SargassoPirate

12 hours ago, mcrcruiser said:

That means a 55% increase over 2019 prices .Even inflation is no where close to that kind of increase .How many people can afford to take multiple cruises at a 55% increase ?

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.

On 3/31/2023 at 2:28 PM, islandwoman said:

Almost every dinner time was spent hearing about how unfair it was that the segment cruisers had received a "World Cruise" backpack and had been allowed into the World Cruise photo.  We weren't in the photo, but we did receive a backpack (probably left over).  It was not a pleasant cruise for us. 

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?

On 3/29/2023 at 8:27 AM, Lady Hudson said:

DS is currently on a ship and went to future cruise desk to book a cabin on a ship later in April.  Told she cannot book a solo cabin — only a double occupancy.  What??  Anyone have any experience with this?  Thanks.  Katherine 

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?"

5 hours ago, jimdee3636 said:

@We_like_to_cruise:

I apologize if this has been asked already, but I'm wondering about people who take world cruise segments rather than the entire cruise. Are they treated as second-class citizens by the "full" WC cruisers or even by the crew? I'm asking because, due to time constraints and financial reasons, I'd never do an entire WC, but a 20 to 30 day segment might interest me.

 

Thanks.

 

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.

12 hours ago, cbr663 said:

I would be surprised if they did as there is the risk of cross contamination.  By keeping passengers and their personal belongings in front of the counter crew are able to minimize the risk of cross contamination behind the counter and significantly reduce the spread of any viruses.  

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? 

1 hour ago, mtnesterz said:

A kilt is ceremonial wear and considered equal to Black Tie along with Mess Dress for military.

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.  

1 hour ago, gamja said:

I've sailed on the Discovery 3 times @ 85%+ capacity and those elevator ques take forever. Try to get the lowest deck possible if you don't mind walking up and down the stairs. Often times during dinner or after a large show you will find 50 people waiting for elevators. Personally I hate waiting so I found it very frustrating. Now for the dining room.... If you have club class there is no need to worry. But if you don't I would advise you to get friendly with your maitre'd + server. Making that connection really makes a huge difference.

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.....

16 minutes ago, Mikey0368 said:

We're booked on the Discovery next year and the cruise is fully booked. As it's our first cruise we're not sure what to expect, will there be lots of queues and if so how can we plan ahead to avoid too much waiting?

 

There's also a tender at one of the ports, presumably that could be a lengthy process too?

 

Thanks.

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.

9 hours ago, Kineticoh20 said:

Now they just need to ditch the coffee syrup and serve real brewed coffee like other lines do. Coffee has been my biggest disappointment with Princess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

15 hours ago, albingirl said:

Before we travel, I always head to the dentist for a full check. But, that never prevents a broken or chipped tooth on your travels. It's always a risk, I suppose but you just hope for the best 

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.

1 hour ago, MissP22 said:

Chair hoggng seems to affect those areas as well. You might as well join the crowd and reserve yourself one. 

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.  

On 3/20/2023 at 12:50 PM, MissP22 said:

It all depends on what you enjoyment is during a cruise. If you don't care about a decent seat for any of the shows or other entertainment then showing up at the DR door at 7 PM or wait for the late show at 9 PM and it'll suit some people just fine.

They don't care if it does take over 2 hours to finish dinner. 

We prefer to see an early show followed by some game shows so it means early dinner between 5 & 6 PM. 

You'll be amazed at the number of people eating dinner as we leave the DR at 6:20 or so. 

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.

18 hours ago, Yehootu said:

 Larger tables seem to be taking longer.

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