3Sisters

@KeithG It's interesting to read your perspective on back-to-back cruises. I haven't experienced that before! That's nice, at least you know that the cruise crew would take care of moving everything for you. It's just one less thing to worry about! If you have the ability to take off work that long or are potentially retired, this truly is a great way to vacation! I hope I can get to that point in my life and have the resources to travel like this. 

@Joey That's funny you refused to wear denim! As much as I love dressing up, I do love to wear a nice pair of jeans every now and again. I'm glad we share the same interest in dressing up spiffy. What is your preferred way to keep your formal clothes wrinkle-free during your cruise? My husband usually has all of his eveningwear pressed onboard. As soon as we get our luggage, my husband asks the housekeeping staff to take his shirts to be ironed ASAP. It's such a bummer that irons and steamers aren't permitted on board, but I understand it could be a safety hazard. 

My mom was just telling me about this earlier today! I'm so saddened by this horrid tragedy. As of late it seems the U.S. Coast Guard and other rescue personnel on the job are going on standby as no new news has come about. The debris field shows signs of a catastrophic implosion. What was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, ended up being such an awful endeavor. My heart goes out to everyone who is suffering through this.

@Ri411 That's a great question! You have to fill me in if Captain Johnny becomes Icon of the Seas captain! What led you to believe that be may get the job? I can't believe the ship is already undergoing sea trials and will have its maiden voyage January 2024. Will you be cruising on this ship for its maiden voyage?

I totally believe that cruise lines are not as attentive and crew members are overworked. When someone is overworked, it's very noticeable. Lots of guests are complaining about the lack of genuine care from customer service but they are likely just burnt-out crew members. There are always difficult guests onboard a ship that just nitpicks everything, but the quality of cruising has gone down some. The little acts of kindness have sort of gone out the window. Especially with the popularity of mega-ships, everything is just mass-quantified and the specialty/personal touches no longer exist. Sometimes the smaller cruise lines cost a bit more but you are getting a more personalized/quality experience instead of a mass-produced cruising approach. 

@Aquainst1 That's true! I would have been so terrified, but thankfully no one was injured during this incident. Have you cruised onboard Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas before? 

It's certainly not for everyone! There are height and weight requirements as well that make this activity more exclusive. To top it off, you also have to be a pretty brave soul, and doing more peaceful activities likely attracts the majority. I'm pretty sure you have to pay extra too. Zip lines are for adventure/thrill seekers. Also, I think many people outgrow ziplining. I'm still interested to do it, but with young kids, I usually end up doing something geared towards them.

@Barbara Davis I'm hopeful that once Carnival Cruise Line announces some of its loyalty changes, solo cruisers will be positively impacted. Lots of loyalty members have been providing feedback on the disadvantage solo cruise guests have in terms of earning points and paying a double occupant price. I expect to see changes for solo cruise guests in the near future as it seems there has been a larger group of solo cruisers speaking up on this matter.

@euroguy Thanks for your insight here! 

@Joey That's a really nice thing to do! If you are paying double occupant prices, you might as well have another occupant tag along! You are a great friend and family member; I doubt this crosses the mind of most. You are truly a generous person! Yes, I hear you; Carnival Cruise Line has to keep up with its competitors in this arena. At this point, solo cruisers are beginning to look elsewhere for a more reasonable cruise experience. 

@SpaceCowboy9 I'm glad you aren't intimidated to continue visiting the DR. Most of these happenings are likely not affecting travelers that are exploring some of the amazing things the area has to offer. I agree, staying aware of your surroundings in every area is the best way to protect yourself against any crime. The cruise port is always pretty safe. Amber Cove is a gem, and for those that don't know, Amber Cove is Carnival Cruise Line's private island. 

@Tasselhoff I'm not a fan of this procedure either. Norwegian Cruise Line started utilizing a reservation system for the theatre onboard all ships and I think it's super unnecessary. It's just a way to entice and incentivize loyalty members without having to spend extra on a perk. It's a sneaky way to cut back. Have you utilized this reservation system yet? From what cruisers are saying, there are plenty of opportunities to get into the show after reservations have passed through but it's like a last-minute thing. It sounds similar to dining without a reservation, sometimes you get in, other times you don't.

@Kitty I would try emailing both customerrelations@princesscruises.com and customerservices@princesscruises.com. Let me know which email is the most effective for future reference but the line should definitely get back to you on this matter, with a nice paper trail along with it for reference. Give it a week and see how the email contact works. Hopefully, you can get to the bottom of it easier this way.

@Barbara Violetta That's truly incredible! You are certainly one well-traveled person. It's pretty cool that you can spend your retired life traveling onboard a cruise ship. Do you live full-time on this residence ship? In a residence ship, are all meals included? I'm assuming you don't do much cooking if that's the case. If you don't have meals included on the ship, how do you purchase your groceries? Does your residence ship travel around the globe? 

@Mr.Bill Honestly, lots of avid cruisers also appreciate a more quaint, less crowded cruise experience. Those ships are some of the most mature and faithful ones in the fleet! I haven't cruised onboard Carnival Horizon but I'm glad to hear you have loved it! Mardi Gras has been very popular amongst the masses; I really think the ship just has any and everything a cruise guest could want. Carnival Valor really is that perfect-sized ship. How many times have you cruised on it? The ship has spent time in so many different ports of call! 

@kefthecruiser You are funny! Zip lines are a true adventure so not everyone enjoys the thrill, sort of like the water slides onboard. Not everyone enjoys being jerked around by water for fun. I'm usually in for the thrill but sometimes I also prefer to just sit back and watch. It's quite the occasion to zip line. Usually, those things involve wait times, waivers to sign, and the right clothing/gear. Sometimes I just prefer to enjoy my vacation walking out in a bathing suit and flip-flops with nothing to do and no place to be.

