PlayTheAces

We were on the Panorama a few weeks ago. The time before that we were on her we were pretty late getting back to Long Beach.  It was after 11am when we finally got off.  I was talking to someone at the port as we were waiting to embark on our last cruise and mentioned we had been late getting back on our previous cruise, and was told the ship has engine issues.

We got back on time without any problem at the end of this cruise, but if I were flying home I'd be really cautious about booking an earlier flight.  The Panorama isn't very predictable when it comes to returning home on time.  Fortunately for us we drive so it's never a problem.

As much as I like the Panorama I think replacing her next year with the Firenze will be a good move.

On 3/30/2023 at 8:34 PM, Fisherwoman said:

I haven't heard from American Queen so I called reservations.  Refunds are not processed until 60 to 90 days after cancellation.  When you book they want the full payment, yet refunds take 60 - 90 days!!!!  I will update when I finally get my refund.  

This is exactly why I'm not too excited about booking with them again.  And the fact you have to call them to book.  They're still living in the 20th Century when it comes to conducting business on-line.

Personally I think bankruptcy is a distinct possibility for any of the cruise lines.

 As far as AQSC, our cruise was cancelled last Spring and I had to wait out the full 90 days before receiving a refund and even then I had to call them after the 90 days had passed and push for the refund. 

Until things settle down I'm not putting anymore money upfront on what really amounts to a gamble, regardless of the company.  There's just no way of knowing the true financial strength of any of the cruise lines and they're all taking big hits right now.

Here's the text of the letter we received today canceling our June 14th cruise on the Countess.  At this point it appears cruises after June 21st are still a go, though I suspect that could change as well.

April 27, 2020

Dear Valued Guest,

As of today we will be extending the suspension of our cruises to include any departure between May 16 and June 21, 2020.

As your booking is impacted by this suspension, a representative from American Queen Steamboat Company will be contacting you and your travel agent regarding your cruise and available options. The company will be providing a Future Cruise Credit for 125% of the cruise fare or a full refund of the amount paid. Any Future Cruise Credits issued may be returned at any time for a refund of the original payment amount. All refunds will be processed within 90 days.

This difficult decision to extend our suspension was made to adhere to federal and state mandates, and to reassure our guests and crew that your health and safety are our number one goal and priority. We appreciate your patience and loyalty, wish you the very best in health and look forward to welcoming you aboard in the near future.

Sincerely,

John W. Waggoner

Founder and CEO
American Queen Steamboat Company

46 minutes ago, Sagittarius traveler said:

The Havana pool area oh wow was it worth it to pay extra? 

 

I had family Harbor but if I book next time with my mom hahaha little one can room with grandparents lol .

 

 

 

We had a Havana cabin so access to the pool area was part of the deal.  But yes, I'd make it a point to book a Havana cabin if we go on the Panorama again.

3 hours ago, Sagittarius traveler said:

 

Did the ship feel crowded? 

 

Was the serenity deck overly crowded because Horizon's deck you wouldn't be able to find a spot until dinner time.

It felt a little crowded on the last sea day as everyone was inside as the weather turned colder as we headed back north.  Otherwise no, it didn't seem overly crowded.  I never made it up to the serenity deck - we hung out at the Havana pool area.

We were on the Panorama the week of 1/11and I'm just now getting around to posting about it.  I'm getting old and slow I guess.

Let me preface this by saying we avoid the bigger newer ships so some of the features we found new may be old news to some.  But here are a few random thoughts regarding the Panorama.

The ship was 4 weeks old when we boarded so obviously everything was fresh, clean and new.

Our cabin, 9487 had a extra large balcony. This cabin is next to a wraparound and benefits with some additional balcony real estate due to the layout. The shower temperature was intermittent, constantly changing from hot to cold every couple of seconds.  We found the bed and pillows to be extremely comfortable.   The USB ports and outlets in the cabin (2 each) were great for electronic charging. We were in one of the Havana cabins so we had access to the Havana pool area. We loved it.

The elevators are the latest tech which we hadn't encountered before. You punch in the deck you’re going to on a touchscreen outside the elevator and it assigns you a car number. The second person repeats the process and so on. So for three people you punch the deck three times. It works fine assuming everyone uses it. If people just jump on a car when it opens without entering the deck and number of passengers it screws up the headcount plus they’ll be stuck going to whatever floors have already been punched in.  It was really entertaining to watch people get in the elevator and look for buttons to push for their floor. No buttons - it’s all touchscreen entry before you board the elevator

If you have Anytime Dining and have downloaded the Carnival Hub app you can check in to the main restaurant via the app and you’ll be assigned a table or given a waiting time for your table to be assigned. 

