Incognito1

I don't think he needs your penny.

With the rate inflation is going, maybe in another six years. Of course, the purchasing power of that $70 will be about the same as the $8 price last year.

We are going to stay in Nice for a few days between cruises. Has anyone used the French Riviera Pass, and is it worth it?

Wow. Just went to change my dining time and NONE are available to change. Must be filling up. Also, Cucina, Asian Kitchen, Chef's Table, and Dr. Suess Bfast are ALL sold out. Hoping the $48pp charge for the steakhouse is worth it.

His boys live in a privileged bubble; that's what. And, as far the US goes, it's a completely different situation. If you need me to spell that out, it might be beneficial to spend some time on city-data.com You do what's best for your own family because only you know what your children need / are capable of / would benefit from.

Yep, anywhere that I have to smell the stench. Other offensive odors (BO in the casino) are not prohibited in my cruise contract. I have no reasonable expectation to be free of it. And, yes, there is a lot you can do about it. Seems like every time I'm in Chicago or Seattle, I'm down to customer service over some rude, inconsiderate jackhole stinking up my room (and, yes, it comes through very strongly). Hope they enjoy their $250 puff because I'm making sure they pay it. People who smoke weed where they're not supposed to think nothing of the other people around them who don't want to smell it. Selfish and rude.

Has anyone taken the Megabus? We're headed to Liverpool rather than London. Showing $50 for TWO people, but there's only one per day and it's at 8:45 am. Wondering what the feasibility is to disembark in time.

It depends. My 1%er brother took his middle school boys on a cruise that included Belize, and they toured it with locals. These boys previously had no real idea what extreme poverty was, and it was eye-opening for them. They were also able to ask questions about the political and economic situations that were affected by the country's history. A lesson in critical thinking hearing more than one side of an issue. But just the experience of traveling itself can be very beneficial. Everyone knows their own children, though, and we all make choices. For my own, experiences were much more important than things, but YMMV. You do your family.

OUCH. That's horrific that social services has anything to do with missing school for a vacation. It's really none of their business. I feel for you, having to cruise when ships are completely full and the passenger makeup different.

Can't you just take the kid out of school for a week or two? I'm sure he'd learn more from experiencing different places in the world than he would in school for those two weeks.

You should be fine on an 8-day cruise. I think most of the problems are the short ones to the Caribbean and/or Spring Break pukefests.

Doubtful. Which cruise line would want to be the first to offer that? You can imagine what their passenger makeup would become.

If you tip with Visa cards, they don't go into the pool (because they're not cash.) It also allows those excellent cruise members that you're tipping to purchase something online for family back home. I don't think there is one RIGHT way to tip, regardless of what some of the more vehement posters think (and post over and over ad nauseum). Do what you feel is the right thing, and quit trying to guilt/shame/call out others who hold a different opinion. It's your money; I'm not going to tell you how to spend it.

$2 per night is the standard. Gratuities are distributed FLEET-WIDE, not just on the cruise you're on. Those people working behind the scenes are getting paid, and paid more than they'd make in their home countries. We prefer to tip directly those who provide service. You do what you want. But everyone getting a share regardless of their level of service seems wrong to me.

I think this went away due to uncourteous behavior of some passengers. Last one we were at, there were gorgeous fruit sculptures and chocolate displays -- which were destroyed in the first 15 minutes by rude passengers who pushed to the front of the lines and then just grabbed whatever they thought was most valuable and made a mess. How heartbreaking that must be for the staff that put in a great deal of time. Frankly, some cruise lines have yet to find the line between offering a vacation value and attracting the lowest classes of people.

Never happen. Do you know the definition of "gratuity"? What you're suggesting is a service fee which would have financial ramifications for both the line and the employees. You do you.

It's not about ego; it's about keeping people who cruise cruising with the same line. It's easier and cheaper to keep an existing customer happy than to get a new one.

Everyone has their preferences. Delta is good for me, so are Alaska and SW. Couldn't pay me to fly Frontier, and Spirit would have to have a substantial discount for us. But I have a co-worker who can afford to fly whatever he wants, and Spirit is his first choice -- he says it's because the stewardesses are new and try harder.

Not a Canuck, but we're doing the same thing (well, sort of). Princess FLL to London, then Carnival Venezia back. Where, oh where, to spend 3.5 weeks in Europe? 😄 Still working on coaxing my partner to try the 10-day MSC Ireland/Scotland cruise inbetween. Of course, hanging out in Barcelona (maybe the flamenco cave guitarists?) or seeing Poland or Italy would be great, too. So many possibilities. After seeing the Venezia video, I'm excited to be on it.

^^This^^. We bought it at $"much too high." Not sure we'll ever recoup the cost with OBC, but we are looking at it like the rest of our stocks - bought with funds that were outside the normal budget. Hopefully it rebounds, but since we'll likely never take the $ back out (pass it to the kids/grandkids), it doesn't matter that much. $11.16 today.

Found a Delta flight for $200 less into West Palm Beach. Considering taking Brightline from there to our hotel in Fort Lauderdale (the day before, obviously). Has anyone flown into PBI? It's that or we squeeze into a Spirit flight.

If you mean Princess Cruises, then yes. Privacy Notice - Princess Cruises

We are wanting to book our first MSC cruise, 10 days in May out of Hamburg. The price is very attractive. I've read that MSC does not want gratuities given directly to staff. Does that mean the price I'm seeing (US site) is BEFORE an automatic service charge? And, can OBC be used to pay these charges if they're not included? (Yes, I checked their very confusing, horrible website first and did not find the answer.)

Terrible idea. Should've had an option to turn them off. The steward finally took the table away from the wall and undid it from the socket. Pushed a towel against the other one, but wondered/worried if that was a fire hazard. Bathroom one was the worst -- so bright that it lit up the room. Many of us get up during the night to use the restroom and it meant that the other occupant in the room was awoken as well. Same with the sheet causing movement. Definitely not restful.

Their page says for TAs, a test (can be self-administered) is required. Nothing on their page about vaccination. I'd call. On Princess, "All guests are welcome – regardless of vaccination status – and vaccination and testing requirements have been lifted on most voyages!" Should that change, we'll be canceling our upcoming cruise for FCC (already paid in full).