Escruiser1962

Sounds like a good schedule!

I’m sure you can do that if available. On our cruise there was already tables of 6 with two separate parties.

I’m always amused when people think not finding a table when you’re holding a plate of food for lunch is mere crowding. I guess a current cruise means taking your oceanview cafe plate to your cabin to eat. 🙄

Nevermind, this is not my problem to solve. Lol

Read the whole thread.

No worries

What the heck? Where do I live then? 😂 I live in Florida. 🙄

Well I know they’ve been used for at least 20 years. I used to book travel.

Interesting! Thanks for the info!

Exactly - that's what I have come away with since posting. I appreciate your responses.

That actually was the least crowded time for the week. lol It is what it is. I'm happy for cruise industry they're busy.

Well it was crowded, and I did intuitively avoid those times of year. That didn’t work.

Which upscale lines do you recommend? Thanks!

Sounds familiar except I have no more booked.

Well said! With cruising back in full swing, they don't need my booking. Good for themsemi-bad for me. haha

I completely agree. We're early-retired and feeling good about our financial situation. Still nothing like wanting to pay for Presidential suites or anything.Also not wanting long cruises. We miss our pup too much on long vacations. 🙂 Obviously there's issues with allowing regular pets, but it did cross my mind wouldn't it be great if we could bring our dog on a cruise. We'd cruise for longer. haha

A cruise that long feels like a nightmare to me. LOL I totally get it though.

I think you're right. I'm willing to pay alittle more, but I'm not willing to stay on the ship on all port days, eat right when the buffet opens when you're not hungry yet, or choose an itinerary I'm not interested in just because it's less popular, etc... I really appreciate everyone's thoughts. I don't have to cruise. We like all-inclusive land vacations and land vacations on our own. I'll check out suite pricing or choose another type of vacation. It's all good!

We’ve followed these ~ intuitively all makes sense. I will not however book a long cruise. It is what it is. Cruising is back in full swing.

Well, I don't have such a desire to go during holidays, long itineraries, or using different ports to embark versus disembark. That certainly makes sense, but I don't need to cruise jumping through those hoops. We can drive to FL ports that's our priority.

Loud areas don't bother me personally, but I do like to sit down once in awhile. LOL I didn't realize until on the ship about the lunch specialty dining. I would like to do that if it's a leisure time on a sea day. We did have lunch at Coco Cay beach club that worked well. Also we ended up eating twice at Murano's specialty dining. That was fabulous!!

I don't think kids was an issue for us as I only saw a 1 or 2 middle of October and Middle of May. I'm willing to pay more but not like double. I'd rather go to Hawaii and have a land vacation. 🙂 Honestly I'm happy for the cruiselines and their employees. We have land optioins though.

Totally agree! Yes having done other land vacations, my threshold for crowds and waiting in line has evaporated. LOL I'm willing to pay more. I also am not a person booking a cruise years in advance. That sounds miserable. 🙂 This strategy won't work well for availability for ships at 100% capacity. haha

That's too bad. 😞 Of course it was a short cruise, but we moved about a lot and I only stepped out on our balcony for a second one time! haha Maybe will consider ocean view cabin next time because we didn't use the balcony.

Yeah need to look at other options just thought I'd ask about the cruising industry, 100% capacity and crowding experiences. Thanks!