3Sisters

@J441 You just gotta love how the cruise line explicitly states the charge is for Spain's Value Added Tax, and then when you call the line says nevermind it's not that, and furthermore you have to pay it on everything. Sounds like a scam of a tax to me. Don't you think? 

@euroguy You didn't mention poker was your game of choice, but another reason to consider Virgin Voyages would be its recently added poker venue onboard Scarlet Lady. I wish CCL could spread the word to Virgin Voyages about your casino skills and maybe the line would host you onboard at a discounted rate! I'm sure you would absolutely kill it playing poker at this new venue. 

Port Miami has officially had its "busiest day ever" as it hosted over 67,000 cruise passengers on April 9, 2023. Known as the cruise capital of the world, Port Miami has seen some serious competition lately from Port Canaveral. Port Canaveral has recently begun overshadowing PortMiami, as it became the world's busiest passenger cruise port in February of this year. For those of you who have cruised out of either of these ports, which is your favorite and why? 

Speaking of amazing designs, I'm overly impressed by MSC's luxury cruise line, Explora Journeys stateroom options. One of the stateroom options onboard Explora I is a 3,000-square-foot Owner's Residence Suite, featuring a private infinity whirlpool and a double vanity bathroom adorned with marble. If you want unforgettable luxury, look no further. 

Explora Journeys' prices are a bit high, even for a child-cruise-free experience, but I must say the fleet is so lovely and thoughtfully designed. For those who enjoy a quality cruise experience, this cruise line is it. Just take a look at this article featuring the onboard Owner's Residence Suite. https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-line-unveils-3000-square-foot-owners-residence/101570

This is a 3,000-square-foot guest suite, with top-quality design elements, that are pretty much unbeatable. The Owner's Residence Suite just "wows" me. 

@kefthecruiser I completely agree. This sort of Cirque Eloize entertainment is going to drive a crowd. Some evening performances are easy to skip, but this experience surely isn't one of those. I didn't realize Carnival Corporation wasn't going to be having any new ships built in 2026. Thanks for sharing that insight. All of the Carnival-owned brands have been expanding at such a rapid rate considering all of the craziness they have experienced over the past few years. The Dome is going to be such an amazing work of art onboard! It will be featured in the Piazza Atrium onboard both sister ships, Star Princess and Sun Princess. 

@kefthecruiser I appreciate you sharing this sort of legal criminology perspective. It gives me a little insight as to how this whole situation may pan out. I truly hope that people come forward to share their testimony and ensure this perpetrator gets the proper sentence. I also hope that the youth involved in this case are protected and that the perpetrator sees a heightened sentence in regards to exploiting not only adults but many minors.

@kefthecruiser This whole scenario is so violating, on many different levels. I wonder if this is the perpetrator's first go at this sort of thing. I highly doubt it. 

@FJB I doubt @euroguy is joking. Most people who don't spend much time on social media aren't always aware of the newest trends and cultural norms. This "woke" ideology is really a newer idea about being more aware of what you say and how you feel. I guess you could care more about your own feelings and the feelings of others by working hard not to offend anyone. This movement contradicts itself at times; while you are supposed to be careful what you say to others so they don't get offended, you are also supposed to value yourself over everything else. I guess self-actualization and doing things that make you feel good, but at the same time, you are supposed to be all accepting of everything in order to be "accepted" by the "awoken" community. Clearly, I'm still adjusting to this concept, but it's definitely the trend.

I really found your perspective on this "woke" ideology interesting, and you make a great point. It's supposed to be a more all-inclusive perspective, but at the same time, I have noticed this culture to be the most scrutinizing to others who don't share the same beliefs and ideals. The whole idea is for people to be more accepting of all, but certainly "woke" movements are super divisive and the "woke" community works hard to support these movements in a way that excludes outsiders' opinions and perspectives. For all the pride this culture has in being accepted, it surely creates a vast amount of division as well.

@euroguy This is a great question! I personally love to dress up in the main dining room and take photos with my family post-dinner. I enjoy the experience of feeling "fancy," it feels like a vacation to me since I spend much of my days cooking from home dressed casually. I also enjoy the white linen experience at dinner; this is sometimes unusual to me in my everyday as well. Some guests prefer comfortable and casual, but I'm right there with you, I enjoy dressing my best to feel my very best! Usually, my husband wears a suit or just a suit jacket on most elegant nights but I always try to wear a dress or a more formal look on those evenings. A tux is definitely top-notch. If you enjoy it and you feel good about it, I 100% think you should keep on doing it. It's all about being yourself and expressing yourself in a way that makes you feel great. I think new-day culture is more of a do-what-you-feel mentality, which is nice. If you don't feel like dressing up, you don't have to. People like me on the other hand, pack days in advance anticipating the occasion! I hope elegant night continues, and the tradition doesn't change.

