Essiesmom

Saturday 1/27 brings Queen Victoria on her world cruise, and Sea Cloud Spirit for another pass.

Darn. EM

I read in a cruise newsletter today that another unnamed cruise line is anxious to sail from JAX. Would be a larger ship. Hope it’s not NCL, it I know their oldest ships can pass under the bridge because they sheltered there at the start of the Covid stoppage. EM

He was taking time off to spend with a grandson with an incurable degenerative disease. EM

I believe Carnival is the only line with a free drop off program for children age 2, and they change diapers. I hope you are ready for sticker shock, because Christmas holidays are some of the most expensive times to cruise, with kids out of school. And the most expensive will be the newest, largest ships. I would not consider Princess with your wide range of ages. They would be fine for the middle aged and older but not the youngsters. New ships are getting larger and larger. Ships are huge to begin with, and there is nothing wrong with an older ship. Those that have never cruised will not miss what isn’t on that ship. In your planning you need to consider airfare and the cost of a hotel the night before the cruise. It will be winter…never plan on flying in the day of the cruise. EM

Cruisedeckplans has pics of 8030. Looks like space for multiple scooters. EM

Emerald Princess westbound full transit

Cocoli Locks

We can’t answer without knowing what part of the world you are cruising and what you are hoping to bring back onboard. EM

If it’s Friday it’s another world cruiser, Amadea, and Emerald Princess. Will fill in Emerald later.

Passing Amadea, Pedro Miguel and Miraflores locks on the way to Cocoli Locks

Oh dear, and I think I’ve noticed that before…and World Europa is listed just as Europa…. EM

Need to correct my post…I misread seashore for Seascape. I posted some Seashore pics on your thread in Cabin Selection. EM

If you are sailing from Port Canaveral you will be on Seashore. Interior quad cabins will have the bunks hidden in the ceiling. You won’t know they are there unless you are looking for the outline in the ceiling. Here are two pictures poached from Cruisedeckplans. The first shows a quad inside without bunks lowered, but you can see the outline in the ceiling. The second is a different cabin with bunks in use. EM

Celebrity has kids programs but not the bells and whistles. Slides, etc no. Seascape will be the largest and newest ship. Carnival and MSC will all have quad insides. The uppers will be hidden in the ceiling, not hanging on the walls. When comparing prices and itineraries, check prices on MSC for OV as well and you may find them comparable to an inside on Carnival and the cabins ,agree, plus the uppers will be a bunk sofa…the seat lifts up to become an upper berth. Very cool. All will visit a private island. Carnival will tender to Half Moon Cay or Princess Cays, while MSC docks at Ocean Cay Marine Reserve. Have fun researching. EM

There is another, easier way to search for Seascape. Top left hand see See posts about: then Select ship. In the dropdown menu, choose Seascape. This pic is from the Carnival board but it works the same on every board

Welcome to the Agua Clara locks!

Be sure to add those to your cruise history. EM

Thank you. I keep wondering if I should add the New York City Circle Line to that list. Loved doing that when I lived there. EM

Yes, a portion of the divider can be opened. EM

There have been many Live from threads and reviews of Seascape recently and may contain daily programs. And there will be many more before you sail. What is going on now may change over two years. I have not been on Seascape but did ten days on Seashore, slightly older sister, in Dec. I did a Live from with lots of pictures. Most of the lounges have the same names on Seascape, a few are the same venue with different name. On deck 8 is the Loft Cafe which has lots of seating and I found it much under utilized both on Seaside and Seashore. It is opposite the Sports bar. Aft on decks 6&7 is Le Cabaret Rouge. Lots and lots of seating. Even saw a man napping on a couch when I passed thru. There is the Uptown Lounge on deck 8 aft but no exterior views there. Lots of seating on the various levels around the atrium, and in Times Square, up you are in danger there of being distracted by people watching. So, be patient and READ!

Next progression, the red tanker (black ship) has moved into center lock opposite cargo ship.

You don’t say where the port is, but make sure the prices quoted are per room, not per person. EM

Just to illustrate the above, here is a pic of the Gatun Locks this morning 1/26. Two ships in the first lock and two in the third. The near lane is eastbound and the ships are lowering. The green ship will move out, the ship with orange pipes move into the middle lock, the black ship in the third will move into the middle lock and they will raise/ lower each other. The cruise ship Amadea (Phoenix Reisen) will eventually move into the first lock and be raised as the black ship lowers.

The canal has been conserving water in the old locks, too. If you watch the ships going through, you will notice that particularly at Gatun locks, one lane goes east, one west. They line the ships up in neighboring locks and the water from the locks with the ship lowering flows into the neighboring lock to raise the other ship. As a result it is taking a little longer for a ship to go through. EM