3Sisters

@Taressa Harris I definitely see your point of view here. Many loyal Carnival Cruise Line guests are experiencing the same frustrations you are as a platinum member. I think the casino perk is definitely low and could be restructured to better benefit top-level guests. Thankfully Carnival Cruise Line is now asking for guest feedback and is hinting at a VIFP loyalty program overhaul. This would hopefully work in your favor! The prices may not waiver but if the VIFP program becomes restructured to better honor its loyal guests, I think that guests would be more faithful to the cruise line and happier with the honorary perks they receive.

I always love a good chocolate-covered strawberry! I have enjoyed Royal Caribbean's chocolate strawberries before, but I'm really a fan of any. My favorite way to enjoy them is in my stateroom. Sometimes I order them to be in the stateroom as soon as I arrive and it's really such a special treat! Does anyone else enjoy this?

@Rex Ellis I think Carnival Cruise Line is definitely on its way to making some serious changes to its VIFP loyalty program. The program is becoming oversaturated and it's certainly time for a change. Thankfully Carnival Cruise Line is asking for loyalty guest feedback about what changes should be made. CCL is also raising its prices significantly with hikes in Amber Cove private rentals to increasing its private island rentals on Half Moon Cay. The prices are really becoming exaggerated in some regards. I like your idea about the casino offers. This is pretty good feedback and I hope the cruise line takes this feedback into account.

Norwegian Cruises may not be the only cruise line that is bringing back in-person muster drills. Some cruise lines did experience some "technical difficulties" and learning curves with the virtual muster drills. Although, as of now, Carnival Cruise Line is holding on to its "self-mustering" process. CCL has received lots of positive feedback from this process so, for now, the cruise line is going to keep this simplified safety debriefing to maximize the fun time guests can have at sea. https://help.carnival.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1200/~/safety-briefing---muster-station-drill

@KeithG I'm right there with you! The views, the sun, delicious food, and plenty of drinks are good enough for me. I love just talking to the friendly staff and taking my time. My lifestyle is so fast-paced that cruising with no time constraints is truly luxurious. I never participate in April Fools because I end up begin the fool trying to play a joke or a prank while laughing the whole time. I have the worst poker face. CCL doesn't seem to be lacking any sort of demand. The line is expecting its biggest Alaska cruise season to date, despite all of the price increases! I guess Carnival Cruise Line is going to keep on showing up as a top performer this year with all of its new amenities and ships. I'm certainly impressed by the way CCL continues to stay current and switch things up for its guests versus staying mundane. I really think that's why CCL is performing so well because the cruise line isn't afraid to try new things! The three CCL ships cruising Alaska this season will even have new excursion options for its guests.

@Redhawt05 For those of you who aren't salty with Princess Cruises, the cruise line is going out of its way to restructure one of its upcoming itineraries to give guests a full view of the solar eclipse. Emerald Princess will be modifying one of its itineraries this month truly soaking in this momentous occasion by even providing drinks and snacks for the event! It's definitely going to be an unforgettable evening onboard the ship.

MSC Cruises' new ship, MSC Euribia, will have some exciting new entertainment options onboard! This line's new flagship will launch in June, in only a few months. MSC Euriba will begin its inaugural cruise season in Northern Europe. The Delphi Theatre onboard will feature seven different shows onboard from Cirus 1920 to Generation Rock. Who is excited for MSC Cruises' 22nd fleet member? The cruise line is growing like crazy.

@Kris Smith I hope you are able to find another solution to style your hair onboard your upcoming NCL cruise. When do plan to embark on your next cruise vacation? Here are some good tips for packing to ensure you are bringing the important stuff while still following the particular guidelines per each cruise line. Cruise Hive stays pretty on top of the latest cruise guidelines so keep an eye out on the page for new info. An article was released yesterday adding clarification to Norwegian Cruise Line's fan usage guidelines. Apparently, NCL will permit small fans onboard but are subject to a security check.

