Traveling Fools

With one exception, when we cruise (regardless of line) I wear a sports coat and pack slacks, button shirts, tie, and shoes to go with the ensemble. DW (a native German) packs evening wear she feels is appropriate for dinning out at a classy restaurant. Even with relaxed dress codes we have been know to pack formal wear. GS and GD LIKE to dress up for at least one diner per cruise and we don't discourage it. I know some fellow passengers may think we are showing off. We aren't, it is just who we are.

How about .23 during a gas war in 1970.

We returned in 2017 for a cruise around Japan, stop at Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and then on to Vancouver. We were able to reconnect with several of the friends we made. Things in Tokyo have really changed! The first neighborhood (Minato-ku) we lived in is completely gone and replaced with Roppongi Hills, a new city within Tokyo. It was bazar. The old night club district of Roppongi isn't the go to place it used to be. Never will forget that it cost me almost $50 for a bunch of grapes our first Thanksgiving there.

Lived and worked in Tokyo for 4-years. Enjoyed the Shinkansen trains. Just a word of advise...DO NOT leave the train to stretch your legs on the platform at any stop made by the train. You run the risk of being left behind. Saw it happen to a traveling companion. Osaka and Kyoto were my favorite places. People there have a different personality set than those who live in Tokyo....a much better sense of humor. The history in Kyoto is phenomenal and the city is easy to visit from any hotel near the main train station. The history of the island of Hokkaidō is also vey interesting. Hokkaidō is where many of the displaced Samurai relocated in the 1860s. Western influence throughout the Island is pronounced, in part because one of the persons responsible for laying out the Island for habitation and agriculture was an American. Hokkaidō was also untouched by Allied bombings during WWII. For my money the best time to visit Hokkaidō is in the winter.

Years ago we were considering booking a Polynesia cruise on the Paul Gaugin, but decided against it because of poor reviews. Last fall, before a NCL "Spirit" cruise of Polynesia, I went diving 2-days in Tahiti. Some of my dive partners were from a HAL ship, two of whom were frequent travelers/cruisers to Polynesia. They couldn't stop raving about the PG. When I mentioned my research into the PG, they informed about the change of ownership and how they consider the PG to be nothing short of a 5 star experience.

We consider both statements to be spot on. We live on the east cost and several years ago began to take our youngest two grandchildren on spring break cruises. Limited time and itineraries dictated Caribbean cruises, the majority of which now include a stop at a private island. Those stops are at a created playground and offer nothing of cultural value. When it is just the two of us cruising or doing a land based journey, we want something exotic worth taking extra time to get there and explore.

Excellent criteria! I would add: economy to scale expectations (thou that could fall under needs and wants..and just what are they?) Occasion or reason Just my opinion, anyone who thinks a tier system of passengers does not exist on all lines are sailing in a fog. Class of suite on any line dictates level of service and attention received. And, oh by the way, what constitutes a suite? Size of stateroom? Amenities? Degree of Service? Why do you as a repeat to prolific cruiser chose to a cruise over a land based vacation? Are you just now beginning to notice what you consider a decline in value. Are you just now beginning to compare other cruise lines for what you get for what you pay? If so, why now? If not, why not?

While we have a tendency to favor X and NCL, we share this same philosophy.

True...the title of this thread was Alternatives to Celebrity. Regarding size of ship. That will soon become more and more relevant. Some ports are now beginning and I feel many more in the future will begin to limit the size of cruise ships which in the past have been permitted to dock/tender at their port.

I can assure that you will enjoy the Haven

Happy birthday to him and congratulations on your weight loss. I quit drinking 5-years ago and lost over 20 lbs. The only time I imbibe now are on very special occasions I'll have a glass of champagne and when cruising. Other times I don't miss it, don't need it.

Only child in your party....he should be fine. Our GD really enjoyed until her younger brother got old enough to join the club. They are very close and disliked be unable to be with one another (age group rules were strictly enforced). From that point on it became such a chore to get them to go we just stopped trying.

Gary, I use to do this all the time, but stopped when DW and I observed the level of service we had tipped for was below sub-par. During the hello I'm your Butler meet and greet, generally in the suite, I front a $50 bill and let them know more is to come. That way I know they know I'm aware they are not in the tipping pool and future service, or lack thereof, will dictate the final tip. I generally do the same thing with the concierge. Pre-cruise, I dispatch an email to the on-line concierge with letters addressed to both the on board concierge and our butler. Those letters contain verbiage similar to what you use. I have found them to be real ice breakers. On ships without a Haven Proper, but with a pre-boarding holding area for suite passengers, we have actually been met port side by the concierge who confirmed receipt of the letters and made assurances they were there to help out anyway they could. Most notable was our 40th anniversary cruise aboard the Star. My letter noted that it was a 40th anniversary cruise, provided the date of our anniversary, and that I was requesting reservations for the Chef's Table Dinner. All was taken care of. When we boarded I took the concierge to one side and gave him our wedding rings. They aren't a solid band of gold and had strands that had broken making them snag magnets. For that reason we rarely wore them. I snuck them out of the house and had them repaired. On boarding our cruise, I slipped them to the concierge and asked that they be presented during our Chef's Table Dinner. It all went off as planned and made it a very memorable evening. As a note, no one had made the Chef aware that it was our anniversary causing him some embarrassment. The next day, he delivered this chocolate sculpture to our suite.

