KKB

If it is by the bathroom, I find it makes the room feel bigger. But if it is by the balcony, you have more room to get in & out of the closet.

Yeah our suite had a huge tub/shower...not a fan of stepping into a tub to shower on a rocky ship! We have had accessible cabins. Shower is bigger but water goes EVERYWHERE. We had to use towers to create a ledge at the edge of the shower...imperfect science to be sure. Seems accessible rooms used to be easier to get--we look the week before sailing to see if any are available & then call to change if there are.

We had one booked...then I saw someone's on a cabin crawl. It is so narrow that the chairs cannot be turned forward. We bid on an IV cabin & got it. I know these are polarizing--people can hate them. We rather liked it. Added space & light (if shade was up) to the room, fresh air if window was down.

Just saw a similar comment about Princess. When I scanned recent reviews of one ship, lots of complaining, but little consistency to the complaints--tells me it's not a ship/line issue. Things are NOT what they were like pre-COVID. Labor supply issues & cost cutting attempts (after being shut down for 15 mos) affect things. BUT I have sailed 15 times in the last year (18 since start up) on 5 different mainstream lines. None were perfect. (and MSC was 4 of those...tried for the 1st time in Feb. I'm over them) But they were nearly all great (even MSC was OK...I got beaches or Europe for very little $) Look, for all my cruising, I don't always post reviews. Complainers are always the loudest voice in the room--and in reviews. We are "glass half full" kind of people--we can have a good time anywhere. (yep, even did on MSC even tho unlikely to sail them again) Look for CONSISTENCY--are you seeing the same complaint about a ship/line OVER & OVER? THAT is when I pay attention (I should have for MSC--they were right). Read those reviews with a discerning eye...

I wish I knew. That was the one less than impressive part of our Retreat experience on the Beyond in April. Our butler didn't really do much. He & steward did decorate room for our Anniversary--pleasant surprise. But no idea anything else that he did.

LOL--if Celebrity "kicks things up" a bit over other lines, E-class kicks things up a bit over all other Celebrity ships! I'm OBSESSED with E-class ships! MDR best we have had...but specialty dining is SO good, we always have to do that once or twice, too. We snagged a deal on Retreat sailing on Easter (4800/2!!!) & loved it but would struggle to justify the price if it was over $5K. We would just rather sail more often.

Our 1st cruise was Princess & we fell in love with cruising...cruised DCL, RCCL & mostly Princess for the 1st 10 years we sailed. Then we tried Celebrity & we fell in love with CELEBRITY. Why? Service & food just a step above those other lines. Veranda will be comparable to any other line. We don't feel the need to book specialty restaurants as MDR is very good. You don't have the "bells & whistles" that RCCL has--but that also means typically fewer children. Will be curious to know YOUR impressions!

I've sailed interior-balcony on 7 different mainstream lines. No difference between interior & balcony bathrooms. And they are all more alike than different--pretty much all the showers are fairly small.

I find Explorers a nice quiet spot during the day when trivia isn't going on. But Skywalkers is the best, for sure.

Been a year--sailed last July for 2 weeks & it was great. Reading the reviews... --several complaints were about changes in Elite perks (not a Caribbean Princess issue). --mildew in shower? not uncommon to see in hotel rooms --insult comedy? OH NO --smallest room every--HUH? GURRRL, try NCL interior.... --poor ship layout? Other than going down a flight to one MDR, I don't have ANY idea what they are talking about. --missed ports due to safety issues? HAPPENS ALL THE TIME --but other ships docked? may be WHEN they docked, size of ship, etc. --shows not to your taste? Yep, it happens --not enough activities to your taste? Yep, has happened to me, too. Maybe Princess isn't the line for you, or maybe cruising isn't for you (one reason I'm over MSC) Complainers are gonna complain. I read those & see little consistency to the complaints which says to me that it isn't a Caribbean Princess issue, but the complainers issue.

It happens. In 30+ cruises on numerous lines I'm happy to say that only once have we had a poor steward...and someone else took over for her halfway thru the cruise! (no idea why) When we sailed the Encore in Dec we definitely felt the labor shortage--is is due to labor supply issues? Hopefully not due to cost cutting attempts. The crew works incredibly hard...it is likely they were interrupted & forgot they had not finished. (sink/showerhead) I can always overlook those things that are hard to see--papers tucked away, bottle in fridge. (likely the last things they do are a final sweep of those spots) No skin off my back to toss them in the trash. Since they are only cleaning 1x/day & likely have more cabins because of that, I'm not surprised if my room isn't cleaned until later in the afternoon--there is nothing that says when it will be done daily.