@KristineF It looks like Virgin Voyages is in the works of seeking another round of investments. These new funds would help the cruise line stay afloat. It seems like Sir Richard Branson's brands are facing some recent financial turmoil. Hopefully, the cruise line remains strong and doesn't go under like Virgin Orbit!

@Redhawt05 I'm glad you were able to locate the required documents area on the Medallion app. Usually, cruise lines are really good at telling you exactly what documentation you may need for embarkation. I'm bummed that @Don nix was unable to cruise but would imagine the necessary documentation was listed somewhere visible prior to the sail date. Have you ever cruised with a Princess Cruises MedallionClass experience before? The line's Medallion has by now been rolled out fleetwide as a wearable device that provides guests with a touchless experience and can potentially be personalized with logo customizations. I think the technology is so great!

@716Matt The pink flamingo is meant to symbolize your cabin is onboard for a good time. You can read this article for some insider details. https://www.cruisehive.com/pink-flamingo-meaning/89016 I brought a big flamingo float on one of my cruises prior to knowing this. Needless to say, I hope I wasn't portraying something like this by floating around the Caribbean on a flamingo. It made for a good photo prop anyhow, and it was a luxury to lounge on. Next time, I think I will save this float for a more private setting.

@kefthecruiser That's another way to look at it! I too recommend an ocean view or interior stateroom for extra security. If you have the possible thought of going overboard I recommend staying away from any sort of potentially dangerous situation, on land and at sea. I agree that the views are pretty immaculate onboard a cruise ship, and the design of MSC World America is going to have plenty of opportunities for enjoying the tranquility of the sea with its latest design!

@FJB Why didn't you recvied your glass off champagne? That's definitely something to look forward to! Celebrity Cruises needs to stay consistent with its loyalty perks. I think charging for room service is fair after hours. Foodservice, especially directly to the stateroom doesn't give the housekeeping/kitchen staff any sort of break. I also think to reduce waste, charging a bit for the service ensures that the guests ordering are going to eat the food, not order in vain and waste it. As much as I think charging can be a nuisance, I do understand that logistically it's not particularly necessary or lucrative enough to be provided without a small upcharge.

@Missie4753 I agree that this isn't a very plausible accident. Although there is likely more to the story, it's still very tragic. Balconies are designed to be safe enough that this sort of "fluke" doesn't occur often. I wonder if more details will unravel over time. Maybe there was any sort of substance abuse or foul play in the mix. What a shift of events for this entire cruise itinerary. Virgin Voyages did offer cruise credit for those affected by this event onboard. Hopefully, those cruise guests can rebook and enjoy another Virgin Voyages cruise at a later date.

@Dani124 I haven't personally cruised with Norwegian Cruise Line before, but I would make an educated guess that the stateroom bathrooms do have clotheslines. Clotheslines are pretty much a staple and you could always bring some S hooks or magnetic hooks just in case. The S hooks could be used to hang up any wet item on the shower curtain rod, any handles, or towel holders anywhere from the bathroom to the entryway of your stateroom.

I just found out that a cruise guest fell onto a lower deck onboard Valiant Lady. Unfortunately, this horrifying incident ended up with the passenger tragically passing away onboard the ship. The poor passenger fell from her Deck 14 balcony. Did anyone hear about this? The itinerary for Valiant Lady had to shift back to PortMiami due to the incident.

@RoadTravelled I'm glad Carnival Cruise Line is staying on top of this issue with updated security measures. I think some guests are always going to try and break the rules. It's most important that the cruise line is on top of the issues and continues to enforce safety and security measures to ensure the integrity of each sailing. I agree, that there is a reason why the, usually unseen, security team exists, constantly monitoring and aware of any potential rulebreaking/hazards that occur onboard. I also agree that the time of year, price point, and duration of the cruise itinerary attract different crowds. To avoid a more rowdy guest experience, I recommend taking longer sailings that aren't over a holiday break. The cost of cruising is going up anyhow. Carnival Cruise Line released information that it is initiating a second gratuity increase in less than a year that just began on April 1.

