galensgrl

For years I have been throwing those free gemstones that you get with a coupon from the cruise ships in my jewelry box. You know the ones the jewelry stores use to get you in to buy something.

 

These clear locket neklaces have been out for a while but it wasn't until now that I wondered if all of my free gemstones would fit in one of them. Well they do.

 

I got mine on Amazon but I know there are a lot of places to get them. Stainless steel and only $11.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FW3OGTA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I'm looking forward to my next cruise so I can pick up a tiny piece of Laramar. :-)

 

Great idea!

Great review, I'm enjoying it. Looks like a beautiful trip. Thanks for posting.

You write like you are about to embark on the titanic where Class snobbery and segregation was the norm...plus, cabins were far more basic than what we have now. Make sure you tell your friends, you'll all be able to swim in the same pool, walk around the same decks together and drink coffee in the same cafe...

 

 

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The origin of the word "steerage" from Wikipedia -

The American photographer Alfred Stieglitz wrote in 1907 of conditions in steerage aboard the Kaiser Wilhelm II in the following terms:

...the 900 steerage passengers crowded into the hold of so elegant and roomy a steamer as the Kaiser Wilhelm II, of the North German Lloyd line, are positively packed like cattle, making a walk on deck when the weather is good, absolutely impossible, while to breathe clean air below in rough weather, when the hatches are down is an equal impossibility. The stenches become unbearable, and many of the emigrants have to be driven down; for they prefer the bitterness and danger of the storm to the pestilential air below. The division between the sexes is not carefully looked after, and the young women who are quartered among the married passengers have neither the privacy to which they are entitled nor are they much more protected than if they were living promiscuously.

The food, which is miserable, is dealt out of huge kettles into the dinner pails provided by the steamship company. When it is distributed, the stronger push and crowd, so that meals are anything but orderly procedures. On the whole, the steerage of the modern ship ought to be condemned as unfit for the transportation of human beings...Take for example, the second cabin which costs about twice as much as the steerage and sometimes not twice so much; yet the second cabin passenger on the Kaiser Wilhelm II has six times as much deck room, much better located and well protected against inclement weather. Two to four sleep in one cabin, which is well and comfortably furnished; while in the steerage from 200 to 400 sleep in one compartment on bunks, one above the other, with little light and no comforts. In the second cabin the food is excellent, is partaken of in a luxuriantly appointed dining-room, is well cooked and well served; while in the steerage the unsavory rations are not served, but doled out, with less courtesy than one would find in a charity soup kitchen.

The steerage ought to be and could be abolished by law...On many ships, even drinking water is grudgingly given, and on the steamer Staatendam, four years ago, we had literally to steal water for the steerage from the second cabin, and that of course at night. On many journeys, particularly on the SS Fürst Bismarck, of the Hamburg American Line, five years ago, the bread was absolutely uneatable, and was thrown into the water by the irate emigrants.

In providing better accommodations, the English steamship companies have always led; and while the discipline on board of ship is always stricter than on other lines, the care bestowed upon the emigrants is correspondingly greater.*

*Steiner, Edward A. (1906): On the Trail of the Immigrant, Fleming H. Revell Company, New York, © 1906, Fifth Edition. Chapter III, The Fellowship of the Steerage, Pages 30–47 GGA SDC 1555046572.

Going steerage , we get to see areas of the ship no one else see,

Here the picture of the wife and me doing our daily hour ( some people get happy hour , steerage we get coal hour ) , have make up for the cheap price someway :D

Gotta love the dedicated cruisers :D

Well, I don't care what people wear, but really, can we just get rid of the ugly people?

 

I watch a lot of PBS and on Downton Abbey, Victoria and other shows where everyone dresses for dinner there's not an ugly one among them. I was shocked, SHOCKED I tell you, when I started cruising and saw some really finely dressed people who were just plain ugly. Very distasteful. One older, fat "gentleman" (really a kind of gnome-looking slob) kept stealing glances at me, and I thought he was stalking me. I was about to call the manager on him, then realized it was a mirrored wall.

 

So I picked out another ugly person and reported them.

I love the twist in the story! :D Thanks for making my day with your humor.

One of the most notorious set of posts featured

(1) Insults such as "slobs", "onslows", "trailer trash"

(2) Claims that you should go and find another more downmarket Cruise line

(3) proud at the fact they had people evicted from their table

(4) Pointing people out to the Maitre D as to who should be evicted

 

Pretty dispicable behaviour IMO

I agree.

