Skip2MySue

Serenade is at pier 18 today after returning from the Baltic. , New England, Canada run. She will be departing at 400pm starting her 11 & 10 day run to the Southern Caribbean. 11 more days until it's our turn.

 

Bob The Villages , Florida

We're right behind you Bob as we board after you return. Please make sure everything is ready for us :D.

Skip

We're new to Diamond also and I wondered if bloody mary mix is available for a Virgin Bloody Mary.

They have a delicious Bloody Mary mix that I've enjoyed on many different cruise ships to include Oasis, Allure, Explorer, Jewel and Mariner cruises and don't miss the booze at all.....

Skip

Glad to read all the positive reviews on the Serenade. We board her on Nov.13th to the 23rd out of Fort Lauderdale doing the eastern/southern route.

Bob The Villages, Florida

We're right behind you Bob as 12 of us Villager's from Pennecamp take the same itinerary.

Skip

Whoever books it (and you only use 1 name) can invite whomever they please, up to the limit! Whoever books it, will pay for it...the other people can either pay the person who books it, or you can go to the excursion desk...have the charge reversed and then split the cost.....seems easier for the others to just pay YOU!

But you'd better hurry cause they sell out pretty quick.

Skip

We had a cabin on deck #14 on Oasis and it was under the hot tub and drove us nuts with the jets being turned on frequently. This went on late into the night. We complained and got credit but not worth the aggravation and would choose deck #7 for ease to all the different venues.

Skip

Thanks Cruisenfever. I was telling my wife that I think we are cutting it way to close. I think we will book a flight for the next day and spend the day in New York city,I have never been there.

You're making the right decision.....When I read your initial post I saw all sorts of potential pitfalls that could easily occur. The stress level to complete your flight plan would certainly detract from the cruise and wouldn't be worth it in my opinion.

Skip

Bon Voyage!!

Come on Mike......we desperately need you to go on this type cruise so we can get more of your excellent reviewing skills and super duper pictures :).

Skip

I enjoyed sailing along with you this past week and certainly appreciate how you made every day special thru the good times and bad times you both shared. That's the way a cruise should be reviewed as nothing happened that would spoil this special adventure (except for the missing feta cheese :)). We are looking forward to meeting you both on the Allure Jan. 11th.

Skip & Sue

I have a cruise critic member tee shirt, which I bought from the site store years ago. I bring it on every cruise.

I have one of those shirts too. They don't sell them anymore which I can't figure out why. I always wear mine at initial boarding for ID from others and it always seems to get a chuckle or two from the crew.

Skip

Trainman thanks for taking the time and effort to keep us updated on your newest cruise adventure. I'm glad you reconsidered your RCCL ban on cruising based on the new smoking policy. You know the old story about each cig. is another nail in the coffin.....Well you'll now be pounding a few less nails:D. We'll be joining you on The Allure in Jan. and look forward to having the privilege of meeting you both.

Skip & Sue

Wife and I will do doing the eastern leg of the allure in sept. Since this is such a HUGE ship, any specific things you should see and or do while on ship. We are social people who like to drink and have a good time. I've heard mixed reviews on chops, so I think we will do the chef table one night. Planning on doing the 55$ drink package. Just looking for "don't miss" things. Thanks!

Here's a review you "don't want to miss".

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1737751

Skip

Thanks Skip for your kind words. I know you will LOVE the Allure!!

I forgot to ask you to send me your TA info as it seems you've been getting some mighty good deals. Thanks in advance.

Skip

skipcoleman@hotmail.com

I was flipping thru CC looking for something to read and I was lucky enough to find your review. Writing and pictures where super and it helped get the juices flowing for our Allure in Jan "15". Thanks for all your hard work.

Skip

On board ship now so these will be short as we are now paying for Internet time.

 

We were told that 30% of the people who come to Denali see ANY PART of Denali (AKA Mt. McKinley)

 

WE were fortunate enough to have 2 beautiful days where we saw ALL of Denali.

 

Yester went into Talkeetna while waiting to catch the train. Absolutely NOTHING to do or see there. I wish we would have stayed at Mt. McKinley enjoying the breath taking view.

 

Got on the train to the ship and getting really excited now. 5 hour train trip through some very beautiful country, Saw a Red fox carrying his (her) lunch.

Had some very interesting, but nice table mates (Enough said there).

 

Again amazed at the organization of Princess. In anchorage representatives of Princess came on board and Processed out passports & Check-in. When we got to Whittier &around 7:30 pm), all we needed to do is get off the ship, spend 5 minutes in line to go through Security, get our picture taken and go to our cabins.

 

Had dinner after Muster Drill, but then it was 10:30, when to the Casino won $3 playing Black Jack. Went to bed.

 

Woke up this morning and am typing this in the Horizon Court looking out the windows at the Fog.

 

See you tomorrow.

 

Din

We certainly appreciate you taking the time to post your results as there are 6 of us doing the Southbound on the Crown with land tour beginning May 26th. Any and all info is very helpful plus entertaining.:)

Skip

Ottermom,

 

We too are going on the cruise tour in May, possibly the same one?

 

Thanks for asking the questions, I had a lot of the same ones.

We're going in May too!!!!!!!! 6 of us doing the Southbound with 5 days on land. We arrive in Fairbanks on May 26th for the land tours. When are your dates?

Skip

Skip here are links to the long reviews of my two Alaska cruises. Hunker down.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1798138

 

(Diamond Aug 2012)

 

and

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1850609

 

(Coral Aug 2011)

 

Hope these help you and your friends.

 

Both are photo/video reviews, shot on location and with a cast of thousands.

 

Norris

Thank you soooo much for your efforts. We are on the Southbound cruise but I'll enjoy both of your reviews and so will our group!!!!

