3Sisters

@Tootie I love that! I feel confident enough to book my cruise itinerary without a travel agent, but all of the additional things can get tricky. Thanks for sharing his email! The next cruise I book with Carnival, I will surely use him and utilize all of his expertise. When working with someone that goes above and beyond, standing out amongst the rest of the robotic crowd, it's worthwhile to work directly with that person. It makes the experience exceptional, and has you coming back for more! One of my biggest pet peeves is when customer service agents do the bare minimum like reading the exact description of the website. I'm usually asking a particular question because I was unable to retrieve enough info online. To waste my time on hold for someone to tell me the info I already knew drives me crazy.

@Walter This is definitely a very personal choice! I too question the allocation of tips via the cruise contract, and I struggle with the question, "Is it really going to the direct personnel who went above and beyond to make my cruise experience exceptional?" My husband and I always pay the mandatory tipping, but we also choose to give envelopes to those who spent so much time making our vacation unforgettable. Thankfully the last cruise we went on we called guest services and they provided envelopes and pens to our stateroom because we forgot to bring them along with us. I like the minimal mandatory tipping for those guests who would tip nothing otherwise. In my opinion, there is nothing like tipping cash for someone who is dedicating their entire year away from home to make money and provide for their families.

@Rayk That's annoying, but I have completely given up on the specialty egg ordering unless I'm in the MDR for breakfast. It takes far too long; there is usually a long line. Training is always helpful, but I'm afraid that it's not easy to work with ungrateful guests. I get bothered when cruise guests aren't appreciative of how hard the cruise staff works; they are not easy jobs! The hours are rigorous and many require lots of time on your feet. What a bummer about the complimentary mini-bar! Was this perk replaced with another alternative? I like that price for a good steak! I would imagine the steak was much better than that served in the MDR.

@FJB I wish! Princess Cruises does have decent menu options but I'm always excited for new items. I don't know why cruise lines don't switch it up more. Maybe they follow the saying, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." For avid cruisers, the repetitive food choices can get old pretty quickly. Prices for the onboard specialty restaurants are on the rise too. Cruise lines are trying to recover financially by increasing those prices. RCL's Portside BBQ restaurant has gone up by about 40%. That's a pretty big price increase.

@LukeJ I love the eggplant parmesan appetizer. It's the best I have ever tried. The tiramisu is also very traditional and delicious. I think if you keep in mind that the cruise line isn't like other American-based lines, you will set yourself up with the right perspective. The service onboard is wonderful and the ambiance/entertainment won't disappoint. Did you choose to get the thermal package? Which ship will you be cruising on?

@kefthecruiser Thanks for all this info! I haven't been to Hawaii yet either so I had to do some research when it came to port options. It seems like most cruise lines opt to take guests to Maui which is why I'm noticing guests voicing their concerns about upcoming itineraries. It seems like the area is not going to be fully recovered for quite some time, but there is certainly a sense of urgency to restore everything to gain an increase in tourism. What was your favorite area in Hawaii, and which area would you recommend for a first-time visit there?

@rindybar MSC Cruises has an epic spa. The Aurea package is by far one of the best packages the cruise line offers. I would imagine as a YC guest you can spend unlimited time in the thermal suites, and I think you will absolutely love it. The privacy and luxury of it all, down to the robes, is the highlight of a perfect cruise experience. @LukeJ I love the pasta onboard. I personally don't enjoy the seafood onboard much unless it's the fresh fish. The pizza is also great and the breakfast options are pretty limitless. I was super impressed by the loaded burgers, nachos, and cheese fries too. The cruise line certainly adjusted to the Americanized pallet. Go for the items that scream "Italian," that's really the cruise line's specialty. You have to do a total spa experience and go for the all-inclusive thermal package. There is no such relaxation.

@Tootie It sounds like emailing Brandon is the way to go! Do you have his personal email? I bet everyone who gets to know Brandon keeps coming back. I love reduced prices and better options all around! Is he your personal travel advisor? I know CCL provides that service to some VIP guests.

