Hlitner

Some of the arguments/discussion have me scratching my head :). The cruise industry is not rocket science. When looking at various statistics we have things like "space ratios" and crew-passenger ratios. In generaly, the more you pay the better the space ratio and passenger-crew ratios. MSC does not "take away" from the mass market part of the ship to staff the YC. The YC is its own entity, with a hand picked staff, and excellent staff and space ratios. That is how the ships were designed, and those who want the higher level of service and space can get it if they are willing to pay the price. It is the same if you want to be on a luxury cruise line (Seabourn, Silversea, Sea Dream, etc) for which you will pay even more money (when compared to the YC) to get a more quality experience. It is no different than booking a Ritz Carlton vs a Holiday Inn Express. But make no mistake, MSC does not dilute the staff of one part of the ship to serve the YC. Each is staffed according to their internal formulas and needs. Folks are not going to get YC type service outside the YC because they are not willing to pay for that level of service. So what is the problem? Some folks simply envy others who are willing to pay for higher quality. The MSC cruiser who is paying $100 per person/day and whines about those in the YC, are simply jealous (or possibly cheap). We have often chatted with frequent HAL cruisers (for the record we are also 5* with HAL) who say things like "we do not ever want to see the ship within a ship scheme." Yet, some of these same folks book Neptune Suites, have their special dining areas, go to the Neptune Lounge...where they whine about "ship within a ship" schemes? A wonderful trait about the cruise industry is that there are lots of options and folks can make their choices depending on their wants, needs, budget, etc. So, for example, when we cruise on HAL we have no desire to pay the big bucks for a Neptune Suite. On the other hand, we have no problem paying to go on Seabourn, Silversea, etc. where we think there is good value in what we get for our money. But that is just our personal preference, and we have no problem with folks that want to pay really big dollars for a larger suite (the extra space is wasted on us since we spend little waking time in our cabin). But I do not understand why folks feel they must criticize those willing to pay more for more, or less for less. That is simply the way of the world. Hank

Not surprising given the lack of transparency from EJ. Folks who routinely cruise the luxury lines must learn how to adapt to the restaurant reservation requirements/rules on each specific line. Even on lines like Silversea and Seabourn, one needs to scramble to get reservations in the better venues. For those of us who "live to eat" this is serious stuff :). On EJ, we quickly realized it was easier to get into most restaurants (on any night) by simply being a "walk in." This is particularly true since the ship has not operated at anything close to full capacity. Ask for a reservation in Marble or Sakura and you would often be told, no! But simply walk up to the host/hostess and ask if they can take a "walk in" and we were rarely turned away. We actually preferred the walk-in scheme since we could dine when we pleased without having to follow some kind of reservation-driven schedule. Hank

Real Champagne is not included in the HIA package. We used to think that none of the mass market cruise lines included real champagne (which only comes from the Champagne area of France) but were recently surprised to find decent French Champagne included in the Princess Cruise lines Premiere Package (which includes any drink up to $20 per glass). What we found interesting about the Princess package was that it also included Remy Martin XO (priced at $20 per glass) which is a first for us on any cruise line. Given the cost of a bottle of Remy XO, this was a true steal. Most of the luxury lines and ship within a ship schemes do include unlimited French Champagne. For example, Seabourn includes Moutaudon Champagne and MSC's Yacht Club has Nicolas Feuillate. But the best Champagne deal is on the new Explora Journeys cruise line which includes an entire range of products from Moet and Chandon. Hank

We will echo much of what Marazul posted. Enjoying Taormina, on your own, is easy as the tourist part of town is essentially two streets (which you must cover on foot). The problem is getting to an from Taormina. We will sometimes rent a car and simply drive ourselves since it makes it easy for us to also drive up to Castello di Mola, where we sometimes go to just enjoy some cappuccino and the view. If your cruise offers a reasonably priced bus transfer, that is certainly a very good option. If you can put together a small group (try using the CC Roll Call) you can arrange, online, to hire a private car/driver. Marazul talks about finding a willing driver (just off the ship) but that is hit/miss. If you are going to depend on that idea we would suggest trying to be among the earliest crowd off the ship since it is first come/first serve for any taxis that will be waiting near the ship. It is also possible to get to Taormina with public transit (bus or train). The train does not go up to Taormina, so you need a taxi (or bus) from the train station. There is also a cable car, but that is a bit complicated and you would probably need to find a taxi to get you between the train station and cable car. I am not sure if there is a local bus that connects to the cable car station from the train station. Keep in mind that many of the decent shops/boutiques in Taormina, do close in the afternoon (usually around 1pm) and do not re-open until about 4-5. Also be aware that Taormina is well known as having terrific cannoli so this is something to have in many of the restaurants/cafes. We suggest that if folks get to Taormina in the morning, they first spend their time walking the main street and browsing the shops. You can later walk over to the Greek Theater (which is open when the shops are closed) and also enjoy a nice lunch during the time when many shops are closed. Afternoon closings are still pretty common in many parts of Italy and Spain and those of us who spend time in these countries quickly learn how to best deal with the strange shop hours. Hank

