PTMary

Not happening. Drinks are carefully monitored. Those "among us" who think they are getting better pours for slipping the barkeep a few bucks are suckers. The bar staff have to explain any deviations to the number of pours out of each bottle. If they played favorites for bribes they would get found out sooner than later, and pay the price for cheating the cruise line. This is such a well know policy in almost all bars, on land and at sea, that I find it cute that some people still think they are secretly beating the system.

Quite common, actually. We did an Asia cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong with an overnight at embarkation and another at disembarkation. We boarded the first day at the normal time, enjoyed exploring the ship, had dinner and saw a show, woke up the next morning after sleeping on the ship, had breakfast and took a ship's excursion on the 2nd day in Singapore (we could have just done our own). In Hong Kong, similar happened. We arrived in the morning on the next to last day, toured Hong Kong, slept on the ship that night while still at the dock, and disembarked for the airport on the last day the usual way. We also had an overnight in Bangkok. With a 3 hour drive there and back, we chose to hire a private guide who lead our tour through the city the first day, dropped us off at an upscale hotel on the main river for us to enjoy the night in a truly amazing city, and the next morning picked us up and showed us around more of the area and dropped us off at the ship. Three overnights on one 14 day cruise. It was the best cruise we've ever taken!

I haven't seen the "official" announcement myself, but there are several cruise news web sites and blogs that have received the announcement and reported on it. Too many different sources with the exact same information to discount it as a rumor.

When we visited Mykonos several years ago our itinerary was listed on our daily newsletter as a tender port. We apparently got there earlier than expected and scored the dock space. The other cruise ship in port that day arrived about an hour later and had to tender in. Perhaps it's "first come first served" for the dock space? The dock was not in front of town, but close enough for a short walk.

That's only a lifeboat. It usually isn't used for tendering. Tender/lifeboat combos are typically used. Many of them have seating on the top. Here is a photo of one on Royal Princess showing the top and another on Regal Princess showing it with passengers on top. Notice the big rubber bumpers on the sides. The regular lifeboats don't have these since they would be lowered down with passengers already onboard rather than passengers boarding with the tender being held against the ship at water level when tendering.

Not a rumor. Princess has announced that the prices will go up on Feb 20.

Makes no difference if their clothes are "well tailored" or not. If they are comfortable, that is what counts. I have occasionally opted for so-called tailored clothes. They have never been as comfortable as an old pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt, no matter how much they cost. Some of us don't have a craving to impress others.

Isn't it their choice what is comfortable? I would think they know better than anyone else what is comfortable to them.

There have been many, many comments on what people have actually experienced, both as to what they themselves wear and what they observed others wearing. I would consider that "facts" and not opinions.

My guess is that it was easier to hold that table every night than to try to locate a table for 12 in a timely manner. I would think there are few of those available at all times.

Casino revenue went UP after Celebrity banned smoking in their casinos. How do you explain that inconvenient truth?

So, bribing to get to the front of the line, huh?

It's in the results of the poll. Right there! At the top of the thread. Go look for yourself!

Or, just budget to have the laundry sent out, just like budgeting for the cruise, the excursions, specialty dining, souvenirs and gifts, etc. When I am on vacation, I will NOT being doing chores that I do at home.

Not true. If the smokers leave, non-smokers will rush in to fill their seats. Celebrity's long term commitment to non-smoking casinos has seen increased casino revenues. How do you explain that???

And it is a reasonable expectation that you traditionalists learn to live with reality instead of in the past. No amount of longing for what used to be will bring it back.

Lack of courage.

This is a dinner in a restaurant, not a grand gala, a wedding or even a party. Your examples are entirely irrelevant to the issue. I still don't understand why you can't enjoy dressing up for YOURSELF and why you continue to demand that everyone else dress up to satisfy your idea of a GRAND GALA. That makes no sense to me - and I do dress up! Why can't you respect those who don't want to dress up the way you want them to? Why is it only everyone else who is disrespecting you?

Celebrity doesn't have a problem with a complete ban. It's been that way for many years.

No. An outright ban is the best solution for the majority of passengers.

Yeah, but you have to subject yourself to the inferior iPhone to get the better reviewed app in this one case. In our house we have both Android and iPhones. The iPhone causes so many more issues than the Android that having one is starting to look like a bad idea. We have had to visit the iPhone store several time to fix an issue, while the Android device just keeps chugging along with barely any attention needed. Unfortunately, I have the iPhone and my DH's Samsung runs circles around it without even trying.

If we go on the rare extended vacation, I simply make two months worth of payments on the last bill I pay on all monthly reoccurring accounts before we leave. Instead of needing an internet connection to pay bills while away from home, I simply plan ahead like any responsible money manager would. Besides, our home is paid off, so we have no mortgage, and we pay cash when we purchase new vehicles, so we have no auto loans either. We have no large bills to deal with while we are away. Easy peasy.

Thank you for your lecture. I always enjoy them. When is your next lecture scheduled? I don't want to miss it.

Same with DH and I. We grew up not being tethered to the instant gratification the modern smartphone provides. So we can relax with a good book, an enjoyable conversation with friends, or just watching the ocean pass by our balcony. We don't need to stay in constant contact with people back home, or be instantly notified of which celebrity's marriage is breaking up, or be able to share our thoughts with everyone the instant we have them, or get the latest TicTok brain cell attack. We are perfectly content with enjoying life that surround us at the moment by actually noticing it.

You only got upset because you thought that comment - which you reported and had removed - was about you. Most of us here recognized it as a general comment about people who live in a perpetual state of anxiety over being watched by "Big Brother". That you instantly believed that it was directed at you says much more about you than about the poster or anyone else here.