Hlitner

At the risk of being a "cheerleader" for CC (I am), there are still many folks here on CC who are not aware or who do not use the "Roll Call" boards. For those not aware, these are blogs for each separate cruise where posters can exchange cruise-specific info including organizing private tours. It can be an amazing resource. I recall one cruise where DW and I were renting a car in Livorno to drive to Riomaggiore (Cinque Terre) and decided to look for another couple to split the cost. I posted on our Roll Call board, and within an hour I had several takers (we simply chose the first responder). Hank

:). Just look under the "Ports of Call" section here on CC. It is broken down into the various parts of the world such as "Europe" and than further broken down in to regions such as "Mediterranean - Eastern and Western." You can also scroll down on this page (or any CC page) to where it says "Forum Jump) and find a list of all the CC boards (including the many Ports of Call boards). For years, we have urged fellow cruisers to not be shy and post your specific questions on the Ports of Call Boards For many of us, helping on those boards has become a labor of love :). I also suggest using the CC Search function (which you can limit to specific boards) to first search for your port (i.e. "Rome") so you can read prior posts (which will likely have answers to many of your questions). What we (independent travelers) cannot do is force folks to set aside their anxiety about doing things on their own. We can just make it clear that many of us have been doing our own thing for decades, have never missed the ship, and have had loads of fun. Independent travel is somewhat of a mindset, and it does take some time (and effort) to get used to that kind of travel. It means doing pre-cruise "homework." The reward is being able to do what you want, when you want, with who you want! Imagine a world where you do not lose valuable port time waiting for slow folks to get on and off buses, go to the rest rooms, finish their shopping, etc :). Speaking of booking your own private tours, there are some third-party "consolidators" that can help those who do not want to look for their own local tour providers. While I am not a big fan, there are companies like Viator and the very popular "Tours by Locals" that can make it easier (not always better) to book local tours. My own pet peeve is about cruise line "walking tours." In many ports, these excursions now cost around $100 per person! The idea of paying nearly $200 a couple for a walking tour in a port like Kotor (very easy to do on your own) is just something we find ridiculous. Yes, there are many cruisers that like these walking tours, but they might consider the alternative which is to get a decent tour book (we like the Rick Steves books for much of Europe) or just download to their own phone, a local walking tour (some are free and some have a small cost). Having a working smartphone has been a game changer for we independent travelers. I used to carry many pounds of maps/map books when I went to Europe, now we simply take our phones :). Hank

While I am no expert on the excursions "racket" we do have a little knowledge (always dangerous) of how it works. Unfortunately, "O" and all the other cruise lines are caught in the post COVID fallout that has decimated tour providers, worldwide. The cruise lines (of their third party tour desk operator) contract with various local tour providers who must meet certain cruise line-imposed requirements such as having sufficient liability insurance. During COVID, many local tour companies went out of business or changed ownership. In addition, they lost many of their long-time employees. Now, in countries like Japan, the local tour providers are struggling to get their operations on track. But just like here in the USA, many jobs are going unfilled! It has become increasingly common for all the cruise lines to cancel excursions (often at the last minute) because the local providers cannot accommodate the current demand. We saw this, first hand, last spring when we were in Taiwan (on a HAL cruise) where a tour bus driver simply quit and walked-out...while the bus was parked on the pier! We had to wait over 30 minutes while the local tour company managed to find another driver. During our Japan/Korea/Taiwan trip this past spring (on the Westerdam) numerous excursions were cancelled due to issues with the local providers. There was little that could be done by the ship's excursion manager (who worked for a third party contractor). Just 2 weeks ago, while on a Princess cruise in the Caribbean, we had a snorkel excursion cancelled in Belize...because the local contractor was not able to obtain the required liability insurance (this forced the cruise line to cancel lots of other excursions through January). For those of you who depend on cruise line excursions, you will either need to accept the situation or change your own shore-based habits. There are plenty of cruisers (including moi) that seldom take excursions because we prefer to either do our own thing (DIY) or join small group (or even private) local tours. Fellow cruisers either must learn to deal with the new reality, or just take what is offered by the cruise lines...including last minute excursion cancellations/modifications. There are many of us (independent travelers) who are active on the CC Ports of Call Boards. Most of us are willing to help folks who need advice on how to handle individual ports. I like to say that we help folks who are willing to help themselves :). The issue we all face with "O" is that we must deal with the fact that "O" often includes an excursion credit/component. For us, if means we book excursions in ports where we would normally DIY. While we do not generally like cruise line excursions, we go along with the "O" program because we have essentially payed for the excursions (whether we like it or not). For our upcoming 35 day Vista cruise, DW and I have managed to book the minimum number of O excursions (we hold our nose and click on the mouse). The alternative is to cruise with a different line that does not include excursions (one reason why Seabourn is our current favorite cruise line) and simply do your own thing. Hank

