SbbquilterUT

This week on the Navigator we were told maybe in February.

I knit socks because they are small and easy to travel with - even on airplanes.

Yes - you sign up for a time on your app once you are on board. Seems they can space out when people arrive better that way.

On Apex we had our B2B meeting the day before disembarkation - we were given new cards and a Transit Pass. We left early to enjoy Amsterdam and returned later, walk by embarking passengers and reboard the ship. Even found a lovely street market to get a bunch of locally grown flowers and have a coffee before returning to the ship.

It is allowed but without an iron it may not be as useful as you think. I do felt embroidery handwork, cross stitch or knit when traveling as they do not require machinery to enjoy. Love to sit in a quiet sunny spot and do handwork while listening to an audiobook - perfect day.

With no kids to think of we have had a lovely day each time - head out to South Beach and get a chair and umbrella for the day. Food nearby is free, bar is close if you need it and plenty of clean bathrooms. There are beach games to use and a walk to the pool when you want a change of scenery.

After reading a number of reviews that were quite negative I want to share my opinion of our trip. Chose the 4 day +7 day cruise from LA as it is driving distance from our home and warmer as well. Itinerary is not that exciting but we just wanted a getaway. Stayed in an interior cabin on deck 7 - with the beds separated it was plenty of room for us. It seemed like many folks were not prepared that this was not a sunny hot trip until we got to Cabo, be prepared for cooler weather so as not to be disappointed. We were able to enjoy what we wanted in each port, mostly doing lots of walking and admiring. The Carnival statues were out in Mazatlan and are beautiful. Our dinners in the MDR ranged from very tasty to fine and the portion size (smaller) appealed to us. Service was excellent in both MDR and Windjammer. It the food in the Windjammer is uninspiring and repetitive - can really see where they have cut down on quality of ingredients. Plenty of fresh fruit each day and breakfast eggs were nice but other than that boring. Did really enjoy Izumi - sunset from that view was amazing. We found it worked well for us to order a pair of rolls to share rather than buying the dinner. Service here was excellent as well. And for the second cruise Izumi was no longer on the BOGO menu for first or second night - new rule that day. The house band Kronos was outstanding - enjoyed them for each set we could. The dancers were excellent and the singers fine. As always enjoy the ice show and the intro with drones is very cool. It was great fun watching football playoff games with the crowd at Playmakers - wish they had thought to have a venue like the Sky Lounge with the big screen set up for that as many folks ended up standing and filling up the area as well as making access to Cafe Promenade and the elevators quite challenging. Navigator is not young but she is in fine condition and with the excellent service is a great sail - had a nice winter break and will repeat next year.

In many destinations the tour buses or cabs will not necessarily be able to install car seats.

For us personally the Elite offerings fit most days, we carry our own refillable water bottles and buy the odd drink so no purchase of a package would make mathematical sense.

We have made flights a bit earlier than that each time we needed to - limited options to get us to our home before midnight.

Have to say it was the nicest sailaway we have been to - enjoyed it on the Anthem on the spring TA. Additionally the weather was beautiful, adding to the sail out and viewing of the Statue of Liberty.

That would be a long walk for you. There were plenty of taxis at the port entry. A drive on the ocean side where there is the ocean and a number of beautiful statues would be nice.

Is there a reason you don't want to walk in or visit the central old square? We walked the blue line last January and once in the square we really enjoyed the Carnival characters they were erecting. Then headed to the Malecon for a walk along the ocean. Found the Beatles alley and then walked up to the Cathedral. Easy walking we did on our own.

I read plenty of reviews with eyes looking for genuine issues versus cranky things - just like people in other areas of life. Some will always have a great time and not let little things ruin their day and others seem to always find the worst issues and wallow in them. Best is when the same cruise is reviewed with wildly different experiences. Not saying bad things don't happen and those unhappy did not have a complaint, more how people react and resolve them.

We have sailed Anthem TA twice and really enjoyed it - perfect for cooler weather sailings. Agree less outdoor kids stuff but the SportsPlex was quite fun for pickleball. Solarium was also very nice for those sailings. Love the Music Hall set up and we were lucky to have good house bands. Even got to watch the Coronation in May with a party spirit on that big screen (though they could have set up tea pots and scones for us 😎).

In our experience the test administered by Celebrity includes Flu A, RSV and Covid so different than your home test. Also if Flu A positive they can give you medication to mitigate symptoms.

Consider - longer cruise should mean fewer kids if that matters (it does for us so we steer away from giant amusement park ships). May is lovely in the caribbean - sailing from NYC you will have cooler day starting and perhaps ending. Bermuda is one of my favorite ports in the Atlantic sailings and a great place to explore on your own.

Which ships? On Anthem TA the only show to reserve was in 270 and was offered several times during those 12 nights.

We have used Grey's Island Tours - wanted to see the fort and the batik factory. Was a small van and we had a nice day.

You have to want to do it but I am so glad to have easy to manage luggage and not a lot of stuff around the cabin. At my age I figure no one is looking to me for fashion inspiration 😎

We always try to travel carry on and it has worked so far - last trip was 35 days. I am not a clothes horse - black capris, slacks and wrap skirt which I wear day or night, in travel friendly fabric. 5 tops, one lightweight sweater, rain jacket as a top layer if season appropriate. We wear our walking shoes and I add black flats for evening and flat sandals. I budget for laundry on board (ours was returned beautifully folded and wrapped in tissue) and will rinse tops and wear again if not soiled. Our trip included a 12 night transatlantic, 6 days on land including train travel, and then 15 day river cruise. We would spend the day in town, return to the ship and clean up for dinner usually putting on clean blouse, then wear that blouse again the next day for touring. It can be done if you are comfortable with the limitations on having less stuff.

Did 35 day trip last year packing in a 22" roller and backpack each - possible if you want to. We are not clothes horses and none of our travel was in hot/humid climate. The first leg was 12 night TA so I planned laundry on day 4 and 9. I pack a capsule wardrobe knowing I can usually wear a bottom piece 3 times using knit or hiking fabric which wipes off, 5 daytime tops which can be rinsed and worn a second time, and black slacks and three nicer tops for dinner. Limit shoes because they are so big. I plan on pajamas and underclothes every 4 days going to the laundry, just part of the budget. We then had 6 days on land, traveling between cities by train so again small luggage helped. There we found a drop off laundry in Prague and Budapest to have clothes cleaned - available next day. Then boarded a 15 day river cruise where I again paid for laundry on personal items and dressier clothes - those were returned by evening and lovely. This is not for everyone but how we choose to travel.

We have had a great time at Coco Cay - walked out to South Beach and enjoyed the day in the water or lounging under an umbrella. Food and rest rooms are close.

We have been lucky to not encounter any real seas on five sailings, some swells but that was it. Have a fabulous cruise, Alaska is beautiful.

We sailed Apex to Norway last August and there were plenty of kids on that 7 day sailing - very international passengers out of Amsterdam. The previous cruise was 12 nights and almost no children. Very much enjoyed those sailings.