WoodstockGirl

Just got a notification that our fall NE/Canadian Cruise for the week of Oct 19 will not be porting in Bar Harbor, Maine on Oct 22nd. Does anyone here have a clue about why this is?  Is it just our particular week of cruise? Is there a situation with Bar Harbor?  I love stopping there for the day. 

We will be stopping in Portland Maine now instead. I've never been there.... any tips?

Thanks

Considering booking an excursion to Peggy's Cove using Shore Excursion while in Halifax instead of a Princess sponsored excursion. A little bit nervous about the "what if something happens and we miss getting back to the ship in time". 

Whenever I book non-Princess excursions I calculate the "what ifs" and go from there. This time, since Halifax is the last day in a port, followed by our last day (sea day) of return to disembarking in Brooklyn, I don't want to take chance of missing the boat. However (like ... on the other hand...)... how risky is the risk, really?  Of using Shore Excursions in this case. 

Anyone have experiences using Shore Excursions to Peggy's Cove to help me weigh it out? 

Thanks All ~

I usually hang out at the "Princess Ask A Question" page here on CC - but now I have a bigger question than just for Princess-centric folks.

Would appreciate input from all of your collective experiences cruising the Med (inc Europe is ok) ....

We are interested in a Mediterranean cruise (inc Europe is ok, but less important) that offers the best opportunities for enjoying Croatia.  Either by docking in more than one Croatian town, or maybe by a particular excursion offered? Might there even be a cruise line that docks in a Croatian port for a 24 hour period? For one reason or another, whichever sailing/ship you might recommend for maximizing a Croatia visit.  

I know I could comb through all the cruiselines, one by one, and do my looking - but WOW! - I envision that as taking beaucoup hours - maybe days! I'm hoping by asking all of you experienced cruisers here that you can help me filter down the number of cruiselines to explore.

Mediterranean Cruise for 2025. For 10-20 ish days. Good Croatian ports and experience.

I will greatly appreciate input from your experiences!

Cruising on Princess the past few years we've enjoyed the group games and activities held in the Princess Live on the Royal Class ships. Now we have an upcoming sailing on the older, smaller Caribbean Princess where they don't have a Princess Live venue. So I'm wondering, do they not host those type of activities on the Caribbean Princess, or do they use another venue? Like the Explorers Lounge or Club Fusion, or ____? 

Thanks for info!

I think the first question is something like "have you had... (going by memory... cough, cold, flu, fever; do they say "covid"?) in last two weeks?"

If you say "yes" - then what? Where do the questions go after that, and what will impact being cleared to board?

I had a cold early in the 2 weeks before boarding timeframe. I tested twice for covid and was negative twice. 

Not sure how this impacts health screening at boarding.

My husband needs an extension cord to use his CPAP machine. I see we are not permitted to bring our own from home. Can we count on getting one by asking our steward on day of sailing? How would we go about requesting one ahead of time? 

Thank You.

How many MDRs are there on the Epic, and what are their names?  Are you of the opinion that one is as good as another?

WG

Showing my ignorance here, I'm sure.... but does it really make any difference if within a family that has two rooms and 8 beds paid for, if one member of the family sleeps in one room or the other? Who even keeps track of that? 

I guess it'd get complicated if you're charging a drink (or something) to "your" room, but now you're in a different room. Other than that, I don't see how it matters.

Don't get mad at me... I just need it to be gently explained....

With a less busy day I could probably search and find the answer here....but I ask you to indulge my just skipping to the chase and blurting my question out here ....

We are scheduled to depart on cruise tomorrow. We are Green lane and have our medallions.  Our info from Princess says one of the things we need to check in at the port tomorrow is a QR code. On the app. My husband has one, our traveling companions have theirs, but I don't have mine ...

What does this mean for me and boarding tomorrow?

I'm on a 4 day Caribbean cruise beginning Dec. 22nd.

My passport expires June 14th, 2024.

Will it be accepted?

How can I find out for sure?

I'm not confident I have time to get a new one, given the unusually long delays.

Woodstock Girl

Hi! I'm a newbie to RC cruising, and have never cruised with children before.

I read an article talking about "My Family Time Dining" and wondered how it works.  The article said counselors come pick the kids up from the front of the MDR (...all of the MDRs? or a certain one?), at "sometime" during the dinner and whisk them away to .... a kids area (don't know what it's called).  Do you make an appt for their pickup time? What all should I know about this service? How long do they stay there.... till we go pick them up?  Does this exist on all the ships? We will be on the Liberty of the Seas.