LOL, forgot all about that Hancock Building fiasco.

We have posted this previously, but its worth another look :). On Dec 2 we embarked on the Sky Princess and would have normally gone to the pier about 11:30. But while looking at a post on CC we noticed that some folks were talking about getting aboard much earlier. So, we grabbed an Uber over to the port and arrived about 10:30. We had our Medallions (and Green Lane Access) and quickly moved through the security line, had our Medallions scanned, and were actually on the ship by 10:55. Boarding had actually started around 10:30. We never even had a chance to sit down in the terminal. Our Elite status had little to do with getting us on the ship as the process was the most efficient, we have ever seen at Port Everglades. Those who did not have their Medallions (or Green Lane) did have a slower process. Having embarked out of Port Everglades at least 50 times, we had never expected to be sitting at the IC sipping our spicy bloody Mary by 11am! Hank

You mean there is a world outside of North America ? 🙂 Only teasing. We are looking forward to getting back to Europe (and Germany) in the spring. Hank

Free shipping is a perk of the Premiere Package.

It could be a few months in advance, but we have sometimes seen changes. The port in Brooklyn (at Red Hook) can usually handle only one ship (of any size). The Manhattan cruise port (at 12th Ave and around 51st St) can handle 3 ships. Princess would normally be at Brooklyn (Red Hook) unless there was another large ship (such as the Queen Mary 2). Hank

Lets talk about stopovers. When flying between the USA and much of Europe, it is often possible to book air with Icelandic Air and include a multi-day (or week) stopover in Reykjavik. In mDriviost cases there will be no additional cost (for the air) and Icelandic is actually a reasonably priced airline. As to Iceland, you can arrange (through the airline or on many web sites) various self-driving tours that take you around Iceland. Driving in Iceland is quite easy as there is very little traffic (outside of Reykjavik and they do drive on the right. Over the years, as very independent travelers/cruisers, we have enjoyed taking advantage to stopover deals. Both Iceland (with Icelandic Air) and Ireland (Aer Lingus) make these kind of trip extensions a great deal since there is seldom any additional cost to air (versus flying direct to and from Europe). Hank

That can be great advice. We have seen too many folks at each other's throats when traveling as a group (both small and large). Trying to get a group to all agree on a schedule and where to go can be more difficult to herding cats (sorry cat lovers). Hank

The OP might want to watch HAL's future schedule since they routinely do a transpacific that ends in Seattle. You never can tell if they might toss-in a visit to Vancouver and allow early debarkation. Had to smile at Heidi13's comment about Honolulu. DW and I once did a westbound transpacific cruise where 10 of the first 14 days were at sea. The only intervening port was an overnight (2 full days) in Honolulu. DW and I actually debated whether to even bother getting off the ship in Honolulu :). While we do think there is much to like about visiting Hawaii, we have no love of Honolulu. Hank

