Hlitner

Some trains (such as the Tranzalpine) are quite interesting. But South Island (our favorite of the two islands) is a very rural place and using trains would be almost as limiting as a cruise. Consider there are glaciers you can visit (by car or bus), the Milford Sound area (not really accessible by train), etc. Some cruise ships do get into Milford Sound (1 of our two cruises got there and the other had to cancel because of weather) but it is a much more interesting experience driving down to that part of NZ. The drive goes over some beautiful mountain areas, and once at the sound area there are small boat tours that are truly fantastic. A cruise ship can get you within a half mile (or so) of parts of the shoreline, but the smaller boats can take you right under a waterfall :). Speaking of South Island, the town of Queenstown (and its surrounding area) is among our favorite spots in the world! This is an area not generally accessible to cruisers (it is quite far from the nearest port) and a place where I remarked to DW, "I don't want to leave." We actually met several young folks who told us when they got to Queenstown on post college trips, they never left! It is that kind of place. Hank

We agree with the theme of the article that there are some folks who should not consider taking a cruise (whether it be 3 days or 300 days). We have met our share of those folks, on cruises, and they were generally quite miserable. Years ago, we used to try to convince folks that they should try cruising. We have since become somewhat wiser, and now suggest that some folks just stay on land :). Not only will they be happier, but many of us who do spend a lot of time on ships will also be happier that they are not aboard :). Hank

Even the Silversea cruise is part of a longer agenda that does include Australia. Bottom line is that once the various cruise lines publish their 2026 itineraries, it is possible that the OP would be able to carve out some cruises that do not involve Australia. I will add that NZ is one of our favorite countries (to visit) and trying to see the country from a cruise is quite limiting. We have cruised around NZ (twice) and also spent extended driving trips on both North and South Island. Of all our visits, it is the few weeks we drove on South Island that is the most memorable. Much of that island is not really accessible on port days. IMHO, combining a cruise with a pre/post driving trip is ideal. Hank

The one couple who we got to know the best, told us they did plan on buying another home in the future. They were simply a young at heart couple having a lot of fun moving around the world...often on a whim. They were the same couple who was going to house sit for a few months, and that did spark some discussion about this form of living...often rent free. We did have several discussions about the RV "full timers" and we all agreed that the RV lifestyle was not for any of us. RVs limit folks to where they can go (i.e. you cannot drive an RV across an ocean). I actually thought that DW and I could have done that kind of life, when we first retired and were still in our 50s. The idea appeals to me, but I see it as something one could do for a few years, but not permanently. Plenty of retirees have 2 or 3 homes and move around on a seasonal basis (i.e. snowbirds). These folks simply did the same thing, but were not tied down with a specific address/location. As to family, folks can visit family members from time to time and invite family to visit them (wherever they happen to be). When DW and I first started spending our winters in Puerto Vallarta, our DD and SIL were annual visitors. And the Guest Room was always ready for friends/family who wanted to visit for a few days or even weeks. I did not post previously, but we once met a couple (in their 50s) in Puerto Vallarta that lived on a boat and sailed to different places around the world where they would spend weeks/months. They were actually getting prepared to sail from Puerto Vallarta to Hawaii as part of a larger flotilla. You could say they were like RVers on water :). Hank

We had discussed this issue, here on CC, a few weeks ago (before our cruise). It does seem that some folks can do it online and others do not get the option. When we called Princess to cry foul, two different Princess reps tried to do it for us and were also unable to get it to work. They had no explanation and both reps said they would "elevate" the issue. As expected, we never heard another word from Princess. I mentioned it to the Crown Grill manager on the Sky and he also had no explanation saying that stuff is handled by the main office in the US. I should reiterate that once aboard, the App worked well and we were able to get 5 or our desired 6 reservations through the app...although the dining times were all late. Folks can also go directly to the various restaurants and try to make reservations, but on our cruise, there were simply no available slots in earlier times. The best bet (with the app) was either 5 or 8:40. For us, 5pm is still late lunch time or perhaps tea time. But in recent years, it does seem like the early dining options are more popular, especially with Floridians who seem to think nothing about having dinner at 4pm :). We met a few on the recent cruise who complained that they could not get dining reservations before 5. Hank