@Nana007 I have to agree with you, service dogs are meant to serve their owners so I'm surprised the dog was left unattended night and day. If anything it sounds like the dog was a bit upset being left unattended that long in a foreign environment. The dog would have likely been better off in its normal element with a kind pet caregiver. Dogs are only gaining popularity onboard cruise ships nowadays. I read that a dog onboard Holland America Line earned 700 days on a cruise ship. At least the dog did serve its owners well, assisting its owner who is blind.

@Seaawgs That's what I thought as well! I'm so glad you were able to confirm this. This is good news for @Pennsylvania Cruiser. Hopefully, it stays this way into 2025. Cruise lines are constantly changing their rules and regulations. I recommend that @Pennsylvania Cruiser checks back closer to the embarkation date to make sure things haven't changed. As of now, breakfast delivery is still free for Celebrity Cruises!

@kefthecruiser Is it just me or does the hurricane season timeframe keep expanding? I can't believe that the daily tropical lookout begins in May! I hope this year isn't too bad. The non-landlocked states could use a little break from the hurricane devastation. I didn't realize the peak season was in September, but that's good to know when booking a cruise. I think taking out traveler's insurance during these months may be a good idea. There can be way too much uncertainty with mother nature. In other news, the future of cruising may have a pretty cool new look. I loved reading this article about the potential aerodynamic cruise ships that look so futuristic! Does anyone else think this looks like a rocket ship on water?

@Pennsylvania Cruiser Did you recently experience this on a past itinerary? It's certainly a bummer. I have noticed a few cruise lines have also changed their room service options. From what I understand, the cost per stateroom order is about nine dollars and change. Was that the room service breakfast price you noticed on your recent Celebrity Cruises sailing? I saw that the cruise line may also still be doing the complimentary stateroom breakfast but only charging for certain hours of the day. I too enjoy the occasional breakfast in bed, particularly when I book a balcony stateroom!

@MarkH A private group tour sounds like a fun initiative. I wonder if there are any other cruisers on the same September itinerary with you! Sharing a taxi could certainly help with lowering the cost a bit. Will this be your first time cruising onboard Regal Princess? This ship was involved in a plane crash rescue back in 2019! It was a pretty amazing rescue mission. @kefthecruiser Thanks for sharing this spot to visit! The photos are truly a sight to remember. It looks very remarkable and like an unforgettable experience. How far was this location from the port?

One of Disney Cruise Line's new ships will homeport in Singapore for a minimum of five years! This will be the line's first Southeast Asian deployment, and it will begin sailing out of Singapore in 2025. Additionally, Disney Cruise Line is beginning to share more subtle info on another upcoming fleet member, Disney Treasure. This ship will begin cruising in about a year and Disney Cruise Line fans are getting pretty excited about all of the new expansions for the cruise line. Is anyone else excited about all of these new additions?

@FJB I think this seaweed belt is going to get a lot of news coverage until the whole thing is over and gone. It could be worse, but maybe it's just best to avoid cruising to the affected areas if you are looking for a pristine beach experience. Beaches are definitely beautiful and enjoyable but it's not the only place to explore at each port! Ports of call have so much more to offer than a beach-focused experience. This sargassum bloom actually does some good for the environment, so it's truly a benefit in several ways.

@716Matt I'm hopeful you will be able to make your door stand out. I would imagine as long as it isn't inappropriate, no one will say anything. You can't go wrong with Royal Caribbean, their itinerary selection is pretty endless and customer service is usually on-point. Will you be cruising on the new Icon of the Seas? The cruise line just released some of the all-new venues Icon of the Seas will feature. I would imagine NCL is going to be pretty different than Royal Caribbean but you will surely have a great time in good company. Despite the mixed reviews, Norwegian Epic does have some fun bars onboard, one that's a 24/7 beer place called O'Sheehans and another Mattings Whiskey Bar with a huge selection of whiskeys if that's something you would be interested in. The Spice H2O lounge is an adult-only pool area that may be a hit for your group if you are traveling without underage guests.