2chiefs

31 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

Thank you for your updates and prospective - keep up the great work!!!!!

 

The US is in an ideological divide and lots of skepticism on both sides...............and in some instances growing further apart.

 

I hope to meet you on a cruise ship SOON and personally say THANK YOU!!!!! 

Ditto what the Wizard said to the Dude.....

13 hours ago, yogimax said:

Doesn't compare to a dedicated lounge to sit, relax, meet new friends, enjoy.

 

Then add the unlimited snacks, cappuccino and drinks... no way 4 anytime drinks compares

Agree

17 hours ago, Ashland said:

If the lounges aren't open..I'll miss the happy hour snacks...one/two drinks in the lounge is enough for me.

I would also miss the camaraderie with other frequent cruisers as well but I'm sure we'll meet friends elsewhere though.

11 minutes ago, cruise wizard said:

 

Another year..............Oh God I hope not!!!!!!

Agreed

If I have to wait yet another year, I'll have a new passion by then and probably not cruise...

We tried the promenade cabin a few times in the beginning when Voyager class first came out. We liked it a lot until one cruise where they had late late night parties on the promenade which we could hear easily in the room when we were trying to sleep. We don't book them any more but I think they are nice rooms at a reasonable price. If you're the stay up late type, then go for it.

By the way, we don't value balconies like many folks do. We go on a cruise and only use the cabin for showering and sleeping etc... We can sit alone with each other at home. The ocean view (to us) is just looking at water for miles & miles...  LOL. (Maybe the fact that we are both retired US Navy might have some bearing)....

16 hours ago, Tom47 said:

<<<SNIP>>>  The CDC makes its decision based on science, not profit. <<<SNIP>>>

REALLY???

(CDC= Can't Do Crap)

15 hours ago, gmerick said:

This epidemic has reached the manageable stage.  We know how to proactively prevent it through vaccines.  We know how to cure it with existing medicines.  We know how to prevent transmission through filtration, sanitation, and distance.  Yes, some vulnerable individuals will be very adversely affected if exposed to the virus, but that holds true for many even worse diseases common to shipboard travel.

Please don't forbid me from traveling; my health concerns have been addressed, and I'm ready, willing and able to take a cruise.  It may not be right for you, due to your health concerns, so please stay safely home.  I have already made my choices regarding disease prevention.  My daily life may involve more exposure than is appropriate for you.  That exposure will not be increased by my vacation plans, even if those plans include cruising.  

Please continue to maintain your own level of safety by distance, sanitation, and filtration in a manner consistent with your health needs.  Be aware that those around you, even if they have not yet chosen to be cruise passengers, are accepting far more exposure than is appropriate for you to accept.  

We each will get on with life as is appropriate to our own situation. 

Please don't mandate your own choices on your neighbors.  

Very well written - Thanks

On 4/2/2021 at 9:06 AM, billf0401 said:

 A mask requirement is a NO Go for us....we have 2 upcoming cruises in Oct, 21 and Jan 22...if a mask is required we will cancel

ditto

41 minutes ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Was always a big fan of traditional dinner.

 

But after multiple times eating practically alone at an 8 top, We gave up on it

Yeah, that's happened to us several times as well. When we've tried to switch tables, they would balk at switching us. We were going to give up on it but we kept it up figuring if no one showed up, we'd simply walk up to MTD.

Lately though, we haven't had that problem. I'm wondering if it's because more of those people that would normally not show up have actually booked MTD instead?

Also, to your point, a lot of people like to spend extra for the specialty dining, so that affects it too. That being the case, even with an 8-top, some nights are 4 or 6 due to people taking nights off for specialty dining.

Also, for lunches, we always ask for a large table so we can meet other people. It's fun and it's a different group everyday.

A little story: We recently attended a Bluegrass Festival at Jekyll Island, GA. We waited in a long line to get into a restaurant one evening and when we finally got seated, they put us at a table for four. Since the line was so long, in the spirit of cruising, we told the waitress that if there was another couple in line that didn't mind sitting with us, they would be welcome. They sat a very thankful couple with us and we quickly became friends...

FWIW

We still like traditional dining and always choose late dining.We book and enjoy a large table and getting to know the friends we eat with every night. Lately, we've noticed less Americans at traditional dining vs Europeans. Not sure if this is an accurate observation but my take is that more Europeans enjoy the traditional dining.

On 12/25/2020 at 8:00 PM, ShmuelCharlie said:

I thought that the Baked Alaska parade had stopped because one woman's blue hair caught on fire from the sparklers atop the cake, and the cruise line whose ship had seen that situation happen wanted to avoid liability suits. I don't miss the parade that much, even though some of it was amusing when the servers wore gorilla costumes to dance w/the pax. Nowadays, I prefer doing the Macarena during the parade of chefs and servers on the second formal night of the sailing. That's fun! 

