3Sisters

@Grandma Oonut It sounds like Norwegian Viva wasn't your thing! I have actually heard good things about the ship but not the best things about its service onboard. The gratuities are pretty expensive nowadays, but I don't mind as long as they go directly to the crew members. I'm assuming you enjoy the cruise experience, but not the cruise prices. NCL is on the lower end as far as pricing goes, but that's not to say cruising is cheap. With the prices they away they are, would you prefer another type of vacation experience? For me, the prices are high but still worth it. I can't imagine another vacation style I would prefer more for the price. Which cruise lines do you prefer? You may be better off checking out other cruise lines that are notorious for better customer service like RCL and CCL. 

Holiday Markets are sea is a brilliant idea. I expect to see more of these on this year's Christmas cruises. I honestly don't know why it took so long for cruise lines to capitalize on the season of giving onboard. This is a great money-making strategy, and I do think more cruise lines will catch on. It's time cruise lines stay on trend with these things. It's even more fun that RCL chose to make it a pop-up! If anything at all, CCL will totally replicate this in 2024. 

You could try Icon of the Seas, the world's largest cruise ship. If you want something new and exciting, that could be the ship. I had high hopes that the ship would leave the Caribbean at some point but in fact I was incorrect. Icon of the Seas will be cruising in the Caribbean into 2026! I wonder when the ship will move on to different itineraries. For now, we can expect this massive ship to stay put for a few years. 

I was under the impression that P&O Cruises is quite reputable. I do know, however, that it is the guest's sole responsibility to have the proper documentation. I saw this mentioned in another thread, but it's better to book with a travel agent for international cruise itineraries. They are usually the most informative and helpful with obtaining all necessary travel documentation. Cruising isn't cheap, I would be pretty upset to be left in the dust like that. The changes of this recurring is pretty unlikely. I would imagine P&O Cruises learned its lesson. 

@FJB Now I want one! I love sweet rolls. I bet they are like heavenly Hawaiian rolls. The yeast rolls at Texas Roadhouse are by far my favorite. They melt in your mouth with the honey butter on top. They are divine! You and your daughter are true adventurers. If I saw a questionable ATV, there is no way I would be willing to drive it around unknown territory. This story goes to show you, don't judge an ATV by the cover. The fact that it got you all around the island is truly impressive. I will have to do Maho Beach the next time I stop there. Now that you and @island traveler recommend it, it must be a win!

@LukeJ Once you watch the video, it's hard to unsee it. How would you even catch a bite out of it? You would have to move your head in all sorts of directions to catch it. Can you imagine if you took a bite and it would actively move in your mouth? Just the thought of that is bugging me out. Do you think this new trend will make it onboard a cruise ship? I'm sure it's just a matter of time before it's offered onboard one of the expedition cruise lines. The sushi conveyor belt is adventurous enough for me!

@FJB I love that you know all the local stops! Now I need to know what Johnny Cake bread is. I haven't been to Maxine's either, but if it's on a public beach this stop could double as a dip in the ocean! I haven't been to Sint Marteen in a very long while. Have you been to the natural pool @island traveler mentioned? It sounds like a convenient stop.

@LukeJ I have seen this "dancing squid" video too. It's so disgusting to think about eating this!! It basically comes to life. This does not look appetizing to me. I totally dismissed the salmon roe and seaweed on top. The squid is like trying to attack you while reaching for the seaweed. This is a hard pass for me. It's very interesting, but I couldn't put that in my mouth.

@LukeJThat's right! I appreciate those kind words. The world can be such a cruel and cold place, especially on social media. Those sites can be so brutal. I stay off of many of the social media sites and tend to just have something negative to say about everyone. I'm so glad there are others out there that feel the same as you and me. I agree that Austria has more of a winterized scenery in my head. That's likely another reason why I told @FJB Australian instead of Austria! The photo of his daughter looked hot and sunny. Since I don't know about many places across the globe, I really only have the media and friend's experience to rely on. Now I am researching the current weather in Austria to become more knowledgeable about the area. In fact, this week's forecast seems pretty cold and rainy. I guess we share the same seasons. It's cold and snowy where I am in the US too! 

