Cruising Caribbean

@SpaceCowboy9That's the perfect amount of decoration. I doubt the tape even leaves a residue anyway. I'm also quite curious what stateroom type this is. It looks much more spacious than the typical balcony cabins I book. It's likely best if you take off the tape carefully too. that's the way to do it. I wonder if you could bring a throwaway tablecloth and cover the entire door with it. That would be such an easy decor idea!

@LukeJ I'm assuming you and I both prefer the smaller or medium-sized cruise ships. As much as I personally prefer the lower-scale ships, I don't think the idea of keeping the environment from larger ships is going to happen. Clearly, the bigger is better mentality is gaining popularity, and guests are eating it up. The larger cruise ships are going to keep on coming with enhanced shower power capability. However, the greenwashing idea is something I'm not comfortable with. These large ships are being sold to the public eye due to their lesser environmental impacts, but the shore power isn't even being utilized! Cruise lines are saying the cost is too high and they are opting out of it. It blows my mind.

@RoadTravelled I wouldn't even call your comment cynical. It sounds very on point to me. I highly doubt there is a legitimate accounting reason for this. The goal is to tip extra. I wouldn't even be surprised if CCL ends up pocketing some or most of the prepaid gratuities for this experience. The fact that you took accounting even further legitimizes your speculation. That's what the cruise line tells you, but it doesn't sound like it's really enough. If the waitstaff still is banking on more, that makes me believe the baseline gratuity isn't cutting it. The cash in their pockets is the best! Everything else likely gets deducted from their paychecks pretty heavily.

@RoadTravelled The whole heist just seemed too unplanned! For those who don't know, cruise lines are always watching. The security onboard cruise ships is way better than you would expect and everything is closely monitored. It doesn't seem like that when everyone is so nonchalantly having a good time, but the security team is on the ball. Guests are kept very safe while cruising, and that's something I appreciate so much about the cruise experience. I loved reading the article. It was super informative. A pro tip here is, don't steal anything on a cruise ship (or anywhere for that matter). You will almost certainly get caught, and the consequences will be brutal.

@kefthecruiser I have never heard of greenwashing until now. It's quite appalling how cruise lines go the extra mile to have this shore power capacity, boasting about how it's the best option and then not even utilizing it! It's such a double standard. What is the point of shore power then? I don't like the false advertisement and all the hype around having this amazing technology. If it's not going to be utilized, it's a waste of time, energy (the big one), and money. @FJB I see what you are saying, but then what is up with all the hype on shore power? Is it all just propaganda? If cruise lines aren't willing to pay the cost of shore power then why invest in the technology to begin with? That's just hypocritical.

I'm so certain @RICK9772 is on the same itinerary as you @Maria. I hope they get back to you to confirm that. It would be so cool to get to run into each other in person. Are you a snorkeling type of person? I will do some basic snorkeling, but I have yet to try scuba diving. Mexico in general has such amazing water sports opportunities. It would be hard to visit Mexico and dodge the beaches. If NCL changes anything more about this itinerary I would be pretty annoyed. Let's just hope for the best and assume the rest of the cruise from here on out will be smooth sailing.

I also appreciate coffee right when I wake up. It's pretty glorious actually. You never know if the water was boiled long enough either. When you are traveling to a new place sometimes your body doesn't tolerate the water very well. My husband is notorious for getting an upset stomach after traveling to other countries. Do you prefer hot tea or coffee in the morning? @Sue C at sea That can be true. It's not the best coffee, but if you have the drink package the cappuccinos are amazing. @LukeJ I prefer Evian bottled water over all other choices, but I very much dislike it when I can taste the bleach in my water. That is a taste that will never be enjoyable for me. The tap water on cruise ships seems just fine to me, but the taste of the bottled water onboard is definitely better. It's inevitable though. Once again, you get what you pay for.

@LukeJ What is something that you have tried and enjoyed without thinking you would? I tried Alpaca Llama, and I thought it would be awful, but it was actually pretty good. Likely, you haven't tried llama before. I had it in Peru, and it's very common. Many more rural towns also eat guinea pigs. I didn't want to try that, it's like eating a rat. Some countries eat rats, but that may be a bit too adventurous for me.

@LukeJ One of the most annoying parts about the Italian night theme is that it's not even authentically done. I appreciate the tribute to Italian culture, but on more U.S.-based cruise lines it becomes very Americanized. If it was a more genuine theme, it could be more enjoyable. How would you expect an Australian night to go? It's hard for me to envision what that would look like. The only thing I can think of is Outback Steakhouse-style meals, and that's such a shame! I could go for some Australian wine though. I have had enough Limoncello shots in the evening of Italian nights.