I will slightly disagree with my friend, Ine. Can you make an 11am flight? Probably, but there is a slight risk that things can go wrong. We have easily made a 10:50 am flight, several times, but there is always some anxiety attached to that kind of tight scheduling. In each case, we pre-booked a private transfer (through Romecabs.com) and had the driver waiting for us by 7:15. We also used "express debarkation" which is the onboard scheme where you must carry-off all your own luggage. This means you will be among the first off the ship and do not need to waste time hunting for your luggage. With the private transfer, you will be dropped at the proper terminal/entrance at FCO. Just keep in mind that FCO can sometimes be a real zoo, so you want to get there ASAP. Flying Business Class is somewhat helpful as it does get you priority check-in with most airlines. Booking the later flight is certainly a safer option, and the final decision comes down to your own risk tolerance. If you would miss the earlier flight, some airlines will be nice and try to get you on the later flight but in some cases the airlines can be really anal and make your life miserable (and expensive). Hank

Yes, those of us on the Sky back to back had full app access to our 2nd voyage, as soon as we boarded the previous voyage. This was the main reason why we were able to secure reservations for that 2nd week, although the most desirable times were already gone (we assume that is because the slots were taken by those who had booked (and paid) prior to their cruise. We were able to use our OBC to handle any reservation regardless of whether it was for our first or second week. Given this scenario, those who want the desired times in restaurants should probably book their times long before they board the ship. This generally means you will need to pay for those slots, via credit card, long before your voyage. Once aboard, you can head to Guest Relations and try to get credit back for those pre-paid reservations. However, I do think the best that will happen is Guest Relations might apply OBC to those pre-paid reservations and refund the paid dollars to your OBC (hopefully it will be refundable OBC). A pain in the neck, but at least you will have your desired reservation dates/times. Another hassle we had was that we were not permitted to book our included (free) slots (we had the Premiere Package which included 2 free alternate dinners) prior to boarding. Some here have reported they were able to secure those slots prior to booking, but for whatever reason, the system would not let us make those reservations (without pre paying). Even a call to Princess could not correct that problem and they had no explanation. Hank

When we boarded, we heard that over 500 were still aboard from the prior cruise. For our 2nd week, we were told about 380 were on for the 2nd week. The back to backs really have an inside track on restaurant reservations since the Princess app does work for the 2nd week. Another advantage is for those who want to get space in the Sanctuary. Those who do back to backs are the first to board (the 2nd week) so they can be the first to get to the Sanctuary to secure the available reservations. DW and I would not even consider doing just a 7 night cruise and there are quite a few like us who consider 14 days a bare minimum. To be very honest, we dislike back to backs and would prefer to do real 14 or 21 nights in late Nov/early Dec. Princess used to have a true 14 day itinerary which we would book most years, but that was eliminated. For next year, between Thanksgiving and Xmas we found a decent 14 day itinerary on Silverseas (a very good value) which we quickly booked. We would love for Princess to go back to a true 14 day (no turn around days in a US Port) but they see advantages to their 7 day (with alternate itineraries) as advantageous for Princess. It is the same with MSC (we love their Yacht Club). It seems that to find a real 14-21 day Caribbean itinerary one must go to the luxury or premium lines. Hank

Barcelona is a fabulous port city with many good DIY options. With that kind of time you can do just about anything within the city. Getting from the port to wherever you want to go can generally be done quickly via taxi or somewhat slower via public transit. An easy day is to simply go the Ramblas and soak up the atmosphere, browse in the wonderful La Boqueria Market, walk over the nearby Gothic Quarter, etc. You might also want to visit Sagrada Familia (best to pre-order timed entry tickets) which can easily be done via taxi. There are also several Gaudi designed houses, Parc Guell, and more. There are many online guides to Barcelona or you could pick-up a copy of a decent guide book such as the Rick Steves book "Cruising the Mediterranean." Hank

When we started cruising on Seabourn (about 6 years ago) I would always take my Tux and DW would bring some really nice outfits for formal nights. But on our 2 most recent SB cruises (within the past year) I no longer bother taking my tux, and simply bring along a blazer. On formal nights, I will generally wear the jacket (sans tie) and seem to be dressed like the majority. I think the days of truly dressing formal on formal nights, has fallen out of favor with the large majority of SB cruisers (and cruisers on most other lines). We also found it interesting that the new Explora Journeys cruise line decided not to have any formal nights. While their ship (EJ1) is quite elegant and it is a true luxury line, they do not see the need or demand for formal nights. Hank

We think the 3 mentioned lines are similar in their passenger demographics. Age demographics seem to be more a factor of the length of the cruise (longer cruises tend to attract older passengers), itinerary, and even the time of the year. I am not sure what "cater to old passengers" means. It is not so much about age, but about the individual passengers. Some younger passengers act like ancient folks, and some older folks can be quite youthful. For example, I am in my mid 70s and routinely go out for 10-12 mile fast walks. I see many cruisers, younger than me, that have trouble walking from one end of the ship to the other! We recently met a cruiser, in his 80s, who still runs half-marathons! Hank

