3Sisters

I agree with you @FJB! Princess Cruises seems to know what it's doing in terms of cruising throughout Alaska. I would say, Princess Cruises is an optimal choice to sailing to this region. You are so knowledgable of all of the Celebrity Cruises' ships! If I were to cruise with my family on a Celebrity Cruises' ship, what ship would you recommend? The Solstice class ships look like the most practical, and I definitely prefer a less crowded experience. I think The Edge-class ships have lots of new amenities, but maybe too crowded for my linking.

Trampoline parks at sea sounds like so much fun. It would be a great way for kids to burn out their energy on a rainy or cool cruise day. I always rely on the outdoor play spaces to burn out energy, but a trampoline park would be a great indoor option after lots of fun in the sun!

@exit63nj I found some information about what you are referring to. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-begins-pre-cruise-entertainment-reservations/94040 I also noticed that Platinum guests get the first pick to reserve the entertainment shows. That's truly such a shame. I don't think we are the only ones that feel this way. Not all cruise guests, especially first timers, are going to know about this change and may miss out on the entertainment completely. I would imagine the entertainment shows will basically book up fully prior to embarkation. I'm so accustomed to reserving the entertainment shows once on board; I don't think many guests are going to appreciate this change.

Norwegian Cruise Line is making very significant cutbacks, and guests are noticing. First, NCL announced staffing cutbacks. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-announces-9-staff-cuts-and-leadership-changes/90412 Now, the cruise line is having guests pre-register for onboard entertainment. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-begins-pre-cruise-entertainment-reservations/94040 This pre-registration also is leading to NCL cutting back on entertainment. Loyal guests are not very pleased with all of these changes, and how they impact the cruising experience. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-cutting-back-on-entertainment/92334 New fees were also recently introduced too on top of it all. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-introducing-new-fee-guests-will-not-like/89662 Am I the only one surprised by all of these changes?

@LukeJThe long hours of the customer service/hospitality industry is a big burden. It's can also be very physically demanding. I think that those that work in this industry get burned out pretty quickly because of the demands. It's just so wild to me that just last year the cruise industry was having trouble getting ships properly staffed and now there are budget cuts and staff cuts left and right.

@dagither70 I wonder if MSC Cruises will be adding a zip line to Ocean Cay! This is the first time I'm hearing of the idea. There definitely is plenty of space for more, and I think a zipline would be well suited for the island. Here are some great things to know before you go to Ocean Cay. If you are cruising as a Yacht Club guest, the private island provides a golf cart shuttle service throughout the island! It's so nice. The food buffet is wonderful and the drink packages apply on Ocean Cay as well. That's one of my favorite perks, alongside it being so extremely safe and convenient. https://www.cruisehive.com/things-to-know-about-ocean-cay-msc-marine-reserve/37450 @LukeJZip lining on a cruise ship is tons of fun! Snorkeling at Ocean Cay is very convenient and majestic. I highly recommend it. When is your next cruise?

@LukeJ I haven't heard of the "The infinity pool" movie until now! I have to look it up. Is it a true story? I don't know if I would like it very much if it's based on true facts. I enjoy swimming in infinity pools, so if it would give me fear of them, then it's definitely not for me. @FJB Have you heard of this movie?

@FJB Do you enjoy saunas? I love a deep sweat in the sauna! It can be quite relaxing. The SEA Thermal Suite has so many different amenities beyond fitness! https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/health-and-wellness/edge-spa/sea-thermal-suite The thermal suite has heated tile loungers, a salt room, a float room, and even a steam room. If you haven't tried out any of these amenities, maybe you could on your upcoming sailing. It seems that there are plenty of relaxation options you could take advantage of. It even has a Rainfall Water Therapy Room. I haven't heard of such as thing until now. There's a first time for everything!

