Seaawgs

@Kendall James-Vargas I doubt it.  Nuclear,  over time, winds up being greener than other forms of heat source necessary to generate large amounts of electricity. Potential mishandling and disposal of spent material make its use problematic in less structured countries. "Greener" is a buzzword being used to further shakedown cruise companies. Add requiring use of shore power to the growing list of taxes and fees being levied against the cruise industry. If Cayman's new proposal takes hold, cruise companies will have to draw a line. 

If shore power is generated by a nuclear power plant, it is "greener". Otherwise,  a fossil fuel powered plant would be neutral at best. Like most green initiatives, costs far outweigh benefits for the sake of perception. One good result from shore power would be a lack of exhaust smell on deck while the ship is docked. It's likely shore power is a local cash cow dressed in "green".

Beverage packages and drinking in general are offered due to popularity. If I've been to St. Maarten 20 times, what can the cruise line do to make it 21? Spending 3+ sea days out of 7 sipping iced tea and punch won't cut it. I alone determine my fate when I choose a level drinking beyond what's wise. 

Walmart started out putting small stores in rural communities. Covid proved local population will have the final say on ports of call. Making ships the destination is a hedge against future events and allows passengers to spend more on board. Consider what people spend at Disney World and it's not difficult to see this new direction. 

Local currency is always best. Most cruise ships will offer to exchange dollars for local currency for a small premium. You will find the exchange rate will fluctuate from store to store if you use US dollars and the ability to give back change will vary as well. The conversion rate for the two countries mentioned will require a calculator for sure. Buying those currencies before you go will probably prove expensive. 

@FJB I have a complaint concerning people complaining about those who complain. 

I'm always amused when folks pop in here throwing bombs and never answer questions from the community.  Due Diligence, a simple concept that requires responsibility. There is so much information available to prepare for such a specific request. Common sense alone would suggest the cruise company's need to know before sailing. With that said, I'm not a fan of RCL dining either but that's more about a country boy trying to eat in a cruise ship dining room. 

@3Sisters Sheldon is a character from The Big Bang Theory TV show.  Throughout the shows 11 year run he continually expressed his love of trains.

@Kendall James-Vargas HAL has a program for kids but you'll probably be left entertaining them. RCL, NCL, Disney and MSC will keep them busy. The longer the cruise the more difficult it will be. Remember,  kids are resilient and willing to stand in line. If you do decide on Holland,  look for fewest sea days.

Your age, # of children and economic status will help determine.  Younger adults with children and solid economic means; Newer NCL Ships. Moderate means, choose an older NCL ship (Sun, Pearl etc.) The difference between newer and older NCL is the amount of "Pay" space. If you’re on a budget,  much of the newer ship's open decks and public areas will NOT be for you, leaving thousands to compete for what's left. 

Over 40 with no children with you, HAL

@3Sisters inside and ocean view 2 pts per day, balcony 3 pts,  concierge and aqua spa 5 pts, suites 8 pts. 300 pts gets you to Elite where you may notice a difference. (90 minutes of premium internet , bag of laundry, cocktail 5-7)  750 pts Elite Plus (240 minutes of premium internet,  2 bags of laundry, plus all the Elite benefits) There's more but those are the highlights. We're Elite Plus but the next level,  Zenith, is 3000 pts. There are few children on Celebrity cruises.

@3Sisters The perk never really disappeared but went through several modifications. Currently,  higher loyalty members enjoy free basic drinks (cheap wine, rail liquor etc.) from 5 to 7 each evening at several of the bars around the ship. The only complaint, among many, was the comfortable setting for like minded loyal cruisers to socialize and form friendships.  We routinely plan cruises with couples we met at Captain’s Club get togethers years ago. Long time cruisers lament the erosion of old cruise standards. 

@3Sisters "New" is misleading.  This used to be a nightly event. They decided to change the program by making most bars on-board eligible for basic drinks to Elite  and above members. That took the "club" out of Captains Club. 

@FJB I totally agree on this one. Most cabins barely accommodate that giant tray. Once you move to the balcony,  forget it!

@3Sisters we typically spend around 30 days a year on Celebrity, however,  this year will be twice that. We too developed "Caribbean fatigue ".Balancing that against a desire to cruise and keep costs down has been challenging.  Transatlantic or Repositioning cruises are usually a good choice for volume vs. price. Add the next cruise for a back-to-back and you have a nice adventure. Status with Celebrity will save you quite a bit of $$ once on board. 

This billion dollar industry was not built on $500 inside cabins. Even at that, it's easy to reach "Elite" and "Elite Plus" status with Celebrity. If you fly to the port, your flight and 1 nights lodging are likely more expensive than your cruise. It's unlikely we'll ever reach Zenith status, but I doubt I'd enjoy Michael's more than the Sunset bar on any Celebrity ship.

@3Sisters the trick to making a cruise seem "worth it" is to add up all of the costs you'd incur during the same time frame if you stayed home and subtract it from the cost of the cruise.  Celebrity offers no incentive to book multiple cruises together. However,  a happy  travel agent may add extra on-board credit.  Seeing the US in an RV would be the way to go.

We love Celebrity and have a 35 day back to back to back coming up on the Beyond. Deck chairs will be hard and uncomfortable,  popular venues will be crowded and there will be herd migration getting on and off the ship. We know this and plan accordingly. The point being made, this is not traditional cruising but an option for something different. For padded deck loungers, easy access and calm , I'll have to look elsewhere .

@Cruising Caribbean Azamara is more like cruising from years past than luxury. Non premium liquors and beers are included along with selected wines for the day. The ships are nice but not ostentatious focusing more on comfort. 

Since the flood gates were left open, we must move to higher ground. There are plenty of cruise lines operating low capacity smaller ships. Walmart cruising is here to stay so we must spend more $$$ to avoid the masses and the watered down experience. Try Azamara or their like. After the nickel and diming of larger cruise lines, it's not that much more for the upgrade. 

Brevity is a virtue. 

The author of the article on Cruise Hive seems to be unfamiliar with Celebrity or he's "spinning" on their behalf. Sounds like Celebrity has removed "tips" from the all inclusive rate adding another $18 pp pd to your bill. Making all of this sound advantageous to the cruiser is insulting. NCLebrity 

Hey gang, the generation who put "tip jars" at EVERY register is now filtering into management of these companies. Godmothers and galas cost money. 

Celebrival or Carnebrity, take your pick. Cruise companies can be defined by whose customers they're trying to steal.  Shorter Caribbean itineraries attract younger cruisers who need to blow-it-out in a week or less. These customers are typically less fussy and willing to spend more on board. Since most of the larger cruise lines seem to be involved in this race to the bottom we'll either learn to accept the change or trade up. 

If the cruise line includes specialty coffees, bottled water and smoothies in addition to alcohol,  then it can quickly become worth it. A typical beer on board costs around $10 after the plus +. Beware, however,  NCL has a different dictionary defining "Free"