Essiesmom

Is there limited access to Top 19 on Seascape? I know it is limited to Aurea, but is there a physical barrier that you need your card to access? On Seaside in 2019 there was no physical barrier, just one of those movable tape thingies that they use at checkin, or at airports. When in Ocho Rios I (Fantastica) was able to go around it and up to take pictures. No one around, neither guests nor staff as they must have all been ashore. I’ll be in Aurea for a short segment inAugust and try not to trespass into YC…. EM

Why not ask on the board here for Australia and New Zealand cruisers? They might be able to offer advice. EM

I think they had it on Holiday class…I sailed (original) Celebration twice. EM

You don’t mention which ship. But there are always more Bella and Fantastica cabins than Aurea. 1. Aurea and Fantastica are different experiences and you can’t move between them if you want to change cabins. 2. Book what you want. Don’t mess with your booking. MSC is known for bizarre complications if you try to change things. EM

I like a ten top, as long as I’m not the only one there. EM

It part of the guidelines that you should read (many long time members never have). We can’t name or discuss travel agencies/agents, or recommend PVPs, or whatever each cruise lines call them. EM

The problem with an obstructed view on deck 6 of a Solstice class is that the fullynobstructed means you have to stand at the railing to see anything. Partially obstructed means you can see out seated, but even standing at the rail you can’t see the water. And in Alaska, particularly if you are cruising a glacier, you might not be able to see the otters on the growlers and bergy bits. So I wouldn’t take the offer until they sweeten it more. Of course, in Alaska it is a,ways best to move about on the outer decks because if the captain or naturalist spots wildlife, it is inevitably on the other side of the ship. EM

Looking at your pictures reminds me of the days standing at the post card carousel, trying to decide which ones to buy. I share you problem of not being able to space pics from an iPad. EM

Med or Baltic? Time of year? Might make a difference as to how many guests are on the ship. Is the cruise also sold as two 7 day cruises? EM

I think this may be true. I booked a fantastica inside gty. I got an upgrade offer even before I had a cabin assigned. I placed minimum bids on OV, Aurea balcony, and YIN. The same day I got a cabin assigned, I had another bid offer. My cabin assignment was a Fantastica balcony. I placed low bids on Aurea balcony and YIN. All bid options were substantially lower than the first offer. A week or so later I received notice that my bid for Aurea was accepted. A few days ago I tried a mock booking on the same cruise. It’s 3 days on Seaside as a solo. I think since there seems to be a lot of availability that I could get my inside gty for a bit lower, but booking that Aurea balcony solo would have been $580 more than I am paying with the upgrade. I’m a,so on the previous 4 day cruise, my solo Fantastica inside gty was again upgraded to a balcony, but I haven’t heard anything from my upgrade bids. But I think that cruise is sold out. EM

They were playing tennis today in Palermo and it was 95+. EM

I’ll give you the same advice I posted yesterday for someone asking about Vista:

Balinese tradition:

Cruisedeckplans has a YouTube video of the cabin next door, 7254. And yes, there is a couch. EM

I’m envious…I love the Amazon. EM

That example was on Carnival, and what you have to do is start a mock booking, going as far as selecting a cabin, to see what is available. EM

The over 25 rule is only if there is a guest in the cabin under 21. If all are 21, they could each book on their own. EM

Another thing to consider in booking is whether or not you have OBC from stock ownership, or Military OBC. On Princess it would benefit to book the cruises separately, as for one week it would be $150 each, but if booked as one two week cruise, it would be $250. Booking separately would be $50 more. Sometimes you can’t get the same cabin. I booked a 14 day cruise, and later decided to book the previous cruise of 7 days. But my cabin wasn’t available for the shorter one. So I booked one two doors down, and kept watch on the website. The original cabin popped up again and I was able to move to it. EM

I have done a number of B2B cruises, and most have been done through a travel agent, or on the phone with the cruise line in order to get the same cabin for both legs. But I am currently booked on two short cruises back to back, booked at different times. I sail solo and at times have difficulty booking, so I booked a short cruise online when I saw the opportunity. But later that night I was considering booking the cruise prior. The next day I was called from a number that in the past seemed to be reps from the cruise line. They didn’t have record of my latest booking, but I booked the accompanying cruise and asked they be linked so I might get the same cabin (I had booked gty cabins). Turns out the number seems to be a travel agency connected to the cruise line, as they share the same Miami address. Cabins were assigned at different times and are quite different. Some cruise lines, HAL and Princess in my experience, will sell cruises as two 7 or 10 day cruises, and also sell them as linked 14 or 20 day cruises. And the allocate some cabins for the short cruises, and some for the longer ones. You might see a cabin available for the shorter cruises, but not for the longer cruise. That’s where a travel agent can manage it for you. EM

If you back up to the main Carnival page, in the upper left you will see See posts about: and next to it in blue select ship. Click there and you will get a drop down menu to select your ship. That will give you several days worth of threads to read through. Sorry my screen isn’t large enough to get the entire ship list:

Please come back and report on the atmosphere on the Seaside 3 nite cruise. I will be doing that one in August, amid the Great Unwashed. EM

Thank you. I haven’t mastered linking on an iPad. EM

Cruisedeckplans has a YouTube video of 8179, opposite corner. Double sink in bath, and couch is a two seater. EM

The life jackets by the pool are only for use on the ship. If you anticipate visiting any beaches in port, you will need to bring your own. EM

Get a copy of Rick Steve’ Scandinavia and Northern European cruise Ports. He will tell you what there is to see/do in the ports, how much you can do in the time you have, and how to do it yourself. It’s been many years since we did the Baltic, but in Warnemunde we took a ship tour to Rostock, a walking tour with interesting churches, etc. The first time to Oslo we did a ship tour which took us to the Viking Ship museum and other sights. The second time we walked from the ship to a harbor ferry and made our own way to the Viking Ship museum and an outdoor history museum. Haven’t been to your other ports. EM