tip

Or those who push the everyone MUST dress in a tux or at least a suit and tie while the venue does not. Then insinuate everyone not confor(m)ing to this push are disrespecting them.

 

Princess has made the decission to allow a more relaxed dress attire different from their posted suggestions. As long as that is THEIR standard (t)hen no one else matters.

Very well-said!

...It is encouraging to see the cruise companies abandoning the tired and archaic "traditions" of a travel era that ended decades ago.

Very well-said!

We are "snowbirds" from New England who not only cruise each year from Port Everglades, but stay in the area for three months as well. Retirement is awesome!

The water taxi is a must do for us each year. We traverse the entire route and get on and off to have lunch and to shop. Be sure to get the senior discount (if it applies to you) and go onto Groupon.com which sometimes has discounts.

The Cheesecake Factory is right in the same complex as the hotel and we think that it is fun because we are fans of "The Big Bang Theory." The sun trolley goes right by the hotel on Las Olas Blvd. and is a great way to get to the beach or other Fort Lauderdale venues.

...I feel that the whole dress code interpretation on lines is a reflection of the changes in how people dress as a whole - whether cruising or being out at home...if given a vote, I would lean away from true formal, and continue to dress up some on ships as I do when going out at home. JMHO

I would agree with the above. And for what it is worth, I do not feel as though I have to "dress to impress" anybody!

What does membership in a country club have to do with formal nights? I get the prom reference. Country club restaurants though, are not full of people in Tuxedos and ball gowns.

We do not attend black tie fundraising events that are often held at country clubs.

Let's get back to the original question. We enjoy going to specialty restaurants and do so on so-called formal nights. It is not because of the quality of the food in the MDR, but because we do not enjoy the aura in the MDR on so-called formal nights. We are not members of a country club, have never been members of a country club, have no desire to become members of a country club, nor do we wish to pretend that we are members of a country club. Nor do we wish to relive our high school proms!

I do not drink coffee, but me darling wife does. Each morning I have to pay (by the cup or by using a coffee card) to get her real brewed coffee to start her day. She brings it up with us to the buffet for breakfast. She refuses to drink what she calls the "dishwater" served in the buffet. It is not brewed coffee, but is made from a Nescafe concentrate. I do not understand why we have to pay to get a decent cup of brewed coffee.

... I am not going to spend two hours doing laundry just to save $30. My vacation time is worth more than that...

I don't see it as really taking up valuable vacation time. I am an early riser. Me darling wife likes to sleep in so every day I vacate the cabin early one way or another. On sea days I put in a load or two of laundry into the wash as soon as the laundry room is open and then head down to the International Café for a coffee and a muffin. When I return the wash is almost complete. I then transfer it to the dryer and read a book or watch CNN in the laundry room. As far as I am concerned, it is time well-spent. I then use the $60 or more that I have saved from sending out small bags of socks and underwear to buy a specialty dinner for me darling wife and me. The time spent with her at dinner is certainly valuable!:D

Please don't walk, but run by the excursions desk. As far as I am concerned, ship sponsored excursions are nothing more than over priced cattle herds where you spend a great deal of money and time to hurry up and wait and of course visit a tourist trap gift shop whether you want to or not.

It takes little or no effort to visit the "Ports of Call" threads on these boards to find a reputable private excursion. Instead of a bus with over forty passengers, you will be on a van and won't have the "hurry up and wait" for that passenger who is always late. The private operators will often tailor your tour to your liking and will add or skip a stop if you wish. Their reputation is on the line and we have never had a problem not getting back to the ship on time. If you are concerned with that, book a tour that is scheduled to return at least ninety minutes before all aboard.

Then take that money you have saved and put it in the bank or treat yourself!

...I have yet to come across a post about any of Princess' competitors that says their ship had great free regular coffee.

I may not have made such a post, but we found Seattle's Best brewed coffee served at no additional charge on RCCL and found it to be superior to any of the Nescafe syrup (or concentrate if you will) coffee served on Princess.

