WisconsinFan

12 hours ago, Toddcan said:

We did a group of 14 last summer, and our only "rule" was that we would eat together in the MDR.  We had 2 tables right beside each other.  What ppl did was totally up to them, yet we all met up for dinner to catch up on our days.  No one likes to have their day planned for them by someone else. 

^^^^ This! We have cruised with 10- so we were able to have one table together. Dinner so we could hear what everyone did during the day (our trip was an Alaska cruise, 50th wedding anniversary). We did only one excursion together, one that Grandma/Grandpa, the adult kids and the grandchildren could all enjoy- the Deadliest Catch tour). We would let each other know where we were, what we were doing with open invites if anyone wanted to hang out with us. We had the best time.

My best friend will never cruise again because about the same time we went (13 years ago now) her mother-in-law planned an Alaska cruise for extended family. MIL expected everyone to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner together. Expected them to be together all the time. This meant my friend felt "trapped" on the ship (her words) and she booked a zip line excursion because she knew this would be the only thing she could do without everyone!!!! We would love her and her husband to travel with us sometime, but it will not happen now.

1 minute ago, Tree_skier said:

The last time I checked Royal Caribbean doesn't have a port of call in Wisconsin. Also, any jurisdictions liquor laws are irrelevant when the vendor chooses to implement stricter protocols, which they can do at their discretion.

My point was more about the pearl clutching of seeing kids in the bar. In Seattle you can take your dog in the bar if you want. Now, if you aren't a fan of dogs in bars you might clutch your pearls about that as well.

1 minute ago, WorkingForOBC said:

Yes! I was waiting for an excuse to post this

https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/ise-atundrg.aspx

In regards to #3, if you are under 21 but over 18 you are now an adult and as far as I understand it forget getting a drink because your parents are there! Most bars consider you now an adult and they don't serve 18-20 year olds. In general I don't know anyone personally who has bought their kid a drink who is under legal age at a bar.

On 6/9/2024 at 9:17 AM, Sizzlechest said:

 

What do all bar areas have in common? Kids are not allowed at the high-top chairs. The other seats are a common area. The Rising Tide bar has all hightops. It was never intended for children.

Please don't come to Wisconsin. Our kids all sit at high top chairs at the bar while we wait for our fish fry, pizza or burgers- or a table in the bar where we can eat. It isn't a novelty to see kids in the bar at and gasp, sitting at the bar. My kids (now grown) took a ride on the rising tide bar enjoying a soft drink. Got to the top, with drink finished we got off.

Thank you so much! You did an amazing job and even though our ports aren't exactly the same in September 2025 you have us very excited for our trip.

I found an app called "GPSmyCity"-yes, all one word. It has many city walks that are free, including one for St. John, New Brunswick. It is a self guided walk. Ap says plan for two hours. It has 10 sights, including 3 "must see" It goes to the City Market, King's Square, and Trinity Anglican Church as well as the Jewish Historical Museum, the Loyalis Burial Ground, the Loyist House (a museum) and a few other places. There is a 3-day free trial that can give you more features beside the map.The paid version has voice -guided turn by turn directions. Maybe we will do the free trial and sign up when we get there, maybe we will just use the free version but thought this would be a great way to hit the major highlights and not get lost 🙂

1 hour ago, tscoffey said:

Even Norwegians have little regard for their own cuisine, so I'm not sure what Celebrity could do to make it more palatable in the buffet.

I still love Lefse- but I can't imagine a ship making that 🙂 as it is pretty labor intensive. Now if they made Krumkaker (ok, labor intensive again) or Spritz cookies.....If you get a chance try Aquavit (it is a strong drink- close to vodka maybe). My grandma and my mom also were known to make Lutefisk-not a favorite at all (but my DH was a good sport and ate it at Christmas anyway when we were dating, I think it might have been a test!).

Thank you for sharing. We are going in September of 2025, a bit of a different itinerary but Flam and Geiranger are on the itinerary. Love the photos and can't wait to read more.

We did this, but only my DH went. Sailing solo, booked as a solo he earned double points. Booked a GTY interior, won a bid up to a balcony for hardly anything. Got a really cheap plane ticket. Diamond for our big spring break trip. This was during return to service, so fall of 2021? Sort of crazy but it allows for the four drinks on Royal and the free bag of laundry on Celebrity.

