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coaster

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    Tampa area, FL

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Cool Cruiser (2/15)

  1. Met many good folks at the MDR being assigned to a table with them. You were young and it makes sense at that age not to sit with folks you don't know. Only started cruising on NCL in our mid-20's and it was comfortable for us to seat with others at a table every night who we did not know. Same waiters that got to know your preferences without telling them. NCL is for you, but they lost a lot of folks like us who were loyal to them in the past. Thankfully other cruise lines offer traditional dining without having to make special arrangements once onboard.
  2. Cheated on NCL in the early 2000's when bought out in a hostile takeover by Star Cruises. Freestyle was not for us. All the other lines still offer traditional dining in some form which we love. Just moved on to the other lines when NCL just threw this concept out the window and alienated those of us who were loyal to them in the 90's and earlier. Loyalty only goes so far. Sad as they were so good when Knut Kloster owned them before Star Cruises took them over.
  3. Price went even higher the other day online going to a balcony. Cancel and rebook is the response from the Princess call center. Ended up canceling and booking with a TA who was able to get me the current online price for a balcony. Princess just seems to steer you to a TA as booking direct will just cost you more than website pricing if you decide to upgrade an existing reservation. Strange as Princess just loses money in commission fees when you book with a TA.
  4. I get the TA thing. Princess could save so much on TA commissions if they made it easier to deal direct with them.
  5. Seems to be a higher price when calling Princess. Website price does not seem to be available when calling. Tried to upgrade to a balcony for our Sapphire cruise and the price difference was more than the website. Only way to pay to upgrade is by calling. They claimed it was for new bookings only and we would have to cancel and rebook. Also, called the other day to book another cruise and they said we can't match the website price, just book it online. Only called to book that cruise as I needed clarification on a couple of things. Is this the norm with Princess?
  6. I have so much respect and admiration for Captain Johnny. Did not know about his parrot. Just know about his beloved Harley he brings onboard. Such a great down to earth guy. Most of the time you never really know or care about who your Captain is. Captain Johnny is out and about and very approachable. Great ambassador for Royal maybe to the degree of a mascot.... Hope he returns soon.
  7. I believe they will. Only one now without scheduling future ones is prudent to see if the logistics are working out and evaluating feedback on the current sailing. Little has been spent for any meaningful upgrades to the Vision and Radiance class for the past 10 years or so. Rhapsody for one has posters in cabin corridors that are faded from years of being exposed to lighting and it would not take much of an investment to refresh them. Posters are ghostly images in their current state. Cabins are pretty rough around the edges on the older ships also. Carnival has made more upgrades to their older remaining Fantasy class ships with added food venues. Royal is getting good per diems on the current world cruise. Same time they are not investing much in upgrades on the older ladies they have. Have to think their older ships will be used for future world cruises. Little investment without the desire to keep them looking fresh, but a higher return in their older years if they are to be the one to do a world cruise.
  8. Recall the Empress of the Seas Windjammer was open past 9 when she was still around before Covid.
  9. Found better pricing per day on Celebrity over Royal on our 2 cruises from Tampa last year. Same ownership, but it pays to check both lines.
  10. The positive PR effect would be even greater if Rover is a rescue animal. Not seen any mention of that. Kind of doubt it. Watching the Icon arrival video now on YouTube that was recorded earlier today. Not my type of ship, but seems like a decent alternative to a Disney ship for those with children.
  11. Royal is hinting at smaller ships to replace some of their older tonnage. I could see investing some into Constellation and moving it to Royal to replace a Vision class ship.
  12. Loving your reports. We board after your cruise. Did same ship and itinerary in March and had to do it again. Nice part it is for 12 nights and not 11 like last time. Thinking it gives the ship some extra time to get back in case of fog. Not to jinx it... Is Colon still on for tomorrow? Ships have not stopped there the past few weeks due to the mining protests in Panama.
  13. Cruise length and age of ship makes a difference. This is a 12 nighter. Also, ships from Tampa seem to have better prices on drink packages on Royal and Celebrity. Older crowd it seems after sailing from here the last 20 some years that don't buy drink packages as much. Other ports from Florida seem to charge more.
  14. Invicta inflates their retail price so it seems like you are getting a good deal when they are discounted. Too bulky and heavy for me anyway. I stick to Citizen solar watches. Not too pricey and I love the dozen or so I have of them. Never have bought any of them on a cruise ship as they are cheaper online.
  15. Price varies. $39.99 for classic and $47.99 for premium on our Constellation cruise in 2 weeks.
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