LOL about the blue hair fire....  More likely due to sprinkler requirement....

No more open flames (IE: Bananas Foster, Cherries Jubilee, flaming babalu etc... (What were they thinking?)

3 hours ago, LuCruise said:

<<SNIP>>

Having said that, going forward, until this coronavirus is behind us and zero chance of being quarantined, we will only book some form of a balcony (e.g. one of our bookings is a central park balcony).

The CP is almost as low as the inside with the Diamond discount. Great value!!

18 minutes ago, Cruise a holic said:

We would never consider an inside cabin.  While some people think-oh we only sleep and shower in the cabin, We do more- we enjoy breakfast on the balcony- sitting reading and enjoying the sea view from our peaceful private space.  It is worth the price difference for us.  Can you imagine being quarantined in an inside cabin for days?  Never previously a thought, but we know it can happen.  

 

I guess if you are a college student, on a very limited budget and that is the only way you can cruise- you must.

You don't have to be a college student to be on a limited budget! 🙂 

We've cruised inside cabins before when the price difference was quite high but due to Covid, we will no longer consider them.

18 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

Me too.  😉 

 

BTW..."Sea" you on board 12/5/21...we are also doing a B2B as usual, but have picked 11/29 and 12/5/21.  We sort of "meet you in the middle.".  🙂 

I guess I should read all the posts first... I responded to your earlier one before this one. Yes, hope to meet up with you on the 12-5-21 cruise!

19 minutes ago, island lady said:

 

 

Tried the NYE cruise once, while the fireworks outside of Nassau were great, and it was very festive, there were just too many extremely drunk young adults partying way too much.  Found them passed out in places, puking, doing "the naughty" in various places on deck.  Ugg...maybe if I was 30 years younger...but definitely not for me.  

 

Agree totally with you...2-3 weeks before Christmas is our deal.  Have been doing it that way as our "Christmas present" to ourselves for many years now.  Unfortunately, the B2B we had booked on Harmony went bye-bye this year...as it did for all of us.  😞 

We were booked on the same B2B on Harmony. We've shifted them to 2021. Maybe we'll see you there?

BTW, I think we've cruised together before.

T

This is the present we put under "our" tree! (A cruise ship!!)

1 hour ago, island lady said:

No.  

 

IMHO...Overpriced with masses of ignored and uncontrolled noisy children running wild.  😮 

 

OK...flame suit is on...fire away.  😄 

 

Cruising about 2-3 weeks before, is our choice.  Still get to see the decorations, and enjoy the festive atmosphere....without the....   😉 

No flames from us!!!

We always cruise the two weeks prior to Christmas and enjoy watching all the decorations being put in place. The atmosphere is festive and a lot of fun. We did a cruise once over Christmas and while it was fun, there were just too many kids running around for our tastes. I think a Christmas cruise is more suited to family cruising verses couple cruising. We've never tried New Years.

Our Christmas present to our selves is usually a B2B just before Christmas every year.

T

1 hour ago, Charles4515 said:

They have a limited menu of burgers, chicken sandwich, hot dogs, pretty good French fries. A few salads. 
 

CocoCay is much improved since they put in the dock. The other restaurants are not bad, they are better than those at Labadee. They also have their own beer at CocoCay and it is not bad at all.  

Thanks. I'll have to try the beer!

19 hours ago, Charles4515 said:

I spend most of the day off the ship because I am a beach person. I do Caribbean cruises in large part for the beaches. I like the ships but prefer the sea days for the ship experience. Labadee is a pretty good beach experience if you go to Columbus Cove, Nellies or are in a suite and have access to Barefoot Beach. (avoid Adrenaline beach) The picnic food is brought from the ship and ok for that kind of food. They should put in Snack Shacks like they have put in at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Much better and the food is not served out in the open. 

We've never been to CocoCay. The one time we were to go there (before they put in the dock), there were so many ships there and the weather and seas were rough so we ended up staying on board.

So what do they serve at the snack shacks?

Thanks

T

On 12/10/2020 at 5:12 PM, sfaaa said:

Besides COVID 19, Haiti also has other health and sanitation issues like cholera and zika. The Labedee BBQ area was full of black flies and didn't look very clean. I skipped the salad bar and dessert station. Only took freshly cook BBQ meat straight off the grill. One has to be a risk taker to venture out the gated area.

Agree with other posters about this being simply a beach break. We no longer get off the ship at Labadee and enjoy the ship instead. The whirlpool in the Solarium is our favorite spot to have a couple beers and enjoy the day. Also, lunch on board beats anything they try to cook on the beach.

23 hours ago, Ocean Boy said:

Not likely. I have no idea how they pulled that number out of their butts.

Seems to be a lot of rectal plucking these days.

2014 Adventure OTS

2012 Mariner

2009 Serenade before they took the observation window over the Centrum away

2009 Serenade