@LukeJ I love how courteous everyone is on the boards! To be honest, Austalia and Austia are spelled quite similarly, the catch is they are totally different places. I don't know much about Ausrian culture. I haven't heard anything much about their cuisine either. My friend just got back from her honeymoon in Australia and told me she had kangaroo wagyu, ox tail, ostrich, and venison while there. Apparently, all of it was amazing (and she's a chicken tender/mac and cheese type of girl). She also met Sir Richard Branson while there on a safari! She's a nurse in Florida and after a 3-week honeymoon in sheer luxury, she said this week has been a brutal adjustment. 

@RPC1954 I wish I was cruising on Carnival Vista this year! There are tons of cruisers on the boards that have sailed on this ship in the past. It's quite popular. Will this be your first time cruising on Carnival Vista? If you have any questions about the ship, you should post them here. I'm sure a past guest could answer those in detail. Amber Cove and San Juan are epic stops! I hope you enjoy your upcoming cruise. 

@Mavis Your cruise isn't very far out! Will you presumably be cruising out of Buenos Aires? Do you already have your hotel booked? I think the other terminal shouldn't be much of a difference in distance. That's such a headache, but I do expect NCL to reach out to you pretty soon to update those details. I'm sure taxis there are a dime a dozen too. Keep me posted once NCL confirms the changes with you. I would be pretty upset if the line waited until the last days to notify you of the changes. 

@Aquainst1 Did you receive this information for an upcoming itinerary? I always have such an issue with cruise lines and necessary documents. When you call cruise lines they always play devil's advocate and give you the runaround. I know it's not their job to know every location's exact details and travel requirements, but it would be nice if they gave some guidance. I always feel at a loss with visas and necessary documentation. For traveling in the Caribbean, my US passport has been good enough thankfully, but I wouldn't even know where to start with other countries' visa processes. Does your travel agent typically assist you with getting all of those documents taken care of ahead of time? I never use a travel agent and always book directly through the cruise website. 

I would love to take a cruise to the Mediterranean. Since you have been to the Mediterranean in the past, what are some areas you recommend not missing? There are so many ports of call to embark from; the options can be a bit overwhelming. I would prefer to fly into a region where I would enjoy a week before and possibly a week after a Mediterranean cruise. What time of year would you recommend cruising from this region? From Croatia and Italy to Greece, it's really hard to say where I would want to explore as a first-timer in Europe! I have friends who have visited Croatia and love it so much. It has always been my dream to explore Greece, but I can't imagine just going there when the surrounding areas are so amazing too! It's such a tough decision! 

@LukeJ Why do you think it is that people love larger ships so much? It almost seems like the more seasoned cruisers prefer the smaller ships and the newbies prefer the larger ships. Maybe it's because those newer to cruising cruise for the amenities versus the cruise culture/experience. I'm not looking for the loudest casino or the tallest adventure park. Many young families are attracted to these amenities, but I don't think those are the typical avid cruisers. It's interesting to see the new wave of cruise guests so enthralled with all of those new attractions. The customer service and culture of a ship are much more important to me than those newer additions like VR games. 

If you decide to go with HAL, you can take advantage of lower rates by booking the line's Wave Season rates. Starlink is now available onboard the entire fleet as an awesome perk too. You would likely be able to appreciate all the line has to offer if you traveled without the kids, but a family cruise is always nice too. HAL is also offering a stand-by service for guests to get even lower rates! This is actually the only line I have noticed that offers a stand-by service. I would be very intrigued to try it, but you would have to live near the port to make this process work. I wouldn't be willing to fly to the disembarkation port and run the risk I wouldn't be able to make it onboard. 