Certain onboard services are operated by third party companies that contract with the cruise lines to provide the service. The Spa is operated by one of these outside contractions (i.e. Steiner Group). The third party determine the prices which are sufficient for the to pay their staff and make a nice profit. The cruise line then marks-up the real Spa price to the price that is paid by the cruiser. It is the same in the onboard shops, photo center, art auctions, tour desk, etc. The cruise lines do take advantage of their captive clients to impose outrageous mark-ups. If you want reasonable spa prices, go to land-based outfits that must deal with some real competition. We live in Puerto Vallarta, part of the year, where various spa services can be had for a fraction of what it costs on HAL (or any ship). Consider that I pay about 100 pesos (which includes a generous tip) for a haircut (that is about $6) and I am overpaying! DW pays less than $20 for a decent haircut (and she is also overpaying). Bottom line is that if the onboard prices are too steep, simply take advantage of deals in some of your ports. Not only will you save a lot of money on the services, but you will also save even more money by not booking the marked-up cruise line excursions. Han

I think the key to your post is that it has been "several years," Things have changed over the past few years when it comes to how folks dress on cruises. The OP asks about Princess (we have 34 cruises on that line) and at one time I would wear a Tux on their formal nights. Now, at best I might wear a blazer (without tie) and just wearing a collared shirt and slacks would be fine. While some folks still dress-up, most are smart or business casual, Even luxury lines have moved away from real formal nights. The new Explora Journeys has only smart casual as does Oceania and quite a few lines. Seabourn reqiures men to wear a jacket (no tie) in their Restaurant on Formal Nights, but their other dining venues allow smart casual. in fact, Seabourn now allows jeans in their Restaurant. About the only lines where I would consider taking really dressy clothes would be Silverseas or Cunard (if doing a crossing). Hank

Another hallmark of a "Premium Line?" Even Princess let us in our cabins before 2.

The reality is the stamp may not even happen (which can cause some real problems). About 20 months ago we cruised on Seabourn from Florida to Monte Carlo with our first port of call being the Azores and than Lisbon. There was no stamp added to our Passports. When we disembarked at Monte Carlo, there was no Passport control or stamp. A few weeks later when we were changing planes in Munich, the German authorities were very upset and asked for all kinds of proof we were legally in the EU (we had our cruise documents) After nearly 10 minutes of hassles, the Germans let us through, but they were very unhappy (we told them to blame the Portuguese). According to rule, your first port of entry into a Schengen country should stamp the Passport with the usual entry stamp. Whether that happens in anyone's guess. Hank

We have filed two major claims using our Chase Sapphire cancellation/interuption coverage. Their claims are handled by "eclaims" who are a challenge but ultimately professional. Like many claims processing organizations, they are ultra cautious and "slow walking claims" seems to be part of their MO. We have previously posted that when it comes to insurance claims, folks need to keep their patience, charm (you get more with sugar), and also pay attention to the rules. Don't let them wear you down...should be the overriding attitude. It is also worth mentioning, that documenting everything is usually a winning strategy. Insurance companies put very little stock in what you say, but rather tend to rely on what is written, proven, and fully documented. Hank

