CateW

I love fitkiks, they have them at Kohls online, I'm not sure if they have them in the store.

My preference would be 8:00, 6 is way too early and 8:30 is a little too late but we go for late anyway. I don't think that the Club Balcony is worth twice the cost for anytime dining. I wish there was a better alternative:mad:

We are still undecided as to whether to do a voyage in December on the QM2 or the first leg of the world voyage on the Queen Elizabeth which includes 3 nights in San Francisco.

 

The latter brings its own problems in that it involves a flight home which means packing very carefully. DH is reluctant to take a 3rd case and pay extra for it (he's prepared to pay for an expensive holiday but wants to avoid the cost of an extra case - one of his strange quirks :D)

 

So my question is quite simply this. Can we manage for 32 nights with just 2 cases? He will still bring his dinner suit, but obviously it's my packing which will have to be done with more thought :eek:

We are currently booked on the 19 nights from NY to San Francisco but are considering extending it on to Sydney, which is 40 nights. Our home port is New York, so we only need air home but there is absolutely no way that I could make 2 pieces of luggage work. I'm actually not sure I can make 2 each work. A girl has to have choices!

Congratulations to you both. Both dresses are great, but yours in particular is stunning!

We've been on the Gem twice but as you say it is an older ship, but we are fine with that, out kids are adults now. We are doing our first Breakaway cruise in January (which is 14 days) and goes to 8 Caribbean ports. You don't say when you want to cruise but that may be an alternative for you.

The Wind is in one of the best shapes over the other three ships built just after the Wind. Will be back on her in in about nine weeks. We definitely don't go cruising for the food prepared at sea. All I can say if your going cruising for fine dining it's only going to be as good as those mass market ships dining venues you have to pay for. Don't be afraid. Go for it...

Thank you for your comments! Food is so subjective. We just returned from Oceania's Regatta ~ I thought the food was fantastic yet I heard complaints from people. If I don't have to cook it or serve it I'm good! We are going to give it a go.

We just booked a sailing for January 2017 (there is no roll call started yet) and the reviews are abysmal, however, I will say that there are very few very current reviews and some go back as far as 2014 and early 2015. My biggest concern is the comments surrounding worn and tired decor, shipped paint, rust etc. The food reviews are meh and although good food is a factor, we tend to eat a light and healthy breakfast and a very light lunch if we have anything at all. The dinner reviews seem to be pretty good. Can anyone comment on the decor in the common spaces and the cabins?

Ditto, we got off Regatta on 4/24 and there was a hand held dryer (thankfully!) but there was also that wall mounted dryer in the bathroom.

We are in an A-1 Concierge cabin right now and there are 4 coupons for free pressing, so not just limited to suites.

We are currently on Regatta after a 8 year absence. We are platinum on Cunard, Elite Plus on Celebrity and have done several cruises on other lines, including Crystal and Regent. IMO, Oceania is a great value and we enjoyed this cruise so much, we booked a transatlantic for 2017 with what I think is a very unique itinerary. Try it and judge for yourself.

We call it cheating the customer. Knowingly selling a product/service that the provider knows to be deficient (notwithstanding what the front desk folks are directed to say).

 

We understand that things can go wrong. But HAL is simply not maintaining their older ships to standard.

 

Why on earth would we ever take a chance in ending up in a cabin with AC or plumbing issues such as reported regularly on Veendam and Masdam, etc when we avoid these issues by booking another ship or another cruise line? We value our time and our money.

 

Not certain why people make excuses for HAL. There is no excuse. A number of ships in their fleet are well past their sell by date if only because their engineering systems have either not been maintained or have not been updated. We do not want a shut up and go away OBC, future cruise credit, cheap bottle of plonk, cove ered strawberries, or a Pinnacle dinner. We just want what we pay for....a functioning cabin. Is that so unreasonable?

I could not agree more!

Some of the regarding the Maasdam are upsetting given the fact that we have a 33 day cruise booked next hear to Hawaii, Tahiti and Marquesas. Rethinking this one....

We are returning to Oceania in 5 days (our 4th with Oceania) we are platinum with Cunard and Elite Plus with Celebrity. We've also done 2 on Carnival, 2 on NCL, 1 Princess and 1 Royal and 3 with HAL. We really love the ambiance on Oceania and the passenger mix. Granted, if you are into the theatrical shows and that type of nightlife, Oceania may not be for you, but I do think that it is worth giving it a try!

Another good one is Tradesy.com.

To many of us whose favourite line is Cunard, that will not entice us to try NCL.;)

We did a 10 night cruise in February on the Norwegian Gem, it leaves out of NY which is our home port, so no flying, which is the enticement. My husband wore a sport coat every night (minority) and I wore a cocktail dress every evening. The women, by and large were well dressed, the men, not as much.

We have done the Christmas cruise 3 times. The first full day going south you will definitely not be able to be outside. By the second day, you can be out there if there is sum but still in sweats. Same for the return. That said, it is a wonderful trip and I would love to do it again at some point. We have done the NY to SFO on the QE once and we are doing it again in 2017. Same deal, can't be outside the first 2 days, but it is a longer trip (19 days vs. 12). We love both ships. There is nothing like the QM2, but the QE is just as nice, smaller and every bit as elegant, if not a little more. If you haven't been through the Panama Canal, that's the way to go, there are 2 Caribbean ports I think and it will be hot hot hot in Panama. This cruise also has Cabo which I am really looking forward to. All in all, I would go with the QE and there was just a price drop on that as well which may make it more attractive. Whatever you decide, have fun!

We typically have room service for breakfast, it always comes on time and the service has been great. I bring lots of singles and generally tip $2 or $3 depending....

I was able to get in this morning at 9 a.m. eastern standard time. The cost of our cruise went down by $500 p.p. and the OBC went up by an additional $50 p.p. with free gratuities. I immediately called and rebooked. It was worth it to save $1,600. I don't know if this had anything to do with the website being down for the last 2 weeks but it worked out in our favor. Check your cruise prices once you are able to get in!:p

Wondering if this dress would be okay for a formal night or an evening wedding?

 

www.kohls.com/product/prd-2355569/disneys-minnie-rocks-the-dots-a-collection-by-lauren-conrad-dot-fit-flare-dress-womens.jsp

Cute dress, but I don't think it is formal. Depending on the venue and time of day, you might be able to wear it to a wedding. If the wedding was in the evening, I wouldn't. This is just my opinion.

I have gotten an Error Message off and on all week. The server appears to be down now again.

Nothing for the Breakaway either; I called about it and they said maybe in June:mad:

It was a promo when we booked, along with the UBP, SDP and a ship board credit.

Can't wait, I love Ginger Zee!

I am on the Gem right now. I am going to ask the cruise next consultant. I am checking everyday anyway.

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We have done it twice; both time it was a great cruise. But, truth be told I felt guilty leaving out adult kids behind.

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