Cruising Caribbean

@RoadTravelled I didn't realize Viking River Cruises had such small ships! It makes sense thought, because rivers can't typically hold such a large mega ship like the ocean can. I wouldn't mind the casino lacking, but I do think the amenities may be lacking. The key about Viking River Cruises are the itineraries. The itineraries can't even compare to those of na ocean cruise! I see how you have been enjoying both experiences. They are both so unique! I agree that it's hard to compare the two. I have been an ocean cruise person, but I would love to try a river cruise experience. 

@LukeJ I like this idea of poem writing! @georgie certainly has some poetic skills. Poetry is more popular than ever and it's a great way to express your feelings in a healthy and artistic way. I wonder if a cruise itinerary could offer poem writing activity opportunity onboard. That could be a fun day time activity! I'm not going to lie, creative poem writing/reading would be more enjoyable to observe than karaoke. Karaoke gets overrated quickly. It could be a start to sparking creativity and bonding while cruising! 

@rindybar That's just horrible! The fact that you have to pay to get on aa beach and not use the amenities is quite silly. If this becomes the cost for each port of call's beach price, you may catch me walking off the cruise ship with my own personal beach umbrella. Unless there are trees at the beach (which is uncommon) shade is necessary but hard to find. I'm sure I could find a cheap, collapsible beach umbrella that I would get my money's worth out of pretty quickly. Considering I cruise quite frequently, it would be. great investment. 

@LukeJ It's a real thing! Reef-safe sunscreen is super important. The only downside to using it is that it typically costs a bit more than regular sunscreen. I agree. One thing to consider is that cruise ports are busier than ever before. It's a gradual rebound, but the areas will certainly rebound. It's happening as I speak! 

@LukeJ You have to get that sense of humor! The funny bone is a great bone to have. It's really nice when you can just brush things off and take things lightly. When you aren't wired to be this way, it's really hard to understand while people are so easy going. Up tight people tend to take things literally and at face value. Those with a sense of humor tend to be more free spirited. I guess I could say I'm both. I don't typically understand jokes. I tend to fit the "blonde" stereotype. Have you seen the show The Office? I have so many friends that fell in love with the show and its humor. This show is so silly to me! I don't understand it. I don't get it. People describe it as dry humor. That type of humor is not funny at all to me! I prefer sarcasm over that any day.

@jamie I have not. It's powered by Vacations To Go. I recommend booking directly through NCL's website for security purposes. When you book directly through the cruise line you get peace of mind and ensure that your booking is covered under the line's policy umbrella. Have you used this site in the past? I wouldn't go out of my way to book on this site.

@LukeJ I would absolutely love to attend! They would have to be virtual because we are miles and miles apart. Do you coach seasonally or year round? I'm sure you have children that still remember you fondly as a coach even if they aren't coached by you anymore. If you make that much of an impression, you deserve a promotion! Every parent should read this. Giving gifts to teachers/coaches is important and appreciated! Most coaches go under appreciated. Teachers are usually the ones that get all the gifts! Do you ever coach your children's teams? I would imagine it's such a great way to bond with your child. 

@LukeJ Bermuda isn't the only place that has started doing things like that. So many areas got into debt during the shutdown. It was a huge loss, and that's when cruise destinations had to figure out how to recover those losses. Keeping guests away from the beaches doesn't necessarily have a benefit. The only thing I think about is keeping the waterways crystal clear because of sunscreen. Reef-safe sunscreen is really important, and most guests don't use it. When guests wear improper sunscreen it really ruins the clarity of the water and the quality of the local reefs/natural habitat. Many Caribbean destinations request that guests use reef-safe sunscreen to preserve the marine life. 

@wie It's so exciting you are considering back-to-back cruising out of Sydney. I don't blame you for want to make the most out of your time in Australia! I would imagine the processes are quite similar between back-to-back US based cruises and back-to-back Australia cruises. Every customs situation is different and depends on the country/local governances, but it's still a CCL cruise! Will this be your first time cruising out of Sydney? The airfare prices have so steep, and that's the only thing holding me back from a cruise out of Australia!