Skip

I am sure that some of them are the same fish you saw as I believe (and I'll believe anything

) that the St Thomas fish vacation in Aruba. If the sub only had lights it would be a whole other kettle of fish, no doubt- vibrant colors such as you see in an aquarium and we have a stellar one in Chicago.

 

Glad you read the Alaska one- I will be up to date soon- 4 cruises, 2 in Alaska, 2 in the Caribbean and 4 reviews for my archives. 2 more on the books and will review them chronologically and not so far after the fact.

 

Norris

If you would be so kind, we are a group of 7 that have booked the Crown for Alaska in May. Would love to share your Alaska reviews with the gang. Could you please supply the link?

Thanks Skip

Great info and pictures so far. Great to learn about the little arrows on the room doors. We'll be following your review with great anticipation. We're heading out on Nov. 9th to recreate more great cruising memories.

Thanks Skip

Also wrote to express my displeasure in the lost amenities based on our previous cabana rental and rec'd the following reply after 4 days:

Greetings from Miami,

Thank you for contacting us regarding your cabana rental at Nellie's beach.

We have made one change to the cabana amenities at Nellie's beach. The upgraded buffet to Barefoot beach is no longer available, however the other dining options remain available, as well as the traditional amenities associated with the cabanas.

Guests who reserved their cabana on or before October 4, 2013 will not be affected by this change. Guests who reserved their cabana after October 4, 2013 will experience the new dining modification.

If you have any questions concerning your reservations, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you and have a great day.

So this time I'll be sure and bring my confirmation with the transaction date and once again enjoy what I had paid for. Next time I'll have the choice of what I'm getting versus what I'm paying.

Skip

Has anyone had a cabin on deck 14 on either ship? We're on the Oasis in Nov. and just wondering how others found the deck 14 cruise experience, both good and (hopefully not) bad :D

Skip

Yes, they are usually pretty similar. I've planned two Allure Oasis cruises now based on others compasses and only had 2 items change ( Quest moved nights shortly after Oasis started sailing, but hasn't moved in years since. I can't remember the other, but I think it was the night of one of the outdoor late night parties) that affected my plans. Those were easily adjusted once on board.

 

So using the old compasses work very well, vs not having any plans and waiting till you board to book everything. There may be room in most shows (probably not comedy) if you wait, but you won't get your preferred times for MTD- you'd have to do the "no reservations" line to get the times you want. Mostly I like to plan ahead because I don't like to spend my first day on board standing in lines to book shows, dinners etc.

 

 

 

I would start...if you read lots of reviews of these ships you will hear from people who wait to plan when they board often feel like they missed out and others who did pre plan say it was a really good idea to do so, at least for shows. If you simply don't care to plan, then don't plan ahead, but if you are a planner, go ahead and use another Compass to get your bearings about whats going on when. True, a trivia contest or two could move around but the major events, such as shows, formal nights, 70 s parties, parades, don't change much.

 

Good luck!

 

ETA Hey that was my 5000th post!...and on my own thread :-)

And every post as been memorable....:D

Skip

Joining up to follow your journey as any tips will be noted as you move from day to day. This will get us ready for Feb. 2nd and should also help with our Oasis trip on Nov. 9th.

Lots of pictures of the beautiful Ms. Marie but isn't someone missing in the album??????

Skip

I can't speak to deck 11 and the bridge, but I DO have some photos in my review (Allure; linked in my sig) of that area, and it did appear the very end cabins might have the view straight back obscured a bit, but the view below would be great! Check out the photos and see, I think 12 would have more of an issue than 11.

 

I can tell you that my DD's had a cabin on deck 8 about 7 cabins back from the back and they had a nice ocean view, they could see the big screen easily but not things happening down in the pool!

 

People like 11 because it has the public deck at the end of the hall (we watch a lot of the shows from there ourselves) Because of this I think, any of the last 8-10 cabins from the end of deck 11 would be great- you'd be able to see the ocean, and see things happening in the theater (it's not like sitting in the theater, but actually better for seeing into the pool). And if you wanted a better look you could always go to the public deck at the end of the hall- this is nice becasue unlike your own balcony there are loungers there!:D

 

Photo of BW- see how the "bridge" might block the straight out view, but you could look "down"?

 

Good luck!

Kathleen, Please, please, please come with us on our cruises. You'll make it so much better for us :D. Really, it's about time you added a few more cruises to your "to do" list.

Skip

Too funny, Skip, but I already apologized to Bill:o

 

For Sailor Jacks reviews, first, you must be sure to be in a safe place away from the public, because you will laugh so hard you will pee your pants! He has them all linked in his signature 6 posts above! I can't pick the funniest one, you will just have to judge for yourself!

 

Once you are all pee'd out it will be safe to read kanscocoa Allure review too:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1781792

 

 

Rsharp is guys guy, and just finishing up an Allure newbie cruiser review with an all access tour (that I would love to take one day) Linked below:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1834930

 

That out to give you something to chew on for a while!!;) Enjoy!:D

K,......Your the best, and I'm sure Hubby tells you that all the time.

S

And I realize I must give due credit- my husband is the photographer. He is self taught, but has mad crazy skills from years of working on his craft, courses and a photo library that had to relocated from our study, it was so large :eek:. Some of you might know him on the Nikon cafe boards. I am humbled to work with his stuff- and my words are are no match!

Kathleen,

You keep mentioning all the other reviews ie. "your Rick" and Sailor Jack. I'll be your best friend if you'll post the links so I can continue my fantasy of enjoying their cruises too. After all I'm just about ready to dump you.:D

Thanks

Skip

P.S. I did find BillOh's review and I'm following that intently even as a woman from Boston keeps trying to hog it :p