I'm saddened to say that your statement is so spot on. Everything is about saving money and having the staff take on way too much and squeeze them dry. Usually, these types of laborious jobs don't compensate well enough either for doing the workload of two people, with all the pressure and stress put on their shoulders to perform at this level. I feel for anyone who has to endure this sort of workload without being adequately compensated for it. You can tell when someone is burnt out and overworked, it shows in their attitude and in performance. Instead of staying engaged, they detach themselves and sometimes this expression shows up as frustration and sadness. Cruise guests value good service! If cruisers need to pay more for cruising, let's hope that the wonderful crew and staff are receiving that additional support at the bottom line as well!

@septemo470 The train ride in Skagway sounds fantastic. Thanks for sharing the tip about booking early because it sells out! If I'm ever cruising out that way, I definitely want to experience this excursion. I happen to love train rides that require minimal effort, especially for those with disabilities or younger children. You can get the same fantastic views and experiences all in the comfort of a train seat! 

@Peppermint Patty I have heard May in Alaska it's more rainy gear! I would say a rain jacket, maybe even those throw-away Panchos. I think they are sold at the dollar store. Anything water resistant, and possibly pack a small umbrella. It won't be too very cold. Take a look at Cruise Hive's Alaska packing tips.

Something like this could be helpful. https://www.cruisehive.com/what-to-pack-for-an-alaska-cruise-more-than-50-items/27968

@euroguy Free laundry is going to be so great! You won't need to pack as heavily knowing that you can have your laundry done, and potentially even go home with a clean suitcase. That's going to be so nice. I'm so impressed that you received an offer like this, bringing you to basically the negatives with your casino credits. Based on this amazing offer, I have to ask, what is your casino game of choice? I think I'm going to value your casino plays with high reverence. You must have some skills. 

CCL updated its casino protocols more recently. This update was said to have allowed smoking in the casino. How do you feel about smoking in the onboard casinos? It can be pretty controversial. 

@FJB I didn't think of it like that! That's a really thoughtful perspective. The industry has changed, and we can't expect it to be the same after such a massive shutdown. I'm thankful the cruise industry is operational, and now basically mask-free, with lesser restrictions. If I have to pay more for a cruise and continue to receive good service, then that's what I will do. Although it definitely hurts to see the prices go up, I'm still very appreciative of this opportunity to enjoy the cruise experience in a more "normal" way. 

Here is another fresh perspective on cruising costs. Let's talk about the cost of fueling the cruise ship! Based on a recent article, the average cost of fueling a ship is around $80,000 to $2 million a day. This is a huge range, depending on the size of the ship and the length the ship has to travel, but I didn't really even think about the cost of fuel and how it dictates the overall per-person stateroom cost! Sometimes all it takes is to see things from another viewpoint to realize how privileged we really are to be able to travel on such an amazing work of artistic engineering. 

Has anyone ever heard of Marella Cruises? I'm just learning about this UK-based cruise line, and it will be deploying a ship, Marella Discovery, out of Port Canaveral, Florida. This is great news for both Marella Cruises and Port Canaveral as it expands to new markets.

@Karin RCL released it had record bookings during its recent wave season. The line is almost profitable again, which is great news, but it's about time RCL gets it right the overbooking issues. Overpromising and underdelivering is never a good outcome. 

@dutchcruise-SE Reading your story about RCL having you pay the difference for improper pricing issues on their end sounds absurd. I think the cruise line publically listed the price and RCL should have honored it! I agree that a lot of the specialty things that made certain cruise lines so unique have gone out the window, and I do miss them. I enjoy the little things that have become diluted, the minor specialty details that make a cruise guest feel so welcome. Chocolates on the pillow, even if it happens once throughout the duration of the cruise, is such a sweet gesture and I really doubt it makes or breaks RCL's budget. I will be awaiting your response, coming full circle on your RCL experience. I hope the insurance will give you peace of mind and ensure success with your future cruise.