@FJB Thanks for the good fun! My guess is Carnival Jubilee. @kefthecruiser Carnival Celebration is a sister ship to Jubilee so they both have very similar features. Did you cruise on this ship back in the day? Does anyone know why these ships get scrapped? Why aren't the ships reconverted into a cargo ship of sorts? They cost so much to build it's such a shame to see them destroyed.

@Pj Thomas Thanks for your feedback on this NCL experience. I have heard such mixed reviews about the entire process. I would have been so stressed if I was on the airplane out and realized the inbound hotel wasn't booked! For the prices you pay, I believe you shouldn't have to stay in a sketchy part of town. What were the summer highs while you were there in July? I can't believe the monuments close during the day due to the heat! Better shopping here than the Grand Bazaar? I think I need to cruise to Lindos now!

@rindybar The Yacht Club guests should get unlimited everything, excluding spa sessions and excursions obviously. You pay more than enough to get the full-on exclusive cruise experience. If you want two lobster tails, you should get two lobster tails at dinner. That's the entire purpose of YC and a personal butler service is included in the package!

@LukeJ Glass seems the most risque for a cruise ship. It breaks easily, it's a mess to clean up, and extremely dangerous in the waterpark/pool areas. Cardboard is a nice option but the least durable. I'm not really sure there is a better solution, other than stainless steel. It could be a bring-your-own-cup situation for at least the water/soda drinking! If there is a monetary incentive, guests would be all about it. It keeps your drink colder for longer anyhow.

@Margie If you want the Hawaii experience maybe it's better to try again in a few years when everything has stabilized. You could always opt for canceling since you have time and rebooking to another dream destination. There are plenty of other cruise lines and celebratory destinations to choose from. Would your group be willing to postpone the trip and look for something else in that timeframe instead?

@Bowie The food on standard cruise lines is just standard! If you want an enhanced culinary experience with CCL you should try their specialty or for a fee restaurants onboard. I recommend venturing out and spending a bit more onboard to get a heightened dining experience. The MDR and buffet were good enough for me the last time I went, but it's not the best food I have ever had. I don't expect top-notch for the price I pay with CCL, just good enough. In other news, CCL is rolling out a new food menu. More rollout dates have been released. https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-confirms-fleetwide-new-menu-rollout-dates/108768 @FJB That's a throwback item! I would imagine CCL has done away with that by now.

@TollHolio This is certainly a throwback post! @Ghostpenguin That's right, life has gone on! Thankfully those days are behind us now. @FJB I'm impressed with how far back you went! I'm so glad those days are over. I love not having to wait for a test result and avoiding all of the pre-cruise headaches I had to endure to get on board the ships.

@Robert Mcgillivray I love seeing all of these photos of the gorgeous Norwegian Viva! The Vibe beach club looks absolutely stunning and is the ultimate stop for relations. I really love all of the shade options too. Many sun decks are all about the sun and no shade it provided. It can be overwhelmingly hot and uncomfortable for anything more than 15 minutes. I'm so impressed by the amount of child-friendly amenities onboard from the Aqua Park to the waterslide! The minigolf onboard is nice and shaded too with such a fun theme! I'm very glad you shared these photos because I have a completely different perspective on the line. I'm so glad you got some time in the spa. How much was the daily thermal spa rate onboard? Does NCL offer a thermal access package rate for the entirety of the cruise? I recently took a cruise and had an excellent one-hour included in the thermal suites. I wanted more after that. I think that was actually my favorite part of my whole trip, or maybe it was just being alone for an hour!

@Patricia1100 I love the idea of disabled veterans' parking. I was unaware of this service until now. The best way to contact is likely going to be by email. I found info stating that this opinion is applicable for any meter parking space with valid identification in Baltimore, MD. https://mva.maryland.gov/about-mva/Pages/Disabilities.aspx Check out this Maryland government website and see if you can get a solidified answer here.