@LukeJ Operating a brewery is a strenuous and tedious profession! What a shame your uncle struggled so much to make ends meet. Speaking of the liquor prices, the gratuities for alcohol purchases can be quite hefty too! At least many cruise lines try to keep alcohol selections refreshed, occasionally offering new and exciting varietals. Celebrity Cruises recently hiked up its beverage package prices, following Norwegian Cruise Line and Princess Cruises. Hopefully the price increases also give a greater tip percentage to the bar staff. That would only be fair! I love when cruise lines allow for you to bring one bottle of wine per person onboard. Although, not all cruise lines allow it. I also enjoy the ability to pre-purchase liquor bottles to my stateroom. Once again, not all cruise lines allow this luxury. In fact, Carnival Cruise Line tried to take away this perk in 2022 and it backfired. Carnival Cruise Line ended up reversing the decision to take away pre-cruise liquor purchases, and currently allows guests to pre-purchase one liquor bottle per stateroom, not per guest. https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-cruise-line-reverses-unpopular-pre-cruise-decision/89219

@Tom Winn I was just looking into this; it seems Holland America Line is ditching the port as well! Holland America Line claimed the changes were due to "operational reasons", but that sounds odd to me. Are you scheduled to visit Victoria, BC any time soon? https://www.cruisehive.com/holland-america-cruise-no-longer-visiting-popular-alaskan-port/93931 You actually aren't the first person to recommend Butchart Gardens to me. My mom has been there in the past and says it's the most amazing/elaborate garden she has ever encountered! It's funny that Princes Cruises just replaced Victoria, British Columbia with Prince Rupert, British Columbia on a recent itinerary due to protecting marine life. It seems ironic that Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line are opting for Victoria while Princess Cruises is shying away from it. Apparently the marine protection piece is due to an Interim Order for the Protection of the Killer Whale established in 2022. https://www.cruisehive.com/princess-cruises-replaces-port-of-call-to-safeguard-marine-life/93693

@Robert Knapp It's quite incredible you have sailed almost 400 nights with Carnival Cruise Line! You are truly loyal to the brand. I would say you have likely collected every pin you could obtain! It's also impressive you have sailed almost 150 nights with Royal Caribbean. I'm very surprised you haven't received cocktail/drink perks while onboard Carnival Cruise Line. I know that Carnival does offer specialty events with drink perks. I'm sure you have hit one of the top loyalty status options, and you should truly be treated as a VIP guest. I like the concept that RCL gives you drinks to use at any bar throughout the ship. The flexibility is so nice! I have heard rumors that Carnival Cruise Line may be changing its loyalty tiers. Hopefully the line can up its game and remain competitive in the market. You certainly have earned the perk of gaining some free drinks! Other than the drink aspect, do you feel RCL still provides better loyalty perks than CCL?

@Woody14 Thanks for sharing your knowledge here. Your estimate of crew per guest ratio seems pretty spot on. It's very intriguing that the ratio is diluted for the more affordable "main stream" cruise lines. Since I haven't sailed on a luxury ship before, I have nothing to compare it to, but I would say the service on some of these smaller, more upscale lines is likely better. The crew is likely more relaxed and content because their workload is lesser, and I'm sure the overall customer service is better. I appreciate the examples you shared. I enjoyed reading this article that clarifies what each crew member does onboard. https://www.cruisehive.com/know-crew-members-cruise/5147

The cost of seeing a comedian live nowadays has truly gone up! I guess all entertainers are trying to recover from the losses in previous years. Having a specialty comedian onboard would likely be more cost effective and convenient. One of the joys of cruising is the proximity of everything onboard. I absolutely love being able to walk to everything on the ship, without having to get in the car and drive. It's such a relaxing feeling to know everything is only 5 minutes away. No GPS needed or car traffic to contend with. I also enjoy having all of the food options so close at hand. The food service is always amazing and the food is ready at such a quick pace! Cruising is one of the most worry-free vacations anyone could experience. Do you agree @Danae?

@LukeJ I'm sure there are ways to make business taxes appear differently on paper than in real life. I wonder if utilizing overseas staffing gives the cruise lines any sort of tax relief. Speaking of the unknowns of cruising, there is truly a whole other side to cruising guests, like myself, are unfamiliar with. Aside from the business portion of cruise operations, the behind-the-scenes logistics that go into cruising is a whole new world to me. Apparently there are lots of secret codes onboard. Have you ever heard any other these codes before? I have heard "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar" on a more recent cruise. Come to find out that means "man overboard." Also, the medical facilities on the decks below are very intricate. The ship's medical capabilities are truly amazing. They even offer certain necessary pharmaceuticals in case of an emergency circumstance. I feel very secure while cruising, knowing there are trained medical personnel and facilities onboard.