I agree with all the negative reviews! We booked our 3rd Celebrity Cruise coming up.in April because we loved it so much.....I need to stop reading the reviews. Nothing I can do now...all paid in full.

 

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We have been cruising since 2009, and reading negative reviews (and positive reviews too!) about the cruise lines we've tried so far, from day one. All of our cruises on NCL and HAL have been good to excellent. I think the negative reviews follow a general trend of "wishing for the old days" where nothing is as good as it used to be, or cruisers new to a line who prefer lines previously sailed. I'm not saying people are lying about their issues, but what upsets one person may be easily fixed and not a big deal to someone else. One good thing about reading the bad reviews - when we finally make it onboard ship, and it's way better than I imagined because it's nothing like the negative reviews I read previous to sailing ;) So far it's been smooth sailing. Enjoy your cruise.

I so agree, we are on the Solstice in 4 weeks, have read so many good vs bad reviews, I decided to stop reading and just chill :)

I experienced the same thing before cruising on a) the NCL Spirit b) the NCL Dawn and c) Hal's Veendam. Despite any bad reviews we read previous to sailing, all of our cruises were good to excellent. Wasn't happy with the food on our last trip on the NCL Dawn, but I have heard the food there has improved and they put in a couple of new restaurants to replace older ones. We would travel on the NCL Dawn again, we just needed a break to try different ships.

I'm the restless type, and after 2 cruises on the same ship I like to try something different. But it is all subjective where reviews are concerned. Now I read all reviews, even bad ones, and so far I have never experienced what most bad reviews complain about, or if I do it turns out to be minor, like a "crowded" buffet on embarkation. Never even been in a line for that really, usually busy but reasonable. There, my 2 cents, thank you for listening. And look forward to and enjoy that cruise!

As others have said you won't have any issues. If you still think you might be doing the wrong cruise, I'll be at the Sunset Bar at sailaway to offer council. 😁🍺🛳 Neil

Cruise Critic so needs a "like" button. :) Cheers!

I thought I had a photo, but I can't find it. It was a few years ago; I don't remember anything other than it was dark, underwater feel and there was a bell that rang. DH and I couldn't decide if the bell was timed or on a motion sensor. He went late at night when no one was around and the bell still rang.

 

Here is the Silhouette's version.

 

OMG this is gorgeous. I hope the Summit has an area like this, but it is M class, so probably not? Now I want to explore other X ships, though we haven't even been on the first one yet LOL. We love Art. We even go to the Art auctions just to look and get our fill of pretty pictures :D.

You see. When you post things like 'dress like bums' I find that really offensive. And this is an example of people who like formal dressing slagging off at those who don't. But those who don't wish to dress formally are much more polite to those who do and would not say such things. And none of us here are suggesting that wearing dirty or sports clothing is ok so why the extremes? Find the middle ground.

I agree, I too find the term "dress like a bum" offensive. DH and I have always dressed smart casual for dining in the evening, and dressier (think dark suit, "fancy" cocktail dress) for the previously formal/now chic evenings, even on NCL where truly anything goes. We never did tux/formal gown. Now DH has let me know he is okay with dress slacks, dress shirt and silk tie but he doesn't want to wear a suit anymore. He does a suit and tie for work every day (IT Exec) and doesn't want to wear his "uniform" on vacation. I am okay with that. I will still wear my nice cocktail dresses, hosiery and dress shoes, every evening. I think we dress much like you see people in cruise ads who are dressed for the evening. And I don't care if the people around us choose jeans and t-shirts, they are doing what makes their vacation enjoyable for themselves. So for the people who like to dress "really" nice, have at it. We choose to dress like smart/casual bums. ;)

I believe they have Bridge on Holland America, if you've ever thought of trying that cruise line.

We love the aft corner Sky Suites. Did those on our first three Celebrity cruises.

 

 

 

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Hey good to know. Our first X cruise in May, and we booked an aft corner Sky Suite because it looked spacious for a Balcony cabin, which I thought it was when I booked. What we paid was comparable to a Vista Balcony "Suite" on the Veendam. The Vista Suite on HAL is basically the same size as a regular balcony though. We love HAL, we like the Veendam but we think that corner aft SS1 is a great cabin for the money. Better perks with the Go Best as well. We are psyched! I'm enjoying your review of this cruise though, great info and photos. Have fun, or should I say continue to have fun!