We saw some comedy shows in the Limelight Lounge and I was amazed they keep copying the layout of this lounge on all the ships.  It's truly impressive how many columns that block the view of the stage the builders manage to squeeze into such a relatively small space.  Even one of the comedians made fun of it.

I had really mixed feelings about the Liquid Lounge where the main shows are performed. First, it seemed small compared to every other cruise ship showroom I’ve ever seen but maybe my perception was off. The lower level is different from what I’m familiar with as well. Rather than inclined stadium seating to provide a good view of the stage, most of the first level is flat with movable chairs. This allows each show to be configured differently with runways, portable platforms and props to be placed right out into the audience. It provides a much more interactive experience as the performance takes place all around the audience. I felt there were a couple of downsides though. The chairs are pretty uncomfortable after an hour or more of sitting in them. And should you happen to have a drink, you either have to hold it for the duration of the show or try to find a safe spot on the floor to place it. Also as the shows may be taking place all around you you may not be able to see everything that's taking place. In viewing the main stage, unless you’re right up front you’re going to be looking at the back of the head of whoever is sitting in front of you due to the lack of stadium seating. We found the second level to be much more comfortable seating wise while providing a good view of show and and action. The sound system was very good and the video screen simply incredible. And don't forget to get there early as the showroom fills up fast. 

The crew was outstanding in every way possible.  Probably the best crew on any cruise ship I've ever been on.  The smiles on everyone's face is genuine.  And Emma, the cruise director is a class act.  It's a happy and proud ship.

And of course the biggie - food.  Simply stated, we found the food to be extremely good regardless of where we ate. Everything we had was of good quality and taste with nice selections to choose from. One change we noted on the Panorama is that Carnival is following NCL and installing more extra cost restaurants. We didn’t try any but the options are there.

That's it as far as a quick review.  It's a great ship that we thoroughly enjoyed.  It's bigger than I prefer with a capacity of over 5,000 passengers, but I'd gladly go back anytime.

Personally I wouldn't drive in the day of a cruise any more than I'd fly in the day of a cruise.  Just too many logistic problems that can crop up.  In the case of driving you have possible construction detours, accidents, bridge jumpers, flat tires, breakdowns, heavy traffic, natural disasters, meteor strikes and who knows what else.  I book a hotel the night before in whatever city I'm traveling to, regardless of my mode of transportation. Makes the beginning of the cruise a lot more enjoyable and a lot more stress free.

Have I noticed a downward change in the food?  I took my first NCL cruise thirty years ago when cruises were known for the cuisine they served. Yeah, there's been a dramatic change since that time period in both the food and the ambience/service.  But you have to balance that against the fact that costs have been kept down allowing more folk to afford cruising, cabins are larger and the fact most people just aren't much in to the formality of those days.  Truthfully I don't miss my tux and dress codes in effect back then.

The main dining room food isn't bad and you aren't going to starve on a cruise.  But if you want a better dining experience you're going to have to pay NCL more and go to a specialty restaurant.  It's their business model and the way they make money. Obviously they've downgraded the MDR somewhat to steer people to the specialty restaurants.  Strictly a business decision and it's the current reality.

We just got off the Star's Christmas cruise and I have no complaints.  We ate mainly in the specialty restaurants but enjoyed Christmas dinner in the Versailles MDR (I was honestly curious what they'd serve) and they had a great menu.  I was surprised to see Beef Wellington on the menu for the holiday and it was very good. The buffet I thought was so-so but that's just me. Judging from the crowd I'd say most really liked the buffet food.

The cruising business continues to evolve. Some things get better, some not so good, some just different.  Personally I enjoyed my last cruise just as much as my first one decades ago.  And since I once again gained weight I obviously managed the current dining experience just fine. 

Carnival keeps claiming to have new sales every other day. Everytime they do a new one I do a mock booking for several different room categories and still get the same final price that I got before the sale started. How can they claim they are having a sale when the prices never change? Is this just a gimmick?

Pretty much like the never ending mattress store sales.

Just a few random thoughts on the Pearl. The Pearl went through an extensive dry dock renovation in February and we sailed her out of Seattle for Alaska in late July 2017. We've sailed on the Pearl in the past and were impressed with the changes.

And unrelated to the Pearl, the embarkation on this cruise was fast and efficient, a night and day difference compared to the last time we were on NCL. We arrived at the port around 11:15 and were on board before noon. Being platinum may have shaved a few minutes off the process but things were just extremely well organized in Seattle. This was probably one of the quickest embarkations I can recall. Such a difference to what we experienced in New Orleans a year or two ago.

