RB9643

As always, there are pros and cons. We both have backpacks and purse-things that hold everything we need until we get our luggage. Doesn't matter if it's 3 pm or 7 pm. Our preference is to get lunch, do the muster, grab a drink or two, and tour the ship. That's tough to do when dragging around your luggage. But your preferences may be different.

Nice catch. I think he's on the wrong board.

It's all good. If I went to the buffet at 7 pm, or main dining at 7 pm, khakis and polo would be "dressing up a bit". 😎

*sigh* I think there is some serious cognitive dissonance here. I'm not talking suit and tie, just regular khakis and a polo. Maybe a button-down shirt for Le Bistro. This isn't Cunard.

It really ends up being, "who cares"? We choose to "dress up a bit" because we enjoy it. I couldn't care less what the couple beside us is wearing. That said, it is hilarious to watch a sharply dressed woman look at her partner wearing an old gray t-shirt, and he's gone! 10-minutes later he's wearing a nice, collared polo. 😆 Point of the story -- ask your female partner what you should wear. You'll never screw it up that way.

It is true, whether you care to notice or not. "Most" will dress up a bit. "Not most" won't.

Red and Black flannel. I want to party with you, man. 😎

I'm talking about cancel and rebook on the same cruise with the same CN credits. And I'm mostly referring to trying this past the final due date. Yes, any experts would be appreciated.

I honestly don't know. Maybe you can try it and let us know. 😂 I'm not risking my CN credits.

Hi Chief! Yes, the enforcement is totally random. But shorts in Le Bistro WILL get noticed by other guests. Not that it really matters. Wander, just have your guy wear pants at night. You can't go wrong with that.

Not at all boring. You have to choose between losing your deposit but getting a better price. You may also get an on-board credit with a simple phone call. If it's past the final due date, expect nothing. That's just the way it is. Unfortunately, we're using multiple CruiseNext credits. If we cancel and rebook, they're gone.

We will be on this transition cruise next April. We end in Seattle, so this sounds a little weird. Did it end in Vancouver this year?

Sorry, but I just can't stop laughing. nyxincsit just posted a review of your exact itinerary. He's in his 20's and has supposedly been on 6-10 cruises. He had a problem with his credit card. Go figure. I think there is WAY WAY more to the story than he's posting. Read reviews skeptically. 😂

Also, you can catch the Beatles every night in the Cavern Club. The Fleetwood Mac show was one night only.

That's tough to judge by memory. It "seems" like the Cavern Clubs on the Encore and Joy were larger. But I can't say they had more seats. They are standing room only venues for sure. I completely agree that the more popular shows (like Fleetwood Mac) should be moved to the otherwise empty theater. However, their stage and setup are in Syd's, so moving all the gear, doing rehearsals, sound checks, etc. would be a challenge. That said, get there an hour before the show. Great seats, great performers, worth the wait.

C'mon man! I don't get personal. It might take a bit of time to get to know each other. 😂 The once a day room service is a no-brainer to us. The 100-seat Syd Norman's and Comedy Club on the Prima was a much bigger factor. We'll just wait and see.

Of course you will! 😆 You forgot my "something has to give". My preference is a higher price for the same experience. Do whatever is necessary with regards to price, but don't lower quality. And yes, that's a tightrope. So, as you also missed, we'll wait and see. I think we're on the same page overall.

I think this is one sentence that no one can disagree with, although there's always going to be one out there. True that the old days are gone. Now we just have to wait and see. This is true for any of the mass-market cruise lines who are constantly expanding, trying to pack 4000-7000 people on a ship, and trying to give investors a return on investment. Something has to give, and I hope it's not the experience.

I'm trying to keep up. I book a cruise, I research everything, I know what to expect. I know the price I'm paying, and exactly what I'm getting for that price. I know actually reading the cruse contract is hard, but it's not rocket science.

Yeah, it's kind of a life philosophy. We pay the same price. I'm happy, you're not. You figure it out.

Ours is the full 21-day from Miami to Seattle in 2024. Glad to hear it's still fully staffed with less than full occupancy. Would be interested to know how many people got off in LA who started in Miami. Keep us up to date!

Calling all Encore cruising to Seattle (or LA or San Franciso). On the Panama transition cruise. Details, please? Occupancy, kids, crowds, room around the pool decks Is it a full staffed cruise, or limited staff? 2024 cruiser want to know.

To be honest, I've never understood people who have high expectations for anything. A high bar is rarely achieved. A low bar always exceeds expectations.

I'm obviously a Gen Xer. Somewhat technologically challenged -- almost. I meant to post: This is just mind blowing to me. You've obviously spent no time on research of "charges" and fail to list "other things". I'm an NCL fan, but not a loyalist. I'm cruising Royal and Holland America over the next year. Neither of them is less expensive than NCL (when you read the fine print).

Perceptions are what they are. All marketing managers know this. When a relatively newer cruiser reads Free At Sea, they are not reading Free At Sea*. The asterisk is important. All cruise lines use asterisks, they just put them in different places.