Since MSN and I both got into the transportation (taxi) issue I should mention that there are several different transportation options around PV. We already mentioned taxis (always agree on the fare before you get in) whether you are paying in Pesos or Dollars. PV also has Uber and as long as you have phone service you can use it just like at home. However, in Mexico there is an option (on the app) to pay for Uber with cash (or you can use your normal credit card). Uber is often less expensive than taxis, but there are exceptions since "surge pricing" also exists in Mexico. Another option is to use the local buses and the fare, around town including to and from the port area, is 10 Pesos per ride (no transfers). The new buses have electronic fare boxes (when they word) and the drivers expect you to drop in the proper amount (in Pesos). In Mexico we have 10 Peso coins which are great to have when using the bus (we also have 5 Peso coins). But drivers do not need to give you change (some will and some will not) and they also do not need to accept dollars. When the Peso to dollar exchange rate was 20:1 (or better) drivers would sometimes accept a dollar bill for 2 fares. But with the current exchange rate I would guess that if they take dollars they will expect $1 per person. Just keep in mind that you cannot depend on any bus to accept dollars so it is wise to have Pesos in hand. Speaking of buses, from outside the port to town you want to look for buses that display "Centro" in the window. Avoid buses that say "Tunel" unless you know our system and know where you are going. For getting from town back to the port, by bus, you might want to ask nearby folks where to catch the bus out to Walmart/Sams. Since we have 2 Walmarts, the best way to be sure you are going to the right place is to look for buses that have both Walmart and Sams displayed in the windshield (or side window). Another sign that will get you to the port area might be ":Liverpool." You board buses from the front and normally exit from the rear...but it is also OK to exit from the front. Hank

I think you will find most vendors do accept US Dollars (bills only) but you can generally expect an awful exchange rate vs paying in Pesos. For cruisers, who are only in a few Mexican ports and do not plan on spending a lot of cash, it is possible to get along with dollars. As to being "better" it is usually better to use Pesos :). We live in PV, for part of the year, and only use Pesos. If you do plan on using dollars, make sure you carry a supply of ones and fives since some vendors are not going to give you change in dollars. In PV, most of the taxis will accept US Dollars, but you will generally be able to negotiate a lower price if using Pesos. Hank

Getting back to formal night dress, we have learned to leave our Tux home when going on Princess (and most other lines). A sport jacket or blazer makes me among the better dressed folks on Princess where good taste in dress disappeared years ago. In fairness to Princess, the dress down trend has become the norm across most cruise lines (including several luxury lines). We have noted a lot of push-back on the Silverseas board where quite a few of the posters are doing their best to gaslight formal and business wear. Hank

Depends on what you call pizza :). They do have some pizza at the lido buffet, but unless you have good timing you may find yourself getting dried out semi warm slices that have been sitting under a heat lamp for some time. During our spring cruise on the Westerdam, that pizza was so bad that we seldom saw anyone indulging (which meant the pizza sat under a light for an even longer time). We have experienced the NY Deli pizza on other ships, and it was always decent. Agree that Dive-in (for the burgers and dogs) is quite good and we have also enjoyed the taco bar (near the pool) although that does get a little boring on a long cruise. When we cruised in Asia, the taco bar was rotated (every other day) with a Ramen bar. Hank

All cruise lines are not alike, when it comes to dealing with air issues. But, thanks to some online guidance from Flatbush Flyer, we were very cautious when handling air for our upcoming O cruise. We simply took the offered O air price reduction ($1000 pp) and booked our own air directly with our chosen airline. Some of the more respected online air experts have long advised against using cruise-line arranged air because of the issues if anything goes wrong. I would never consider letting any cruise line choose my flights, but we are still fine with using several of the CCL cruise lines (i.e. Seabourn, Princess, etc) air options because they offer an online booking engine that lets folks choose their own flights (with no extra fees fromt he cruise line). Hank

Sound a lot like torsion fracture. Ships are not as rigid as many would expect, and there is always some internal movement, torsioning, etc. A rigid structure, such as a large piece of glass, is vulnerable to the structural twisting that can happen from subtle shifting and twisting of the ship. An English marine architect once explained to me (over a few drinks) how his firm tries to minimize the problem, but it is a challenge. Hank

We find your view quite interesting. I cannot help but wonder how much of what you say (and hear) is because some on your cruise expected some kind of normal Caribbean cruise. There is very little "normal' about EJ and they made that pretty clear in their promotional materials. Blasting music at the pools is not the norm on luxury lines or in luxury resorts...which is the vibe sought by EJ. Those that want music are certainly free to use their own ear buds, headphones, etc. which is the norm when we are on other luxury lines. DW and I are among some frequent cruisers who dislike the blasting "noise" found on many ships at poolside (or elsewhere). EJ projects the imagine of a quiet refined atmosphere. Similar to what would find at a Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, etc. In our various posts back in Sept-Oct we also mentioned the lack of a food venue at the main pool as a negative. Every cruise ship upon which we have cruised (and that would be at least 70 vessels) have had some kind of food venue (such as a grill, buffet, etc) at their main pool. EJ1 only has the gelato place, and their offerings are very limited! While I do agree that EJ does not provide many things expected by cruisers, they view this as a positive thing. There are plenty of Carnival, RCI, Princess and Celebrity ships for those seeking tons of activities, lots of noise, art auctions, etc. That being said, even lines like Seabourn do sometimes have pool parties, outdoor food events, etc. Hank

