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65Mommy

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Posts posted by 65Mommy

  1. On 2/2/2023 at 4:58 AM, Babcia7 said:

    Thanks for your review!  We will be on Tauck's Venice and the Dalmatian Coast trip aboard Ponant's ship Le Jacques Cartier in August.  It will be our first trip with both Tauck and Ponant, so it was good to read such a positive experience.

    Dalmatian Coast sounds awesome!

    • Like 1
  2. On 11/29/2022 at 8:19 AM, LadyL1 said:

     

    We boarded QV, on a very cold and murky day, and really hoping to find some warmth.

    A brief enlightenment about the checking in. QG started boarding at 12.40 and the terminal was quite full. The boarding papers just say “priority”, no mention of Grills cabins, so when the first group were called, some just joined. I saw the couple behind us had a time of 14.00 on the papers they were holding. This is something Cunard perhaps need to address: this would not happen on airlines where premium pax have to queue behind others, and would not be accepted.

    We were on the ship in October and delighted to be back. The Christmas decorations are looking lovely and I am sure the festive spirit will start to prevail once we sail. The sea is exceedingly calm at present, as we make our way to Vigo.

     

    0974269A-422F-4F53-8292-D18FA4C9AA38.jpeg

    Thanks for this posting as we have been thinking of trying this line out for some time now!

  3. On 12/4/2022 at 2:49 PM, taglovestocruise said:

    3 cruises in last 6 months, all are back to 99% self serve. Last cruise was on Disney and also full self serve.  Except for Ice cream, still served by crew member.  

    I always need help with the ice scream. Yes, scream.  I scream when it tips over when I try to serve it myself!

  4. On 7/7/2022 at 6:56 PM, Mum2Mercury said:

    My husband has been ill recently, and I'm a bit concerned about him in the buffet.  Sometimes he is fine, but when he's tired /at the end of the day, he isn't so able to walk while carrying things.  Said differently, sometimes walking alone is enough for him.  I was thinking I'd get a tray and load up two plates and our drinks ... but now I see in You Tube videos that they don't have trays any more.  I see that they have a lot of things pre-portioned (which I think I'd like), but that means several little plates.  

     

    What I'm thinking -- and this is where I'm open to ideas: 

    - Don't say "Always eat in the MDR".  We like to mix it up between the two. 

    - I'm thinking of bringing a small tote bag (which I will bring for the pool anyway), and I'll drop silverware and things like milk or yogurt into that bag for ease of carrying.  Would people think I'm a thief or something?  

    - I'm thinking of bringing two large Yeti cups /filling them halfway, then dropping them into the tote bag -- they won't spill if they're only half full.  

    - Or would it be totally weird to order room service /keep the tray for the week.  I'd feel kinda odd carrying a tray into the buffet, but if it's the most functional idea, I'll do it. 

     

    Thoughts?  Thanks for any ideas you can share. 

    are any of the buffets self service anymore? We are looking forward to the free buffets without restrictions like the real cruises used to be!

  5. On 11/21/2022 at 8:21 AM, AstoriaPreppy said:

     

    Rick Steves "fake" and not real experiences? I've seen a lot of hot takes on CC, but this is certainly one of the oddest. Would you care to expand?

     

    I've never seen him share anything less than honest American perspectives on European travel. Long lines, crowds, and ripoffs are all part of his content regularly, unlike lots of TV/mags/socials/YouTube that just present picture-perfect travelogues. 

     

    He also just released a new series/book this year.

    He seems to be promoting more of his television show, books, travel company and his trinkets than real experiences others will encounter.

  6. On 11/13/2022 at 6:40 AM, AstoriaPreppy said:

     

    It's not just Americans. Venice has a love/hate relationship with tourists like few other places in the world. Also, Venice is expensive because everything has to be brought in from the mainland or lagoon, and there's finite space. It's not a gouging dopey tourists thing... locals deal with the same issues. 

     

    It you keep that in mind, you'll probably have an amazing time. I'd recommend reading or watch Rick Steves' content on Venice (and most other places in Europe). He offers very realistic perspectives on the city.

    It seems like Rick Steves seems more fake than the real experience people can encounter on European destinations any more.  Is he still putting out news shows post COVID?

