience allowed one person, even w/ a medical exemption to skip the drink package. It is a generous package with all of RCL's inclusions plus canned sodas and waters. I don't drink fountain soda so that isn't an inclusion to me, (NCL). Love that you can get sugar free energy drinks for the cabin.

This. I always check my bag with the porters but I do carry a small bag with prescriptions, an extra outfit, toiletries, and a book. I don't want to have to deal with it 3-4 hours after I've boarded, especially when I'm by myself. IRL I don't even carry a purse, have everything in my phone case. I'd forgotton the lack to TV programming. I don't watch a lot of TV even at home but I do enjoy having some movies and series available in case I feel like staying in my room. Just off Princess and their movie and series selection was excellent and free. Carnival also does a nice job on this, I look forward to watching TCM, HGTV, and FoodNetwork when I sail with them. I am booked on the Sun for a Spice Road cruise in March of 2025. Great Itinerary and a ship I really enjoyed but I'll cancel if they don't get this steward thing corrected. Celebrity and Virgin do the same cruise so not a biggie. The OP wanted good and bad, which will be different for all of us. Things which don't bother you bother me and vice versa. There is such a thing as respecting other's viewpoints even if you don't agree.

I didn’t say staff was lying in bed. I said the rooms weren’t being serviced in a timely manner. I think all of us are aware that ship staff work incredibly hard. Unfortunately if staff has been cut to bare bones inadequate service is what you get. I know some are unfazed by an unmade bed or piles of used towels but those things greatly impact my enjoyment of my cabin. No, I’m not making my own bed on vacation, I do that early every morning at home.

Great review @ceilidh1

I like NCL for their freestyle cruising and itineraries. Things to watch for: -if you're a wine drinker or like coffees, water, or soft drinks you will need to upgrade the drink package -new thing of cabins not ready till after 3 on the first day? No way. I have a 2025 cruise booked, hoped they've addressed this by then -taking entertainment options away....this is ongoing and again, hope they have it fixed by 2025. The product is not what it was pre-Covid or even after the re-start -housekeeping very late to get to cabins, deal breaker for my sister who sailed them once and will not book again due to this I really, really used to enjoy NCL but they need to get their act together on the housekeeping and entertainment.

The pizza is great on MSC. As long as you accept that there are many other nationalities on board, many with different conduct rules than those in America you’ll be fine. A friend sailed with them awhile back and was furious at what she took to be rude behavior. Everyone in the world doesn’t wait their turn…when we were stationed in Germany in the 80s one of the orientation teachers was giggling about our four way stop signs. She said they’d never work in Germany and that if we wanted to be waited on in a shop we couldn’t just stand meekly at the back. Print and have handy ALL package details and don’t make changes to your reservation close to the cruise. DH and I really liked MSC, it was like a trip to Italy and a cruise at the same time.

Thank-you for this. I've now spent an hour looking at floor plans at the various Margaritaville communities 🙂

I use Cruise Plum. Ok for me to post since it isn't a travel agency. They have a price drop section, solo deals, hot deals, and last minute deals. I've found excellent deals there in the past. You can search by cruise line, # of passengers, length of cruise, embarkation ports, etc...

The big box TA shows connecting cabins.

I use two computers and book simultaneously. It’s irritating that the Princess website doesn’t allow you to book two cabins at the same time, some other cruise line websites have this feature.

Fly first. The long flight after is a downer.

Thank-you for this. Have CB booked for next summer and your balanced reflection helped calm some of the jitters caused by recent threads.

The Carnival Cheers package is a good deal. Specialty coffees, energy drinks, and decent wine. Buy or don’t buy, it’s the best deal you’re going to get on any of the cruise lines.

The thermal suite is not coming out of the Observation Lounge. Cabins will take the extra space so those of you wanting to use the spa and Vibe will have more people to contend with. None of us are winning.

I really liked the Joy when I sailed on her in June of 2019 but not at all happy about the smaller Observation Lounge. That was such a great part of the ship and to make it smaller is just greedy. Yes, I know it was originally smaller but that is not how the North American cruiser was introduced to the ship.