@Miss Lizzie Thanks for sharing all the extra details! This is super helpful to anyone who is considering to get married on a Disney Cruise Line ship. I would love to renew my vows at some point onboard a DCL ship. I'm very excited for you and this special sailing date. It's interesting you still haven't been given hair/makeup prices yet. I guess the line is just assuming you will be using the services regardless. The most important thing is that you get those appointments selected ahead of time. What was your wedding date again? Hopefully the hair/makeup artists can get it all done in that timeframe. It really all depends on the artist. I have been in weddings where the process takes two hours and other times one hour! 

@rindybar Thanks for the insight. I will need to learn more about each beach's new price before I go. I would be pretty upset to realize that the costs have unexpectedly skyrocketed. I have a large family. Going to a beach that charges per person would make the experience over $100 for my family. I don't really even need all of those chairs, but an umbrella is a must. My family spends most of the time in the water or on the shore anyhow. Those are some steep prices, but I have read Bermuda is continuing to gain popularity even though it's not getting any cheaper to visit.

@LukeJ You should be a life coach! I like your perspectives. I wish more influential personnel were as impactful as you are. There are so many horrid influences out there for kids today. If only some influences could be as meaningful and well-thought. Your intentions are awesome, and you are one patient coach! I agree that most coaches aren't that great. When the parents make coaching harder, it's such a pain. That's why there is such a shortage of good coaches! Some parents want their children to the be the best, even though they aren't. It's not the coaches fault that some children are more self-motivated or naturally more talented/passionate than other players. I would rather be a tennis coach than a team sport coach. That's so much to handle. It's a too many little minds to get a handle on.

@euroguy Thanks for the info! Do you know if Frontier is included? It's not my favorite but it's what I end up using most for my quick trip travels due to cost. Southwest is a great line. I like flying with them a lot too. I like the versatility of the points. Using  miles for many airlines is very practical. I see why you use this as your primary card to earn rewards! 

@rindybar That's such a shame! When did Bermuda start charging like this? Possibly this whole system came into place after the shutdown. That's most likely. You clearly know Bermuda well. I haven't visited Bermuda since 20 years past. the money is likely being spent on repaying all of the are's losses. It just going to the pockets of those who lost when cruise guests weren't visiting. I don't think this per person pricing has anything to do will making the beaches less crowded. Some beaches will become more exclusive than others, and it will be likely due to the price points/proximity to the port/popularity. Many amenities like bathrooms/showers are attractive to guests because not all beach spots offer them. Personally, I find $25 per person too steep and I would look for cheaper alternatives.

@LukeJ That's true. Everyone has a preference, but mutually I believe everyone wants to be shown respect. No matter what the leadership style is, being ethical and respectful are common traits that all employees appreciate. Personally, I prefer a results-driven approach but kindness at the same time. I have had discouraging bosses in the past. When you make a mistake they dwell on the issue and don't lead you toward avoiding the error. I don't like then bosses are discouraging without giving productive feedback so I can correct the issue. It's just not fair to leave you high and dry with unrealistic expectations. I'm always open to change and advancement, but it's also nice to know you have a boss that supports your growth verses knocking you down. 

@rindybar I'm glad you loved your MSC YC cruise experience! I think that MSC Cruises should have that same disembarkation offering. I agree that possibly making the request ahead of time would have ensure you got that service. Having that extra perk while disembarking would have been really nice. If you ever cruise YC again I hope you make that special request! I'm surprised the YC pool bar was disappointing. I thought it would be the best bar service on the entire ship! I'm glad you gave Yacht Club a try. Since you have tried both, do you prefer NCL Haven over MSC YC or vice-versa? How was the MDR and food quality in comparison for NCL? How was the price comparison between the two lines? 

@Miss Lizzie I have used the Disney bands in Disney World, and I love them! Especially if you use them more than once, the initial investment up front is super worth it. On a DCL sailing you can use your band to open your stateroom door and make payments onboard. It's the ultimate hands-free situation. They are waterproof and rechargeable, making getting on and off the ship very simple. You activate the band once you get onboard during the check-in process. The only tip I would have you be to make it's all charged up before you go. You can also link them to your app beforehand. 