@LukeJ That's so nice you had the opportunity to learn at such a young age! It's incredible you still enjoy the game after playing it for 25 years. Is golf your favorite sport you play? What other sports do you enjoy? I love that so many cruise ships now offer a variety of spaces to play sports onboard. My brother used to love playing pingpong as a child when we would cruise. He would often beat the adults during a tournament and win a metal! Although I didn't usually win competitions, I do have a fond memory of winning a Carnival Cruise Line soft serve ice cream eating contest as a child. I think the cruise line has since limited the amount of soft serve onboard during certain hours of the day. In fact, this was about 20 years ago; so it has been many years. My brother and I also enjoy tennis. I just found that Carnival Cruise Line's ship, Carnival Conquest, has a pickleball court onboard! We would have had so much fun playing there as kids. https://www.cruisehive.com/carnival-ship-debuts-new-dedicated-venue-for-popular-sport/85807

@Melanie Collins As a parent myself, I have mixed feelings about this. I truly agree that parents need to monitor their children. If you stateroom is near the stairwell, however, you will likely hear guests passing by at all hours of the day/night. This is very common for staterooms located near the stairwells/elevators. It's a bit extreme to have someone put off at a port for making extensive noise. In terms of loud activity in hallways, I agree that parents should be more considerate of others. It's very inconsiderate for anyone to be too noisy in the late evening hours near the cabins. I personally would not allow my children to run back and forth in the hallways, disrupting others. I think many parents that bring their children along have a more relaxed version of parents while on vacation, but that's not an excuse to disturb others. I live by the motto, "do to others what you would want them to do to you." If you wouldn't want someone disrupting you while you are resting, then you shouldn't do it to others. I guess it's wishful thinking to assume everyone would feel the same way.

@FJB You are so right! I honestly never realized that until you mentioned it. Many cruise lines are operating with this same logistic as well. I guess utilizing the amazing views for suite guests only makes it more exclusive. I'm sure these suites are much more costly and desired because of the immaculate scenery. Will your Aquaclass cabin have a view of the open deck? Aquaclass cabins look amazing! As a part of this package, it looks like you will have access to the thermal suites. Have you ever been to the thermal suites in the past? I found you will also receive a fitness pass. Is the fitness pass different than a traditional gym opportunity onboard? Do you have the option to attend any of the onboard fitness classes while using it? I absolutely love using onboard gym facilities, but the cost of the fitness classes can be pretty costly!

@FJB Thanks for clarifying the Captain's Club. I haven't cruised with the line before. I did some online searching and found more information on Celebrity Cruises' webpage. I love the variety of tier levels the cruise line has. https://www.celebritycruises.com/captains-club That's a great discount! It's also so nice that you don't have to worry about gratuities with the beverage packages. You can always tip extra at the end but it's not necessary to have cash on your at all times. The difference between the premium and the classic packages seems significant. I'm glad you will be able to enjoy your premium beverage package to the fullest! It also seems the whiskey selection is much better in the premium package too! https://www.celebritycruises.com/things-to-do-onboard/onboard-packages/beverage-packages

@rek That's a good tip. Have you had any issues with Norwegian Cruise Line's bidding system in the past? Usually Norwegian Cruise Line's bidding program can be very lucrative and secure. @Nadine Downie Were you able to resolve this issue? I'd imagine the cruise line has resolved the issue by now. Were you properly compensated and refunded for the mishappening? Your cruise took place very close to this occurrence. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-cancels-cruise-last-minute-due-to-covid-related-circumstances/63189

@cathy r. Yes, if you are offered a refund you might as well receive it. I would say you will only receive a refund if it was surely justifiable. It seems like you were not treated appropriately in this instance. Royal Caribbean usually has pretty good customer service. Did you cruise with the line and a similar circumstance occurred to you? Would you be able to expand on your experience? I hope that the cruise line makes this situation right for you, so you can regain some trust in them.