Two different issues. Living on the island certainly makes you an expert on the island. But as to whether cruise ships are currently providing shuttle buses (between the port and the city) is a more complex issue. Prior to COVID, quite a few cruise lines had shuttles with some lines providing them free and others charging a fee (often for unlimited full days use). But in the past 2 years, some of the free shuttles have become pay shuttles. And what used to be low cost paid shuttles have sometimes become overpriced shuttles ($25 per person is not uncommon). These days, the status of shore-based shuttle service (in ports around the world) seems to change with phases of the moon. As cruise lines keep looking for ways to both cut their costs and increase their revenue, port shuttles are a convenient target. Hank

I cannot resist this question. We enjoy walking around Sirince and looking at some of the small shops and stands. It is also a town with its share of eating venues/restaurants where we have enjoyed lunch. But the reality is that Sirince has gone from a quiet rural village to a regional tourist trap! If one has a car (we have rented cars in Kusadasi) and drives an hour (or so) from town to a place like Tire, they will see the real Turkey sans tourists/tourism. It is a completely different experience.

Ouch. "Reserving" them is one thing (and not a good thing) but using them is absolutely fine. Nothing wrong with being in a lounger/chair all day if that is what folks want.

Very wise thinking :). We have warned folks, for several years, not to rely on older posts (especially pre-COVID) as a certainty. Things change, and when it comes to the cruise lines cut-backs have happened throughout the industry. As to Mallorca, DW and I (very independent travelers) have made good use of the local bus system. The last time we were on the island we took a local bus from town out to a beach (not far from the airport). The island does have a decent bus system, so if all else fails, that can be your inexpensive back-up. Unfortunately, single bus tickets do cost more for non-residents and vary from 2-5 Euros depending on the route. Hank

I cannot speak to a market in Cherbourg (been there but never to a market) but can offer some observations from having visited markets all over France. The simple answer is that it varies. Some vendors will take plastic (usually MC or Visa) and others want cash (Euros only). The stands that do take plastic might have a minimum purchase (to use plastic) and quite a few might discount purchases made in cash (i.e. charge an extra fee for using plastic). In the past few years there has been a big increase in the acceptance of plastic, but we would not even consider shopping in France without having some Euros in our pocket. Keep in mind that ATMs are very common in France (and Europe) and an easy place to quickly get Euros (generally at the best rates). If you are going to chance shopping without Euros, then we suggest having a Debit/ATM card just in case you discover that you truly need Euros. Make sure the issuing bank (for your debit card) is aware of your trip and the possibility you will have some transactions. Hank

I think your advice is excellent and should apply to any cruise :). That being said, we all do set our expectations based on experience, what a line promises, and the comments of others. Hank

You will not get me to defend anything having to do with O or their excursions. Yes, we have decided to finally try O, and have booked the necessary excursions to use our credit, but much of what we read in the various blogs and reviews has me scratching my head why anyone would call this a "Premium" cruise line.

I might have taken the lounger with the apple and enjoyed a bite :). Also easy enough to turn the sunglasses into a crew member and tell them you found them near the pool. Hank

Once aboard (we did board early because of our Elite status) we quickly opened the app and managed to get a few reservations (mostly at 8:40 pm). For our 2 weeks we ultimately dined twice in each of the venues. We could only secure one reservation at the Crown Grill, but after chatting with the restaurant manager we were able to get in a 2nd time (as a walk in) about 8:45pm! Fortunately, DW and I are fine with late dining. 2 of the six dinners were covered by our Premiere Package and our OBC was used for the rest. Using OBC, while onboard, is not an issue since their accounting system handles that automatically. The problem with onboard reservations is that plenty of the cruisers are doing back to backs. So you are competing with folks who have already been aboard and have access before you even board. "Walk ins" (getting in without a reservation) do happen, but it is a good idea to talk to each restaurants host or manager to find out the best way to increase your chances of getting in. The most difficult reservations on our two weeks was for the Crown Grill (ironically, this is our least favorite venue). I cannot say if most voyages have the high demand (for alternative restaurants) that we had on our voyages. Our 2nd week we had a large group (I think about 800) from the Porsche Club of America, and these folks seemed to be comfortable spending money (or OBC) to go to the alternative restaurants. Keep in mind that the Crown Grill and Catch by Rudi will cost a couple $92 (plus any add-ons they might choose). We had so much OBC that we could have dined in those places every night of our cruise by just using OBC. But getting those reservations would have been impossible. As always, we did enjoy our cruise on Princess. The line is not perfect, but for whatever reason DW and I have always enjoyed Princess and the recent Sky cruise was satisfying. It was also our first cruise in over 2 years that had a full ship. Hank