Agree with others that suitcases are simply consumables. Never understood folks spending a fortune on a suitcase as they can still get damaged, and expensive luggage is a magnet for thieves. We buy decent (but not overly expensive) lightweight bags and are happy if they survive more then a few years. Hank

We think the misconception by many of us who love to cruise is that everyone will love to cruise. Over 50 years of extensive cruising we have seen and met folks who simply should not be on a cruise ship. Hank

Dec-Jan is usually a great time to go to the Caribbean. This year was a real outlier with a few weeks of awful weather (especially in the Western Caribbean) including rain, 3-4 meter seas, etc. DW and I have been going to the Caribbean in early December for decades and this was the only year where we had multiple days of awful weather. Such is life. Hank

Getting a taxi to Taormina should not be a problem. However, finding a return taxi is something with which I would be concerned, and you might want to heed Marazul's warning. Although I am not a fan of cruise line excursions/transfers, we would suggest taking a good look at what will be offered by your ship in terms of a "Taormina on Your Own" transfer. In defense of the taxis, consider that it is more than 30 miles between the Messina port and Taormina. In most cases, a taxi would need to make the return trip...empty. Hank

Some cruise lines do a better job than others, when it comes to entertainment. Unfortunately, HAL is among the worst on those long crossings. The first time we took HAL (from Seattle to Sydney) we had an excellent group of singers/dancers on the ship (this was when HAL still had Production Shows). But their entire repertoire included only 4 shows (1 of which was just singing). At one point these young folks did not do a show for nearly 2 weeks! We did get friendly with one of the singers and he told us how they all wanted to do some extra entertainment but were constrained by their contracts and HAL's attitude. At one time, he actually did some extra singing in a lounge (backed by the classical duo) but was soon stopped by the Hotel Manager. Even guest entertainers are limited on these long crossings because of logistics. The ones they do have will normally perform 2 or even 3 shows (a good thing if the entertainer is good). The best part of our HAL crossing was the amazing Guest Lecturer (Alan Wright) who lectured to SRO Crowds (in the main theater) and got a long standing ovation when he finished his 9th lecture. Mr. Wright now works primarily on Silversea. I assume he and his lovely wife realized that if he was going to keep lecturing, it would be to their advantage to do so on a luxury line ::). Hank

Consider that when we booked our cruise (which we took in early December) the Plus Package was only $40 plus we were given a free upgrade to the Premiere Package because of a special promotion for Vets. If we had waited until our cruise (or close to our cruise) that $40 package would have cost a lot more! Hank

Not exactly, if you are sending a screen shot. Many brokerage accounts show a lot on a single page including the stock account number, various stocks, etc. When sending a fax or e-mail we would print out the page, black-out items not relevant for the credit, scan the blacked-out document to a file and than upload it to the cruise line.

The entertainers are still around and some are so bad that folks might be tempted to tip to shut them up :). If they have any talent, many folks will give them a few pesos. Hank

Only 83? Pretty young these days :). I think one of the best cruises, for folks with lots of limitations, was the old HAL Grand Med cruises that were about 60 days long and round trip from Port Everglades. On one of those voyages, we witnessed a gentleman celebrate his 102nd birthday. Other than using a cane or walker, he was in pretty good shape. Hank

After reading this thread I cannot help but think, "and this is a Premium line?" Hank

Now you are insulting turpentine :). I think turpentine costs more than the stuff they have at the art auctions (including much of the art). Hank

ROFL! We have also had our time in "steerage" and just finished a wonderful "steerage" cruise on the Sky Princess :). And we have truly cruised in steerage having once done a crossing in the lowest cost inside cabin on the "Queen." Turned out to be a good decision since we could not hear the foghorn,,,which was blowing day and night for several days. Hank