I can only speculate as to why several lines (so far) have dropped Istanbul (and some other ports in Turkey) from 2024 itineraries. As to Galataport, as an independent traveler we do not appreciate to the longer distance to get from the ships to the street (and the nearest tram stop). When the port was redesigned, the authorities could have provided pedestrian access closer to the Galata Bridge. Minor stuff for cruisers that grab taxis or take cruise line excursions, but an added "pain" to those of us who choose to walk or take the tram over to the Golden Horn. That being said, DW and I really do enjoy visiting Turkey. It is a fascinating country with much to offer visitors. Hank

The issue of excursions is interesting, among frequent cruisers. There are folks who constantly take only cruise line excursions, folks who tend to book private tours (sometimes sharing with others via CCs Roll Call boards) and DIY folks who tend to do their own thing without booking tours. Many folks do a combination of all 3 options. Recently, the cost of cruise line excursions has really soared, and I suspect more folks are now looking at the other options. The strategy for booking cruise ship excursions will often depend on the specific cruise line. Many lines require payment (to your credit card) at the time of booking the excursion. If you later cancel (prior to the cruise) you can generally get a credit back to your credit card. If you cancel on the cruise, most lines will credit the payment back to your onboard account. If you happen to have a large On Board Credit, some lines will let you apply it to the original booking and others will not. Depending on the line, you may be able to later (once aboard) apply your OBC to the previously booked tour and get a refund (back to your credit card). I mention all this, because folks might want to carefully evaluate the policy that applies to their cruise, before booking an excursion. As to the timing, many argue that it is wise to book excursions as early as possible since the best excursions will often sell-out. Some lines make things more complicated with other deals. For example, Oceania will generally offer a 25% discount on most of their excursions as long as the cruiser books a specified minimum number of excursions (this varies by cruise). There are also lines that include (at no extra charge) some excursions...and these you do want to book very early. Hank

On multiple visits to Istanbul we have never had to deal with any Passport control. Once our ship has been cleared, folks were free to come and go as they please. That being said, we are talking about Turkey and a government that can be unpredictable. But not to worry because your ship will advise passengers of what they require to go ashore. For the record, we have never carried our Passports in Istanbul...leaving them locked in our cabin or hotel safe. Also keep in mind that pick-pockets are alive and well in Istanbul, so always take reasonable precautions to secure your valuables. Hank

I think it is very feasible but would strongly suggest arranging private transportation. Relying on a local taxi, early on a Sunday morning, is the loose link of the plan. Sunday traffic between the port and Pisa should be a non-issue. Hank

Absolutely ridiculous and just so "Italy!." A majority of day trippers arrive on tour buses that are part of various tours. A 5 Euro tax is not going to stop those folks, and the extra hassles are....well just more hassles. Italy has a track record of creating their own tourist problems (i.e. unforced error) and then making the situation even worse with their awful solutions. My favorite example is the villages of Cinque Terre. Italy went through some trouble to open up La Spezia, as a major cruise destination, so they could flood Riomaggiore and the other villages with thousands of more day trippers. Once the Italians realized that Cinque Terre was being overrun, they built gates on the approach road (to the villages) with the idea that they could later close the roads to limit road traffic to destinations that they had promoted! Go figure. Of course, even if they do close a road, the boats and trains will continue to bring day trippers. Another great example is how Italy made vast improvements to the cruise port at Venice. They even added the fabulous "People Mover" designed to make it easier for folks to move between the cruise port (Maritima) and town. Once they created all this over tourism, they decided to effectively close the cruise port and move ships to other ports which will create an even bigger transportation problem! It is all true insanity which is part of the reason why DW and I love visiting Italy :). Hank

10% makes sense since a Euro is currently worth about $1.10. Everything on EJ1 was done in Euros which was interesting. We had received a lot of On Board Credit, which we thought was issued in US Dollars, but once on the EJ1, all of our OBC was applied in Euros.