@LukeJ You nailed it on the head. German themes embody the culture of party and having a great time. I wish there were more German nights onboard cruises. The German Pubs onboard area is always a popular evening spot, but I would love to see some MDR German-themed nights. The typical Italian night gets old. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Italian-themed nights, but switching it up could be a welcomed change. The 70s-themed nights seem a bit antiquated too. Jamaican or Caribbean style would be another appropriate-themed night on board. Maybe if I cruise outside of the Caribbean I will be exposed to better themed nights. A night in Paris would be lovely too! I guess I will need to cruise to Europe to find out if a better alternative exists. For now, I will just have to accept my White Night, 70s Night, and Italian Night themes for what it's worth. Are you the typical cruise guest who brings themed outfits? I do love to dress apart, but I'm not willing to wear/bring a costume to truly fit the look.

You are going to enjoy the ship so much. I'm excited for you! What amenities do you typically utilize the most onboard your cruise experience? I typically love a great evening theatre show, some live danceable music, and a great gym with views of the ocean. I have been getting more into the spa/thermal suites too. I usually utilize those more while I'm alone than when I cruise with family or friends. The dynamic changes when you cruise with others. I don't mind the extra sea days, but as you said I think it's totally situational. If you have been on the ship before, it's more likely you don't want as many sea days in concession. I also think you want to get what you paid for. If the line keeps changing things around it doesn't feel right. It gives you a bad taste in your mouth.

I can't wait to hear all about it. The Mediterranean is great the waterways to travel through are so majestic! What would be some must-see ports of call for you in the Mediterranean? The Mediterranean will give you the perfectly warm climate you are looking for if you cruise in the right season. Museums can be very hard for the littles, unless of course, it's a children's museum. Malta is the perfect spot for embarkation because it's so centrally located. Quite a few cruises leave out of Malta! Is Malta relatively close to where you fly from? Malata would be a terribly long flight for me to fly from the United States. It is pretty costly too.

Maybe @bombarc and @Maria will chime in this conversation. This exact thing was mentioned by @Maria, who may have booked your same itinerary actually. I'm very skeptical as well and have been following posts like this for some time. This isn't a weather-driven change as you are stating, which would be reasonable, but does not make sense a month out. It's not fair that the line continues to do this to its guests. Another huge problem I have with the changes ahead of time is what's going to happen when the itinerary has to change due to unforeseen weather patterns. Another change will be made. It's just mind-boggling. Guests are catching on to this nonsense, and it's not a good look for NCL.

You will have to let me know how P&O Cruises goes for a family. I usually travel with my children and have yet to cruise onboard P&O Cruises. The major deterrent for me has always been that it's European-based, and I live in the U.S. The flights to Europe can be so expensive, virtually the cost of the entire cruise experience, doubling the overall vacation cost. If you found the cruise experience to be very family-oriented, I may reconsider and save the extra funds to try the line!

@Maria I have read reviews stating that NCL Epic has even more amenities than NCL Getaway so you may be in for an enhanced cruising experience this go! I'm assuming this will be your first time cruising on NCL Epic. Is that correct? I love your positive attitude about enjoying all the ship has to offer. What I'm gathering from @bombarc is that more sea days are not attractive. If the ship is great, I don't think extra sea days are an issue, but with the inconsistency in keeping to the itinerary, I see. theconcern. It bothers me when cruise lines aren't very consistent in honoring the itineraries guests booked. There is nothing wrong with an itinerary change, but when it's happening over and over again I get pretty uneasy. Those patterns seem questionable. I would like to know why there is so much inconsistency as well.

I think it's great too! Larger cruise ships have many perks, but sometimes these ships just aren't built to the smaller quaint ports of call. It's most important to preserve the natural habitat of the island. It's virtually impossible to restore things like erosion after the damage has already been done. You are right; once the island is destroyed it's already gone too far. It's important to take preventative measures. Not everyone is going to agree with this but I don't think environmental factors are at the forefront of those minds. You have to care about the planet and preserve the land!