@euroguy I agree! I would totally use this service if it was offered at more ports of call. Please give us a review of the overall Port Valet experience and how it all works. I'm curious about what type of options this service provides. There are times when I want to explore a city without my bulky luggage/car seats for a day and take public transit to get the city experience! @RoadTravelled Thanks for confirming this service. I would totally give it a go if I cruise out of this port. Lugging around car seats and extra suitcases filled with laundry is just an extra burden while trying to explore post-cruise.

@Patricia1100 I love this phrase, "Cruisemas!" Thank you for sharing it because I'm adopting it as my own. Not having to cook is such a perfect treat for anyone who opts to host the holidays that year. Which cruise lines do you recommend for a "Cruisemas" experience? A shorter itinerary would probably be ideal for everyone who has to rush back to work after the holidays.

@rindybar No worries! It happens to the best of us. That's a treat to be so close to a busy homeport! Yes, the car shuttling can get a bit hectic too. From car rental prices increasing to having to shuttle your suitcases to and fro in a taxi, the process can be much easier if you park at a nearby hotel and take a shuttle to the New York port. Many of the surrounding hotels do not offer a shuttle but Hotel Edison Times Square does, and it's only 1.2 miles from the port. You would have to figure out all of the costs to see if it would be the best route for you and your family, but it would give you some extra time to unwind pre and/or post-cruise in the city. A park-and-ride option is another feasible option instead of renting a car, but as you know those options do charge a pretty penny per day.

@Robert Mcgillivray Wow, I love seeing the photos of the gorgeous Norwegian Viva! This ship is going to be a popular addition to the list of ships sailing the Caribbean. The homeport of San Juan will surely be an attractive spot for cruise guests around the world. As a person who doesn't enjoy the virtual reality world, the Viva Speedway is so much more appealing than the Formula 1 option. What type of stateroom is this? Are you staying in a basic balcony stateroom or is this a suite? I love how spacious and well-designed this stateroom is. It has so much elegance! Is there a water park onboard? Norwegian Viva seems to be geared toward the adult crowd. Also, will you get the opportunity to spend time in the spa?

@ELLIOTT Yes, I agree this sort of experience would make me rethink my loyalty to the cruise line. In fact, I see where @Karin is coming from. It's very frustrating. I have noticed RCL to be more consistent lately, with fewer cancelations. Thankfully I haven't been subject to an email like this before. During the shutdown, many itineraries were canceled, but rightfully so. @LukeJ I don't think it's a computer error every time either. It became a pretty often occurrence, and I believe RCL had to correct the issues because guests were beginning to catch on. Now it seems that the overbooking issue has subsided. The repetitive itinerary changes and cancellations were not looking good for the line.

@SpaceCowboy9 So many people avoid the Fantasy-class ships because they are some of the oldest in the fleet, but I totally agree with you! The CCL experience is still going strong on its Fantasy-class ships, and you get the smaller ship feel. Not to mention, the prices for these ships are always more reasonable than the Excel and Venice classes. Windstar would be a beautifully intimate cruise, perfect for an anniversary! How many years will you be celebrating? Have you cruised with Windstar before?

@FJB That is a truly hot summer heat temp! I hope you have some ice in your drink and a fan nearby. Do you make your own ice cream? My friends have been using these specialty Ninja icecream makers and rave about it. My family liked to make banana icecream with the old-fashioned maker, using rock salt. This is a fond memory I had as a kid! I think I should grab an ice cream maker and give it a try. Actually, now that I'm looking at your photo again, that blue bucket looks like an ice cream maker! Am I right?

@FJB I'm glad you shared this info. I would love to cruise out of Vancouver, but now I'm thinking I would need to spend more on a flight to arrive at the optimal time, avoiding a hotel fee. As much as I want to explore the area, maybe staying in a long-term Airbnb would be the better way. @Seaawgs The Vancouver port sounds pretty nice! Maybe that is why all of the hotels nearby are so costly! No need to water money in transportation when you can walk from your hotel to the port. Thanks for sharing that. I like the Delta Hotels. I have stayed at a few in the US. Which cruise ship did you sail out of in Vancouver?