  7. On 11/9/2022 at 7:48 AM, orville99 said:

    Have her call RCL and have a C&A account number created before your sail date. If she shares your address, have her linked to your C&A account number and she will get your status. Either way, having a C&A account before she sails is to her benefit.

    I love the creativity here!

  8. 6 hours ago, Lois R said:

    The average age? Probably 70. But that is just a guess. I am 64 and I know there were people older than me and there were others younger than me.....but I would guess the average was on the higher side. But older does not mean less active.  

    What are you looking for?

    We like an active crowd as they are more fun versus everyone that goes to sleep at 7! 😉

    • Haha 2
  9. On 10/23/2022 at 4:54 AM, crusinbanjo said:

    Hi all.  Hopefully the internet service remains good and I will post as we go along.

     

    on Friday October 21, Mrs Banjo and I did a one way rental car and drove from Boston through New Hampshire and Vermont and into Canada.  It was an easy and beautiful 7 hour drive.  Leaving Boston at 7:30 am we arrived in Quebec City and found our Boutique hotel right next to the Château Frontenac and with plenty of daylight left, went out to enjoy a perfect sunny day in old town Quebec.

     

    Saturday morning was a repeat of perfect weather to be outside and continue our visit to one of our favorite Canadian cities.  Out we went wandering the streets and stairs of the lower and upper city.  After lunch at an outdoor cafe it was time to make our way to the Whisper, so we collected our luggage and a short Uber ride to the terminal and quai 21.

     

    The reception and boarding process is, as expected, kind of a PIA, but the good news is that this is not like the mega ship that was docked in front of our vacation home for the next 9 days.  (As we looked at both ships on Friday, Mrs Banjo commented that Whisper looks like a toy next to the mega ship berth in front).  Anyway, the pre board process went along smoothly with temp checks, etc. and did not take very long.  
     

    Boarding was smooth, but not like it used to be.  In the lobby we were greeted by a masked crew and told that suites were not ready, so we should wait on deck 8 or 7 in La Terraza until an announcement was made.  It was 3pm when we boarded, 4pm when suites were ready.  Still the ship was a great place to be, but the reception was not what SS was in the past.  Rather than the Lux line feel, the feeling at boarding was more like a Mass Market ship.  Any we are happy to be aboard and I will report on more as we progress. 
     

    today is Saguenay and weather is fabulous 

    We are curious on what is the average age on this cruise itinerary?

  10. 16 minutes ago, KKB said:

    We used to until I read numerous articles about how the ships septic systems don't handle the good stuff well. 

    We miss our Charmin on a ship but a clogged toilet would be worse....

    (it was never confiscated)

    We just bring our own wet wipes and place them in the trash can and the great cabin stewards empty them twice a day.  We have never been "punished".

    • Like 1
  11. 2 hours ago, sailing canary said:

    Actually, that's the reverse of what I'd be looking for!! We lived in France for many years and  I'm a fluent French speaker so I'd prefer a cruise aimed at Francophones.

    I think  Paul Gauguin cruises might be a better choice for European audiences.

  12. On 10/29/2022 at 2:24 PM, FOPMan said:

    No, if you regularly need a wheelchair you are responsible for either bringing one or renting one from the cruise line’s partner, which you generally need to do well in advance of your sail date. Depending upon your cruise line and departure port, it is likely that one of both special needs at sea or Scootaround have agreements with your cruise line.

     

    The ship may have a wheelchair for emergency use, but not ones to provide for regular use by a particular passenger.

    Thanks for the guidance.This is our first time having to deal with this challenge.

  13. On 9/12/2022 at 4:05 PM, Host Jazzbeau said:

    I'm not sure if this is a further relaxation of the policy, or just a fuller explanation – but it seems that Ponant has really relaxed their Covid rules for vaccinated passengers:

    https://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/28247-ponant-updates-covid-19-protocols.html

     

    It seems that the whole world has removed the requirement except Asian destinations.

  14. We found it is a more intimate feeling and you get to know all the other passengers well.  It is nice sometimes to not have a large crowd everywhere. The negatives are if you get some people that are nasty and you do not like, you will see them right next to you several times a day at meals and briefings.

     

    The ship is also very easy to get seasick if it is rough weather.

    • Like 4
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