3Sisters

@LukeJ I think I would be more open to cruising for the destination when I am retired. When I'm retired I would assume my lifestyle is more open to longer travel and new adventures! I hate to say I'm opposed to that right now (because I'm not), but with the limited free time I have, I'm just looking to get away and escape from the everyday. If I was cruising for destinations, I think I would be more open minded to cruising with other lines. Princess Cruises and Holland America Line would be next to try. Have you cruised with either of these lines before?

Hi @Rosie R.. Are you currently booked on on Norwegian Viva? I'm assuming your concern stems from this news. https://www.cruisehive.com/norwegian-cruise-line-ditches-major-port-due-to-tender-concerns/122525 It's hard to say if you cruise will be affected, but there is great probability that, if this ban continues, Norwegian Viva will need to reroute those Venice itineraries. That would be such a shame but there isn't much NCL can do about it! If you are booked on Norwegian Viva, I would call the cruise line and keep an eye out for an email. You will hear about any cruise changes via email, hopefully sooner than later! Keep us posted on any updates on this.

@John Burr I'm still seeing lots of Papeete itinerary options for Princess Cruises online. https://www.princess.com/en-us/cruise-destinations/tahiti-south-pacific-cruises Did you receive a refund or future cruise credit for that canceled sailing pre-pandemic? It seems you can rebook that cruise adventure now that everything is back to normal operations. Are you interested in re-booking a similar/same itinerary? If I were you I would rebook this cruise sooner than later, especially if you have an expiring cruise credit! There is no time like the present to get back to cruising, and you never know when things could change again.

@Global Expeditions w Paul That's a great question. Travel protection would be very beneficial for this situation. For a well anticipated itinerary, I would always recommend purchasing travel insurance. This is a very unfortunate circumstance @brian amos is in. I would be so frustrated that the cruise line took so long to give answers. I really hope there is a good refund/compensation for this loss.

@FJB I don't recommend sleeping on the beach pre-boarding! It can be so much fun and exhilarating to camp on the beach in your young days, but I can't image doing that with your cruise suitcase in hand. Showering at the beach almost guarantees you a sandy bottom for a couple days. I'm picturing endless amounts of sand in your shoes flinging around as your board your cruise. You could always sleep in an airport chair or floor. Many people get really comfy on the airport floor and no one thinks anything of it. It's a bit hard and quite dirty, but with a good travel pillow you could make it work!

A cruise ship made of bamboo sounds a bit far fetched. I'm all about those man made elements when it comes to the boat I'm going to cruise on. I would consider getting on a smaller boat made out of bamboo. I'm pretty sure those smaller bamboo ships are sold today. I have seen some smaller models available for purchase. Have you ever bamboo swaying in the wind? It makes the more unique but soothing sound in the breeze. I just browsed a bamboo chandelier, and it was so aesthetically pleasing! I love the beauty of bamboo items.

@euroguy I'm so glad you were alerted about this. Sometimes these purchases come without warning! That's the absolute worst. It takes forever too clear up these errors on your credit and you have to jump through hoops to prove it's inaccuracy. I can't believe they made you file a police report. That's wild to me. What was the police report supposed to do? When you work so hard to have amazing credit and then this happens, it's brutal. I would freeze my credit too if this kept occurring. Scammers will find you anywhere. I read an article about airports and wifi at the airports being very unprotected and unsafe. To be honest, your info can be stolen even when you don't put it out there by accident.

@Sapphire Your cruise is only a week out! How exciting is that? This time off year (and many others) you are going to experience lots of warmth and humidity. I would bring light and breathable clothing, particularly for port days. I would also recommend a hat that provides plenty of shade because the sun will burn. I happen to love the sun protecting shirts, and I recommend giving those a shot to protect your arms. They also dry really well if they get wet with water or sweat. There will be potential showers in the forecast. I would also advise you bring a lightweight rain jacket and/or packable umbrella. The plastic water panchos are very easy to bring along, but not that effective when it's really raining. A lightweight sweater is likely all you will need, if at all, to keep warm on a brisk night at sea. Where will your cruise be stopping?