Bed bugs are extremely easy to get with any kind of travel, even having guests staying at your home. There is a very easy way to protect yourself from them though.

 

Buy a few cans of Bedlam one big and one or two travel size.

 

3 days before you leave spray your luggage down heavily, inside, outside, and all the pockets.

 

Let air out for a day or so before you pack.

 

Before bringing your luggage into a hotel room or ship cabin spray the room. Lift the mattress and spray underneath, spray the base boards, in all the drawers, and behind the bed.

 

Now bring your luggage in and spray lightly again, and leave the room for a little bit to air out.

 

Come back to cabin unpack and enjoy your bedbug free cruise/vacation.

 

Spray luggage again before traveling home.

 

Bed bug fumigations cost a lot more than termite fumes and you will also have to fumigation your car if you bring them there. Everyone at work will be upset if some get in your purse or are in your clothes and latch on to your coworkers too.

 

My dad has been in pest control for years and former two term president Florida Pest Control Association. He has instilled this into me and I've never gotten bed bugs. He deals with people every day who has gotten them from flying, hotels, cruise or just staying at a family members house.

 

Hope this can help someone on a future cruise.

 

 

 

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I'm more concerned with our pre-cruise hotel than our cruise cabin, but thank you for this valuable information.

I check out the "Why Not just do away with Chic Night" thread to see how many people's meal is going to be ruined by my family not dressing like we are attending the Oscars.

Amen. For some people if you aren't in a sequined chiffon floor length Evening gown or tux with tails, you might as well be in a sleeveless t shirt, and dirty, ripped jeans. Or a bath robe. And flip flops ;)

All of the people that wear their hats backwards and do not have a clue that it is rude to even wear a hat indoors and those that are so ignorant that they wear their pajamas to the Breakfast Buffet have already destroyed the once beautiful event that was once known as "Formal Night". So I agree, I have no idea why they have an event called "Chic Night"! To many "Chic Night" is their chance to wear their new jeans that came 'pre-sliced', or their best motor cycle boots. PLEASE don't bother! Let the minions wear their best jeans and don't bother calling it by any other name. The once great "formal nights" are gone as the cruise lines bowed to the almighty dollar. Thank God for Cunard!

 

 

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Holier than thou much? Enjoy Cunard, we avoid the "stuffed shirt" line. Then again, we don't wear jeans...ever. Same goes for motorcycle gear. But way to look down on others. Glad we don't cruise the same lines, Mr Fancy Pants.

I'm far from narrow minded. How far would you take this? Are shorts acceptable for dinner or swimwear? What about baseball caps? Yes, Celebrity have come up with this Casual Chic dress code to appeal to the American market and I have voted with my feet. My next cruise is on Siversea.

Have fun! I hope everyone knows to dress just like you, I'd hate to see that cruise line ruined for you as well. Cheers!

I don't have a problem with people ordering 3 entrees IF they finish them. I do have a problem if they waste food just because they can.:mad:

I agree, it's just gross and inexcusable. :(

Awful. Food is disgusting. I got sick. I would liken the entertainment to a high school musical without any sets of costume changes. Just people singing. The most unorganized disembark ever !! Took over an hour. Crew was great tho! Room had one outlet and it was not in the bathroom. Bed was good tho.

We are cruising on Summit in May. I will do a review when I get back to let you know if every single food item in every single dining venue is still disgusting. Then again certain items just may not appeal to my personal taste. Hopefully it will have improved before then. As for the shows, they sound like what we saw on NCL and HAL, so we're not expecting Broadway quality. We much prefer the live music in the lounges in the evening anyway. Cheers!

I noticed in our stack of pre-boarding papers, cleaning up after our first cruise, that it said you could catch the airport transfers from the Vancouver airport and it either indicated a transfer departure or arrival time (can not remember which, exactly).

 

We just decided that for trip #2 (because after the first cruise, well, like we are ever taking another type of vacation...) we would try getting there about fifteen minutes ahead of that time and see what happens; we felt even if we could not get on, we would be at the front of a long line, and we would rather wait at the front, then in the middle.

 

Seven more cruises since, departing Vancouver and Seattle, and boarding has been about as difficult as breathing in terms of time.

