kefthecruiser

@J441 Wow, that just sounds so illegal for RCL to call it a tax when it is not. Tax is collected by governments, not companies. I assume they didn't explain why they set the price for wifi and then add more to it? And the money grabbing continues...

To my knowledge, I've never experienced this, but then how does one know? What a sick-o, it's just so sad this type of perversion has now infiltrated the cruise industry. But I guess the on board population reflects society as a whole. There was a recent article about an airbnb where a group of young ladies found cameras in the rentals bathroom outlet. Obviously the owner / pervert had more time to install that the cruise ship perpetrator. smh

How long is your cruise? It sounds like you're prepared for everything and packing for a month. So, either cut some of the redundancy or get more luggage. But then, I travel light.

Overheard recently in the MSC Seaside officers’ lounge…. CAPTAIN: Giovanni (ship food & beverage director) we have been sailing together such a long time…. When I talked about making a name for yourself, I didn’t mean to go low… Giovanni: O Capitano you have been so good to me… CAPTAIN: Yes, you’re right. But what I have to say comes from corporate – you must pack your bags and depart. Giovanni: (sobbing) please not that. CAPTAIN: Stop crying and be a man. You won’t be walking the plank, that ended when we stopped using sails. Now go and pack; and try cleaning up a little before you go. At least that’s what the crew member recalled. And if you believe that, then how about this MSC announcement relayed to me: To all our customers sailing the Seaside this week, she is a beautiful ship, no? So sorry for the poor cleanliness the CDC caught. To help you overlook our sloppiness, we will be discounting the daily gratuities 100 cents per day per person. Please enjoy your cruise. I swear a passenger reported this. Seriously, how did they get such a low score and were allowed to sail? That says as much about the CDC as it says about MSC.

@Actorguy I am afraid you are mistaken as this was in the Celebrity forum. If only you read two more messages down (from @Kendall James-Vargas), you would see the error of your ways. Hey, welcome to the forums and thanks. Perhaps read the whole thread before you comment?

I have not actually done this (b2b cruises; I have done the Hokey Pokey) but others have said you can stay on the ship; all needed changes are via Guest Services and if your cabin changes the .crew moves your bags. Also been told you can go sightseeing at the Port though I'm unsure how you do that. You don't want to follow the crowd disembarking. Enjoy!

You put your whole self in, You put your whole self out; You put your whole self in, And you shake it all about. You do the Hokey-Pokey, And you TURN YOURSELF AROUND. That´s what it´s all about. Or was there something more specific?

@3Sisters You have a nefarious mind! Are you related to Bernie Madoff? RCI brands seem to be the ones with the overbooking issues. It's just comes across to me as so amateurish that they can't keep track of inventory and right before the cruise it's oooo sheeeet gotta do something. I think RCI Corporate did an "Elon Musk" maneuver with their IT department to cut costs and now the reservations software is running amok. I doubt it's corporate strategy to overbook excessively, that borders on fraud.

Yep, fees, fees, and more fees; and lest we forget - lower quality to cut cost. It won't end until they turn a profit and can pay off their debt. (Not unique to Carnival, to use a pun - they're all in the same boat. couldn't resist, sorry)

Were you thinking they should get "the Ship on a Stick" award? If you read the Cruise Hive article, all your questions are addressed. https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-guests-banned-for-life-after-fishing-from-balcony/99326

@3Sisters Ha!!! caught me. I dunno about new episodes, I've only seen LMS in reruns. Or, he could do 'Tool Time' from 'Home Improvement'. He's probably too big a star for a cruise ship.... wishful thinking

I'm not sure this is the final answer, but I checked the Celebrity website. They show the Sept 1, 8, and 15, 2023 Solstice cruises all stopping at Skagway. The ship then heads to Hawaii. Where are you seeing the stop was removed?

@Cruising Caribbean Definitely a cruise I need to miss. It's just not a guy thing. Now, if they came out with "Last Man Standing" with Tim Allen... that would be my cruise

Per the airport website: FLL is reopening for airline operations at 9AM, Friday, April 14, 2023. Travelers should check with their airline for updated flight times BEFORE coming to the airport. Please view our social media for any ongoing updates. (7:48AM, 4/14/23) You should be good to go.

Short answer - NOPE, though they do refund port fees automatically to your onboard account. Longer answer is the cruise contract which you agreed to, but perhaps did not read (does anyone besides me?), gives them the ability to completely change / skip the cruise ports without any recourse to the passenger. I believe this is standard contract condition across all cruise lines. Well, at least you could make good use of the drink package.

@James Genteel For anyone with the tendencies you suggest, I recommend booking an Oceanview or Inside Cabin. Much shorter fall if you jump. I, for one, hope they don't turn a ship into a cage. Stay out of areas where you feel unsafe, the rest of us will enjoy the open views and wind in our faces.

@Cruising Caribbean As I recall (from 2016), there were no docks / piers in the area. The facilities the Allies installed after D Day were temporary and have either been removed, sunk or left to decay, certainly nothing usable. I remember the beaches as being relatively flat and barren (it was a cold, overcast day).

@Kendall James-Vargas Yes, American Cemetery sits on a cliff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. The Channel is visible in my second photo, easier to see on the right side.

Oh, forgot - while the men are at Home Depot (or Lowes) jockeying for plywood and generators, the women mob Costco, Walmart, etc for bottled water and yes - toilet paper. Amazing how quickly civilization can degenerate.

I'm guessing the logic is a curling iron can overheat and start a fire. Cruise lines are very sensitive to preventing onboard fires. Their ships, their rules. (Not saying I agree, but then I don't use curling irons.) One could speculate that perhaps they want you to use the spa ($$$) to have your hair styled, but now I'm just being cynical.

I remember the bus ride being long as the guide ran out of things to say. We went to the beaches first, local museums, and then the cemetery. Unfortunately it was a cold and overcast day. I think total excursion time was around 8 hrs. Google maps says it's 1 hr 45 min from Le Havre to American Cemetery. Rather far for a taxi. My excursion was through the cruise line, but I remember there were independent tours as well. I suppose one could rent a car (?).

@3Sisters I think hurricane season has always been 6/1 to 11/30. Typically the season doesn't get really active until August, so people just don't think about it until that first big storm, and then "Hunger Games" start at Home Depot with everyone trying to get plywood and generators. Not that I'm a big gambler, but I usually cruise in September - prices are down and the ships aren't packed. Kiddos are back in school. During Hurricane Ian, I was actually on a cruise that was sold as Western Caribbean but quickly became Eastern Caribbean!

And now for something completely different (bored with seaweed)….. a PSA: Per the National Hurricane Center: Every year, the Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1, and ends on November 30. The National Hurricane Center begins issuing its daily tropical outlook on May 15. AccuWeather projections indicate that the 2023 Atlantic season will be near the historical average with 11 to 15 named storms. Four to eight of those named storms are expected to reach hurricane strength, with one to three of those hurricanes achieving major hurricane status. A major hurricane is one that has maximum sustained winds of 111 mph or higher (CAT 3). Why yes, it does impact cruise ships, typically ships move soon enough and quickly enough to get out of the way. The season usually peaks around September. Anyone for a cruise?

I don’t have a specific answer for you on arranging a tour. You are so right about going to the American Cemetery and Normandy beaches. I was able to do that tour from Le Havre on my TA in 2016. I was awestruck and will always remember walking through the rows, one after another, of heroes who died for our freedom. It’s the NUMBER 1 port stop of all my cruises and I’ll never forget it.

Lest we forget, hurricane season is right around the corner. The Caribbean is just so unpredictable...almost scary!