travelberlin

How long did it take you to walk from your hotel to the port? Ivi

Thanks for sharing your impressions. It sounds good 👌. I am glad you are enjoying it. Have you met people on board? How is your experience from the point of view of a solo passenger? Ivi

No I do not think so. How many ships are on port? They are supposed to check in two hours in advance at the airport. Unless their ship docks the previous night, very unlikely to meet an early flight.

You are right, but the porcentaje of people removing gratuities will not increase. Look how many people are defending the custom. And this happens in all threads about this subject. It is amazing.

Your example shows how ridiculous it is. I have read that many stores are requiring self checkout but at the end it comes a tip request at the bill 😳

Yeah. It would be nice to read how things are going on the Symphony also. I have just made my final payment for my cruise on that ship.

Marigot has been replaced by St. Barts for the January 5th cruise.

I am also staying several nights in Miami before my cruise. I usually stay at South Beach. Looking forward to explore a new neighborhood this time: Brickell. By the way at the Mandarin Oriental, there is a good Peruvian restaurant from Gaston Acurio and his wife Astrid. I have enjoyed many times their creations in Lima, Peru. Ivi

I still have my grey/green tote bag and I use it as a hand luggage. I will be using it on my next Crystal cruise also 😎. Is the NC giving those bags again? What are the requirements to receive one? Ivi

Have a nice cruise Keith and Anne Marie. I am interested on your impressions for lunch now that the MDR is closed on port days. Which ports of call are you visiting? Have you been there before? Are you planning any excursion? Ivi

There are other threads about the MTD and most of the posters there are telling from long queues and waiting times even if one has a reservation. Apparently on this thread, some people have never had any negative experience with MTD. Good for them. In my case previous COVID, I also never had a negative impression of MTD, but apparently the organization of this option has changed and it is not anymore what it used to be. I am not willing to risk, so I have changed my previously booked MTD for early seating dining. The times suit me better. And once a table has been allocated, no need to wait on lines.

Good that you had a nice cruise and the weather was good. I am reading from cruise ships cancelling/changing their original itineraries because of bad weather in Florida and the Caribbean. I wonder how the currently Serenity sailing is doing 🤔 Ivi

You are encouraged to make reservations in advance. I would recommend you search in this forum the experiences of fellow cruisers with my time dining. I had originally my time dining for my cruise but I have changed it for early sitting after reading the reviews.

I am not really sure how the awards are given, but we have cruised with Oceania and were very satisfied. Last cruise with them was a 35 days cruise and the food was very good. The menu kept a good variety and we have always enjoyed our meals. The specialty restaurants were excellent, specially the Asian one. Having said so, and judging from the opinions of the guests who have already sailed with Crystal, I guess Crystal will be the winner in the category best dining for the year 2024. Ivi

Great stories Keith👍 I am sure all of us have lots of them to tell. Even though at the moment they create stress and anxiety, later on they make good memories. And we always learn something new… it is a wonderful world indeed🤗 Ivi

Thanks Keith. I will be fine in Miami. You are right that things can happen. I remember that in January this year I traveled to Buenos Aires to take my Azamara cruise to the Beagle Channel and other beautiful places. On embarkation day, I requested a taxi at my hotel at 12.00 to get to the port at around 12.30. The taxi never came. The hotel was helpless. I went out of the hotel to look for a taxi myself with my luggage. Taxis refused to drive to the port. The reason? There was a meeting of South American politicians at the Sheraton hotel in Buenos Aires which is near the port, and people were demonstrating against that meeting. I have walked to the port dragging my luggage! And besides that, I had difficulties finding my small Azamara ship, who was hiding behind several MSC ships 😂 . I was able to embark at 15.30. It was an adventure ☺️. Ivi

Did you pay for the Paxlovid?

After my TA had a look at my bookings, it turned out to be that I would have to pay more than US 5000 per booking to be able to benefit from this offer 😲. Well not hard to decide what to do right? Ivi

Yeah, depending of the size of the ship 😉. The 9th one could be the Royal Clipper, or Seabourn or Windstar 🤭

For my sailing there will be 8 😔

Is this good? Does it mean that having so many ships there on the same day will not be that bad? Ivi

Hi, long time no see… Do you know why your November cruise has been cancelled? I will be on the previous sailing from Quebec to Fort Lauderdale. I am also joining the Serenity for a segment of the WC 2025 but not for the first leg. Ivi

Ah Ok Keith. This is the list you have already posted at the beginning of this thread then. Thank you for the clarification. Ivi

Thank you. It does not say from which Terminal, but I think this will not be a problem to find the ship. I do not recall very much the port of Miami. Ivi

But it does not seem to apply for entry level double cabins…