@Helen Mitchell One thing I have noticed for sure is that Royal Caribbean is really accepting of dogs. I don't have an allergy to animals, but this must be very frustrating as a guest with a pet allergy. I think it's admirable that cruise lines allow service animals for guests that need it, but I'm not an animal lover so I try to avoid the animals onboard if I'm being honest. There are plenty of other cruise lines that either have more strict pet policies and/or don't really have many pets onboard. CCL does attract dogs, but I don't think you spot them much at all on Celebrity Cruises and MSC Cruises. RCL is a wonderful line and it's a bummer you are now having to contemplate cruising with another line. I have a feeling Icon of the Seas is going to attract plenty of pets at sea.

@euroguy I'm hopeful too. If it didn't make it onboard Carnival Firenze, where would it go? It's such a waste to have it hiding somewhere, when guests could be appreciating David's beauty every single day! You are always amazing at circling back around. I love that you keep us all in the loop. I'm envisioning David being dressed up for the holidays already. Maybe someone will toss a Santa hat on his head to add some seasonal flair come December.

@euroguy I know CCL is very generous to you but I love that you make the most out of the opportunities! You could easily just cruise and not do much with it, but you immerse yourself in new regions and cultures. It's impressive to see the time you spend in making your vacations so memorable, and you go the extra mile to do your research too! A few extra hours in San Juan and you will be doing a helicopter tour! I love that. I haven't done one of those before. I have had to opportunity to try it, but I felt too chicken. I fly in airplane plenty. I'm not sure why helicopters intimidate me so much. That would be the perfect ending to an amazing day in San Juan. This is heavenly! You will make fresh conch ceviche on a private island. What a way to get the full experience! Have you been to Grand Turk before? I have yet to stop there on a cruise, but I want to do this experience! I can't believe you were able to coordinate the release of baby turtles into an excursion. I think if you planned my cruise vacation, I wouldn't ever go back to my old way of cruising. Do you do this sort of planning for specialty restaurants onboard the ship too? I always dodge the specialty restaurant bullet and it's mainly because I have to plan it all out! I feel like the sales people for the restaurants are trying to find me so I make a conscious effort to doge them at all costs.

@euroguy Wow, I wish I chose an experience like that when I was in Amber Cove. I just stopped at a random beach! You know how to book an excursion. A private driver of the whole region sounds amazing. Your Grand Turk excursion sounds even better! Will you have any extra time after your Old San Juan tour? I think we were there in August and it was pretty hot. It didn't bother us at all though because we were in the water for most of the time! The hot temps don't both me as long as I have access to shade and/or water. Old San Juan has plenty of trees and shade from what I remember. When you exit the ship you will roast. I recommend a wide brimmed hat.

@RoadTravelled Credit card fraud is so dangerous and runs rampant! You can do so many measures to protect yourself, but you swipe at the wrong location and your personal information can be compromised at an instance. I believe what goes around, will come back around. If you are breaking the rules and doing harm to others, you will get exposed. Thankfully cruise lines are excellent at security and protecting guests. I wouldn't mess around on a cruise ship. More than likely, you will get caught. I feel very safe when cruising and it's because of the awesome security onboard. I feel like that's a major perk included in my cruise premium. Every person is accounted for and pre-scanned on the ship.

@LukeJ I highly recommend turning off bluetooth and wifi when you can. The constant emissions are no good and hard to escape. I would say they are almost impossible to escape. Our everyday radiation exposure (particularly from our phones) is way more than what is good for us. Unfortunately there is no escaping it, and bluetooth headphones are also so very bad for us. It's the unfortunate truth about our digitalized society today. If you look into the longterm effects of this type of constant exposure, it will blow your mind! Constant communication at our fingertips comes at a price to our health.

@Cassie Harrison Which 27-month trip are you referring to? I haven't seen a cruise itinerary at this length but there are resident ship options that could offer a 27-month contract. Which ship have you been looking into? Is this what you are referencing? https://www.cruisehive.com/continual-world-cruise-sets-best-one-day-sales-record/121034 This Villa Vie Residences experience would need to be booked directly through its direct website. This line has options to own or rent residences.

