capriccio

Thank you @dides. This mitigates some of my concern about the differentiation between the experiences in the Signature and Reserve restaurants.

I wondered on an earlier thread if the two restaurants shared a kitchen given that there is a large white space between them on the deck plans. Thank you for confirming this but it leads me to another question: how differentiated are the actual menus between the Reserve and Signature restaurants? Are those in full suites paying more for the same menus and the experience is only (maybe) differentiated by the staff?

Thank you! We are booked in an S9 for a January 2025 cruise. That was unimpressive to me. As a frequent mini-suite cruiser I think the bathroom is lovely but the stateroom itself seems noticeably narrower. I will miss the traditional closet set up because it seems this new layout results in less storage space and less table top space. The chairs on the balcony are absurd. I can see maybe not being able to fit loungers but to have chairs with a short back that don't recline at all is not the answer. They are literal pain to sit in upright and not meant for spending any resting time on the balcony. We are waiting to hear more first hand accounts of how the Signature Sun Deck/Sanctuary and the Restaurant are functioning after a few months before we make our keep/downgrade decision or, possibly given reviews of the other new areas on the ship, our go/no go decision (we've been to all the ports so we are only sailing for the ship experience).

Especially if you want to sit outside on the deck.

Each cruise line has their own embarkation procedures. If you post this on the RCI forum (https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/51-royal-caribbean-international/) it will be seen by a bigger audience of cruisers with experience on RCI ships out of Port Everglades.

First, the port is very large and the cruise terminals are spread out. See the map on their website: www.porteverglades.net Second, 17th Street is a 6 lane road which means traffic with lots of entrances to hotels and shopping areas which means paying close attention crossing each driveway. Third, the area is safe but busy. I walk a couple of miles everyday but not along busy streets. Fourth, transporting luggage, rolling notwithstanding, in the heat and humidity of Fort Lauderdale for at least half the year is not a nice walk. Also the sidewalks might not be kind to your luggage wheels.

Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire are south of the normal hurricane routes so you shouldn't have to worry about them. They go multiple decades between getting hit. Grand Turk on the other hand seems to experience them fairly frequently. Remember that cruise lines and your captain will not want to put you and their ship in any danger and will modify the itinerary if necessary.

We usually sail in Princess mini-suites or, a decade ago when we were both still working and splurging, full suites. In 2019 we decided to try MSC. When I told my long time travel agent that we were thinking of trying MSC there was a long pause on the other end of the line. When I added "in the Yacht Club" she let out an audible sigh of relief and said "That's the only level I would recommend. You'll love it!" She was right. We sailed in the YC in January 2020 and December 2021. Princess has just introduced a new ship (the Sun Princess) which is meant to have a suite area in competition with the Haven, the Retreat and the Yacht Club. We are trying it next January but based on initial feedback that remains to be seen.

Your questions are cruise line specific so you will need to post on the applicable forum. Chose your cruise line at https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/858-categories/

Pricing is the thing that everyone yearning for the good old days of cruising seems to forget.

Sorry I misinterpreted your comment as referring to Kotor. I would be very disappointed too since the sail in/sail out of the bay is beautiful as is the old town.

While it may take more time, can you drop off the person with limited mobility and the rest of your party at the entrance to your embarkation terminal and then upon return go pick up the car and return to the disembarkation terminal where they will be waiting for you?

Some ports may require use of horns, I know some restrict their usage so as not to bother nearby neighbors, and some may leave it up to each ship's captain. Leaving Port Everglades, the residents of the Point of America condos wave and blow air horns from their balconies. Some have even invested in cruise line flags and will wave the applicable flag for each ship departing port. The Love Boat theme horns began with the Royal Princess in 2013. We have been in ports with two Royal class ships when they both play the theme. Kind of cheesy but there is no mistaking whose ship is leaving. I think I've read that Disney ships also play a variety of theme songs.

In 2017 on the Royal Princess Kotor was a tender port. According to the current Princess Excrusions Listing (https://www.princess.com/ports-excursions/kotor-montenegro-excursions) "Kotor is an anchorage port. Passengers transfer to shore via ship's tender."

@jkhabc - is this question a continuation of your earlier thread? You might want to post it on the Australia and New Zealand Cruisers forum. I haven't seen any other comments - other than my previous post - about embarkation issues at Sydney but you would get more responses there since the vast majority of passengers embarking in Sydney are Aussies and Kiwis. By the way and out of curiousity, what did they tell you onboard in the case of your cruise and why don't you believe it?

This weekend there was a terrible rain storm that delayed all ships arriving in Sydney and therefore the embarkation of new passengers and departure times. See this thread on the Australia and New Zealand Cruisers forum:

https://www.gobrightline.com/

If @crystalspin's answer didn't suffice, check the HAL forum recommended by @KC Gorilla: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/103-holland-america-line/

I've had this one for 5 years and recommend it. It has a light, 10X magnification and attaches with a large suction cup. https://a.co/d/hNANKOp

I would never use Brightline on the same day of a cruise when a delay could mean missing the cruise. Please be aware that Brightline has the highest accident rate in the country - not due to their operations but due to cars trying to beat the train and people intent on committing suicide on the tracks - that could strand you for hours along the route as @pedirn describes in post #112. Most recently (January) a car tried unsuccessfully to beat the train in Melbourne and 3 people in the car died. According to the AP article (https://apnews.com/article/brightline-high-speed-rail-florida-fatalities-67020b2cd33b6cbcf9d85ed029d18310) on that incident: The three deaths in Melbourne this week mark at least 108 since it began operations in July 2017. That’s one death for approximately every 38,000 miles (61,000 kilometers) its trains travel, the worst death rate among the nation’s more than 800 railroads, an ongoing Associated Press analysis that began in 2019 shows.

"Florida’s high-speed Brightline train has partnered with Princess Cruises for a “Rail & Sail” program that includes one of its trains made over with the iconic imagery of the brand with ties to “The Love Boat.” This picture is from the local Sun Sentinel's coverage of the announcement (picture courtesy of Princess Cruises).

According to posts on the Princess board: Discovery Princess and Emerald Princess will both be at sea.

It is and there is no shade plus, since Port Everglades is also an extremely busy cargo port, there is lots of vehicular traffic.

It is a 10 minute or less walk to terminals 2 (Princess) and 4 (Disney) which are before the Eisenhower Blvd security gate. All the other terminals (there is no terminal 3) are further, some much further, away. There is a good map on the Port Everglades website: www.porteverglades.net

This a question better asked on the RCI board since embarkation procedures vary by cruise line. https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/51-royal-caribbean-international/