Whimsy

Thank you so much for your live thread. Having our first Panama Canal cruise coming up next year I am hungry for any info I can find.

I never knew about the book club but will pass it on to others in our group. There were a lot if kindles in the group so it might be of interest to them.

I never watched Seinfield either.

Thank you both for the replies and the photo. One of our best sea days was when hubby and I found two loungers a bit back from the pool that gave us some morning sun and afternoon shade with a table in between for drinks and food. We spent a nice day relaxing, sunning, reading, swimming, listening to the music, eating fries and pizza and enjoying drinks. With a longer sailing I hope we get to do the same again.

Pia, we will be sailing on the Coral next March for the first time doing a partial transit. Since you have done these sailings many times can you give me a little insight on passenger make up and how busy the pools and decks tend to be? I am expecting an older crowd, I am 51. With it as hot as you have had I am wondering how many people are by the pools? I am assuming they are still plenty crowded on sea days.

Thanks for doing the live thread. I am enjoying reading about your cruise.

We were there on January 15 of last year and the water was way to cold for any of us to enjoy.

Thanks for posting the camera type. I have been looking at the Canon T2i so it helps to know you shot some of those with the T1i.

I am enjoying all your photos. I am a novice and am thinking of moving up from a P&S to a DSLR. Would you all mind posting what type of camera you are using when you post a photo if it isn't too much trouble. It might help those of us deliberating make a decision.

Thank you for sharing!

Was it anything like these?

http://gohawaii.about.com/od/drinks/r/lava_flow.htm

Never heard or seen that one.

Like the above poster stated it will be hard unless you know what was in there.

My group booked our flights today when they opened. We did not think the fare was bad, we wanted the non stops and noticed that it looked like the amount of flights was reduced. We don't want to take any chances.

We have stayed in E731 twice on CB. We have been in E730 on Emerald and have E731 on the Crown. Those cabins have the extended covered balcony. The ones on Dolphin would not be covered. Noise was not an issue on the Starboard side. On the Port side there was some vibration from the Bass but wouldn't stop us from booking that cabin if E731 was not available.

Currently looks like July 26th for flights through March 9.

Thank you!

Southwest will release schedule on May 24th for flights through Jan. 6th

Does anyone know when the next release schedule will be after the 24th? We need flights for mid January.

Here's the link:

 

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-tools/index.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-TRAVEL-TOOLS

 

If you go to the bottom of the home page and click on Travel Tools, you will get this page with the next release date. Only you will need to look for the one after 5/26 for your January date.

This is what I was looking for. Thank you very much.

Thank you. My travel dates are January 13 with return the next weekend. Guess they will open those dates around mid summer.

I remember finding the info on the next release dates on the SW site but can't seem to locate it on there now.

I have searched the Southwest site and can't find the place where they tell when they will open up the next segment of travel dates. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks!

Thank you for sharing your experience.

We both just really really love the aft view with the wake and being able to see both sides. We love the aft wrap types too. But I do love those mini's and the huge balconies you get..

 

I'd be curious to hear your opinion after you cruise aft. So come back here, OK?

You asked me to come back and tell you my opinion of a C753 vs E731.

We sailed Octboer 24 in the C753. Jules and I both liked the cabin and balcony but prefer E731 balcony for us.

Balcony size wise, they are both generous in size. Can't find anything wrong with either in that respect. We had 6 of us one night at sailaway on C753 and no problems. E731 is just as generous. I am just comparing balcony size, of couse E731 is a mini suite and has more interior room but I am only comparing balconies.

Jules didn't like the lack of breeze on the aft. I was fine without the wind blowing.

It was unbearably hot on our return trip with the sun beating down on us the morning we tried to have and balcony breakfast. We had another couple and we ladies ended up going inside to sit on the bed and finish eating as it got way too hot and the lack of breeze made it uncomfortable. Had we ordered the balcony breakfast in the early days of our cruise we would of been fine. We enjoyed our coffee in the morning out there until the last 2 days to return.

I did find sun on the aft balcony and was able to lay out. Even though it is fully covered there were still sunny spots

When sailing in E731 we feel we get enough wake view plus the additional side view. We often felt like we were missing something not being able to see towards the front.

The wake is loud. E731 gives you a less noisy ride.

I don't think down the line we would book this cabin again. If money is not an issue we would go for the mini on the Emerald with the 2 ends always being the first choice. If we are bargain hunting would just book the lowest balcony cabin and take our chances. If I was upgraded to this area I would be OK, not so sure about DH.

If you love the aft this is the quietest location you will find on the ship. One day the room service girl came in and looked around and exclaimed she didn't know that the cabin was back there. VERY QUIET!

We both just really really love the aft view with the wake and being able to see both sides. We love the aft wrap types too. But I do love those mini's and the huge balconies you get..

 

I'd be curious to hear your opinion after you cruise aft. So come back here, OK?

Will come back and give my opinion.

DH is worried we are going to miss our views from the side. Such as when we are in port, etc. I worry about the no breeze thing, hoping it won't be too hot. I love having breakfast on the balcony and just chillin' out there. Those aft minis have a good view of the wake as well as the side view. we have always felt we had it all in those last minis. Extended balcony, side and aft view plus a roof! ;) Just really curious how we are going to like this. Have had it booked for over a year, will find out very soon.

We are not that picky though. We are on a cruise, have a balcony and it's all good!

While truly loving the coveted mini's that you mention, we decided we preferred a BB aft over it. Now if they put the mini on the aft... well hallah!

Can you tell me why you liked the aft regular better than those 2 remarkable minis?

Maybe the new ships they are building will have some aft minis. Wouldn't that be great!

I'm looking forward to our first true aft balcony in 40 days. We have been in mini suite E730 and E731 which had a wonderful balcony and awesome views. Looking forward to a new experience. DH on the other hand is not so sure.

We are looking forward for our first true aft this October. We have C753 booked. We have been as far back as E730 and E731. I hope we like it.

Cocktails on Princess have size choices....small, medium and large.

Wow, I didn't know that!

Be sure to try the homemade ice creams in the dining room. Delicious! I hardly ever eat ice cream at home but the ice cream on Princess is delicious. The gelatto at the International cafe is really good too. 3 big scoops for a very small price.

The coffee card is a good bargain too if you like coffee drinks. If you have punches left you can bring the card back on another cruise. You are also able to get fresh brewed coffee anytime with the coffee card. The coffee they serve in the rooms, buffet and dining room are not as good as the fresh brewed coffee at the coffee bar according to some. The coffee card will get you a cup of fresh brewed anytime, while there are punches left on the card.

I have sailed twice in E731 on the CB and it was great!

We love having a balcony. We enjoy having breakfast together by ourselves and talk about the day or the day before. A nice glass of wine shared together before dinner while watching the ocean flow by, some quiet time listening to the ocean go by just before bed.....

We have an ocean view room booked for September and I KNOW we are going to miss our balcony this cruise. The ship we sail on only has suites though and we can't justify the price for a 5 night cruise. The price difference is something like $90 a day pp.