As to the Pearl, pretty much the entire ship has been renovated. Everything is fresh and new looking. The dessert section of the buffet is behind easy to access glass doors, a much more sanitary arrangement than what one normally encounters in buffets. And it seemed the food selections have been greatly enhanced. This was one of the nicest buffets I've seen on any cruise ship recently. The only downside is the size of the drink glasses. They no longer have adult sized glasses. All drinks from the buffet now have to go into little juice / kiddy cups so you're constantly making trips back and forth to the beverage station which simply adds to the congestion and creates more dirty cups.

The Summer Palace dining room appears to now have more smaller tables for two or four. I think NCL is finally abandoning the old table-for-eight sit-with-strangers configuration.

We had a mini suite and everything in the cabin appeared new. There are now a couple of electrical outlets as well as several USB ports available. Two are cleverly concealed in the base of the overhead bed side lamps. The refrigerator was brand new and was only about half full of mini bar items, leaving plenty of room for a few of your own items. I really applaud NCL for this as it reduces the burden on the cabin attendants having to remove the stuff when requested as well as recognizing the needs of their guests. The safe was new as well. The flat screen TV was mounted on a convenient pull out adjustable bracket. Unfortunately, there was no magnified shaving mirror in the bathroom that my old eyes so appreciated.

This was the first cruise I've ever been on where disembarkation was a low-key affair. No announcements the day before, at least that I heard. No instructions or tags delivered to our cabin. I checked with our cabin attendant and per his instructions went to the lobby the day before and picked up our tags. I didn’t even see the typical disembarkation instructions featuring the Cruise Director on the TV. We put our luggage out the night before, got up early the next morning to grab breakfast and got in line. Again, there were no announcements. After checking, I had been told the disembarkation would begin at 7:30 am but in fact it began at 8 am. As we were walking off a few minutes later I heard the first announcement regarding those taking their own luggage off. We had Platinum tags and were told to walk off whenever we were ready. All in all it took us just a bit over an hour from getting in line on the ship to standing on the curb and grabbing a cab. Pretty darn good disembarkation.

Lastly, one other thing we noticed was the lack of constant announcements for Bingo, lottery tickets, art auctions and sales. While there were announcements, it seemed more civilized than the never ending stream of marketing we've experienced in the past. I think NCL has struck a good balance with this.

It was an outstanding cruise on an outstanding ship.

Thanks to chengkp75 for the reply. You explain it very well and you have excellent knowledge.

Agreed. chengkp75's post was one of the most informative I've ever read here. I really appreciate that he took the time to write it.

We just got off the Dawn as well and I was impressed. The crew keeps her immaculate and the crew itself is superb.

She does show some wear, but as I said the maintenance and housekeeping is on top of things. I wouldn't hesitate to book her again either before or after dry dock.

My understanding is besides aesthetics, they will be updating the computer system to give guests a more interactive experience as found on newer ships.

Last week and the previous cruise they had problems with the zpod system which was recently updated, necessitating an engineer being flown from Germany to Belize to work out a control issue. The propulsion system was back to 100% when we left her.

Okay, let me respond to the cheerleaders.

First, I'm platinum and have been cruising NCL for 27 years so I have a little perspective.

As far as disorganized, that's what I'm calling it. I'm here, are you? No communication at all as far as where to go, what was happening, etc. Just mass confusion.

The last few cruises we've taken were on another line. The credit card was given online. The key cards were waiting for us. The entire check in process took less than five minutes. NCL does it the same way they did it twenty years ago. Physically run the credit card. Enter data in the computer. Print the key cards and, seriously, then the agent had to go stand in a line waiting for our cards to print. They waste an amazing amount of time by not embracing modern technology.

Sorry fanboys, NCL does a lot right but could improve in plenty of areas.

We made it to the Venetian Restaurant. Place is pretty empty but life is good!

Were here too. Worse embarkation I've been through in years. Aside from whatever the delay is, NCL is totally disorganized They are just now starting to call the boarding groups.

We were on the Miracle last week and got lucky. Andres never got close to us and pretty much blew out to sea. Cabo was a little overcast but that was the only sign of the storm we saw.

Looks like Blanca is staying closer in toward the coast. It seems like the storms in this area are coming a month or so early this year.

No, everything I've seen has either been misrepresented as to what it really is or priced just plain stupid.

But I keep ignoring all these emails I get from various Liberian politicians, businessmen and princes too. I probably just don't recognize a great opportunity when it's presented to me.

Two to three weeks before. I'd wait until the day before when I actually start packing, but with my luck the printer or router would die, or I'd run out of ink, or something would go south.