No, crew members don't handle the luggage until it is put onboard. The people handling the luggage dockside are longshoremen or their foreign equivalent. I have never checked my cruise luggage and had it wheeled into a terminal. I have usually checked luggage dockside where it is placed into very large rectangular aluminum racks, some with a latch that closes and some that use a tarp to prevent bags from falling out of the rack. I have also boarded cruises overseas, where just like some airports our luggage was x-rayed in our presence and the presence of a line representative. We then had to carry it to from there to the dockside loader who placed into one of the large racks for loading aboard the ship. The racks are moved along side ship and loaded aboard. I do not know if luggage is x-rayed before or after it is loaded aboard. Regardless of when it happens someone from the ship or representing the line will be present during the x-ray process. They are there to confiscate items not permitted aboard.

There will be 6 of us in our group and this is what I'm thinking of doing. Any idea what is included in the rental?

Our January cruise is Caribbean. Stops at Great Stirrup, Falmouth (Jamaica), Georgetown, and Cozumel. It will be all new for DD and SIL. Falmouth and Georgetown will be new for the grandkids.

One of the funnest and funniest dance things we have done on a cruise was one where everybody participating wears headphones and dances to the music heard through them. The look on other shipmates' faces who don't know what is happening and only see a throng of people apparently dancing is priceless!

Our three groups are on the same cruise next year and are keen on your observations and review!

Took a 2012 Panama Canal Cruise departing from San Diego. Took our DD, SIL, and 2 year old GD on a honeymoon cruise. My brother joined us. All of our luggage was checked by the same porter and went onto the same luggage rack. One of my brother's bags never made and remains forever lost. X did very little to help him.

Having sailed in both configurations of the CS, we agree!

Starting booking this class of suite12 years ago. Took DD, SIL, and 2-yr old GD on a Panama Canal cruise out of San Diego and wanted the use the LR/DR for in suite dinning for the 4 of us and to have extra room for when GD want to sleepover. DW likes to book them because of my snoring and just to be able to chill out the comfort and privacy of our suite on sea days. When we starting taking the grands with us we felt the separate room with full dining size table was more a necessity than a luxury. Having in-suite breakfasts every morning really reduce the level of stress associated with getting everyone up and out to eat before beginning a busy day on shore. Because we tend to book longer cruises with more sea days, this has become the norm rather than the exception. Now that DW and I are pretty much back to sailing by ourselves our need for the extra space has dissipated. For no other reason than that, your review of your suite on your coming cruise will be interesting to read.

Ok here you go. After my Mom took all her kids and their spouses on an Alaskan cruise in 2008, I have wanted to do the same with my children and their families. Almost did it in 2020, but COVID forced cancelation of the cruise. Turned out just as well because our DIL decided, and ergo so did our son, that she doesn't like cruising. One of the challenges has been timing. Work and sport schedules have always gotten in the way. As has costs. Inflated prices for spring break, summer, and Christmas holiday cruises just didn't work out for me. About 6-weeks ago I decided to check what might be available this coming holiday season. Options were limited and prices were high. I then took note that our grandkids' holiday break began a week later than normal and started to research what was available after Christmas. Bingo, found a 7-night cruise aboard the Epic out of Port Canaveral with the Deluxe Owner's suite and adjoining 2-BR family suite available for what I consider to be a fantastic price for 6 passengers. The cruise departs Sunday, Jan 7th. The kids don't return to school until the 9th and have 1/2 day of school on the 12th and they have the 15th off. Bottom line, they will miss 2 1/2 days of school. But their Mom and Dad are OK with that. A real big perk associated with this cruise is that GS's BD is Dec 27th, GD's Jan 3rd, and DD Jan 12th. We will be able to enjoy a belated holiday and BD cruise and also be able to celebrate DD's birthday at sea. Such a deal!

Just looked at our Travel Agent's booking docs and compared the amount of OBC quoted on the booking against what is reflected on our Azamara website booking. Azamara credits us for some of the OBC, but not all. Will have to ask our TA to check into it and will keep you all posted.

Enjoy your cruise! I'll be monitoring your comments.

Been there done that. Have taken grandkids on many cruises and have traveled extensively with them without their parents. Best advise is to check all of NCL's boxes and arrive prepared. As a margin of safety, follow Canadian guidance regarding taking grandchildren unaccompanied by a parent into Canada. You are probably ahead of the game on this, but don't forget a notarized document giving you authority to have them treated medically both on and OFF the ship.