3Sisters

@FJB That's the way to do it! This is the optimal situation for me too. @RoadTravelled My vote is you need to disconnect! If you need to work during your cruise, it's better to skip it. It's a waste of time and energy to have to work in a stateroom. I love to unplug while I cruise. The new technology is cool but not for me.

In years past, I remember being able to purchase a celebratory decoration package. This package allowed guests to walk into a fully decorated room. It made it so easy to surprise a loved one and get your cruise going in the best way possible. I haven't been able to spot this package for my upcoming itinerary so I plan to decorate the stateroom myself. I intend to bring balloons and streamers in my suitcase to make it happen. Does anyone have any tips and tricks for decorating a stateroom? I have read that you can no longer decorate the outside of your stateroom door. Is that true?

Overboard situations are the worst! They can be accidental or due to mental illness. The reasons vary. I want to hope that most of the occurrences are accidental, but that's just not the case. I have been on a cruise where a man overboard situation happened on a balcony during a mother/son confrontation. That's a tricky situation. Even during an investigation, if there weren't any alternate witnesses, no one knew the truth.

@FJB I'm lost! Who is Sheldon? I feel like an outsider. PaulB, those are the train rides I would love to experience! Have you been on a train ride that you enjoyed? I'm not a fan of people movers, but a scenic train is truly my cup of tea. I wouldn't pay thousands of dollars per person for a train. If I'm paying those prices, I would opt for a cruise. Cruises have it all, scenery included!

I wouldn't be interested in cruising on this monstrosity. I can't imagine the lines for the elevators, and there is no way I would take the stairs on this bad boy. Mega ships aren't my thing. I prefer a more peaceful and quaint experience. If cruise ships keep expanding at the rate they have been, I will become an avid "older ship" guest. Why is everyone so interested in cruising on such large ships? Smaller ships are quaint and more peaceful. That tranquility aligns more with the cruise experience I enjoy.

Since I haven't cruised either I can't share personal experiences, but based on recent news I would opt for Holland America Line. NCL seems very inconsistent and changes itineraries often. I recommend doing more research before you finalize your booking. Don't be fooled by the good rates. What region would you like to cruise to?

What is a train ride on the Orient Express? I haven't heard of this before, but I'm always interested in a scenic train ride. I have done an amazing one in Peru from Cuzco to Aguas Caliente to visit Machu Pichu. It's one of my favorite experiences. What a treat it is to be able to explore the world via train! It's so much better than driving yourself through traffic.

@Seaawgs Although this perk has shifted around several times, Celebrity Cruises loyalty perks seem so much better than MSC Cruises. I'm almost to the top loyalty status with MSC Cruises and the benefits of having loyalty with this line don't even compare to what you are describing to me. How many Celebrity cruises do you have to take to become an Elite member? This perk alone is making me reconsider my loyalty to the line. I used to get drink tickets back in the day but now those are no longer. As someone who has cruised for a while, I can totally relate to the erosion of old cruise standards. Things have just changed! I don't feel the same class and luxury as in decades past.

@Victoria It's interesting that you shared this because I was under the same impression! I would be cautious to book any sort of residential living space that wasn't through the direct cruise website either. Be very cautious to avoid any scammers, including odd-looking travel agencies. You don't want to run into any snags with long-term housing!

I really wonder what happened to this man. I'm so curious if this crew member was on or off duty when this tragic incident occurred. The U.S. Coast Guard released a statement stating their search totaled about 34 hours with no success. My thoughts and prayers go out to this man and his family.

@Denwiles I have to agree with @bombarc. NCL is not always that reliable and if something goes wrong you are going to be at a huge loss. Is there a way you can change your flight without a penalty? I think it may be cutting it too close. What time does your flight depart? I doubt NCL is going to commit to an exact timeframe as these things vary. Keep me posted on what you decide, but I would be hesitant to commit to a flight you may not get to in time.

@FJB I wish I could say the same about the car seats, but I feel guilty leaving them behind while traveling anywhere in the U.S. by car. I wouldn't want to chance anything happening while in the car, although driving in the ports of call can be daunting. I try to book bus rides/excursions since I don't intend to bring the car seats along, storing them in my stateroom. I'm not sure you don't want to hear this, but you should wear your seatbelt. I have heard so many horror stories, and after losing a cousin to not using his seatbelt, I fear for your safety! Clearly, you have been safe thus far, but to me, it's not worth the risk.

I'm so sad to find out an MSC Seascape cruise member falling overboard with no return. This crew member was only 30 years old. I wonder if I passed by the member while on the ship a few months back. Does anyone know any more details on the person who passed away? This is such heartwrenching news.

If you are traveling with car seats, it's worth it to park the car at the port. I have never ventured to take my car seats onboard a cruise! I also have no idea if there is a holding area for them, but I would imagine you have to bring them into your stateroom. Has anyone brought car seats onboard a cruise ship before? If so, where do you store them?

@Denwiles I haven't cruised out of New Orleans before but traffic from the airport to the port can be hectic. You want to give yourself enough time to get to the ship on embarkation day. I have flown into New Orleans before for a Bachelorette and the process of even just catching an Uber to get into the city seemed chaotic. I would check if NCL offers priority disembarkation. I have heard that CCL offers this service for a minimal fee. Also, do you have TSA pre-check for your return flight? That is a big timesaver. What time does your cruise disembark on March 10th? Another thing that can help save time is lining up a taxi ahead of time. Waiting for a shuttle to the airport can take longer than you expect.

