SargassoPirate

First off, it's the basic law of the marketplace from economics 101 - charge what the traffic will bear. Secondly - here's how the Pirate household affords multiple cruises - and we have been on six now since the restart and have five booked through 2025, one of which is a world cruise. We worked hard and saved all of our working lives. We don't buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't even know. We drive a 25 year old car and a 20 year old truck - both well maintained and ready for a cross-country road trip anytime. We have some loyalty status with several cruise lines but are not fiercely loyal to any. Thirdly - a lot of the extras offered by cruise lines have little value to us. We don't do the spa, specialty dining, the casino, or the Melanoma deck. A quiet spot to read and watch the ocean go by, somewhere to get some food, and (for me) a wee dram in the evening and we are fine. And as soon as the full 2025 cruising schedules are out we'll be booking some more.

Why did you not change tables? When She Who Must Be Obeyed cruises with me and we find ourselves in an annoying situation at dinner - adjacent to a table of loud drunks or annoying tablemates, for example - we change tables or dining times. Neither of us suffer fools.

Seeing a price drop after final payment can cause some angst, but obviously the OP was happy with the price as booked and paid by final payment. If one books a first class seat with an airline, should they get upset if someone from coach gets a free upgrade to the adjacent seat? Should they get a fare refund to the coach price?

I would wait until I got home and book it the usual way.

If you booked through a travel agent get them involved. That's what they are there for.

To avoid empty or out-of-order token machines, I stock up on the tokens at guest services before I hunt down a laundry room with a washer that's not in use.

"Are the lifeboats seated according to class?"

How would they know unless you self identify? Just like who can tell if you booked the WC in an inside or a suite? It's really nobody's business but yours.

If they are worried about cross-contamination, why do they allow food and beverage workers to wear plastic/rubber gloves for hours on end while touching multiple surfaces?

In Scotland, it is perfectly normal to wear a kilt in everyday life.

"For evening dining, keep with what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home: skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies, pants and open-neck shirts for men." In the UK, pants are women's undergarments. Can't wait for some man expressing his individuality show up wearing women's knickers and and an open neck shirt.

I avoid the elevator queues after an event in the theater or elsewhere by either taking the stairs or walking to another set of elevators. Sometimes it's nice to step out to the promenade for a bit while the herd clears - or one can be a sheeple and stand and wait.

To be safe, I always book a cabin with cabins above, below, and across the corridor.

We put the pencil to it years ago and figured that what we saved by not buying the cruise lines' travel insurance more than paid for our annual travel insurance policy. Our annual policy covers us for all travel beyond 150 miles from home - road trips, plane trips, train trips, and motorcycle trips. Also, compare the coverage. Anything beyond the policy limits means you are "self insured" and you should be comfortable with that level of risk. Good Luck!

It has been suggested here before, but wouldn't it be nice if there could be two dining rooms? One for those who adhere to the dress code, and one for everyone else in wife beaters sweat pants, shorts, and backwards ballcaps? Actually, the other dining room for the Golden Corral crowd is the buffet. Nevermind.....

Ahhhh, a return to the days of fully booked cruises. I must admit, it's been several years since I sailed on a fully booked cruise, but I usually manage to avoid the crush of the herd. It helps some if you are Elite and can get priority tender tickets, but I rarely do. Here's what I do that works for me. Shipboard queues - I avoid peak times for most everything. I'm an early riser, so I hit the buffet as it opens for breakfast. Maybe lunch in the MDR where the queues are not too bad. Dinner in the buffet avoids the MDR and the too loud, too long dining experience. Tenders - a ship excursion will get you escorted to the tender station in the morning. If going ashore independently, be there for the first tenders. In the afternoon, grab a beer and park yourself near the tender station. When the crew starts to break down the canopy, get on the tender. Nothing wrong with being on the last tender. Disembarkation - fly late in the day or the next day and try to be among the last off the ship. On my most recent cruise, I enjoyed sitting on the promenade with a cup of coffee and watching the shoreside proceedings. In short, break away from the sheeple.

“Do you think a commoner should dare to dress like a blue blood?” Rhys asked as Quincy pulled the hem of the robe over his legs. “I believe every man ought to dress as well as he is able.” Rhys’s eyes narrowed. “Do you think it’s right for people to judge a man for what he wears?” “It is not for me to decide whether it is right, sir. The fact is, they do.” ― Lisa Kleypas, Cold-Hearted Rake Like it or not, people are judged/profiled for the image they project by how they dress for the occasion.

She Who Must Be Obeyed and I have sailed on Cunard, HAL, RCI, NCL, Celebrity, Viking and Princess. Princess is our favorite and first choice, unless it's just a crossing to get to or from Europe and then we choose Cunard. More often than not, we make our choice among thosel ines based on the itinerary, with an eye on the total cost and features - such as a full promenade. So far, things have all been good, except for our one voyage with NCL on the Epic Mistake. Worst designed ship and cabins we have ever encountered.

On the Caribbean Princes in January I saw them using Nespresso coffee syrup in the HC. It was better than the usual swill and I actually had a cup or two in the mornings while enjoying the sunrise. She Who Must Be Obeyed buys Lavazza chocolate flavored coffee and it tastes pretty good. She sprinkles a dash of cinnamon on top for a little treat.. Good coffee like good wine is subjective and there is no pleasing everyone.

Part of my travel tool kit is a dental emergency repair kit that will cement a loose crown or temporarily fill a lost filling. You can find them on Amazon. I've never needed it myself, but it has come in handy for traveling companions.

Is a pool towel OK to use to save seats in the theater, the buffet, and Vines? Asking for a friend?

Personally, I've never understood the allure of the Melanoma Deck with the over-amplified music from a DJ or MUTS. But the more people that crowd in there leaves more quiet, shady spots for me.

Lots of people are "sheeple" and follow the flock and regimented patterns. Once I discovered what the patterns were on cruise ships, it was easy to break away from the herd and find more relaxation and enjoyment, and I can still manage to find something to eat, a quiet shady spot to read, and a wee dram with some not over-amplified music in the evening.

I tend to keep what some may call too much documentation for every trip. I put little faith in electronic devices and QR codes that replace paper tickets or boarding passes. I carry a small 3-ring binder with a paper copy of the cruise booking, a printout of whatever any special package is, all flight itineraries, hotel reservation, and rental car reservations. Basically anything that can disappear or be revised electronically. A paper document is worth its weight in gold and trumps electrons every time.

Service is only as fast as the slowest eater and why we prefer a table for two or the buffet for dinner.