I think you delude yourself. MSC is simply a budget cruise line (even less costly than Carnival for some categories) that has a hybrid upper category section. The line is about packing in folks (like sardines) and maximizing onboard revenue! The kind of issue you describe is not a problem on the true small ship luxury lines. I always got a few laughs out of the YC, such as when the Butlers pushed us through the masses at embarkation (truly low class) or when those in "steerage" (to use your term) were invited into the YC to "tour" the facilities. Having the expensive home in a low priced neighborhood does feed the ego of a few, but many others would prefer to be located in the high priced neighborhood. And we have yet to see caviar in the YC (and I love caviar). Instead, they put out potato chips although in the YC you do get some variation on the flavors (of the potato chips). Hank

Hmmm, how did they squeeze 330 into 262? When we cruised on MSC, DW and I spent some time in "steerage" (to use your words) since we actually enjoy being with the"masses" and having some fun. Service outside the YC was generally fair to awful! On one cruise, the onboard bar manager was an old friend (we knew him for many years from a different cruise line). One evening, DW and I were in one of the "steerage" bars (where they had a decent band) and could not get any bar service. I finally walked over to the bar and ordered two martinis (not the easiest things to carry). When I turned to carry them back to our table, the ship's bar manager was sitting with DW and seemed both amused and shocked that I was carrying our drinks. When I explained that it was difficult to get service outside the YC he was not happy (but nothing changed). On the other hand, we are not high maintenance and simply roll with the waves and enjoy ourselves. You might also be shocked to know that during some port days, DW and I would dare to spend time at one of the "steerage" pools since they had a real pool (where one could swim a few laps), a nearby gelato place, and the Lido (with its decent pizza) was also nearby. It was also rumored that I was once spotted in the lido (oh horrors) making an Italian sausage sandwich, which was more delicious than that day's offerings in the the YC's two lunch venues. Another benefit of being out among the masses was that we could easily find a nice shady spot since the ship was pretty empty. Some of us are just so low class that being with the masses is often more enjoyable than watching certain folks, sitting by themselves, in the YC :). The truth is we have met quite a few really nice folks on MSC, both in the YC and out in "steerage." Hank

Strange that all the January Celebration cruises show as sold-out. Perhaps a call to Carnival can get you some answers.

Yes, and senior officers on cruise ships work for $4.99 an hour 🙂

I get it but you need to deal with the reality in cruising. At the price point of the YC, you are not going to get great wine (unless you pay extra for higher end bottles). And the best food in the YC is far from outstanding. So where can you find all you seek for $500 per person/day? As a long time world traveler and cruiser I do not think it exists! Anywhere! Not at that price point. And even if you are willing to pay $1000 per person/day it can be difficult to get what you seek. When it comes to food on the cruise lines, we think the current best (overall) might be Explora 1 and others might say it is to be found on Oceania. But the included wines, on both of those lines, is nothing worth a shout. In fact, the best included wines we have had on any cruise happened recently on the Sky Princess where we had their "Premiere Package" which included wines by the glass up to $20. They had a few decent offerings such as a Cab from Silverado. For a few dollars more (you only had to pay the overage) one could get wines from vineyards such as Caymus! On our recent Explora 1 cruise (Explora Journeys cruise lines) we decided to have dinner in their small extra cost restaurant (Anthology). The small place (there were only 8 diners when we went) had a Michelin 2* Guest Chef (we could see her cooking our dinner) from NYC. The meal was Michelin quality, but the extra cost (over and above an expensive cruise) was about $400 (with wine pairings). And the wine pairings left much to be desired! Lets be honest, If you go to a high end restaurant and enjoy dinner with a good bottle of wine, the cost of that meal is likely to be well over $500 (per couple). And that is just for dinner...not a cruise. I would love to see the YC improve its food/wine, but it is not likely to happen at the current price point. Would YC cruisers be willing to pay several hundred dollars per day more, for elevated food/wine? My goodness, even a decent lobster roll (great for lunch) now costs about $30 in New England....where lobster prices are among the best anywhere! A decent prime cut of steak can easily cost over $30 per pound! DW and I like good scallops, and they now cost over $30 per pound. And these are just the cost of the item and do not include sides (or the cost of cooking, staff, etc). Hank