On 5/17/2024 at 10:45 AM, latebuyer said:

Thanks, so now i’m debating a cruise between late september and july. Do you really see the fall colors in the fall or does this not happen all the time?

Additionally to the wind/rain wrecking the leaves quickly the color can be affected by the weather in the summer. If there is a drought in the late spring or in the summer fall colors can be delayed. If it is too warm coming into fall, the colors won't be as intense. What makes a perfect storm for good fall color? A warm, wet spring followed by a not too hot and dry summer and then nice cool evenings coming into fall. We have a 3rd week of October cruise booked hoping that this summer will cooperate and give us some nice color. We are realistic however that the color may not work out- living where we can get beautiful fall color.

We are going on Apex in September of 2025 and will be on the one that goes to Flåm and Geiranger- these two UNESCO fjords are slatted to be closed to cruise ships in 2026.

We were on Silhouette in April, the Next Cruise Desk stated sometime in November of 2024.

We are doing this one in October. We have been on Liberty many times, but not since 2017. We aren't worried about some "rust" as they do work hard to maintain all the ships and sea air is extremely hard on all vessels. If you are now just thinking of booking this for the fall, good luck on "value" as we booked over a year ago and have only watched everything go up as the ship has filled up. If you go in expecting to be disappointed, I am sure you will be.

The games will for sure be on in the Craft Social Bar.

No problems with the golf clubs on the tender. If you are doing the excursion to the Everglades with the cruise line they keep the luggage for you while you are on the excursion. Have fun!

Thanks for sharing. On this next August. 

So, I sent an email yesterday to ask a few questions and let them know my thoughts. I only signed my name. I got my response this morning. Similar response to what all you are getting, but the subject line was my upcoming cruise on Eclipse this coming October! So, I guess they now know exactly who I am, they must have run my email address through the system!

We shall see what happens with all of this.

Here's an old thread on this topic. It almost appears it is different for different lines and a bit impacted by Covid. Some had tenders all night, some had tenders stop at mid-night or 1:00 AM, while others like Mike had a much earlier stop.

My understanding is the tenders will run all night- every 30 minutes or so.

On 6/11/2023 at 11:31 AM, md80fan said:

Looking at doing a ABC island cruise and we always get a balcony cabin. Just curious which side of the ship is best. We like watching the approach to the islands from the balcony and trying to figure out from which direction they usually approach from. I am guessing from West to East but not sure. Also which side would be great to view the port from the balcony. 

The other question is we have done mostly Oasis class ships and love them for Aqua shows and Central park but trying to decide on Odyssey vs Symphony. We have already done Symphony but curious thoughts on this cruise to the Southern Caribbean.

 

Thanks

We were on Odyssey in February and approached Aruba with the port side towards the island. We than turned and backed into the pier, so actually both sides worked on our cruise. We had an aft balcony, the midnight sail away was spectacular.

10 hours ago, voyager70 said:

The Miami sail away is the most beautiful in FL in my opinion. Sailing through Biscayne Bay and past South Beach can’t be beat. Nothing wrong with the other Florida ports but nothing special either. I’ve never had any major issues with MIA or the drive to the port, although I’ve never been the one driving 😁 

Really spectacular after dark with the city lights.

My husband and I both own Dale sweaters 😉 so, depending on when we would go we might certainly have them with us. They are so very warm, so it would need to be a spring type cruise.

1 hour ago, cruisewiscrrq said:

From Stoughton, know all about Settende Mai. You?  Going on Viking Homelands Cruise in June. Too cold in May and have teacher in group. Always nice to see Bucky!

Waunakee! Love the Norwegian Dancers and do Hardanger (took a great class in Stoughton). Lefse and meatballs all day long, but lutefisk not so much. Still have family in Norway that we are in contact with so it is my goal to get to Norway someday.  Of course, if you live in Wisconsin Norway in May can't be all that different.

I had never thought about being in Norway during Syttende Mai! (Literally the 17th of May, or the Norway Constitution Day) I think it might be a great way to see local celebrations (where I live we celebrate Syttende Mai with a weekend festival) and having Norwegian blood I would find this interesting. Just starting to explore Norway for a cruise when I retire so stumbled on this as I am looking for a good time to go, and a good itinerary as well.

Fre wine is available. My father had it on Silhouette.