@Emrys Thanks for the tip! I will try that on my upcoming cruise. It's essentially a little steam room. I love the idea! @FJB I'm not big into ironing, but I do like my clothes to look wrinkle-free. After they sit in a suitcase for a long time they tend to get creased in all the wrong places. Winkle-free clothes are the best for traveling, but not all of my favorite dresses are wrinkle-free. Ironing underwear is such a waste, of money and time. I'm not sure pole dancers wear underwear that often, but I haven't seen one on active duty before.

@FJB That would be great; no doors allowed on cruise ships and no privacy for anyone. I just don't understand why people aren't more cautious. There has to be more to the story. @euroguy I have seen signs too! You have to use common sense. Like I tell my children, never leave your fingers in any doorway. Car doors can do the same thing. I have had the wind slam a car door on me before! I have also had the wind slam my car door open to hit a car parked next to me. That was super unfortunate. The "I can read" comment is fabulous. That could be the missing link to the story here.

@euroguy Honestly, when I ice skated onboard an RCL ship it didn't feel odd at all. I'm trying to remember if I had a drink or not, but it felt fine to me. The ice shows were by far my favorite. It's been a while since I cruised with RCL, but the evening ice shows were so unique! The level-up challenge made me laugh. A suite plus a significant other would be so great! That would be such a romantic surprise. It sounds like you are in the market for someone new; a new partner during Christmas time is always fun. Dating certainly has its pros and cons. It can take much thought and effort at first. As sweet as those memories can be, I certainly prefer married life. Those dating days were fun though. You are such an awesome son! Gold whale tail earrings sound fantastic. I love the sweet dynamic you have with your mom. Were the whale tail earrings from your recent Alaskan cruise?

@euroguy I'm making it this weekend for my pie party! I can't find rhubarb tough. Where do you usually purchase it? I just went to Target and they didn't sell it. I will go to Sprouts tomorrow and see if they sell it. Costco doesn't sell it either. Those are my go-to local grocers. Also, if you have a recipe please share it! Otherwise, I will use one I found online. I didn't realize that rhubarb wasn't sold everywhere!

I would hate to admit it but I can have a bit of an obsession with my phone, but it's so unintentional! I'm constantly checking it throughout the day just to make sure I don't miss anything. I'm also an obsessive email checker. It can make me spend more unnecessary time on my phone and be less present. The best thing I can do for myself and those around me is to leave it in a bag or away from me. I enjoy those around me more and those around me appreciate my full attention! It's so easy to get lost in it.

That's great! I happen to value many things onboard that you may not utilize such as the daily towel changes. I love it when my cabin steward replaces my bath towels on the daily. Having one towel for my body and one for my hair is just the best, especially when they are fresh each day. Since the bathrooms are quite small onboard, it takes forever for a wet towel to dry. It also takes forever for bathing suits to dry in the staterooms too. Even if I have a balcony stateroom, it's not a good choice to leave the suits drying on the balcony because they could fly away!

@Seaawgs Thanks for sharing that info with me. I didn't realize this was a nightly event in the past! As a loyalty member, that change must have been upsetting. How long has the nightly cocktail hour perk been gone? It really does sound like the "club" out of Captains Club. Even though this perk has changed, it still seems you are a very loyal Celebrity Cruises guest.

Does anyone have tips for keeping their clothes from getting wrinkled and cleaned while cruising? I have seen the ironing services on board, but it takes time for the clothes to come back and isn't cheap. I wish I could iron my own clothes on the ship, but I know it's a fire hazard. Recently I have cruised with MSC Cruises, and I was unable to locate a laundry facility. Years ago I cruised with CCL, and I remember being able to do a load of laundry in a communal laundry spot. I'm assuming not all cruise ships offer a location where guests can wash their clothes. Since I exercise onboard, I prefer to wash my exercise clothes relatively quickly, even while on vacation.

@Night Owl I'm quite surprised by the lack of activities on your previous cruises! It's so disappointing to cruise on a fun ship and not have many fun options onboard. Cruise lines certainly make a large profit on extras. I think many cruise lines have slimmed down on activity options, and it's annoying. I remember cruising 10 years ago and the activities on board were more lively and exciting. Many of the "fun" options are mundane and repetitive now. This could be because I cruise pretty often. It would be refreshing to switch things up! I don't see the value in keeping the activities the same all the time. A good mix of options calls for a much better cruise experience. I completely agree with you. Even though the entertainment could be better on board, I still love cruising and will continue to be a die-hard fan.

@Maria You and I both have similar cruise interests! I wish I had the opportunity to take these sorts of cruises now, but the timing and cost just don't add up for me right now. Which itinerary would be the most feasible in the coming years? I would prefer to cruise these regions rather than fly. There is something so convenient about having the same place to sleep every night aka on the ship) and not having to shuffle through public transit to see many locations in a week or two. I would likely make it to Alaska sooner than Hawaii based on cruise costs.