@FJB Did you get your group to pull the trigger on your Black Friday booking? If you missed it, you should try and take advantage of Wave Season. The Wave Season deals are already rolling out. Today I noticed the Virgin Voyages Wave Season promotions. Have you tried the line yet? I haven't gone on a solo cruise without my kids for a while, but I would be intrigued to try out the line. Since it's adults-only, it's a bit more exclusive. I'm going to keep my eyes peeled on CCL, RCL, and MCS Cruises rates. Those are my go-to cruise lines lately while sailing with my family.

@FJB I missed this comment! The German theme night sounds pretty funny. I have yet to experience a themed night other than an Italian night onboard any of my cruise experiences. It all seems pretty standard. Since your daughter has been cruising for some time, she knows a good dining experience versus a bad one so I totally trust her judgment. @Dennis M Thanks for providing this personal insight. From my experience, I don't think the no on-board entertainment option would be sufficient. I enjoy the activity options on board, especially during sea days. I would be dissatisfied if there was nothing to do onboard the ship. The casino isn't usually a consideration of mine when I cruise either. If the food selection is limited and there isn't much entertainment onboard, I see how the crowd skews older. This is probably why younger guests who are used to the fun-based atmosphere of ocean cruises are a bit dismayed. I love cruising to special destinations but the cruise experience is so much more to me!

@LukeJ I'm pretty sure it all depends on the size of the ship too. I forgot to factor that in. If the cruise ship is large I would imagine less feeling of movement, but on a smaller ship, I believe you feel everything more. I haven't cruised onboard a particularly small cruise ship yet so I don't have anything to compare to. Stay away from the aft is probably a good choice, especially if you are in an interior cabin. The front of the ship could be amazing if you had a balcony or suite option. Then you would be able to get out and not feel so claustrophobic when there are rocky seas.

@LukeJ That must have been why I was a bit misunderstood. Thanks for clarifying that. I agree that I hope Key Werst continues to prosper financially and remain successful amidst certain regulation changes. It's hard for me to believe that the locals are in support of keeping the larger ships coming to the area. From what I know, most of the locals prefer their natural land preserved and protected. Key West is always going to be a prime destination for tourists, but it's best to preserve what attracts guests there, the natural landscape! I wonder if @Bill Rhodes is a local or not. I'm interested to hear more about that perspective.

@Woody14 If you become a TA again, sign me up! You have a great knowledge base of the cruising industry. Speaking of, do you think the Black Friday cruise deals are truly the best of the best? I have seen some great rates, but I still find off-season deals to be even better than those sailings included in the black Friday promotions. The super-publicized sales don't always save the most, but I'm definitely a bargain hunter. I'm not sure if you have recognized the same thing, but the port taxes and fees are always jacked up during those promotions. It feels like you're saving, but once you go to check out the extra fees almost double the base price!

I'm so thrilled about this new disembarkation procedure rolling out for the CCL fleet. I would hope that other cruise lines follow suit as the soft launch of this process has been a true success already. Disembarkation can be a lengthy and annoying process. A simplified version is going to make the going-home process so much better! Has anyone had the opportunity to use this new disembarkation procedure? For those that have used it, how much time does it save off of the traditional CCL disembarkation process?

@bombarc I haven't seen any updates on this. Bermuda is likely a highlight of that NCL Getaway itinerary. In October many cruise ships skipped Bermuda due to Hurricane Tammy, and in November there was a cold front that prevented guests from stopping there. I feel like there is always an excuse to skip a port. NCL is notorious for skipping ports due to "environmental factors" too. I can only assume guests were notified of poor weather patterns causing this change, but I wonder what's really going on. Is Bermuda a make-or-break cruise stop for you?

@LukeJ I was under the same impression it's kind of the safe zone. It makes sense engineering-wise. The middle of the ship is likely rocking less than the ends. I'm picturing a toy boat in the ocean, for reference. The center is like the stabilizer. Since I'm not an engineer I don't know all of the correct terminology, I think mid-ship upper decks would likely experience the least amount of movement. Also, it's nice to stay close to the stairwells and elevators but not too close. If you are too close to the stairs you will hear a lot of the passerby noises that can keep you up at night.

@LukeJ I'm not sure if the number of shops would be "cut", but I think you have the right idea. For most, the attraction to the area is its quaint old Florida feel alongside the amazing coral reefs and scenery. The reefs and scenery attract tourists who enjoy fishing, snorkeling, and diving. Every tourist is different, but those repeat guests are usually not the cruisers. The culture of Key West is incredible, it's unlike anywhere in the U.S. in my opinion. Keeping the native nature is key. If that means eliminating large cruise ships from stopping there, so be it.