mdvlprof

Such a wonderful thread!!

Mom used to always say 'it doesn't cost anything to smile'. People should try it more often.

Makes Bermuda more of an option for our 2016 cruise.

To each his own.

I just got tired of DH griping about luggage. I've pared down DS non-medical and mine. So when DH gripes, I remind him that I'm not the one with all the big luggage. :)

I need the full or modified HC cabin each time I cruise. What I find frustrating is that each time I cruise, I have to fill out that requirement form and fax it back. This is cruise number 5 with Carnival. Can't they keep it on file somewhere? Very frustrating.

Exactly. I've scanned form to PDF file, so I don't have to fill out the whole thing each time. :confused: Can't they do the same, at the least? You'd think their IT folks could add a few lines to put special needs info.

You don't have to pick one! I travel heavy and I'm always happy!

Great!

But I do have to pick one. Lugging around an extra bag full of stuff I didn't use does not equal my happiness. Esp since DS has extra bag full of his medical stuff, which gets lugged around.

I travel by the motto - travel happy or travel heavy. Pick one. DH still hasn't figured that out yet.

Every clothes separate matches at least two separates. As long as bottoms aren't too smelly, they can be worn twice. I've had to pare down what I pack, because I'm not a small person.

More than happy to use soaps, shampoos, lotions, etc. provided by ship.

On our last cruise with NCL, we didn't need a note from doctor. Or cruises I've taken on DCL, CCL, or RCCL, either.

[We travel with one for DS, just in case there is emergency, tho.]

I just had to fill out form stating that we, in fact, needed the HC room. And providing them w/ dimensions of wheelchair [to make sure there is room on safety boats, I think].

HC, definitely. Sounds like your MIL has mobility issues that would make HC room suitable for her.

Hey I use the soap and water on the ship but I do not use the sanitizer or the washy washy people. I have a skin condition on my hands that normally is inflamed from the soap on the ship. Nothing like a little sanitizer squirted directly into open, cracked skin. So while you may see me refusing the spray, please don't talk about me. You have no idea what I am not partaking. So if you must flame me for making you sick, I'll take it, but as of now i haven't managed to catch it yet. I do try to avoid the buffet and use straws.

Similar reason to why I don't use the soap dispenser in public restrooms. 'Scrub' my hands with water, the soap can be an irritant.

Link to my packing list is in my signature. [Pared down, all clothes match at least two others. Pants/skirts worn twice. Using cruise-line soap & shampoo].

Dunkin Donuts sounds like a winner. I like the way you think :D

I did cruise NCL in 2003 and wasn't overly impressed so didn't go back until the Star TA in May.

 

Big mistake on my part for waiting all those years to go back on NCL. Every crew member had a "Hello" with a smile. Even though it is an older ship, it is very well maintained.

Experience very similar to mine. 1st NCL [sun]- not impressed. 2nd NCL [Dawn]- clean, friendly, good service, shows relied on talent rather than skimpy outfits... They had really upped their game.

A bit casual like CCL. Repo - longer cruise, so demographic will be a little older. So will be a bit quieter, like RCCL.

No assigned dining times. We've found it's best for us to eat early. Seems there was always a line at 6:30-7:30.

Several up-scale dining choices.

Blue Lagoon [the 24 hour place] had great chicken wings....

Let's start with the asinine policies for BYOB wine, then move on to the hoardes of people and finish with the generic ports. No thanks. I'll stick with the small ships that treat adults like adults--DCL if I'm taking kids along.

I SO want to take small-ship cruise. But they're just not as wheel-chair friendly for DS.

DCL is very wheel-chair friendly. And we don't have to book mini-suite just to have a stateroom that fits our family. We can book an inside. So we can waste our $$ doing other DCL stuff.

And they treat adults like adults, more than most lines do...

Too late to give my concurring opinion.

:) Have fun!

that is good to hear.

We've had balcony a couple times. Hardly ever used it. Now we don't spend the extra $$ on stateroom, there are other things we can spend the $$ on.

scooter + regular stateroom = not a good fit. Staterooms are too small to easily get around a scooter.

And getting around a scooter that has been left in a hallway..:mad:.. More than once, we've had to go to 'other' side and go around to get wheelchair-bound DS back to the stateroom.

One shouldn't feel guilty if one needs HC cabin. Not all disabilities are visible, or obvious.

DS, with his wheelchair, obviously needs HC cabin. Me, not so much. I look fine, but since my stroke, I have balance problems, at risk of falling, esp if ship starts rocking.

We've never, ever, had problem cruising with incontinent DS. And if you ask room steward, they'll bring big 'hazardous material' trash bags.

And there are a couple bar-type places. But, I agree with PP, it is mostly a beach.

We just go ashore for lunch, ride around in the tram, and to peek at stuff in the shops.

We always go a few minutes early. And crew should let you leave muster drill a couple minutes early, so you can get to elevator before herds of people get there.

Consider going to NASA instead. Teens will love it, and it's just a few minutes away from the port.

I'm Disney geek.. But for a short one-day - I'd do NASA Kennedy Center. And it's near the port.

LOVE, LOVE, DCL.

I don't cruise for the fine food. Never found MDR, [DCL or other cruiselines] and in most up-scale restaurants, to be more than 'meh, cruisefood'.

And I notice kids much less on DCL, because their activities keep them busy.

To follow up- yes I did double and triple check I called the claims department today and asked them a serious of questions...am I covered outside the US if I went to the hospital with a broken leg.. "yes, you just have to pay your 150 deductible"..."if I was on the cruise ship and got a stomach virus and went to doctor on the cruise am I covered?" "Yes, your medical is covered along with any medication distributed" and lastely the final question that probable made her think I was nuts.." If I had to be airlifted out of the bahamas or any other foreign country am I covered ? " Yes, you are covered at 85% if you needed to be airlifted"-- I guess i have awesome insurance:)

Sounds like your insurance is, indeed, awesome.