I have yet to use this digital disembark but the system sounds amazing. I'm all about saving time and energy. Being more efficient with disembarkation for a priority for every cruise line. The process, particularly for embarkation, can be super hectic, and there has to be a better way. The fact that this process doesn't cost any more money is even more amazing. I have a feeling everyone will have the opportunity to enjoy this "free perk" for a few months, and then the line will transition to having guests pay for the service. It's a way for the cruise line to hype up the service and allow guests to fall in love. Then, the guests fall in love with the process and are willing to pay to do it again. We will see if my theory proves correct in the coming months. 

@Lisa18 What did you end up doing for storing your luggage? I'm very interested to hear what options you found. For those who will be flying into Honolulu in the coming months, this could be a huge help not to have to take your luggage all around. I love the idea of the smart carte storage. I use the smart cartes all the time when I travel. It's a huge help when you have to lug around car seats too! Let me know what the outcome was!

@euroguy You are super flexible! I love that you seem to make the best out of every situation. I try to keep a positive attitude but it can be hard when the cruise feels completely ruined because you don't even stop at one port of call! I like the way you think about using the reimbursement for another itinerary. That's the perk of the situation. You are well on your way to being able to go on another cruise that will likely stop somewhere! 

@EllieC Were you on this same sailing? Hopefully, @Chvajcin has the paperwork you are looking for. This was such an awful way to end a cruise experience! I hope you are able to get reimbursed for all of these differences. I'm surprised you didn't keep a record of the reimbursement. I'm also surprised that the cruise line isn't following through with what it initially stated. How long have you been seeking reimbursement? Sometimes if you wait too long the cruise line may not honor what it initially stated due to the delay in reimbursement submission. 

@Julie L Hopefully more cruise ships get to stop at Hamilton Brisbane. I have seen cruise itineraries that stop there, and it sounds like a better alternative. Once the secret gets out, there is no turning back. Hidden gem ports of call grow in popularity quite quickly. Once word gets out, the locals are going to wish they never discovered their hidden gem! 

@RoadTravelled I cruise to nowhere would be a hard pass for me. That's basically a booze cruise in the making. I wonder if Carnival Venezia could have rerouted to another port of call. If I had to be trapped on a ship, at least this is a pretty great ship with lots to do. What other ports of call would the ship have been able to stop at anyhow? I wonder if Boston or Canada could have been arranged. At least the line compensated guests for the mishap. 

@RoadTravelled That sounds super strange! If you are paying for the gratuities ahead of time, it should show up as a line item on your receipt. I sometimes wonder how the cruise lines keep track of all of these minute details. The particular person who tended to you during your dining experience should receive those gratuities directly. It would feel odd to have the gratuities pooled or shared with the other waitstaff. I wouldn't want my tips to go to anyone else. I don't like that system and it should be more transparent. It would be better if you could opt in or out of the pre-paid gratuities. I would prefer to pay the gratuities at the end of the meal. Typically, I tip more than 18% too.

@FJB Sometimes I feel like there are too many cruise line options to begin with! Virgin Voyages is one of the newbies of the gang. I like the idea of the line working out all of its kinks and learning curve before I jump aboard. Despite that thought process, the line has actually had some great reviews and guests seem to love it. I agree that Wave season could bring you even better prices so keep your eyes peeled. You never know if you find the perfect cruise for the right price. It seems the biggest hurdle you have to jump is getting all of your other friends on board, literally and figuratively. 

@Actorguy Are you telling me to prefer Blue Bell over Ben and Jerry's? That's a tough comparison, but Ben and Jerry's flavor options are just the bomb. Even though Blue Bell ice cream is delicious and a classic, Ben and Jerry's flavors are just the best to me. As long as RCL doesn't pick Eddy's or Breyers I think everyone is in the clear. I'm sure the line will make a good choice. If it doesn't, you know RCL is going to hear about it! I wonder what RCL has up its sleeve. Blue Bell is a good guess.