No. I don't feel like we've already broken even, and I don't accept the new policy. It's a matter of bait and switch--selling us cards that have 15 punches and no expiration date and then coming along six months later and saying btw our unused punches will expire after all.

You understand it. Some others on this thread do not.

...Consider us 'Nickle and Dimed" to death...

The Princess cheerleaders on this thread notwithstanding, I think that this is a major part of the problem that some of us are trying to get across.

I have a few punches left on my old card from this past winter which I was going to use on my next cruise. I shall now take it out of my desk drawer and recycle it since it is worthless.

The sad part is that if you want decent coffee, one has to go to the International Café since it is the only place on the ship with brewed coffee and you have to pay for it. The other alternative is the "free" coffee which is made from Nescafe concentrate found in the buffet or MDR.

I disagree. I think that it's very clear - formal wear is a suggestion on formal nights. They are happier if you dress up because they make money on pictures. But they don't want to alienate 75% of the passengers who would prefer casual dress. And this is why there is a suggested dress code.

 

The confusion is caused by people on this board who have an agenda.

Very well-said and it didn't take you over a dozen posts to say it!;)

Looking at deck plans, I am somewhat confused. Does the Silhouette have an indoor pool?

Table for two. We don't cruise to make new friends or engage in small talk.:)

I agree with the above.

...Seriously, it's now formal that formal is no more. Unfortunately...

Not all of us think that that it is so "unfortunate."

Me darling wife and I have been on twenty-nine cruises in the last twenty-one years. We have yet to witness a fight or even a heated argument. Of course we have not sailed Carnival since the late 90's!;)

Some folks seem to think that any variation from the suit & tie or gown is a disgrace.

Even following Princess's suggestion for people who don't want to dress up is questioned in their minds.

 

"For more formal settings, men should bring a suit and a nice pair of shoes (or, at the very least, a shirt, tie and slacks), while women may want to bring an evening dress or a skirt with a good blouse. "

I agree with the above and thank you although it drives the "pro-formal" folks wild!;)

We do not care who anyone is one the ship , Most important is the destination then the cruise line . Everything else is means nothing .

I would both agree and disagree with the above. I don't give a rat's backside about who the cruise director is and he/she certainly does not make or break my cruise!

I do care about two people who are on the ship, however. Number one would be me darling wife and number two which runs a close second would be the individual(s) who delivers the luggage to my stateroom. These folks certainly do have the opportunity to make a break a cruise, at least for me!;)

No one is going to force you to eat/sit with what you might consider "slobs" they might not want to eat/sit with you either. Choose a table for two and don't worry about what other's decide to wear...this shouldn't impact your dining pleasure at all...Does it at a restaurant in your hometown?

Very well-said! Folks on these boards spend way too much time concerning themselves with what others "choose" to wear.

And for those who worry about such things, I have never worn a hat, blue jeans or "wife beater" shirt to the MDR nor have I ever worn a tee short or shorts in the evening.

Several years ago the table next to us played a harmless prank on the wait staff. To those who concern themselves with such things, it did not cause any more work for anyone nor cost anything as all items were used in one form or fashion.

When the wait staff took their orders and headed off to the kitchen, the folks seated at the table took all of the metal cutlery and hid them under the napkin in the breadbasket. They then replaced each setting with plastic knifes, forks, and spoons. The double takes and looks on the faces of the wait staff upon their return were priceless!

We sailed the Coral from San Francisco to Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal last October/November and very much enjoyed the ship and our cruise. The ship is in very good shape, although it is somewhat older and somewhat smaller than other Princess ships, but that is not such a bad thing. I enjoyed their very large and well-stocked library which unfortunately seems to be phasing out on other Princess ships.

I am not a big time gambler, but the casino is one of the smallest that I have ever seen on a ship. The International Café is adjacent to it and unfortunately some smokers were using it as their own indoor smoking area when not gambling and the smoke/smell drifted into the café which we did not like while enjoying a meal or snack.

We have used "Gold Coast Parking" for several years now and have been very pleased. Their on-line in advance rate is more inexpensive than others. They have a secure lot less than one mile from the port entrance and run multiple vans for shuttles.