@Jim Lamb I haven't been on RCL's one in Labadee! I love the idea that the landing is right by the bar. That's such a clever design! Those waiting for you must also appreciate that amenity to kill time! 

@euroguy This is a great question and I think it all depends on why you enjoy cruising. What attracts you to the cruise experience? To me, I enjoy a hassle-free family vacation, and I don't necessarily travel more than 1-2 times a year. I travel to relax, not for the destinations. If you are cruising to visit new areas and using cruises to explore or adventure then maying cruising more often is a better fit! Your question may also depend on the guest's financial situation and job schedule. For instance, my husband's job doesn't allow him to take off more than a few weeks a year so for us, cruising 1-2 times a year and taking 1-3 land vacations a year is the best situation. We also prefer little local getaways or weekend getaways on land to visit family and friends. Those have been happening quite often for us lately with cheap flights and opportunities to have long work-from-home weekends. School is also a big factor! I will begin homeschooling my children next month so that our family won't have to be so constrained to the traditional school system. That will provide us with greater flexibility to do more travel.

@SpaceCowboy9 It sounds like the one drug dog you noticed in Charleston isn't really doing the job. I'm glad that the Carnival Cruise Line crew at least acted quickly about the matter. Based on what I have heard this is not an uncommon occurrence onboard CCL ships. I'm sure the line has some pretty swift protocols in place to act on effectively. It must be so delicate to have to search a room and attempt to find evidence onboard. Do you think that CCL would have drug dogs onboard? Do you think they would be more effective than the security team searching alone? 

@SusanT I would agree that drinking tap water anywhere is not the best idea. In most land-based U.S. areas the water is pretty safe to drink right out of the faucets but you assume the risk that it could be contaminated. The safest option would be to drink bottled water or to utilize the water offered in the dining rooms onboard. From my understanding, the water served in the dining rooms is not the same as the water that comes from the sinks onboard. Maybe I am incorrect. It's always better to be safe and drink bottled water onboard and especially in other areas you travel to. Getting sick from contaminated water/food is pretty miserable.

@kefthecruiser I wouldn't be surprised if RCL's beach club offered something epic like that! I love ziplining! Have you enjoyed ziplining in the past? I have only tried it twice and each time was great. Carnival Corporation actually helped fund the world's steepest zip line in the Rockland estate eco-park in St. Maarten. This is one zipline I would really love to try; it would be the thrill of a lifetime. 

@Mr.Bill You are going to love cruising on Carnival Mardi Gras! Carnival Mardi Gras was actually voted best cruise ship of 2022 in Cruise Hive's best annual awards. The six themed zones will keep you occupied throughout the entirety of your cruise itinerary. You can't go wrong!

Wow, 27 cruises in total qualifes you as a pro-cruiser! Keeping true to Carnival Cruise Line is likely your best bet to continue to earn solid loyalty perks. Three times a year is certainly more than average. What has been your favorite CCL ship thus far? 

@Woody14 I too would like a bit more context from @Dee Dee. I don't see the value in "invading" other European areas, so a greater explanation may help here. Maybe Curaçao is not equipt for this large amount of tourism in one day. If the port is able to handle it, I think that the locals are likely equipt to do it too. 

@euroguy Yes, I noticed that too! CCL has announced it will be trying out 60 new food dishes onboard one of its ships, Carnival Dream. These dining room menu changes will be a trial process that eventually trickles down to the entire Carnival Cruise Line fleet by the end of fall this year. I also think that these changes are long overdue. I'm very happy to hear this news, and I think many guests were ready for a food options change. It would be great for you to experience these new dining options on your April 2024 cruise itinerary, and I think that you will be able to do so. I also like the trial thing that the line is doing; it's going to assist the line in deciphering what items are a hit and which ones are a bust. 

That's a good point. If you are booking a cruise and prayerfully hoping to make it there during hurricane season, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. It's mainly a gamble, you have to be willing to potentially sacrifice certain ports of call for a much better cruise rate. NOAA made its predictions for the 2023 hurricane season, with a list of names for the storms. It seems like the predictions are pretty average; so hopefully, there aren't any horrendous storms destroying our favorite cruise destinations this year.  

I agree with @FJB and @Woody14. St. Kitts, Antiga, and St. Martin are all really safe and scenic options! 

@FJB I have yet to go to Curaçao; I guess it's a little far out for a 7-night cruise out of Florida. When you visited this area, how many nights did you have to book to make it there? Did you embark from a Florida port? 

@Mr.Bill A CRUISE LITE doesn't sound half bad! Everything is so easily accessible on the ship that you wouldn't even need to disembark to have a great time. There are lots of opportunities to lounge out by the pool and read, even in the shade with a nice cool drink. Let us know how your cruise vacation ends up. I'm sure everyone will be curious to hear if the cruise line provided all the necessary accommodations for you to thoroughly enjoy your travels! 

I'm not quite sure if the local government will give back to its locals by providing certain enhanced spaces (other than the port area/tourist traps) and community services. From having had a brief tour of the area, I have noticed many of the local students go to private schools in the region, but for the most part, the Bahamas is still a developing country. The political climate is steady and locals do have access to secure healthcare and technology, although this area is still considered third world. The residents and natives of the area would still benefit from enhanced opportunities and services, and this taxation would hopefully assist with the development of the country. If anything, these extra taxes would enhance the spaces for tourists which will bring in lots of dollars to the area.