@euroguy Thanks for dropping the link! I'm going to look through the details but it looks like you get miles through the card. What airline for this Capital One card pair with? It seems like everything is earned in miles instead of cash back like what I get with my Amex. The amount of miles seems great but I need to learn what "miles" really means! I like the $0 annual fee. That definitely seems worthwhile. 

@howiefrommaui This was so disturbing to watch. It's pretty bold to put this video out to the public. It's as if she had no shame. Instead of potentially harming another guest, she could have just filled up her single bottle in the refill station. This is an act of theft. I agree, there should be ramifications for her actions. The cruise line should be able to ban this guest without an issue. 

@LukeJ I agree with you too. If the guest was a little bit younger or on a shorter itinerary, I would have thought it was just an act of being silly or showing off. This wasn't a young guest though! The guy was about 50 years old. Usually you aren't trying to impress anyone like that at that point in your life. Honestly, I would be afraid of hurting myself. It would be silly to risk your life like that. It almost seems like a cognitive error, including intoxication. This was a bucket list itinerary for most! Jumping off a ship is not logical. 

@LukeJ I love that! Respect and trust are earned. It takes time to develop those things. I'm sure you were en excellent boss.

It also takes time to develop trust and respect for cruise lines. When you loose respect/faith in a cruise line, your loyalty to the line is gone. Sometimes cruise lines don't treat guests fairly or aren't consistent enough. That's when guests branch out to other lines and try something new. It's really important for cruise lines to remain consistent. If there isn't consistency and integrity, guests will stop cruising with that line. On the slip side, when you fall in love with a cruise line, it's hard to look anywhere else! I have yet to have a bad cruise experience, but I have been very happy with RCL and MSC Cruises thus far. CCL is alright too, but I prefer a more tranquil line. I love the fun and amenities, but I can also appreciate some peace and quiet on the outer decks. 

@Ash17 You definitely take a lesser risk if you are traveling a shorter itinerary. Galveston is so hit or miss with the hurricanes, and they are so unpredictable. I will keep my fingers crossed for your upcoming cruise itinerary! Mariner of the Seas will be a great time as long as you can doge those hurricanes. What month do you sail out?

@kefthecruiser September always has the best cruise rates. Now I know why! Based on this prediction, it may be a busier than average hurricane season. I guess only time will tell, but it doesn't seem promising. I look my annual cruise at the beginning of this year so I will be dodging this year's season altogether. I will be keeping a close eye on all the storms though! The itinerary changes can get intense that time of year. 

@Whistleblower2024 That's so crazy! To think guests are still having to be quarantined for ten days despite the pandemic being "over" comes as a shock to me. I can't believe that the service desk and housekeeping manger disclosed this information to guests. Rooms not getting cleaned are unacceptable. I thought that would be against protocol. That's so intense! When an outbreak like this strikes, it's pretty hard to come back fro, especially if the rooms aren't being cleaned! Did you end up being quarantined onboard Quantum of the Seas? You weren't allowed to go to the buffet and pool areas? 

@Kirk Gillespie You found out just the day before, what timing! I think asking to move the sail date is really realistic and could have been sorted out on the back end. That's right! What is the point of paying for insurance if it isn't going to help you out any? Traveler's insurance isn't cheap, so it's a huge disappointment it didn't pull through for you. CCL should have been more accommodating. Did you end up cruising anyhow? It's a risk to everyone onboard, and I'm surprised the line was willing to take the risk. There are likely more guests that have a sickness and try to hide it to get onboard. It's more noble to be honest with the cruise line, just as you were! 

@FJB That's a greta review of this cruise! I love the insight the reviewer gave because honestly I wouldn't know what to expect. It actually sounds like a great time and a really awesome/accepting crowd to cruise with. The shoes thing was interesting. I'm surprised you were supposed to wear shoes around the boat. Considering you didn't have to wear clothes, I'm very shocked you had to wear shoes. Would you be interested in this cruise? 

@Seth That would be an excellent itinerary! I'm sure the itinerary mentioned will book up pretty fast due to viewing the 2026 total eclipse. You can also check out the itineraries in the article I shared below. Cunard would be a great cruise line to explore as the line will be having three of its fleet members cruise through the eclipse! 

https://www.cruisehive.com/cruise-line-to-sail-through-path-of-solar-eclipse-in-2026/128553