@Marilyn Sivley What a bummer you had a disappointing experience in Nassau. Have you been there in the past? I have had a similar experience, especially in the more artisan style markets. It's fun to shop for souvenirs and bargain, but it can be an overwhelming experience. I generally enjoy trying to shop the artisan, local made products, but these markets can be oversaturated with similar products and shops side-by-side. It can be intimidating to shop with such intense selling, but it's just part of the experience. I enjoy being able to offer lower prices and get the prices discounted, unlike how I generally shop in the U.S. It's certainly a competitive market so usually the sellers will lower the suggested price to make the sale. When the environment is so congested it is also easy for pick pockets to take full advantage of visitors. You will actually see Nassau visitors wearing their backpacks in on their chest, in the front, or opting for a fanny pack in the front to lower the risk of this happening to them. I'm pretty impressed that Nassau was able to recover it. That's very good to hear. This is a good tip for any new cruisers visiting Nassau or any new port of call for that matter.

@RoadTravelled It sounds like I'd better get to cruising with Carnival Cruise Line if I want to reach Diamond status any time soon and enjoy the unlimited laundry perk. Thanks for sharing those details. Do you have any tips on cruising to earn more points faster to start climbing the status ladder at a quicker pace? Are there certain times of year the where Carnival Cruise Line offers double points when you book? I would say five bags each is a great amount. Also, a 14-day cruise sounds so amazing. The longest cruise I have been on is a seven day. With a 14-day experience you certainly will need to do at least one load of laundry. That is a great amount of days to pack for! It's essentially half a month. Some cruise lines offer the self-service laundry but not all of them. Like you said, on the newer ships the onboard public laundry facilities are few and far between. Do you usually prefer to cruise on the newer mega ships?

@BonnieG That's so exciting! When will you be visiting Amber Cove? Ziplining sounds amazing. Will you be joining you husband on that experience? I have seen the ziplining over the ocean and that sounds incredible. I haven't done it over the ocean before. Is this the excursion you will be exploring? https://www.carnival.com/shore-excursions/amber-cove/over-the-ocean-zipline-with-beach--lunch-445102 There are bathrooms, umbrellas, and beach loungers available. I also found there are $5 lockers for your belongings. It sounds like this excursion checks all of your boxes. I hope you enjoy your time in Amber Cove. Here are some things you may want to explore while you are there! https://www.cruisehive.com/everything-you-should-know-about-amber-cove-dominican-republic/23561

@FJB That's great you were able to upgraded to the Celebrity Cruises' classic drink package to the premium offering. I honestly don't think $16.50 per day is that bad because you will get such a better selection to choose from. I'm also impressed that allowed you to upgrade one person in the cabin and didn't have to upgrade the other. From my cruising experience, the cruise lines usually have you upgrade both. What is a Captain's Club discount? Were you a captain before on one of Celebrity Cruises' ships in the past? Wine is also my drink of choice. With the premium beverage package, are you able to select from anything on the menu or is there a price per glass cutoff? I'm pretty certain that Makers Mark is not included in the classic package. By the time you purchase one of those, you have almost met the additional per day cost! If you have the opportunity to splurge on your vacation, go for it! It's your time to relax and enjoy.

@RoadTravelled I'm glad to hear that Carnival Cruise Line's loyalty program may be changing its framework. This may mean loyalty members could receive even more specialty perks for cruising with the line! Do you have any idea what changes may be made? It takes serious dedication to make it to the top status. I would think those who are in the top tier category could potentially be eligible for other intimate events for their guest loyalty. I can't believe that there are over 1.5 million Platinum and Diamond guests. I know that Carnival Cruise Line is definitely one of the more popular cruise lines, but that's an intense amount! Free laundry service sounds amazing! It is very expensive to do your laundry onboard. Do you get unlimited laundry service as a Platinum member? I would totally take advantage of that if so. I'm not a fan of brining home salty bathing suits and sweaty workout clothes. I often time hand wash those items with a small detergent so that they stay fresh.