SoCal Cruiser78

I knew firearms could be carried in checked baggage, but I didn't realize that ammo could also. I would think that would be a potential safety hazard in case of a fire in the cargo hold, regardless of any other concerns.

...And on Celebrity when the announcement came on on the PA in my room itself it felt like the last straw.

I'm sorry to hear that about Celebrity. When I sailed on them years ago, just one announcement was made each day by the captain around noon, with the ships position, etc. I guess you have to move up to the luxury lines for that kind of peace and quiet now :(.

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Not me:D. While sailing on the CB back in September I hit a jackpot that caused me to be 10-99'd. My winnings are sitting in the bank and will pay for almost half of my next cruise.....:):):)

 

Bob

Good for you! That must have been the $$$ I left there :).

I've done very well with slots on Carnival and Princess but on the Oasis last month I couldn't win but a dollar or so. After losing $100 by day 2, I quit going in the casino except to pass through. Funny thing is I didn't see anyone winning.

So no Royal slots for me, and I'm probably done with them for good.

I've found Princess' slots to be very tight, even on the first night. I've found them to be looser in the past on HAL and X, but I haven't sailed on either for awhile now.

I can't speak to the Grand, but I sailed on the Golden (newer than the Grand) and the Ruby less than a year apart, and the Golden definitely felt older and worn. The Ruby did feel more crowded due to the extra passenger deck, but seemed much newer and in better repair.

I guess I'm not clear on one aspect of Princess' prepaid shorex policy. Can you still book shore excursions once onboard if there is still space available? Or do they want to sell them only ahead of time?

...I brew my own tea using the selection of complementary bags in the HC and add ice for fresh iced tea...

Same here :)

Salty dog tables and chairs are too hard to get into. I don't know why they thought high stools and tables worked especially with an older clientele...

The tables in SHARE don't look comfortable, either. Uncomfortable seating on undersized chairs and benches is an unfortunate trend to cram in more diners in restaurants these days, but I'm unwilling to pay for it. Give me an old-school upholstered booth or a comfy dining chair with arms any day!

...I have often wondered how many people who sign up for an assigned dining time remember, or even think to cancel their reservations when they decide to change to anytime dining or go to the Horizon Court to eat...

On Princess, it can be difficult to get through to anyone on the DINE line or in person outside of MDR hours to do so. We try to let our MDR tablemates and the maitre d' know the night before if we know ahead of time that we won't be dining there the next evening.

...if on a given cruise, everyone went to the buffet every day, then the MDR servers would earn no money...

Back in the days when tradition held that you tipped those who served you in cash on the last evening of a cruise, some people would skip the MDR that evening and order room service or go to the buffet to avoid tipping MDR staff. Those who don't want to tip will find a way out of doing so, unfortunately.

...There are more PhDs per capita than any other city in Latin America...

I was surprised to learn this when I first visited there. It turns out that Ensenada has both a public university offering degrees in the sciences, as well as a private medical school.

Just booked one for the trans-Atlantic on the Regal in Sept. Are they a little bigger, didn't even know about them till I read something about one the other day...

I don't know if the "sideways" insides are any larger, but their layout often makes them seem more spacious.

I think you adapt and get used to whichever cabin type you select....

I agree, but then I am not claustrophobic. I have booked insides, OVs and balconies depending on the prevailing fares and my travel budget at the time. I've never done a suite, though. Maybe someday on an upsell :).

So you would be fine if I dined at your table in a swim suit with hairy bare chest? And of course since we should not be sexist or discriminate...we would also welcome topless ladies to our MDR table. After all, once you have no dress code where does one draw the line?

 

Hank

My concern exactly. After seeing ripped jeans and baseball caps in the MDR on the Ruby, I have to wonder what would happen if the dress codes were eliminated altogether. I suspect the MDR would soon resemble a poolside snack bar.

...Were they all told how special they are when they were young? Did they all get a trophy for just showing up?...

Thrak, do you mean I am not a special snowflake :)?

Why is this so very difficult for so many?...I seriously just really and truly don't understand. It's very simple...

Thank you.

I wish people would respect the fact that the Princess dress code is not a rule but a "suggestion."

Princess' own website says "please observe the dress code in the Anytime Dining and Traditional Dining venues for the enjoyment of all our guests". I don't see this as a suggestion. I guess we have to agree to disagree on this :).

Never seen that on all of the many Princess cruises we have been on.....seems to be a CC myth or something that people like to use to stir the "dress code" pot!!! :cool:

Definitely not a "CC myth", nor a pot-stirrer. I just wish Princess would either enforce their own dress codes or eliminate them altogether out of respect for those who follow the rules.

Has nothing to do with respect and it is only about style and comfort....get over it...Princess needs to join other lines and get rid of formal nights....:rolleyes:

I wasn't referring to just formal nights. On my most recent Pacific coastal on the Ruby, I made the effort to put on a pair of dress slacks and a collared shirt for "smart casual" night, then watched diners arrive in the MDR wearing board shorts, ripped jeans and baseball caps. It seems to be a slippery slope once rules are relaxed and/or not enforced.

...Sure wish Princess would enforce the dress code or just change it and be done with it.

I agree. To my mind, those who don't follow published dress codes are showing a lack of respect for other passengers who make the effort to follow them. Until the cruise lines eliminate dress codes altogether, I will continue to adhere to them.

...For what it is worth, I would prefer the entire industry go exclusively the anytime route as well. But that's not fair to those who have an argument for traditional, is it?

The big problem that I see with anytime on Princess is the inconsistency. On some ships, they take reservations in ATD for all dining times, on some ships for just off-peak times, and on some ships not at all.

I can envision all dining rooms on Princess becoming ATD at some point. My guess is they will handle it the way many land-based restaurants do, and allow both reservations and walk-ups (who may have to wait for a table).

I gather you're referring to the area where people collect their food, not the seating area.

Okay, that makes more sense. I suppose it could spill and get commingled with food being served.

...They've begun not allowing people to take beverages into the buffet area on some ships.

Do you know if they are still allowing coffee drinks purchased in the IC to be brought into the HC buffet area? That has been the only way to get a decent cup of coffee there on my past couple of Princess cruises.

There are some balcony cabins in the 500's on the Ruby Caribe deck that are adjoining cabins(from inside, like hotel rooms)...

I wonder why Princess doesn't indicate this on deck plans they way HAL does, for instance? It would be very helpful to those who specifically do (and don't) want this type of cabin.