OK...it is recommended that you be at airport 3 hrs prior to international flights, so 3.5 hrs for international flights isn't reasonable usually. I would say 3 hours min even in FLL where the airport is 10 min from the port. Southampton is over an hour from Heathrow. Disembarking time is RARELY exactly the time people get off of a ship. I would recommend flying after noon in Europe...and as with the original post example, that eliminates a lot of flights. We were very lucky & got very good flights though it nixed our plan to do carry on only as we fly Air Italia to Rome (just don't think I can keep it under 17 lbs...21 was a struggle last month). But DFW to JFK, 4 hr layover, over night to Rome. Then AA direct to DFW on the way home (2PM-6PM). Glad the air gods were smiling on us, as we really wanted DD back that day as she is already missing the 1st day classes begin (she is the manager of a dance studio).

Just got back from a month in N. Europe, 3 weeks cruising, carry on only (COO). Merino wool was my workhorse--NEVER SMELLED!! 3 s/s merino wool tops 3 l/s merino wool tops 2 merino wool cardigans merino wool dress 1 very light dressy top 4 pants: joggers, 2 Skechers Go walks, palazzo (all black or dark grey) Puffer vest & raincoat sneakers, boots, ballet flats 2 bras, 5 underwear, 4 socks, tights, 2 nightshirts, 4 scarves I hand washed lingerie.

Gees...not enough caffeine yet! OK...Civitavecchia to FCO. Cabroma gets great reviews. 79E total for shared; 139-169E for private. Excellent prices.

NEVER MIND--it's 75E pp. Rome in Limo is quoting 170E total. Anyone recommend any other private transfer options that would be less?

May I ask where you stayed & would you stay again?

This looks like a great choice! A few questions: Stairs (if so, how many floors) or elevator? What did breakfast include? Are there places nearby to get breakfast? Easy to get to sites? (train, bus or walk) Easy to get to from the airport? THANKS! (It was such a great price I went ahead & booked it since I can cancel for free--plus so far I am seeing high prices or no availability for others I've checked...tho I have just begun looking)

Joy, no brainer. NCL is just as family friendly as RCCL, imo. Lots of bells & whistles that teens like on both. Typically any spring break cruise has a lot of families/teens/kids. Of course, never any guarantees. But 2BR Haven vs. OV? (and you are paying & it's your vaca too) NO BRAINER.

Our cruise to Hawaii was pretty choppy in January. If you are sensitive to motion, I'd keep your midship room.

Well my 3 weeks have ended & im quite ready to go home. The ports were WONDERFUL— in love with UK & Ireland! MANY lovely crew members. Met some very nice people to hang with a bit. But I won’t be back to MSC. The passenger rudeness continued. So bizarre as obviously a very different crowd, but somehow MSC seems to have a culture. The lack of organization & communication among staff is astonishing. We had BIG waves (Beaufort 8-10 ALL DAY)Thursday, dishes crashing to floor…started at 2 AM & rather than be proactive & close buffet & open decks, they did nothing until things began crashing to the floor—watched an espresso machine very nearly land on a crew member. Be proactive, not reactive. I was often bored—something I rare.y am on a ship!— managed to read a lot & watch a number of movies I had luckily downloaded. For those that love it, continue to enjoy… just not the right fit for us.

Cruiseplum lists solo fare deals. Not a TA & not always 100% accurate but I’ve stumbled across many

30+ cruises under my belt. I did MSC Divina in Feb to Caribbean & on Preziosa now in Europe. Do not plan to do MSC again. Celebrity is our fav line of all. I cannot comment on YC but have heard it’s amazing. That being said, the lack of common courtesy by far too many passengers is astounding—have never encountered it on other lines to this extent. The only think MSC does better is pizza & price. Pretty much everything else MSC falls well below ALL other mainstream lines. (crew mostly great on both cruises) And while I love a good deal, have decided it’s not a good value to me.

New room for 2nd leg of my B2B. Far aft interior. Continual repetitive loud sound—engine I assumed (it was) Was r worried, I wear earplugs. Awoke with a migraine. It happens. Tylenol, took it easy. But when I returned to room later, sound triggered another migraine—I realized I could not stay there. Took 3 visits to Guest relations…moved to a smaller room but since just me it’s fine. I surely didn’t want to move all my things but that beats daily migraines! It was a bit more of an ordeal than it should have been (3 visits??) but done now. Norway is gorgeous if quite chilly (not unexpected)

Photos won’t post…I will post menus upon returning home!

Final day of 1st leg. Met Vegas couple on excursion yesterday who honestly were so unhappy they almost disembarked early. Met couple with young kids day 1 who raved about MSC low prices/kids sail free…they r VERY unhappy today. Multiple times passengers have pushed their children out of the way. Food has been ok. I enjoy my food—but certain I’ve lost weight…buffet very light today. Pasta, pizza, breads & desserts plentiful. (I avoid gluten products…) Salad selection VERY limited. Food was much better in Divina. I love trivia but played music trivia 2 days in a row…and most of the songs were THE SAME…huh? My opinion is the same…do not love it. Do not hate it. But it is my least fav line. Even the low pricing doesn’t make me want to come back.