There are quite of few of us here on CC that can help with many things, but we are not permitted to help with the travel/cruise agency dilemma other than to suggest that there are better options then booking direct for those that want to save money (and also get some decent advice). As to Puerto Vallarta (our winter home for 18 years) we can certainly give advice to those who want to do things on their own. There should be quite a few cruise line excursions and I have no idea why they are not listed for your particular cruise. Like just about all the cruise lines, Princess does do a lot of business with "Vallarta Adventures" for the provision of many or their excursions, but that company does not accept direct bookings from cruisers. There are times when an excursion in PV is a good option (such as for the Las Caletas beach day or the Rhythms of the Night tour) and there are other times when we suggest that folks might enjoy doing their own thing (such as just a day walking around town, shopping, eating, and going to the beach). If your cruise is within the next few months and there are no excursions listed, you might want to call Princess (or your CVP) and ask the question. Hank

WOW, what an amazing itinerary :). I love the round trip trans pacific and am very jealous. Enjoy the cruise and best wishes for calm seas, great weather, good health, and lots of fun. Hank

DW used to have a drawer, in an unheated back room of our basement, where she tossed all the cruise ship memorabilia including our HAL pins, medallions, etc. After 50 years of extensive cruising, with many different lines, we had a pretty decent collection. One day she decided to do a major clean up, and all that stuff went in the trash. Funny thing is that it did not change our lives other than giving us an empty drawer for more junk :). I will admit that I wish she had kept my old "diamond" pin from Orient Lines. That was a real collector's item. But for some HAL cruisers, these things are very important. A few years ago when HAL talked about eliminating the Medallions, there was a small uproar here on CC (and I assume elsewhere). There are some cruise lines that give out free cruises (instead of Medallions) and that is more my style :). Hank

My SIL has friends who recently took a round the world cruise on Silverseas (we are talking big bucks). Close to the middle of that long voyage, they left the ship (in Europe) for about 10 days, to fly home to see their grandkids and deal with a few other issues. After that 10 day vacation from the cruise they flew back to Europe to rejoin their ship. They paid for the entire cruise, so while they were off the ship their suite remained empty. Interesting. When we spoke to the lady owner from The World, she explained that most of the owners on that ship only cruised part of the year. Many simply left their suites/condo empty when they were not aboard, a few made them available to friends, and others made their suites available for folks who simply wanted to book a short term voyage. I think a mistake of thinking, that many of us make is to try and project our own situation to the lifestyle of others. There are plenty of folks on the planet for which money is just not an issue, but free time is at a premium. But there are also plenty of folks who have enough money and time to do as they please. When we retired, a norm would have been to sell our home and move south (DW once said, "don't make me move to Florida."). But it occurred to us that we could simply stay where we are (interestingly, US News and World Report just named our area the #`1 best place to live in the USA (with this we will not agree). Our thinking was that there was no reason to move, and we could just choose to travel when we pleased. For us. there was no single ideal place to live but rather lots of nice places to be for part of the year. Call it a snowbird philosophy on steroids :). One does not always need to be wealthy to pull it off. For example, living in Mexico (for part of the year) is quite reasonable (which is why over 800,000 Americans are expats living in Mexico). You can find American expats all over the world. But what sets this "nomads" apart is that they are wandering expats :). Our evenings at the Ocean Bar, listening to these folks, was one of the highlights of that 6 week cruise (meeting Cruisemom was another highlight). Hank

I do think the comparison to full time RVers is close. Keep in mind that with the exception of the woman we met who is an owner on The World, none of these folks were even close to full time cruisers. They were simply folks we met on a cruise who do not have a permanent home. For some weird reason, a whole group would gather at the Ocean Bar (Westerdam) every evening around 6. It was fun to just listen (and learn) about this interesting lifestyle. I could live that life, but DW would not want to give up having a "home" and regularly seeing our grandsons. Over our many years (about 50) of cruising we have only met 2 couples and 1 lady that spends most of their time living on cruise ships. But the group we met on the Westy all had the similar lifetyle of combining lots of land time with a fair number of cruise days. DW and I have done or share of renting places on land (primarily Mexico and France) and have found a few places, around the world, where we would be happy to spend a few months. What they all had in common is that they were very independent travelers (as am I) and comfortable doing their own thing just about anywhere in the world. To them, dealing with issues like finding physicians, hot to get mail, etc. were just challenges and not impediments. Consider some of the downsides such as not being able to own a pet. This did come up at the Ocean Bar, and a few folks said things like "I would never give up my dogs." Hank