We're leaving on our next cruise the end of this month, so I suppose I need to print the stuff next week. :rolleyes:

I never even thought about buying insurance. It just wasn't on my radar. Then one day we were on a Mexican Riviera cruise. I think we were in Zihuatanejo. One of the passengers had a heart attack. The ship's doctor determined he needed hospitalization. He was transported ashore to the local hospital. He had no choice in the matter. His wife did have a choice. Stay on the ship or disembark and stay with him. She stayed with him.

I always wondered how they made out, how they got home and whether he had any insurance to cover the bills or had to pay on the spot.

From then on, I've always bought insurance. It costs tens of thousands of dollars for an emergency medical evacuation back to the states. I'm not willing to gamble that much when I can purchase insurance at a very reasonable rate.

Good to hear you got a nice cabin.

In over twenty five years of cruising, I don't recall ever booking a guaranteed but I just did it. We're also on the Miracle, the first week of June and also in a balcony. It'll be interesting to see what we get. This is a spur of the moment cruise I picked up during one of the recent sales.

Hope your cruise is great!

I also enjoy a fine cigar . On the Princess ships I have been on , each had a very nice cigar bar that was very elegant and with a full bar.

That's good info to have. I may take a look at Princess. Gracias.

I'm not particularly loyal to any of the cruise lines though our last three cruises have been on Carnival with a fourth through the Canal coming up next month.

While I don't care that much about getting involved in the endlessly fascinating great smoking debates, I do enjoy lighting up a cigar somewhere in the evenings.

Carnival is sadly lacking in smoking venues. Now that they're banning smoking on balconies, I'll find another line that provides some sort of accommodation for cigar smokers. A lot of the NCL ships have nice cigar lounges, so that's likely where my next booking will be. Carnival used to have decent cigar bars but they banned cigars in them when the non-smokers complained about cigar smokers actually smoking cigars in them. How utterly rude of the cigar smokers.

While I fully understand Carnival trying to rid the balconies of smoke, I don't understand why their solutions to the smoking issue has always been to take away the places one can smoke rather than attempting to provide a decent area people could smoke without bothering others. Telling smokers to go stand on an open deck to puff isn't going to cut it if they want smokers to continue to patronize them.

Unless something changes, Carnival will be seeing the last of me next month. I suspect there may be one or two others that feel like I do.

I find the entire Carnival policy odd. I suspect if the truth were known, it's been a reactive patched together series of decisions rather than a cohesive thought out policy.

I smoke cigars. For a long time, Carnival had cigar bars on board their ships where we poor souls could go to enjoy a cigar, meet other cigar smokers, and be by ourselves without bothering anyone. I've always tried hard not to smoke my cigars where it would bother anyone. The cigar lounges made sense, both for me and non-smokers.

But a small group of non-smokers hated this. The thought of someone lighting up a cigar was more than they could bear, even if it was in a designated area. They complained, and the next thing I know, cigars were banned in the cigar lounges.

So although I much preferred smoking my nightly cigar in a cigar lounge, now I was forced to light up on my balcony. Not by choice. I was pushed out there by those responsible for shutting down the cigar lounges.

Now, Carnival has decided to ban smoking on the balconies as well.

All I want is a place to enjoy a cigar in relative comfort. It appears Carnival is utterly incapable of providing this. So to NCL I will go. NCL provides small but nicely appointed cigar lounges on most of their ships, with excellent ventilation that severely limits smoke and odor. That's all I ask for. Just a place I can be left in peace without bothering anyone.

We hooked up with Godrey quite by accident a couple weeks ago. We had debated booking a tour on the ship, but finally decided to wing it and see what we felt like doing once we got to the port.

We ate a leisurely breakfast and let the crowds get off first, then finally meandered off the ship. There were a couple of the tour trolleys parked near the ship, and Godfrey just happened to be one of them.

I asked him about the tour, and he recited the list of locations they pretty much all hit, with an option to get off at Magan's Bay beach for a couple of hours. The price he offered to take us for was half of what the tour costs if you book it on board, and my wife had never seen the whole island, so away we went.

As we left the port we were the only ones on the trolley, but Godfrey had a list of others from the ship who would be accompanying us and was doing some serious communicating on his phone. He dropped us off downtown to do some shopping, said he'd be back in an hour, and took off. At this point I wasn't sure if we'd see him again or not. But I honestly wasn't too concerned.

An hour later he returned as promised and we boarded the trolley. Another fifteen minutes or so and the rest of our group was on board as well, and everyone had a cold drink in hand. I never did figure out why we hadn't all left the ship together, but all's well that ends well.

The tour was very enjoyable, and probably lasted around 4 hours or so start to finish. Godfrey dives safely, provides a good narration, and had the cooler full of soft drinks and water mounted on back of his trolley. He's a solid, trustworthy guy. We got lucky running into him.