Sorry I'm so dumb on this.

We are sailing on the Liberty of the Seas over the Christmas holiday with two grandkids.

Thanks!

All this information is tremendous! Thanks, All!

Our first RC cruise and first timers to CoCo Cays. 

We are a family of 7 - grandparents, parents and two boys, age 11 and 8.

If we don't take any excursions and just want to walk off the ship and spend time at the beach, is that "doable"?

Are beach towels provided by RC?

Are their restricted and non-restricted beach areas? 

Food is available?

This is a case of "I don't know what I don't know".... what do I need to know? Any tips?

WG

We've never sailed on the Emerald before, and are due to this upcoming October. 

We typically like to make a standing reservation to eat in the same dining room, at same time, at the same table, (hopefully the same staff) every night when possible. We make our standing reservation (thru the App).

Question: do you have any tips or information about which dining room would be our best pick?

WG

1 hour ago, LACruiser88 said:

Day 15:  Another cloudy and cold sea day.

I'm curious... how cold is it?

5 hours ago, skynight said:

....From your signature I'm thinking you are from VT. If so you know the normal weather patterns for this area. 

Thanks for noticing my moniker ... turns out there are a number of states with towns named Woodstock. Including the "famous" one in NY. But, we are in the Maryland one. 

We took the NE/CAN cruise in 2022 during the 4th week of October.

This year we are booked for the 2nd week of Oct.

Am already looking at booking same itinerary for next year.

Saving me having to personally try out every different week offered to find my "favorite" week for this cruise, are there opinions here about which is the "best" week" to choose? This for the 7 day itinerary that leaves from NY.

Thinking that the "no-predicting-the-weather" would probably have an outsized impact (including it being hurricane season) - still just wondering if some of you have experience(s) that speaks to "favorite week" for this one?  

Thanks!

WG

58 minutes ago, chamima said:

 

 

 

We have no interest in the luau and would just be going for the day.

I don't love ship excursions because of the hurry-up-and-wait and overcrowded aspects but I'll look into private tour companies.

We've been to Honolulu multiple times and I was just looking for something we haven't done already.

IF you've been to Honolulu multiple times, and IF you've seen the wide spectrum of other things to see and do on Oahu besides a luau - then IMHO the PCC would be a pleasant diversion. I'm not sure what is being offered on this particular excursion - extra time on the grounds for exploring? - but the PCC is more than food and luau. It offers introduction to and (fully "real" - not "museum like) displays of many different island cultures of the South Pacific that you can stroll around and enjoy.

3 hours ago, chamima said:

Did you do this as an excursion form the ship?

I wonder if it's possible to just get a cab and go there on your own.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is on the opposite side of the island from the port. A long, slow drive; and only one road that gets you there. 

The bus system - "The Bus" - is cheap and a common form of transportation on the island. You'd have to figure out the schedule and stops and all.

Following b/c:

1. Transoceanic Cruises scare - oops! - I mean "interest" - me. So, I have to watch from the sidelines as part of my therapy 😁 ....
2. We are cruising on the Emerald for the first time to NE/CAN this Fall. Curious about the Emerald experience.
3. Lived in Hawaii for several years. Second home to me. Interested in your land based adventures once you get there, too.

Have a great cruise!

Great help, everyone. Thanks!

Our family - grandparents, parents and two grandsons (age 8 and 11) - are taking a short (4 day) cruise over Christmas this year. We are regular Princess cruisers, but chose RC for the options for the kids.  I've been reading this thread for awhile and sometimes I come across things that seem new and different on RC (i.e. what's a "dinner package"?  And you can't bring an extension cord for your CPAP machine?). 

I'd love hearing from those who are familiar with both RC cruises and Princess cruises about the differences we can expect. (like, this "dinner package" --- isn't dinner included???  😨 ) 

ANY and ALL tips will be very appreciated!

We'll be on Liberty of the Seas.

Merci!

Thanks for suggestions. I'm going to look into these and try to book ahead of cruise. It's truly cheaper to book beforehand?

What are your suggestions and best finds at the Lotus Spa these days? Are services offered the same from ship to ship? We are booked on the Emerald Princess in the Fall. I'm thinking mostly along the lines of the various massages.

WG

Yes to all things mentioned above; just reiterating that having your friends' booking number is key.