Essiesmom

Your problem is that Barcelona and Marseille are western Mediterranean ports, and entice and Dubrovnik are eastern Mediterranean ports. You won’t find a seven day cruise that does both. You will have to make a choice. Suggest you go to cruisetimetables.com and use ‘cruises to’ to choose the ports you want to visit. Then choose when you want to go, and it will tell you who calls there and their itinerary. EM

The only lines I have observed doing this regularly are MSC, Costa, the occasional AIDA, and I believe NCL used to board in two ports. EM

Emerald Princess today. Do wish they would upgrade that Agua Clara cam.

I have never done the diamond meal, but I did a 4/3 B2B on Seaside in Aug 23, and I got the wine, macarons and chocolate both legs. EM

The early bird gets the worm. I don’t think there is any obligation to move…unless you are very tall and could let someone quite short in front. EM

Celebrity is. Ore laid back than Carnival and MSC. Unless perhaps you sail on an Edge class ship, which I have not done. I enjoyed Seashore, and there were more things to do at night than I could fit in. I have sailed a lot of Carnival, but am, of interested in the new huge ships as I am a super senior. Too far to walk…EM

I just received this, too. EM

I haven’t been invited to the webinar, although I expect it soon. Just this afternoon I got an invitation for a survey on loyalty matching. Earned one point. EM

Different booking number, different cruise. Yes. EM

There have been many thread comparisons here and most feel that the YC blows the Haven out of the water for far less money. Having not sailed either, it’s just what I have read. EM

If you are Bella or Fantastica dining tables are assigned for dinner and you just go to that table every night. Breakfast is open seating, as is lunch if it is served in the MDR. On ships based in the US MDR lunch is only served on sea days. EM

I think the cruise lines are getting pushback from the recent solo fares. I recently in the last week experimented with Carnival and Celebrity and the solo fare was less, but not much less than the double occupancy fare. EM

MSC. I have read on the MSC board that if in the Yacht Club the concierge might be able to arrange it. The other workaround would be if you sail on a ‘smart’ ship that has the bracelets, the two who need to move could get the bracelets and trade to have cabin access. But not all classes of MSC ships are ‘smart’. EM

It might also depend on the cruise line. One mainstream line will not issue extra keys nor move guests. They expect you to stay where you booked. EM

Sports depends on time of year. Soccer, cricket, baseball, football (American), tennis…EM

I don’t have any children but I like to drop by the child care areas just to see…I have never seen any indication of late night services. The pic below is the sign outside the club on Seaside in August 2023. Baby time is when you can take your child and stay with them to play. Baby care is when you drop them off. EM

Recommend you visit the Ports of Call board here for Athens recommendations. EM

One nice thing about the Fantasy and Holiday class of Carnival is that you could separate the beds and put them in an L shape, giving lots of floor space. They may be able to remove one bed…they do that for guests who are rentine a hospital bed or recliner. Granted, those items would be in HC accessible cabins, but the fact that they can remove the bed for this arrangement means they could remove for you, if so inclined. EM

It’s not just about pretty pictures…it’s illustrating a point, or telling a story. EM

A two-fer today, Sea Cloud Spirit and Emerald Azzurra. Small enough that they can fit in the same lock. What a gift for us! And just imagine the view from the cargo ship in the neighboring lock at Gatun. What a view you would have from your port side balcony if it was a cruise ship. And what you would be missing if you stayed on your starboard or aft facing balcony …

There used to be eating places downtown, open air overlooking the harbor. Just keep walking past the straw market booths. EM

We.come to Cruise Critic. Feel free to explore the forums. On the main boards page, if you scroll down you will find a board for Australia and NZ cruisers. Lots of interesting, witty people there, and you can ask questions, too. Further down are the Ports of Call boards, and there is one for Australia and NZ. Ask questions there, too. EM

Could you give us a mini-review of the cruise from your teen son’s point of view? EM

The Reynolds pier IS the James Bond Pier. Because some scenes in a James Bond film were shot there. EM.

The cabins are the same, albeit with a larger balcony. But you did get an Experience upgrade. Decks 14 & 15 do not have the larger balcony, therefore no loungers. EM