 

If you cant find that information in the pre-boarding material, you could probably call HAL customer service and ask them what time airport transfers are expected to arrive at the terminal.

 

Boarded, visited room, drink in hand by pool is pretty standard for us now, by 11:15, on a 12 departure.

This is some valuable information here. Thanks for the head's up.

I want to say thank you to those who expressed appreciation for my original post.

 

As you can see from my Cruise Critic join date, I have been a member here for a pretty long time. Over the years, I have learned a lot from many kind members wanting to share their experiences and pass along constructive suggestions; I am certain many feel as I do.

 

However, as beneficial as this site is, there remains a small legion of individuals with way too much time on their hands and who are far too obsessed with negativity.

 

It irks me to see people on these boards tear down a brand, any brand not just Celebrity, because some poor over worked individual wasn’t as friendly as they thought they should have been during an encounter. Or complain because their balcony didn’t have an ottoman, or whine because their soup was served lukewarm or they didn’t like the music. Or carp because of some slight offence or incident that reasonable people would dismiss when fairly evaluating their cumulative vacation experience in its’ totality. Be reasonable!

 

Again, thanks for some of the kind comments and the opportunity to vent my thoughts.

Richard I want to thank you for the positive post. Booking with a new line can be nerve wracking, not knowing what you've signed up and paid for until you step onboard that "new" ship. We will have our first cruise with X in May, and if I was a first time cruiser I would be wondering if we made a mistake booking with X after reading so many posts about how X seems to be failing their loyal customers. But - having cruised with other lines and being familiar with Cruise Critic, posts about cutbacks are most everywhere, and have been since we started with NCL in 2009. It seems a line like X gets bought out by a mass market cruise line, and then come the changes /cuts to make the brand more profitable. This is not to say people are making things up, no, I would never assume to question anyone's experience (unless it involves dust on the carpet 4 in thick ;)) Call me complacent, call me a wanna be cheerleader, but after investing good money on an upcoming trip, I want to say "Tell me what's good about this cruise line I have put money into, sight unseen." The phrase "Other than that, how was your trip?" makes me chuckle. Thank you again for letting us know what we have to look forward to in May. Unless we find out we have been booted for a charter or other unfortunate news such as that, we are PSYCHED! DH actually used the words "nervous but excited to try something new."

You are most welcome. Hopefully you will be as pleased with your cruise to Alaska on Celebrity as we were.

 

As I mentioned, we have multiple cruises on 6 mainstream cruise lines. While there have been occasional hiccups, to us Celebrity still ticks every box and delivers a consistently good product. HAL is a close second but doesn’t offer the incentives like Celebrity; plus the HAL demographics can get a little lopsided on some sailings.

DH and I had our last 2 cruises with HAL, and we loved them. It truly seems like luxury cruising after 4 cruises with NCL. I am sure we will have more cruises with HAL, but we thought it would be fun to try a different embarkation port, and have wanted to try X as well. One thing I know is we could never get a Neptune Suite for what a Sky Suite cost us for our upcoming cruise. If we could have, we probably wouldn't be trying X. But I am curious to see what we think of X in comparison to a HAL cruise. Something tells me they are about on par with each other, more similarities than differences. Thank you for sharing the positive review.

Thank you for posting your review.

Anyone else get "Multiple Brochures" from other companies in the mail?

All of a sudden I am getting Oceania and Regent Brochures CONSTANTLY

in the mail.........just wondering if this happens to other people too?

I have called them both and told them to stop sending them......they

have my correct last name but for some reason they ALL say Mr LEONARD

------ I have no idea who that is or why I keep getting them. But I guess

my name got put on other cruiseline's mailing lists:rolleyes:

Since we booked with X Thanksgiving weekend, my email has exploded with offers from just about everyone - Carnival, NCL, RCCL, Princess, HAL, more offers from X, Crystal, and Oceania. Oh yeah, also a Steamboat River cruise line here in the US. Snail mail, not so much. Yet. :D

I read in another post a while ago where someone mentioned bringing their own crackers for cheese because all that is offered onboard are saltines. It was the same on HAL's Veendam, all they had for cheese were saltines and graham crackers. Graham crackers for cheese. That is not to my personal taste, so to me that is very weird. The graham crackers disappeared from the tray, so other people seemed to like them. It looks like if I want a good variety of crackers for cheese on the Summit I will have to bring them myself. Not a saltine fan, except for eating with soup or chowder.