hueyjudy

We've only done one Cunard cruise, on Victoria around Norway. We think that Cunard is the best ever. We just loved everything about it. She is so elegant, versus the garish decor of other cruise lines. We can't wait to book our next cruise, but of course are busy using up all the credits from all the cancelled cruises.

Thank you for this first-person explanation. I've heard this over and over since my slight hearing loss started years ago. People proudly say their new hearing aids are great, but after awhile they admit to issues exactly as you describe. Ambient noise is my only problem, unless the speaker is a child or a woman. Those higher-pitched voices are always a challenge, but I just ask them to enunciate more carefully and I hear most of it. I think it's the high cost of the hearing aids that make people 'like them no matter what'. Why Medicare doesn't cover hearing aids is totally beyond me. Deafness is incredibly isolating and seniors don't need any help being isolated, it's already a problem.

We don't have children by choice, but I can certainly empathize with today's parents trying to do it right. Stay strong!!

I'm wondering if your daughter might be ready to make her own decisions ... is she the type to worry about what 'everyone' will think? Or is her Grandmother vitally concerned with appearances? If not, this might be a good time for your daughter to just wear whatever she wants onboard, as long as she dresses 'nicely' for dinners.

Every ocean cruise I've ever been on has numerous dancing opportunities.

Terrific advice on these responses! My advice is to pick one bright color and the rest neutral. I travel in beige and black, with one bright color. I'd take 8 tops, 4 bottoms and plan on doing laundry. Everything should go with everything else. Three dressier outfits for non-formal dinners, like a maxi-dress or skirt with a nice top. If she can pull it off, a pashima-like shawl. One dress for formal nights. Nobody will notice and nobody cares that someone wears something three times. It actually makes you look like a smart traveller. One pair of dressy shoes for most of the evenings. Much more productive to have the room for every-day clothes. A heavy cardigan, a light one too. A windbreaker and a jacket/coat according to what you read about the weather on the cruise.

I used to love dinner on a cruise with set table companions. We never met any awful people, met many very cool people. Looked forward to sharing our day each evening. We shared a table once with two mothers and 5 kids, thought it would be a disaster. It was wonderful. The kids were great company and the mothers interesting conversationalists. Now we like open dining on cruises. But we do the buffet almost every evening. We like a late breakfast and an early dinner and enjoy eating just exactly what we want to in the early evenings. And at a certain point in life, I think some of us get tired of sharing our life stories over and over again and just like quiet meals with our spouses. My problem now is a slight hearing loss, so at a table for 8 in a big dining room, the ambient noise makes me understand little.

I would assume that last-minute cancellations make cabins available, so go for the upgrade ... if their system can manage it. I always sign up for whatever we want, like more internet, specialty restaurants, etc, before we depart. Then all I have to do is verify everything's OK that first day.

'Heals' ... sore feet. Good one!

We've done the 'First Cruise' poll ... made me think about our favorite cruise. We haven't cruised as much as many of you, but we did Athens to Istanbul on a Radisson Seven Seas ship the year after Athens hosted the Olympics. I think it advertised as a 'six star' cruise and I sneered. But it was really close. We had a walk-in closet, a steward who was the epitome of service hospitality, the shore excursions were incredible. Seeing those minarets on the skyline rise up as we neared Istanbul at dawn was a sight I'll never forget. I don't remember a single negative about that cruise. I will find my scrapbook from that trip and get the name of the ship ... she may still be sailing with a different cruise line.

Don't know if I can post this here, but it's not a recommendation, just information. Chase's two top cards are Sapphire Reserve and Sapphire Preferred. I got the Reserve the minute they launched it, maybe 6 or 8 years ago. I've had a couple claims which were handled very well, their customer service is exemplary and their loyalty plan excellent for my purposes. I've had MedJet emergency evac coverage for probably twenty years.

Exactly! Once you use a fanny pack, you'll not go back to carrying something. Bringing a small clutch purse for dinners is a simple solution. I found one that is presentable (ie the husband doesn't laugh at me) and weightless after looking for a couple of years.

I'd call the Air Desk and inquire. Logic says they'll give you priority to leave the ship. But these days, logic in travel seems to be an oxymoron. If the ship docks late or whatever, NCL should automatically rebook your flight.

Good grief, how could I forget my Coach handbag? Back in the day, the San Francisco Bay Area didn't have any discount stores. I bought all my clothing from catalogues and trips home to Minnesota, where everything was 30% less expensive. Sales at Dayton's had incredible prices. I found my taupe handbag and absolutely loved it. Several years later, I decided I wanted a black one. Couldn't ever find a bargain, they retailed for about $300 back then. Off a ship in a taxi on a Caribbean Island, there was an ad for the "Coach Outlet". Quelle excitement! We went directly there, and I got my bag for about $125 or so. Still have both bags more than 20 years later. So I know EXACTLY how you feel about that Princess bag!

Good point ... I would like to know what kind of cabins those Royal people had booked. If you're in an expensive suite, I think your experience would be far different than someone booked in an inside cabin.