@euroguy I'm so very shocked to be seeing this CCL offer with my very eyes! You should definitely jump on that. I hope you did already! This is an unforgettable itinerary. Have you been to any of these destinations before? They are all on my bucket list. I haven't been to any of these destinations yet. Just to get to visit Hawaii for this price is a dream. I hope you find a friend to join you! Also, how do you receive such an offer? I may need a few casino pointers. 

@euroguy It keeps shifting and hopefully, the loyalty program doesn't become a disappointment at the bottom line. I know Carnival Cruise Line is trying to make changes to its loyalty program that are of benefit to everyone, but I doubt that's possible. Someone is going to end up dissatisfied with the VIFP loyalty program changes, especially if they aren't directly benefitting from them.

Exploring other cruise lines can certainly be difficult if you are unfamiliar with them, and at the same time you are so comfortable with one particular line. Some questions may go through your head like, what if the new cruise line doesn't meet my expectations? But with enough research, and asking on the boards for personal experience, I think you would be pleasantly surprised to find another cruise line that may even exceed your expectations! 

The free room offer sounds like a great choice! With these free cruise offers, do you still earn points towards earning your CCL Platinum status? 

I feel so deeply for @Penny henley. When you spend so much time and energy into planning an unforgettable vacation for it to turn out this way. Sickness is one thing, but this is just such a severe circumstance that truly ruined your cruise experience. How are you recovering? Do you have any thoughts on how or what could have contaminated you with such an illness? 

@Penny henley This is mortifying! I'm so ashamed you had to endure this sort of cruise experience. As a cruise lover and an MSC Cruises lover, I'm so disappointed that this epidemic occurred on what was supposed to be such a wonderful itinerary. I'm so thankful to hear that at least the crew was wonderful and kind throughout this 28-day cruise experience. I would say that the pharmacist is correct. There likely was either a food or water contamination issue, and now with MSC Seaside's horrid CDC health/sanitation report, this looks awful on the cruise line. You definitely need to find a way to express your concern to the cruise line and possibly even the CDC to ensure this issue is corrected immediately. This would be devastating to see happening over and over due to a lack of correction. This is certainly a sanitation issue that needs to be addressed immediately. 

@euroguy I think trying to reach Platinum with Carnival Cruise Line is a good choice, although things with the VIFP loyalty program are due to change. Hopefully, the loyalty tier changes and overall VIFP program structure don't negatively impact pro cruisers like yourself. Do you have any upcoming cruises booked with CCL? I definitely think branching out would be a great choice to explore other solo cruise options and programming. You may find that another cruise line is more solo cruiser friendly than CCL. I'm pretty excited for you that you are almost Platinum though! 

@rindybar Almost doubling is a significant increase! I honestly have noticed increases across the board. I love reading about this positive experience you had in Norwegian Cruise Line's Joy 2 Bedroom Haven. I haven't heard of this caliber of cruising for NCL so I'm impressed by this. Lately, I have noticed so many cruisers being upset by NCL and the lack of customer service due to cutbacks. I truly think the type of treatment you would receive in MSC Yacht Club would give you the same if not a better experience. How does the cost for MSC Yacht Club compare to Norwegian Cruise Line's Joy 2-Bedroom Haven?

@euroguy This is some very good feedback on the Mazatlan cruise port. It's really nice to hear a personal perspective since you have so much experience cruising there. I too enjoy staying on the ship sometimes when everyone else is gone! I love when it's so tranquil and less crowded. If it isn't a port of interest to me, staying onboard is usually a highlight of my day from napping on a beach lounger, and actually finding one, to dining at the buffet without a line. You make a really good point to check the travel advisories before visiting any place, including ports of call. This is just good for awareness and personal security. Travel advisories could also be health-related, so it isn't always about personal security! 

@euroguy If you are located in California, it's a much easier option for you to cruise out of the California-based ports. I was actually just assisting my friend last night with booking her first cruise out of California, and I saw some really great options with Holland America Line. Have you cruised with that line before? If you were able to book a longer itinerary, you could explore some amazing destinations from Hawaii to Vancouver, and with the anniversary sale going on you could get drinks, wi-fi, and shore excursions all bundled into the bottom line price! Holland America Line cruises out of San Diego. I didn't see any specific solo cruises, but I did notice that Holland America Line's newer ship, Koningsdam, has some pretty epic solo ocean-view staterooms. The cruise line also offers a Solo Share Program. You can share a stateroom with a same-sex roommate to cut down the cost of the room, I would totally look into that if you are willing to share a room.