@euroguy I have been to San Juana and Amber Cove. You will love both of them. San Juan is simple and feels so comfortable because even your cell phone will work! Don't forget you can catch an Uber over there too. The last time I went I didn't book an excursion and went to a very safe public beach area. Our Uber driver recommended it to us and took us there. It was called Playita del Condado. Water was crystal clear, the area felt very safe, and you can rent a beach lounger with an umbrella affordably.

@LukeJ Go with flow is the way to be on vacation! There are all types of vacationers. I have been on vacations with the hyper planners. Those friends are oftentimes great, but sometimes it can feel more stressful than fun when we are 24/7 sticking to a schedule. I like the idea of relaxing on vacation with nowhere to be. Cruise sea days are great for a plan-free day. My life is hyper scheduled all the time, on vacation I'm looking for the complete opposite of my everyday.

@Mavis Thanks for confirming there has been no change thus far. Hopefully NCL will notify you of any changes with enough notice. A last minute switch up could be very frustrating and stressful. Have you cruised out of Buenos Aires before? I hope this cruise goes smoothly for you!

It's funny you say that because my children always prefer the cereal when I take them out for breakfast too. I agree the price isn't too steep and the experience would be worth it. The price is definitely better than paying for a Disney cruise! Those character breakfasts cost so much more when you factor it all in. Thankfully my kids don't know any better when it comes to DCL. I don't plan to introduce them to it either. The Dr. Seuss Thing 1 & 2 Birthday Breakfast is good enough!

@Marylovescruising You sound like a great time! I wish I was joining you on a cruise to Cozumel. How did you enjoy this cruise? Did you make any friends onboard? What did you think of the ship? Carnival Celebration holds many guests, and I can only assume you had a blast! Did you get to enjoy Guy's Burger Joint? My mouth is watering juts thinking about it!

@MzCoop2you Cruising for your birthday is the way to celebrate! It's a bummer your friends ditched on the fun because you will be having a whole lot of it. I wouldn't regret a cruise experience. I know you can make this cruise truly unforgettable if you book the right excursions and explore all the ship has to offer. What are some of your favorite things to do onboard? From thermal suites to the casino, I know you will be able to enjoy this cruise even if your husband doesn't tag along for most of it. Which ports will you be visiting? You should book some unforgettable excursions! Your husband doesn't have to join for those either!

@RoadTravelled I think it's going to be a hit onboard! It must have been such an unforgettable sight to see the real David in person. @euroguy You have a good opportunity of seeing it on your upcoming itinerary. It's a statement statue for sure, but that's the point of a statue to me. Even if you don't catch him onboard, I believe the cruise will still feel like a piece of Italy. I hope David is brought on because it would complete the theme of the ship perfectly!

@curlygirl2424 Were you able to confirm this Key benefit? I think many guests would love to switch the luncheon to free room service, especially for longer itineraries. Odyssey of the Seas is a lovely ship! Will this be your first time cruising on it? The ship offers endless amenities and the colorful decor feels like vacation to me. Hopefully you get to encounter a robot bartender onboard!

The beloved Green Eggs and Ham breakfast will be retiring from CCL. Many guests have truly enjoyed this character breakfast and will be sad to see it go. Thankfully the line will be replacing the Suess fun with a Thing 1 & 2 Birthday Breakfast. The menu has been released, and everything is perfectly themed and seemingly delicious. What is the downside? The prices are going up. We could only assume we have to pay more for the enhanced experience, right?

@FJB That's really no good. When I'm cruising I want to feel like a valued guest. Once I feel like a cash cow, feeding into the cruise line's constant gimmicks, I'm not interested in cruising with the line anymore. I have yet to cruise with NCL and it's basically due to previews like yours and @Grandma Oonut. I prefer to prepay everything, knowing mostly everything about what I want on my cruise experience, and then stop myself from pretty much all other onboard purchases. This decision-making strategy helps me properly plan and budget ahead of time, ensuring I don't overspend on things that really won't enhance my cruise experience any. A massage isn't going to make or break my cruise. An onboard jewelry shopping spree isn't going to excite me either. It's easy to say no to those extra things when I already pre-paid and decided what I was going to spend on, and then enjoy those amenities I spent on to the very fullest!