hcat

And way too much sauce covering food..We usually ask for it light or on the side so we can see what we are eating!

Aren't there certain ports that can only do M Class ships due to bridges, etc. ??? Thinking of Tampa which we have not tried due to age and condition of Connie. Wish a newer ship would berth there.

So far this is a very helpful review..even though we won't be in a suite. We had a very good experience at Fine Cut..1st night on ASCENT but have no need to return. Same for Rooftop.. very nice but once was enough. On APEX , we hope to book EDEN, Raw on 5, and the Bistro if it serves dinner or a late lunch meal without Le Petit Chef.... and see what other ideas come from this review and others. So far X is only offering packages ahead of time for APEX but it's early! Being in a SV we have the 4 mdrs so we will pick a fav and use that as our main dinner base...either Tuscan or Cyprus..the smaller ones. Hoping to hear more about the set shows, as solo entertainers change over time..

The afternoon session time for the pickle ball ended at 5:30 p.m... but a few hung around with activity staff past time. Our dinner res was for 6 p.m.and when we arrived it was distracting The Temp court is set up in the garden right next to the Rooftop dining area tables . Both are outdoors..no walls..You can clearly hear the plink plink plink etc ..not pleasant for dinner..But glad they finished up. The golf putting in EDEN ran over awhile..not 3 to 4 hrs..but long enough that our roll call get together was moved away from the bar area..no big deal...But my point is the sports set ups do impact areas that were designed as non sports venues . As a result, they were not available at certain times for just sitting, reading or relaxing or having a drink.. Hard to duplicate amenities found at land based resorts on a ship. Has nothing to do with marketing but usage of space...

looking forward to your APEX review.. we are booked on her for 1/25 in an SV

I have had very good onboard spa experiences, but at a certain point I will not go higher. I no longer tip extra and do not buy products..they add the svc charge to that as well. Prices in the perfume/ cosmetic store are much better if one is in need of a product.

Hope you had a great day!

no hammocks.. ship movenents can be felt back there

We have great therapeutic spas here in NY and Fl, but I enjoy spa time on ships but will skip it. ASCENT had much better offers!

I am a Cruise ship spa user (up til now). I generally book 3 services ahead to get the pre booking discount with included grat.. (basic massage, collagen facial and kerastase session.. nothing exotic or fancy) Clicked in today to pre book.. Prices for APEX Jan 2025, gave me some sticker shock! The prices with grat included are still high, but the main problem is that discounted slots are VERY limited! Like 1 pm on Sailaway Day..or late at night. Other times slots were hardly discounted at all, and were absurdly overpriced for what is included. Decided to just book a facial at a mid range high price for my birthday and that's all! I hope there may be a combo or decent specia offered on the ship. Prices for fancier treatnents or pseudo med spa services were really over the top! It's crazy!!

Bring on Carlos Santana..still going strong! next gen Reggae, and a good Buffet Tribute show.

Usually you will get a choc cake.. Need to call X and have rep mark yoyr res for nite u wish to Celebrate.. and remind maitre d a day ahead! if you decide on a Specialty Rest..they have great dessers so you could save the cake for a diff nite

Way too many sea days for us..and too long overall! 15 days was our max ..roundtrip to Hawaii from San Pedro on Summit when she was in her prime

Cool we still have those, plus cook books, recipe cards for food and drinks...and full sets of Royal C glasses too. Now most everything is for Sale. But I have the Art books No charge, and on ASCENT they gave postcard size portfolio of Art as well! Our first was Mercury too, after Summit was canx. Merc became our fav ship.. grear layout...brass, glass and beautiful wood..like a big yacht! Thanks for the memories!

informal pickle ball was still going after end time when we arrived at Rooftop for dinner..but they were nice enough to stop.. Golf putting also ran over ..we moved our roll call get together further back..worked ok Maybe they could find a sports space indoors for these activities. Ascent has a space you can rent out..maybe open it up as gen sports area..or use the Club.. on another note..many X PR and marketing campaigns have flopped in the past..Marco Polo, X the Rules GOOP... We just go with the flow!

We took a Ca Coastal cruise on Infinity some yrs ago, RT from San Pedro that included all the ports mentioned above.incl Monterrey and Santa Barbara . Ensenada was the foreign port. It was one of our fav cruises..Well worth flying west day ahead from NY..Every port was beautiful and had much to explore.. Guess we were lucky to have the experience ! We have enjoyed Mex Riviera cruises as well but would not book there now for safety and other reasons.

which is in better shape?

great pics..looks like a good show!

We did that once..not realizing it was Easter..Never again! Too crowded.

Green screen. or set backgrounds. Photos were taken indoors at night! I will ask my husb approx cost... You can buy indiv 8 x 10s (the size they sell), and get one of you and a portfolio with ship photo. Those display nicely and make nice keepsakes.. I do not know what they have on non- E Class ships..recently.

Cruising has changed but we still enjoy but only once or twice a year these days. We are lucky to have our regular and winter homes near water and beaches..but these places get crowded too. Some times it's better in ones own backyard!

on Ascent for my big birthday, we posed for photos almost every night.. at various stations. Some had set back drops some were green screen Some were chic night, some casual.. We bought a package of either 10 or 12, 8 x 10s..Got a lovely album..they threw in a nice ship's photo and a few free pics. Very nice photos, the photo staff were great and patient..Printed it all out and then loaded it onto my phone. I do not recall the price..but itwas reasonable and we are pleased. here are a few examples

Jimmy Buffet style music and reggae/ island music were once Carib cruise classics..along with the harpist, string quartet, orchestra and a band. Piano player too Much is diff now, but they seem to do some nice jazz and club music! Rap is a def no no, and I am a purist.. I do not care for electrified string instruments. On ASCENT, there were many choices .. great acoustic duos, groups..salsa, an amazing line up..even good DJs..but very loud at times

on the ship you can check future X cruises, and use the app which we do not use.. We have no need to go back and forth with others on board. We use the telephone or sticky notes.. OP posted: "I was pleased to have a package with WiFi included. Unfortunately this is another trick to take your money. While it does include a basic access to the Internet you find that you cannot even send a single. ...etc" Topic of concern was being unable to send e mails and photos..which is what most want to do.( unless working from the ship) .I get that others want to do much more but not all are into tech stuff..esp on a cruise!

Last Dance obviously prefers Europe. We've enjoyed a few cruises there but it's a long way for us to travel at this time. We have.seen the highlights, historic landmarks, museums, chuches etc,, and the beauty of Greece, Italy, Spain and France. For now we prefer cruising closer to home more for relaxation and enjoyment over touring. Our Ascent cruise offered a visit to Nevis, that had it all: beaches, luxury resort, great restaurants and full immersion in history..The Alexander Hamilton aspect of the excursion..was amazing..Focus on history and democracy.. Glad we all have choices..We also liked Sandals in Nassau. Surprisingly, a very mature, well travelled international clientele....not just for honeymooners! We have two more booked on X..then we'll decide what's next..maybe Cunard.