MarElz

Thanks for the review, leaving on this trip on Saturday!

What deck was your cabin on, overlooking the balconies below? We have a 14th (Riviera) deck balcony reserved and I was wondering if it will have the overhang or if others will be able to look down on us. (We are on the Crown though.)

I just came off the Emerald, aft balcony on Riviera deck and, on that ship, no one overlooks 14. Deck 15 is the Lido deck. Also decks 14, 12 & 11 at least, have balconies that are flush with the exterior edge of the ship - completely covered. From 14 you are overlooking balconies down on 9 or 10. If you find a photo of your ship looking along the side of the vessel, you should be able to tell if anyone overlooks you!

Just got off the Emerald Princess' Christmas cruise. It was very festive, with lots of decorations and Christmas-related decorations and non-stop Christmas music playing everywhere but none of it was over-the-top. Lots of big family groups onboard, but everyone pretty well behaved. It is the rainy season in the Caribbean but it was sunny and warm at two of our three ports. Altogether a very nice experience.

We watch a bad cruise movie or a scary cruise movie (example: Deep Rising or Ghost Ship). It's fun and we realize no matter what, our upcoming cruise can't possibly be that bad!

hahaha, I may try this! Tonight is my "night before" and the first time I've cruised from my own town, so didn't need to fly out the night before - not entirely sure what I'm going to do. Need to finish packing, that's for sure!

The Press n' Seal plastic wrap works well for necklaces, lay down sheet, put your necklaces on it and then another sheet on top and press it down well, then just roll it up and put it in your suitcase. Keeps necklaces, that are too thick for a straw, from tangling. Works well with dangling earrings too.

Sorry you had a bad time. Maybe the prices are unsustainably low. Looking forward to traveling on the Westerdam in just a few weeks!

One more week!

The gym, keep meaning to go but somehow never do!

I'm sailing in a few weeks. Glad to hear your cruise is going well. The reviews haven't been good and I was wondering what was going on.

 

Can you help with a couple of questions? When are the formal nights? What's the parking like at the Houston port area? i.e. Plenty of parking? Do they take credit cards?

 

Thanks.

You can find out about the Houston cruise parking here, including the ability to pre-pay.

http://www.bayportcruiseparking.com

Enjoy your cruise!

Do you mind telling in what cabin you are staying? I'm in one of the balconies up on 14 next week.

Thanks so much for doing this! Your pictures are great and very informative. Looking forward to your review of the cruise!

On our TA in September, I read Louise Penny Armand Garmache Series. read them in order. Could not say enough about how interesting her characters are. Believe me, you will love her books.

Thanks for this tip! These look great, just ordered one. :)

When I have cruised from New Orleans and Charleston, cooler ports, heading to the Caribbean in the winter, I wear jeans, closed shoes, and a jacket for sail away and return. That way my "bigger clothes" are on my body, not taking up space in my suitcase. I plan to do this from Houston next week too. Works for me!

Hadn't thought about this at all, thanks for the reminder! What about for water activity-based shore excursions? What do you carry your stuff in then?

Check HALfacts, lots of info on lots of cabins. Pics from 4185 on the Zuiderdam.

On Princess for Christmas, then HAL the week after New Year's. Looking forward to both!

So glad you are enjoying your cruise!

I just booked a 7 day solo inside room on Norwegian Pearl out of Houston on January 3rd for $480 (incl taxes) with a $50 OBC

 

It cost $20 cheaper than the 5 day Solo on the Carnival Liberty out of Port Canaveral the next week.

 

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Great deal! if I weren't on the Westerdam on that date, I'd be tempted to jump on that one myself!

Not responsive to your question, but I'm planning to check out the book club on the Emerald in a couple of weeks and am looking forward to it!

Nice cool day so shouldn't be any fog, tugs are in place, Emerald may actually make it out close to on time today! Enjoy your cruise!

MarElz - google flavors of San Juan food tours

 

 

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Darn, unfortunately we'll be in San Juan on 3 Kings day and the food tour is not offered. Oh, well, next time! Thanks for the info!

Everything else aside, it's a beautiful midnight sail away, with the lights.

Okay, bad start. It is the Oasis, first came most of the way back and offloaded someone who had fallen down the stairs, onto a pilot boat, and then headed back out. Then someone had a heart attack so now they're coming all the way back in. This being reported on the RCL boards by someone who is on the ship.

(Port, sorry!) We are sitting at a restaurant on Fort Lauderdale Beach and the Ruby Princess appeared to be sitting offshore for a while - but now seems to be coming back in to port... Any info? Look like a smaller boat ( harbor pilot?) Came up alongside a few minutes ago and it is now definitely moving towards Port. Looks like no cabin lights are on.

 

 

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At least according to the Marine Traffic app, the Oasis of the Seas is on it's way back. Wonder what's up.

Just disembarked from the Westerdam ship and enjoyed hearing the BB King Blues Band on an Eastern Caribbean cruise for the last week. I've lived in Memphis and the ship's BB King band was the real deal - as professional a band I've heard on Beale Street. The HAL Cruise Director indicated that HAL has a "long-term" relationship with BB King who will provide experienced Blues bands to HAL ships (more coming each month). Some ships will need to be modified to have a Lounge large enough for these professional blues bands (e.g., older ships modified in a shipyard to accommodate this band). The Band performed at the main theater one night but typically just performed three shows per night at the Westerdam's Queen's lounge. Awesome!

Thanks for this report, really looking forward to hearing these guys!